Automatic locker device with at least one buffer zone for the loading/recovery of loads and corresponding method for handling loads

1. An automatic locker device configured for handling loads with loading and retrieval operations, and comprising:

at least one load storage zone dedicated to the retrieval operations;

at least one load retrieval point dedicated to the retrieval operations;

handling means for handling, configured to move loads to be retrieved from said at least one storage zone to said at least one retrieval point for the retrieval operations;

at least one buffer zone and at least one aperture configured to be dedicated at least to the loading operations, said at least one buffer zone being distinct from the at least one storage zone, and said at least one aperture being distinct from said at least one retrieval point and configured for an introduction of loads to be loaded into said at least one buffer zone, during loading operations;

a module for managing said handling means configured so that, in the loading operations, said handling means move the loads to be loaded from said at least one buffer zone, where they have been preliminarily loaded via said at least one aperture, towards said at least one storage zone; and

at least one mobile trolley provided with a plurality of buffer cells, wherein:

said at least one buffer zone is configured to receive the at least one mobile trolley;

said at least one aperture is configured for an introduction and an exit respectively of said at least one mobile trolley into and respectively out of said at least one buffer zone;

the managing module is configured so that, in the loading operations, said handling means moves the loads to be loaded from said plurality of buffer cells to said at least one storage zone and, in the recovery operations, said handling means moves the loads to be recovered, from said at least one storage zone to said plurality of buffer cells, after said at least one mobile trolley has been introduced into said at least one buffer zone; and

at least one of said buffer cells is mounted on a retractable slide type of device configured to provide mobility to said buffer cell relative to a supporting structure included in said at least one mobile trolley of said at least one buffer zone.

2. The automatic locker device according to claim 1 , wherein the managing module is configured so that, in the recovery operations, said handling means move the loads to be recovered from said at least storage zone to said at least one buffer zone, and said at least one aperture is configured for an exit of the loads to be recovered out of said at least one buffer zone, and out of the automatic locker device, during the recovery operations.

3. The automatic locker device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one storage zone comprises at least one rack-type shelving.

4. A method for handling of loads by an automatic locker device for handling loads with loading and retrieval operations, the method comprising:

providing the automatic locker device, which comprises:

at least one load storage zone dedicated to the retrieval operations;

at least one load retrieval point dedicated to the retrieval operations;

handling means for handling, configured to move loads to be retrieved from said at least one storage zone to said at least one retrieval point for the retrieval operations;

at least one buffer zone and at least one aperture configured to be dedicated at least to the loading operations, said at least one buffer zone being distinct from the at least one storage zone, and said at least one aperture being distinct from said at least one retrieval point and configured for an introduction of loads to be loaded into said at least one buffer zone, during loading operations;

a module for managing said handling means configured so that, in the loading operations, said handling means move the loads to be loaded from said at least one buffer zone, where they have been preliminarily loaded via said at least one aperture, towards said at least one storage zone;

at least one mobile trolley provided with a plurality of buffer cells; and

for a loading operation, the following successive steps:

insertion of at least one load to be loaded into said at least one buffer zone, via said at least one aperture; and

moving said at least one load to be loaded by said handling means from said at least one buffer zone to said at least one storage zone, wherein:

said at least one buffer zone is configured to receive the at least one mobile trolley;

said at least one aperture is configured for an introduction and an exit respectively of said at least one mobile trolley into and respectively out of said at least one buffer zone;

the managing module is configured so that, in the loading operations, said handling means moves the loads to be loaded from said plurality of buffer cells to said at least one storage zone and, in the recovery operations, said handling means moves the loads to be recovered, from said at least one storage zone to said plurality of buffer cells, after said at least one mobile trolley has been introduced into said at least one buffer zone; and

at least one of said buffer cells is mounted on a retractable slide type of device configured to provide mobility to said buffer cell relative to a supporting structure included in said at least one mobile trolley of said at least one buffer zone.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the step of insertion comprises the following steps:

taking out of said at least one mobile trolley from said at least one buffer zone;

insertion of at least one load to be loaded into at least one of said buffer cells of said at least one mobile trolley; and

introduction of said at least one mobile trolley into said at least one buffer zone.

6. The method according to claim 4 , comprising, for a recovery operation, the following successive steps:

moving of at least one load to be recovered, by said handling means, from said at least one storage zone to said at least one buffer zone; and

retrieval of said at least one load to be recovered, out of said at least one buffer zone.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the step of retrieval comprises the following steps:

taking out of said at least one mobile trolley from said at least one buffer zone, via said at least one aperture;

retrieval of at least one load to be recovered out of the buffer cells of said at least one mobile trolley; and

introduction of said at least one mobile trolley into said at least one buffer zone, via at least one aperture.

8. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the method comprises, for combined operations of recovery and operations of loading, the following successive steps:

moving of at least one load to be recovered, by said handling means, from said at least one storage zone to said at least one of the buffer cells of said at least one mobile trolley positioned in said at least one buffer zone;

taking out of said at least one mobile trolley from said at least one buffer zone, via said at least one aperture;

retrieval of said at least one load to be recovered out of the buffer cells of said at least one mobile trolley;

insertion of at least one load to be loaded in at least one of said buffer cells of said at least one mobile trolley;

introduction of said at least one mobile trolley into said at least one buffer zone via said at least one aperture; and

moving of said at least one load to be loaded, by said handling means, from said at least one buffer cell of said at least one mobile trolley to said at least one storage zone.

9. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the method comprises, for actions carried out in parallel, the following successive steps:

during an insertion of at least one first load to be loaded and/or a recovery of at least one first load to be recovered in a first mobile trolley positioned outside said at least one buffer zone, said handling means move at least one second load to be recovered from said at least one storage zone to a second mobile trolley positioned in said at least one buffer zone and/or move at least one second load to be loaded from said second mobile trolley to said at least one storage zone;

via said at least one aperture, the second mobile trolley is taken out of said at least one buffer zone and the first mobile trolley is introduced into said at least one buffer zone;

during a recovery of said at least one second load to be recovered and/or an insertion of at least one third load to be loaded into the second mobile trolley positioned outside said at least one buffer zone, said handling means move said at least one first load to be loaded from the first mobile trolley, positioned in said at least one buffer zone, to said at least one storage zone and/or move at least one third load to be recovered from said at least one storage zone to the first mobile trolley, positioned in said at least one buffer zone.