WO2025051376A1

WO2025051376A1 - A dispenser unit

Info

Publication number: WO2025051376A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/074767
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthias HEDDINGA
Original assignee: Stow Robotics GmbH
Current assignee: Stow Robotics GmbH
Priority date: 2023-09-08
Filing date: 2023-09-08
Publication date: 2025-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-08

Abstract

Described and claimed is a dispenser unit for enabling access to a plurality of articles located in a storage container. The dispenser unit comprises a main shutter which has a closed state and an open state. In the closed state the main shutter blocks access through an access opening to articles located in a storage container. In the open state the main shutter does not block access through an access opening. Further, a selection shutter comprising at least one pair of lateral shutter elements. Each lateral shutter element comprises a selection edge delimiting at least a part of a selection opening in a lateral direction. The selection edges of the lateral shutter elements are movable for shifting at least a part of the selection opening delimited by that pair of lateral shutter elements. When the main shutter is in the opened state, a user of the dispenser unit can only access articles located in the storage container which are aligned with the selection opening. Further, a system for automatically retrieving articles from a storage container as well as a method for operating the system are described and claimed.

Description

[01 ] The present invention is directed to a dispenser unit for enabling access of a user to one or more selected articles of a plurality of articles located in a storage container. The invention is further directed to a system for automatically enabling access to one or more selected articles of a plurality of articles located in a storage container comprising a dispenser unit as well as a method for operating such a system.

[02] WO 2021 /170227 Al discloses a dispenser unit selective enabling access of a user to articles located in compartments of storage containers. The storage containers are transported to a terminal station and placed underneath a movable mask belt. By moving the mask belt, different access holes in the mask belt can be positioned above the storage container. A user can access only those compartments of the storage container that are aligned with an access hole in the mask belt. By shifting the access holes or placing a different access hole above the storage container, different compartments of the storage container can be accessed.

[03] The access holes in the mask belt need to match the dimensions and positions of the compartments that shall be accessible at the dispenser unit. Thus, for each dimension and each arrangement of compartments in a storage container, a specific set of access holes has to be provided in the mask belt. Alternatively, for each type of storage container a different mask belt needs to be provided. [04] In view of the above it can be considered an object of the present invention to provide an improved dispenser unit that allows to selectively restrict a user’s access to a storage container placed in the dispenser unit as well as a dispenser system automatically enabling access to one or more goods stored in a storage container as well as a method for operating such a system.

[05] The invention provides a dispenser unit, a system for automatically enabling access to articles located in storage containers, as well as a method for operating such a system according to the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[06] In a first aspect the invention provides a dispenser unit for enabling access of a user to one or more selected articles of a plurality of articles located in a storage container. The dispenser unit comprises a housing with an access opening, a container area in the housing for receiving a storage container, a main shutter and a selection shutter. The main shutter has a closed state and an opened state. In the closed state, the main shutter blocks access through the access opening to articles located in a storage container placed in the container area. In the opened state, the main shutter does not block access through the access opening to articles located in the storage container. The selection shutter comprises at least one pair of lateral shutter elements. Each lateral shutter element comprises a selection edge delimiting at least a part of a selection opening in a lateral direction. The selection edges of the lateral shutter elements of each pair of lateral shutter elements face each other and are movable in the lateral direction for shifting at least the part of the selection opening delimited by the pair of lateral shutter elements in the lateral direction. When the main shutter is in the opened state, a user of the dispenser unit can only access articles Io- cated in the storage container which are aligned with the selection opening.

[07] In other words, the dispenser unit or station is a place where goods located in storage containers can be removed therefrom by a user. The storage containers could also be referred to as storage bins, totes or simply containers. Commonly multiple storage containers each holding a plurality of goods are placed in a storage unit. A control unit or system, for example, a server, monitors which storage container holds which goods or articles and where the storage container is located in the storage unit. Further, the control unit also monitors where inside the storage containers individual goods are located.

[08] To this end, a storage container may be partitioned or subdivided into multiple compartments. The control unit monitors or registers the distribution of articles in the compartments of the storage container, i.e., the control unit has detailed knowledge of goods located in each compartment of each storage container.

[09] In order to retrieve goods located at a specific position in a container, the storage container needs to be placed in a container area of the dispenser unit. For example, the container could be placed in the container area using an automated conveyer system. The housing of dispenser unit encapsulates the container when it has been placed in the container area so that a user cannot immediately retrieve goods from the container.

[10] In order to access goods in the container area, an access opening which is provided with a two-fold shutter system that enables selective access to goods located in the storage container but also prevents access of unauthorized users to the entire storage container or at least to goods in the storage container that should not be retrieved by the user.

[1 1 ] The shutter system has a main shutter and a selection shutter. The main shutter is provided for generally limiting whether a user can reach through the access opening at all. The selection shutter defines a selection opening which delimits the area or region of a storage container located in the container area from which a user can retrieve goods through the access opening.

[12] The main shutter thus has two states: an opened state and a closed state. In the opened state, a user may reach through the access opening to take goods that are aligned with the selection opening out of the storage container. In contrast, in the closed state the user cannot reach trough the access opening and thus cannot remove any goods located in a storage container placed in the container area. The access opening thus serves as a main gateway to accessing goods located in a storage container which has been placed in the dispenser unit. Unless the main shutter is open, no goods or items can be retrieved via the dispenser unit.

[13] In an exemplary embodiment, a width and a position of the access opening can be varied by moving the main shutter to different positions in the opened state. For example, in case the main shutter is formed as a roller shutter, the opened state can only enable access to part of the storage container regardless of position of the selection opening. In another embodiment, the main shutter is formed by a pair of main shutter elements which are movable in opposite directions. The main shutter elements can be moved in opposing directions and by different distances so that a width and a position of the access opening is varied regardless of the position and the dimension of the selection opening. It is particularly preferred if the main shutter elements are movable in a direction which extends perpendicular to the lateral direction in which the lateral shutter elements can be moved.

[14] In other exemplary preferred embodiments, the position and width of the access opening cannot be varied using the main shutter. In other words, the access opening is either fully open when the main shutter is in the open position or fully closed when the main shutter is in the closed position. In case the access opening is fully open, access to goods located in the storage container is only restricted by the selection shutter.

[15] Which items or goods can be accessed by a user when the main shutter is in the opened state is controlled via the selection shutter. By restricting the access opening to a limited selection opening, a user’s access is limited to selected areas or sections of the storage container, i.e., only those goods which are below the selection opening can be retrieved from the storage container.

[16] To shape the selection opening, the selection shutter comprises at least one pair of lateral shutter elements. In a preferred embodiment, the selection shutter comprises a plurality of pairs of shutter elements. All shutter elements comprise a selection edge which delimits the selection opening. The selection shutter is configured so that when a shutter element is operated, the selection edge of the respective shutter element moves parallel to a lateral direction in a lateral shutter plane. In other words, the selection edges of all lateral shutter elements move in the same plane when the lateral shutter elements are operated.

[17] The lateral shutter elements themselves do not necessarily move solely in the lateral shutter plane. It is also conceivable that the shutter elements are flexible so that they can be rolled up for retracting a se- lection edge. Also, other non-plonor movements of the lateral shutter elements are possible for moving the selection edges.

[18] Each pair of lateral shutter elements consists of two lateral shutter elements. The selection edges of these shutter elements face each other, i.e., the selection edge of a first lateral shutter element of a pair of lateral shutter elements delimits the selection opening on an opposite side as compared to a second lateral shutter element of a pair of lateral shutter elements. Thus, the selection opening extends at least partially between the first lateral shutter element and the second lateral shutter element of each pair of shutter elements.

[19] A position and preferably also the shape and dimensions of the selection opening can be changed by operating the lateral shutter elements and thereby moving the selection edges. When changing the position of the selection edges, the part of selection opening which is delimited by the selection edges changes. The shutter elements of each pair of lateral shutter elements can be moved so that their selection edges move in a direction that is parallel to the lateral direction.

[20] The absolute and relative movement of the selection edges determines how the selection opening changes when a pair of lateral shutter elements is operated. For example, if both lateral shutter elements are moved in the same direction and for the same distance, the width of the selection opening in the lateral direction does not change but its position is shifted in the lateral direction. If the two lateral shutter elements are moved in opposite directions, the shape and the width of the selection opening changes. For example, if the relative distance between the selection edges in the lateral direction has increased after the lateral shutter elements have been operated, the size of the selection opening has increased, and its shape will also have changed. [21 ] Such a change in the relative distance may also be achieved by movement of both selection edges in the same direction but for different distances. By moving the selection edges of a pair of lateral shutter element in the same direction but by different distances, the position and the width of the selection opening can be shifted. Also, only one of the selection edges could be moved for changing the width of the selection opening in the lateral direction.

[22] In a particular example, the relative distance between the selection edges of the lateral shutter elements of a pair of shutter elements is reduced to zero by moving the selection edges towards each other until they are in contact. This closes the selection opening insofar as it is defined by the respective pair of lateral shutter elements.

[23] Hence, the two-fold shutter system has a main shutter that generally allows or restricts access to goods located in a storage container in the dispenser station. Only when the main shutter is open, a user can in principle access goods located in the storage container. When the main shutter is closed, access to all goods in the container is prohibited. Which goods in a container can be accessed depends on the shape and the position of the selection opening which is defined by the one or more pairs of shutter elements, and which can be changed by moving the selection edges. Furthermore, when the selection shutter is placed between the main shutter and the storage container, the main shutter can also be closed before the selection shutter is operated, i.e., before the selection edges are moved. This prevents any potential injuries caused by a user trying to reach into a storage container while the lateral shutter elements are being operated.

[24] In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser unit is configured for enabling access to one or more selected articles located in a storage container which is partitioned in compartments of predetermined fixed dimensions. The selection shutter is configured to position the selection edges of the at least one pair of lateral shutter elements so that the selection opening has a size that corresponds to the predetermined fixed dimensions of the compartments of the storage container in which the one or more selected articles are located and is aligned with a compartment of the storage container placed in the container area. Hence, in the exemplary embodiment a user can only access articles located in the compartment of the storage container aligned with the selection opening when the main shutter is in the opened state.

[25] For example, a storage container could have multiple adjacent compartments. The storage container is placed in the container area of the dispenser unit such that each compartment is aligned with one pair of shutter elements. When a user would like to remove one or more goods located in one of the compartments, the shutter elements of the pair of shutter elements aligned with the compartment are operated so that a selection opening is formed that is aligned with the respective compartment. All other pairs of shutter elements are, for example, moved to a position where the selection edges of the respective shutter elements are in contact and access to the compartments aligned with these pairs of shutter elements is blocked. Blocking access to the compartments which the user does not need to reach can also be blocked by moving the selection opening formed by the remaining pairs of lateral shutter elements to a location that is permanently blocked by the housing. Once the selection opening has been limited to the compartment in which the goods desired by the user are located, the main shutter can be opened.

[26] In a preferred embodiment, the selection shutter comprises a plurality of pairs of lateral shutter elements. The lateral shutter elements of each pair of lateral shutter elements can be moved in the lateral direction independently of the lateral shutter elements of each other pair of lateral shutter elements. As previously described, having a plurality of shutter elements advantageously enables splitting the selection opening in a direction extending perpendicular to the lateral direction to further improve the way the selection opening can be subdivided.

[27] In a preferred embodiment, the selection shutter is configured such that for each pair of the at least one pair of lateral shutter elements a distance of the selection edges of the lateral shutter elements can be varied by moving the lateral shutter elements of said pair of lateral shutter elements whereby in the lateral direction a width of said part of the selection opening delimited by the selection edges of said pair of lateral shutter elements can be varied. Hence, in the preferred embodiment the later shutter elements of each pair can be moved independently from one another which allows varying the width of the selection opening provided between the respective selection edges. In particular, the width can also be reduced to zero to selectively block access in the location of a specific pair of lateral shutter elements. Also, in case a storage container has multiple compartments in the longitudinal direction that are aligned with the same pair of shutter elements, the width of the selection opening provided by said pair of shutter elements can be modified to enable access to one or more compartments at the same time.

[28] In a preferred embodiment, the selection shutter further comprises at least one pair of longitudinal shutter elements. Each longitudinal shutter element comprises a selection edge delimiting at least a part of the selection opening in a longitudinal direction extending perpendicular to the lateral direction. The selection edges of the longitudinal shutter elements of each pair of longitudinal shutter elements face each other and are movable in the longitudinal direction for shifting the part of the selection opening delimited by said pair of longitudinal shutter elements in the longitudinal direction. [29] In other words, in the preferred embodiment the selection shutter comprises a second layer of shutter elements which are referred to as longitudinal shutter elements. These shutter elements also comprise selection edges that delimit part of the selection opening. When the longitudinal shutter elements are operated, their selection edges move in a longitudinal direction which is perpendicular to the lateral direction. Apart from the movement direction, the longitudinal shutter elements operate like the lateral shutter elements.

[30] The additional layer of shutter elements thus provides a further degree of shaping the selection opening and thereby limiting the part of a storage container that can be access by a user. For example, using the second layer of shutter elements may allow separating the selection openings into two or more parts in the lateral direction or the longitudinal direction. Also, the selection opening provided by the lateral shutter elements can be subdivided below a width of the lateral shutter elements perpendicular to the longitudinal direction by moving the selection edges of the longitudinal shutter elements into appropriate positions. This is particularly advantageous if only one pair of lateral shutter elements and one pair of longitudinal shutter elements are used.

[31 ] In a preferred embodiment, the selection shutter is configured to position the selection edges of the at least one pair of longitudinal shutter elements so that the selection opening has a size that corresponds to the predetermined fixed dimensions of the compartments of the storage container in which the one or more selected articles or goods are located and is aligned with a compartment of the storage container placed in the container area. In other words, in the preferred embodiment the longitudinal selection edges can be moved in the same manner as the lateral shutter elements so that the selection opening can be adapted to the dimensions of the compartments of the storage container. Having two layers of shutter elements is here particu- larly advantageous as the dimensions of the selection opening can be adapted both in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction. Using only lateral shutter elements, the minimum width of the selection opening as well as the position of the selection opening is given by the width of the lateral selection elements perpendicular to the lateral direction. Using a second perpendicular layer of selection elements, this restriction does not apply any longer.

[32] In a preferred embodiment, the selection shutter comprises a plurality of pairs of longitudinal shutter elements. The shutter elements of each pair of longitudinal shutter elements can be moved in the longitudinal direction independently of the shutter elements of every other pair of longitudinal shutter elements.

[33] Further preferably, the selection shutter is configured such that for each pair of the at least one pair of longitudinal shutter elements a distance of the selection edges of the longitudinal shutter elements can be varied by moving the longitudinal shutter elements of said pair of longitudinal shutter elements whereby in the longitudinal direction a width of said part of the selection opening delimited by the selection edges of said pair of longitudinal shutter elements can be varied.

[34] In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser unit comprises a verification means for verifying that the access opening is unobstructed. The dispenser unit is further configured to only close the main shutter when the verification means has verified that the access opening is unobstructed. For example, the verification means could be based on an optical camera or be based on one more photoelectric sensors and corresponding light sources which are used to detect whether the access opening is obstructed. Thereby, before the main shutter is closed, the dispenser unit can verify that a user has removed, for example, its arm out of the access opening and also establish that nothing else re- mains in the access opening which could be damaged when the main shutter is moved to the closed position.

[35] In a second aspect a system for automatically enabling access to articles located in storage containers is provided. The system comprising a storage unit for holding storage containers with articles, a dispenser unit according to any of the preceding embodiments and a conveyor unit for conveying storage containers between the storage unit and the container area of the dispenser unit.

[36] The system is preferably configured to receive a request to provide a selected number of pieces of a selected article and, upon receiving the request, to automatically retrieve a storage container in which the selected article is located from the storage unit, convey the retrieved storage container to the container area of the dispenser unit, modify a shape of the selection opening using the selection shutter so that only the selected number of pieces of the selected article located in the storage unit can be accessed, and open the main shutter to facilitate access through the access opening to the selected number of pieces of the selected article located in the storage container.

[37] The advantages of the system correspond to the advantages of the dispenser unit comprised therein.

[38] In a third aspect a method of operating a system according to any of the preceding embodiments is provided. The method comprising the steps of receiving a request to provide a selected number of a selected article, automatically retrieving a storage container in which the selected article is located from the storage unit, automatically conveying the retrieved storage container using the conveyer unit to the container area of the dispenser unit, modifying selection opening formed by the selection shutter so that only the selected number of pieces of the selected article located in the storage unit can be accessed, and opening the main shutter to facilitate access through the access opening to the selected number of pieces of the selected article located in the storage container.

[39] Preferably, the method also comprises the steps of verifying that the access opening is unobstructed after the selected number of pieces of the selected article has been retrieved, in case that the access opening is unobstructed, closing the main shutter, and once the main shutter has been closed, retrieving the storage container from the container area, conveying the storage container with the conveyor unit to the storage unit and placing the storage container in the storage unit.

[40] The advantages of the method correspond to the advantages of the system which is used to perform the method.

[41 ] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, wherein

Figure 1 shows an exemplary schematic embodiment of a dispenser unit,

Figure 2 shows a schematic drawing of an exemplary embodiment of a system for automatically enabling access to articles located in storage containers comprising an exemplary embodiment of a dispenser unit,

Figure 3 shows a perspective drawing of a shutter system, Figure 4 shows a different perspective view of the shutter system of the first exemplary embodiment of a shutter system according to figure 3,

Figure 5 shows a bottom view of the shutter system of figure

3,

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a selection shutter,

Figure 7 shows a top view of the exemplary embodiment of a selection shutter shown in figure 6, and

Figure 8 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method for operating the system of figure 2 and for operating a dispenser unit as shown in figure 1 .

[42] Figure 1 shows a highly schematic drawing of an exemplary embodiment of a dispenser unit 1 which selectively enables access to articles or goods 3 located in a storage container 5. The dispenser unit 1 comprises a housing 7 which encapsulates the interior of the dispenser unit 1 and prevents unauthorized persons from removing articles from the storage container 5. For example, the person may be a customer who has bought a product 3 which is located in a storage container 5 and would like to now retrieve that article 3 from the storage container 5. However, the vendor selling the goods 3 wants to prevent the user from removing further goods 3 which are stored in the same storage container 5. To this end, the dispenser unit 1 allows restricting the access of the person to one or more selected goods 3 located in the storage container 5 which has been placed inside the housing 7 of the dispenser unit 1 .

[43] Inside the housing 7 of the dispenser unit 1 a container area 9 is defined where the storage container 5 needs to be place for it to be accessible through the dispenser unit 1. The dispenser unit 1 further comprises an access opening 1 1 through which a user can reach into the dispenser unit 1 and, in particular, a storage container 5 which has been placed in the container area 9 to retrieve goods 3 therefrom.

[44] To restrict access through that access opening 1 1 , a shutter system 13 is provided. Details of exemplary embodiments of shutter systems 13 will be described subsequently with reference to figures 3 to 7. However, as can already be seen in figure 1 , the shutter system 13 comprises a main shutter 15 which is in a closed state in which access to goods 3 located inside the dispenser unit 1 is blocked since the access opening 1 1 is entirely closed. When the main shutter 15 of the shutter system 13 has been moved to an opened position (not shown in figure 1 ), a user of the dispenser unit can generally reach through the access opening 1 1 into the inside of the housing 7. As will be explained in more detail with regard to figures 3 to 7, which parts of the storage container 5 can actually be reached by the user through the access opening 1 1 are defined by a selection shutter (not shown in figure 1 ) which is also part of the shutter system 13.

[45] The dispenser unit 1 shown in figure 1 further comprises a verification means 17 in form of an optical sensor 19 that is provided for verifying whether the access opening 1 1 is blocked or whether it is completely free. The verification means 17 is in particular provided for ensuring, that before the main shutter 15 of the shutter system 13 is moved from an opened state to a closed state, nothing blocks movement of the parts of the main shutter 15. Thereby, intentional or unintentional block- ing of the main shutter 15 can be prevented. Also, the verification means 17 ensures that a user has withdrawn his or her hands and arms from the inside of the dispenser unit 1 before the main shutter 15 is moved to a closed position or closed state after the user has removed goods 3 from the storage container 5.

[46] Figure 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a system 21 for automatically enabling access to articles or goods 3 located in storage containers 5 that are located in a storage unit 23 such as an automated storage rack 25. The system 21 further comprises a conveyor unit 27 which is used to move storage containers 5 between the storage unit 23 and the dispenser unit 1. For example, the conveyor unit 27 can retrieve a storage container 5 from the storage unit 23, transport the storage container 5 to the dispenser unit 1, place it in the container area 9 of the dispenser unit 1, retrieve the container 5 from the dispenser unit 1 after goods 3 have been removed from the container 5 and place it back into the storage unit 23. For controlling the operation of the system 21 , a control unit 29 is provided which operates or controls operation of the storage unit 23, the conveyor unit 27 and the dispenser unit 1 .

[47] In figure 2 the components 23, 25, 27, 29, 1 of the system 21 are only shown schematically and without any details. These depictions are not to be seen in a limiting manner but rather illustrate that various kinds of storage units 23 and conveyor units 27 can be used to implement the system 21. Also, the control unit 29 can, for example, be implemented using conventional of the shelf hardware, could be formed using a plurality of devices or could also be located in a distributed operating system which may also be referred to as a cloud. Other embodiments for the control unit 29 may also be suitable. The dispenser unit 1 shown in figure 2 corresponds to the dispenser unit 1 shown in figure 1. However, no details of the dispenser unit 1 are shown in order to keep figure 2 simple and understandable.

[48] With reference to figures 3, 4 and 5 a first exemplary embodiment of a shutter system 13 will now be described in more detail. Figure 3 shows a perspective top view of the shutter system 13, figure 4 shows a corresponding perspective bottom view of the shutter system 13 of figure 3, and figure 5 shows a bottom view of the shutter system 13.

[49] The shutter system 13 comprises a main shutter 15 in the form of a roller shutter 31 . The roller shutter 31 comprises a plurality of parallel slats 33 that can be moved in a longitudinal direction 35 across the access opening 1 1. In figures 2, 3 and 4 the roller shutter 31 has been fully rolled-up and is therefore in an opened position. The closed position of the roller shutter 31 is depicted for example, in figure 1 . Please note that only selected slats 33 have been designated with reference numerals to figure 3 to keep the figures intelligible.

[50] The shutter system 13 in figures 3 and 4 further comprises a selection shutter 37 which comprises one pair of lateral shutter elements 39a, 39b and one pair of longitudinal shutter elements 41 a, 41 b. Each of the shutter elements 39a, 39b, 41 a, 41 b comprises a selection edge 43. The selection edges 43 delimit a selection opening 45 to which the access opening 1 1 is restricted or reduced by means of the selection shutter 37. The selection edges 43 of the longitudinal shutter elements 41 a, 41 b delimit the selection opening 45 in the longitudinal direction 35. The corresponding selection edges 43 of the lateral selection elements 39a, 39b delimit the selection opening 45 in a lateral direction 47 which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 35.

[51 ] The lateral shutter elements 39a, 39b can be moved in the lateral direction 47 so that the distance between the selection edges 43 of the lateral shutter elements 39a, 39b as well as their relative position in the longitudinal direction 47 with respect to the access opening 1 1 can be varied. Thereby, the position and width of the selection opening 45 can be varied or modified in the lateral direction 47. Correspondingly, the longitudinal shutter elements 41 a, 41 b can be moved independently of one another in the longitudinal direction 35 to modify the distance between the selection edges 43 of the longitudinal shutter elements 41 a, 41 b as well as the relative position of the selection edges 43 of the longitudinal shutter elements 41 a, 41 b with respect to the position of the access opening 1 1. Thereby, the width and position of the selection opening 45 can also be modified in the longitudinal direction 35.

[52] Thus, using the two pairs of shutter elements 39a, 39b, 41 a, 41 b the selection opening 45 can be moved both in the lateral direction 47 and the longitudinal direction 35. Thereby, the actual part of the access opening 1 1 that a user can reach through to access goods 3 located in a storage container 5 in the dispenser unit 1 can be arbitrarily shifted across the entire size of the access opening 1 1 . Further, since the selection shutter 37 and, in particular, the lateral shutter elements 39a, 39b and longitudinal shutter elements 41 a, 41 b are arranged between the roller shutter 31 forming the main shutter 15 and the storage container 5, the shutter elements 39a, 39b, 41 a, 41 b can be operated or moved once the main shutter 15 has been moved to its closed position without the risk of harming a person that has still parts of its body in the access opening 1 1 .

[53] Figures 6 and 7 show an exemplary embodiment of a selection shutter 37 which could be used in combination with the main shutter 15 of figures 3 to 5 to form an alternative shutter system 13.

[54] The selection shutter 37 shown in figures 6 and 7 comprises four pairs of lateral shutter elements 39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b. Each of the shutter elements 39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b comprises a selection edge 43 delimiting the selection opening 45 in the lateral direction 47. Each of the lateral shutter elements 39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b can be moved independently in the lateral direction 47 so that the distance between the selection edges 43 of each pair of lateral shutter elements 39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b and the position of the selection opening 45 as defined by the respective shutter elements 39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b can be modified.

[55] For example, the first pair of lateral shutter elements 39a, 39b defines part of a selection opening 45 that is aligned with a compartment 55 of the storage container 5 placed below the selection shutter 37. The second pair of selection shutters 49a, 49b is positioned so that there is no gap between the respective selection edges 43 and the selection opening 45 is therefore completely closed in the area of the second pair of lateral shutter elements 49a, 49b. The third pair of lateral shutter elements 51 a, 51 b has been moved further apart so that access to two compartments 55 is possible through the selection opening 45 insofar as it is defined by this pair of lateral shutter elements 51 a, 51 b. Further, the distance between the selection edges 43 of the fourth pair of lateral shutter elements 53a, 53b is the same as the distance between the selection edge 43 of the first pair of lateral shutter elements 39a, 39b. However, the position of the selection opening 45 is moved in the lateral direction 47 so that this part of the selection opening 45 is not aligned with the part of the selection opening 45 defined by the first pair of lateral shutter elements 39a, 39b.

[56] Overall, the selection shutter 37 shown in figures 6 and 7 allows to selectively restrict the access to each of the eight compartments 55 of the storage container 5 shown in figures 6 and 7. In particular, the selection shutter 37 enables allowing the access to none, one or any other number between one and eight compartments 55. Note that in the exemplary embodiment of a selection shutter 37 shown in figures 6 and 7 no longitudinal shutter elements are required. The selection opening is, however, at least partly delimited by lateral edges 57 of the lateral shutter elements 39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b. In figures 6 and 7 only some of the lateral edges 57 have been designated with reference numerals to keel the figures intelligible.

[57] Note that in the exemplary embodiment shown in figures 6 and 7 each of the lateral shutter elements 39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b is mounted on a rail 59 which allows moving the respective shutter element in the lateral direction 47.

[58] Finally, figure 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of a method for automatically operating the system 21 shown in figure 2 as well as the dispenser unit 1 shown in figure 1 .

[59] In a first step 61 of the method, the system receives a request to provide a selected number of pieces of a selected article. Such a request may, for example be received via a data connection at the control unit 29 of the system 21. The system 21 determines in which storage container 5 of a plurality of the storage containers 5 located in the storage unit 23 the selected number of articles or goods 3 are located and automatically retrieves the respective storage container 5 in a second step 63 from the storage unit 23.

[60] In a third step 65 the retrieved storage container 5 is transferred using the conveyor unit 27 from the storage unit 23 to the container area 9 of the dispenser unit 1 . [61 ] At a subsequent fourth step 67 the control unit 29 instructs the selection shutter 37 of the dispenser unit 1 to modify the position of the selection opening 45 so that only a selected number of goods or articles 3 can be accessed through the selection opening 45 when the main shutter 15 is opened. The shape of the selection opening 45 can be achieved by moving any lateral shutter elements 39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b and, if available, also the longitudinal shutter elements 41 a, 41 b to change the size and position of the selection opening 45. Afterwards, in a fifth step 69, the control unit 29 instructs the main shutter 15 to move from the closed position to the opened position so that the user requesting the selected number of articles can reach through the access opening 1 1 and the selection opening 45 and retrieve the requested number of articles 3 from the storage container 5.

[62] Once the goods 3 have been retrieved by the user, the verification means 17 is used to verify whether access opening 1 1 is obstructed in a sixth step 71. Once the verification means 17 has confirmed that the access opening 1 1 and thereby also the selection opening 45 is not obstructed by any articles 3 or any body parts of a person using the dispenser unit 1 , the main shutter 15 is instructed to move to the closed position in a seventh step 73. Finally, in an eighth step 75 the conveyor unit 27 is used to move the storage container 5 back from the container area 9 to the storage unit 23.

Reference numerals

1 dispenser unit

3 goods

5 storage container

7 housing

9 container area

1 1 access opening

13 shutter system

15 main shutter

17 verification means

19 optical sensor

21 system

23 storage unit

25 automated storage rack

27 conveyor unit

29 control unit

31 roller shutter

33 slats

35 longitudinal direction

37 selection shutter

39a, 39b lateral shutter element

41 a, 41 b longitudinal shutter element

43 selection edges

45 selection opening

47 lateral direction

49a, 49b lateral shutter element 51 a, 51 b lateral shutter element

53a, 53b lateral shutter element

55 compartment of the storage container

57 lateral edge of lateral shutter element 59 rail

61 - 75 first to eighth step

Claims

1. A dispenser unit (1 ) for enabling access of a user to one or more selected articles (3) of a plurality of articles (3) located in a storage container (5), the dispenser unit (1 ) comprising a housing (7) with an access opening (1 1 ), a container area (9) in the housing (7) for receiving a storage container (5), a main shutter (15) and a selection shutter (37), wherein the main shutter (15) has a closed state and an opened state, wherein in the closed state the main shutter (15) blocks access through the access opening (1 1 ) to articles (3) located in a storage container (5) placed in the container area (9) and in the opened state the main shutter (15) does not block access through the access opening (1 1 ) to articles (3) located in the storage container (5), and wherein the selection shutter (37) comprises at least one pair of lateral shutter elements (39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b), wherein each lateral shutter element(39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b) comprises a selection edge (43) delimiting at least a part of a selection opening (45) in a lateral direction (47), wherein the selection edges (43) of the lateral shutter elements (39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b) of each pair of lateral shutter elements (39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b) face each other and are movable in the lateral direction (47) for shifting at least the part of the selection opening (45) delimited by the pair of lateral shutter elements (39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b) in the lateral direction (47), and wherein when the main shutter (15) is in the opened state, a user of the dispenser unit ( 1 ) can only access articles (3) located in the storage container (5) which are aligned with the selection opening (45).

2. Dispenser unit ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the dispenser unit (1 ) is configured for enabling access to one or more selected articles (3) located in a storage container (5) which is partitioned in compartments (55) of predetermined fixed dimensions, wherein the selection shutter (37) is configured to position the selection edges (43) of the at least one pair of lateral shutter elements (39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b ) so that the selection opening (45) has a size that corresponds to the predetermined fixed dimensions of the compartments (55) of the storage container (5) in which the one or more selected articles (3) are located and is aligned with a compartment (55) of the storage container (5) placed in the container area (9).

3. Dispenser unit ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein selection shutter (37) comprises a plurality of pairs of lateral shutter elements (39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b), wherein the lateral shutter elements (39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b)of each pair of lateral shutter elements (39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b) can be moved in the lateral direction (47) independently of the lateral shutter elements (39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b) of each other pair of lateral shutter elements (39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b).

4. Dispenser unit (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the selection shutter (37) is configured such that for each pair of the at least one pair of lateral shutter elements (39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b) a distance of the selection edges (43) of the lateral shutter elements (39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b) can be varied by moving the lateral shutter elements (39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b) of said pair of lateral shutter elements (39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b) whereby in the lateral direction (47) a width of said part of the selection open- ing (45) delimited by the selection edges (43) of said pair of lateral shutter elements (39a, 39b, 49a, 49b, 51 a, 51 b, 53a, 53b) can be varied.

5. Dispenser unit (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the selection shutter (37) further comprises at least one pair of longitudinal shutter elements (41 a, 41 b), wherein each longitudinal shutter element (41 a, 41 b) comprises a selection edge (43) delimiting at least a part of the selection opening (45) in a longitudinal direction (35) extending perpendicular to the lateral direction (47), wherein the selection edges (43) of the longitudinal shutter elements (41 a, 41 b) of each pair of longitudinal shutter elements (41 a, 41 b) face each other and are movable in the longitudinal direction (35) for shifting the part of the selection opening (45) delimited by said pair of longitudinal shutter elements (41 a, 41 b) in the longitudinal direction (35).

6. Dispenser unit (1 ) according to claims 2 and 5, wherein the selection shutter (37) is configured to position the selection edges (43) of the at least one pair of longitudinal shutter elements (41 a, 41 b) so that the selection opening (45) has a size that corresponds to the predetermined fixed dimensions of the compartments (55) of the storage container (5) in which the one or more selected articles (3) are located and is aligned with a compartment (55) of the storage container (5) placed in the container area (9).

7. Dispenser unit (1 ) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the selection shutter (37) comprises a plurality of pairs of longitudinal shutter elements (41 a, 41 b), wherein the shutter elements (41 a, 41 b) of each pair of longitudinal shutter elements (41 a, 41 b) can be moved in the longitudinal direction (35) independently of the shutter elements of every other pair of longitudinal shutter elements.

8. Dispenser unit (1 ) according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the selection shutter (37) is configured such that for each pair of the at least one pair of longitudinal shutter elements (41 a, 41 b) a distance of the selection edges (43) of the longitudinal shutter elements (41 a, 41 b) can be varied by moving the longitudinal shutter elements (41 a, 41 b) of said pair of longitudinal shutter elements (41 a, 41 b) whereby in the longitudinal direction (35) a width of said part of the selection opening (45) delimited by the selection edges (43) of said pair of longitudinal shutter elements (41 a, 41 b) can be varied.

9. Dispenser unit (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the dispenser unit (1 ) comprises a verification means (17) for verifying that the access opening (1 1 ) is unobstructed, wherein the dispenser unit (1 ) is further configured to only close the main shutter (15) when the verification means (17) has verified that the access opening (1 1 ) is unobstructed.

10. A system (21 ) for automatically enabling access to articles (3) located in storage containers (5), the system (21 ) comprising a storage unit (23) for holding storage containers (5) with articles (3), a dispenser unit (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims and a conveyor unit (27) for conveying storage containers (5) between the storage unit (23) and the container area (9) of the dispenser unit (1 ).

1 1 . System (21 ) according to claim 10, wherein the system (21 ) is configured to receive a request to provide a selected number of pieces of a selected article (3) and, upon receiving the request, to automatically retrieve a storage container (5) in which the selected article (3) is located from the storage unit (23), convey the retrieved storage container (5) to the container area (9) of the dispenser unit ( 1 ), modify a shape of the selection opening (45) using the selection shutter (37) so that only the selected number of pieces of the selected article (3) located in the storage container (5) can be accessed, and open the main shutter (15) to facilitate access through the access opening (1 1 ) to the selected number of pieces of the selected article (3) located in the storage container (5).

12. A method of operating a system (21 ) according to claim 10 or 1 1 , the method comprising the steps of receiving a request to provide a selected number of a selected article (3), automatically retrieving a storage container (5) in which the selected article (3) is located from the storage unit (23), automatically conveying the retrieved storage container (5) using the conveyer unit (27) to the container area (9) of the dispenser unit (1 ), modifying selection opening (45) formed by the selection shutter (37) so that only the selected number of pieces of the selected article (3) located in the storage container (5) can be accessed, and opening the main shutter (15) to facilitate access through the access opening (1 1 ) to the selected number of pieces of the selected article (3) located in the storage container (5).

13. Method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of verifying that the access opening (1 1 ) is unobstructed after the selected number of pieces of the selected article (3) has been retrieved, in case that the access opening (1 1 ) is unobstructed, closing the main shutter (15), and once the main shutter (15) has been closed, retrieving the storage container (5) from the container area (9), conveying the storage container (5) with the conveyor unit (27) to the storage unit (23) and placing the storage container (5) in the storage unit (23).