AUTOMATION CELL WHICH CAN BE LOADED AUTOMATICALLY AND MANUALLY

An automation unit for handling component carriers has an enclosure for arranging components carriers within a first, a second and a third stacking space. The enclosure has a loading opening for the first stacking space, a transfer device for transferring component carriers between the stacking spaces, and a separating device to selectively separate or release the first stacking space inwardly. A safety system for an intervention area is at the loading opening to interrupt the operation of the automation unit if it detects an intervention. The safety system may switch to partial monitoring mode, to full monitoring mode after completion of an automated loading process or deactivate in a manual loading mode when the separating device separates the first stacking space. The safety system may switch to full monitoring mode before the separating device releases the first stacking space. The automation unit can be loaded both automatically and manually safely.