Container handling vehicle with an open top, and method of handling product items into storage container carried by the vehicle

A method of handling a storage container using a container handling vehicle for picking up storage containers from a three-dimensional grid of a storage system, the container handling vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle module part (P1);
• and
• a container lifting part,
• the vehicle module part (P1) comprising a first set of wheels for moving the container handling vehicle in a first direction (X) and a second set of wheels for moving the container handling vehicle in a second direction (Y), the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, wherein
• the container lifting part extends sideways as a cantilever from the vehicle module part (P1) and comprises:
• a hoist frame (P2) with an opening (OSP) defining an access perimeter;
• a hoist mechanism carried by the hoist frame (P2);
• a plurality of lifting bands connected to the hoist mechanism and guided by the hoist frame (P2);
• and
• a lifting frame for releasable connection to a storage container of the storage containers, the lifting frame being suspended in a horizontal orientation from the hoist frame (P2) by the plurality of lifting bands and being liftable up to the hoist frame by the hoist mechanism, the lifting frame having an opening (OLF) defining an access perimeter,
• wherein the access perimeter of the opening (OSP) in the hoist frame (P2) corresponds in shape and alignment to the access perimeter of the opening (OLF) in the lifting frame to allow access to items in the storage container through the respective openings (OSP, OLF) when the lifting frame is lifted up to the hoist frame (P2) by the hoist mechanism, wherein the method comprises:
• lifting a storage container up on a side of the vehicle module part (P1) to a container receiving space below the hoist frame (P2) of the container handling vehicle such that the access perimeter of the opening (OSP) in the hoist frame (P2) corresponds to the access perimeter of the opening (OLF) in the lifting frame carrying the storage container (6) providing a through-going opening from above the container handling vehicle to an interior of the storage container;
• and
• picking product item(s) from, or placing product item(s) into, the interior of the storage container through the through-going opening.