Multi-function inventory handling station assembly

An inventory handling station assembly for a storage and retrieval system, the storage and retrieval system including a grid framework structure 14 having:

• a plurality of upright columns lying in one or more vertical planes and arranged to form a plurality of grid columns for one or more containers to be stacked between and be guided by the plurality of upright columns in a vertical direction, the plurality of upright columns being interconnected at their top ends by a first set of grid members extending in a first direction and a second set of grid members extending in a second direction, the second set of grid members running transversely to the first set of grid members in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid having a plurality of grid cells or grid spaces;
• and the first and the second set of grid members supporting a first and a second set of tracks respectively at an upper level of the grid framework structure for a load handling device to move one or more containers on the grid framework structure, wherein the inventory handling station assembly comprises:
• i) a supply zone including at least one vertical chute configurable to cooperate with at least one upright column, the at least one vertical chute having a first opening for receiving a container when lowered by at least one load handling device through a grid cell and a second opening to allow the container to exit from the supply zone;
• ii) a buffer zone for vertically accumulating one or more containers, the buffer zone including multiple bin lift devices, each of the multiple bin lift devices being arrangeable to upwardly lift a container towards the grid such that, in use, the container is retrievable by least one load handling device;
• iii) an access station intermediate of the supply zone and the buffer zone to enable access to one or more containers exiting the supply zone;
• and
• iv) a conveyor system configured to convey one or more containers from the supply zone to the buffer zone via the access station,
• wherein the conveyor system comprises an entry conveyor unit, an exit conveyor unit and at least one access conveyor unit,
• wherein the entry conveyor unit being arranged in the supply zone and arranged to transport a container in a first transport direction from the second opening of the at least one vertical chute to the least one access conveyor unit,
• the exit conveyor unit being arranged in the buffer zone and arranged to transport a container from the at least one access conveyor unit to the buffer zone in a second transport direction, and
• the at least one access conveyor unit being arranged to transport a container from the supply zone to the buffer zone via the access station in a third transport direction.