Access Station For Picking Storage Containers

A method for operating an access station for picking storage containers, the access station comprising:

• a picking zone;
• at least one conveyor arranged to transport one or more storage containers from an entry position through said picking zone and to an exit position;
• at least one tilting device arranged to tilt a storage container at least in the picking zone;
• and
• paneling comprising an aperture with a sliding door in the picking zone,
• wherein the method comprises the steps of:
• receiving the storage container at the entry position;
• transferring the storage container from the entry position to the picking zone;
• tilting the storage container with the at least one tilting device;
• transferring the storage container from the picking zone to the exit position;
• and
• delivering the storage container at the exit position.

An automated storage and retrieval system, the automated storage and retrieval system comprising:

• a rail system comprising a first set of parallel tracks arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel tracks arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of tracks form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane comprising a plurality of adjacent grid cells, each comprising a grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring tracks of the first set of tracks and a pair of neighboring tracks of the second set of tracks;
• a plurality of stacks of storage containers arranged in storage columns located beneath the rail system, wherein each storage column is located vertically below a grid opening;
• a plurality of container handling vehicles for handling the storage containers in the automated storage and retrieval system, each vehicle being configured to move on the rail system above the storage columns, each vehicle comprising:
• a vehicle body;
• and
• a wheel assembly connected to the vehicle body, the wheel assembly being configured to guide each container handling vehicle along the rail system in at least one of the first direction and the second direction;
• an access station comprising:
• a picking zone;
• at least one storage conveyor arranged to transport one or more of the storage containers from an entry position through said picking zone and to an exit position;
• at least one tilting device arranged to tilt a storage container at least in the picking zone and
• paneling comprising an aperture with a sliding door in the picking zone;
• and
• at least one storage system conveyor arranged below at least one delivery column, wherein the at least one storage system conveyor is arranged to transfer the one or more storage containers between a transfer position below the at least one delivery column and the entry position of the access station, and between the transfer position and the exit position of the access station.