An access station for an automated storage and retrieval system

An access station for an automated storage and retrieval system, wherein the access station comprises:

• a frame structure;
• and
• a drawer assembly arranged in the frame structure,
• wherein the drawer assembly comprises:
• a drawer for accommodating a storage container;
• a lower link pivotally coupled at a first end to the frame structure and pivotally coupled at a second end to the drawer;
• and
• an upper link pivotally coupled at a first end to the frame structure and pivotally coupled at a second end to the drawer;
• wherein the first end of the upper link is arranged higher than the second end of the upper link, and the first end of the lower link is arranged lower than the second end of the lower link;
• wherein the drawer is movable between a receiving position for receiving a storage container from above, and a picking position for presenting a storage container to a user.

An automated storage and retrieval system, wherein the automated storage and retrieval system comprises:

• an access station according to any one of the preceding claims;
• a rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid in the horizontal plane comprising a plurality of adjacent access openings;
• a storage section comprising a plurality of storage containers arranged in storage columns located beneath the rail system;
• wherein each storage column is located vertically below one of the plurality of adjacent access openings;
• at least one port column located beneath the rail system and vertically aligned with a receiving position of the access station, the at least one port column being void of stored storage containers;
• and
• a container handling vehicle comprising a gripping device for lifting storage containers stored in the storage columns above the storage section and drive means configured to drive the container handling vehicle along the rail system in at least one of the first direction and the second direction.