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

1. 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 (P 1 ); and

a container lifting part,

the vehicle module part (P 1 ) 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 (P 1 ) and comprises:

a hoist frame (P 2 ) with an opening (OSP) defining an access perimeter;

a hoist mechanism carried by the hoist frame (P 2 );

a plurality of lifting bands connected to the hoist mechanism and guided by the hoist frame (P 2 ); 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 (P 2 ) 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 (P 2 ) 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 (P 2 ) by the hoist mechanism.

2. The container handling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the access perimeters of the openings (OSP, OLF) in the hoist frame (P 2 ) and the lifting frame are substantially equal to an access perimeter of an opening in the storage container.

3. The container handling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the opening (OSP) in the hoist frame (P 2 ), the opening (OLF) in the lifting frame, and an opening in a top of the storage container all have a substantially equal vertical projection thereby securing access from above the container handling vehicle to the interior of the storage container.

4. The container handling vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the hoist frame (P 2 ) comprises a pair of arms and wherein a sheave is connected to a distal end of each arm.

5. The container handling vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the hoist frame (P 2 ) comprises a crosspiece connected at the distal ends of the arms, thereby forming an enclosure for the access perimeter of the opening (OSP) in the hoist frame (P 2 ).

6. The container handling vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein axes of rotation for the sheaves extend perpendicularly to the arms of the hoist frame.

7. The container handling vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the hoist mechanism comprises a lifting shaft for winding up and unwinding the lifting bands simultaneously.

8. The container handling vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein the lifting bands are guided by the sheaves to the lifting shaft.

9. The container handling vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein connection points for the lifting bands on the lifting shaft are arranged laterally offset relative the lifting frame, in all positions of the lifting frame.

10. The container handling vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein ends of lifting bands of the plurality of lifting bands at the distal end of the hoist frame (P 2 ) are spaced wider on the lifting frame than lifting bands of the plurality of lifting bands closest to the vehicle module part (P 1 ).

11. The container handling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a motor for the hoist mechanism is arranged between a side of the opening (OLF) of the hoist frame closest to the vehicle module part (P 1 ) and a lifting shaft.

12. The container handling vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the motor is an electric motor with a rotor and stator of the motor encircling the lifting shaft.

13. The container handling vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the motor is connected to the lifting shaft via an angled transmission and extends below the lifting shaft in the vehicle module part (P 1 ).

14. The container handling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the container lifting part is mounted on a turret for rotation with respect to the vehicle module part (P 1 ).

15. 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 (P 1 ); and

a container lifting part,

the vehicle module part (P 1 ) 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 (P 1 ) and comprises:

a hoist frame (P 2 ) with an opening (OSP) defining an access perimeter;

a hoist mechanism carried by the hoist frame (P 2 );

a plurality of lifting bands connected to the hoist mechanism and guided by the hoist frame (P 2 ); 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 (P 2 ) 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 (P 2 ) 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 (P 2 ) by the hoist mechanism, wherein the method comprises:

lifting a storage container up on a side of the vehicle module part (P 1 ) to a container receiving space below the hoist frame (P 2 ) of the container handling vehicle such that the access perimeter of the opening (OSP) in the hoist frame (P 2 ) 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.