# US 12,600,569 B2 · Recessed drawer opening apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,600,569 B2 - Document ID: US12600569B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/699,054 - Filed: 2022-03-18 - Published: 2023-09-21 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-18 - Assignees: Hexagon Metrology, Inc. - Applicants: Hexagon Metrology, Inc. - Inventors: Jie Zheng; Gregory Klein; Jonathan J. O'Hare; Jonathan Dove - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12600569B2 ## CPC - B65G 1/10: with relatively movable racks to facilitate insertion or removal of articles {(cabinets with means for moving compartments up and down A47B51/00; cabinet system, e.g. consisting of cabinets arranged in a row with means to open or close passages between adjacent cabinets A47B53/02)} - B25H 3/028: {by sliding extraction from within a common frame} - B25J 11/00: Manipulators not otherwise provided for - B25J 15/00: Gripping heads {and other end effectors (grippers used in machine tools B23Q7/04; gripping members fitted on cranes B66C1/42, B66C1/44; gripping means used for mounting electrical components H05K13/04; gripping means used in the manufacture of semiconductors H10P72/7602)} - B25J 9/0096: {co-operating with a working support, e.g. work-table} - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B25H: WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT, e.g. FOR MARKING-OUT WORK; STORAGE MEANS FOR WORKSHOPS (storing or packaging B65) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) ## Abstract A drawer opening system includes a hitch on a robot arm, and a block assembly disposed within a cavity on an external face of a first drawer, such that the hitch is configured to approach the external face of the drawer, enter the recess, and securely engage the block assembly within the cavity. In illustrative embodiments, when not engaged with the hitch, no part of the block assembly extends beyond the external face of the drawer such that it would impede access of a robot to a second open drawer disposed beneath the first drawer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A container apparatus for holding workpieces to be inspected, the container apparatus configured to movably mate to a storage apparatus, the container apparatus comprising: a storage apparatus interface assembly configured to movably mate the container apparatus to the storage apparatus; a container assembly defining a workpiece storage volume, the container assembly comprising a front panel having a three-dimensional panel volume and an external surface facing away from the workpiece storage volume, and a cavity opening through the external surface of the front panel from space external to the workpiece storage volume and extending into the three-dimensional panel volume; and a block assembly rigidly fixed to the container assembly and exposed to an environment external to the workpiece storage volume, the block assembly comprising a coupling block configured to removably mate with a corresponding hitch from the environment external to the workpiece storage volume, wherein the block assembly is rigidly fixed to the container assembly within the three-dimensional panel volume. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The container apparatus of claim 1, wherein the block assembly is disposed such that the hitch can move to and removably couple with the block assembly without the hitch having to enter or pass through the workpiece storage volume. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The container apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the container assembly defines a container volume, the workpiece storage volume being a portion of the container volume and enclosed within the container volume; and wherein the block assembly is disposed within the container volume but at least partially external to the workpiece storage volume. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The container apparatus of claim 1, wherein outer dimensions of the container assembly define a footprint of the container assembly, and the block assembly does not extend from the cavity such that it exceeds the footprint of the container assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The container apparatus of claim 1, wherein the block assembly further comprises a flexible shock absorber operably coupled between the coupling block and a surface of the container assembly, the shock absorber configured to reduce physical shock from impact of the corresponding hitch with the block assembly and to isolate the container assembly from vibration arising from the hitch during container assembly movement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The container apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling block comprises a semi-sphere. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The container apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling block comprises a hemisphere. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The container apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling block comprises a frustum of a cone. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The container apparatus of claim 1, wherein the corresponding hitch comprises a beam having an aperture, the aperture having a size sufficient to fit over the coupling block to removably mate the hitch to the coupling block, but said size not sufficient to allow the coupling block to pass completely through the aperture when the hitch removably mates with the coupling block. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The container apparatus of claim 1, wherein the corresponding hitch comprises a beam having an aperture, the aperture having a size sufficient to allow the coupling block to pass completely through the aperture to removably mate the hitch with the coupling block. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The container apparatus of claim 1, wherein the entire container assembly defines a volume and outer perimeter, wherein the volume of the container assembly fits completely within the outer perimeter, and wherein the block assembly does not define any portion of the outer perimeter. ### Claim 12 A storage apparatus comprising: a set of container assemblies, each container assembly of the set of container assemblies movably coupled to a frame, wherein at least one container assembly of the set of container assemblies defines a workpiece storage volume and comprises: a front panel having a three-dimensional panel volume and an external surface facing away from the workpiece storage volume, and a cavity opening through the external surface of the front panel from space external to the workpiece storage volume and extending into the three-dimensional panel volume, and also comprises: a storage apparatus interface assembly configured to movably mate the container assembly to the frame; and a block assembly rigidly fixed to the container assembly and exposed to an environment external to the workpiece storage volume, the block assembly comprising a coupling block configured to removably mate with a corresponding hitch from the environment external to the workpiece storage volume. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The storage apparatus of claim 12, wherein the corresponding hitch comprises a beam having an aperture, the aperture having a size sufficient to fit over the coupling block to removably mate the hitch to the coupling block, but said size not sufficient to allow the coupling block to pass completely through the aperture when the hitch removably mates with the coupling block. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The storage apparatus of claim 12, wherein the corresponding hitch comprises a beam having an aperture, the aperture having a size sufficient to allow the coupling block to pass completely through the aperture to removably mate the hitch with the coupling block. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: providing a movable container assembly, the container assembly defining a workpiece storage volume, and the container assembly comprising a container assembly interface configured to movably mate the container assembly to a storage apparatus and comprising a front panel having a three-dimensional panel volume and an external surface facing away from the workpiece storage volume, and a cavity opening through the external surface of the front panel from space external to the workpiece storage volume and extending into the three-dimensional panel volume; providing a block assembly rigidly fixed to the container assembly and exposed to an environment external to the workpiece storage volume, the block assembly comprising a coupling block configured to removably mate with a corresponding hitch from the environment external to the workpiece storage volume, wherein the block assembly is rigidly fixed to the container assembly within the three-dimensional panel volume; providing a robot apparatus having a hitch configured to removably couple to the block assembly; and automatically moving the robot apparatus to removably couple the hitch to the block assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising moving the container assembly while the hitch is removably coupled to the block assembly by applying a force to the block assembly from the robot apparatus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein moving the container assembly comprises moving the container assembly in a direction away from the storage apparatus.