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US 2006/0213152 A1Published application
System, method, and apparatus for removing covers from shipping containers
AssigneeHitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
InventorLarry Mosher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for removing covers from shipping cassettes that are used to ship computer disk media unlatches the covers and separates them from the cassette in a single fixture position. A movable fork unlatches a top cover from a bottom cover while the cassette is rotated off of the bottom cover. This action unlatches and separates the two covers allowing the removal of the bottom cover from the cassette in one motion. The top cover is then easily lifted off of the bottom cover.
Claims19
A fixture for removing a cover from a shipping container, the fixture comprising:
- a base having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, a transverse axis orthogonal to both the longitudinal and lateral axes, a surface extending in a plane defined by the longitudinal and lateral axes, side walls extending transversely from the surface, a slot defined longitudinally between the side walls and extending along the surface, and the slot being adapted to support the shipping container;
- a pivot guide mounted to the surface and extending laterally between the side walls, the pivot guide being adapted to guide the shipping container and act as a fulcrum for the shipping container during cover removal;
- a catch mounted to the surface and longitudinally spaced apart from the pivot guide, the catch having a lip extending longitudinally that is transversely spaced apart from the surface to define a slit for receiving a portion of the cover, and the lip being adapted to engage the cover during removal from the shipping container;
- and
- a fork mounted to the base adjacent the catch and extending transversely above the surface, the fork being longitudinally movable relative to the base, the pivot guide, and the catch, and the fork being adapted to engage the cover and moved longitudinally during removal from the shipping container.
2 more elements
A system for removing covers from shipping containers of various sizes, the system comprising:
- a fixture having a base including a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, a transverse axis orthogonal to both the longitudinal and lateral axes, a surface extending in a plane defined by the longitudinal and lateral axes, a pair of side walls extending transversely from the surface, a slot defined longitudinally between the pair of side walls and extending along the surface;
- a pivot guide mounted to the surface and extending laterally between the pair of side walls;
- a catch mounted to the surface and longitudinally spaced apart from the pivot guide, the catch having a lip extending longitudinally toward the pivot guide that is transversely spaced apart from the surface to define a slit for receiving a portion of the cover;
- a fork mounted to the base adjacent the catch and extending transversely above the surface, the fork being longitudinally movable relative to the base, the pivot guide, and the catch;
- and
- the shipping container is placed in the slot and pivot guide, pushed longitudinally into contact with the catch, pivoted transversely about the pivot guide toward the fork such that the fork deflects a portion of the cover from the shipping container, pushed longitudinally deeper into the slit of the catch and longitudinally move the fork, and then pulled transversely away from the fork such that the lip pulls the cover from the shipping container.
3 more elements
A method of removing covers from shipping containers of various sizes, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a fixture having a slot, a pivot guide and a catch mounted in the slot, and a fork located between the pivot guide and the catch;
- (b) placing a shipping container in the slot and on the pivot guide, the shipping container having a cover;
- (c) pushing the shipping container and cover along the slot such that the pivot guide guides the shipping container into contact with the catch;
- (d) pivoting one end of the shipping container and the cover about the pivot guide toward the fork;
- (e) deflecting a portion of the cover from the shipping container with the fork;
- (f) pushing the shipping container deeper into the catch and displacing the fork toward the catch;
- and then
- (g) retaining the cover with the catch by pulling the shipping container away from the cover to remove the cover from the shipping container.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.