FIMS transport box load interface

In a front-opening interface mechanical standard (FIMS) system including a transport box comprising a front-opening box cover and a removable box door that opens and closes the front opening of the box, a box door latch mechanism operatively connected to a latch actuating coupler to releasibly secure the box door to the box cover in response to rotation of external latch keys inserted into the box to operate the latch actuating coupler, and a box bottom comprising a front clamping feature and a physical alignment interface having mating features that mate with kinematic coupling surfaces to which the transport box is intended to be mounted, a box load interface, comprising:

• a retractable port door attachable to the box door to selectively move the box door toward or away from the box cover to thereby open or close it;
• a port plate having a front surface and a port plate aperture through which the box door can move as the port door moves the box door toward or away from the box cover;
• a slidable tray slidably mounted to a support shelf positioned transversely of the port plate, and a box hold down clamping mechanism mounted to the support shelf;
• and
• a slidable tray positioning mechanism for selectively moving the slidable tray on the support shelf and thereby move the transport box toward or away from the port plate, the positioning mechanism operatively connected to the clamping mechanism to engage the clamping mechanism to the front clamping feature and thereby apply an urging force to the box cover against the kinematic coupling surfaces while the slidable tray advances toward the port plate to push the front opening of the box cover against the front surface of the port plate, and to disengage the clamping mechanism from the front clamping feature and thereby release the urging force from the box cover against the kinematic coupling surfaces while the slidable tray retracts from the port plate to pull the box cover away from the front surface of the port plate.