Lid opening/closing device

A lid-opening/closing device for a storage container provided with a container body storing therein an object to be stored, a lid portion defining a bottom portion openable and closable with respect to the container body and on which the object to be stored is placed, and a locking mechanism configured to perform unlocking and locking of the lid portion with respect to the container body, the lid-opening/closing device being configured to open and close the lid portion with respect to the container body and comprising:

• a device body on which the storage container is placed;
• a plurality of moving units each including an engaging portion configured to engage with the locking mechanism when the storage container is placed on the device body, and configured to perform an unlocking operation to cause the locking mechanism to perform the unlocking and a locking operation to cause the locking mechanism to perform the locking by moving the engaging portion;
• a linkage unit configured to cause the moving units to perform the unlocking operation by moving the moving units in conjunction with each other when causing the locking mechanism to perform the unlocking, and to cause the moving units to perform the locking operation by moving the moving units in conjunction with each other when causing the locking mechanism to perform the locking;
• and
• an actuator provided for the moving units and the linkage unit and configured to simultaneously drive the moving units and the linkage unit;
• wherein
• each of the moving units further includes a first rotating member that is rotatably supported by the device body and is configured to move the engaging portion;
• the linkage unit includes a first connecting member configured to connect at least a pair of the first rotating members to rotate the first rotating members;
• the device body includes:
• a recessed portion in which the moving units, the linkage unit, and the actuator are arranged;
• and
• a top panel portion that covers the recessed portion and defines a placement surface on which the storage container is placed;
• wherein
• the engaging portion is an engaging pin that is installed upright on each of the first rotating members;
• and
• the top panel portion is provided with an opening that has an elongated hole shape and through which the engaging pin protrudes from the placement surface to be able to move between a position of the unlocking operation and a position of the locking operation;
• the pair of the first rotating members connected by the first connecting member are provided in a plurality of pairs so that respective pairs of the first rotating members are located on a first side and on a second side of the lid portion when the storage container is placed on the device body;
• the linkage unit further includes a pair of second rotating members that are rotatably supported by the device body and to which the respective first connecting members are connected, and a second connecting member that connects the pair of the second rotating members to rotate the second rotating members;
• and
• the moving units move the engaging portions such that the locking mechanism switches between a locked position and an unlocked position while the engaging portions are engaged in the recessed portion of the locking mechanism.