Apparatus and method for assisting a user in actuating a locking mechanism associated with a storage device

An apparatus for assisting a user in actuating a locking mechanism having a combination input device and a lock capable of being switched from a locked state to an unlocked state upon entering a preset combination using the combination input device, the locking mechanism being associated with a storage device, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• an actuator coupled to said housing, said actuator comprising an interface configured to releasably engage the combination input device of the locking mechanism and move the combination input device to actuate the locking mechanism and transition the lock from the locked state to the unlocked state;
• a controller in communication with said actuator and configured to operate said actuator so that said actuator moves the combination input device based on the preset combination to actuate the locking mechanism and transition the lock from the locked state to the unlocked state;
• and
• a datum finder configured to identify a zero position of the combination input device, said datum finder comprising a light source and a sensor for receiving reflected light from said light source to identify the zero position of the combination input device,
• wherein said datum finder comprises an accelerometer configured to identify an error in the identified zero position, said controller configured to correct the zero position based on signals from said sensor and said accelerometer.

An apparatus for assisting a user in actuating a locking mechanism having a combination input device and a lock capable of being switched from a locked state to an unlocked state upon entering a preset combination using the combination input device, the locking mechanism being associated with a storage device, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• an actuator coupled to said housing, said actuator comprising an interface configured to releasably engage the combination input device of the locking mechanism and move the combination input device to actuate the locking mechanism and transition the lock from the locked state to the unlocked state;
• a controller in communication with said actuator and configured to operate said actuator so that said actuator moves the combination input device based on the preset combination to actuate the locking mechanism and transition the lock from the locked state to the unlocked state;
• and
• a datum finder configured to identify a zero position of the combination input device, wherein said datum finder comprises a camera configured to capture images of the combination input device.