Lid-opening/closing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9514973-B2
Application number	US-201314407195-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2013
Priority date	Jun 14, 2012
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

A lid-opening/closing device includes a device body, a lock-opening/closing mechanism, and a container-securing unit. A pod including a container body, a lid portion defining a bottom portion that is openable and closable with respect to the container body, and a locking mechanism performing unlocking and locking of the lid portion with respect to the container body is placed on the device body. The lock-opening/closing mechanism performs unlocking operation to cause the locking mechanism to perform the unlocking, and performs locking operation to cause the locking mechanism to perform the locking by moving an engaging portion configured to engage with the locking mechanism when the pod is placed on the device body. The container-securing unit secures the container body to the device body in conjunction with the lock-opening/closing mechanism when the locking mechanism is caused to perform the unlocking.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. 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 that is openable and closable with respect to the container body and on which an 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 moving unit that includes 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; and
a container-securing unit configured to secure the container body to the device body in conjunction with the moving unit when the locking mechanism is caused to perform the unlocking; wherein
the moving unit further includes:
a plurality of rotating members each of which: includes the engaging portion, is rotatably supported by the device body, and is configured to move the engaging portions;
a connecting member configured to connect at least a pair of the rotating members and rotate the pair of rotating members; and
an actuator that is attached to the device body and is configured to impart a driving force to the connecting member;

the container-securing unit is linked with movement of the connecting member;
the container-securing unit includes a pressing member configured to press the container body and a biasing member configured to bias the pressing member toward the container body; and
the moving unit includes a linkage member configured to separate the pressing member from the container body in a direction against a biasing force of the biasing member when the locking operation is performed, and is configured to allow the biasing member to bias the pressing member when the unlocking operation is performed.

2. The lid-opening/closing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the container-securing unit includes a lever portion including a base-end side rotatably supported by the device body and a leading-end side that is movable;
the pressing member includes an elastic roller configured to elastically abut the container body and be rotatably attached to the leading-end side of the lever portion;
the biasing member includes a spring configured to bias the leading-end side of the lever portion; and
the linkage member includes a cam follower that is fixed in a position on the connecting member where the linkage member is capable of abutting on and separating from the lever portion in connection with the movement of the connecting member and rotates the lever portion.

Assignees

• Murata Machinery Ltd

Inventors

• Fukaya Noriyasu

Classifications

• B65D2585/86

  for electrical components · CPC title

• H10P72/3408

  Docking arrangements · CPC title

• H10P72/3404 Primary

  Storage means · CPC title

• H10P72/1914

  characterised by locking systems · CPC title

• H10P72/3406 Primary

  involving removal of lid, door or cover · CPC title