Method and apparatus for accessing a plate storage device

Abstract

A storage device and its method of use comprises a first door and a second door spaced relative to one another so as to define a storage area therebetween. Each of the first and second doors have an open position to permit access to the storage area and a closed position to enclose the storage area. The first door is linked to the second door such that when the first door is in the open position the second door is in the closed position and when the first door is in the closed position the second door is in the open position.

1 . A storage device located within an environmentally controlled chamber, wherein the storage device is accessible from within the environmentally controlled chamber as well as from an environment exterior to the storage device, wherein further access from the environment exterior to the storage device has a minimal impact on the environmentally controlled chamber, the storage device comprising: 
 a first door;    a second door spaced relative to the first door so as to define a storage area therebetween, each of the first and second doors having an open position so as to permit access to the storage area and a closed position so as to enclose the storage area,    wherein the first door is configured to be linked to the second door such that when the first door is in the open position the second door is in the closed position and when the first door is in the closed position the second door is in the open position.    
   
   
       2 . The storage device of  claim 1 , further comprising a member disposed within the storage area, the member being connected to the first and second doors such that moving the first door from the closed position to the open position displaces the member relative to the storage area so as to displace the second door relative to the member, the second door being displaced from the open position to the closed position.  
   
   
       3 . The storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the second door is configured to pivot about the member when the second door is displaced.  
   
   
       4 . The storage device of  claim 3 , wherein the second door includes a plate having a pivot connection to the member and the plate comprises a link configured such that the second door and plate are limited to rotational movement about the member upon linear displacement of the member in a plane relative to the storage area.  
   
   
       5 . The storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the member is connected to the first door such that wherein when the member is displaced relative to the storage area, the member moves linearly in a plane relative to the first door.  
   
   
       6 . The storage device of  claim 5 , wherein the member is connected to the first door so as to have a slide connection therebetween.  
   
   
       7 . The storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the storage area includes at least one sensor configured to locate the position of the member relative to at least a portion of the storage area.  
   
   
       8 . The storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the member is configured to hold at least one container within the storage area.  
   
   
       9 . The storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the first door further defines an opening in communication with the storage area and wherein moving the first door from the closed position to the open position displaces the member such that the at least one container is displaced from inside the storage area to outside the storage area through the opening.  
   
   
       10 . The storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the member is free standing relative to the storage area.  
   
   
       11 . The storage device of  claim 10 , wherein the member is connected to the first door so as to be cantilevered from the first door.  
   
   
       12 . The storage device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a housing having an inner chamber, the housing defining an opening in communication with the inner chamber; and    a connector for connecting the first and second doors to the housing such that when the second door is in the open position, the inner chamber is in communication with the storage area, and when the second door is in the closed position, the inner chamber is at least partially enclosed from the storage area by the second door.    
   
   
       13 . The storage device of  claim 12 , wherein the inner chamber defines an inner chamber temperature and wherein further the second door is configured such that when the second door is in the open position, the storage area has a storage area temperature substantially equal to the inner chamber temperature, and when the second door is in the closed position, the inner chamber temperature remains substantially constant and the storage area temperature is variable.  
   
   
       14 . The storage device of  claim 13 , wherein the inner chamber temperature is in the range of about 4° C. to about 40° C.  
   
   
       15 . A storage device comprising: 
 assembly means defining a storage area therein and including first means for providing access to and enclosing the storage area and second means for providing access to and enclosing the storage area;    the first means being linked to the second means such that accessing the storage area by the first means encloses the storage area by the second means and further such that enclosing the storage area by the first means provides access to the storage area by the second means.    
   
   
       16 . The storage device of  claim 15  further comprising container means for holding a material within the storage area.  
   
   
       17 . The storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the first, second and container means are linked together such that accessing the storage area by the first means displaces the container means relative to the storage area so as to enclose the storage area by the second means.  
   
   
       18 . A method of accessing a container within a storage device comprising: 
 providing an assembly having a first door and a second door disposed relative to the first door so as to define a storage area therebetween, the first door being linked to the second door, each of the first and second doors having an open position so as to permit access to the storage area and a closed position so as to enclose the storage area, the assembly further having a member configured to hold the container in the storage area;    placing the first door in the open position so as to place the second door is in the closed position; and    accessing the container in the storage area, the accessing being limited to access by the first door.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising placing the first door in the closed position so as to place the second door in the open position; and 
 alternatively accessing the container in the storage area, the alternatively accessing being limited to access by the second door.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of accessing the container or alternatively accessing the container includes determining the position of the container relative to the storage area.