Workpiece container assembly and apparatus for opening/closing the same

Abstract

A workpiece container assembly includes a container, and a cover having a locking section that facilitates manipulation and gripping by an apparatus for opening and closing the workpiece container assembly. The container is configured to accommodate workpiece(s) therein. A body of the cover covers an open side of the container. The locking section of the cover includes a bar protruding towards the exterior of the body of the cover, a jaw extending from the bar, and a resilient member connected to the bar such that the bar is biased in its longitudinal direction. The container also includes a frame defining an insertion hole into which the bar of the locking section of the cover is inserted. The opening/closing apparatus includes a clamp that can latch onto the jaw and move the bar against the biasing force of the resilient member to withdraw the bar from the insertion hole in the frame of the container.

1 . An apparatus for opening/closing a container assembly, the apparatus comprising: 
 a stage dedicated to support the container assembly;    a plate assembly extending upright relative to said stage, said plate assembly having a cover-separating section including a clamp comprising a pair of arms;    a first driving mechanism that moves said stage and said plate assembly linearly relative to each other in a first direction, the cover-separating section being disposed at a side of said plate assembly that faces said stage in said first direction, whereby the cover-separating section can be brought face-to-face with a container assembly supported on said stage; and    a second driving mechanism connected to said clamp so as to move said arms of the clamp relative to each other.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first driving mechanism is connected to said stage so as to move said stage relative to said plate assembly.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , and further comprising a third driving mechanism connected to said plate assembly so as to move said plate assembly perpendicularly to said stage.  
   
   
       4 . The combination of a container assembly and apparatus for opening and closing the container assembly, wherein 
 said container assembly comprises a container configured to accommodate at least one workpiece therein, and a cover, said container having an opening at one side thereof, and a frame delimiting at least a portion of the opening, said frame defining at least one insertion hole therein, and said cover including a cover body that spans said opening, and at least one locking section by which the cover is secured to the container, said locking section including a bar extending longitudinally towards the outside of the body of the cover and into the insertion hole in the frame of said container, a jaw extending from said bar to the exterior of the body of said cover, and a resilient member connected to the bar such that the bar is biased in its longitudinal direction by said resilient member, and    said apparatus comprising a stage dedicated to support the. container assembly, a plate assembly extending upright relative to said stage, said plate assembly having a cover-separating section including a clamp having a pair of arms, a first driving mechanism that moves said stage and said plate assembly linearly relative to each other in a first direction, the cover-separating section being disposed at a side of said plate assembly that faces in said stage in said first direction, and a second driving mechanism connected to said clamp so as to move said arms of the clamp toward and away from each other.    
   
   
       5 . The combination as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein a jaw tapers in a direction towards said bar so as to define a notch between a distal end of said jaw and said bar, and one of said arms of the clamp has a distal end having a shape corresponding to that of said notch.  
   
   
       6 . The combination as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said container assembly comprises at least one pair of said locking sections, the bars of each said pair being axially aligned within the body of said cover.  
   
   
       7 . The combination as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the jaw extending from each of said bars tapers towards the bar so as to define a notch between a distal end of the jaw and said bar, and each of the arms of the clamp has a distal end having shape corresponding to a respective one of the notches.