Container for double door system with self-leveling tray
The container with a self-leveling tray and rotation means addresses the challenge of transferring fragile samples by enabling translational movement and secure bayonet connections, enhancing safety and efficiency in double-door systems.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2024004143
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-22
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-24
- Estimated Expiration
- 2044-04-22
AI Technical Summary
Existing double-door connection systems are unsuitable for transferring fragile or uncapped samples due to the need for rotational movements, which can damage sensitive materials, and require complex, expensive instrumentation that is prone to errors and long transfer times, incompatible with existing devices.
A container with a self-leveling tray and rotation means allows for translational movement, featuring a locking device that enables the tray to rotate relative to the container, facilitating secure bayonet connections and translations without rotation, compatible with existing double-door systems.
Enables safe and efficient transfer of sensitive materials by minimizing damage risks and reducing transfer times, while maintaining compatibility with existing double-door devices, thus improving ease and reliability.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
Title of invention: Container for double door system with self-leveling tray Technical field
[0001] The invention relates to the sealed transfer of objects from a sealed container to a cell, with a double-door connection system. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] In various industrial sectors, tasks are carried out in a confined atmosphere, to protect the environment, for example, from radioactivity or toxicity, or to carry out these tasks in an aseptic atmosphere.
[0003] The transfer of objects from a container to a cell, without breaking the seal, is ensured with a double-door connection device, known for example from documents FR2695343 and US8950624.
[0004] Such a device can be used for packaging medicines: a filling line is then installed in the cell, and small objects such as bottle caps are transferred into the cell to supply this line.
[0005] The cell is equipped with a flange which is closed on the inside by a cell door mounted on a hinge fitted to this flange, and the container is for example a bag whose mouth is provided with another flange fitted with a container door.
[0006] The container door conventionally comprises a cylindrical body with a main axis provided with a central cylindrical housing defined by a circumferential wall. Internal ears project radially internally to form a second bayonet connection.
[0007] The connection consists of engaging the flange of the container in that of the cell, and pivoting it on itself, which has the effect of:
[0008] - secure the two flanges to each other by engaging a first connection at bayonet called flange-flange connection;
[0009] - secure the two doors to each other by engaging a second connection to bayonet so-called door-door connection via the internal ears;
[0010] - detach the container door from its flange by disengaging a third bayonet connection called flange-door connection.
[0011] After connection, the cell door is pivoted inwards to open it: the container door then being rigidly secured to that of the cell by the door-door connection, it is taken with the cell door to extract it from the container flange.
[0012] When the objects have been transferred, the cell door can then be folded down against this opening with the container door it carries.
[0013] The container is then pivoted on itself in the opposite direction, which has the effect of:
[0014] - securing the container door to the container flange;
[0015] - separate the container door from the cell door;
[0016] - separate the container flange from the cell flange.
[0017] Thus, a rotation in a first direction of the container relative to the cell flange is necessary to ensure the connection of the container to the cell and the opening of the container and cell doors. A corresponding rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction is also necessary to ensure the closing of the container and cell doors as well as to separate the container from the cell flange. This device is unsuitable for the transfer of material sensitive to the rotation of the container, such as for example fragile samples (glass pipettes, biological samples) or uncapped samples (open bottles) while its simplicity of use and its reliability provide significant advantages in the processes in which it is implemented. It is then generally carried out to use multi-door airlocks provided with sliding trays.These devices are bulky and require expensive instrumentation, generally electronic, which can pose reliability problems. Indeed, the translational movement must be particularly gentle to avoid damaging the equipment. These airlock and tray devices are complex to use, which is a source of error during their implementation. Finally, transfer times are particularly long and these devices are not compatible with existing double-door devices. SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The aim of the invention is to improve the ease of transfer in a cell of materials sensitive to the movement of the support on which they are arranged. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] For this purpose, a container is provided comprising a wall separating an interior volume of the container and a volume exterior to the container, the container also comprising a flange defining an opening which accommodates a door mounted on the flange using a set of internal container door lugs and a set of internal flange lugs to form an internal bayonet connection. The flange is also provided with a set of external flange lugs arranged to form an external bayonet connection. According to the invention, the container comprises a tray and rotation means arranged so as to allow rotation of the tray relative to the container around a main axis.
[0020] According to other particular, non-exclusive and optional embodiments of the invention: - the tray is slidably mounted relative to the container in a sliding direction so that it can slide through the opening. - the sliding direction is substantially parallel to the main axis. - the rotation means comprise at least one rolling roller. - the container is substantially in the shape of a right circular cylinder with an axis parallel to the main axis. - in which at least one roller rests on the wall. - the rotation means comprise at least one annular structure on in which at least one roller is rotatably mounted. - the tray is slidably mounted relative to the annular structure. - the container comprises a device for selectively locking the rotation means, the locking device being able to adopt a first locking state in which the tray is integral in rotation with the container and a second release state in which the tray is free in rotation relative to the container. - the locking device comprises one of a finger and a housing, one of which is rotationally fixed to the plate. - the container includes a recall element in the position of the element.
[0021] - the locking device comprises:
[0022] a frame extending into the interior volume and which is mounted to rotate around the main axis relative to the container door;
[0023] a coupling integral in rotation with the frame and which extends into the external volume;
[0024] a lock that blocks rotation of the coupling relative to the container door when the locking device is in its first locking state, the lock allowing free rotation of the coupling relative to the container door when the locking device is in its second release state.
[0025] - one of the two elements extends between two internal flange ears.
[0026] - the locking device is arranged to be in its first locking state when the external bayonet connection is not engaged.
[0027] The invention also relates to a method of transferring an object from or to a tray located in an interior volume (42) of a container, said interior volume being separated from a volume external to the container by a wall, the container also comprising a flange defining an opening which receives a door mounted on the flange using a set of internal container door ears (50) and a set of internal flange ears to form an internal bayonet connection, the flange being also provided with a set of external flange ears arranged to form an external bayonet connection, wherein the container comprises rotation means arranged to allow rotation of the tray relative to the container around a main axis, the container comprising a selective locking device (90) for the rotation means, the locking device being able to adopt a first locking state in which the tray is rotationally fixed to the container and a second release state in which the tray is free to rotate relative to the container, the method comprising the following steps:
[0028] during a transport phase of the container, placing the blocking device in its first state;
[0029] during a transfer phase from or to the interior volume, connect the container to a cell by forming the external bayonet connection;
[0030] unlocking the container door by releasing the internal bayonet connection formed by the set of internal container door ears and the set of internal flange ears;
[0031] - open the door by moving it away from the opening defined by the flange;
[0032] - switching the blocking device from its first state to its second state.
[0033] -loading or unloading the object onto or from the tray;
[0034] - after the transfer, close the container door, and lock the door by forming the internal bayonet connection;
[0035] - separate the container from the cell by undoing the external bayonet connection.
[0036] Advantageously, the method comprises an additional step of locking the plate in rotation relative to the cell.
[0037] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a particular non-limiting embodiment of the invention. Brief description of the drawings
[0038] Reference will be made to the attached figures, among which:
[0039] [Fig-1] is a schematic view from the outside of a cell provided with a flange of a cell whose door is shown closed and which is intended to be connected to a container flange provided with a door according to the invention;
[0040] [Fig.2] is a schematic perspective view of the cell of [Fig. 1] whose door is represented open;
[0041] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of a container according to the invention;
[0042] [Fig.4] is a partial half-sectional perspective view of the container of the [Fig.3];
[0043] [Fig.5] is a half-sectional view of the container of [Fig.3];
[0044] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of a cradle of the container of [Fig.3];
[0045] [Fig.7] is a front view of the cradle of [Fig.6];
[0046] [Fig.8] is a sectional side view of the container of [Fig.3] in a deployed tray configuration;
[0047] [Fig.9] is a perspective view of a door of the container according to the invention;
[0048] [Fig. 10] is a view of the container door of [Fig.9] from a different viewing angle;
[0049] [Fig. 11] is a schematic detail view of the container door of [Fig.8];
[0050] [Fig. 12] is a schematic detail view in perspective of the container according to the invention and its locking device;
[0051] [Fig. 13] is a schematic cutaway perspective view of the container door of [Fig.8];
[0052] [Fig. 14] is a schematic cutaway perspective view of the container door of [Fig.8] in a configuration for engagement in a cell flange;
[0053] [Fig. 15] is a schematic view of a lock of the container door of [Fig.8];
[0054] [Fig. 16] is a schematic view of the container after the door has been fully opened. container. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0055] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a cell partition 1 is equipped with a cell flange 2 in which a container flange 30 of a container 40 is engaged. The container flange 30 defines an opening 31 provided with a container door 50. The door 50 is mounted in the flange 30 using a set of internal container door lugs 51-54 which cooperate with a set of internal container flange lugs 32-35 to provide a first internal bayonet connection. The flange 30 is also provided with a set of four external flange lugs 36-39 arranged to form a second external bayonet connection with external cell lugs 2.1-2.4.
[0056] The cell flange 2 defines a central opening 18 which connects the inside and the outside of the cell 2. The cell flange 2 has an internal face 4 facing the inside of the cell which it equips, and an external face 7 facing the outside of the cell which it equips and to which the container flange 3 is coupled.
[0057] The cell flange 2 is provided on the inside of the cell with a hinge 14 on which is mounted a cell door 15 visible in Figures 1 and 2. This cell door 15 has an external face 8 facing the outside of the cell 2. The door 15 as such is connected to the hinge 14 by means of an arm 16 having one end rigidly secured to a rotating element of the hinge 14 and a body fixed to the door 15. The door 15 comprises a locking block equipped with a cam 21, or throat, which projects radially on the side opposite the hinge 14. The door 15 also comprises four external tabs 15.1 to 15.4 of the cell door 15 which project radially from the door 15 from the main axis AX.
[0058] The cell door 15 opens towards the inside of the cell to release the central opening 18 of the cell flange 2, as in the configuration of [Fig. 2]. This door 15 can also occupy a folded position over the opening 18 to close it, which corresponds to the configuration of [Fig. 1]. As visible in Figures 1 and 2, the hinge 14 extends along an axis AY which is parallel to the partition 1 and which is here oriented vertically.
[0059] The cell flange 2 is equipped with a locking device comprising a rotary lock 19 for selectively cooperating with the cam 21.
[0060] The rotary lock 19 is located opposite the hinge 14, and it protrudes from the internal face 4 while being able to pivot around an axis parallel to the axis AX, this lock 19 comprising a finger 22 extending parallel to the face 4 and which is able to cooperate with the cam 21.
[0061] When the door 15 is folded down, the cam 21 is located opposite the lock 19, so that a pivoting of the lock 19 around its axis allows its finger 22 to be engaged in this cam 21, so as to lock the door. A rotation in the opposite direction of the lock 19 allows its finger 22 to be disengaged, to release the cam 21 and allow the door 15 to be opened and the opening 18 to be released.
[0062] With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the container 40 comprises a wall 41 which delimits an interior volume 42 of the container 40 and a volume exterior to the container 40.
[0063] The wall 41 thus defines a bottom 43 of container 40 and a straight cylindrical portion 44 of wall 41 to form a container 40 substantially in the shape of a right circular cylinder of main axis Ax. The bottom 43 is, here, a bottom which is curved towards the interior volume 42 of the container 40.
[0064] The container 40 comprises a cradle 70 which extends into the volume 42. The cradle 70 comprises a rear annular structure 71 and a front annular structure 72 connected by two rails 73.1 and 73.2 of circular section which extend parallel to the axis Ax.
[0065] The structure 71 is substantially stirrup-shaped and comprises an upper vertex 71.1 and two lower vertices 71.2 and 71.3. A first portion 71.4 of structure 71 connects vertices 71.1 and 71.2, a second portion 71.5 of structure 71 connects vertices 71.1 and 71.3, a third portion 71.6 of structure 71 connects vertices 71.2 and 71.3. The portions 71.4, 71.5 and 71.6 respectively comprise a roller 74.1, 74.2, 74.3 mounted to rotate on the structure 71 around axes substantially orthogonal to the axis Ax and concurrent. The vertices 71.1, 71.2 and 71.3 receive rollers 75.1, 75.2 and 75.3 mounted to rotate on the structure 71 around axes parallel to the axis Ax.
[0066] The structure 72 is substantially circular in shape and is composed of an upper part 72.1 attached to a lower part 72.2 by bolting.
[0067] Three upper rollers 76.1, 76.2 and 76.3 are rotatably mounted on the part 72.1 about axes parallel to the axis Ax. Two lower rollers 76.4 and 76.5 are rotatably mounted on the part 72.2 about axes parallel to the axis Ax.
[0068] The stirrup-type shape of the annular structure 71 advantageously allows the insertion of the annular structure 71 into the interior volume 42 through the opening 31 by tilting it relative to the axis Ax, avoiding a design in two removable elements as for the structure 72.
[0069] The two-part construction of the structure 72 makes it possible to benefit from circular guidance of the cradle relative to the container 40, without reducing the useful passage diameter of the container 40.
[0070] Two support fingers 77.1 and 77.2 are screwed onto the lower part 72.2 to project axially forward (i.e. in the direction of the opening 31) from the lower part 72.2.
[0071] A rear plate 80 is slidably mounted on the rails 73.1 and 73.2. A stop 78 is fixed on the rail 73.1 and to delimit a sliding distance d. A second stop 79 is fixed on the rail 73.2 to delimit the sliding distance d.
[0072] The plate 80 is connected to a front plate 81 by a lower shaft 82.1 and two upper shafts 82.2 and 82.3 all three extending substantially parallel to the axis Ax.
[0073] The lower shaft 82.1 is also slidably mounted through an orifice 72.20 of the lower part 72.2.
[0074] A plate 85 is connected to a rear slide 83 and a front slide 84 which are slidably mounted on the upper shafts 82.2 and 82.3. Thus, the rails 73.1 and 73.2 as well as the plates 80 and 81 constitute, with the shafts 82.1, 82.2 and 82.3 and the slides 83 and 84, a telescopic device for sliding the plate 85 relative to the cradle 70 along the axis Ax.
[0075] As visible in figures 6 and 12, the cradle 70 partly carries a device 90 for blocking the rotation of the cradle 70 around the axis Ax.
[0076] The device 90 comprises two rods 91 and 92 mounted respectively to slide in sheaths 91.10 and 92.10 which open into orifices 72.21 and 72.22 of the lower part 72.2. The respective rear ends 91.1 and 92.1 of the rods 91 and 92 are connected to each other by a rear bar 93 to which they are bolted and the respective front ends 91.2 and 92.2 of the rods 91 and 92 are connected to each other by a front bar 94. Two coil springs 95 and 96 respectively mounted on the rods 91 and 92 extend between a front face 72.23 of the part 72.2 and the bar 94 in order to move the bar 94 away from the front face 72.23. Two fingers 97 and 98 project from a front face 94.1 of the bar 94 to extend between the ears 32 and 33 of the flange 30. The fingers 97 and 98 are identical and respectively comprise a truncated portion 97.1 and 98.1.
[0077] With reference to Figures 9-11 and 13-14, the container door 50 comprises a disc-shaped frame 55 which extends into the interior volume 42 substantially parallel to an interior face 50.1 of the door 50. The frame 55 is secured to an interior end 56.1 of a central shaft 56 which passes through the container door 50 and is rotatably mounted relative to the container door 50 about the axis Ax when the container door 50 is mounted on the container flange 30.
[0078] As visible in [Fig.9], the frame 55 comprises four oblong-shaped slots 68 located near its outer circumference and which are angularly distributed at ninety degrees from each other. The shape of each slot 68 is chosen so that when the frustoconical portions 97.1 and 98.1 of the fingers 97 and 98 are received in the same slot 68, the rotational play of the frame 55 relative to the container door 50 is minimal.
[0079] The outer end 56.2 of the shaft 56 is secured to a coupling 57 which extends into a blind cylindrical housing 58 with a main axis Ax. The housing 58 comprises a radially projecting wall 59 from which comes a set of internal ears 60.1-60.4 separated by internal notches 61.1-61.4 to form an annular groove 62 and which are capable of forming an internal bayonet connection.
[0080] The coupling 57 comprises a plate 57.1 which extends substantially parallel to the bottom 58.1 of the housing 58 and whose two free radial ends 57.2 and 57.3 extend in the groove 62. The plate 57.1 has a width 1571 substantially greater than a width 16i of the notches 61.1-61.4. The end 57.2 comprises two stops 57.20 and 57.21 which extend in axial projection from the plate 57.1 to border the notch 61.1. Identicaly, the end 57.3 comprises two stops 57.30 and 57.31 which extend in axial projection from the plate 57.1 to border the notch 61.3. The plate 57.1 also comprises a light 63 which describes a portion of an amplitude a equal to thirty degrees of a ring centered on the shaft 56. A first end 63.1 of the light 63 delimits a straight cylindrical housing 64 of first diameter Df4 and axis substantially parallel to the axis Ax when the container door 50 is mounted on the container flange 30.The light 63 has a width l63 much smaller than the diameter D^. .
[0081] A stepped lock 65 is slidably mounted in a housing 66 of the container door 50 in a direction substantially parallel to the axis Ax when the container door 50 is mounted on the container flange 30. The lock 65 is, here, a part of revolution which comprises a succession of four stages 65.1, 65.2, 65.3 and 65.4 surmounted by a hemispherical cap 65.5. The stages 65.1, 65.2 and 65.4 are in straight cylinder shape and stage 65.3 is in the shape of a truncated cone. Stage 65.1 has a diameter greater than diameter D64. Stage 65.2 has a diameter substantially equal to or less than diameter D64 and substantially greater than width 163. Finally, stage 65.4 has a diameter substantially equal to or less than width 163.
[0082] The stage 65.1 comprises a central housing 65.10 in which a spring 67 extends. A first end 67.1 of the spring 67 bears against an upper face 65.11 of the housing 65.10. A second end 67.2 of the spring 67 extends out of the housing 65.10 to bear against a face 66.1 of the housing 66. Thus, the spring 67 pushes the lock 65 into the slot 63.
[0083] The lock 65 can adopt two states: a first blocking state in which the lock 65 is pushed back by the spring 67 through the housing 64. The stage 65.2 then extends into the housing 64 and then blocks a rotation of the coupling 57 relative to the door 50 ([Fig. 13]). In its second release state, the lock 65 is pushed back against the effect of the spring 67 and the stage 65.4 extends into the housing 64. The diameter of the stage 65.4 allows the sliding of the stage 65.4 relative to the light 63 and thus allows a rotation of the coupling 57 relative to the door 50 ([Fig. 14]).
[0084] The lock 65 and the rods 91 and 92 are part of the locking device 90.
[0085] The installation of the cradle 70 in the container 40 is done by separating the upper 72.1 and lower 72.2 parts of the structure 72. Once the cradle 70 is introduced into the interior volume 42 via the opening 31, the upper part 72.1 is also introduced into the volume 42 via the opening 31 and bolted onto the lower part 72.2 through the opening 31. Once the cradle 70 is installed in the container 40, the rollers 75.1-75.3 and 76.1-76.5 come into contact with the straight cylindrical portion 44 of the wall 4L. The rollers 74.1-74.3 come into contact with the bottom 43 of the container 40. The fingers 77.1 and 77.2 come, for their part, to bear on an inner face of the ear 33 to prevent sliding of the cradle 70 through the opening 31. The fingers 77.1 and 77.2 thus allow the axial maintenance (blocking in translation along the axis Ax) of the cradle 70. There are two of them so that at least one of the fingers 77.1 and 77.2 is located opposite an ear 32 to 35 regardless of the angular position of the cradle relative to the container ears 32 to 35.
[0086] The cradle 70 is then free to rotate around the axis Ax relative to the wall 41 of the container 40. When the door 50 is mounted in the flange 30 using the first internal bayonet connection, the fingers 97 and 98 engage in the slot 68 to secure the frame 55 and the cradle 70 in rotation. The lock 65 is pushed back by the spring 67 into its first locking state. The coupling 57 is locked in rotation relative to the container door 50, itself kept locked in rotation relative to the container flange 30 by the first bayonet connection. internal. The armature 55 being integral in rotation with the coupling 57, the armature 55 is then blocked in rotation relative to the container 40. Thus, when the blocking device 90 is in its locked state, the cradle 70 is integral in rotation with the container 40.
[0087] When the container flange 30 of the container 40 is approached to the cell flange 2, the cap 65.5 of the lock 65 comes into contact with the external face 8 of the cell door 15. By engaging the container flange 30 in the cell flange 2 by a translation in a direction substantially parallel to the axis Ax, the following events occur: - the lock 65 passes into its release position, and the coupling 57 is free to rotate relative to the container 40; - the external tabs 15.1-15.4 of the cell door 15 engage in the notches 61.1-61.4 of the container door 50. The external tab 15.1 then extends between the stops 57.20 and 57.22. The external tab 15.3 extends between the stops 57.30 and 57.31. The coupling 57 is then rotationally fixed to the cell door 15 which, being rotationally fixed relative to the cell flange 2, becomes a new fixed reference for the frame 55.
[0088] When the container 40 rotates relative to the cell flange 2, the wall 41 rotates sixty degrees relative to the cell flange 2. The container door 50 rotates thirty degrees relative to the cell flange 2 - and incidentally relative to the cell door 15. The coupling 57 being rotationally fixed to the cell door 15, it remains fixed when the wall 41 rotates relative to the cell flange 2 and the plate 85 also remains fixed relative to the cell flange 2 when the stage 65.4 moves in the slot 63.
[0089] Once the rotation of the wall 41 is complete, the container flange 30 and the cell flange 2 are secured, the container door 50 and the cell door 15 are secured and the container 40 is unlocked, it is then possible to open the block consisting of the doors 50 and 15.
[0090] During the opening of the container door 50, the springs 95 and 96 push back the fingers 97 and 98 n which remain in the light 68 and thus block a rotation of the cradle 70 relative to the container door 50, itself integral with the cell door 2. Thus, during the opening of the container door 50, the cradle 70 is kept blocked in rotation relative to the cell 2. This blocking situation is maintained until the rear bar 93 comes into abutment against the rear faces of the sleeves 91.10 and 92.10. At this moment, the bar 94 extends between the ears 33 and 34 of the container 30 and the lateral faces 94.1 and 94.2 of the bar 94 come into abutment against the respective flanks 33.1 and 34.1 of the ears 33 and 34 ([Fig.l6]). thus immobilizing in rotation
[0091] For a short instant, the rotation of the cradle 70 relative to the cell 2 is on the one hand blocked by the fingers 97 and 98 which are engaged in the light 55 and on the other hand blocked by the lateral faces 94.1 and 94.2 of the bar 94 coming into abutment against the ears 33 and 34. It is this overlapping of the functions when the doors 50 and 15 are opened which ensures that the cradle 70 is permanently held in place.
[0092] When the doors 15 and 50 are fully open, the rotational locking of the cradle 70 relative to the cell 2 is ensured by the lateral faces 94.1 and 94.2 of the bar 94 coming into abutment against the respective flanks 33.1 and 34.1 of the ears 33 and 34.
[0093] After establishing the bayonet connection between the container door 50 and the cell door 15, the cell door 15 is unlocked and opened. It is then possible to cause the tray 85 to slide through the opening 31.
[0094] Disconnecting the container 40 from the cell flange 2 causes the operations detailed above to proceed in reverse chronological order. The fingers 97 and 98 engage in the slot 68 and the cradle remains fixed relative to the cell flange 2 during rotation of the container 40 relative to the cell flange 2. The lock 65 enters its locked state during disengagement of the container flange 30 and the cell flange 2, and the plate 85 becomes integral in rotation with the container door 50 and thus with the container 40.
[0095] A device is thus obtained which makes it possible to maintain a fixed reference, preferably horizontal, of a tray 85 in a container 40 with bayonet connection whether the container 40 is engaged in a cell flange or during transport.
[0096] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described but encompasses any variant falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
[0097] In particular,
[0098] - although here the front structure comprises two parts attached to each other by bolting, the invention also applies to other means of reversible assembly of two parts such as for example clipping, screwing;
[0099] - although here the front structure comprises two parts attached to each other by bolting, the invention also applies to other means of reversible assembly of two parts such as for example clipping, screwing;
[0100] - although here the coupling comprises two stops mounted at each end of an arm, the invention also applies to other types of integral coupling rotating with the armature such as a friction or dog clutch;
[0101] - although here the operations of connecting and disconnecting the container and the cell flange require a relative rotation of the container and the cell flange by an amplitude of sixty degrees, the invention also applies to other values of the angular amplitude such as for example an amplitude of thirty degrees;
[0102] - although here the light is carried by the armature and the finger is carried by the cradle, the invention also applies to a finger carried by the frame and a light carried by the cradle.
Claims
Claims
1. Container (40) comprising a wall (41) separating an interior volume (42) of the container (40) and a volume exterior to the container (40), the container (40) also comprising a flange (30) defining an opening (31) which receives a door (50) mounted on the flange (30) using a set of internal ears (51-54) of the container door (50) and a set of internal ears (32-35) of the flange (30) to form an internal bayonet connection, the flange (30) also being provided with a set of external ears of flanges (36-39) arranged to form an external bayonet connection, wherein the container (40) comprises a tray (85) and rotation means (70) arranged to allow rotation of the tray (85) relative to the container (40) about a main axis (Ax).
2. The container (40) of claim 1, wherein the tray (85) is slidably mounted relative to the container (40) in a sliding direction to be able to slide through the opening (31).
3. Container (40) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sliding direction is substantially parallel to the main axis (Ax).
4. Container (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotation means (70) comprise at least one roller (74.1-74.3; 75.1-75.3; 76.1-76.5).
5. Container (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (40) is substantially in the shape of a right circular cylinder with an axis parallel to the main axis (Ax).
6. Container (40) according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the at least one roller (74.1-74.3; 75.1-75.3; 76.1-76.5) bears on the wall (41).
7. Container (40) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the rotation means (70) comprise at least one annular structure (71, 72) on which the at least one roller (74.1-74.3; 75.1-75.3; 76.1-76.5) is rotatably mounted.
8. Container (40) according to claims 2 and 7 or 3 and 7, wherein the tray (85) is slidably mounted relative to the annular structure (71, 72).
9. A container (40) according to any preceding claim, wherein the container (40) comprises a device selective locking (90) of the rotation means (70), the locking device (90) being able to adopt a first locking state in which the plate (85) is integral in rotation with the container (40) and a second release state in which the plate (85) is free in rotation relative to the container (40).
10. Container (40) according to claim 9, in which the locking device (90) comprises an element (97, 98) among a finger (97, 98) and a housing (68) one of the two of which is integral in rotation with the plate (85).
11. Container (40) according to claim 10, comprising a position return element (95, 96) of the element (97, 98).
12. Container (40) according to any one of claims 9 to 6, wherein the locking device (90) comprises:
1. a frame (55) extending into the interior volume (42) and which is rotatably mounted about the main axis (Ax) relative to the container door (40); 2. a coupling (57) integral in rotation with the frame (55) and which extends into the exterior volume; 3. a lock (65) which blocks a rotation of the coupling (57) relative to the container door (50) when the locking device (90) is in its first locking state, the lock (65) allowing free rotation of the coupling (57) relative to the container door (50) when the locking device (90) is in its second release state.
13. Container (40) according to claims 10 and 12, wherein one of the two elements (,97, 98) extends between two internal ears (32-33) of flange (30).
14. A container (40) according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the locking device (90) is arranged to be in its first locking state when the external bayonet connection is not engaged.
15. A method of transferring an object from or to a tray (85) located in an interior volume (42) of a container (40), said interior volume being separated from a volume external to the container (40) by a wall (41), the container (40) also comprising a flange (30) defining an opening (31) which receives a door (50) mounted on the flange (30) using a set of internal ears (51-54) of the container door (50) and a set of internal ears (32-35)
16. of flange (30) to form an internal bayonet connection, the flange (30) also being provided with a set of external flange ears (36-39) arranged to form an external bayonet connection, wherein the container (40) comprises rotation means (70) arranged to allow rotation of the tray (85) relative to the container (40) around a main axis (Ax), the container (40) comprising a selective locking device (90) of the rotation means (70), the locking device (90) being able to adopt a first locking state in which the tray (85) is rotationally fixed to the container (40) and a second release state in which the tray (85) is free to rotate relative to the container (40), the method comprising the following steps: - during a transport phase of the container, placing the locking device (90) in its first state; - during a transfer phase from or to the interior volume (42), connect the container (40) to a cell (2) by forming the external bayonet connection; - unlock the door (50) of the container (40) by releasing the internal bayonet connection formed by the set of internal container door ears (51-54) and the set of internal flange ears (32-35); - open the door (50) by moving it away from the opening (31) defined by the flange (30); - switching the locking device (90) from its first state to its second state; - load or unload the object onto or from the platform (85); - after the transfer, close the door (50) of the container, and lock the door (50) by forming the internal bayonet connection; - separate the container (40) from the cell by undoing the external bayonet connection. Transfer method according to claim 15, comprising an additional step of locking the plate (85) in rotation relative to the cell (2).
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