Patent Publication Number: US-2020278939-A1

Title: Storage units and casings

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This patent application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/598,225 filed on Oct. 10, 2019, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a system and method of use for automating the processing steps required for producing multiple copies of pre-recorded information; more particularly, it relates to an apparatus for automatically publishing digital content to storage units. 
     The problem today of publishing digital content on a data storage unit, such as a USB, SD or other storage device, is identifying content or data that is stored on the unit by the labeling of the drive. Such storage units are manufactured without any content stored on the flash and either have no labeling on them, or they are labeled with a branded logo. To add content to a storage unit, they are individually connected to a device and data is transferred to the drive. If the drive is not labeled the drive is manually moved to a printer and a label/image is applied. There is no solution today that verifies the content on the storage unit matches the label artwork applied to the storage unit. 
     The system and method described herein provides a compact, faster, automated improvement of content publishing, eliminates errors and offers other advantages over the prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosure provides a solution that allows parallel processing of the image data and the digital content data and avoids the human error inherent in current methods. A significant time reduction may be achieved by storing the data while preprinting the image to a transfer sheet prior to transferring the image to the storage unit. This solution allows for each storage unit to have its unique data and be labeled with its own unique label within an automated workflow, assuring that the image printed on the drive directly correlates to the data stored on the drive. The system assures the finished unit is manufactured to specifications of the job and is functional. 
     An automated storage unit publishing system comprises a recording device for recording information on a storage unit memory chip; a bin plate with a storage unit bin and a casing bin; an assembling mechanism movably attached to the bin plate, the assembling deck comprising a shuttle for removing a selected sized casing from the casing bin and a recorded flash memory chip from the chip bin and assembling the two into a single unit using pressure; a printing device for printing marks, indications or decoration on the casing, and a gripping device for placing the finished unit in an output mechanism. 
     The features, functions and advantages that have been discussed may be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present invention or may be combined with yet other embodiments, further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment consistent with this disclosure and showing how a user accesses and interacts with a publishing system as described herein. 
         FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b    illustrate storage units capable of recording digital content and assembled to casings consistent with this disclosure. 
         FIGS. 3 a -3 c    illustrate exemplary casings that may be used with an automated storage unit publishing device. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of an exemplary automated storage unit publishing device consistent with this disclosure. 
         FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b    illustrate upper and underside views of a mounting plate comprising case and storage unit bins, recording units and assembler unit and carriage subsystem. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary recording device for recording digital content on a flash memory chip consistent with this disclosure. 
         FIGS. 7 a  and 7 b    illustrates upper and underside views of an assembler subsystem. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates and exemplary printing device and gripper mechanism with lift consistent with this disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary gripper device of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  provides an additional view of an exemplary gripping device. 
         FIGS. 11 a  and 11 b    provide a flow chart describing a method of using an automated storage unit publishing device consistent with this disclosure. 
         FIGS. 12 a -12 d    provide incremental views of the process of aligning the recorder with a storage unit at the base of a storage unit bin. 
         FIGS. 12 e -12 h    provide alternative incremental views of the process of aligning the recorder with a storage unit at the base of a storage unit bin. 
         FIGS. 13 a  and 13 b    provide greater detail of the connection between a recorder tongue and the storage unit. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an alternative exemplary gripper device. 
         FIG. 15  provides an additional view of an exemplary gripping device of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  provides an additional view of the large casing and storage unit. 
         FIG. 17  provides another view of the large casing and storage unit of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  provides a view of a portion of the large casing and storage unit of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 19  provides another view of the large casing and storage unit of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 20  provides another view of the large casing and storage unit of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 21  provides a view of a portion of the large casing and storage unit of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 22  provides a view of a portion of the large casing of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 23  provides a view of a portion of the large casing of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 24  provides a view of assembly of the large casing and storage unit of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 25  provides an additional view of the small casing and storage unit. 
         FIG. 26  provides another view of the large casing and storage unit of  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 27  provides a view of a portion of the large casing and storage unit of  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 28  provides another view of the large casing and storage unit of  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 29  provides another view of the large casing and storage unit of  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 30  provides a view of a portion of the large casing and storage unit of  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 31  provides a view of a portion of the large casing of  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 32  provides a view of a portion of the large casing of  FIG. 25 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the claimed subject matter will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments are shown. The subject matter disclosed may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure may satisfy legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
     Where possible, any terms expressed in the singular form herein are meant to also include the plural form and vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, as used herein, the term “a” and/or “an” shall mean “one or more,” even though the phrase “one or more” is also used herein. Furthermore, when it is said herein that something is “based on” something else, it may be based on one or more other things as well. In other words, unless expressly indicated otherwise, as used herein “based on” means “based at least in part on” or “based at least partially on.” It should also be understood that while some embodiments describe the methods or products as comprising one or more elements, the methods or elements may also consist of or consist essentially of the elements disclosed herein. 
     As described herein, a “user” is an individual who seeks to utilize, operate or perform one or more activities associated with publishing information on a digital storage unit. A preferred embodiment of an automated storage unit publishing device is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . A user may access such a system  100  using a computing system  102  operatively connected to the publishing system  100 , to create or store media files for recording or printing on a select size and capacity casing-and-storage unit chip unit. The computing system  102  may be a typical laptop or desktop computer, equipped with a communications device  104 , a processing device  106 , a memory device  108  with non-transitory data storage  110 , modules and applications  112 . The computing system  102  may provide access to the automated publishing device  100  controller software via an application stored in the computing system memory  112  or as a software-as-a-service application accessible over the internet via the communications device  104 . The automated publishing system  100  similarly comprises a computing component with a communications device  114 , a processing device  116  and memory device  118  with data storage  120 , modules and applications  122 . An automated publishing system  100  may be provided as a standalone device, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or may be provided as a system of multiple devices accessible via a network. The automated publishing system  100  further comprises a number of subassemblies or subsystems equipped with microcontrollers directing the function and behavior of the subsystem in response to stored programs and sensor indications. 
     When the automated publishing system  100  is accessed from a computer system  102 , a graphical user interface (GUI) may be generated allowing the user to configure a publishing job by inputting job parameters. The interface may be generated from computer instructions physically located  112  on the computing system or may be accessed from a remote computing system via a network or cloud  124 . A typical set of job parameters may include specifying the size of a casing, the capacity of the storage unit (which may alternatively be automatically determined by the size of the content file) and the storage location for image and content files. A user may load casings and memory chips into bins. Once job parameters are set, the job will proceed and complete automatically and the user may retrieve finished units from a finished unit stack. 
     Exemplary storage units  200   a  and  200   b  are illustrated in  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b   . The exemplary units are USB3 storage units each comprised of an outer casing or enclosure  202 , integrated with a USB data interface  204  that will allow the finished product to connect with a USB port on a computing system, a memory chip  206  and a flexible plastic connector  208  that provides the physical connection to the casing. The flexible connector may be comprised of tines  210  that collapse as the unit is pressed into a slot in the casing and relax and rebound to hold the unit in place when the connector is firmly inside the casing. USB3 storage unit chip standards require two sets of contacts: spring-loaded contacts  212  and stationary contacts  214 . 
       FIGS. 3 a -3 c    illustrate exemplary large  302  and small  304  casings consistent with those that may be used with an automated storage unit publishing system  102 . Casings may be manufactured from plastic, metal or other materials and may be of any size consistent with the subsystems of the publishing system. A slot  306  in the casing allows the publishing system to connect a storage unit  200   a  or  200   b  to a casing  302 ,  304  using a connecting device such as the flexible connector  208  depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     An outer surface  308  of the large  302  and small  304  casings is configured to be printed upon. As described further below, the outer surface  308  can receive marks or indications such as images, text, and other indicia. Other examples include logos, pictures, and/or an index of the material stored on the memory chip within the casing. The outer surface  308  of the small  304  casing of  FIG. 3 c    has example marks and indications printed thereon. 
     In some examples, transferring of the marks or indications to the surface  308  can be done using techniques including: a thermal retransfer printer including a thermal ink ribbon, a clear retransfer film, a thermal print head to print image to the retransfer ribbon, and a heating roller to transfer the printed image to substrate; an inkjet printer including cartridges of ink that are dispensed on the surface to transfer the image to the substrate; and/or a direct thermal printer consisting of thermal ink ribbon, a thermal print heat to print image directly on the substrate, that is printed on the outer surface  308 . One non-limiting example of such a printing process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,827,509 to Suden, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     One or more files including the marks or indicia for printing on the outer surface  308  is downloaded through the network  124  and stored on the data storage  120 . As described further below, modules and applications  122  are programmed to access the marks or indicia in the files on the data storage  120  to print the marks or indicia on the outer surface  308 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of a multi-component system consistent with this disclosure. A housing unit (illustrated in  FIG. 1 )  102 , comprises a recording device  402  (illustrated more clearly in  FIG. 6 , but obscured from view by the plate in  FIG. 4 ), located on the underside of an assembler plate  404 , a printer  406 , a robotic gripping device  408  with a lift mechanism  410  and robotic controller printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  420  (illustrated more clearly in  FIG. 8 ) and signal monitor PCBA  422 , multiple bins designed to hold an assortment of casing sizes  412  and content storage units  414  of varying storage capacities, and an assembler subassembly or assembler, movably attached to a carriage assembly  416 , also located on the underside of the plate and seen more clearly in  FIGS. 5 b    and  7 . Finished units are dropped into finished product bins arranged, in some embodiments, in a carousel  418  and may be removed manually. Such a system may perform a variety of concurrent or sequential workflows which will be discussed further below. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a top ( 5   a ) and bottom ( 5   b ) view of the assembler plate  404  comprising a casing input bin  412  and storage unit input bin  414 . An assembler  504  motor  502  may be located on the upper side of the assembler plate  404 . An assembler  504  may be moveably connected to a carriage assembly comprising of two parallel shafts  416  located on either side of the plate&#39;s underside and two assembler belts  508 , each adjacent to a shaft  416 , allowing the assembler to slide along the shafts  416 , aligning the assembler  504  under selected card  412  and storage unit  414  bins for assembly. The bottom of the card  412  and storage unit bins  414  protrude into the assembler plate  404  underside for accessibility by the assembler  504  and recorder  402 . A lifter block  510  may be mounted to the bottom of the storage unit bin  414 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary recording device for recording digital content on a storage unit memory chip  206 . A publishing system  102  consistent with this disclosure may comprise a set of recording devices  402  mounted in front of each storage unit bin  414 . Some embodiments may have a recording device  402  that slides from bin to bin along a carriage assembly, according to a job workflow selected and configured by the user. A preferred embodiment may be designed with a recorder  402  mounted in front of each storage unit bin  414 . The recording device  402  may comprise a set of guide pins  602  and a tongue  604  with connectors that may be inserted into the data interface  204  of the storage unit, and which are operatively connected to a data cable  606 ; upper  608  and lower  610  guide plates; a leadscrew  612 , leadscrew nut  614 , motor  616  and bearing blocks  618  allowing translational motion. A recording device  402  mounted in front of a storage unit bin  414  is driven forward by a motor  616  and leadscrew  612  to connect with the lowest storage unit in the bin  414  stack. A tongue  604  and data cable  606  is held in a fixed position by upper  608  and lower plates  610 . When the tongue  604  connects with the storage unit contacts  212 ,  214  and is in position for recording, the tongue  604  sends a signal via the data cable  606 , indicating that the recorder  402  is in position for recording and recording may begin. The tongue  604  may be replaced by other signal monitoring devices or adapted or reconfigured according to the type of data interface on the storage unit. 
       FIG. 7  illustrate the top ( 7   a ) and underside ( 7   b ) of an exemplary assembler subassembly  504 . An assembler  504  may be attached to a carriage assembly ( 416 ,  508 ) and allowed to move horizontally forward and back parallel to case  412  and storage unit  414  bins. An assembler controller  702  may direct the assembler  504  in response to sensor indications. Case size sensors  704  are used to determine the size of the case on the case lifter  716 . Case bin position sensors  726  are used to determine case bin positions. Storage unit bin positions sensor  728  are used to determine storage unit bin positions. A case bin access area  706  and storage unit bin access area  708  on the assembler  504  may align with the bottom of the case bin  412  and storage unit bin  414 , respectively. A large casing may fit within the assembly area rails  710 . Smaller casings may require case guides  712  to position the small casing for assembly. Case guides  712  may move as the assembler  504  senses the size of the casing. A motorized  714  case lifter  716  may be provided to allow a gripper (discussed below) access to remove small casings. Shuttles  718 ,  720  located on the assembler behind the bin access areas  706  and  708  push recorded media and empty casings from their stacks to the assembly area. The shuttles  718 ,  720  may compress the storage unit  200   a  or  200   b  into the slot on the casing  306 . Flexible tines  210  on a flexible retainer  208  bend to allow the storage unit  200   a  or  200   b  to connect with the casing  302 ,  304 . Once inside the casing slot  306 , the tines  210  relax and expand to their normal configuration, securing the storage unit to the casing.  FIG. 7 b    illustrates the underside of the assembler  504 , where shuttle leadscrews  722  and leadscrew motors  724  may be located. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary printer component  406  consistent with this disclosure. A preferred embodiment may use a thermal printer or any other kind of printer. In a preferred embodiment the printer  406  prints an image on a retransfer sheet. The image printed on the retransfer sheet may be a single side or a double-sided image. A gripper  802  may be used to place and/or remove casings to/from the printer tray  810 . A lift mechanism  806 ,  808  allows the gripper  802  to move vertically along a shaft under the control of a computer processor  420 . A printer tray  810  may be opened to load a casing and closed to print the image file on the casing under the control of a computer processor. The tray  810  may be designed to hold casings of multiple sizes. In some embodiments, a tray has a rectangular seat  814  and clamp fingers  812  for holding the casing in place. Casings may be loaded into the tray by the gripper  802  in a semi-precise location, and clamp fingers  812  hold the casing in place to allow the printed image to align with the casing. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate an exemplary robotic gripping mechanism (gripper) consistent with the one illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The primary function of the gripping mechanism  408  is to facilitate movement of the assembled case-and-storage unit to and from the printer tray, to flip the casing to the second side following printing of the first side, and to carry the finished, printed product to a finished product bin  418 , using vertical movements from the lift  410 , rotation from the wrist  902 , and outward movements of the arms, or claws  904 . The gripper illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10  is comprised of one microcontroller and a number of motors and sensors that drive the gripper to perform its functions. PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) A  804  receives information from clamp  1004 , rotation  910  and case present  912  sensors to guide gripper functions and controls and activates a casing rotate motor  908 . A casing present sensor  912  provides the controller with an indication of whether a card is in the claw (arms)  904 , or if it has been picked up but fallen off the grip  904 . PCBA B  906  provides a tie point for the dynamic cables that move with the gripper  408 . Cables are highly flexible and run between PCBA A  804  and PCBA B  906 . Both arms  904  move with the cable as the wrist rotates, but do not flex in any direction. Casings are gripped with a flip pad  916  or similar element, allowing it to flip the casing from one side to another. Arms  904 , or claws, move outward and rotate. The claw motor  920  drives the cam  1006  to spread the arms apart  904  (see  FIG. 10 ). A tray present sensor  918  informs the gripper controller of the presence or absence of the printer tray  810 , specifically, the precise vertical location of the printer tray and indicating when the case and storage unit may be loaded into the tray  810 . Referring to  FIG. 10 , PCBA C  1002  facilitates the functionality of the clamp sensor  1004  for the gripper arms. 
     A method of using an embodiment of an automated storage unit publishing system is described by the flowchart of  FIG. 11 a   . Some embodiments may require very different configurations of the subassemblies in order to coordinate different workflows. Coordination of the processes involved in using the automated publishing system  100  may vary from those described here and therefore the series of steps may also vary. In one embodiment, a user may access  1102  the automated publishing machine  100  via a computing system  102 . A graphical user interface  102  for a controlling software application running on a computing system and operatively connected to an automated publishing system  100  allows the user to create specifications for a job, including the number of storage units, type of casing, storage unit capacity, and the name and location of image and digital content files to be printed or recorded on the casing-storage unit assembled unit. In some embodiments, the user may specify multiple casing and storage capacity combinations and assign different image and content files to each combination. When the job begins  1104 , a printer  406  prints a front and back image to a retransfer sheet. The printer tray  810  opens  1106  when it is ready to receive and print an image on a casing-storage unit. Concurrent with printing the image on the retransfer sheet  1104 , a recording device  402 , positioned in front of the selected storage unit media bin  414 , moves forward  1108 . As the tongue  604  and leadscrew  620  move the assembly forward, storage unit lifter pins  602  engage with lifter blocks  510  mounted to the underside of the storage unit bin stack  414 . The lifter block  510  may comprise a ramp serving to lift the recording device  402  to allow the tongue  604  to align properly with the storage unit and provide the lowest level that the storage unit will sit in the bin  414 . As the recorder  402  progresses forward the leading edge of the pin  602  will drive down the ramp, lifting the two blocks up and aligning tongue  604  to the storage unit  200   a  or  200   b  inside the bin  414  by lifting the lifter blocks  510 , raising the storage unit  200   a  or  200   b  up and pushing the stack up to get the bottom storage unit aligned with the tongue  604 . The tongue  604  is operatively connected to a data cable  606  to receive a signal when the tongue connects with the storage unit chip connectors  212 ,  214 . If a signal is not received or is received but indicates that the storage unit  200   a  or  200   b  is defective, a message will be sent to the printer  406  indicating that the unit is bad and the printer  406  will print an additional label for that unit in order to label it as defective. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 12 a -12 d  and 12 e -12 h    which illustrate alternative processes of inserting the recorder into the bottom-most storage unit for recording consistent with a preferred embodiment. As the recorder  402  is translated forward ( FIGS. 12 a  and 12 e   ) toward the bottom of the storage unit bin  414 , recorder pins  602  engage with a lifter block  510  mounted at the bottom of a storage unit bin  414  ( FIGS. 12 b  and 12 f   ). The recorder pins  602  engage with the top section of a ramp inside the block ( FIGS. 12 c  and 12 g   ), forcing the storage unit stack inside of a storage unit bin  414  up to align with, and insert into, the storage unit ( FIGS. 12 d  and 12 h   ). A robotic controller PCBA  420 , and signal monitor PCBA  422  monitor signals on the data cable  606 , to determine when the tongue is fully inserted so that recording may begin.  FIGS. 13 a  and 13 b    illustrate the connection formed by the tongue  604  and storage unit  200   a  or  200   b.    
     Standard storage unit memory chips like the one illustrated here  206  have spring-loaded  212  contacts and stationary  214  contacts. The connections on a device inserted into the storage unit, such as the tongue  604  described here, are the inverse of those on the storage unit chip, with spring-loaded contacts and stationary contacts opposite the storage unit&#39;s stationary and spring-loaded contacts, respectively. Contacts must line up in three dimensions. In some embodiments, the system may monitor all connections to determine that a complete connection has been made. With a preferred embodiment, the system may monitor the two outer spring-loaded  212  contacts on the chip. When those contacts are made, a signal may be sent to the controller indicating that the recorder  402  is near alignment. A value may be set in the controller to allow the recorder  402  to travel an additional distance to account for variability in the mechanical and electrical properties associated with the recording device. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 11 a   , the assembler  504  moves to, and positions below the selected casing stack  1110 . Sensors indicate that the size of the case is correct and the bottom card is pulled to the case bin assembly area  706 . Once the content file has been recorded on the storage unit  200   a  or  200   b , the tongue withdraws  1112  from the storage unit  200   a  or  200   b . The assembler moves to, and is positioned below, the bin  414  of the recorded storage unit. The recorded storage unit is pulled  1114  onto the storage unit bin assembly area  704 . Assembler  504  and storage unit shuttles  718 ,  720  move the case and storage unit  1116  from their respective access areas and push the recorded storage unit into the case slot  306 . As was illustrated in  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b    and discussed above, a storage unit retainer may comprise flexible tines  210  which may bend as it is forced into the case slot. Once inside the case slot, the tines relax and the storage unit is securely fixed to the case. 
     An assembled casing-storage unit may be picked up  1118  by a gripper  408  and moved to the open printer tray  810  seat  814 , where it is secured in place for printing. Small casings  304  may not have sufficient clearance on the assembler  504  and may require the case lift  716  described in  FIG. 7  to elevate the casing in order to allow adequate clearance for the gripper  408  to pick up the assembled case and storage unit. The gripper  408  moves on the lift  410 , the gripper motor  920  spreads the arms apart, picks the card off the assembler with flip pads  916  and puts it in the seat  814  of the printer tray  810  where it is secured to the tray seat with grips  812 . Referring now to  FIG. 11 b   , the tray  810  closes and the printer transfers  1120  the first image to the case and storage unit. When the first side has been printed, the printer tray  810  opens and the gripper  408  picks the card off the printer  406 , rises up a few inches, allowing space to turn it over, flips the unit  1122  and puts it back down on the printer tray seat  814  where it is secured to allow retransfer of the second side  1124 . There are many types of gripping effectors available. For example, grippers may be equipped with vacuum cups or claw- or pincer-type effectors that can pick up and move objects; others may have finger-like gripping surfaces that can be machined to contours that fit precisely around a specific object, such as a storage unit casing, others may use electro-magnets to attract magnetic material in the storage unit and/or casing. When the second side of the case and storage unit has been printed, the tray  810  opens  1126  to release the finished product. The gripper moves  1128  the finished product to finished product bins  418 . Users may manually retrieve the finished units from the output bins  418 . 
       FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate another exemplary robotic gripping mechanism (gripper)  408   a  similar with the gripper  408  illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The primary function of the gripping mechanism  408   a  is to facilitate movement of the assembled case-and-storage unit to and from the printer tray, to flip the casing to the second side following printing of the first side, and to carry the finished, printed product to a finished product bin  418 , using vertical movements from the lift  410 , rotation from the wrist  902 , and outward movements of the arms, or claws  904 . The gripper illustrated in  FIGS. 14 and 15  is comprised of one microcontroller and a number of motors and sensors that drive the gripper to perform its functions. PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) A  804  receives information from clamp  2000  and  2001 , rotation  910  and case present  2000  and  2001  sensors to guide gripper functions and controls and activates a casing rotate motor  908 . A casing present sensor  2000  and  2001  provides the controller with an indication of whether a card is in the claw (arms)  904 , or if it has been picked up but fallen off the grip  904 . PCBA B  906  provides a tie point for the dynamic cables that move with the gripper  408 . Cables are highly flexible and run between PCBA A  804  and PCBA B  906 . Both arms  904  move with the cable as the wrist rotates, but do not flex in any direction. Casings are gripped with a flip pad  916  or similar element, allowing it to flip the casing from one side to another. Arms  904 , or claws, move outward and rotate. The claw motor  920  drives the cam  1006  to spread the arms apart  904  (see  FIG. 15 ). A tray present sensor  2000  and  2001  informs the gripper controller of the presence or absence of the printer tray  810 , specifically, the precise vertical location of the printer tray and indicating when the case and storage unit may be loaded into the tray  810 . Referring to  FIG. 15 , PCBA C  1002  facilitates the functionality of the clamp sensor  2000  and  2001  for the gripper arms. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 16-24 , additional details about the storage unit  200   b  and the large  302  casing are shown. As previously described, the storage unit  200   b  slides within the large  302  casing between a closed position ( FIGS. 17-18 ) and an open position ( FIGS. 19-21 ) whereupon the storage unit  200   b  can be connected with the USB port on a computing system. 
     The large  302  casing is formed from a first casing portion  1100  and a second casing portion  1102 , as shown in  FIGS. 22-23 . The first casing portion  1100  is snapped together with the second casing portion  1102  to form the large  302  casing. In the example shown, the first casing portion  1100  is sonically welded to the second casing portion  1102 . In the assembled state, the large  302  casing forms the slot  306  to receive the storage unit  200   b.    
     Each of the first casing portion  1100  and the second casing portion  1102  include opposing slot walls  1252 ,  1254  and  1256 ,  1258  that together form the slot  306  within the large  302  casing. As described further below, the slot  306 , including the slot walls  1252 ,  1254  and  1256 ,  1258 , receives and guides the storage unit  200   b  within the large  302  casing. 
     In the example shown, the large  302  casing has a width  370  of 54 mm and a length  372  of 85.5 mm. The slot  306  has a width  374  of 13 mm. Other dimensions can be used. For instance, the small  304  casing has a width  380  of 25 mm and a length  382  of 54 mm. 
     As previously noted, the storage unit  200   b  includes flexible tines  210  that connect the storage unit  200   b  to the large  302  casing within the slot  306 . As shown in  FIG. 24 , as the storage unit  200   b  is introduced into the slot  306 , ramps  1204  formed in the slot  306  cause the flexible tines  210  to be flexed inward towards one another. The width  374  of the slot  306  is slightly less than the relaxed width formed between the flexible tines  210  so that the flexible tines  210  remain flexed as the storage unit  200   b  is inserted into the slot  306 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 21 , as the storage unit  200   b  is pressed into the large  302  casing in a direction  1352 , the flexible tines  210  eventually clear opposing shoulders  1302  formed in the slot walls  1252 ,  1254  and  1256 ,  1258  of the slot  306 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 7 a   , shuttle  718  moves and extracts the large  302  casing from the bottom of a magazine. The assembler  504  then moves to the storage unit magazine and shuttle  720  moves and extracts the storage unit  200   b  from the bottom of the magazine and inserts it into the large  302  casing. 
     At that point, the flexible tines  210  expand back to a relaxed state, and detents  1304  formed on the flexible tines  210  engage the shoulders  1302  so that the storage unit  200   b  is coupled to the large  302  casing. In this position, the storage unit  200   b  resists being pulled out of the large  302  casing. This is the open position, which is further defined by smaller shoulders  1310  formed in the slot  306  that engage knobs  1312  formed by the storage unit  200   b  to generally hold the storage unit  200   b  in the open position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18 , as the storage unit  200   b  is forced further into the slot  306 , the knobs  1312  clear the smaller shoulders  1310  and the storage unit  200   b  is free to travel further into the large  302  casing guided by the slot walls  1252 ,  1254  and  1256 ,  1258 . The storage unit  200   b  is moved in the direction  1352  until an arm  1404  formed by the storage unit  200   b  engages a stopping portion  1402  formed by the first casing portion  1100  of the large  302  casing. In this position, the storage unit  200   b  is received fully within the slot  306 , and further travel of the storage unit  200   b  into the large  302  casing is resisted. This is the closed position. 
     In this closed position, an end of the arm  1404  of the storage unit  200   b  engages a pocket  1406  formed in the stopping portion  1402  to hold the storage unit  200   b  in the closed position. This helps to retain the storage unit  200   b  in the closed position. 
     When a user wants to access the storage unit  200   b  (to, for example, connect the storage unit to the USB port on a computing system), the user can move the storage unit  200   b  from the closed position to the open position within the large  302  casing in a direction  1350 . To do so, the user can grasp the storage unit  200   b  and pull the storage unit  200   b  out of the large  302  casing (overcoming the engagement of the arm  1404  within the pocket  1406 ) until the detents  1304  formed on the flexible tines  210  engage the shoulders  1302  so that the storage unit  200   b  resists being pulled out of the large  302  casing. As previously noted, in this open position, the smaller shoulders  1310  formed in the slot  306  engage knobs  1312  formed by the storage unit  200   b  to generally hold the storage unit  200   b  in the open position. 
       FIGS. 25-32  show the example small  304  casing and the storage unit  200   b . The small  304  casing includes a first portion  3102  and a second portion  3104  that are sized differently from the large  302  casing. The small  304  casing otherwise functions in a manner similar to the large  302  casing. 
     While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope being indicated by the following claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.