Patent Publication Number: US-11643271-B2

Title: Secure destruction bin

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/993,539, entitled SECURE DESTRUCTION BIN, filed on Mar. 23, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in full in this application for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present application relates to collection bins and accompanying mechanisms and methods for facilitating secure collection and subsequent transport of items collected in the bins. 
     Mechanisms for facilitating secure collection of items in preparation for transport and/or subsequent destruction are employed in various demanding applications, including mail collection, document collection and destruction, computer memory device collection and disposal, and so on. 
     Secure collection and subsequent transport of items can be particularly important for collection and disposal of hard drives and other electronics from data centers, where such devices can store particularly large amounts of potentially sensitive information. 
     Conventionally, data center items (e.g., hard drives, etc.) slated for transport and/or disposal are collected in relatively insecure bins. The bins are often plastic; have relatively weak locking mechanisms, if any; often use unsecure deposit slots, and so on. Removal of items from the bins may require hand-picking items from the bin, or in some cases, from the floor after items have spilled from an opened bin door. The process can be inefficient, and items may be lost or otherwise unaccounted for. 
     SUMMARY 
     Generally, embodiments relate to an apparatus, system and method for facilitating secure collection and transport of items containing potentially sensitive material. For instance, the items may include documents and/or electronic media, such as hard drives, motherboards, solid state drives, and so on, that are slated for destruction and disposal. 
     One example embodiment employs repositories or “bins” to efficiently and securely accept and store the items, e.g., drives, in reparation for subsequent secure transport and disposal. An inner bin is positioned within an outer bin (also called a garage enclosure, or simply garage). Once closed and locked, the outer bin has a secure chute for accepting drives into the outer bin, which then fall into the inner bin. The inner bin includes wheels and a lockable lid. Once the inner bin is sufficiently filled, it can be rolled out of the outer bin (via a lockable door of the outer bin). The lockable lid of the inner bin is secured when moving the inner bin with the drives to a destruction facility or area. 
     Additional features include multi-point (e.g., 3-point) lockable latches used to secure the inner bin lid and the outer bin door; secure lift-off hinges that facilitate removal of the outer bin door when opened; inner bin locating guard tracks; a scanning mechanism for facilitating tracking objects placed into the bin; metal inner and outer bin construction; the outer bin is sized and dimensioned to approximately fit a data center tile; and so on. Dimensions of the inner bin and outer bin are also configured for space efficiency and for efficiently accommodating data center items, e.g., drives. 
     Accordingly, various embodiments discussed herein employ nested secured bins, including an easily transportable locking inner bin, where the nested bins are sized and secured to facilitate data center applications, e.g., drive-destruction applications. Embodiments also obviate or reduce incidences of handling of individual items, i.e., obviate excess media touches. Excess media touches (e.g., including touches when hand-picking items out of a collection bin) can be inefficient and can increase the risk of lost or stolen items. 
     A further understanding of the nature and the advantages of particular embodiments disclosed herein may be realized by reference of the remaining portions of the specification and the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    shows a first example embodiment of a secure collection bin system in a closed configuration, whereby an upper security chute door and an outer bin door are closed and locked. 
         FIG.  2    shows the example secure collection bin system of  FIG.  1    in a first partially open configuration, showing an inner bin removed from an inner chamber of the outer bin, wherein a secure folding inner bin lid is closed and locked, and showing an open security chute door. 
         FIG.  3    shows the example secure collection bin system bin system of  FIG.  2    in a second partly opened position, showing the folding inner bin lid in an open position, where a top surface of the inner bin lid is approximately flush with a back panel of the inner bin. 
         FIG.  4    shows a front view of the example secure collection bin system of  FIGS.  1 - 3   , and further shows cross-section lines corresponding to a cross-sectional view of  FIG.  5   . 
         FIG.  5    shows a cross-sectional view of the secure collection bin system of  FIGS.  1 - 4   , as indicated in  FIG.  4   , and further illustrates additional features, including an inner bin lower-edge bevel, a rod catch for a rod of a multi-point lockable latch, a rear chamber stopper, and so on. 
         FIG.  6    shows the upper security chute door of  FIG.  6    in an open position. 
         FIG.  7    shows an isometric view of securely covered lift-off hinges used for the outer bin door of the secure collection bin system of  FIGS.  1 - 5   . 
         FIG.  8    shows a top view of the lift hinge shown in  FIG.  7    and further illustrates cross-sectional detail of brackets, showing how the lift-off hinges are mounted and secured to the outer bin. 
         FIG.  9    illustrates an alternative implementation of the lift-off hinge of  FIGS.  7 - 8   . 
         FIG.  10    illustrates a top cross-sectional view of the lift-off hinge of  FIG.  9    when the lift-off hinge is in a closed position. 
         FIG.  11    illustrates a top cross-sectional view of the lift-off hinge of  FIG.  9    in an open position. 
         FIG.  12    shows a side view of the example secure collection bin system of  FIGS.  1 - 5   , and further shows cross-section lines corresponding to a cross-sectional view of  FIG.  13   . 
         FIG.  13    shows a cross-sectional view of the secure collection bin system of  FIGS.  1 - 5   , and further illustrates additional features, including inner bin locating guard tracks (also simply called inner bin tracks) and optional wheel guide tracks  118 . 
         FIG.  14    is a flow diagram of an example method that is usable with the embodiments of  FIGS.  1 - 13   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Large computer processing sites, such as data centers, cloud service providers, etc., may have an ongoing need to destroy large numbers of digital memory devices such as magnetic or solid state drives, motherboards, random-access-memory, USB drives, or other types of physical devices (generally, “drives”). Often the information on the drives to be destroyed is proprietary or otherwise sensitive, so the containment and transport of the drives to a destruction facility must be done securely. 
     For clarity, certain well-known components, such as hard drives, processors, operating systems, power supplies, databases, automatic door or hatch actuation mechanisms (e.g., motors), and so on, are not necessarily explicitly called out in the figures. However, those skilled in the art with access to the present teachings will know which components to implement and how to implement them to meet the needs of a given implementation. 
       FIG.  1    shows a first example embodiment of a secure collection bin system  10  in a closed configuration, whereby an upper security chute door  20  and an outer bin door  18  are closed and locked. The upper security chute door  20  (also simply called the upper door) includes a folding handle  26  for facilitating manually opening the security chute door  26  to expose an inner slide or chute for receiving items into the secure bin collection system  10 . 
     The secure collection bin system  10  includes an outer housing  38  formed via metal panels, including an upper panel  12 , a right-side panel  14 , and a left side panel  16 . In the present specific embodiment, the outer bin door  18  provides access to an inner chamber of the secure collection bin system  10 , as discussed more fully below. The outer bin door  18  is coupled to the right side panel  14  of the housing  38  via secure lift-off hinges  24 . 
     The outer bin door  18  further includes a lockable latch handle (or other actuation mechanism, e.g., knob) and key opening  22  to facilitate securely and selectively latching, locking, unlocking, and opening the outer bin door  18 . In the present specific embodiment, lockable latch handle and/or lever and key opening  22  is coupled to a multi-point locking and latching system (also simply called a multi-point lockable latch), as discussed more fully below. 
     Accordingly, when the outer bin door  18  is closed, and a key is employed to lock the outer bin door via the key opening  22 , the resulting multi-point mechanism secures the outer bin door shut at multiple points behind the outer bin door  18 , making it particularly difficult for unauthorized personnel to pry open the outer bin door  18 . This substantially enhances security over mechanisms that simply lock a door shut at one point. 
     For illustrative purposes, the example secure collection bin system  10  is shown further including an item-scanning mechanism  28 . The scanning mechanism may include an optical, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), bar code, and/or other type (or types) of scanner (or scanners). Labels of items to be deposited in the secure collection bin system  10  can be scanned and then analyzed by underlying software coupled to the scanning mechanism  28 . The scanning mechanism  28  may electrically communicate with an electronic lock and/or electronic motor that facilitates opening, either manually, or automatically, the security chute door  20 . This can be particularly useful in applications where the disposal of certain items must be first authorized. The codes on items that have not been authorized for disposal may be unusable as keys to enable opening the security chute door  20 . This may inhibit undesirable inadvertent disposal of certain items. 
     Furthermore, information about (and codes associated with) items that have been deposited in the secure collection bin system  10  may be maintained in database that communicates with the scanning mechanism  28 . 
     In other embodiments, the scanning mechanism  28  may include a camera that takes a picture of each item that is placed in the secure collection bin  10 , and then simply stores the picture of the item, e.g., to facilitate tracking (as needed) of items that were placed in the secure collection bin  10 . 
     In yet other embodiments, the scanning mechanism  28  may incorporate functionality for creating images or other copies of drive content, which can be then offloaded to a larger data storage mechanism and database, e.g., in advance of destruction of the associated drive(s). 
       FIG.  2    shows the example secure collection bin system  10  of  FIG.  1    in a first partially open configuration, showing an inner bin  40  removed from an inner chamber (also called the inner compartment)  64  of the outer bin  38 , wherein a secure folding inner bin lid  42  is closed and locked, and showing an open security chute door  20  exposing a chute and slide  62 . 
     The inner bin  40  includes wheels  54  (e.g., castor wheels) and folding handles  50 ,  52  mounted on sides  56 ,  58  of the inner bin  40 . The inner bin  40  further includes a foldable lid  42 , which can be folded shut about a lid hinge  46 . The foldable lid  42  includes a lip  48  that extends around an upper edge of the housing of the inner bin  40  when the foldable lid  42  is closed. The lip  48  extends approximately perpendicularly from a surface of the lid  42 . The lip  48  is configured to substantially increase security over other designs that do not have the lip  48 . For instance, the lip  48  reduces the effectiveness of a crowbar in prying open the lid  42 . 
     Note that inner bin lid  42  is substantially free of large protrusions, curves, or bends extending upward from the lid  42 . This enables the top surface of the lid  42  to rest substantially flush against a back panel of the inner bin  40  when the lid is fully opened, e.g., as discussed more fully below with reference to  FIG.  3   . 
     Note that the inner chamber  64  of the outer bin  38 , which accommodates the inner bin  40  with relatively tight tolerances, includes various additional features. For instance, a bin-locating track  60  (also called an internal bin locating guard track, an inner bin locating track, or simply a guard track) facilitates precise positioning of the inner bin  40  in the inner chamber  62  of the outer bin  38 , as discussed more fully below. 
     Furthermore, an example outer bin door lower rod catch  30  is shown in the inner chamber  64 . Note that an inside portion of the open outer bin door  18  shows a multi-point lockable latch mechanism(s)  32 , which is coupled to the key opening  22  and accompanying latch actuation mechanism (e.g., handle, knob, lever, etc.) on the other side of (i.e., on the outside of) the outer bin door  18 . 
     The multi-point lockable latch mechanism  32  includes (and/or is otherwise rotatably coupled to) an upper securing rod  34  and a lower securing rod  36 . When the center of the multi-point lockable latch mechanism  32  is actuated (e.g., via a key and accompanying actuation mechanism, e.g., lever, knob, or other suitable mechanism), this selectively extends or retracts the rods  34 ,  36 . When the rods  34 ,  36  are extended relative to the center of the multi-point lockable latch mechanism  32 , the ends of the rods  34 ,  36  fit into rod catches (e.g., the lower rod catch  30 ) in the outer bin housing  38 . Accordingly, the outer bin door  18  becomes secured at both the top and bottom of the door  18  (when closed). Furthermore, another lever or lip of the multi-point lockable latch mechanism  32  may rotate into position to grab a portion of the frame of the left side panel  16 , thereby further securing the outer bin door  18  at a third position. 
     Accordingly, the multi-point lockable latch mechanism  32  represents a 3-point locking mechanism that includes use of vertically actuatable rods and a rotatably actuated lever mechanism, which can be moved via use of the actuation mechanism and key opening  22  shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     The upper security chute door  20  is shown in an open position, exposing a chute and slide  62 , where the chute and slide  62  provide opening through which items can be placed. Items placed in the chute and slide  62  represent items that slide down the associated opening or chute when the upper door, i.e., security chute door  20 , is closed. 
     The slide of the chute and slide  62  extends far enough back to inhibit people from reaching in and around the security chute door  20 . Furthermore the dimensions of the chute and slide  62  are selected to accommodate both particular data center security requirements and the ability to accommodate various sizes and types of media (e.g., drives, motherboards, etc.) commonly disposed of by data center personnel. 
     Note that generally, when the upper security chute door  20  is opened for accepting items, the inner bin  40  will be locked into the inner chamber (also called an inner chamber or lower compartment)  64  with the inner bin lid  42  in an open position. The outer bin door  18  will also be locked shut using a multi-point locking and latching mechanism, e.g., the 3-point lockable latching mechanisms  30 - 36 . 
     In summary,  FIG.  2    illustrates an embodiment in a first configuration of a containment system. In  FIG.  2   , the outer bin, or “garage,”  38  is rectangular (e.g., a right-angled parallelepiped) with dimensions of approximately 24″×24″ and 48″ tall. Other dimensions are possible but these are chosen to fit standard data center “tiles” or units of floor measurement for rack mounted types of devices. This allows the bins to easily fit in standard data center spacings. The more precise dimensions for international data center tile specifications are 600 mm×600 mm (about 23.6″×23.6″) and the height can generally be variable as the vertical space is usually not restricted until about ceiling height (if there is a ceiling). 
     Although specific measurements, shapes, materials and other characteristics are provided, it should be apparent that, unless otherwise specified, it is often possible to deviate from any one or more characteristics without affecting the functionality. One set of design requirements allows the measurements to vary by +/−2%. A second set allows +/−5%. A third +/−10% and a fourth +/−20%. In other applications and embodiments it is possible to use any suitable characteristics such as measurements or materials that differ greatly from what is presented herein. 
     In an embodiment, outer bin  38  is formed of steel or other suitable material to provide a tamper-resistant enclosure. The upper security chute door  20  is open, exposing the chute and slide  62 . 
     The upper security chute door (also called the top door)  20  can be pulled down to reveal the attached shelf (also called slide) and side panels that form chute and slide  62 . Note that the width of the chute and slide  62  extends substantially across a lateral dimension of the outer bin inner chamber or compartment  64 . Furthermore, the upper security chute door  20  is rotatably coupled to the outer bin housing  38 . 
     A drive placed in the chute and slide  62  will slide down the chute once the upper security chute door  20  is closed. A front handle ( 26  of  FIG.  1   ) on the security chute door  20  allows a human operator to open and close the top door. In other alternative embodiments, the upper security chute door  20  is automatically electrically actuated open or closed. 
     The bottom door (also called the outer bin door)  18  is hinged on one side to swing open and allow the inner bin  40  to be rolled into or out of the outer bin  38 . The inner bin  40  fits inside the outer bin  38 , beneath the chute and slide  62  of the security chute door  20 . 
     The inner bin  40  is shown in  FIG.  2    with flip-top lid (also called the inner bin lid)  42  in the closed position. Before inserting inner bin  40  into outer bin  38 , the flip-top lid  40  is swung open—pivoting on hinges  46  at its rear—to rest essentially flat against the back side of the inner bin  40 . This allows the inner bin to be rolled into the outer bin without the flip-top lid  42  unduly preventing full use of the interior space of outer bin  38 . 
     Inner bin  40  includes a front handle  52  (and side handle  50 ) so that inner bin  40  can be easily rolled out from outer bin  38 . Wheels  54  at the four corners of inner bin  40 , partially shown at  54 , can be of the heavy-duty caster type. Other designs may be used. Guard rails or tracks, such as the rail  60  (opposite rail not shown in  FIG.  2   ) can be provided to help center the inner bin  40  inside the outer bin  38 . In an embodiment the inner bin measures approximately 20″ wide×20″ deep×35.66″ tall. 
     The flip-top lid (also called folding lid or inner bin lid)  42  can be provided with a locking mechanism and keyed access such as by an inner bin keylock  44 . The keylock  44  may be coupled to another multi-point lockable latch mechanism that enables securing the flip-top lid  42  at multiple points along a front the inner bin lid  42 , similarly to how the outer bin door  18  is secured and locked shut via the key opening  22  of  FIG.  1   . 
     In the present example embodiment, when removing and inserting the inner bin  40  into, and removing it from, the outer bin chamber  64 , the outer bin door  18  is opened at least to a sixty degree angle relative to a right surface of the inner bin  40  or relative a plane approximately parallel thereto, e.g., a plane of an outer surface of the right panel  14  shown in  FIG.  1   . 
       FIG.  3    shows the example secure collection bin system  10  of  FIG.  2    in a second partly opened position, where the folding inner bin lid  42  is open, and where a top surface of the inner bin lid  42  is approximately flush with a back panel of the inner bin  40 . 
     When the inner bin lid  42  is opened, this exposes a second inner chamber or compartment  70 , for accommodating media deposited therein via the security chute door  20 . 
     In summary,  FIG.  3    illustrates a second configuration of the system  10  of  FIGS.  1  and  2   . In  FIG.  3   , the inner bin  40  is shown with its flip-top lid  42  in the open position with the lid pivoted by hinges  46  to lay against the back of the inner bin  40 . This would be the position of the lid  42  just before inner bin  40  is wheeled into the outer bin  38 ; or just after the inner bin  40  has been wheeled out of outer bin  38 . 
     Note that many variations are possible from the system  10  described with reference to  FIGS.  1 - 3   . For example, sizes of the upper and lower doors  20 ,  18  may be changed. Hinges can be placed on different sides, and different hinge types may be used. In some cases it may be desirable to have the flip-top lid  42  be completely removable (as is the lower door  18  via the lift-off hinges  24  of  FIG.  1   , as discussed more fully below). Or a different mechanism may be used, such as a one-way entry chute to the top of the inner bin  40 . In different embodiments, outer bin  38  may be secured to the floor by bolting or gluing or other means. Multiple inner bins may be used, etc. Many variations are possible. 
     Additional embodiments can provide active components, such as scanners, to detect and identify the types of devices that are being deposited into the containment system. A scanner can be positioned at the entry point to the chute of the outer bin so that a user can hold a bar code, QR code, RFID tag, visible number or pattern or other type of identifier to an imager. The imager can capture the identification of the device being inserted and the information can be provided to a local or central computing system for tracking and inventory purposes, or for other purposes. The scanner may be placed elsewhere in the containment system such as at a point between outer bin  38  and inner bin  40  so that the item being deposited can be scanned as it falls into the inner bin. 
     In an embodiment, the locks for the tops of multiple inner bins can be keyed the same so that a master key can be provided to a recipient of the multiple inner bins that can be used to unlock all of the bins. This makes it more efficient for a recipient of the bins, such as a destruction facility, to open and process the devices. 
       FIG.  4    shows a front view of the example secure collection bin system  10  of  FIGS.  1 - 3   , and further shows cross-section lines ( 5 ) corresponding to a cross-sectional view of  FIG.  5   . 
       FIG.  5    shows a cross-sectional view of the secure collection bin system  10  of  FIGS.  1 - 4   , as indicated in  FIG.  4   , and further illustrates additional features, including an inner bin lower-edge bevel  72 , a lower rod catch  30  for a rod (e.g., the lower rode  36  of  FIG.  2   ) of a multi-point lockable latch (e.g., including the mechanisms  30 - 36  of  FIG.  2   , and key actuation mechanism  22  of  FIG.  1   ), a rear chamber stopper  74 , and so on. 
     The rear stopper  74  is approximately the width of the lip  48  of the inner bin flip-top lid  42 , the top surface of which is substantially flush with a back surface of the inner bin  40  when the inner bin  40  is fully inserted into the outer bin  38 . 
     The optional lower-edge bevel  72  facilitates positioning of and/or guiding of the inner bin  40 , as the bevel  72  bumps the inner bin locating tracks, which run parallel to a length-wise axis of the bevel  72 , e.g., as discussed more fully below with reference to  FIG.  13   . 
     In the present specific embodiment, the inner bin lid  42  also includes a multi-point lockable latching mechanism (or collection of mechanisms)  122 , which may be constructed similarly to the mechanisms  30 - 36  of  FIG.  3   . 
       FIG.  6    shows the upper security chute door  20  of  FIG.  6    in an open position. In  FIG.  6   , the upper security chute door  20  has been opened, e.g., via the front handle  26 . Note that the security chute door  20  pivots about an axis implemented via a pivoting security chute door hinge  76 . 
     The associated chute and slide  62  is then able to receive items, e.g., drives, into the outer bin chamber  64  once the security chute door  20  is closed. When the security chute door  20  is closed, items place in the chute and slide  62  then slide into the inner bin  40  of  FIGS.  2 - 3 , and  5   . 
     Note that when the security chute door  20  is open, as shown in  FIG.  6   , the chute and slide  62  inhibit reaching around (e.g., with an arm) to pick up items that have been deposited into the associated inner bin of  FIGS.  2 - 3 , and  5   . 
       FIG.  7    shows an isometric view of securely covered lift-off hinges  24  used for the outer bin door  18  of the secure collection bin system  10  of  FIGS.  1 - 5   . The example lift-off hinge  24  includes a first covered portion  84  that is mounted on a front surface of the security door  18 , e.g., as shown on the door (also called the lower door)  18  of  FIG.  1   . 
     The first covered hinge portion  84  is rigidly coupled to (e.g., via welding) a second hinge portion  80  and pivotally coupled to a third hinge portion  82 . The third hinge portion  82  is rigidly coupled to a right side panel  14  of the accompanying secure bin collection system  10 , e.g., the right side panel  14  as shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     The second hinge portion  80  may have an inner rod  88  that fits concentrically and pivotally within an opening in the third hinge portion  82 . With reference to  FIGS.  1  and  6   , note that to remove the outer bin door  18  by lifting the door  18  up, such that the second hinge  80  portion disengages from the third hinge portion  82 , the outer bin door  18  should be sufficiently opened so that upper edges of the door  18  clear a top portion of a door frame of the outer bin  38 . 
       FIG.  8    shows a top view of the lift hinge  24  shown in  FIG.  7    and further illustrates cross-sectional detail of brackets  90 ,  92 ,  98 , showing how the lift-off hinges  24  are mounted and secured to the outer bin. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  6  and  7   , an example right outer bin door frame member  94  is welded or securely affixed to the first hinge portion  84  of  FIG.  7   . The third hinge portion  82  is welded to or securely affixed to (between brackets  92 ,  98 ) a forward frame member  96  of the right panel  14  of the accompanying outer bin housing  38  of  FIG.  1   . 
       FIG.  9    illustrates an alternative implementation  100  of the lift-off hinge  24  of  FIGS.  7 - 8   . The alternative lift-off hinge  100  is shown in the closed position with a first bracket piece  102  with a surface that extends approximately parallel to a surface of the outer bin door  18 . The first bracket piece is welded to a second ninety-degree angled bracket piece  106 , which is bonded to a side of the right outer bin door frame member  94 . 
     A cylindrical portion of the first bracket piece slidably and rotatably fits over a shaft  108  of a third bracket piece  104 . The third bracket piece  104  is welded to the forward frame member  96  of the right panel  14  of the accompanying outer bin housing  38 . 
     The bracket pieces  102 - 106  are arranged so that the door  18  may be opened, such that it pivots about the shaft  108 . Once the door  18  is opened, the door  18  and accompanying bracket pieces  102 ,  106  can be lifted up and off of the shaft  108 . 
     Note that when opening the door  18  to remove the inner bin  40  of  FIGS.  1 - 2   , the door  18  is preferably opened to at least 90-degrees relative to the closed position. When the door  18  is opened 90-degrees, an outer surface of the door  18  will be approximately parallel to the outer surface of the right panel  14 . 
       FIG.  10    illustrates a top cross-sectional view of the lift-off hinge  100  of  FIG.  9    when the lift-off hinge  100  is in a closed position. 
     Note that, in the present example embodiment, the first bracket piece  102  is welded to the ninety-degree angled bracket piece  106 . However, the bracket pieces  102 ,  106  may be formed as one piece, without departing from the scope of the present teachings. 
     Furthermore, the third bracket piece  104  is welded to the forward frame member  96  of the right panel  14  (e.g., as shown in  FIG.  9   ). However, anti-tamper screws or other suitable mechanisms for securing the third bracket piece  104  to the forward frame member  96  may be employed, without departing from the scope of the present teachings. 
       FIG.  11    illustrates a top cross-sectional view of the lift-off hinge  100  of  FIG.  9    in an open position. In  FIG.  11   , the door  18  of  FIG.  9    has been opened ninety degrees, e.g., so as to allow removal of the inner bin  40  of  FIGS.  2 - 3   . 
       FIG.  12    shows a side view of the example secure collection bin system  10  of  FIGS.  1 - 5   , and further shows cross-section lines ( 9 ) corresponding to a cross-sectional view of  FIG.  13   . 
       FIG.  13    shows a cross-sectional view of the secure collection bin system  10  of  FIGS.  1 - 5   , and further illustrates additional features, including inner bin locating guard tracks (also simply called inner bin tracks)  116 ,  120  and optional wheel guide tracks  118 . 
     The multi-point lockable latch mechanism  32  is shown including rod catches  32 ,  114  that receive ends of rods  36 ,  34  when a rotating mechanism  110  is actuated, e.g., using a valid key (e.g., via the lever and key opening  22  of  FIG.  1   ) and accompanying actuation mechanism (e.g., knob, slider, key rotation mechanism, etc.). 
     Optional wheel guide tracks  118  are shown for illustrative purposes. The wheel guide tracks  118  are beveled to facilitate guiding the wheels  54  and accompanying inner bin  40 . Note that (longitudinal axis of) the tracks (also called bin-locating guard tracks or inner bin locating tracks)  116 ,  120 , including wheel guide tracks  118 , are oriented approximately perpendicular to the front side panel  58  of the inner bin  40  and parallel to the direction of motion of the inner bin  40  when it is removed from or placed inside the outer bin  38 . 
       FIG.  14    is a flow diagram of an example method  130  that is usable with the embodiments of  FIGS.  1 - 13   . The example method  130  facilitates secure collection and transport of items from a data center, e.g., for the purposes of subsequent disposal. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  2  and  10   , a first step  132  of the method  130  of  FIG.  14    includes accepting the items passed through a security chute (e.g., the chute and slide  62 ) of a lockable outer bin (e.g., the bin  38  of  FIG.  2   ), resulting in received items (e.g., drives for subsequent transport and/or disposal). 
     A second step  134  includes collecting the received items via an inner bin (e.g., the inner bin  40  of  FIG.  2   ) that is positioned within the lockable outer bin (e.g., the outer bin  38  of  FIGS.  1 - 5   ), such that when the inner bin is positioned within the lockable outer bin, a folding lid (e.g., the flip-top lid  42  of  FIGS.  2  and  3   ) of the inner bin is open (e.g., as shown in  FIG.  3   ). 
     A third step  136  includes enabling unlocking a door (e.g., the door  18  of  FIGS.  1 - 5   ) on the lockable outer bin and removing the inner bin from the lockable outer bin via one or more wheels (e.g., the wheels  54  of  FIGS.  2 ,  3 ,  5 ,  9   ) coupled to a bottom surface of the inner bin and one or more folding handles (e.g., the folding handles  50 ,  52  of  FIG.  3   ) coupled to one or more outer surfaces (e.g., surfaces of the bin sides  56 ,  58  of  FIG.  3   ) of the inner bin. 
     A fourth step  138  includes facilitating locking the folding lid on the inner bin in a closed position via a multi-point lockable latch (e.g., mechanisms  32   FIGS.  2 ,  3  and  9   ) coupled to the folding lid (e.g., the folding lid  42  of  FIGS.  2 - 3   ). 
     A fifth step  140  includes facilitating transporting contents of the inner bin from the data center via the one or more wheels and the one or more folding handles coupled to one or more outer sides of the inner bin. 
     Note that the example method is illustrative and may vary, without departing from the scope of the present teachings. For example, the example method  130  may be modified to further specify that the lockable outer bin fits approximately within a tile of the data center; the items include one or more hard drives to be removed from a data center; that the items include one or mother boards to be removed from the data center for the purposes of transport and disposal, and so on. 
     The example method  130  may further specify that when the folding lid of the inner bin is open when the inner bin is within the outer bin, a top surface of the folding lid is positioned approximately flush against an outer surface of a side of the inner bin. The folding lid may include a lip (e.g., the lip  48  of  FIGS.  2 ,  3 ,  5   ) that extends from at least three edges of an inner surface of the folding lid. This helps to prevent gaps or seams in the interface between the lid and the accompanying housing walls that can be easier to pry open, e.g., with a crowbar. 
     The example method  130  may further specify, or alternatively specify, that the outer bin includes a security chute (e.g., the chute and slide  62  of  FIG.  2   ) for accepting the deposit of one or more items; an inner chamber (e.g., the chamber or compartment  64  of  FIG.  2   ); and a first hinged door (e.g., the door  18  of  FIGS.  1 - 3   ) equipped with a multi-point lockable latch (e.g., mechanisms  30 - 36  of  FIG.  2  and  22    of  FIG.  1   ) to secure the first hinged door shut. 
     The inner bin may be sized to fit an inner bin sized to fit within the inner chamber, such that when the first hinged door is closed that a front surface of the inner bin (e.g., corresponding to the front side  58  of the bin  40  in  FIGS.  2 - 3   ) sits approximately flush (e.g., as shown in  FIG.  5   ) with an inner surface of the first hinged door. 
     The example method  130  may further, or alternatively, specify that the inner bin may include a hinged lid (e.g., the lid  42  of  FIGS.  2 - 3   ), wherein the hinged lid is configured to remain open (e.g., as shown in  FIG.  5   ) when the inner bin is within the inner chamber, and to remain folded approximately flush against a back surface of the inner bin; a second multi-point lockable latch (e.g., the latch  122  of  FIG.  5   ) to secure the hinged lid shut; and one or more wheels (e.g., the wheels  54  of  FIG.  5   ), coupled to a base of the inner bin. 
     The outer bin may be sized such that the outer bin is sized such that a base of the outer bin exhibits a rectangular or square footprint that approximately matches the dimensions of a data center tile. For instance, the footprint may be substantially square and approximately 24″ by 24″. The outer bin may be approximately 48″ tall. 
     The outer bin and the inner bin may be made substantially of metal or other material suitable for a given implementation. The inner chamber includes one or more locating tracks (e.g., the tracks  116 ,  120 ,  118  of  FIG.  13   ) extending approximately perpendicularly from the first hinged door (e.g., the door  18  of  FIGS.  1 - 3   ) when the first hinged door is closed. 
     The inner bin may be sized such that exterior surfaces of opposite side walls of the inner bin are approximately separated from inter surfaces of opposite side walls of the inner chamber (e.g., the chamber  64  of  FIG.  2   ) by a space determined by a width of the one or more inner bin locating tracks (e.g., tracks  116  of  FIG.  13   , which may facilitate maintaining preferred separation distances, tolerances, and so on between the inner bin and associated outer bin. 
     The inner chamber may further include one or more wheel guide tracks mounted to an inner bottom surface of the outer bin. One more bottom edges of the inner bin include one or more bevels, whereby the bevels are configured to interact with the one or more inner bin locating tracks to facilitate positioning the inner bin within the inner chamber. 
     The example method  130  may further specify that the first hinged door is coupled to the outer bin via one or more lift-off hinges. The one or more lift-off hinges include covers for inhibiting tampering of the hinges. The one or more lift-off hinges may be configured to enable removal of the first hinged door from the outer bin when the first hinged door is opened. 
     The one or more lift-off hinges may be configured to enable opening of the first hinged door to at least a sixty degree angle relative to a plane of an external surface of a side of the outer bin or inner bin or plane thereof. 
     The inner bin may include one or more folding handles (e.g., handles  50 ,  52  of  FIG.  2   ) coupled to one or more external sides of the internal bin, such that the one or more handles are usable to facilitate moving the inner bin. 
     The example method may further specify use of a scanning device in communication with a first mechanism (e.g., a motor) for facilitating automatic opening of the chute and slide (e.g., via the security chute door  20  of  FIG.  2   ). The scanning device (e.g., the device  28  of  FIG.  1   ) may include or implement a mechanism for scanning a code affixed to the one or more items (to be collected and securely transported) and logging information in a database. The information to be logged may be associated with the scanning device, the associated secure destruction bin, and/or the one or more items via the code. 
     Although the description has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, these particular embodiments are merely illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, embodiments may be adaptable to other types of materials besides electronic devices or media. Aspects of the containment system may be adaptable to handle paper, plastics, metals, or other material, items or information. 
     Any suitable programming language can be used to implement the routines of particular embodiments including C, C++, Java, assembly language, etc. Different programming techniques can be employed such as procedural or object oriented. The routines can execute on a single processing device or multiple processors. Although the steps, operations, or computations may be presented in a specific order, this order may be changed in different particular embodiments. In some particular embodiments, multiple steps shown as sequential in this specification can be performed at the same time. 
     Particular embodiments may be implemented in a computer-readable storage medium for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, system, or device. Particular embodiments can be implemented in the form of control logic in software or hardware or a combination of both. The control logic, when executed by one or more processors, may be operable to perform that which is described in particular embodiments. For example, a tangible medium such as a hardware storage device can be used to store the control logic, which can include executable instructions. 
     Particular embodiments may be implemented by using a programmed general purpose digital computer, by using application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic devices, field programmable gate arrays, optical, chemical, biological, quantum or nanoengineered systems, etc. Other components and mechanisms may be used. In general, the functions of particular embodiments can be achieved by any means as is known in the art. Distributed, networked systems, components, and/or circuits can be used. Cloud computing or cloud services can be employed. Communication, or transfer, of data may be wired, wireless, or by any other means. 
     It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. It is also within the spirit and scope to implement a program or code that can be stored in a machine-readable medium to permit a computer to perform any of the methods described above. 
     A “processor” includes any suitable hardware and/or software system, mechanism or component that processes data, signals or other information. A processor can include a system with a general-purpose central processing unit, multiple processing units, dedicated circuitry for achieving functionality, or other systems. Processing need not be limited to a geographic location, or have temporal limitations. For example, a processor can perform its functions in “real time,” “offline,” in a “batch mode,” etc. Portions of processing can be performed at different times and at different locations, by different (or the same) processing systems. Examples of processing systems can include servers, clients, end user devices, routers, switches, networked storage, etc. A computer may be any processor in communication with a memory. The memory may be any suitable processor-readable storage medium, such as random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic or optical disk, or other tangible media suitable for storing instructions for execution by the processor. 
     As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     Thus, while particular embodiments have been described herein, latitudes of modification, various changes, and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of particular embodiments will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and spirit as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope and spirit.