Universal disk shipper

摘要

Systems, methods, and components include an improved universal disk container for use in transporting, storing and processing data storage disks or other disk-shaped articles. A disk shipping system and method for shipping disks allows stocking a minimal number of components while still allowing packaging and shipment of different thickness of disks and different capacities of disks in a container. A universal disk cassette includes slots having a narrowed lower portion configured for handling different disks of the same diameter but different thicknesses while preventing disk to disk contact when the disks are tilted. A universal top cover is configured for cassettes loaded with different thicknesses of disks. The universal top cover can readily accommodate disks that are tilted in the cassette, and with vacuum bagging, more securely fix the disks in place in the container.

主权项

1. A universal disk shipper for shipping memory disks, the shipper comprising a cassette having opposing side walls and opposing end walls, an open top, and an open bottom,
a top cover to cover the open top, a bottom cover to cover the bottom, the opposing side walls of the cassette each having a vertical upper portion and an inwardly converging bottom portion, said sidewalls having a plurality of inwardly facing elongate vertical ribs with adjacent ribs defining slots to hold memory disks of a variety of thicknesses that are vertically positioned or near vertically positioned and in a spaced array, each rib being continuous from adjacent to the open top to adjacent the open bottom, each rib having a straight upper portion at the vertical upper portion of the side wall and a converging lower portion at the converging bottom portion of the side walls, in cross-section each rib having a thickened portion on the straight upper portion that is nearer the open bottom than the open top, the thickened portions narrowing the slots defined by adjacent ribs, the thickened portion not extending to the converging lower portion of each rib adjacent the open bottom.