Abstract: An apparatus and method for the transportation and storage of compressible items in a compressed state, the apparatus comprising a lower member featuring a horizontal floor; an upper member featuring a horizontal roof, the upper member being slideably connected to the lower member; a platform between the floor and roof that is slideably connected to the upper and lower member; a rotational expulsion mechanism attached to the lower member, upper member, and platform; and an attachment point, said attachment point facilitating the connection of the apparatus to a vehicle. Compressible items may be loaded onto the platform, after which the platform is raised so that compressible items may be loaded between the floor and platform. The roof may then be lowered, compressing both those items between the roof and platform and those items between the platform and floor.

Abstract: A safety interlock system and method of unloading a standard manufacturing cassette using a safety interlock system are described which prevent the robotic arm used to unload the cassettes from unloading the cassette unless the cassette is in the proper unloading position. The safety interlock system uses a light beam emitted by a light source and illuminating a light sensitive switch if the cassette is not in the proper unloading position. If the cassette is in the proper unloading position the cassette interrupts the light beam and the light sensitive switch is not illuminated. Illuminating the light sensitive switch energizes a relay primary coil which interrupts power delivered to the electrical control unit of the robotic arm and activates an alarm unit.