Robust picking and packing of storage items

Abstract

A method includes providing a container having a folding side wall, the folding side wall in an open position defining a side access port having a predetermined side access port frame of reference. The folding side wall is positioned in the open position. Content/items are ordinated from a first arrangement of the content/items to a second arrangement of the content/items, different than the first arrangement of the content/items and disposed within the container with the second arrangement of the content/items ordinated with respect to the predetermined side access port frame of reference and an access direction to the content/items through the side access port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing a container comprising a folding side wall, the folding side wall in an open position defining a side access port having a predetermined side access port frame of reference;   positioning the folding side wall in the open position; and   ordinating content/items, from a first arrangement of the content/items to a second arrangement of the content/items, different than the first arrangement of the content/items and disposed within the container with the second arrangement of the content/items ordinated with respect to the predetermined side access port frame of reference and an access direction to the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items through the side access port.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising securing the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items such that the position and orientation of each of the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items is held substantially constant with respect to the predetermined side access port frame of reference. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising securing the content/items so that ordination of content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items is substantially constant as one or more content/items are removed in the access direction through the side access port. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein securing the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items comprises tilting the container in one or more predetermined directions with respect to the predetermined side access port frame of reference. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising providing a container top and a top stabilizer, the top stabilizer disposed so as to secure the container top in a position. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising providing one or more airbags, wherein securing the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items comprises inserting the one or more airbags into the container and inflating the one or more airbags. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising providing a restraining blanket, wherein securing the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items comprises positioning the restraining blanket in the container with respect to the predetermined side access port frame of reference. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein ordinating content/items, from a first arrangement of the content/items to a second arrangement of the content/items, comprises transferring one or more of the content/items of the first arrangement of content/items to an array and forming the second arrangement of the content/items with respect to the predetermined side access port frame of reference, with one or more of the content/items of the array. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second arrangement of the content/items is formed inside the container. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising providing a row restraint, disposed within the container and comprising one or more rows, wherein securing the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items comprises placing each of the content/items into a predetermined row of the one or more rows of the row restraints. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a plurality of subcompartments. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 providing a container comprising a movable side wall, the movable side wall in an open position defining a side access port comprising a side access port open plane, the side access port open plane being defined by an edge of the side access port;   positioning the folding side wall in the open position; and   ordinating content/items, from a first arrangement of the content/items to a second arrangement of the content/items, different than the first arrangement of the content/items and disposed within the container with an ordinating access direction to each of the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items through the side access port in a direction substantially perpendicular to the open plane of the side access port, the ordinating access direction being ordinated in an ordination direction having an axis defined by the side access port open plane.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising securing the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items such that the position and orientation of each of the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items is held substantially constant with respect to a predetermined side access port frame of reference. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising securing the content/items so that ordination of content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items is substantially constant as one or more content/items are removed in the access direction through the side access port. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein securing the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items comprises tilting the container in one or more predetermined directions with respect to the predetermined side access port frame of reference. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing a container top and a top stabilizer, the top stabilizer disposed so as to secure the container top in a position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing one or more airbags, wherein securing the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items comprises inserting the one or more airbags into the container and inflating the one or more airbags. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing a restraining blanket, wherein securing the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items comprises positioning the restraining blanket in the container with respect to the side access port frame of reference. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein ordinating content/items, from a first arrangement of the content/items to a second arrangement of the content/items, comprises transferring one or more of the content/items of the first arrangement of content/items to an array and forming the second arrangement of the content/items with respect to a predetermined side access port frame of reference, with one or more of the content/items of the array. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second arrangement of the content/items is formed inside the container. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing a row restraint, disposed within the container and comprising one or more rows, wherein securing the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items comprises placing each of the content/items into a predetermined row of the one or more rows of the row restraints. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the container comprises a plurality of subcompartments. 
     
     
         23 . A method comprising:
 providing a first container and a second container, each container comprising a demountable side wall, the demountable side wall of each container, in a demounted position, defining a side access port comprising a side access port open plane and having a side access port frame of reference;   removing the demountable side wall from one or more of the first container and the second container; and   ordinating content/items, from a first arrangement of the content/items in the first container to a second arrangement of the content/items in the first container, different than the first arrangement of the content/items and ordinated with respect to ordination of content/items in the second container, with respect to the side access port frame of reference of the first container, and with ordinating access directed through the side access ports of the first and second containers in a direction substantially perpendicular to the open plane of each respective side access port.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising securing the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items such that the position and orientation of each of the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items is held substantially constant with respect to the side access port frame of reference. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising securing the content/items so that ordination of content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items is substantially constant as one or more content/items are removed in the access direction through the side access port. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein securing the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items comprises tilting the container in one or more predetermined directions with respect to the side access port frame of reference. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising providing a container top and a top stabilizer, the top stabilizer disposed so as to secure the container top in a position. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising providing one or more airbags, wherein securing the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items comprises inserting the one or more airbags into the container and inflating the one or more airbags. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising providing a restraining blanket, wherein securing the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items comprises positioning the restraining blanket in the container with respect to the side access port frame of reference. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein ordinating content/items, from a first arrangement of the content/items to a second arrangement of the content/items, comprises transferring one or more of the content/items of the first arrangement of content/items to an array and forming the second arrangement of the content/items with respect to the side access port frame of reference, with one or more of the content/items of the array. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the second arrangement of the content/items is formed inside the container. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising providing a row restraint, disposed within the container and comprising one or more rows, wherein securing the content/items in the second arrangement of the content/items comprises placing each of the content/items into a predetermined row of the one or more rows of the row restraints. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the container comprises a plurality of subcompartments.