GB530590A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for storing stacked articles on counter-balanced supports - Google Patents

Abstract

530,590. Counter-balancing devices. GIBBS, W. J. June 27,1939, No. 18680. [Class 78 (ii)] A receptacle for storing stacks of trays, plates, saucers and the like is provided with means for maintaining the top member of the stack at a pre-determined height. The stacked articles 40, Fig. 3, rest on a carrier 18 having lugs 16, 17 at its corners to which are connected chains 14, 14<SP>1</SP>, 15, 15<SP>1</SP>. These chains pass over sprockets at the top of the casing 10 and extend downwards to lugs 22, 22<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 4, which connect them. A tape 24 connects the lug 22 to a winding drum 25 fast on a shaft 26 which is connected by gears 31, 32, to a shaft 33. The lug 22<SP>1</SP> is connected to an endless chain 28 which passes around a sprocket 30 on the shaft 26. Drums 34 on the shaft 33 have chains 35 connected to them which are attached to tension springs 36 anchored to a bar 37 near the top of the casing. The springs are of such strength that the addition or removal of an article results in a lowering or raising of the carrier 18 to such an extent that the top article remains at a substantially pre-determined elevation with respect to an opening 41 in the casing. The number of articles in the stack at any time is shown by an indicator 50 which is actuated by the shaft 21 through screw-andnut mechanism 46, 47, a link 48 and a crank arm 49. Cutlery is stored in receptacles 55 and table-napkins in boxes 57. A tray taken from the stack may be placed on a shelf 56 while being supplied with cutlery &c. In a modification the stack support 157, Fig. 16, is attached to an endless chain 154 which passes over a sprocket on a shaft 152. A shaft 167 is driven from the shaft 152 by chain-andsprocket gearing and carries a pinion 168 which drives a gear 170. A pinion 172 fast on the shaft carrying the gear 170 engages a rack 173 which is fixed to the piston rod 175 of a dashpot 176. A compression spring 180 co-operates with the dash-pot. In another modification the counter-balancing is effected by an articulated weight 186, Fig. 17. In a further modification the counter-balancing spring 240, Fig. 23, is held between a fixed member 236 and a movable member 242 connected by a chain 250 which is of such a length that the member 242 is at a pre-determined level with no load. This length is adjusted by movement of a screw 246 in a nut 245 connected to the chain.