US3375049A

US3375049A - Dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3375049A
Application number: US530117A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rubinowitz Leo
Original assignee: AMF Inc
Current assignee: AMF Inc
Priority date: 1965-03-09
Filing date: 1966-02-25
Publication date: 1968-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 1985-03-26
Also published as: DE1554618A1; GB1088613A

Description

March 26, 1968 RUBINOWITZ 3,375,049

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1966 f4 4/ FIG. I

INVENTOR. LEO RUBINOWITZ United States Patent 3,375,049 DISPENSING APPARATUS Leo Rubinowitz, Westport, Conn., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Feb. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 530,117 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Mar. 9, 1965, 9,918/65 4 Claims. (Cl. 312-71) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A self-leveling, storing, and dispensing apparatus comprising, in combination, a vertical cylinder having an open top and an opening in the side of said cylinder, an article carrier within said cylinder, and a coil spring disposed about said cylinder, the upper end of said coil spring being fixed in relation to said cylinder and the lower end of said coil spring having a projection extending through said opening in the side of said cylinder supporting said article carrier, and adjustment means to selectively immobilize upper coils of said coil spring, which comprises a clamp member disposed beyond said coil spring, said clamp member having a lower end containing a coil engaging portion, means vertically positioning said clamp member, and means urging the coil engaging portion in the lower end of said clamp member against a coil of said coil spring clamping the coil of said coil spring against said cylinder.

This invention relates to self-leveling, storing, and dispensing apparatus which maintains a stack of articles, such as dishes, within a tube with the uppermost article of the stack maintained at a desired height.

In conventional dispensing apparatus for stacked articles, a vertical tube is set with its upper end flush with a counter or like work surface. A coil spring within the tube urges an article carrier upwards. As a user stacks articles on the carrier, the carrier is forced down compressing the spring a distance proportional to the weight of each article placed thereon so the topmost article of the stack is always at the same level. Since such articles vary in weight, thickness, or both weight and thickness, the spring should be readily adjustable to have a desired deflection for each type of article to be stored and dispensed. The spring in conventional dispensing apparatus is diflicult to reach and adjust.

In one embodiment of the invention, the coil spring in the dispensing apparatus is easily reached and adjusted by using a clamp member disposed beyond the coil spring and having a coil engaging portion at its lower end to urge a selected turn of the coil spring against the cylinder.

It is a main object of this invention to provide a dispensing apparatus which may easily be adjusted to be self-leveling for a variety of articles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus in which the article support spring is outside the storage cylinder and near the top of the storage cylinder so that it may be more easily adjusted.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus in which the proportionally deformed spring is in tension and is disposed beyond any possible contamination or interference in its action from food or other material falling into the storage cylinder.

Many other objects, advantages, and features of invention reside in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts involved in the embodiment of this invention and its practice as will be understood from the following description and accompanping drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through a dispenser according to this invention with a central portion broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the dispenser set in a fragment of a counter top;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a section taken on line 55 of FIGURE 4 with the clamp spring shown removed.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a wooden counter top 10 or the like has an opening 11 formed in it to receive the storage cylinder 12. Flange 13 of cylinder 12 rests on the counter top 10 to support cylinder 12. Three

guide posts

14, 15, and 16 are fixed on flange 13 to extend upwardly about cylinder 12. A tension spring 17, which is normally almost closed, extends with moderate clearance around cylinder 12. The top end 18 of spring 17 is fixed to cylinder 12 by a clamp 19 or by other suitable means.

The bottom coil 20 of spring 17 has an inward extension 21 which passes through a vertical slot 22 in cylinder 12 to be fixed to the bottom of an article carrier 23 by a clamp 24. A wire or chain 25 may be provided to limit the upward travel of carrier 23. A screw eye 26 or the like in bottom plate 27 may be used to snub the chain 25.

Guide post 14 contains the adjustable spring clamp 30. The upper end 29 of clamp 30 is forked to extend on each side of the pivot block 31. A bolt 28 pivotally attaches clamp 30 to the pivot block 31. A handle 32 of the pivot block 31 extends through a vertical slot 33 in the post 14. Inner and

outer flanges

34 and 35 cooperate to secure pivot block 31 slidably within slot 33.

A locking screw 37 is screwed through guide post 14 below slot 33 to contact clamp 30 and force its lower end 38 against a coil of spring 17. The lower end 38 of clamp 30 contains a notch 39, shown in FIGURE 4, to grip a coil of spring 17 and vertically secure it as it is held against cylinder 12. A clamp spring 40 is fixed to the end of pivot block 31 by a screw 41 so that the free end of spring 40 bears against clamp 30 to urge it away from spring 17.

The displacement of spring 17, as evidenced by the movement of article carrier 23 when articles of a given weight are stacked on it, is adjusted as follows. Screw 37 is backed oflY so that spring 40 pivots clamp 30 away from the coils of spring 17. By means of handle 32, pivot block 31 is slid along slot 33 until notch 39 of clamp 30 is positioned over a desired coil of spring 17. As shown in FIGURE 2, this adjustment may be determined by an indicating projection 45 of flange 34 and a scale 46 having markings indicating when notch 39 of clamp 30 is positioned over given coils of the unloaded spring 17. Screw 37 is then tightened to clamp the desired coil of spring 17 in notch 39 against cylinder 22.

When fewer coils of spring 17 are free below clamp 30 to be deformed by movement of article carrier 23, a greater weight is required to deflect spring 17 a given distance because each of the free coils of spring 17 which are so deflected are deformed to a greater degree which requires a greater force. Thus adjustment of spring 17 is rapidly and easily accomplished for a wide variety of articles to be stored and dispensed.

While this invention has been described and shown in the best form known, it will nevertheless be understood that this is purely exemplary and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as it may be more limited in the appended claims wherein What is claimed is:

1. A self-leveling, storing, and dispensing apparatus comprising, in combination, a vertical cylinder having an open top and an opening in the side of said cylinder, an article carrier within said cylinder, and a coil spring disposed about said cylinder, the upper end of said coil spring being fixed in relation to said cylinder and the lower end of said coil spring having a projection extending through said opening in the side of said cylinder supporting said article carrier, and adjustment means to selectively immobilize upper coils of said coil spring, which comprises a clamp member disposed beyond said coil spring, said clamp member having a lower end containing a coil engaging portion, means vertically positioning said clamp member, and means urging the coil engaging portion in the lower end of said clamp member against a coil of said coil spring clamping the coil of said coil spring against said cylinder.

2. The combination according to claim 1 with the addition of guide posts extending upwardly about the open top of said cylinder, one of said guide posts being hollow and containing an outward facing vertical slot, said means vertically positioning said clamp member being a pivot block within said hollow guide post, said pivot block having a handle extending through said vertical slot slidably securing said pivot block, said clamp member 4.- being pivotally secured to depend from said pivot block, said means urging the coil engaging portion in the lower end of said clamp member against a coil of said coil spring being a screw fixed in said hollow guide post below said vertical slot against said clamp member pivoting said clamp member inwards.

3. The combination according to claim 2 with the addition of spring means urging the lower end of said clamp member away from said coil spring.

4. The combination according to claim 3 with the addition of indicating means on said handle of said pivot block, and a scale on said hollow guide post on which said indicating means indicates the coil of said unloaded coil spring over which the coil engaging portion of said clamp member is positioned.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.