US3475069A

US3475069A - Bulk dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3475069A
Application number: US674146A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles E Saunders; Olaf M Olsen
Original assignee: AMF Inc
Current assignee: EGMC Inc A CORP OF TX
Priority date: 1967-10-10
Filing date: 1967-10-10
Publication date: 1969-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 1986-10-28

Description

Oct. 28, 1969 FIG. 2 o

C. E. SAUNDERS ET ALv BULK DISPENSER Filed Oct. 10, 1967 INVENTORS CHARLES E. SAUNDERS BY OLAF M. OLSEN United States Patent O 3,475,069 BULK DISPENSER Charles E. Saunders, Old Lyme, and Olaf M. Olsen, Old Saybrook, Conn., assignors to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 674,146 Int. Cl. B6511 1/12; A47f 1/06 U.S. Cl. 312-71 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS A conventional bulk dispenser is shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,236,412, Vaught et al.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a bulk dispenser for storing and dispensing unstacked articles, and particularly to a bulk dispenser for storing and dispensing unstacked articles, which exert transverse forces as well as a vertical load on the dispenser. When a prior art bulk dispenser contains a group of unstacked articles, such as light bulbs or the like, the articles exert transverse forces against the housing walls which cause friction forces acting in a direction to restrain movement of the platform. Thus, one problem with said prior art dispenser is that it is difficult to provide a satisfactory self-leveling platform when such friction forces are present.

SUMMARY The above problem is solved in one embodiment of the present invention by using vertically-displaceable flexible side walls supported by the dispenser support housing and connecting to the platform to resist the transverse forces from the group of unstacked articles and to prevent friction forces against the housing walls.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following figures, like parts are designated by like numerals.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partially in section, embodying features of the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1.

Dispenser 10 includes a support frame 12, a verticallydisplaceable self-leveling platform 14, a spring means 16 for supporting the platform 14 on the frame 12 so that the platform 14 is self-leveling, and a plurality of

flexible side walls

18, 20, 22, 24, which are supported by the frame 12 and which rise and fall with the platform 14.

Platform 14 and

side Walls

18, 20, 22, 24 form a storage chamber 26, which carries and dispenses a load of articles 28 such as light bulbs. The articles 28 exert a downward force 30 on the platform 14 and which exert

horizontal forces

32, 34, 36, 38 against

respective walls

18, 20, 22, 24. Spring 16 and platform 14 resist the downward force 30; and

walls

18, 20, 22, 24 and frame 12 resist the respective

horizontal forces

32, 34, 36, 38. Platform 14 is self-leveling so that the top surfaces 40 of the articles 28 remains substantially level with change in volume of chamber 26 and change in number of articles 28.

Frame 12 includes a base plate 42, four

posts

44, 46, 48, 50 resting on plate 42, four upper tie bars 52, and four lower tie bars 60.

Base plate 42 has four caster wheels 68 for use of frame 12 as a cart.

Platform 14 has a center plate portion 76, and four bent-plate edge portions 78.

Edge portions 78, are respectively connected to

flexible Walls

18, 20, 22, 24 by respective connectors 86, such as washer plates and bolts.

Spring means 16 is a helical compression spring member 94 with a connector 96, such as a washer and bolt, which mounts spring member 94 on frame base plate 42. Spring member 94 has a selected spring rate based on a number of factors, including the weight of articles 28, so that the top surface 40 of the load of articles 28 remains substantially level with changes in the volume of the load of articles 28 in chamber 28.

Flexible walls

18, 20, 22, 24 are substantially identical in construction. Wall 18 is described hereafter in detail. Wall 18 includes an elongate flexible belt 98 with a pair of

turnbuckles

100, 102, which connect together the opposite ends of belt 98 for belt tensioning. Wall 18 also has upper and

lower support rollers

104, 106, mounted on frame 12.

Upper roller 104, which is identical in construction to lower roller 106 includes: a shft 108, a hollow tube 110, and ball bearing units 112.

In operation, a group of unstacked articles 28 such as light bulbs or the like, are placed in storage chamber 26. Regardless of the quantity of articles 28 in chamber 26, the top surface 40 of the articles 28 will substantially align itself with the top edge of rollers 104 or a similarlychosen design level. Belt 98 contains the articles 28 and avoids friction forces between the platform 14 and the support frame 12.

While the present invention has been described in a preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made therein within the scope of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modification.

What is claimed:

1. A self-leveling dispenser comprising:

a support structure;

a platform displaceable relative to the support structure for supporting a group of articles;

spring means having a selected spring rate for making the platform self-leveling; and

a plurality of continuous elongate, flexible side walls arranged together with the platform to form a chamber above the platform for containing the group of articles, at least one of said side walls being supported by the support structure and connecting to the platform.

2. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which said spring means includes a helical compression spring member.

3. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which said plurality of side walls are all supported by the support structure and are all connected to the platform.

4. A self-leveling dispenser comprising a support structure, a platform displaceable relative to the support structure for supporting a group of articles, spring means having a selected spring rate for making the platform self-leveling and a plurality of elongate, flexible belts forming side walls and arranged together with the platform to form a chamber about the platform for containing the group of articles, said belts having their opposite ends connected together to form continuous belts and having respective pairs of support members mounted on the support structure at opposite ends of the belts and said belts also being connected to the platform.

5. The dispenser as claimed in claim 7, in which the support members for said belts are anti-friction support rollers, each comprising a center support shaft connected to the support structure, a hollow tube concentric about the shaft, and a plurality of ball-bearing units disposed between the shaft and tube. 6. The dispenser as claimed in claim 7, in which each of said belts has connector means disposed between the opposite ends of the belt within said belt References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Praed 2201-93 Gibbs 220-93 XR Kiesling 312-71 Eurey 220-93 CASMIKA. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner 108-136; zit-49 U.S. Cl. X.R.