US3664545A - Cylindrical container storage construction - Google Patents

Abstract

A STORAGE AND DISPENSING CABINET FOR CYLINDRICAL CONTAINERS HAVING CHUTE RAILS, ALONG WHICH CYLINDRICAL CONTAINERS, OR CANS, ARE PROGRESSED BY MEANS OF VERTICALLY RECIPROCATING CHUTE RAIL EXTENSIONS HAVING HOLD BACK MEANS. IN THE UPPERMOST POSITION THE CHUTE RAIL EXTENSION RECEIVE CAN AND IN THE LOWER POSITION, TRANSFER PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED CAN TO THE LOWER RAILS WHILE HOLDING BACK THE UPPER ROWS OF CANS.

Description

May 23, 1972 s. L. BEESLEY I CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER STORAGE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 6, -1970 S0611 L. Beasley BY %4.

F/G. 3A

His Attorney y 23, 1972 s. L. BEESLEY CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER STORAGE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 6, 1970 INENTOR. Scott L. Bee's/ey F/G. 9A

% His Attorney United States FatentO ABSTRACTOFTHE DISVCLOSURIEII:

3,664,545 Patented May 23, 1972 her, either from the exterior of the structure or by controlled descent in the row' of cylindrical containersin the rows holding the cylindrical containers above a particular depleted 'row or rows involved. I

A further object is to provide conveniently operable lever means for the storage and dispensing structure, wherein a counterweight device is used to control the actuation of said lever means. A further object is to provide a storage and dispensing structure having controlled gravity feed wherein the prob- I lem of upsetting or 'avalanching of the containers from storage and dispensing icabinet for cylindrical containers having chute rails,-,along. which cylindrical containers, or cans, are progressed by means of vertically reciprocating chute rail extensions having hold .back

means. In the uppermost position the chute rail extensions receive cans and-in the lower position, transfer previously received cans to the lower rails while hold ng back the upper rows of cans. I I I II I The present invention relates to apparatus for storing and dispensing cylindrical containers of food or other substances and materials and, more particularly, to a new and improved structure permitting controlled descent of containers within the structure and other improvements which-render the structure far more versatile and reliable than those heretofore devised. I v

The presentinvention includes in its structural features all of the residential, commercial and capacity advantages of ,-the inventors US. patents, Nos. 2,901,118 and 3,419,185 and, in addition, incorporates improvements which render the structure unusually versatile,.easy to use, jarnproof, and more reliable than previous designs. I The engineered structure can be adapted to store and dispense cylindrical containers having one or more different diameters within a single cell unit, and this without interfering with the operation of units so far as accessability of other items within the unit are concerned. I

Modularized versions of the storage and dispensing structure can be stacked or simply disposed verticallyto assemble any desired arrangement of structures for different size cans.

Storage devices for cylindrical containers, or cans using zig-zag'or serpentine channels,'in' which the cans are acted upon by gravity are not'new However, withfthe exception of the inventors apparatus described in US. Pat. No. 3,419,185, all previous designs have had 'se'rious disadvantages. The. disadvantage of such-previous designs has been the cumulative pressure exerted on the can to be dispensed caused by the weight of the remaining cans in the channel, making the removal of the can to be dispensed very difiicult, and often causing a total avalanche of theremaining cans from the storage and dispensing unit. 1

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invenpressure of cans in the upper portions of the serpentine I or zig-zag-channel is avoided. I I

A further objectisto provide conveniently operable lever means for a storage and dispensing structure wherein, by actuation of such lever means, depleted storage rows can be readily replenished in a simple, reliable 'man the dispensing rack is avoided. I I A further object is to provide for the use of adapters to allow operation of the storage and dispensing structure with cans having different diameters.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to' its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection'with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, of certain storage and dispensing structure incorporating the basic principles of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 and 2A are detailed vertical cross-sectional views taken along line 22 in FIG. 1, illustrating the relative disposition of the internal storage structure 11 and the external transfer structure 12 (FIG. 2) as the lever structure 27 is moved from position A to position B (FIG. 2A), and returned to position A (FIG. 2).

FIG. 3 is a side view of two modularized versions of the storage and dispensing structure 87, showing the method for-vertically coupling said structures together.

FIG. 3A is a bottom view of the upper structure of FIG. '3, taken along lines 3A-3A in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are detailed cross-sectional views of the chute rail extensions 26 taken along the lines 44 and 55 in FIG. 2A, and 66 in FIG. 2 respectively,

illustrating how stops and spacers may be added at the dispensing. structure 10, shown with the transfer structure 12 in position. A.

FIG. 8A is a view of said counter-weight means in the base cross-member 1'7 with the transfer structure 12 in position B.

' FIG. 9 is a detail taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8, showing the counter-weight means.

FIG. 9A is a top view of the same counter-weight means as shown in FIG. 9, illustrating how the weight of the transfer structure 12 is counter-acted by causing spring 52 to be compressed.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a chute rail 16 taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 4.

In FIGS. 1, 2, and 2A, the storage and dispensing cabinet 10 is shown to consist of two structures, a stationary internal storage structure 11 and a vertically recipe rocating external transfer structure 12. The internal storage structure 11 consists of two vertical panels 13 attached to base cross-members 17 and 18, and a plurality of crossbars 14 and 15. The transfer structure 12 consists of two side assemblies 19 made up of side panels 20, top panels 21 and bottom panels 22, attached to opposite sides of a plurality of stop rails 23, a plurality of guard rails 24, a plurality of dispenser racks25 and a plurality of crossbars 15. .Each dispensing rack 25 consists of a stop bar 67, and a continuationof chute rails 16, attached to crossbar 15, as detailed in FIG. 2. The

. the stop,.rail s .23. a s the lever structure 27 is returned to transfer structure 12 is external to and contiguous to the internal storage structure 11, and isconstructed to move up and down with respect. to the storage structure 11, when actuated by lever structure 27. Lever structure 27 consists of two lever arms 28, fulcrumed at points 29 on blocks 84, and attached together by handle 30, and

coupled to the transfer structure 12 by means of links 31, on each side of the transfer structure 12. Links 31 are pivoted to the lever arms 28 at points 65' and also pivoted to the transfer structure 12 at points66. Blocks 84 are attached to side panels 13 of, the storage structure 11 by screws or other suitable fasteners.

\ The lever structure 27 is shown in position A, thenormally unactuated position. The phantom-line lever indication of .FIG. 1 shows the lever structure .27 imposition-B, the actuated position, and limited in futrherdownward travel by stop block 7-4. The normal cycle of op- I to rolling surfaces 73 by staples 75 are shown in crosssectional detail in FIG. 10. Taken in pairs, said arrangements of chute rails 16 and rolling surfaces 73, held together by staples 75, form channels for the storage and transfer of cylindrical containers, or cans, within the storage and dispensing structure 10, said channels 'alternately tilted downward from the front and downward from the back in a zig-zag manner from the top to the bottom of the storage section 11. As shown in FIGJ'Q, tilted chute rail extensions 26 are in correspondence with their respective chute rails 16, at the upper'endof each chute rail 16, but are tilted at a greater angle to accelerate can movement onto chute rails 16 when in position A. The chute rails 16 of each level are mutually spaced horizontally to form a series of pairs, said pairs constituting channels along which cans are constrained to roll as they descend from one chute rail 16 to the next one immediately below. An ensemble of thirteen cans, NC, is shown randomly placed between a 'pair of chute rails 16, to illustrate how the storage and dispensing structure 10 stores and dispenses said cans. FIG. 2A is the same-vertical cross-section takenalong lines 22 in FIG: 1, showing the relative position of'the transfer structure 12 and the storage structurev 11 with the lever structure 27 actuated to position B. Chute rail extensions 26 are shown elevated to the lowest ends-of each corresponding elevated chute rail extension 26, .as

shown ,in FIG. 2A. Said chute rail extensions 26 are tilted at a greater angle to form a cuppingtaction, thus preventing the. last can in each level from rockingback and forth between chute rails 16 and chute rail extensions 26; this eliminates the possibilities of the storage and dispensing structure 10 being jammed by said cans becoming caught between the tips of chute rails 16 and position A. When the lever assembly 27 is returned to position A, all cans thus captured by the chute rail extensions 26 will be lowered to the highest point of the chute rail -16 immediately below, for further descent into the storage and dispensing structure 10. Thus, by actuating lever assembly 27, cans between the chute rails 16 progress downward to fill the lower chute rails 16. When the chute rail leading to the dispenser rack 25 becomes completely filled, the last can will be retained by the corresponding chute. railextension 26. Further actuation of the lever assembly 27. will cause thetaforementioned chute rail extension 26 to carry said can back up the chute rail 16 immediately above, where itblocks the capture of another can, and descendsback toits original position when the lever assembly 27 is returned to position, A

' Although the storage and dispensing structure 10 shown in FIG. 1 is shown constructed in four separate sections, with four separate dispenser racks 25, it is a simple matter to continue the construction of thechute rails 16 herein described from the topof the structure to the bottom, and provide for onlyone' dispenser rack 25. This is convenient when'many cansofa given size are to be stored and dispensed! Alsd,'it should be mentioned that the storage and dispensingf structure 10 can be easily constructed to handle cans NC having the same diameter, but dilferent lengths, by simply spacing the chute rails 16 and corresponding chute rail .extensions 26 to form channels whose widths correspond to the lengths of the cans NC desired.

InFIGS.' 3 and 3A, side and bottom views of a mod ularized section 83 of the storage and dispensing structure 10 are shown, respectively. Constructional details of each 'moduleare identical to any of the four separate sections shown in the storage and dispensing structure 10 of FIG. 1', with the exception that each modularized section 83 requires an individual lever structure 32, fulcrumed at points 65 on blocks 85, and connected to the transfer structure 87 by means of links 81 which are pivoted at points 66and 82. Blocks 85 are attached to side panels 35 of the transfer structure 87 of said modularizedsjection83. Stops'33 and 34, attached to side 'panel ,35' and transfer structure 87', respectively, are provided tolimit the upper and lower positions of the lever structure 32 corresponding to positions A and B, respectively, shown in BIG. 1.

Provisioniis mad for thefve'rtical attachment of one module tothe next 'by means of a slot cut in the top 'panel 36 of each module. Bolts 70, and wing nuts 71, or other suitable attachments, are .used tov lock the modules together by clamping the inner surface of the slot 37 to the base panel 38of the module immediately, above.

In. EIA.:4,-.a detailed cross-sectionalong the line .4;4 in FIG. 2A is shown todepict the necessary constructional details of. the dispenser rack25 when the storage and dispensingstructure .10 is, used to store and dispense cans vRC havinga reduced diamter. The; phantom line shows the position of a can NC of normal size. The reduced diameter..,c an, RC, shown in cross-section by the .solid line, re sts against spacer 40, said spacer 40 so disposed 'are'made:longen-and the chute rails 16 in the storage structure 12 are made shorter to insure proper operation of the 'storage and" dispensing'structure 10 with the reduced-'diametercan, RC.-

In"FIG.5, a detailed"cross-section along the line'5 5 in 2A is shown, to illustrate the placement of spacer 41"to guardrail 24ftqjproperlyposition the can RC as itjis capturedby chute'rail extension 26.

I FIG 6 is afdeta'iled vert ieal cross-section taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 2', showing a modified position for 'the stop rail 23, supported by shim strip-42 and a cross-member 78. .This construction is necessary for proper operation of the storage and dispensing structure with a reduced diametercan, RC. I

Descending strips 79 are necessary to prevent descending cans RC from rolling onto chute rails 16 before they are in proper position.

In FIG. 7A is shown a front and side view of an interlocking device, 43. This device consists of a block 44, to which are attached locking sections 45 by means of screws 46, said locking sections 45 separated from block 44 by spacers 76. Two adjacent side panels belonging to two separate storage and dispensing structures 10 are shown interlocked by said interlocking device 43 in FIG. 7. The locking sections 45 of the interlocking device 43 are inserted into slots 47 cut into said side panels 13 and rotated one-quarter of a turn, thus locking said cabinets together.

In FIG. 8, a vertical cross-section of the bottom of the storage and dispensing structure 10, taken along lines 8-8 in FIG. 1, is depicted. A counter-weight device 48, consisting of pulley structure 49, lever 50, bolt 51, and spring 52 is shown with the transfer structure 12 in the down position, corresponding to position A. The pulley structure 49 attached to transfer section 12 exerts pressure on lever 50, which in turn compresses spring 52. Said counter-weight device 48 is then caused to exert an upward pressure on the transfer structure 12 as the transfer structure is lowered, which has the effect of counteracting the weight of the transfer structure 12, making the operation of the storage and dispensing structure 10 practically effortless.

In FIG. 8A the same vertical cross-section as in FIG. 8 is shown, but with the transfer structure 12 shown in the upper position corresponding to position B of the lever assembly 27.

In FIG. 9 a cross-sectional detail of the counter-weight device 48 is shown taken along line 99 in FIG. 8. The pulley structure 49 is attached to the transfer structure 12 by means of a threaded bolt 53, passing through horizontal cross-member 54, attached to the transfer structure 12, said threaded bolt 53 engaged to T nut 62 in the pulley structure 49. Roller 56 is free to turn on pin 57, and establishes rolling contact with plate 58 of the lever structure 50. The lever structure 50 is pivoted by pin 59, allowing the lower end of lever structure 50 to press against spring 52. This type of construction allows easy repair and replacement for all components of the counter-weight device 48, and the pulley structure 49.

In FIG. 9A a top view of the counter-weight device 48 is shown depicting the pulley 56, rotating on pin 57, held in place by two small plates 60, stapled or otherwise fastened to the pulley structure 49. The pin 59, which serves as a pivot for lever structure 50 is also shown clearly, held in a slot of the counter-weight device 48 by staples 75 or other suitable fasteners. The counter-weight device 48 is shown attached to base cross-member 17 by means of threaded bolt 77 and a T nut 62. Adjustment of the spring pressure is made by turning threaded L-bolt 61 either counter-clockwise or clockiwise. The two nuts 63 serve to securely locate the washer 64, which washer 64 acts as a stop for the spring 52. The counteracting force on the transfer structure 12 is increased by turning L-bolt 61 counter-clockwise, i.e. out of T-nut 80, in creasing the compression in spring 52. Said counteracting force on the transfer structure 12 is reduced by turning threaded L-bolt 61 clockwise into T nut 80.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

' I- claim: I

1. A storage and dispensing cabinet for cylindrical containers including, in-combination, a fixed, upright, storage structure having vertically spaced sets of inclined gravity feed chute rails; a movable transfer structure contiguous with and longitudinally movable with respect to saidstorage structure, said transfer structure having chute rail extension means, positioned at greater downward incline than that of said gravity feed chute rails, for transferring cylindrical containers downward from one set of chute rails to the next lower set of chute rails, and stop means for excluding succeeding cylindrical containers; and means for raising and lowering said transfer structure.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said chute rail extension means and said stop means of said transfer structure are constructed and arranged to be cooperatively disposed for the exclusive unobstructed transfer of a single cylindrical container at a time when said raising and lowering means is activated.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said transfer structure includes horizontal stop rail means disposed to prevent pressure from cylindrical containers in upper sets of chute rails from exerting pressure upon cylindrical containers therebelow, and horizontal guard rails disposed intermediate of, spaced from, and outwardly of said horizontal stop rails and said rail extension means.

4. A storage and dispensing cabinet for cylindrical containers including, in combinations, a fixed, upright, storage structure having vertically spaced sets of inclined gravity feed chute rails; a movable transfer structure contiguous with and longitudinally movable with respect to said storage structure, said transfer structure having chute rail extension means for transferring cylindrical containers downward from one set of chute rails to the next lower set of chute rails, and stop means for excluding succeeding cylindrical containers; and means for raising and lowering said transfer structure, and wherein said transfer structure is provided with counter-weight means for counteracting the weight of cylindrical containers resting in said chute rail extension means of said transfer structure.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said stop means are modified with horizontal spacers for adapting said storage and dispensing cabinet to store, transfer tolower chute rails and dispense cylindrical containers having a reduced diameter.

6. A storage and dispensing cabinet for cylindrical containers including, in combination, a fixed, upright, storage structure having vertically spaced sets of inclined gravity feed chute rails; a movable transfer structure contiguous with and longitudinally movable with respect to said storage structure, said transfer structure having chute rail extension means for transferring cylindrical containers downward from one set of chute rails to the next lower set of chute rails, and stop means for excluding succeeding cylindrical containers; and means for raising and lowering said transfer structure, and wherein said storage structure includes means for inter-coupling an external, adjacent storage structure of an adjacent storage and dispensing cabinet thereto.

7. A storage and dispensing cabinet for cylindrical containers including, in combination, a fixed, upright, storage structure having vertically spaced sets of inclined gravity feed chute rails; a movable transfer structure contiguous with and longitudinally movable with respect to said storage structure, said transfer structure having chute rail extension means for transferring cylindrical containers downward from one set of chute rails to the next lower set of chute rails, and stop means for excluding succeeding cylindrical containers; and means for raising and lowering said transfer structure, and wherein said storage structure includes plural, vertically stacked storage sections individual ones of which include respective chute rails respectively spaced apart a respective, diiferent, hori- UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 3,419,185 11/1968 Beesley 221-176 3,096,908 7/1963 Parker et a1. 221-176 8 2/1943 Berger et a1. 221-241 4/1969 Bookout 221-241 STANLEY TOLLBERG, Primar y Examiner 05. c1. XQR.

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