US3675912A - Anti-spring buckling device - Google Patents

Anti-spring buckling device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3675912A
US3675912A US58410A US3675912DA US3675912A US 3675912 A US3675912 A US 3675912A US 58410 A US58410 A US 58410A US 3675912D A US3675912D A US 3675912DA US 3675912 A US3675912 A US 3675912A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
spring
housing
wall
side walls
coil spring
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US58410A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Joseph A Des Jardins
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AMERICAN WYOTT CORP
Original Assignee
AMF Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AMF Inc filed Critical AMF Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3675912A publication Critical patent/US3675912A/en
Assigned to AMF WYOTT, INC., A CORP. OF WYOMING reassignment AMF WYOTT, INC., A CORP. OF WYOMING ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: AMF INCORPORATED
Assigned to EGMC, INC., A CORP. OF TX reassignment EGMC, INC., A CORP. OF TX ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: AMF WYOTT, INC., A WY CORP
Assigned to AMERICAN WYOTT CORPORATION reassignment AMERICAN WYOTT CORPORATION CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). EFFECTIVE JUNE 13, 1986 Assignors: EGMC, INC.,
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G1/00—Storing articles, individually or in orderly arrangement, in warehouses or magazines
    • B65G1/02—Storage devices
    • B65G1/04—Storage devices mechanical
    • B65G1/06—Storage devices mechanical with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level
    • B65G1/07—Storage devices mechanical with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level the upper article of a pile being always presented at the same predetermined level
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S206/00—Special receptacle or package
    • Y10S206/817—Follower

Definitions

  • the apparatus UNITED STATES PATENTS which contacts the inner wall is a rectangularly-shaped member having four wall contacting portions. 1,126,139 l/1915 Walker ..206/D1G. 26 1,138,562 5/1915 Herboldt 206/DlG. 26 lClalm, 3 Drawing Figures P'A'TENTEDJuL 1 1 I972 3 675 9 1 2 FIG. I
  • This invention relates to self-leveling storing and dispensing devices of the type wherein a helically coiled compression spring, on which a plurality of articles of like height and weight may be stacked, is mounted within an upright housing and guided by the housing in a vertical path of travel as its length changes in response to a change in loading; and more particularly to such a device which includes means for preventing the spring from buckling due to eccentric loading.
  • an article carrier is normally seated on the upper end of the spring and the spring is chosen to axially expand or contract a distance approximately equal to the height of one of the articles placed on or removed from the carrier.
  • the carrier is thus adapted to move upwardly a distance approximately equal to the height of an article when it is removed from the platform, and move downwardly the same distance when a like article is added.
  • the topmost article in a stack of like articles is thereby automatically located at a predetermined constantlevel irrespective of the height of the stack.
  • Springs mountable in one housing cannot be mounted in a differently sized housing for handling articles of the same weight and height, but of different laterally extending dimension, since the lateral extent of the spring has to be changed to prevent the spring from buckling.
  • the inventory must also be large enough to accommodate users who wish to change the type of article handles by their device when the lateral area of the article to be dispensed is substantially the same as the article previously dispensed, but its weight and/or height are different. Any new spring provided must have substantially the same lateral extent as the old spring, as well having a different spring characteristic.
  • an antispring buckling device which may be mounted on a variety of springs of different diameter.
  • a manufacturer may utilize different sizes of springs in a given dispenser housing, or the same size of spring in differently sized housings.
  • the invention has generic application to preventing springs within housings from buckling. Accordingly, it is a combination comprising a housing having an inner wall, a helically coiled spring located within the housing and laterally spaced from the inner wall, means for connecting the spring to the housing so that the length of the spring changes in response to a change in loading thereon, and means movably connected to and extending tangentially of the spring for contacting the inner wall of the housing at radially spaced points thereon to maintain the lateral spacing between the spring and housing.
  • the means for contacting the inner wall is normally spaced apart therefrom but contacts the inner wall at two radially spaced points in response eccentric spring loading, thereby preventing the spring from buckling.
  • the inner wall contacting means need not be so made, a continuous member having radially spaced inner wall contacting portions at spaced intervals along its length may be utilized in housings of various cross-section; round, square, rectangular or the like. ln most embodiments a single, rectangularly-shaped member may be used; whereas in others more than one such member may be used.
  • FIG. 1 is a vertical elevation of a self-leveling dispenser according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of the dispenser of FIG. 1, taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged section of a portion of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.
  • the dispenser of the preferred embodiment generally includes an upright rectangularly-shaped housing 10, having a closed lower end 12 and an open end 14, a helically coiled spring 16 mounted within the housing and laterally spaced from its inner wall 18, and a geometrically-shaped member 20 connected to the spring so as to tangentially extend from the spring toward the inner wall of the housing.
  • a rectangularlyshaped carrier 22, having a rectangularly-shaped skirt 24, is seated on the upper end of the spring to receive a stack of likedimensioned articles 25, such as a stack of trays or racks.
  • the spring is chosen in consideration of the weight and height of one of the articles stacked on the carrier.
  • the spring characteristic is adjusted so that the spring is lengthwise compressed a distance approximately equal to the height of the article placed on the carrier, and expand the same distance when the article is removed.
  • successive articles in the stack are automatically elevated to a level slightly above the open upper end of the housing for successive removal from the dispenser.
  • the spring has space within the housing for further compression therein, when an article is added to a stack of like articles on the carrier, the added article will be lowered to the aforesaid level.
  • the topmost article in a stack of like articles is automatically located at a predetermined constant level irrespective of the height of the stack.
  • the housing forms a passageway, bounded by the inner wall 18 of the housing, within which the carrier moves upwardly and downwardly in response to addition or removal of articles.
  • the cross-section of the passageway is rectangular, but is may be circular, square or elliptical, or the like, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
  • the housing includes the horizontally oriented rectangularly-shaped base member 26, the like oriented rectangularlyshaped top member 27 which is spaced above and in registry with the base member, and four vertically oriented upright members 28 having their lower ends respectively connected to one of the four comers of the base member and their upper ends respectively connected to one of the four comers of the top member.
  • the top member 27 acts as a frame defining an opening in the upper end of the housing through which the articles may pass.
  • the housing is also provided with four rectangularly shaped panels 29 respectively connected to the appropriate uprights 28 for covering the sides of the housmg.
  • I To connect the spring to the housing I provide a plurality of L-shaped metal members 30, and connect them to the upper surface of the base 26 as shown in FIG. 1. One leg of each of the members 30 is spot welded to the base, and the other leg extends upwardly from the base to laterally confine the lower end of the spring in place.
  • I provide a chain assembly including a length of chain 32 having its lower end removably connected to the center of the top surface of the base member by means of a fixture 34, and its upper end removably connected to the center of the bottom surface of the carrier 22 by means of the fixture 36.
  • the vertical length of the chain assembly, 32, 34 and 36 is chosen to pre-load the spring a sufi'icient amount to substantially align the top surface of the carrier 22 with the top surface of the top 27 of the housmg.
  • member is a length of flat steel stock which is bent into a rectangularly-shaped form to define inner wall contacting portions or surfaces 30 at a spaced intervals along its longitudinal length.
  • ends of the member are overlapped and spot welded together after the desired configuration is formed.
  • the member may be fabricated from a single piece or several pieces of metal strip or round stock, and from various materials, such as steel, aluminum, brass, copper or plastic, or the like, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
  • the member may take other forms, such as the shape of a square, and be provided with more inner wall contacting portions or surfaces than shown in the Figs, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
  • the member 20 is preferably movably connected to the spring by means of a pair of connectors 40.
  • each of the connectors 40 is a rectangularly-shaped strip of steel wrapped around a turn of the spring so that the free ends of the connector extend outwardly from the spring and are spaced apart from one another a sufiicient distance to receive a portion of the longitudinal length of the member 20 between them for spot welding to the member.
  • the member 20 extends tangentially of the spring and does not interfere with its compression. For example, when the spring is fully compressed the turns of the spring next adjacent to the turn on which the member 20 is mounted are compressable against the connectors, rather than against the member 20.
  • the spring may twist within the connectors as it expands and contracts.
  • the connectors 40, and thus the member 20, are movably mounted on the spring in a manner which allows the spring to operate without interference from the member 20.
  • the connectors are preferably mounted on the spring such that the free ends of one connector hang downwardly and those of the other protrude upwardly, so that the member 20 tends to be more horizontally oriented than it would be if both connectors had their free ends oriented in the same direction. In practise it has been found that this arrangement reduces the likelihood of the connectors being strained and eventually breaking away from the spring.
  • an article dispenser comprising a vertically disposed housing having an open upper end, a movable platform positioned within said open upper end, and a coil compression spring in said housing extending centrally along the vertical length thereof between said movable platform and the bottom of said housing, the side walls of said housing being spaced from said coil spring and means for preventing said coil spring from buckling and contacting said side walls, said means comprising a flat open frame member disposed in said housing between said coil spring and housing side walls, said frame member having a plurality of radially inner and radially outer portions disposed adjacent said coil spring and side walls respectively, hinge means connecting said radially inner portions to circurnferentially spaced parts of a central turn of said spring, and said radially outer portions being close to diametrically opposite parts of said side walls for contact therewith to prevent buckling of said coil spring.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • De-Stacking Of Articles (AREA)
  • Moulds For Moulding Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Extrusion Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Casting Or Compression Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
  • Stackable Containers (AREA)
US58410A 1970-07-27 1970-07-27 Anti-spring buckling device Expired - Lifetime US3675912A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US5841070A 1970-07-27 1970-07-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3675912A true US3675912A (en) 1972-07-11

Family

ID=22016647

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US58410A Expired - Lifetime US3675912A (en) 1970-07-27 1970-07-27 Anti-spring buckling device

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3675912A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4826356B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA926429A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2113118A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1290299A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3948351A (en) * 1974-03-20 1976-04-06 Wiba Ag Catching device for a free-falling body
US4020946A (en) * 1975-09-29 1977-05-03 Gardner Marshall J Display and dispensing carton structure and blank therefor
US4111416A (en) * 1977-06-06 1978-09-05 Jinotti Walter J Exerciser
DE2800794A1 (de) * 1978-01-09 1979-07-19 Scharwaechter Gmbh Co Kg Stuetz- und druckfederanordnung fuer schwenkbar angelenkte fluegel o.dgl.
US4285902A (en) * 1977-12-05 1981-08-25 Rotoplas Ltd. Method of molding a re-enforced article
US4953739A (en) * 1988-08-12 1990-09-04 Emhart Industries, Inc. Container of solid composition for use as a hot-melt
WO1997048921A1 (en) * 1996-06-19 1997-12-24 Howell William B Pneumatic spring and method of manufacture
US20080302696A1 (en) * 2007-06-05 2008-12-11 Dianne Mae Moore Spent Gum Wrapper Dispenser and Method of Using Same
GB2569192A (en) * 2017-12-11 2019-06-12 Atl Associates Ltd A sprung display case for dispensing products
CN111152444A (zh) * 2020-01-14 2020-05-15 韶关市盛益塑胶制品有限公司 一种pvc膜吸塑工艺
US11945642B2 (en) 2022-04-11 2024-04-02 Main St. Group Sprung dispensing tower with resiliently compressible slide guide
US11950711B2 (en) * 2022-08-24 2024-04-09 Jiree (Hua'an) Technology Co., Ltd. Automatic lifting display rack

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS52133794A (en) * 1976-05-03 1977-11-09 Toshiaki Iwasaki Bicycle turn indicator
US4134507A (en) * 1977-06-23 1979-01-16 Caterpillar Tractor Co. Flexing beam assembly
JPS5672989A (en) * 1979-11-19 1981-06-17 Toppan Printing Co Ltd Screen printing method
JPS59206680A (ja) * 1983-05-10 1984-11-22 Nippon Zosen Shinko Zaidan 浮体による波エネルギ−発電装置
MX9306352A (es) * 1992-10-13 1995-01-31 Combe Inc Composicion colorante para el teñido gradual del cabello por medio deoxidacion atmosferica y proceso para emplear la misma.
JP6802461B2 (ja) * 2017-02-28 2020-12-16 有限会社ユウアイ 包装装置および包装システム

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1126139A (en) * 1914-02-02 1915-01-26 John T Walker Check-dispenser.
US1138562A (en) * 1913-12-01 1915-05-04 John Herboldt Medicine-box.

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1138562A (en) * 1913-12-01 1915-05-04 John Herboldt Medicine-box.
US1126139A (en) * 1914-02-02 1915-01-26 John T Walker Check-dispenser.

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3948351A (en) * 1974-03-20 1976-04-06 Wiba Ag Catching device for a free-falling body
US4020946A (en) * 1975-09-29 1977-05-03 Gardner Marshall J Display and dispensing carton structure and blank therefor
US4111416A (en) * 1977-06-06 1978-09-05 Jinotti Walter J Exerciser
US4285902A (en) * 1977-12-05 1981-08-25 Rotoplas Ltd. Method of molding a re-enforced article
DE2800794A1 (de) * 1978-01-09 1979-07-19 Scharwaechter Gmbh Co Kg Stuetz- und druckfederanordnung fuer schwenkbar angelenkte fluegel o.dgl.
US4953739A (en) * 1988-08-12 1990-09-04 Emhart Industries, Inc. Container of solid composition for use as a hot-melt
WO1997048921A1 (en) * 1996-06-19 1997-12-24 Howell William B Pneumatic spring and method of manufacture
US7802696B2 (en) * 2007-06-05 2010-09-28 Dianne Mae Moore Spent gum wrapper dispenser and method of using same
US20080302696A1 (en) * 2007-06-05 2008-12-11 Dianne Mae Moore Spent Gum Wrapper Dispenser and Method of Using Same
GB2569192A (en) * 2017-12-11 2019-06-12 Atl Associates Ltd A sprung display case for dispensing products
US11064819B2 (en) 2017-12-11 2021-07-20 Metalfacture Ltd Sprung display case for dispensing products
GB2569192B (en) * 2017-12-11 2022-04-13 Metalfacture Ltd A sprung display case for dispensing products
AU2018385287B2 (en) * 2017-12-11 2022-12-01 Atl Associates Limited A sprung display case for dispensing products
CN111152444A (zh) * 2020-01-14 2020-05-15 韶关市盛益塑胶制品有限公司 一种pvc膜吸塑工艺
US11945642B2 (en) 2022-04-11 2024-04-02 Main St. Group Sprung dispensing tower with resiliently compressible slide guide
US11950711B2 (en) * 2022-08-24 2024-04-09 Jiree (Hua'an) Technology Co., Ltd. Automatic lifting display rack

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2113118A1 (de) 1972-02-03
GB1290299A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-09-27
CA926429A (en) 1973-05-15
JPS4826356B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-08-09

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3675912A (en) Anti-spring buckling device
US4671407A (en) Tray for card edge connectors
JP7295577B2 (ja) 飲料マルチパック小出し用のばね付陳列ケース
US4623063A (en) Fibreboard container for coil material
US3224569A (en) Clasp packing tray
US2426995A (en) Apparatus for storing stacked articles
US3863918A (en) Building block game
US3106332A (en) Box handle
US2534169A (en) Paper cup dispenser
US2395601A (en) Bottle carrier
US4422556A (en) Receptacles for overhead storage systems
US2226308A (en) Apparatus for storing stacked articles
US3424421A (en) Container mounting device
US4553484A (en) Cornerboard for pallets
US2396003A (en) Bottle carrier
US3014577A (en) Container for coils of wire
US1518497A (en) Mill truck
US4503980A (en) Device for stacking of articles of which the upper most article of the stack is maintained automatically at a certain level
US3168198A (en) Elevator article-supporting apparatus
US2205271A (en) Tree holder
US2947458A (en) Holder for containers such as casseroles and the like
JPS612808A (ja) 調整可能な棚ラツク
US2432351A (en) Bottle carrier
US2502690A (en) Bottle holder and carrier
CA2105946A1 (en) Cake Rack

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: AMF WYOTT, INC., 1938 WYOTT DRIVE CHEYENNE, WY. 8

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:AMF INCORPORATED;REEL/FRAME:004484/0351

Effective date: 19851112

AS Assignment

Owner name: AMERICAN WYOTT CORPORATION

Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:EGMC, INC.,;REEL/FRAME:004966/0381

Effective date: 19860612

Owner name: EGMC, INC., A CORP. OF TX

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:AMF WYOTT, INC., A WY CORP;REEL/FRAME:004760/0288

Effective date: 19860611