GB2174377A - Stacking device for cylinders - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage device which allows gravity feeding of cylindrical containers 10, the device having tiers 2, 3, 4 arranged one above another, each tier 2, 3, 4 having oppositely displaced inclined bearer rails 7 which support containers 10 and allow rolling movement thereon, each tier 2, 3, 4 having a substantially flexible member 9 which allows progress of a container 10 from one tier 3, 4 to the next lower tier 2, 3 and to change the direction of relative motion of the container 10 from one tier to the next tier. Members 9 may be chains, ropes, wire ropes or cable or plastics equivalents. Lever 16 cooperates with stops 17, 18 to release one cylinder, e.g. beer barrel or oil drum, at a time. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stacking device The present invention relates to devices for storing drums, such as beer kegs, oil drums, petrol containers etc which usually carry heavy loads and which it is desirable to utilise the kegs or barrels in the order in which they are received.

Before the present invention, it has been necessary to store cylindrical objects, for example beer kegs, in chill rooms etc and on the floor of the these rooms. In this upright fashion, it meant that the stock first received was always placed at the bottom of a pile and were thus very difficult to get to without re-arranging the store room.

Further, this presents a risk and hazardous situation to a cellarman or storeman if heavy kegs have to be lifted and moved.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage device to substantially overcome or ameliorate the above mentioned disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a storage device which allows for gravity feeding of substantially cylindrical containers, said device comprising at least two tiers arranged one over the other, each tier having oppositely disposed inclined bearer rails to support said cylindrical containers and allow to rolling movement thereon, each tier including a substantially flexible member to allow progress of a container from one tier to the next lower tier and to change the direction of relative motion of said containers from one tier to said next tier. Preferably, the flexible member is of a substantially non-elastic material and such items as chains, wire-rope or similar can be utilised.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a part perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a part end view of a tier of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Figure 3 illustrates a part end view of another area of a tier of the apparatus of Fig.

1; and Figure 4 illustrates a part side elevation of an end of a tier of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Illustrated in Fig. 1, is a storage device 1 comprising at least two tiers, and in this case is illustrated as having three tiers namely 2, 3 and 4. In general, each tier comprises a framework 5 including side members 6 and base members 7. It will be noted that in tiers 3 and 4 (which rest upon tier 2) the base members 7 terminate at terminus 8. (See also Fig. 4.) At an end of each tier 2, 3, 4 is located a pair of flexible members 9 which in this case are chains. However, such things as rope, wire-rope or cable and plasticised versions of same can be utilised. It is preferable that the flexible members 9 be also substantially non-elastic in order to prevent the bouncing of cylinders 10 from the flexible member 9 up against the terminus 8 and back again.This can tend to damage the side and circumferential walls of the cylinders 10, thereby increasing rolling resistance, and possibly rupturing the cylinders 10.

At an area adjacent the flexible members 9 are located alignment plates 11 which are angled in order to funnel or direct a falling cylinder 10 onto bearer rails 12 and a passage defined for the cylinder 10 in the tier 2, 3 or 4.

This is more clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 where Fig. 2 is a part elevation of the area of the tier 2, 3 or 4 wherein the flexible members 9 are located. The alignment plates 11 present an opening which reduces in a downward direction allowing a key or cylinder 10 to fall onto the base 7. It can also be seen in Fig. 2 that the base 7 includes the bearer rails 12 upon which the cylinders 10 roll in a direction leading the cylinders 10 to an outlet 15.

As seen in Fig. 3, which illustrate an end elevational view through a mid point of a tier 2, 3 or 4, the base members 7 include not only bearer rails 12 but also side bearers rails 13 which locate and direct the cylinder 10 along the respective tier 2, 3 or 4. The side members 6 as illustrated in Fig. 3 prevent escape of a cylinder 10 out of a tier 2, 3 or 4 however, contact with a cylinder 10 is restricted to the bearer rails 12 and side bearer rails 13, when contact is made with the side rails 13.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the cylinders 10 roll along the base member 7 of tier and roll off the terminus 8 of the base member 7 into the cavity or opening 14. The cylinder 10 strikes the flexible member 9 and then changes its direction by virtue of the flexible member 9 from a lefthand (or righthand) downward motion to a righthand (or lefthand) downward motion to direct the cylinder 10A in the direction of arrow 16. It can be seen that if the flexible member 9 has too much elasticity, the barrel 10B after leaving the terminus 8 will bounce off the member 9 back onto terminus 8 then back to member 9 as it makes its way down to the next lower tier.

In this fashion, as the bearer rails 12 are at a slight incline allowing the cylinders 10 to progress from the end containing the flexible members 9 through to the terminus 8 of each tier, the cylinders 10 will finally progress through to an opening or outlet 15 in the lowermost tier 2.

The cylinder 10C of Fig. 1 being the oldest cylinder in the device 1 is then released from the device 1 by operation of a handle 16 which raises a long restraint 17 whilst rotating a short restraint 18 which partially blocks the passage 15. By raising the long restraint 17 the cylinder 10C can roll to within a cavity generally indicated by numeral 19 where it is held until the handle 16 is replaced into the position shown in Fig. 1.

Once the handle 16 is placed back into this position the short restraint 18 adopts the position indicated in Fig. 1 and the opening 15 is clear and the cylinder 10C can be rolled out. This prevents all the cylinders 10C emptying from the device 1 each time one cylinder 10 is required.

The foregoing describes an embodiment of the present invention and modifications made by those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (8)

1. A storage device which allows for gravity feeding of substantially cylindrical containers, said device comprising at least two tiers arranged one over the other, each tier having oppositely disposed inclined bearer rails to support said cylindrical containers and allow rolling movement thereon, each tier including a substantially flexible member to allow progress of a container from one tier to a next lower tier and to change the direction of relative motion of said container from one tier to said next tier.

2. A storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is located at an area adjacent said members to funnel said container onto said bearer rails.

3. A storage device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein there is included side bearer rails which, when in contact with said container, contact a substantially lower portion of said container.

4. A storage device as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein said flexible member is substantially non-elastic.

5. A storage device as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein an outlet for said containers is located in a lowermost tier.

6. A storage device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said outlet includes an outlet restraint system which allows one cylinder out of said device, at each operation of said outlet re straint system.

7. A storage device as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein each tier is of moduiar construction.

8. A storage device being substantially as herein described with reference to the accom panying drawings.