US3005536A - Storage units - Google Patents

Description

Oct 24, 1961 M. DABICH 3,005,536

STORAGE UNITS Filed Sept. 2, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 2924 INVENTOR. Mz c 20 eZ Mi 6% M. DABICH STORAGE UNITS Oct. 24, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2, 1958 INVENTOR. #ZbldeZDaZicZ M. DABICH STORAGE UNITS Oct. 24, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 2, 1958 INVENTOR. Mi ae 2241M a r/7e) BY j4 M. DABICH STORAGE UNITS Oct. 24, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 2, 1958 INVENTOR. MzcZaeZZQaZz'cZ United States Patent 3,005,536 STORAGE UNITS Michael Dabich, St. Clair Shores, Mich, assignor to F. Jos. Lamb Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Sept. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 758,528 4 Claims. (Cl. 198-45) This invention relates to improvements in storage units and particularly to units having a plurality of horizontal and substantially spiral passages thereon, and means for engaging the upper surfaces of workpieces in the passages and propelling them there'along.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a storage unit wherein the passages are arranged one above the other, and chutes are provided for the flow of workpieces from one passage to the one next beneath it so that a vast number of workpieces may be compactly stored therein.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide such a storage unit wherein a plurality of flexible wipers are mounted for movement above and along each horizontal passage to engage the upper faces of workpieces in the passages and propel them therealong.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a storage unit which may either rest upon the floor, or be suspended at such a height above the latter that the space beneath may be utilized for other purposes; and wherein the unit may be either substantially circular or elongated in horizontal section.

Having thus briefly and broadly stated some of the objects and advantages of the invention I will now describe two preferred embodiments thereof with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view showing one form of the invention, and FIGURE 2 is a side view thereof, partly in section.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURES 4 and 5 are enlarged sections on the lines 44, and 5-5, respectively, of FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 6 and 7 are sections on the lines 6-6 and 7-7, respectively, of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged section on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 5.

.FIGURE 9 is an enlarged section on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 6. FIGURE 10 is an enlarged section on the line 10-10 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURES l1 and 12 are sections on the lines '11-11 and 12-12, respectively of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 13 is a plan view showing a modified form of the invention, and

FIGURES 14, 15, 16 and 17 are sections on the lines 14-14, 15-15, 16-16, and 17-17, respectively, of FIGURE '13.

FIGURE 18 is an enlarged section on the line 18-18 of FIGURE 14. 2'

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURES 1 to 12, inclusive, 1 designates a frame which in the present instance is rectangular and includes vertical corner posts 2 each of which is mounted at its lower extremity upon a base 3 adapted to be secured to a floor. The posts 2 are held in spaced relation by braces 4 arranged in horizontal sets each extending around the frame at a different elevation. Welded or otherwise secured at its opposite extremities to one pair of the bottom braces 4 is a plate 5 having a suitable support 6 secured thereon upon which a motor 7 is mounted as shown in FIGURES 2 and-7. Extending also between and secured to the same two braces 4 of the bottom set, and preferably parallel with the'pla-te '5, is another plate 8 having a speed reducer 9 secured thereon.

3,005,536 Patented Oct. 24, 1961 The latter is driven by the motor 7 through a belt 10 and projecting from the speed reducer is a driven shaft 11 to which an extension shaft 12 is secured for rotation therewith as by a suitable connection 13. Extending between and secured at opposite extremities to two opposed braces 4 of the set immediately about the one which supports the plates 5 and 8, and in the present instance arranged at right angles to them, is a base plate 14 on which a lower bearing 15 ismounted to support the lower extremity of the shaft extension 12 for rotation.

Mounted on the frame 1, usually in the manner hereinafter described, are a plurality of vertically spaced storage trays 16, the lowest of which is positioned above the bearing 15. Secured also to the shaft extension 12,-for rotation therewith above each tray is a feeding mechanism 17 adapted to advance workpieces A upon the tray. Since all the trays 16 and all the feed mechanisms 17 are the same, I will now describe one of each of them. Each tray includes a central ring 18 spaced coaxially around the shaft extension 12 and having a plurality of radial arms 19 extending therefrom. The outer extremity of each arm is secured to the adjacent extremities of two braces 4 so that the ring is held coaxial with the shaft extension. Formed across the upper portion of each arm 19 are a plurality of a-rcuate slots 20 which are substantially uniformly spaced from one another. 21 denotes a substantially spirally wound resilient ribbon, made of spring steel or other suitable material. The lower extremity of the ribbon is supported in the slots so that'a substantially spiral passage 22 is defined between each adjacent pair of turns of the ribbons throughout the length of the latter and above the said arms. Suitably secured between each adjacent pair of turns of the ribbon throughout the length of the passage is a support 23 which in the present case is welded or'otherwise secured both to the upper margins of the arms 19 and longitudinally to the inner face of the ribbon 21. The arrangement of the support 23, shown is preferable in this case because it is desirable that the workpieces be supported immediately beneath their portions of greatest diameter.

Secured to the shaft extension 12 for rotation therewith above the upper margin of the ribbon 21'is a spider 24 having a plurality of uniformly spaced radial carriers 25 projecting therefrom. Secured to each carrier as by U-clamps 26 is the upwardly flexed front extremityof a wiper 27 which is made of sheet leather, rubber, resilient plastic or other suitable material. The trailing portion of each wiper is adapted to bear upon and impart movement to workpieces on the passage 22 immediately beneath them and cause them to travel gradually along that passage from one extremity to the other. ,Each wiper is substantially segmental and extends across the upper face'of all the turns of the ribbon 21 immediately beneath it. I find that the wipers 27 lie flatter upon the tops of the workpieces and more readily move them around the passage 22 if they are scalloped at intervals across their front margins as shown at 28. For the same reason it is usually desirable to perforate the rear portions of the wipers as shown at 29. The height of the ribbons 21 is such that the workpieces project a suflicient distance above them for their upper faces to be engaged by the wipers. Supported on the ring 18 from which the top set of radial arms 19 project is a' plate 35 which supports a bearing 15a'by which the upper extremity of the shaft" extension is rotatably supported. Welded or otherwise suitably secured to one of the arms 19 extending fromthe top ring 18 are the outer extremities of opposite sides of a gravity chute 30. The sides of the chute are thus held inalignment with opposite sides of the outer extremity of the passage 22 formed between the outer end of the topresilient ribbon 21 and the turn'thereofadjacent thereto. Thus provision is made for the free travel of workpieces from the chute 30 into the top spiral passage.

A suitable support 34 is in the present instance secured along the inner face of one. side of the chute 30 in alignment with and to form a continuation of'the support 23 in the passage 22; Other gravity chutes as shown at 30a, also having longitudinal supports 34a thereon, similar to the support 34 connect the inner extremity of each substantially spiral passage 22 with the outer extremity of the pasage '22 next beneath it, thereby providing means for the gradual movement of workpieces from the outer extremity of the top passage 22 to the inner extremity of the bottom one whence the workpieces are adapted to be discharged as through a delivery chute 30b.

As shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, at the inner extremity of each passage 22 a stop 36 is provided to halt movement of the workpieces. The support 23 terminates in front of the stop so that approaching workpieces may fall through an opening 37 thus provided and drop into the upturned extremity of one of the chutes 30a or 3022 beneath. Each chute 30a is supported from the frame l by suitable brackets 38, 39 and 40, which are also welded or otherwise connected to one another.

Mounted on one of the trays 16 is a delayed action switch 41 having a pivoted actuating arm 42 which is adapted to be tripped by workpieces halted thereagainst. The switch may be included in a circuit to provide an audible or visual signal so that the flow of workpieces onto the storage unit may be manually interrupted; or in a circuit including electrically operated means, such as a solenoid-operated stop 43 for interrupting the flow of workpieces onto the unit.

Welded or otherwise secured to the radial arm 19 adjacent the outer extremity of the top passage 22 is one extremity of a bracket 32 which is supported by a plate 32a to which it is suitably secured. The chute 30 is also supported by the plate 32a to which it is attached as by bolts 31. Rotatably mounted on the, outer extremity of the bracket 32 is a roller 33 which projects somewhat above the normal level of the rear portions of the wipers 27, so that as the latter are turned, about the .axis of the top spider 24 they are raised sutficiently by the roller to prevent them causing displacement of workpieces A approaching or entering the outer extremity of the top passage 22. Other rollers (not shown) are similarly mounted adjacent the lower extremities of the intermediate chutes 30a to raise the lower wipers in the manner above described and prevent them displacing other workpieces about to enter the lower passages.

Obviously the dimensions of the storage unit are limited by the space available for it in the building in which it is to be housed. Moreover the apparent maximum height available for the unit must he often reduced because none of the floor space may be occupied thereby and sufficient head room must be provided beneath it to permit the performance of the other tasks thereunder. In order then to provide a storage unit by which the available space may be fully utilized it is sometimes necessary to make the unit substantially rectangular and of materially greater length than width, and further to provide only a few vertically spaced passages therein in order to reduce the height. With the aid of FIGURES 13 to 18, inclusive, I will now describe such a modified form of 4 l by posts 2'. Secured also to the frame adjacent one extremity are a motor 7' and a speed reducer 9 having pulleys 7a and 9a respectively thereon around which a belt 10' extends. A vertical drive shaft 11a projects from the speed reducer and is connected by a suitable coupling 13 to a shaft extension 12', and the latter is supported for rotation in vertical bearings 15 secured to the frame. Mounted in vertically aligned bearings 58 secured to the frame adjacent its opposite extremity are upper and lower tail shafts 57 parallel with the shaft extension 12. Mounted for rotation with the shaft extension and secured thereon are vertically spaced sprockets 59 each of which is in horizontal alignment with a sprocket secured on one of the tail shafts 57, and extending around each aligned pair of sprockets 59 and 60 is an endless chain 61.

Suitably mounted on each annular set of braces 4 is a storage tray 16 including a plurality of arms 19' some of which extend radially relative to the axes of the shafts 12 and 57. The upper sides of the arms on each tray are transversely slotted at 20' to receive and support the lower margin of a substantially spirally wound resilient ribbon 21'. Each ribbon is so wound that a continuous passage 22' is formed between adjacent pairs of turns of the ribbon. Formed also across the arms 19 between each adjacent pair of slots 20' are other slots 20b to receive and engage the underside of a lon gitudinal support 23' which in this case extends centrally between adjacent turns of the ribbon, thereby providing means for supporting workpieces as they travel throughout the length of the passage. It is however understood that the shape and location of the support between opposite sides of the passage is dependent upon the shape of the workpieces to be supported.

Extending upwardly from each storage tray 16' cantrally of its width and towards opposite extremities thereof are uprights 56 which carry a longitudinal supporting member 54. Each member extends throughout substantially the entire length of its tray, and projecting laterally from opposite sides of each member 54 are transverse members 55. Supported by the members 54 and 55 substantially centrally over each side of the passage 22 beneath it is an annular track 53 having its underside slotted centrally of its width for the entry from beneath of hangers 63 having rollers 62 mounted on opposite sides of their upper extremities. These rollers are adapted to travel along opposed flanges 531: formed in the said 'track on opposite sides of its annular slot. Each chain 61 travels in horizontal alignment with part of some of the hangers 63, and secured to each of the latter is a bracket 63a which is also secured to the chain in alignment with it. Dependingly mounted upon the lower extremity of each'hanger 63 and pivotally secured thereto as by a vertical screw 25a is a carrier 25 which extends across one side of the substantially helical passage 22' beneath it. The front upwardly flexed extremity of a wiper 27 is secured between each carrier 25' and a clamp 26 secured thereon, and the trailing portion of the invention having only two vertically spaced, horizontal, and substantially continuous passages therein.

Projecting outwardly from and preferably integral with the frame -1' are a plurality of lugs 50 to each of which the lower bolt of a turnbuckle 51 is secured; and engagement with the upper extremity of'the turnbuckle is a hanger 52, one of which is shown. The hangers may be dependingly supported in any preferred mannor-not shown. The turnbuckles provide simple means for adjusting the height of and levelling the unit.

Secured on the frame are separate sets of annularly arrangedbraoes 4, held in vertically spaced relation as each wiper bears downwardly upon workpieces in the passage 22 beneath and causes them to travel therealong. Due to the pivotal mounting of each carrier 25' they andtheir wipers 27 remain substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the passage beneath as they travel around their annular path. The wipers 27' are exactly similar to the wipers 27 and are preferably scalloped at 28 across their front margins. Openings 29 are also usually formed through the rear portions of the wipers. V 7

In the arrangement shown in FIGURES l to 12, the passages 22 are substantially circular, whereas inFIG- URES 13 to 18 the passages 22 are elongated or oval, but in both cases each carrier 25, or 25', extends substantially segmentally across all the turns of the ribbon along which it travels to advance the workpieces along the passage.

A gravity chute 70, similar to the chute 30a, and having a central and longitudinal support 70' therein, connects the inner or discharge extremity of the upper passage 22' with the outer or inlet extremity of the passage beneath. A roller 33, FIGURE 17, similar to the roller 33 shown in FIGURES 1 and 5, is mounted adjacent the lower extremity of the chute 70 to flex approaching wipers 27 upwardly so that workpieces travelling down the chute will not come into contact with and be displaced by them. For the same reason such a roller may also be installed adjacent the inner extremity of a chute 30' along which workpieces travel to the outer extremity of the top passage 22, in the manner shown in FIGURES 1 and 5.

The outer extremity of the top ribbon 21 and the portion of the adjacent turn of that ribbon opposite the aforesaid extremity, are secured to the inner ends of chute 30' along which workpieces are delivered onto the top ribbon 21'. Extending longitudinally between opposite sides of the chute 30' is a support 230 along which workpieces are adapted to travel. The inner extremity of the support 230 is secured to the outer extremity of the support 23', and 71 and 72 denote plates by which the chute 30 and the ribbon 21 and the supports 23c and 23' are secured to one another.

Moreover while the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 rests upon the ground and that shown in FIGURES 13 to 18 is suspended, it is of course understood that either method may be employed for supporting either form of storage unit.

'While in the foregoing the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and shown, it is understood that further alterations and modifications may be made thereto provided the said alterations and modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A storage unit including a supporting frame, substantially spirally wound ribbons secured on the frame in vertically spaced relation, the adjacent pairs of turns of each ribbon being spaced from one another to form a continuous and substantially spiral passage of substantially constant width between them, means supported between each adjacent pair of turns of each ribbon for supporting workpieces in the passage formed between them, carriers each mounted for movement around a relatively wide annular path extending across and above portions of all the turns on one side of one of the substantially spirally wound ribbons, a flexible wiper dependingly secured to each carrier adapted to travel across the upper faces of workpieces in the passage beneath it and advance workpieces therealong, means for moving all the carriers around their annular path, and a chute extending betwen the inner extremity of the top spirally wound ribbon and the outer extremity of the spirally wound ribbon beneath it downwardly through which workpieces are adapted to travel, and a roller mounted across the path of movement of the wipers traveling adjacent the junction of the lower extremity of the chute with the outer extremity of the lower ribbon to raise the said wipers and permit unobstructed passage of the workpieces therebeneath.

2. A storage unit including a frame, a substantially spirally wound ribbon secured thereon, adjacent pairs of turns of the ribbon being spaced from one another to form a continuous and substantially spiral passage between them, means mounted between adjacent pairs of turns of the ribbon for supporting workpieces for movement along said passage, a vertical shaft mounted for rotation on the frame adjacent one extremity, a sprocket secured thereon, another sprocket rotatably supported on the flame adjacent the opposite extremity thereof and in horizontal alignment with the first named sprocket, an endless chain extending around both sprockets, an annular track supported on the frame above the spirally wound ribbon, hangers dependingly mounted on the track for movement therearound, the annular paths of the chain and the hangers being continguous to one another throughout their travel, brackets securing the hangers to the chain whereby movement of the chain imparts movement to the hangers, carriers on the hangers, and flexible wipers dependingly mounted on the carriers and extending across and above portions of all the turns of the spiral ribbon, said wipers being adapted to sweep the workpieces along the passage, the wipers being pivotally mounted on the hangers whereby they align themselves transversely of the spirally wound ribbon as they travel thereover in engagement with the workpieces.

3. A storage unit including a frame, a plurality of substantially spirally wound ribbons secured thereon in vertically spaced relation, adjacent pairs of turns of each ribbon being horizontally spaced from one another to form a continuous and substantially spiral passage be tween them, means mounted between adjacent turns of each ribbon for supporting workpieces for travel between them, a vertical shaft mounted for rotation on and adjacent one extremity of the frame, spaced sprockets secured on the shaft, other sprockets rotatably supported on the frame adjacent the opposite extremity thereof, each of said other sprockets being in horizontal alignment with one of the first named sprockets, an endless chain extending around each horizontally aligned pair or" sprockets, an annular track mounted on the frame and spaced above each spirally wound ribbon, hangers supported on the track for movement therearound, brackets securing all the hangers on each track to one of the chains, a carrier supported by each hanger and extending above and across portions of all the turns of the sub stantially spirally wound ribbon beneath it, a flexible wiper depending from each carrier adapted to engage the workpieces in the passage beneath it and sweep them along the passage, and a chute connecting the upper passage with the passage beneath it, the carriers being pivotally mounted on the hangers about vertical axes.

4. A storage unit including a supporting frame, a substantially spirally wound ribbon secured thereon, the adjacent pairs of turns of the ribbon being spaced from one another to form a continuous and substantially spiral passage of substantially constant width between them, means mounted between the adjacent pairs of turns for supporting workpieces for movement along the passage, carriers each mounted for movement around a relatively wide annular path extending across and above portions of all the turns on one side of the ribbon, a flexible wiper dependingly secured to each carrier to engage the upper faces of the workpieces in said passage whereby said workpieces are advanced therealong, and means for mov ing all the carriers along their annular path, a chute terminating adjacent one extremity of the passage and so supported relative thereto that said passage forms a continuation of the chute, and a roller mounted across the path of movement of the wipers adjacent the junction of the chute with said passage to raise said wipers and permit unobstructed movement of the workpieces therebeneath.

Referenees Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 992,407 Dewey May 16, 1911 1,549,877 Hurst et al. Aug. 18, 1925 1,578,640 Bunn et al. Mar. 30, 1926 2,672,230 Jetzke Mar. 16, 1954 2,873,019 Kay Feb. 10, 1959 2,873,020 Kay Feb. 10, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Machinery Magazine, October 1957, page 205 relied on.

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