U.S. patent number 3,863,576 [Application Number 05/359,075] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-04 for adjustable self-leveling dispenser.
This patent grant is currently assigned to AMF Incorporated. Invention is credited to Frank Christian Olsson.
United States Patent |
3,863,576 |
Olsson |
February 4, 1975 |
ADJUSTABLE SELF-LEVELING DISPENSER
Abstract
A plurality of circularly arranged small springs are used in
combination with the central main compression spring. The tube is
an open frame construction. The small springs can be added or
subtracted and when not in use are stored in the frame. Roller
guides are provided to prevent the platform from tilting, and head
load adjustment is made at the main compression spring.
Inventors: |
Olsson; Frank Christian
(Eastlyme, CT) |
Assignee: |
AMF Incorporated (White Plains,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
23412210 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/359,075 |
Filed: |
May 10, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/136;
211/59.2; 312/71; 312/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G
1/07 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65G
1/07 (20060101); B65G 1/06 (20060101); A47f
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;108/136 ;312/71,42
;221/279 ;211/49 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Frazier; Roy D.
Assistant Examiner: Aschenbrenner; Peter A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Price; George W. Lewis; Walter
Claims
I claim:
1. A spring loaded self-leveling article dispensing device,
comprising a hollow frame, a movable platform positioned in said
frame, a large compression spring positioned in said frame beneath
said platform for biasing said platform vertically upward, a
plurality of small tension springs surrounding said compression
spring for also biasing said platform vertically upward, means
between the upper end of said compression spring and platform for
adjusting the head load of said platform, and means for
individually selectively connecting any number of said small
springs to said platform for adjusting the self-leveling rate of
said platform,
wherein said hollow frame comprises a cylindrical shape having an
open annular top member, a circular bottom member, and spaced side
panel members interconnecting the two, and means on said side panel
members providing spaces thereon for storage of said small springs
when not connected to said platform,
wherein said platform comprises a rigid wire cage structure having
a top plate thereon, roller guide means on said cage structure
adapted to guide said cage structure along the inside surface of
said side panel members, and said storage space being located along
the outer surface of said side panel members.
2. In a self-leveling dispensing device as in claim 1, a rigid
annular wire member positioned on said frame beneath said open top
member, and the upper ends of said small springs being connected to
said rigid annular wire member whether in their inactive stored
position on said side panel members or in their active platform
connected rate adjusting position.
3. In a self-leveling dispensing device as in claim 2, said side
panel members having out-turned flanges formed thereon to define
said storage spaces, rigid wire segments positioned on said flanges
beneath said rigid annular wire member, the lower ends of said
small springs being adapted to be connected to said segments when
in their inactive stored position, and said segments at their ends
extending through said flanges into the spaces between adjacent
space side panel members to operate as stop means for said cage
structure to limit upward movement thereof.
4. In a self-leveling dispensing device as in claim 3, said rigid
wire cage structure comprising a generally annular shaped member
having inner and outer diameter portions which are positioned
respectively along the inner surface of said side panel members and
in the spaces between adjacent spaced side panel members, said
outer diameter portions being adapted to engage said stop means to
limit upward movement of said cage structure, and the lower ends of
said small springs being connected to said outer diameter portions
to adjust the self-leveling rate of said platform.
5. In a self-leveling dispensing device as in claim 4, said cage
structure further comprising a plurality of right angle shaped
members connected at one of there corresponding ends to said inner
diameter portions and at their ends to each other at the center of
said cage structure above said generally annular shaped member,
said roller guide means being removably connected to said right
angle shaped members for guided engagement of said cage structure
with the inner surface of said side panel members, the upper end of
said compression spring extending into said cage structure, and
said head load adjusting means comprising means for infinitely
adjusting the spacing between the upper end of said compression
spring and said cage structure.
6. In a self-leveling dispensing device as in claim 5, said head
load adjusting means comprising a threaded depending stud connected
to the mutual point of connection between said right angle members
at the center of said cage structure, a cross member connected to
the upper turn of said compression spring, the lower end of said
stud extending through said cross piece, and a thumb wheel threaded
on said stud above said cross piece.
Description
This invention relates to a dispenser, and more particularly, to a
spring loaded self-leveling article dispensing device which can
have its head load and rate of travel readily adjusted.
A preferred form of the invention will be described in connection
with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is broken away side elevation view of the device;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a modification; and
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the modification.
Referring now particularly to the drawings for a detailed
description of the illustrated form of the invention, the dispenser
comprises a hollow open tubular frame having a top annular member
10, a bottom plate 11, and spaced side panels 12. Three side panels
12 are shown, however, there could be only two or more than
three.
A central large compression spring 13 is positioned in the frame.
This spring 13 biases a dispenser platform in an up direction. The
dispenser platform comprises a wire cage structure having a top
plate 14.
The wire cage comprises a generally annular rigid wire 15 having
inner 15' and outer 15" diameter portions. The inner diameter
portions 15' are positioned radially inside the panels 12 whereas
the outer diameter portions 15" protrude into the spaces between
adjacent spaced panels 12. The outer diameter portions 15" are
adapted to be engaged by stops 16' to limit the upward movement of
the platform cage. The cage also has three right angle members 17.
At one of their ends they are joined together at the center piece
18 of the cage. The right angle members 17 each actually comprise a
pair of spaced wires having roller guides 19 removably mounted
therein. The guides run along the inner surface of panels 12.
The means for adjusting the head load or loaded start position of
the device comprises means for infinitely adjusting the spacing
between the cage and the upper end of spring 13. A depending
threaded stud 20 is connected to the center piece 18 of the cage.
This stud 20 passes through a cross piece 21 for the upper turn of
the spring 13. A thumb wheel 22 is on stud above the cross piece
21. The spacing between the upper end of spring 13 and the platform
14 is varied by turning the thumb wheel 22 in one direction or the
other.
Positioned beneath the top annular frame member 10 is a rigid wire
annular member 23. A plurality of small tension springs 24 are
suspended off the member 23. When their lower ends are hooked on
the outer diameter wire portions 15" they are active to vary the
drop rate of the platform 14. In their positions behind the panels
12 they are in inactive stored position.
Storage space is provided in the panels 12 by providing them with
flanges 12'. The stops 16' are the extremities of wire segments 16
positioned below the wire 23. When the springs 24 are not being
used to vary the drop rate of the platform, their lower ends are
hooked on to the wire segments 16 so that they are in an
out-of-the-way stored position radially outward of panels 12
between their flanges 12'.
The springs 24 also bias the platform up. They are individually
movable from their stored position along the outer surface of the
panels 12 to the spaces between adjacent spaced panels for
connection to the outer diameter wire portions 15" of the platform
cage. Whether in stored or active position, they have their upper
ends hooked on the wire 23. That is to say, they are arranged in
surrounding relationship with respect to the main compression
spring 13 and serve to adjust the drop rate thereof by adding or
subtracting the number of small springs 24 attached to the platform
cage.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show a modification in the platform cage comprising a
plurality of additional wires 25 added thereto. If a fairly stiff
center spring 13 is used, the wires 25 aren't necessary. However,
if the spring 13 is a fairly light one, it may have a tendency to
buckle or snake and become entangled with the cage. The wires 25
prevent this from happening by gathering or guiding the upper turns
of spring 13 to inside the cage.
In the invention the frame is fabricated by connecting the parts
10-12 together by welding or the like, and the wire 23 and wire
segments 16 are connected to the frame at the panel flanges 12'.
Three sets of small tension springs 24 are shown as being attached
to wire segments 16 for stored position, and three pairs of small
tension springs 24 are shown as being attached to the outer
diameter wire portions 15" of the platform cage to vary the drop
rate of the main compression spring 13.
* * * * *