초록 ▼

A selectively operable, continuous-loop conveyor provides support and transporation of containers containing spices or the like to and from a transfer station in which the containers are inserted in or removed from carriers which support them along the conveyor. The carriers include guide members wh

A selectively operable, continuous-loop conveyor provides support and transporation of containers containing spices or the like to and from a transfer station in which the containers are inserted in or removed from carriers which support them along the conveyor. The carriers include guide members which maintain the relative orientation between the carriers and the track. A drive hub with fingers extending into the track forces carriers disposed in that region adjacent to the fingers along a portion of the track, and thereby forcing other carriers in the track around the track. Further, a bar extending across the face of the rack has two ends, each of which may be pushed to drive the carriers in a corresponding different direction. Each carrier is in the form of a downwardly facing cup with spaced inwardly extending, biased members which engage the edges of a container inserted in the cup. Any of the containers supported in the apparatus may thus be brought to the transfer station in the front of the apparatus to provide access by the user.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for storing containers of spices or the like having an end with a size within a predetermined range of sizes, said apparatus comprising conveyor track means defining a continuous loop track and including a transfer station where containers are inserted into and removed from said apparat

An apparatus for storing containers of spices or the like having an end with a size within a predetermined range of sizes, said apparatus comprising conveyor track means defining a continuous loop track and including a transfer station where containers are inserted into and removed from said apparatus; a plurality of downwardly facing cups, each sized to receive a container having an end with a size within the predetermined range of sizes, a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections extending inwardly from the sides of said cup for engaging opposing edges of an end of a container received in said cup, said projections being radially movable and biased radially inwardly for engaging the edges of an end of a container received in said cup; means extending from said cup into said track for supporting said cup in said track in a predetermined orientation relative to said track and allowing free movement of said cup along said track; gear means having circumferentially spaced radially extending fingers and rotatable about an axis for moving said fingers along a drive region of said track, and thereby engaging a one of said cup-supporting means disposed in said track drive region for forcing said finger-engaged cup along said track in the direction of movement of said fingers along said track, there being a sufficient number of said cups supported in said track that movement of one cup along said drive track region moves said cups along said track sufficiently to move another cup into said track drive region for engaging by one of said fingers; and motor means selectably operable in a first state for rotating said gear means in a first direction and in a second state for rotating said gear means in a second direction, and thereby moving said cups along said track in said first and second directions.