Apparatus for the storage and distribution of cylindrical articles

Claim 1

Apparatus for storing and dispensing cylindrical objects to a transport line located alongside the apparatus comprising a storage unit and a transfer unit, said storage unit comprising a stand mounted for movement in the vertical direction between raised and lowered positions, a plurality of horizontally disposed vertically spaced shelves on said stand with the shelves being slightly inclined towards the transport line to permit movement of the objects towards an exit opening between each of the shelves and in which the shelves are dimensioned to receive a large number of such cylindrical objects positioned thereon parallel to the transport line, said transfer unit, interposed between the shelves and the transport line, comprising a member mounted for vertical movement between blocking position and unblocking position to block the exit from an aligned shelf when in blocking position and to free the exit when in unblocking position to permit transfer of an object from the shelf to the transport line when the latter is free in front of the shelf, and having a horizontally disposed upper surface inclined in the direction of the transport line, said upper surface being below the shelf exit when the unit is in unblocking position to receive the innermost object on the shelf onto the inclined surface thereof and above the exit when in blocking position, and a drive means operatively connected to the stand for vertical displacement of the stand between raised and lowered positions, means movable with the stand for controlling operation of the drive means for incremental movement of the stand by an amount corresponding to the spaced relation between shelves and for reversing direction of movement of the stand in response to movement to upper and lower positions.