Patent US3837511A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3837511A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of loading and unloading articles in a storage apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-02-09
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Granted: 1974-09-24
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Expires: 1993-02-09
Abstract
Abstract An improved apparatus and method for storing and handling articles and particularly refrigerated or frozen foods comprises a series of adjacent elongated storage compartments having rollers extending along the length of the bottom of each compartment on which rollers lie a row of flat plates which may be advanced along the rollers and on the upper surface of which plates materials are stacked. Plate advancing means are provided by a guided shaft extending substantially along the length of each compartment which shaft has attached thereto a series of catch members for contacting catch member receiving or stop means located on the underside of each of the plates; an operator advances the row of plates toward one end of the compartment by pulling the end of the shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 N Howlett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:00
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D25/00; F25D25/04; B; B65; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
A method of handling materials utilizing an apparatus having: 1. a row of flat plates having an upper surface for stacking articles thereon and a bottom surface having means attached thereto for receiving a catch member and which plates lie end to end along the base area of a linear storage compartment on roller means; 2. a series of adjacent linear storage compartments; 3. linear and substantially level roller means disposed along the bottom of each of said storage compartments along which said plates may be advanced; and 4. a shaft and shaft guide means secured to the bottom of each one of said storage compartments and disposed substantially linearly along the length thereof and wherein said shaft is provided with a plurality of catch members thereon for advancing said plates along said roller means, said method comprising the steps: a. loading materials on a first plate at a first end of one of said compartments; b. pushing or otherwise advancing said first loaded plate along said roller means toward the opposite end of said storage compartment until sufficient space is available on the roller means exposed at the first end of said compartment to place another plate thereon; c. repeating steps (a) and (b) until the desired amount of materials and successive plates are present in said compartment; and d. pulling said shaft out from the opposite end of said compartment until said catch members have stopped at said catch member receiving means and further pulling said shaft whereby said loaded plates are advanced until the first loaded plate reaches the oppositE end of said compartment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
267 words
A method of handling materials utilizing an apparatus having: 1. a row of flat plates having an upper surface for stacking articles thereon and a bottom surface having means attached thereto for receiving a catch member and which plates lie end to end along the base area of a linear storage compartment on roller means; 2. a series of adjacent linear storage compartments; 3. linear and substantially level roller means disposed along the bottom of each of said storage compartments along which said plates may be advanced; and 4. a shaft and shaft guide means secured to the bottom of each one of said storage compartments and disposed substantially linearly along the length thereof and wherein said shaft is provided with a plurality of catch members thereon for advancing said plates along said roller means, said method comprising the steps: a. loading materials on a first plate at a first end of one of said compartments; b. pushing or otherwise advancing said first loaded plate along said roller means toward the opposite end of said storage compartment until sufficient space is available on the roller means exposed at the first end of said compartment to place another plate thereon; c. repeating steps (a) and (b) until the desired amount of materials and successive plates are present in said compartment; and d. pulling said shaft out from the opposite end of said compartment until said catch members have stopped at said catch member receiving means and further pulling said shaft whereby said loaded plates are advanced until the first loaded plate reaches the oppositE end of said compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
7 words
a series of adjacent linear storage compartments;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
7 words
a series of adjacent linear storage compartments;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional step of unloading materials from said first plate at said opposite compartment end following step (d).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2 including the additional step of removing said first unloaded plate from said storage compartment and further advancing materials therealong according to step (d).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
linear and substantially level roller means disposed along the bottom of each of said storage compartments along which said plates may be advanced; and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
linear and substantially level roller means disposed along the bottom of each of said storage compartments along which said plates may be advanced; and
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
178 words
a shaft and shaft guide means secured to the bottom of each one of said storage compartments and disposed substantially linearly along the length thereof and wherein said shaft is provided with a plurality of catch members thereon for advancing said plates along said roller means, said method comprising the steps: a. loading materials on a first plate at a first end of one of said compartments; b. pushing or otherwise advancing said first loaded plate along said roller means toward the opposite end of said storage compartment until sufficient space is available on the roller means exposed at the first end of said compartment to place another plate thereon; c. repeating steps (a) and (b) until the desired amount of materials and successive plates are present in said compartment; and d. pulling said shaft out from the opposite end of said compartment until said catch members have stopped at said catch member receiving means and further pulling said shaft whereby said loaded plates are advanced until the first loaded plate reaches the oppositE end of said compartment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
178 words
a shaft and shaft guide means secured to the bottom of each one of said storage compartments and disposed substantially linearly along the length thereof and wherein said shaft is provided with a plurality of catch members thereon for advancing said plates along said roller means, said method comprising the steps: a. loading materials on a first plate at a first end of one of said compartments; b. pushing or otherwise advancing said first loaded plate along said roller means toward the opposite end of said storage compartment until sufficient space is available on the roller means exposed at the first end of said compartment to place another plate thereon; c. repeating steps (a) and (b) until the desired amount of materials and successive plates are present in said compartment; and d. pulling said shaft out from the opposite end of said compartment until said catch members have stopped at said catch member receiving means and further pulling said shaft whereby said loaded plates are advanced until the first loaded plate reaches the oppositE end of said compartment.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-23 | 1978-03-25 | 1978-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-23 | 1982-03-25 | 1982-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-23 | 1986-03-25 | 1986-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |