Container for receptacles

Claim 2

A container for storing, transporting and distributing receptacles, which container is adapted to be filled and unfilled automatically and comprises, a parallelepiped frame having a floor and a plurality of lateral sides, said frame being open at its top side opposite said floor and defining a hollow chamber for containing receptacles, a plurality of divider members extending across said cavity between one pair of opposed frame sides and dividing said cavity into a plurality of internal channels extending between said pair of opposed frame sides; at least one of said frame sides having a plurality of openings therein corresponding in number to and aligned with the channels defined in said cavity, said openings extending from said floor to a position adjacent the top edge of said at least one side to permit receptacles to pass therethrough into said channels, and means positioned in said cavity adjacent said openings for selectively blocking and unblocking said openings whereby when said openings are unblocked, receptacles may pass therethrough into said channels and when said openings are blocked, receptacles in said channel are prevented from movement through said openings out of said cavity; eaach of said pair of sides having a plurality of openings therein; and said blocking and unblocking means comprising at least a pair of bars positioned adjacent said openings and extending parallel to said pair of sides, said bars resting upon said divider members and being adapted to move vertically with respect thereto for selectively blocking and unblocking said openings.

Claim 3

The container as defined in claim 1 wherein said bars comprise opposed sides of a rigid frame rectangular member resting on said divider members.

Claim 4

The container as defined in claim 1 including arm members extending from opposite ends of said bars and pivotally mounted in said frame whereby each of said bars are pivotally mounted for independent selective vertical movement in said cavity.

Claim 5

The container as defined in claim 3 wherein the free ends of each of said arms has an elongated slot therein, said arms being pivotally mounted on said frame by pivot pins secured to said frame and extending through said slots, whereby said bars are adapted to move laterally away from said openings as well as to pivot vertically with respect thereto.

Claim 6

The container as defined in claim 1 wherein said rigid rectangular frame member is open between its periphery and includes a plurality of interior rods extending between said bars for holding the receptacles positioned in said channels.

Claim 7

A container for storing, transporting, and distributing receptacles, which container is adapted to be filled and unfilled automatically and comprises, a parallelepiped frame having a floor and a plurality of lateral sides, said frame being open at its top side opposite said floor and defining a hollow chamber for containing receptacles, a plurality of divider members extending across said cavity between one pair of opposed frame sides and dividing said cavity into a plurality of internal channels extending between said pair of opposed frame sides; at least one of said frame sides having a plurality of openings therein corresponding in number to and aligned with the channels defined in said cavity, said openings extending from said floor to a position adjacent the top edge of said at least one side to permit receptacles to pass therethrough into said channels, and means positioned in said cavity adjacent said openings for selectively blocking and unblocking said openings whereby when said openings are unblocked, receptacles may pass therethrough into said channels and when said openIngs are blocked, receptacles in said channel are prevented from movement through said openings out of said cavity; said blocking and unblocking means comprising a plate complementary in plan to the open top of said frame and resting on said divider members, said plate having a plurality of openings therein located in vertical alignment with said channels to engage and hold receptacles plates therein.

Claim 8

A container for storing, transporting, and distributing receptacles, which container is adapted to be filled and unfilled automatically and comprises, a parallelepiped frame having a floor and a plurality of lateral sides, said frame being open at its top side opposite said floor and defining a hollow chamber for containing receptacles, a plurality of divider members extending across said cavity between one pair of opposed frame sides and dividing said cavity into a plurality of internal channels extending between said pair of opposed frame sides; at least one of said frame sides having a plurality of openings therein corresponding in number to and aligned with the channels defined in said cavity, said openings extending from said floor to a position adjacent the top edge of said at least one side to permit receptacles to pass therethrough into said channels, and means positioned in said cavity adjacent said openings for selectively blocking and unblocking said openings whereby when said openings are unblocked, receptacles may pass therethrough into said channels and when said openIngs are blocked, receptacles in said channel are prevented from movement through said openings out of said cavity; said blocking and unblocking means comprising a plate complementary in plan to the open top of said frame and resting on said divider members, said plate having a plurality of openings therein located in vertical alignment with said channels to engage and hold receptacles plates therein.

Claim 9

A container for storing, transporting, and distributing receptacles, which container is adapted to be filled and unfilled automatically and comprises, a parallelepiped frame having a floor and a plurality of lateral sides, said frame being open at its top side opposite said floor and defining a hollow chamber for containing receptacles, a plurality of divider members extending across said cavity between one pair of opposed frame sides and dividing said cavity into a plurality of internal channels extending between said pair of opposed frame sides; at least one of said frame sides having a plurality of openings therein corresponding in number to and aligned with the channels defined in said cavity, said openings extending from said floor to a position adjacent the top edge of at least one side to permit receptacles to pass therethrough into said channels, and means positioned in said cavity adjacent said openings for selectively blocking and unblocking said openings wherein when said openings are unblocked, receptacles may pass therethrough into said channels and when said openings are blocked, receptacles in said channel are prevented from movement through said openings out of said cavity; said blocking and unblocking means comprising a first open frame conforming in plan to the top opening of said container frame and resting on said divider members and a second open frame conforming in plan to the top opening of said container frame, a plurality of brackets mounted on said container frame above said divider members and extending into said cavity, said second open frame being supported by said brackets in vertical spaced relation to said first frame, and said first and second frames each having a pair of bars located respectively on opposite sides thereof adjacent said openings in the container frame.

Claim 10

A container for storing, transporting, and distributing receptacles, which container is adapted to be filled and unfilled automatically and comprises, a parallelepiped frame having a floor and a plurality of lateral sides, said frame being open at its top side opposite said floor and defining a hollow chamber for containing receptacles, a plurality of divider members extending across said cavity between one pair of opposed frame sides and dividing said cavity into a plurality of internal channels extending between said pair of opposed frame sides; at least one of said frame sides having a plurality of openings therein corresponding in number to and aligned with the channels defined in said cavity, said openings extending from said floor to a position adjacent the top edge of at least one side to permit receptacles to pass therethrough into said channels, and means positioned in said cavity adjacent said openings for selectively blocking and unblocking said openings wherein when said openings are unblocked, receptacles may pass therethrough into said channels and when said openings are blocked, receptacles in said channel are prevented from movement through said openings out of said cavity; said blocking and unblocking means comprising a first open frame conforming in plan to the top opening of said container frame and resting on said divider members and a second open frame conforming in plan to the top opening of said container frame, a plurality of brackets mounted on said container frame above said divider members and extending into said cavity, said second open frame being supported by said brackets in vertical spaced relation to said first frame, and said first and second frames each having a pair of bars located respectively on opposite sides thereof adjacent said openings in the container frame.

Claim 11

The container as defined in claim 7 including means spanning the open top of said container frame to prevent inadvertent removal of said first and second frames from said cavity.

Claim 12

The container as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame is formed of rigid wire members defining said openings therebetween and said divider members comprise elongated rigid wire bars extending between opposed sides.

Claim 13

The container as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame is formed of a rigid plastic material and said divider members comprise elongated walls extending upwardly from said floor between said opposed sides.