Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
Apparatus for accumulating and dispensing shouldered trays traveling on a conveyor system which comprises: a. a supporting frame; b. elevator means for raising incoming trays from a receiving position to a storage position and lowering outgoing trays from a storage to a dispensing position, said elevator means having transport means compatible at a normal position of the elevator means with the adjacent conveyor system so as to allow movement of trays into and out of the apparatus; c. a plurality of tray-retaining means, each mounted on rotatable post means held in the frame, each retaining means engageable with the tray shoulders so as to releasably support the lowest tray in a stored stack, said means acting in ratchet fashion from tray shoulder to tray shoulder to allow free upward passage of trays as new trays are added to the bottom of an accumulating stack, said means being mounted so as to allow clearance under any stored trays for at least one tray on the transport means when the elevator means is at its normal position; d. biasing means holding the tray-retaining means at their tray retaining position; e. disengaging means operatively associated with the tray-retaining means so as to release on demand the lowest tray in a stored stack onto the elevator means; and f. means for rotating the tray-retaining means out of the path of entering and leaving stacks of trays.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
Apparatus for accumulating and dispensing shouldered trays traveling on a conveyor system which comprises: a. a supporting frame; b. elevator means for raising incoming trays from a receiving position to a storage position and lowering outgoing trays from a storage to a dispensing position, said elevator means having transport means compatible at a normal position of the elevator means with the adjacent conveyor system so as to allow movement of trays into and out of the apparatus; c. a plurality of tray-retaining means, each mounted on rotatable post means held in the frame, each retaining means engageable with the tray shoulders so as to releasably support the lowest tray in a stored stack, said means acting in ratchet fashion from tray shoulder to tray shoulder to allow free upward passage of trays as new trays are added to the bottom of an accumulating stack, said means being mounted so as to allow clearance under any stored trays for at least one tray on the transport means when the elevator means is at its normal position; d. biasing means holding the tray-retaining means at their tray retaining position; e. disengaging means operatively associated with the tray-retaining means so as to release on demand the lowest tray in a stored stack onto the elevator means; and f. means for rotating the tray-retaining means out of the path of entering and leaving stacks of trays.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the disengaging means for each individual tray retaining means is a retractable lug mounted on the elevator table.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which when trays are being dispensed the lugs contact the tray-retaining means when the elevator means is raised and cause them to withdraw from the tray shoulders at the time the tray becomes supported on the elevator means, said lugs further holding the tray-retaining means in withdrawn position until the elevator has lowered said tray below said retaining means so that the tray can be dispensed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which the disengaging lugs are retracted out of contact with the tray-retaining means when trays are being stacked.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4 in which stop means are moved into place when the elevator means is above normal position so as to counteract any tendency for trays to roll off the elevator means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the elevator means is a scissors lift.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
174 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the tray-retaining means comprises: a. a support frame having upper and lower ends; b. a vertically oriented bearing fixed to the frame; c. first shaft means slidable through the bearing; d. first biasing means acting to bias said shaft means downward; e. a shoulder engaging lug means pivotally mounted at its proximal end to the upper end of the frame; f. second shaft means pivotally pinned at its lower end to the upper end of the first shaft means, said second shaft means having an elongated longitudinal slot at its upper end; g. transverse pin means fixed to the lug means and slidably retained in the longitudinal slot of the second shaft means; h. second biasing means acting to normally bias the transverse pin means to the proximal end of the slot in the second shaft means so that the shoulder engaging lug may act as a ratchet pawl working against the spring means to permit upward movement of trays as new trays are added from below.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
The tray-retaining means of claim 7 in which the disengaging means acts against the distal end of the first shaft means to pivot the slot engaging lugs out of the tray slots to release the tray and the second spring means holds said lug out of the way to allow the tray to descend without said lug reengaging said tray slot.