Abstract: An example rack accommodation device includes a base capable of supporting supporters on a plurality of stages in a first direction and in a plurality of rows in a second direction across the first direction. The supporters are each configured to hold a rack capable of holding a plurality of upright sample holders each accommodating a sample. A first movement mechanism is configured to move the supporters in the first direction, and a second movement mechanism is configured to move the supporters in the second direction.

Abstract: A storage system comprising a plurality of shelf units movable together through a circuit attached to and moved by a flexible drive such as a chain or belt, while being guided and stabilized in orientation by a separate guide track which track followers, retained by each shelf unit, move to maintain a selected orientation of the shelves within a system support or enclosure. Each shelf unit is removable by the user from engagement of the drive and from the system enclosure permitting replacement of the shelves within the storage system without system disassembly.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a rack accommodation device includes, a base capable of supporting supporters on a plurality of stages in a first direction and in a plurality of rows in a second direction across the first direction, the supporters each being configured to hold a rack capable of holding a plurality of upright sample holders each accommodating a sample, a first movement mechanism configured to move the supporters in the first direction, and a second movement mechanism configured to move the supporters in the second direction.

Abstract: A dispenser that includes one or more sliding user doors for selectively restricting access to items disposed within the dispenser. In one embodiment, the dispenser includes a unique locking and drive mechanism that allows a single actuator to both: (1) lock and unlock a sliding user door; and (2) move the user door into and out of driving engagement with a drive mechanism that may be used to open and close the user door. In a particular embodiment, the dispenser further includes a door support that supports the weight of a downward-opening sliding user door when the downward-opening user door is in a closed position, but that may be selectively repositioned to facilitate the movement of the user door from a closed to an open position.

Abstract: A powered carousel shelving unit is configured to bring individual shelves to a standard handicap accessible height at a front access opening for viewing and selection of product on the shelves. Stationary guide tracks and complimentary tracking elements connected to the shelves are cooperative to tip the shelves forward as they approach and leave the access area so as to organize the product to the front of the shelves.

Abstract: Disclosed is a product carry-out apparatus for a vending machine, adapted for carrying a product, which has been delivered downward from a product housing within a vending machine body at the time of selling, in a diagonally upward and forward direction and then carrying out the product to a product take-out port. The apparatus comprises: a conveyor which is rotatable about the rear end between a forward and upward inclined position for selling and a substantially horizontal position for maintenance and, at the time of selling, at the position for selling, receives, on its upper surface, the product delivered from the product housing and carries the product in a diagonally upward and forward direction; and a support for holding the conveyor at the position for selling or at the position for maintenance.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval system (10) includes a housing (11) accommodating a plurality of carriers (12). These are assignable y a transport device (13) to at least one access opening (14) provided in the housing (11). Provided at the access opening (14) is a closing device (17) comprising at least two closing elements (18a, 18b) arranged opposite each other which can be shifted horizontally and signalled dedicated to thus form an access window (16) in the access opening (14) by an uncomplicated structural design.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval system, such as a vertical carousel or vertical lift module, and access method provides substantially improved control over access to the contents stored in the system. A desired number of small doors are provided at an access area to limit an operator to obtaining a product from only that compartment on a carrier adjacent the access area. The doors are slidable or pivotable and can be locked and unlocked by a mechanism. The carousel is provided with carriers having compartments which can be divided into desired arrays depending upon product size and mix. The carriers are selectively movable to one of several positions adjacent the access area. Access to the carriers can be obtained through placement of an access area on one side or both sides of the machine. Electronic controls can be provided for each storage system or external computer controls can be used for a group of storage systems to permit more efficient use of the controls as well as remote placement of the storage systems.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval system, such as a vertical carousel or vertical lift module, and access method provides substantially improved control over access to the contents stored in the system. A desired number of small doors are provided at an access area to limit an operator to obtaining a product from only that compartment on a carrier adjacent the access area. The doors are slidable or pivotable and can be locked and unlocked by a mechanism. The carousel is provided with carriers having compartments which can be divided into desired arrays depending upon product size and mix. The carriers are selectively movable to one of several positions adjacent the access area. Access to the carriers can be obtained through placement of an access area on one side or both sides of the machine. Electronic controls can be provided for each storage system or external computer controls can be used for a group of storage systems to permit more efficient use of the controls as well as remote placement of the storage systems.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maximizing the amount and selection of vendable items from a bucket-type vending machine includes a main access door over an access opening to buckets of the machine. One or more shields are positioned below the access opening but can be selectibly interlocked with the door so that when the access door uncovers the access opening, any of the shields can be raised to cover any or all of the access opening. This arrangement allows each bucket to be subdivided into separate buckets. The selectable shields therefore can close off from access any of the sections of the bucket which are not selected by a customer thereby allowing use of one main access door to facilitate the increased amount and number of selections available from each bucket of the bucket-type vending machine.

Abstract: An improved access door for magnetic tape library systems and the like, including a pivotable cartridge-receiving receptacle for facilitating the insertion and removal of cartridges into and out of the system. The receptacle is pivotably mounted to be rotatable between a first position extending at least part way out of the system housing, and a second position wherein the receptacle is at least partially disposed within the housing. A trip lever actuated latch holds the receptacle in the second position, and a spring-loaded lifter rotates the receptacle away from the second position when the latch is released. A damping cam and resilient roller control the rotation of the receptacle and provide limit stops therefor. Optical sensors indicate receptacle position and the presence or absence of a cartridge in the receptacle.

Abstract: An improved carousel apparatus for use in carousel-type magnetic tape library systems and the like, including a cylindrical magazine carried by a rotatable turntable. The turntable includes a sprocket wheel that is engaged by a drive belt or chain connected to a stepper motor affixed to a rotatable base plate. Affixed to the sprocket is a shutter plate having a plurality of notches in its perimeter for detection by an optical-indexing sensor. The apparatus also includes a carousel-indexing sensor and a cartridge-in-carousel and cartridge-orientation sensor. Disposed within the central cavity of the carousel magazine unoccupied by cartridges is a cartridge-onloading/offloading mechanism which is rotatably mounted concentric with the carousel turntable.

Abstract: A modular storing and dispensing assembly (20) for a plurality of large containers (21) of substantial weight. The modular assembly (20) comprises a container support track mechanism (24) supporting the containers (21) for movement toward a dispensing station (26). An enclosure (27) substantially encloses the track mechanism (24) and all of the containers (21). The track mechanism (24) and the enclosure (27) are both coupled to a modular frame (32) for movement thereof as a unit. The modular frame (32) is mounted on a vehicle (23) and can be used as a free-standing storing and dispensing unit. In an embodiment, the track mechanism (24) includes a conveyor-type assembly (35) extending about a predetermined path (34) substantially along the full transverse dimension of the vehicle (23). The conveyor mechanism (35) includes a conveyor drive mechanism (105) and a flexible transport device (111) movably coupled to the drive mechanism (105).

Abstract: An improved carousel-type magnetic tape library system including a pivotable cartridge-receiving door for facilitating the insertion and removal of cartridges into the system and a cylindrical magazine carried by a turntable rotatably mounted to a turntable plate secured to a base casting. The turntable includes a sprocket wheel that is engaged by a drive belt or chain connected to a stepper motor affixed to the base plate. Affixed to the sprocket is a shutter plate having a plurality of notches in its perimeter for detection by an optical-indexing sensor. The apparatus also includes a carousel-indexing sensor and a cartridge-in-carousel and cartridge-orientation sensor. Disposed within the central cavity of the carousel magazine unoccupied by cartridges is a cartridge-onloading/offloading mechanism which is rotatably mounted concentric with the carousel turntable. Disposed on a side of the carousel opposite the door is a dual tape drive assembly including modular tape drive units mounted to the base plate.

Abstract: A rotatable stock closet for the storage of articles such as electronic parts, and the like, including a plurality of container conveying units arranged vertically one above another on a frame. Each unit includes outer and inner rails with guide channels arranged in parallel therebetween. Each unit also includes an endless traction chain and a motor driving the chain. A series of stock containers, releasably connected to the traction chain of each unit, move on and along the rails, so that any container may be quickly and easily reached by an operator by selectively operating the motor of the appropriate container conveying unit. With the traction chains and containers removed, the frame and the container conveying units can be disassembled horizontally into a drive end unit, a series of intermediate units and an idler end unit. When the traction chains are mounted, the tension of each traction chain is adjustable.

Abstract: An improved motion display for articles inside a showcase comprises a base member having longitudinally spaced walls, and a moving set of shelves each having receptacles for articles to be displayed. A continuous loop chain conveyor traverses the walls in a substantially rectangular pattern. Stationary guide rails cooperate with the shelves to periodically pivot or rotate them into various orientations as they travel. A photoelectric sensor stops the travel of the shelves when a customer interrupts light striking the sensor.

Abstract: A display console having endless carriers with swing mounted trays thereon. The endless carrier chains are passed over head and tail sprockets within a cabinet in serpentine fashion and the trays are held parallel and upright as they move up and down, over and beneath the sprockets. The trays are particularly adapted to the support of eyeglass frames to be displayed.

Abstract: A control system for vertical storage equipment requires only two sensing devices, in combination with a microprocessor controller, for positioning a selected article carrier at a specified work station. One sensor senses a reference mark having a direct speed and position relation with the carriers. The second sensor senses at least one reference mark mounted to a high speed member in the drive mechanism used to move the carriers. By sensing the high speed member, the resolution of the control system is greatly increased, thereby providing the control system with increased accuracy and versatility. A flywheel having a relative inertia greater than the total of the remaining moving parts is preferably employed to negate the influence of carrier loading conditions on control system smoothness and accuracy.

Abstract: In facilities having several systems of circulating shelving, because of the multiplicity of parts to be stored the regular use of a data processing system is required. For controlling the systems of circulating shelving by means of the data processing system, suitable control arrangements are used. In such a control arrangement, the signal output (51) of a data station (33) is coupled via an optical coupler (62) to a transmit line (38). The transmit line (38) connects in parallel all similar connections of the data stations of several control arrangements, allowing the interposition of a multiplexer to be dispensed with.

Abstract: A rotatable stock container closet for the storage of articles such as electronic parts, or the like, includes a plurality of container conveying units arranged vertically one on another, each container conveying unit comprising outer and inner rail means, guide channel means arranged therebetween, an endless traction chain, a driving means therefor, and a series of stock containers, releasably disposed to the traction chain means, moving on and along the rail means, so that any container may be reached most expeditiously by selectively operating each container conveying unit.

Abstract: A control for positioning an endless conveyor which is movable in a closed path, wherein there is a sequence of designatable locations along the length of the conveyor. The control is responsive to a desired conveyor position input request, which is in terms of a location of said designatable locations, to move the conveyor to the requested position. An actual conveyor position signal is supplied to the control which is indicative of a proportion of a complete traversal of the closed path by the conveyor. An indication of the actual length of the conveyor is stored in the control and is used to convert the desired position request to a desired conveyor position signal indicative of a proportion of a complete traversal of the path by the conveyor. The control then activates a conveyor drive to drive the conveyor until the actual conveyor position signal has a predetermined relationship to the desired conveyor position signal. For example, the conveyor may be driven until these two position signals are equal.

Abstract: Successive, juxtaposed, outwardly extending, receiving cradles are arranged in a continuous belt by having at their proximal ends, link like bases which are connected together hingedly in tandem by their leading and trailing edges which form hinge members. Opposed wedged shaped, sidewise protruding trunnions extend from the proximal end plates of each cradle and these trunnions are received within laterally opposed, linear channels in the upstanding side panels of a support member. The channels thus confine the wedge shaped trunnions to form adjacent parallel upper and lower flights so that the cradles protrude upwardly generally parallel to each other in the upper flight and downwardly generally parallel to each other in the lower flight.

Abstract: A mechanized rack assembly for the storage of items of virtually any identity makes use of a centrally disposed frame for supporting a multiple number of stacks of vertically spaced trays arranged to travel around the frame. Each stack is jointed to adjacent stacks, the stacks thus forming, in effect, an endless chain, there being a motor for driving the endless chain in a horizontal path around the frame. For movably supporting each stack there is a roller at the base of the stack which travels along tracks at the sides of the frame and travels around a rotating platform at each end. The endless chain is driven in a manner such that it can be halted with any one of the stacks stopped at the end of the frame with trays facing outwardly so that an unloader can remove the stored items from any one or more of the trays on that stack.

Abstract: A rotatable stock container closet for the storage of articles such as electronic parts, or the like, includes a plurality of container conveying units arranged vertically one on another, each container conveying unit comprising outer and inner rail means, guide channel means arranged therebetween, an endless traction chain, a driving means therefor, and a series of stock containers, releasably disposed to the traction chain means, moving on and along the rail means, so that any container may be reached most expeditiously by selectively operating each container conveying unit.

Abstract: A display case for use in exhibiting jewelry and incorporating a pair of sidewalls in its structure, spaced apart a fixed distance, grooves being routed into each sidewall wherein drive linkage or chain are located, and driven by a drive shaft turned by an electric or other motor. Each of the drive chains revolve simultaneously, so that display trays or shelves held at each end by each of the sidewall disposed linkages are revolved about the display case for exhibiting merchandise.

Abstract: To greatly increase the storage capacity of cabinets and to efficiently utilize the corner space in such cabinets and to render frequently-used stored articles more readily accessible, a prefabricated modular or unitized storage conveyor apparatus is installed with only minor modification of existing or newly manufactured cabinets. Adjacent building space customarily wasted can receive portions of the storage conveyor unit. Simplicity, economy of manufacturing, and reliability of operation are featured in the conveyor mechanism.

Abstract: An assembly apparatus which is particularly useful in the manual assembly of circuit carrier plates with electrical components is formed with an upwardly facing working surface having thereon a support member for the carrier plates, with a plurality of receptacles for holding components to be mounted on the carrier plates being operatively located beneath the working surface. The receptacles are supported for guided movement beneath the working surface through an uppermost and lowermost plane and an opening in the working surface is provided through which an operator seated at the assembly apparatus may grasp components from receptacles located in the upward plane for mounting upon a carrier plate supported on the support member.

Abstract: A safe for storage of paper money of different denominations has an armored housing whose top wall has a row of openings. The housing confines several indexible conveyors, one for each opening and each having a stack of drawers for storage of bills of a particular denomination. A drawer of each conveyor is held in register with the respective opening. When the drawer which registers with the corresponding opening is empty or contains a small number of bills, the teller actuates a starting switch to index the respective conveyor with a preselected delay which cannot be altered by the teller whereby the conveyor lifts a filled drawer into register with the associated opening. The delay for indexing of each conveyor can be selected independently of the other conveyors. A second starting switch is actuated by the teller to index the respective conveyor in the opposite direction, without delay, whereby the conveyor moves a filled drawer into the interior of the housing.

Abstract: A check-out counter formed of a forward check-out module, having a conveyor belt for transporting merchandise along the top thereof, and a rear bagging module having an upper merchandise receiving deck. The two modules are spaced apart and a stowable second conveyor unit is provided to bridge the space when desired to carry merchandise from the check-out module to the bagging module deck. The conveyor unit is formed of a pair of spaced apart rollers mounted upon opposite ends of a support frame and carrying an endless conveyor belt. One end of the unit is pivotally connected to the bagging module and the other end is releasably latched to a rear edge of the check-out module. Thus, the unit may alternatively be extended between the modules for conveyor use or may be stowed, hanging downwardly from its pivots in a non-use position.

Abstract: A plurality of trays are supported on bars affixed to and extending between a pair of endless carrier chains. The carrier chains are mounted on sprocket wheels which are rotated to move the carrier chains through a cabinet and past a window in the cabinet. Each of the trays is removably rotatably mounted on a corresponding one of the bars. Each of the trays has a box-like configuration with an open front facing the window, a spring-biased retainer device for retaining an item in the tray, and a guide device for maintaining the tray upright in its journey through the cabinet.