Article containment apparatus
US4815921A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 1986 |
| Grant date | Mar 28, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G65/00
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention relates to article containment apparatus which is adapted to store articles such as vials on shelves disposed at different elevations by placing them on the successive shelves. In a known article containment apparatus including an elevating mechanism which drives a plurality of shelves, disposed at different elevations for stowing articles thereon, up and down, and a conveyor for conveying articles to a shelf disposed at a given elevation, the invention is characterized by the provision of a plurality of infeeders disposed between the shelf and the conveyor. The infeeders are operated in an alternate fashion so that while one of the infeeders is operating to store articles from the conveyor, another infeeder conveys the stored article thereon onto the shelf. In this manner, there is no need to interrupt the supply of articles by the conveyor during the time the articles are conveyed onto the shelf, thus improving the efficiency of stowage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.