Self leveling dispenser
OwnerHans George Skallerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-leveling dispenser for supporting a plurality of articles in a stack includes a frame and an article support platform which extends horizontally from the frame. The platform is supported in the frame for vertical movement between a pair of vertically spaced positions. At least one constant torque spring mounted in the frame is operatively connected to the platform for balancing the weight of the platform throughout its movement. And, at least one counterbalance spring is additionally operatively connected between the frame and the platform for counterbalancing the weight of articles placed on the platform with a predetermined weight to spring extension ratio or gradient.
Claims12
A self leveling dispenser for dispensing a stack of articles comprising, a frame, an article support platform extending horizontally from said frame for supporting said stack of articles, means in said frame for guiding the support platform in vertical movement between upper and lower vertically spaced positions;
- at least one constant torque spring means mounted in said frame and operatively connected to said platform for balancing the weight of said platform with a force of constant value;
- and at least one counterbalance spring having a constant spring ratio operatively connected between said frame and said platform for counterbalancing the weight of articles placed on the platform with a predetermined uniform weight to spring extension gradient along the entire path of travel of the support platform whereby the weight of the stack is supported only by said counterbalance spring while the weight of said platform is supported only by the constant torque spring and the top of the stack of articles is maintained at a predetermined level regardless of the height of the stack.
A self leveling dispenser for dispensing a stack of articles comprising a housing, a horizontally extending support platform mounted in said housing for vertical movement between upper and lower vertically spaced positions, said housing including a pair of vertical guide bars and carriage means operatively connected to said platform and engaged with said bars for guiding vertical movement of the platform;
- at least one constant torque spring means mounted in said housing and operatively engaged with said carriage means for balancing the weight of said platform and carriage means at every position of the platform between said upper and lower positions independently of any load on the platform with a force of constant value;
- and a plurality of counterbalance springs mounted in said housing and selectively connectable to said carriage means;
- said counterbalance springs having constant weight to extension ratios for counterbalancing the weight of articles in the stack on the platform with a predetermined uniform weight to spring extension gradient whereby the weight of the stack of articles is supported only by said counterbalance springs and the force applied by said counterbalance springs to the platform zero at said upper position and a maximum at said lower position while the weight of said platform is continuously supported throughout the entire path of travel thereof by said constant torque spring means to prevent the weight of the platform from affecting operation of the counterbalance springs, thereby to maintain the top of the stack of articles at a predetermined level in the dispenser regardless of the height of the stack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.