US 4,426,008 AGranted

Storage system for canned goods

AssigneeAmco Corporation

InventorsRalph B. Olson, Stuart I. Musick

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Abstract

A gravity-feed system for storing and dispensing canned goods on a "first-in, first-out" basis is provided. The system comprises an upper track assembly which is supported by an upright frame and is inclined downwardly from the front to the back of the frame. The upper track assembly includes at least one track adapted to receive a number of cans disposed on their sides. The track has an aperture at its lower end to enable the cans to drop from the track. A lower track assembly is positioned below the first track assembly and is supported by the upright frame. The lower track assembly is inclined downwardly from the back to the front of the frame and includes at least one track corresponding to the track of the upper assembly which is adapted to receive the cans dropping from the track of the upper assembly. Guide means are provided to insure that the cans remain aligned as they move from the upper track to the lower track.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An article for storing and dispensing canned goods comprising two opposed upright supports;

a plurality of adjacent downwardly inclined upper tracks mounted on the supports and adapted to receive a plurality of cans disposed on their sides, said tracks having apertures at their lower ends to enable the cans to drop through the tracks;
a plurality of adjacent lower tracks mounted on the upright supports corresponding to and disposed below the upper tracks, said lower tracks being inclined downwardly in a direction opposite to the incline of the upper tracks and adapted to receive the cans dropping through the apertures of the upper tracks;
each upper and lower track formed by a pair of rails which supports the cans and lateral members disposed perpendicular to the plane of said rails between each pair of said rails;
and means for aligning the cans in the tracks as they fall through the apertures of the upper tracks, said means being positioned adjacent said apertures of the upper tracks and extending from the lateral members of the upper tracks to the lateral members of the lower tracks;
said aligning means including a guide adjacent the bottom of the lateral members for the upper tracks and adjacent the top of the lateral members for the lower tracks for preventing the lateral members from interfering with the cans as they fall through the apertures of the upper tracks onto the lower tracks.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.