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US 5,607,042 AGranted
Interoperational store
AssigneeAzionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
InventorMario Spatafora
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A product store wherein the products are supported on a helical strip, the turns of which are rotated about a central axis and deformed elastically between an extended maximum-store-capacity position and a packed position; the turns being connected to an adjusting device for varying the spacing of the turns of the helical strip as required within a given range.
Claims14
An interoperational store (1) comprising:
- supporting means for supporting products, the supporting means comprising a helical strip (70) having a variable number of turns (69) about a central axis (4);
- guide means (67) connected to the helical strip (70) for guiding the turns (69) of the helical strip (70) along helical paths (P) with spacings (S) between successive ones of the turns;
- drive means (30) for rotating the helical strip (70) about the central axis (4) to vary the number of the turns (69) along the helical paths (P);
- and
- adjusting means (48) associated with the guide means (67) for adjusting the spacings (S) over a given range.
2 more elements
An interoperational store (1) comprising:
- supporting means for supporting products, the supporting means comprising a first helical strip (70) having a variable number of first turns (69) about a central axis (4);
- guide means (67) connected to the first helical strip (70) for guiding the first turns (69) along helical paths (P) with first spacings (S) between successive ones of the first turns;
- drive means (30) for rotating the first helical strip (70) about the central axis (4) to vary the number of the first turns (69) along the helical paths (P);
- and
- adjusting means (48) associated with the guide means (67) for varying the first spacings (S) over a given range, the guide means comprising a second helical strip (70) having a number of second turns (58) about and elastically deformable along the central axis (4), the second turns (58) supporting the first turns (69) and defining the helical paths (P), the adjusting means (48) being operable for varying second spacings of the second turns (58).
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.