Rotary storage unit with motorized latch actuator

In a rotary storage device including an enclosure defining an interior and an access opening, and an upstanding rotatable storage member disposed within the interior and including a storage area, wherein rotation of the storage member within the interior of the enclosure functions to move the storage member between an open position in which the storage area is accessible through the opening of the enclosure, and a closed position in which the storage member is inaccessible through the opening of the enclosure, and wherein the rotary storage device further includes a latch mechanism interposed between the enclosure and the storage member, wherein the latch mechanism is movable between a latching position in which the latch mechanism is engaged with the storage member for selectively maintaining the storage member in one of the open and closed positions, and a release position in which the latch mechanism is disengaged from the storage member for allowing rotation of the storage member relative to the enclosure, the improvement comprising a motorized actuator mechanism interconnected with the latch mechanism, wherein the motorized actuator mechanism includes a motor and a movable output member interconnected with the latch mechanism, and a switch member mounted to the enclosure and interconnected with the motor, wherein operation of the motor functions to move the motor output member so as to move the latch mechanism between the latching and release positions, wherein the latch mechanism includes a pivotable latch member, and wherein the motorized actuator mechanism further includes a pivotable crank member, a link interconnecting the pivotable crank member with the latch member, and an axially movable actuator rod interconnected with the crank member, wherein the motor output member is interconnected with the actuator rod, wherein operation of the motor results in axial movement of the actuator rod to move the latch member between the latching and release positions through the crank member and the link member.

A rotary storage assembly, comprising:

• a cabinet defining an interior and at least one access opening providing access to the interior;
• p1 an upstanding rotary storage member disposed within the cabinet interior, wherein the rotary storage member is mounted for pivoting movement relative to the cabinet about an upright pivot axis for movement between an open position in which a storage area of the storage member is accessible through the opening, and a closed position in which the storage area is inaccessible from the opening;
• a latch mechanism interposed between the cabinet and the storage member, wherein the latch mechanism is movable between an engaged position for selectively maintaining the storage member in a selected one of the open and closed positions, and a release position for selectively allowing movement of the storage member relative to the cabinet;
• and
• an actuator mechanism interconnected with the latch mechanism, wherein the actuator mechanism includes a motor having an output member interconnected with the latch mechanism, and a manually operable switch arrangement secured to the cabinet and interconnected with the motor, wherein the switch arrangement is operable to selectively operate the motor, and wherein operation of the motor causes movement of the motor output member to move the latch mechanism via the actuator mechanism between the engaged position and the release position, wherein the manually operable switch arrangement includes a first switch member interconnected with the motor for operating the motor to move the latch mechanism from the engaged position to the release position, and a second switch member for enabling operation of the first switch member.

In a rotary storage device including an enclosure defining an interior and an access opening, and an upstanding rotatable storage member disposed within the interior and including a storage area, wherein rotation of the storage member within the interior of the enclosure functions to move the storage member between an open position in which the storage area is accessible through the opening of the enclosure, and a closed position in which the storage member is inaccessible through the opening of the enclosure, and wherein the rotary storage device further includes a latch mechanism interposed between the enclosure and the storage member, wherein the latch mechanism is movable between a latching position in which the latch mechanism is engaged with the storage member for selectively maintaining the storage member in one of the open and closed positions, and a release position in which the latch mechanism is disengaged from the storage member for allowing rotation of the storage member relative to the enclosure, the improvement comprising a motorized actuator mechanism, wherein the motorized actuator mechanism includes a motor having a movable output member, an actuator mechanism interconnected between the motor output member and the latch mechanism, and a switch member mounted to the enclosure and interconnected with the motor, wherein the switch member provides selective operation of the motor to impart movement to the motor output member, and wherein movement of the motor output member causes the actuator mechanism to move the latch mechanism between the latching and release positions.

In a rotary storage device including an enclosure defining an interior and an access opening, and an upstanding rotatable storage member disposed within the interior and including a storage area, wherein rotation of the storage member within the interior of the enclosure functions to move the storage member between an open position in which the storage area is accessible through the opening of the enclosure, and a closed position in which the storage member is inaccessible through the opening of the enclosure, and wherein the rotary storage device further includes a latch mechanism interposed between the enclosure and the storage member, wherein the latch mechanism is movable between a latching position in which the latch mechanism is engaged with the storage member for selectively maintaining the storage member in one of the open and closed positions, and a release position in which the latch mechanism is disengaged from the storage member for allowing rotation of the storage member relative to the enclosure, the improvement comprising a motorized actuator mechanism, wherein the motorized actuator mechanism includes a motor having a movable output member, an actuator mechanism interconnected between the motor output member and the latch mechanism, and a switch member mounted to the enclosure and interconnected with the motor, wherein the switch member provides selective operation of the motor to impart movement to the motor output member, and wherein movement of the motor output member causes the actuator mechanism to move the latch mechanism between the latching and release positions, wherein the motor is operably configured to provide a time delay subsequent to operation of the switch member to operate the motor so as to return the latch mechanism from the release position to the latching position, wherein the time delay functions to temporarily maintain the latch mechanism in the release position prior to operation of the motor so as to return the latch mechanism to the latching position.

A rotary storage assembly, comprising:

• a cabinet defining an interior and at least one access opening providing access to the interior;
• an upstanding rotary storage member disposed within the cabinet interior, wherein the rotary storage member is mounted for pivoting movement relative to the cabinet about an upright pivot axis for movement between an open position in which a storage area of the storage member is accessible through the opening, and a closed position in which the storage area is inaccessible from the opening;
• a latch mechanism interposed between the cabinet and the storage member, wherein the latch mechanism includes a pivotable latch member that is movable between an engaged position for selectively maintaining the storage member in a selected one of the open and closed positions, and a release position for selectively allowing movement of the storage member relative to the cabinet, and
• a motorized actuator interconnected with the latch mechanism for selectively moving the latch mechanism between the engaged position and the release position, wherein the motorized actuator includes a manually operable switch arrangement interconnected with the cabinet;
• a motor having a movable output member;
• and an axially movable actuator rod interconnected with the motor output member and interconnected with the pivotable latch member, wherein operation of the motor results in axial movement of the actuator rod, and wherein axial movement of the actuator rod causes movement of the latch member between the engaged and release positions, wherein the motor output member is engaged with the actuator rod via an engagement member secured to the actuator rod and movable therewith in response to movement of the motor output member, wherein the engagement member is interconnected with the actuator rod by means of a pair of oppositely extending springs, each of which is engaged at one end with the engagement member and at an opposite end with the actuator rod.

A rotary storage assembly, comprising:

• a cabinet defining an interior and at least one access opening providing access to the interior;
• an upstanding rotary storage member disposed within the cabinet interior, wherein the rotary storage member is mounted for pivoting movement relative to the cabinet about an upright pivot axis for movement between an open position in which a storage area of the storage member is accessible through the opening, and a closed position in which the storage area is inaccessible from the opening;
• a latch mechanism interposed between the cabinet and the storage member, wherein the latch mechanism includes a pivotable latch member and is movable between an engaged position for selectively maintaining the storage member in a selected one of the open and closed positions, and a release position for selectively allowing movement of the storage member relative to the cabinet, and
• a motorized actuator interconnected with the latch mechanism for selectively moving the latch mechanism between the engaged position and the release position, wherein the motorized actuator includes a manually operable switch arrangement interconnected with the cabinet, a motor having a rotatable output member, and an actuator mechanism interconnected between the motor output member and the pivotable latch member, wherein movement of the motor output member functions to move the latch member between the engaged and release positions through the actuator mechanism, and wherein the actuator mechanism includes a pivotable crank member, a link interconnecting the crank member with the latch member, and an actuator rod interconnected between the motor output member and the crank member.