Book storage and transportation bin

• US 20060049729A1
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Libramation Library Systems
• Original Assignee: Libramation Library Systems
• Inventors: Mussche, Franklin H.
• Application Number:
  US10/934,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20060049729A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/319.600
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/64 Documents, files or paper sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2203/13 comprising a self levelling surface
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/003 Non-transparent side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/005 Details of storage means, e.g. drawers, bins or racks

Abstract

A rectangular bin for storing and transporting books at a sorting station in a library has a base on wheels with four side walls and a horizontal floor panel movable vertically within the bin. An optical sensor is mounted adjacent the upper rim and is controlled by a control unit such that during a filling mode of the bin, the detection of a book interrupting the beam lowers the floor panel so as to allow further filling of the bin up to the height of the optical sensor and during an unloading mode the operation is reversed. A battery pack is located in a cavity in the front wall and when being charged at a loading station the control unit automatically operates the filling mode and when disconnected the control unit automatically operates the unloading mode. The actuator has two pairs of levers and an electrically actuated screw for moving the floor panel with a lower end of the screw housed in a bottom housing hung below the base.

Claims

1. A bin for storing and transporting books in a library comprising:

a rectangular base;

a plurality of wheels mounted on the base and arranged for transportation of the base over a floor;

four side walls upstanding from the base at respective side edges of the base to an upper rim of the bin to define a rectangular container supported on the base for wheeled transportation therewith with an open top at the upper rim;

one of the side walls defining a front wall having a manually graspable handle by which the bin can be manually propelled on the wheels;

a horizontal floor panel mounted in the bin above the base for receiving thereon a load of books dropped onto the floor panel and supported thereby;

the floor panel being movable vertically within the bin from a lowered position adjacent the base to a raised position adjacent the upper rim;

edges of the floor panel being located immediately adjacent the respective side walls to prevent books loaded on the floor panel from passing between the floor panel and the side wall to the base;

an optical sensor mounted adjacent the upper rim having a beam for detecting the presence of books located on the floor panel to a height within the bin reaching the height of the optical sensor;

and an actuator assembly for causing movement of the floor panel for raising and lowering the floor panel within the bin;

the actuator assembly being controlled by a control unit such that during a filling mode of the bin, the detection of a book interrupting the beam is arranged to cause the actuator to lower the floor panel by a predetermined distance so as to allow further filling of the bin up to the height of the optical sensor;

the actuator assembly being controlled by the control unit such that during an unloading mode of the bin, the detection of no book interrupting the beam is arranged to cause the actuator to raise the floor panel by a distance so bring the books carried on the floor panel back up to the height of the optical sensor;

the actuator assembly comprising;

a first pair of levers spaced apart across the base and the floor panel with each of the first pair of levers being pivotally connected to the floor panel at one end and slidably connected to the base at the other end;

a second pair of levers spaced apart across the base and the floor panel with each of the second pair of levers being pivotally connected to the base at one end and slidably connected to the floor panel at the other end;

a pivot connection between the first and second pair of levers;

a bridging beam extending across between the second pair of levers;

and a drive member for applying a force from the base to the connecting beam so as to cause driving pivotal movement of the second pair of levers relative to the base to effect said movement of the floor panel on the first and second pairs of levers, the drive member comprising an electrically driven screw which extends from a pivot mounting on the base to the bridging beam.

2. The bin according to claim 1 wherein the bridging beam is fixed to the second pair of levers and wherein there is provided a link extending at right angles from the bridging beam to provide a lever action from the screw to the bridging beam.

3. The bin according to claim 2 wherein the link comprises a pair of lugs with an end of the screw connected between the lugs at a position spaced from the bridging beam.

4. The bin according to claim 1 wherein the pivot mounting of the screw at the base is located at a height below the ends of the levers attached to the base.

5. The bin according to claim 4 wherein the pivot mounting of the screw is housed in a bottom housing carried on the base below the base.

6. The bin according to claim 5 wherein the wheels are located on the base such that the bottom housing is located between the wheels.

7. The bin according to claim 1 wherein the floor panel carries wiper seals at the edges thereof for wiping over and inner surface of the side walls to prevent penetration of materials therebetween.

8. The bin according to claim 1 wherein the front wall is defined by two parallel wall elements defining a cavity therebetween and wherein the cavity contains electronic controls and a battery pack.

9. The bin according to claim 8 wherein manual switches for the electronic controls are located on a top wall of the front wall between the parallel wall elements.

10. The bin according to claim 1 wherein there is provided an electrical supply connection for supplying charging current to a battery pack stored on the bin, the electrical supply connection being arranged for connection to and disconnection from a source at a sorting station where the bin is loaded and wherein the control unit is arranged such that the when the supply connection is connected the control unit automatically applies the filling mode and when the supply connection is disconnected the control unit automatically applies the unloading mode.

11. The bin according to claim 8 wherein there is provided an electrical supply connection for supplying charging current to a battery pack stored on the bin, the electrical supply connection being arranged for connection to and disconnection from a source at a sorting station where the bin is loaded and wherein the control unit is arranged such that the when the supply connection is connected the control unit automatically applies the filling mode and when the supply connection is disconnected the control unit automatically applies the unloading mode.