Device for storing and dispensing objects
First Claim
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1. A device for storing and dispensing objects, comprising:
- a plurality of superposed annular magazines having a common axis of symmetry and forming a cylindrical structure;
a motor or a motor associated with an angle for rotating said cylindrical structure about its axis, each annular magazine including a plurality of housings for storing at least one box and including an opening on the periphery of said cylindrical structure for passing one box only, each housing including bottom and a ceiling means for extracting one box contained therein, said means comprising a meshing portion level with said opening and including a vertically truncated tooth and other teeth, said vertically truncated tooth having a base situated in a first horizontal plane, said other vertical teeth having bases situated in a second horizontal plane at a lower level than the first horizontal plane;
at least one box extraction control member on the same level as each annular magazine, said control member being fixed relative to said cylindrical structure and constituted by a plane toothed sector situated between said first and second horizontal planes, said sector being provided with a first controllable moving tooth situated in a non-extraction position in the same plane as the other teeth and in an extraction position above said first horizontal plane so as to mesh with said truncated tooth; and
a programmed computer for controlling said moving tooth as a function of its angular position relative to said housings, said angular position being determined by rotation of said motor.
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Abstract
A device for storing and dispensing objects the a plurality of superposed annular magazines constituting a cylindrical structure which is rotatable about an axis by a stepper motor or the like. An object extraction control member is disposed at each level inside or outside the cylindrical structure and serves to co-operate with elements situated within the object-containing housings. Alternatively, the annular magazines may be fixed and the object extraction control members may rotate relative thereto.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A device for storing and dispensing objects, comprising:
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a plurality of superposed annular magazines having a common axis of symmetry and forming a cylindrical structure; a motor or a motor associated with an angle for rotating said cylindrical structure about its axis, each annular magazine including a plurality of housings for storing at least one box and including an opening on the periphery of said cylindrical structure for passing one box only, each housing including bottom and a ceiling means for extracting one box contained therein, said means comprising a meshing portion level with said opening and including a vertically truncated tooth and other teeth, said vertically truncated tooth having a base situated in a first horizontal plane, said other vertical teeth having bases situated in a second horizontal plane at a lower level than the first horizontal plane; at least one box extraction control member on the same level as each annular magazine, said control member being fixed relative to said cylindrical structure and constituted by a plane toothed sector situated between said first and second horizontal planes, said sector being provided with a first controllable moving tooth situated in a non-extraction position in the same plane as the other teeth and in an extraction position above said first horizontal plane so as to mesh with said truncated tooth; and a programmed computer for controlling said moving tooth as a function of its angular position relative to said housings, said angular position being determined by rotation of said motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Device for storing and dispensing objects comprising:
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a plurality of superposed annular magazines having a common symmetrical axis and forming a cylindrical structure, with each annular magazine containing a plurality of housings for storing at least one box, and having an opening therein to permit the selective passage of a single box therethrough, each housing comprising a base and a roof, means for selective extraction of a box contained within one of said housing base and roof, said means comprising a meshing portion level with said opening and including a vertically truncated tooth, said truncated tooth having a base situated in a first horizontal plane, said meshing portion including other vertical teeth having bases situated in a second horizontal plane at a lower level than the first horizontal plane;
at least one box extraction control member on the same level as each annular magazine, said at least one box extraction control member comprising a plane tooth sector situated between said first and second horizontal planes, said sector being provided with a first controllable moving tooth situated in a non-extracting position in the same plane as the other teeth of said meshing portion in the absence of a box removal command and, means responsive to a removal command for shifting said controllable moving tooth to an extraction position above said first horizontal plane so as to mesh with said truncated tooth; anda motor for rotatably driving one of said cylindrical structure and said at least one box extraction control member around the axis of said cylindrical structure, for selective box removal;
such that, by controlling said moving tooth as a function of its angular position relative to said housing, as determined by the rotation of said motor, the removal of said box results from relative turning movement of said plane tooth sector and said at least one box extraction control member after engagement of said vertically truncated tooth. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification