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US4039918A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Control for rotatable storage unit
Assignee: Security Pacific Business Credit Inc
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Filing: 1975-08-04
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Granted: 1977-08-02
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Expires: 1995-08-04
Abstract
Abstract A storage unit divided into a plurality of stations, is rotatable about a vertical axis to allow any given station to be turned to a position where the articles at that station can be retrieved. A control circuit is provided to allow an operator to select a station, provide an input indicative of that selection, and have the unit rotate through the shortest distance to provide access to the selected station.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl C. H. Cheng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:37
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/19; G05B19/27; G05B19/29; G05B19/291; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/42; G05B2219/42212
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
In a rotatable storage unit comprising a plurality of stations, and including means to drivingly rotate the unit from a first orientation wherein a first station is positioned at a preselected point to a second orientation wherein a second station is positioned at said preselected point, the improvement comprising: a. station selector means for creating an electrical signal corresponding to a station selected by an operator; b. circuit means for receiving said station selector signal as an input and providing an output signal to the driving means to cause said unit to rotate from said first station to said second station, said circuit means including: forward movement gating means; reverse movement gating means; logic circuit means for determining the shortest rotational distance between said first and second stations and providing an electrical signal representative of that determination to said forward and reverse gating means; timing circuit means for selectably adjusting the precise stopping point of said second station when said unit is rotated into said second orientation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a rotatable storage unit comprising a plurality of stations, and including means to drivingly rotate the unit from a first orientation wherein a first station is positioned at a preselected point to a second orientation wherein a second station is positioned at said preselected point, the improvement comprising: a. station selector means for creating an electrical signal corresponding to a station selected by an operator; b. circuit means for receiving said station selector signal as an input and providing an output signal to the driving means to cause said unit to rotate from said first station to said second station, said circuit means including: forward movement gating means; reverse movement gating means; logic circuit means for determining the shortest rotational distance between said first and second stations and providing an electrical signal representative of that determination to said forward and reverse gating means; timing circuit means for selectably adjusting the precise stopping point of said second station when said unit is rotated into said second orientation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of cam surfaces each corresponding to a respective one of said stations; a plurality of cam followers corresponding to said cam surfaces, each of said cam followers having a switch associated therewith, said switch being activated upon engagement of the cam follower with its respective cam surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said forward movement gating means comprises a positive NAND gate having a plurality of inputs corresponding to said plurality of stations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reverse movement gating means comprises a positive NAND gate having a plurality of inputs corresponding to said plurality of stations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said station selector means includes a plurality of pushbutton switches corresponding to said stations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said logic circuit means includes a plurality of electronic gate means adapted to receive electrical signals from said cam follower switches and said pushbutton switches, said signals providing the selection criteria for determining the direction of rotation of said unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said plurality of electronic gate means comprises four groups of NAND gates, the number of gates in each group corresponding to the number of stations in said unit, each of said gates receiving electrical signals from preselected ones of said limit switches and said pushbutton switches, the output of said gates being provided as input to said forward movement gating means and said reverse movement gating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 6 including timing circuit means electrically connected between said forward movement gating means and said driving means, said timing circuit means triggered by the signal from said gating means and operable to maintain the unit in rotation for a pre-selected time after the initial engagement of the cam follower switch corresponding to said second station with the cam surface corresponding to said second station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 6 including timing circuit means electrically connected between said reverse movement gating means and said driving means, said timing circuit means being triggered by a signal from said gating means and operable to maintain the unit in rotation for a preselected time after the initial engagement of the cam follower switch corresponding to said second station with the cam surface corresponding to said second station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including holding circuit means electrically connected to each of said cam follower switches, said holding circuit means holding one of said switches closed once said switch is engaged until engagement of one of the adjacent cam surfaces with its corresponding cam follower switch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-01 | 1981-01-31 | 1981-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-01 | 1985-01-31 | 1985-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-01 | 1989-01-31 | 1989-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |