US1942895A - Seed dispensing cabinet - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 9, A. JONES v SEED D-ISPENS ING CABINET Filed June 7, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inuenlor A l- {fan/es Jan. 9, L JONES SEED DISPENSING CABINET Filed June 7, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor 4 7021 6S Jan. 9, 1 934. JQNES 1,942,895

SEED DISPENS ING CABINET Filed June 7; 1952 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a convertible storage and dispensing cabinet assembly expressly designed for systematically accommodating and vending loose seed in bulk form.

Briefly stated, the invention is predicated upon a novel base which serves as storage means, as a scale counter, and a support for the bodily removable seed dispensing unit.

A further feature of construction is found in the specific construction of the dispensing unit which is of cellular construction with the cells formed into distinguishable rows and tiers of miniature bins, said bins being adapted to contain the different varieties, sizes of seed, so that they may be expeditiously and selectively discharged into a bag filling scoop, or the usual scoop-like pan of a weighing scale.

Further novelty is predicated upon the specific bin constructions each of which includes an inclined gravity feed chute co-operating with discharge and filling troughs constructed to accommodate a pivoted gate valve.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the complete structure as designed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a front elevation showing the detailed formation of one of the frontal walls of the bin.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference characters it will be observed that the structure comprises a base 6. This comprises a suitable leg supported cabinet constructed on its interior to accommodate surplus stock. In other words, this is a storage cabinet and it is provided on its front with suitable doors 7 to permit access to be had to the interior.

It has a fiat top 8 which serves as a counter as well as a support for the cellular dispensing unit generally denoted by the numeral 9. This comprises a bottom wall 10, a top wall 11, and vertical end walls 12. Mounted between the end walls in the vertically spaced relationship are horizontal shelves 13 and these are provided with partitions 14 defining compartments which are hereinafter described as the miniature dispensing bins 15.

The front wall of each bin indicated at 16 is provided with a vision window 17 and below the window with a discharge hole 18 for the seeds. An apertured plate 19 is fastened to the wall and provided with a discharge spout or trough 20 alined with the hole 18 and adapted to conveniently discharge the seed by gravity into a scoop or weighing scale pan (not shown).

The gate valve is distinguished by the numeral 21, being pivoted on the plate 19 as indicated at 22, and being shaped to drop down into the spout 20 to close the hole 18. The valve is formed with an extension 23 with which a pivoted latch 24 is engageable to hold the valve in closed position.

As seen in Figure 3 the upper central portion of each front wall 16 is provided with a return slot 25 having a crescent shaped receptacle 26 connected thereto. These features 25 and 26 permit excess seed to be returned to the bin from the front, thus making it unnecessary to walk around to the back of the cabinet each time to return excess feed thereto.

I11 each bin there is an inclined chute 2'7 which leads to the discharge opening 18. Each chute is provided with a filler plate 28 having upstanding guard forming ends 29. These features 28 and 29 are designed to expedite pouring of the seeds into the bin from the open back side of the cabinet.

The numeral 30 merely designates an ornamental top piece while the numerals 31 designate dividers forming a plurality of pockets 32 to accommodate paper bags and other paraphernalia used for conveniently merchandising the goods. In Figure 5, the numeral 33 designates substantially triangular corner blocks arranged in the frontal portion of the bin and having slanting surfaces arranged to deflect the seeds through the discharge opening 18 in a manner to prevent clogging and to insure free flow and at the same time preventing accumulation of the small seeds in the front corners of the bins.

In practice each bin is properly labelled according to the grade and kind of seed contained therein. Moreover the seeds are placed in loose or bulk form in the various bins. The entire unit 9 is placed on the cabinet top 8 so that a portion of the top protrudes beyond the unit to form a convenient support for a weighing scale (not shown) to facilitate use of the invention.

The unit 9 is made separate from the base 6 so that when said unit 9 is not in use in the establishment or store it may be stored away and the base 6 allowed to remain for counter service.

The gist of the invention is in the provision of the separable units 6 and 8 wherein the unit 6 serves as surplus material storage structure and dispensing counter, while the unit 9 serves for conveniently containing and vending the seed in bulk form. The unit 9 is particularly important in that it is divided into a multiplicity of miniature bins of duplicate construction, each pin having an inclined gravity chute with means at one end to facilitate filling of the bin and valved discharge means at the opposite end to facilitate filling of bags by way of a scoop or similar implement.

Especially do I wish to emphasize the deflector block 33 to aid in discharging the seed through the discharge holes 18. Moreover, I want to emphasize the front wall construction each wall 16 being provided with a wall 17, the valved discharge means below the window and the receptacle equipped return means (25 and 26) above the window so that when an excess quantity ofseed has been withdrawn it may be conveniently returned through the crescent shaped slot 25. a

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

A seed dispenser of the class described comprising a unit including a multiplicity of distinguishable seed containing and discharging bins, each bin having a front wall provided with a window, a discharge opening below said window, a plate attached to said front wall and having an inclined spout alined with said discharge opening, a gate valve pivoted on said plate and co-operable with the opening and spout, a retaining latch on said wall for holding the gate valve closed, an inclined gravity chute in the bin, feed means at the delivery end of said chute to expedite placement of seeds in the bin, a triangular inclined block in the frontal corner portions of the. bin for deflecting the seed to said discharge opening, the upper portion of the front wall of the bin having a retin'n slot, and an outstanding trapping receptacle on said front wall to facilitate replacement of excess seed into the bin LL from the front thereof.

ARCH LEE JONES.

Images