Abstract:
Disclosed are container apparatuses that have variable volume capacity, which are useful, for example, as pack-off containers in operations involving manufactured articles. The container apparatuses can have vertically translatable bottom members to adjust volume capacity, and the bottom members can also be rotatable to facilitate the presentation of manufactured articles for removal. The vertically translatable bottom members can be suspended flexible sheet materials, portions of which can be raised or lowered to re-contour the shape of and adjust the volume capacity of the container apparatuses.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2013/069560, filed Nov. 12, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/725,425, filed Nov. 12, 2012, both of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to containers, and in particular aspects to containers useful to receive manufactured articles and which have the capacity to vary their volume to accommodate more or fewer of the manufactured articles. 
         [0003]    In high-volume manufacturing of commercial goods, such as bagged snack foods, the completed articles must be drawn off the manufacturing line and packed into shipping containers, such as boxes, as efficiently as possible. Heretofore, such manufactured articles have been conveyed with a conveyor onto a “pack-off” table, which is rotating. Packing personnel positioned around the table remove the manufactured items as the table rotates, and manually pack them into the shipping containers. 
         [0004]    At times, the rate at which the manufactured articles are conveyed onto the pack-off table exceeds the capacity of the packing personnel to remove and pack them. In such cases, it becomes necessary to slow or shut down the conveyor dispensing the manufactured articles onto the pack-off table. This in turn can disrupt the manufacturing line and reduce the output of the manufacturing facility. 
         [0005]    In light of this background, needs remain for improved and/or alternative apparatuses and methods for handling manufactured articles as they come off the line. In certain aspects, the present invention is addressed to these needs. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In one embodiment, provided is a rotating pack-off container for receiving manufactured articles. The container includes a circumferential frame and a container bottom wall supported in association with the circumferential frame. The container bottom wall is arranged to support manufactured articles when residing in the container, and the container bottom wall is translatable vertically to vary the volume capacity of the container. A drive mechanism is provided, and is arranged to rotate the container bottom wall so as to rotate manufactured articles when supported on the bottom wall. The container bottom wall can be defined by a flexible wall material attached to the frame, and the flexible wall material in beneficial embodiments forms a pocket extending downward from the frame. The drive mechanism can be arranged to rotate both the frame and the container bottom wall. The container can include automated means for translating the container bottom vertically to vary the volume capacity of the container, for example, responsive to a sensed fill condition of the container. Such a sensed fill condition can be based upon the presence or absence of container contents at a specified height or position, as for example can be detected using an electronic photo-eye sensor, upon a sensed weight of the contents of the container, or any other suitable condition. Vertical translation of the container bottom wall can reshape a flexible material when used as container wall material so as to vary the volume capacity of the container, and/or can be caused by a screw drive, spring, pneumatic cylinder, linear actuator, rack and pinion apparatus, or other suitable mechanism, operably coupled to the container bottom wall. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, provided is an apparatus for handling manufactured articles that includes a rotating pack-off container according to the discussions above or elsewhere herein, and a feed device arranged to feed manufactured articles into the rotating pack-off container. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, provided is a method for handling manufactured articles that includes feeding manufactured articles into a rotating pack-off container as discussed above or elsewhere herein, and removing the manufactured articles from the rotating pack-off container as at least the container bottom of the pack-off container rotates. 
         [0009]    In a further embodiment, provided is a container that includes a circumferential frame and an upstanding pole within an inner opening defined by the circumferential frame. A container bottom including a flexible wall material is supported between the circumferential frame and the pole, with at least a portion of the flexible wall material being translatable vertically to vary the volume capacity of the container. The flexible wall material can define a generally annular pocket between the circumferential frame and the pole, and the depth of the pocket can be varied by vertically translating a central portion of the wall material surrounding the pole. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, provided is a method for handling manufactured articles. The method includes conveying the manufactured articles into a rotating container, vertically translating at least a bottom wall of the rotating container so as to vary the volume capacity of the container, and removing the manufactured articles from the rotating container. In varied embodiments, the rotating container can have any or all of the features discussed hereinabove or below. In addition or alternatively, the method can include packing the removed manufactured articles into containers. The removing and packing steps can be performed manually. The method can also include electronically sensing a fill condition of the container, and automatically vertically translating at least the bottom wall of the rotating container to vary to vary the volume capacity of the container in response to the sensed fill condition. 
         [0011]    Additional embodiments of the invention as well as features and advantages thereof will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the descriptions herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of one embodiment of a pack-off container in accordance with the invention. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2-4  provide schematic views of the pack-off container of  FIG. 1  at varying volume capacities. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  provides a perspective view of another embodiment of a pack-off container in accordance with the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  provides a side view of another embodiment of a pack-off container in accordance with the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  provides a top view of the support frame and portions of a screw drive of the container of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  provides a side view of another embodiment of a pack-off container in accordance with the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  provides a side view of another embodiment of a pack-off container in accordance with the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  provides a side view of another embodiment of a pack-off container in accordance with the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  provides a side view of another embodiment of a pack-off container in accordance with the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  provides a side view of another embodiment of a pack-off container in accordance with the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  provides a front view of a fill level gauge of the invention, and which can be used on or in conjunction with pack-off containers of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to certain embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
         [0024]    As disclosed above, aspects of the present invention relate to novel pack-off containers that have the capacity to vary their volume for holding manufactured articles. With reference now to the figures,  FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of one embodiment of a pack-off container apparatus  10 . Apparatus  10  includes a base member  12  positionable on a support surface. Also provided is circumferential frame  14  and container bottom member  16 . A motor drive  18  is provided and is operable to rotate at least the container bottom member  16  when energized, desirably in a generally horizontal plane such that manufactured articles supported by the container bottom member  16  also travel rotationally in a generally horizontal plane. Conventional electric motors, gear reduction drives when needed, and rotatable connections can be used in connection with motor drive  18 . Illustratively, motor drive  18  can be coupled to a pole  20  rotatably supported on base member  12 . This coupling can be through a drive sleeve  21  fixedly attached to pole  20 , and a drive wheel  23  driven to rotate by motor drive  18  and frictionally engaging an inner surface of drive sleeve  21 . Pole  20  can be rotatably supported on base member  12  for example by bearing sleeve  19 . Motor drive  18 , when energized, thereby causes rotation of pole  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of outwardly bowed frame struts  22  are connected to drive sleeve  21  at one end of struts  22  and to circumferential frame  14  at an opposite end of struts  22 . Thus, rotation of pole  20  by motor drive  18  rotates struts  22  which in turn rotates circumferential frame  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, container bottom member  16  includes a first portion  16 B connected to a mechanism for vertically translating portion  16 B, as discussed in more detailed below. Container bottom member  16  also includes a second portion  16 A circumferentially attached to frame member  14 , for example by snaps as depicted by the series of circular buttons located circumferentially around the inside of circumferential frame  14 , or by ties, bonding, or any other suitable mechanism. Container bottom member  16  and any other flexible wall members discussed herein can be made of a flexible material, for example a flexible cloth material (e.g. canvas) or a flexible polymeric sheet material. In such cases, as illustrated, container bottom member  16  can form a concave upper support surface along at least a portion of container bottom member  16 , for instance with container bottom member  16  forming a pocket or bowl that depends downwardly from circumferential frame  14 . As will be discussed further hereinbelow, the downward movement or translation of portion  16 B causes increased billowing of container bottom member  16  and thereby increases the volume capacity of container apparatus  10 . 
         [0025]    In the illustrated embodiment, portion  16 B of container bottom member  16  is vertically translatable downward and upward by a screw drive. Specifically, portion  16 B is circumferentially attached around bearing sleeve  24  by any suitable means or mechanism including for example clamps, ties, bonding, buttons or otherwise. Bearing sleeve  24  is in turn rotatably received around a vertically extending screw  26 , such that sleeve  24  can rotate independently of screw  26 . For these purposes, the lower region of screw  26  can have a smooth outer surface rather than bearing a thread pattern, to permit sleeve  24  to rotate about screw  26  without engaging or interference from threads. Screw  26  is received through a motor-driven drive  28 , which can include a motor driven rotatable member or members such as a nut and/or recirculating balls that engage(s) the threads on screw  26  in such a fashion that operation of drive  28  can be used to drive the screw  26  upward or downward, depending on the direction of rotation of the nut/ball member(s). Accordingly, screw drive  28  can be operated to drive screw  26  upward or downward, which in turn drives sleeve  24  and portion  16 B of container bottom member  16  upward or downward so as to vary the volume of container apparatus  10 . Screw drive  28  is supported by mount  30  which includes a first vertically extending portion  30 A and a portion  30 B cantilevered therefrom and connected to drive  28 . Mount  30  is supported by base member  32  which in turn can be connected to base member  12 , e.g. by connector strut  34 , which can be used to maintain the relative position of base member  12  and base member  32  to maintain a constant vertically aligned position of drive  28  and screw  26  over circumferential frame member  14 , which vertically aligned position is optionally substantially in line with a central vertical axis of circumferential frame member  14 . 
         [0026]    Shown in  FIGS. 2-4  are various schematic views of the container apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 , and particularly illustrating the frame member  14  and container bottom member  16  in various positions relative to one another as can be affected by the screw drive device or apparatus noted above.  FIG. 2  shows apparatus  10  in a low-volume capacity configuration, where portions  16 B of container bottom member  16  are held above an upper edge of frame  14 . In this arrangement, portions of container bottom member  16  are positioned above frame  14 , portions vertically coincide with frame  14 , and portions extend below frame  14 . Shown in  FIG. 3  is a medium-volume capacity configuration of apparatus  10 , where portion  16 B has been lowered below a bottom edge of frame  14 , and thus apart from any portion  16 B of container member  16  that are connected to frame member  14 , the entirety of the container bottom member  16  extends below frame  14 . Shown in  FIG. 4  is a full accumulation volume capacity configuration of apparatus  10 , wherein again apart from any connecting portions to frame  14 , the entirety of container bottom member  16  including portions  16 B extends below frame  14 . As will be understood, in these embodiments, container bottom member  16  forms a generally annular pocket between circumferential frame member  14  and screw  26 , the shape and depth of which can be increased or decreased by operation of the screw drive. Also shown in  FIGS. 2-4  is the association of container apparatus  10  with a conveyor  200  for conveying manufactured articles into container apparatus  10 . It will be understood that similar conveyors can be associated with all other container embodiments described herein, and also all other container embodiments herein may attain positions of container bottom member  16  as described in conjunction with  FIGS. 2-4 . 
         [0027]    With reference now to  FIG. 5 , shown is another embodiment of a variable-volume container apparatus  50  in accordance with the invention. Container apparatus  50  includes a base member  52  positionable against a support surface, such as a floor, and a circumferential frame member  54  supported by the base member  52 . Apparatus  50  also includes a flexible container bottom member  56  supported within frame member  54 , and a motor drive unit  58  for driving the rotation of container bottom member  56 , as described in more detail below. Apparatus  50  also includes a central pole  60 , which is rotatably connected to base member  52 , for example by a sleeve or collar  61 , which can be equipped with bearings or a low-friction surface residing against the external surface of pole  60  to facilitate the rotatable connection. A frame base  64  provided as a drive sleeve is fixedly or non-rotatably attached to pole  60 , and a plurality of frame struts  62  extend from their attachment to frame base  64  to their attachment to frame member  54  at locations circumferentially around frame member  54 . In this manner, pole  60  and the frame formed by circumferential frame member  54 , struts  62  and frame base  64  rotate together. The attachments of frame portions to one another can be made by any suitable means including, for example, welding or the use of bolts, screws or other connecters. 
         [0028]    Container bottom member  56  includes a first end portion  56 A and a second end portion  56 B. First end portion  56 A is connected to support member  68 , which is mounted on and vertically translatable relative to pole  60 . Support member  68  can, as shown, be a collar or sleeve received around pole  60 . First end portion  56 A of bottom member  56  can be attached to support member  68  by any suitable mechanism, including, for instance, snaps, clamps, ties, connectors, etc. Support member  68  has a protuberance  70  that extends into groove  72  in pole  60 , for example, in a tongue-and-groove fashion. The cooperation of protuberance  70  and groove  72  causes support member  68  to rotate along with pole  60  due to contact between edges of groove  72  and protuberance  70  when pole  60  is rotated. At the same time, protuberance  70  can ride vertically within groove  72  to maintain the vertically translatable arrangement of support member  68  upon pole  60 . A spring  74 , such as a coil spring, is provided having a first end  76  attached to cap  78 , which in turn is fixedly attached to the top of pole  60 . Spring  74  has a second end  80  attached to support member  68 . In this manner, support member  68 , and in turn container bottom member  56 , are suspended from cap member  78  by spring  74 , which is put into tension by the suspended weight of support member  68  and container bottom member  56 , and the weight of any manufactured articles supported upon bottom member  56 . Thus, the addition of manufactured articles of sufficient weight onto the upper surface of bottom member  56  will cause spring  74  to extend thereby lowering support member  68  and upper portion  56 A of bottom member  56 , which increases the container volume occurring below the upper edge of frame member  54  and increases the volume capacity of apparatus  50 . Upon removal of manufactured articles of sufficient weight from the upper surface of bottom member  56 , the spring  74  will retract, thereby decreasing the volume capacity of the apparatus occurring below the upper edge of frame member  54 . The biasing force of spring  74  can be selected to be appropriately responsive to the weight of the manufactured articles to ensure that, as articles are added to or removed from the container apparatus  50 , the volume capacity thereof adjusts to stably contain the articles and present them for removal, preferably at or near the vertical level of circumferential frame member  54 . 
         [0029]    The motor drive for rotation of the container apparatus  50  includes drive motor  58 , which drives rotation through engagement with frame base  64 . Frame base  64  is a hollow sleeve member defining a lower opening  82  and an inner wall surface  84 . In the illustrated embodiment, the inner wall surface  84  defines a generally circular path, which is preferred. Drive motor  58  drives rotation of shaft  86  and friction wheel  88  attached to shaft  86 . Friction wheel  88  frictionally contacts inner wall surface  84  such that rotation of wheel  88  drives rotation of frame base  64 . This in turn rotates the struts  62  and frame member  54 , as well as pole  60 . The rotation of frame member  54  imparts rotation of container bottom  56  through its attachment to member  54 . As well, the rotation of pole  60  rotates cap member  78 , which causes rotation of spring  74  and suspended support member  68 . The rotational force imparted to bottom member  56  via its attachment to frame member  54  can likewise be transmitted, through bottom member, to support member  68  and on to spring  74 . Thus, in the specific container apparatus  50  illustrated, the pole  60 , frame (elements  54 ,  62  and  64 ), bottom member  56 , support member  68 , spring  74  and cap  78 , are all rotatable by energization of drive motor  58 . In this regard, the energization of motor  58  can be provided from electrical grid power through an electrical power cord  90  electrically coupled to motor  58 , as is well known. Other electrical power sources could also be used including, for example, one or more batteries or generators. 
         [0030]    With reference now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , shown is another embodiment of a pack-off container  100  in accordance with the invention. Pack-off container  100  includes a frame  102  having circumferential frame in the form of an upper hoop  104 . Frame  102  also has a lower hoop  105 . A plurality of outwardly bowed struts  106  are attached to hoop  104  and hoop  105 . A generally bowl-shaped, rigid frame  102  is thereby constructed. Hoops  104  and  105  and struts  106  can, for example, be tubular members, such as extruded aluminum tubing. Connections between these frame components can be made in any suitable manner, including, for example, welding, bolts or other means. 
         [0031]    Mounted within frame is flexible wall material  108 . Wall material  108  is configured to form a pocket, desirably conformable to a generally bowl shape, and has an upper end  110  forming an open mouth attached to upper hoop  104 , and flexible material depending or hanging downwardly from hoop  104  to a lower end  112  operably coupled to a vertically translatable carrier unit  114  of a screw drive. 
         [0032]    Carrier unit  114  is received over an upstanding pole in the form of a threaded screw  116 , as is typical in screw or worm drives. In the preferred embodiment shown, screw  116  is stationary (non-rotating), and carrier unit  114  includes a driven nut, optionally of a type with recirculating balls, and a motor to drive the nut. Such drives are known and can be used. These can include motors having internal bores for receipt around screw  116 , and/or having rotors that are directly coupled to the rotating nut to provide simpler and more efficient constructions. A rotatable sleeve  118  is mounted to and above carrier unit  114 , and is rotatable relative to carrier unit  114 , for example, rotating on a bearing. The lower end  112  of flexible wall material  108  is attached to rotatable sleeve  118 , and thus sleeve  118 , flexible wall material  108  and frame  102  are rotatable together relative to carrier unit  114 . 
         [0033]    The motor and housing of carrier unit  114  are held in non-rotatable relationship relative to screw  116 . For these purposes, screw  116  has a groove  120  extending along the length thereof, and the housing of carrier unit  114  defines a tongue that rides in groove  120 . In the manner, as the driven nut and/or circulating ball components of carrier unit  114  rotate so as to engage the threads of screw  116  and thereby cause carrier unit  114  to travel upward or downward along screw  116 , the motor and housing of carrier unit  114  are held against rotation around screw  116 . The screw  116  has an upper end  122  at a height whereby when container  100  is at its minimum desired volume capacity, with carrier unit  114  in an elevated position on screw  116 , bearing sleeve  118  is at or below the upper end  122  of screw  116 . Screw  116  has a lower end  124  fixedly connected to a generally horizontal base member  125  which in turn is supported on legs  127 . Legs  127  can be individually-height-adjustable, if desired, for leveling purposes. Frame  102  defines a central opening  140  through which screw  116  extends and which permits passage of carrier unit  114  and associated bearing sleeve  118 . It will be understood that while a particular embodiment of a screw drive has been shown and described in conjunction with container  100 , many screw drive devices are known and can be used, including, for example, those with rotating screws and stationary nuts, or with driven rotating nuts and stationary screws. As well, such systems may include guide components that run alongside the screw and that are attached to and prevent rotation of the nut (in a rotating screw drive) or of the nut housing (e.g. in a driven nut drive) during linear travel of the nut relative to the screw. For example, in a modification of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , instead of use of a tongue (on the carrier unit  114  housing) and groove (in the screw  116 ) arrangement to prevent rotation of the carrier unit  114  housing and motor during linear travel, carrier unit  114  housing could be fixedly coupled to a sleeve that rides non-rotatably up and down on a fixed, upstanding guidepost adjacent to screw  116 . In this fashion, rotation of the motor and housing of carrier unit  114  would be prevented during driven linear travel of the carrier unit  114  up and down screw  116 . These and other stabilizing arrangements used in association with screw drives will be apparent to those of skill in the pertinent art. 
         [0034]    Container  100  also includes components for driving rotation of frame  102 , flexible wall material  108 , and sleeve  118 . In the depicted embodiment, these components include a drive wheel  126  which is driven by motor  128  and associated gear reduction drive  130 . Drive wheel  126  has an upper surface  132  that frictionally engages a lower surface  134  of lower hoop  105 . In this fashion, as drive wheel  126  is driven to rotate, rotation is in turn imparted to frame  102 , flexible wall material  108 , and bearing sleeve  118 . Container apparatus  100  also includes a plurality of additional, non-drive (idler) wheels  136 , which rotatably supports lower hoop  105  and provides stability for frame  102  as it rotates. Any suitable number of idler wheels  136  can be provided, for example, including 2, 3, 4, 5 or more such wheels. Additionally, in alternative embodiments, any of these additional wheels or all of these additional wheels may be powered, for example by additional motors, if desired. Drive wheel  126  and idler wheels  136  define concave-shaped bearing surfaces for contact with hoop  105 . For example, where hoop  105  is circular in cross section, the bearing surface of wheels  126  and  136  can be an arc of a circle that substantially conforms to the lower surface of hoop  105 . So-called “U-groove” casters or wheels can be used for these purposes. 
         [0035]    Container  100  also includes associated means for monitoring the level of fill of manufactured articles within flexible wall material  108  and for driving carrier unit  114 , preferably automatically, upward or downward on screw  116  to adjust the volume capacity defined within flexible wall material  108 . For these purposes, a photo-eye  138  is supported by mount  140  at a position to electronically view and assess the contents within flexible wall material  108 . Photo-eye  138  is in communication with controller  144 , for example, via a wired connection  142 , or via a wireless connection. Controller  144  includes a computer processor for processing and responding to signals from photo-eye  138 . Controller  144  is also in electronic communication, e.g. wired or wireless, with carrier unit  114  and in particular the motor thereof that drives the driven nut apparatus. When photo-eye  138  detects a fill condition exceeding the desired level in container  100 , photo-eye  138  communicates a signal thereof to controller  144 , which in turn drives the motor of carrier unit  114  to rotate in a first direction to lower carrier unit  114  along screw  116 . This in turn lowers bearing sleeve  118  and the bottom end  112  of flexible wall material so as to increase the volume capacity defined by the flexible wall material  108 . On the other hand, when photo-eye  138  detects a fill condition that is less than the desired level in container  100 , photo-eye  138  communicates a signal thereof to controller  144 , which in turn drives the motor of carrier unit  114  to rotate in a second direction (usually opposite to the first direction) to raise carrier unit  114 . This in turn raises bearing sleeve  118  and the bottom end  112  of flexible wall material so as to decrease the volume capacity defined by the flexible wall material  108 . In certain embodiments, this control action of photo-eye  138 , controller  144  and carrier unit  114 , is implemented to maintain the upper surface of the contents (e.g. manufactured articles) within flexible wall material  108  substantially at or near hoop  104  to support the contents at a level that is convenient for removal. If desired, controller  144  can also electronically communicate with motor  128 , and can provide automated control or manual control (e.g. upon receiving manually input signals from a touchscreen or other input device) of the rate of rotation imparted to frame  102  and flexible wall material  108  by motor  128 . Electrical power to controller  144 , photo-eye  138 , motor  130 , and carrier unit  114  can be provided in any suitable manner, for example, by corded connection to grid power, battery, or other means. It will be understood that this and other fill-level monitors can be associated with any and all other container embodiments described herein. 
         [0036]    With reference now to  FIGS. 8-12 , shown are additional alternative embodiments herein. The embodiments of  FIGS. 8-12  share common features with the embodiments of  FIG. 1  or  5 , which are similarly numbered. 
         [0037]    Shown in  FIG. 8  is an embodiment similar to that in  FIG. 1 , except wherein the screw drive container volume adjustment mechanism is replaced by a motor-driven chain mechanism. In particular, adjustable volume container  150  includes a chain  152 , which can be a bicycle type chain, and a bi-directional motor  154  driving a gear  156  that meshes with the chain  152 . In this fashion, motor  154  is operable to drive chain  152  in either direction, to raise or lower container bottom member  16  to adjust the volume of container  150 . Chain  152  is connected to container bottom member  16  through rotatable bearing  24 , such that bearing  24  and attached container bottom member  16  can rotate while chain  152  does not rotate. Container  150  also includes a slack take-up spring  158  connected to the chain  152  at an end opposite the bearing  24 , to maintain tension on the chain  152  in order to take up any slack therein. 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , shown is another container  160 , similar to container  10  of  FIG. 1 , except wherein the volume adjustment mechanism is instead a rack and pinion arrangement. Thus, container  160  includes an elongate rack  162  operably associated with a bi-directional motor  164  and a pinion  166  which meshes with teeth on rack  162 . Container  160  also includes a rack roller guide  168  which serves to guide the rack  162  during its upward and downward movement. Bidirectional motor  164  can be operated to rotate pinion  166  which in turn drives rack  162  upward or downward depending upon the direction of operation of motor  164 . The upward and downward movement of rack  162  in turn drives the upward and downward movement of container bottom member  16 . Rack  162  is connected to container bottom member  16  through rotatable bearing  24  such that bearing  24  and bottom member  16  can rotate while rack  162  does not rotate. 
         [0039]    With reference to  FIG. 10 , shown is still another container  170 , also similar in respects to container  10  of  FIG. 1 . Container  170  utilizes a linear rod actuator  172  to drive the upward and downward movement of container bottom member  16  to adjust the volume of container  170 . For these purposes, linear rod actuator  172  includes a rod  174 . Linear rod actuator  172  is operable to drive rod  174  in an upward or downward direction. Rod  174  is connected to container bottom member  16  through bearing  24 , such that bearing  24  and container bottom member  16  can rotate while actuator  172  and its associated rod  174  do not rotate. Linear rod actuator  172  is supported on mount  30  by suitable means such as U-clamps  176 A and  176 B, which can extend through a mount plate  178  of mount  30  and be affixed in place by wing nuts or other suitable connectors. 
         [0040]      FIG. 11  shows another embodiment of a container  180 , similar in respects to container  50  of  FIG. 5 . Container  180  utilizes a rodless cylinder, preferably a magnetically coupled rodless cylinder, to drive the upward and downward movement of container bottom member  56 . Suitable magnetically coupled rodless cylinders include, for example, the NCY3 Magnetically Coupled Rodless Cylinder available from SMC Corporation of America, Noblesville, Ind., USA, or similarly-designed cylinders. Rodless cylinder  182  includes a carriage  184  external of the cylinder  182  and coupled (e.g. magnetically coupled) to a piston  186  (represented by the rectangle in dotted lines) located within the cylinder  182  such that the carriage  184  and piston  186  travel together along the length of the cylinder. External carriage  184 , shown in phantom by dotted lines since it resides beneath the upper portion of bottom member  56 , is connected to container bottom member  56  through rotatable bearing  68 , such that bearing  68  and bottom member  56  can rotate while rodless cylinder  182  and its associated carriage  184  and internal piston  186  do not rotate. Bearing  68  can be rotatably supported upon and ride with carriage  184  for these purposes. Rodless cylinder  182  includes a first air port  188 A on a first end and a second air port  188 B at a second opposite end. Pressure applied through air port  188 A to moves piston  186  and associated carriage  184  downward, and pressure applied to air port  188 B moves piston  186  and associated carriage  184  upward. Also, in container  180 , the pole  60  is non-rotatably supported on the base  52 , and supports the rodless cylinder mechanism  182  in a non-rotating manner. Accordingly, the drive sleeve  64  in this embodiment  180  is supported by pole  60  in a rotatable fashion, such that sleeve  64  and struts  62  and frame  54  supported thereby can rotate relative to pole  60  and relative to rodless cylinder  182 . A bearing sleeve  66  or other suitable mechanism can be used for these purposes. 
         [0041]    With reference now  FIG. 12 , shown is another embodiment of a container  190 , similar in respects to container  50  of  FIG. 5 . Container  190  includes a two-port telescoping pneumatic cylinder  192  for driving the upward and downward movement of container bottom member  16 . Suitable telescoping pneumatic cylinders include, for example, ETHC telescoping pneumatic cylinders available from Ergo-Help Pneumatics, Arlington Heights, Ill., USA, or similarly-designed cylinders. Two-port telescoping pneumatic cylinder  192  includes a plurality of cylinder subcomponents or stages that can be received within one another in a retracted position of cylinder  192  and that telescope from one another in an extended position of cylinder  192 . Cylinder  192  has an upper end  194  connected to container bottom member  56  through a rotating bearing  68 , such that cylinder  192  does not rotate while bearing  68  and container bottom member  56  attached thereto rotate. Telescoping pneumatic cylinder  192  includes a first air port  196 A and second air port  196 B. Pressure can be applied through port  196 A to extend cylinder  192 , while vacuum or suction can be applied through port  196 B to retract cylinder  192 . In container  190 , pole  60  is non-rotatably mounted upon base  52 , and drive sleeve  64  is supported by and rotatably mounted relative to pole  60 , which can for example be accomplished using bearing sleeve  66  or another suitable mechanism. Again, in this fashion, this enables the operation motor  58  to drive wheel  88  which in turn causes rotation of drive sleeve  64  and associated struts  62  and frame member  54 . At the same time, pole  60  and telescoping pneumatic cylinder  192  do not rotate. 
         [0042]    Shown in  FIG. 13  is a volume gauge  210  that can be incorporated within or used in conjunction with any variable volume container herein, including but not limited to those depicted and described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-12 . Gauge  210  can be located upon or close to such containers to provide a visible readout to users of the fill level of the container. For these purposes, readout can have a plurality of indicators  212 A-G, such as lights (e.g. light emitting diodes), that are mounted on a display member  214  and can be selectively activated (e.g. energized) to indicate a fill level of the container. Illustratively, indicators  212 A-G can be lights of different colors from one another, with each color indicating a certain fill level condition of the container. In some embodiments, a centrally-located indicator  212 D can correspond to an ideal fill condition for the container, lights  212 A-C to one side of such centrally located indicator  212 D can indicate various levels of an over-fill condition, and lights  212 E-G to another side of centrally located indicator  212 D can indicate various levels of an under-fill condition or an empty condition. In certain variants, display member  214  can include visible indicia, such as text, to inform a user as to the significance of the lights or other selectively activatable indicators. 
         [0043]    In certain embodiments described above, the vertical movement of the wall member of the containers is affected by screw drives, springs, linear actuators, motor-driven chains or rack and pinion arrangements, rodless cylinders, or telescoping pneumatic cylinders. In other embodiments, mechanisms other than those particularly shown or identified above are used to cause this vertical movement. These may, for example, include other rodless cylinders, other telescoping cylinders or poles, inflatable bladders, levers, belts, or any other suitable mechanism. In each case, the raise/lower mechanism can be associated with control means, such as a computer controller, operably coupled to a sensor that monitors the level of contents within the container. Signals from this sensor can be used to control the automatic adjustment of the volume of the container. Such sensors can be, for example, a photo-eye, a load cell arranged to detect the weight of the contents within the container, or any other suitable mechanism. As well, in other embodiments, the raise/lower mechanism to adjust the volume of the container can be manually operated by a user, for example, in response to viewing the fill level of the container or a readout indicator thereof. 
         [0044]    It will also be understood that where an embodiment herein uses a flexible wall material, a variety of flexible materials can be used. These include cloth materials, polymeric sheet materials, and others. The flexible wall material is desirably sufficiently pliable that it can be reshaped between larger volume and smaller volume pockets, e.g. by lowering or raising, respectively, bottom-most portions of the pocket. Further, while flexible wall material is used in the specific embodiments depicted in the figures, and further forms both side and bottom wall portions of the container, it will be understood that other arrangements with flexible wall material, rigid wall material, or combinations thereof, can be used to define the volume capacity of the container, while allowing for selective increase or decrease of the volume capacity of the container preferably by vertical movement of at least the bottom wall portion of the container. All such embodiments are contemplated as being embraced by the broader aspects of the present invention. 
         [0045]    As well, while specific frame designs are shown in the figures, others can be used within the scope of the invention. Frames can be conveniently constructed from materials that are desirably relatively rigid (e.g. as compared to a flexible wall material when used), with metals being suitable frame materials. Tubing, including metal tubing such as extruded aluminum tubing, is available commercially and can be used to construct the frame of any embodiment described herein. 
         [0046]    Also, while specific arrangements are provided in the embodiments depicted above to drive rotation of the container wall and supported contents of the container, generally in a horizontal plane, other arrangements can be used and may involve the use of gears, belts or other conventional elements for imparting rotational movement from a powered drive source, such as a motor. For embodiments described herein, the rate of rotation of the container wall and contents can vary, with typical rates being in the range of about 1 to about 6 revolutions per minute. 
         [0047]    The uses of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar references in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0048]    While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. In addition, all references cited herein are indicative of the level of skill in the art and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.