Abstract: Coins in commonly used denominations are held in cavities of a slide which can be moved in a linear path between two walls of a slide housing by a slide operator which is accessible from the exterior of the slide housing. The slide is resiliently biased to a coin non-removable position and is easily extendable by thumb action to a coin delivery position where all coin denominations are simultaneously accessible and can be removed in a canting or tilting mode.

Abstract: A dispensing pump having upper and lower pistons defining opposite ends of a two diameter pump chamber, the volume of which is varied by movement together of the pistons, while a small amount of relative movement of the pistons, resulting from pressure changes within the pump chamber, effects opening and closing of the discharge valve. For facilitating the priming of such a pump, the lower piston and cylinder are arranged to define a normally closed priming valve operable at a predetermined point in the lower piston stroke to permit reverse flow of entrapped air from the pump chamber into a liquid supply container with which the pump is associated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for selectively dispensing articles is disclosed. The apparatus is especially suited for dispensing pills in hospitals and nursing homes, wherein stringent controls are needed to prevent mistakes in dispensing or misuse of prescribed pills. The apparatus comprises a plurality of magazines or cassettes, each magazine containing a number of doses of a particular pill prescribed for the patient. The pill magazines are locked so that the pills cannot be removed without insertion into the dispensing apparatus, with the dispensing apparatus being operable only by authorized personnel. The magazines contain a plurality of rotatable compartments for storing several days supply of the particular pill, each compartment containing the unit dose prescribed for the particular patient.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed container formed of a pliable material and which contains therein a substance capable of being ejected from within the container by application of a pressure force on the walls of the container. A band formed of a suitable material is mounted on the container at the discharge or exit end of the container, the band having a sharpened prong which is normally out of contact with one wall of the container, but which will engage with the wall of the container when pressure is applied on the walls of the container to thus cause container walls to expand and to force one of the walls into engagement with the sharpened prong to thus effect a puncturing of the wall to form an opening through which the contents of the container may be expelled.

Abstract: A chip counter for use in gaming applications and the like comprising a tray having a trough for receiving chips, which trough is provided with a slit at the bottom thereof. The chips are stacked in the trough and are each provided with a strip about their periphery which is adapted to be more reflective to illuminating light than the main body of the chip. Reading means scans the chips in the trough along the slit provided therefor and counts pulses representative of the passage across the more highly light emissive edge of the chip. The more highly light emissive portions of the edges of each chip are made narrower than the thickness of each chip to develop discrete pulses.Counting of chips of different denominations is accomplished by providing light emissive strips which emit light of differing wavelengths when light activated. The reader employs filters for passing predetermined light wavelength ranges to develop pulses representative of the proper wavelengths of light to make denominational decisions.

Abstract: Safeguard cap structure particularly for bottles, comprising a cylindrical hollow body which can be associated in sealing engagement with the neck of a bottle. A plurality of flexible reeds extending longitudinally in the hollow body in the proximity of the free edge thereof. A shut off disc supported by said reeds defines, in cooperation with the mentioned free edge, outlet ports for the issuing of a liquid from the bottle. A covering hood is in screwed engagement with the mentioned hollow body. A plurality of short and substantially rigid appendages and a plurality of long and substantially flexible appendages intervening between the short ones are part of the cap structure. The appendages extend radially from the periphery of the shut off disc, projections being provided peripherally along the inner bottom of the covering hood and adapted to engage the long and substantially flexible appendages during the rotation of the covering hood.

Abstract: A bung screw-threadedly received in a receptacle has a plurality of flow openings therethrough disposed in a series about the axis of the bung, and an axially movable valve disc for simultaneously opening or closing all of the openings. Each opening has a thin penetrable closure which can be penetrated without disturbing any of the other closures. In this way, when the container is tilted to discharge the contents, only the closure of the flow opening which is lowermost need be broken. The disc can then be manipulated to open and close the bung, without the contents of the container flowing over the tools and the hands of the operator who opens and closes the disc.