Abstract: A plurality of electronic component chips (108) are stored in a space (109) defined in the interior of a case (111). The case is provided with an outlet (110) which communicates with the space for discharging the electronic component chips stored in the space. This outlet is closed by an openable closure. When the case is fixed to a hopper (102) included in an apparatus for supplying electronic component chips, the outlet is opened so that the electronic component chips are introduced into the hopper.

Abstract: A nonmagnetic bulk feeder for feeding electronic components one at a time into a lead forming machine or the like comprises a hopper and a chute for loading the components into the hopper. A conveyor is mounted for movement along the bottom wall of the hopper. The conveyor is formed with notches which are arranged closely adjacent one another to receive the transversely extending body portion of a component located in the lower end of the hopper to transport the components one at a time out of the hopper. The chute has a slipway channel which is shaped to axially align electronic components with the direction in which they slide down the chute.

Abstract: Coin-release amusement apparatus dispenses tokens in response to a winning combination and includes a coin-release device for activating the apparatus; a repository for receiving coins from the coin-release device; a token storage and dispensing device separate from the coin-release device for storing a supply of tokens and dispensing controlled quantities of the tokens on a win, the token storage and dispensing device including an upper storage section, a mid transfer section and a lower dispensing section; and a provision to allow replenishing of the token supply without interrupting the operation of the amusement apparatus.

Abstract: A sugar cane planter has a series of cane carrier elements which are moved through a supply of randomly oriented cane billets to select billets and deliver them to a soil furrow. The cane carrier elements move in a circular path and are maintained horizontal throughout said movement by attitude control means thereby providing sufficient time for reliable pick-up, doffing of excess billets, and billet alignment. A supply of billets to the selection mechanism is maintained from a trailed cane bin having a cane elevator. Fungicide is sprayed on the billets carried by the elevator.

Abstract: In a system for dispensing weighed or counted articles, articles are fed from a supply hopper by a vibratory conveyor to maintain a controlled level of articles in a bowl-shaped feeder hopper. In a weigher embodiment, articles are initially discharged from the feeder hopper through two discharge openings into an accumulator bucket. A weighing unit monitors the weight of articles in the bucket and signals a door to close one of the discharge openings as the weight of articles in the bucket begins to approach a predetermined weight. The weighing unit subsequently signals the feeder hopper drive to slow its feeding action as the weight of articles in the bucket more closely approaches the predetermined weight. The feeder hopper discharge openings are arranged near each other at locations where the door-controlled opening will provide a rapid, bulk feed of articles, while the other opening will provide a single-file trickle feed.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically planting billets of sugar cane as produced by a chopper-type sugar cane harvester, comprises a hopper for billets, an elevator to convey billets upwards and out of the hopper, and a billet delivery chute to receive the billets from the elevator and deliver them to a furrow in the ground. The elevator has at least two series of staggered slats which meter the billets. The delivery chute has a funnel-shaped upper portion and a trough-shaped downwardly and rearwardly-sloping lower portion, which guide and channel the billets in an endwise flow towards the furrow. The lower end of the chute is positioned close to or in contact with the ground so that billets can engage the ground before they leave the chute whereby billets can build up at the lower end of the chute and be discharged into the furrow at a rate corresponding to the forward speed of the planter.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding coins by vibration. An electromagnet is mounted upon a frame being operable to cyclically attract and repel an armature fixedly mounted to and beneath a horizontally extending platform supported above the frame by a plurality of springs. A coin cup is mounted atop the platform and receives coins from a hopper suspendedly mounted above the cup by a plurality of members mounted to the frame. In the alternate embodiment, the hopper includes a top portion supported by the members and a bottom portion connected to the top portion by a vibration isolator. The bottom portion extends freely into the cup which includes a coin outlet opening onto the platform. The coins exit the platform through a second outlet falling into a coin tube leading to a coin dispenser.