Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing open-ended objects such as pharmaceutical vials includes: a housing having an internal cavity configured to house open-ended objects, the housing including a guide and a floor; a pick-up unit mounted to the housing, the pick-up unit including an endless member and at least one pick-up member attached to the endless member; and a drive unit. The endless member engages the drive unit and the guide for movement relative thereto. As the drive unit drives the endless member, the at least one pick-up member travels on a pick-up path, at least a portion of which is within the housing.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure involve a pill-filtering article that is located and secured inside a pill container. Using one system, an assembly of articles distributes one pill at a time in the form of a single-pill dispensing apparatus that includes a pill-storage container and such a pill-filtering article. The container has an inner wall, an upper portion with a rim region where a cap may be secured, and a lower portion for containing pills. The pill-filtering article has a size and a shape that facilitates securing the article inside the pill-storage container near the inner wall, above the lower portion, and below the upper rim region, and also configured with a plurality of channel-defining regions including a first channel-defining region through which one-pill at a time passes and including a second channel-defining region through which one pill at a time passes.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing open-ended objects such as pharmaceutical vials includes: a housing having an internal cavity configured to house open-ended objects, the housing including a guide and a floor; a pick-up unit mounted to the housing, the pick-up unit including an endless member and at least one pick-up member attached to the endless member; and a drive unit. The endless member engages the drive unit and the guide for movement relative thereto. As the drive unit drives the endless member, the at least one pick-up member travels on a pick-up path, at least a portion of which is within the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading and dispensing balls into a flow stream. The apparatus has an outer housing with a smooth cylindrical inner surface, and an inner housing, removably mounted within the outer housing. The inner housing has a hollow cylindrical body extending longitudinally between a lower guide plate and an upper guide band. A plurality of longitudinal slots are located in and extend the length of the cylindrical body and through the lower guide plate. The width of the slots is greater than the diameter of the balls. The apparatus also has a shaft with a smooth cylindrical outer surface, coaxially, rotatably, and removably mounted in the inner housing. The distance between the outer surface of the shaft and the inner surface of the outer housing is greater than the diameter of the balls.

Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and beverage dispenser on both the front and the back of the refrigerator improves efficiency and utilization of the refrigerator. Home floor plans include passageways through interior walls whereby a user can access a second dispenser of the kitchen refrigerator from an adjacent room, thus increasing access to the refrigerator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards improved dispenser mechanisms that can dispense two or more products contained in one or more storage containers. In one embodiment, the dispenser mechanism includes a plate having a first plurality of dispensing apertures positioned a first distance from a central axis of the plate and a second plurality of dispensing apertures positioned a second distance from the central axis of the plate.

Abstract: In the present invention, in order to reliably smoothly recover different kinds of medicines separately and pack them, the apparatus is provided with hoppers 18, 19 with at least two separated passages, and wherein each hopper 18, 19 can feed a different kind of medicine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tablet vessel feed apparatus comprising a stock container for storing a plurality of tablet vessels, a vessel takeout section for taking out the tablet vessels from the stock container, and a conveyor for conveying the tablet vessels taken out from the stock container. The apparatus further comprises an auxiliary conveyor for conveying the tablet vessel taken out from the stock container toward the conveyor; a delivery table for receiving the tablet vessel conveyed by the auxiliary conveyor to retain and then deliver the tablet vessel to the conveyor; a tablet vessel sensor for detecting the tablet vessel on at least any one of the auxiliary conveyor and the delivery table; and a controller. The controller allows the vessel takeout section to stop taking out the tablet vessels from the stock container while the tablet vessel sensor detects the tablet vessel.

Abstract: Methods and apparati for screening compounds for agricultural activity has now been developed which employ e.g., intact plants grown in microtiter plates on very small amounts of plant growth media containing a test compound. In comparison to the standard greenhouse screen, the microscreen requires vastly less space, labor, and test compound. However, unlike in vitro screens, responses of intact plants are assayed. Using the microscreen, high-throughput screening of test compounds can be accomplished using whole plant responses as the assay.

Abstract: A manually operated seeder for depositing seeds in a tray holding numerous seed bed cells containing a growth media, wherein a single seed is deposited in each individual cell simultaneously with a single back and forth stroke.

Abstract: A bulk vending amusement device has multiple, visible tracks extending from a bin for moving a product to a dispenser for dispensing the product to entertain a user. A diverter, disposed between the bin and the multiple tracks, diverts the product from the bin to one of the tracks so that a user is unable to ascertain which of the multiple tracks will dispense the product. The diverter has a plurality of chutes disposed on a rotating plate each under a plurality of holes. The plate incrementally rotates, sequentially disposing each chute under a hole in the bin. Each chute is configured and oriented to divert the product to a different track as it is located under the bin by the rotating disk.

Abstract: The invention provides, among other things, bead dispenser for holding a charged bead and selectively dispensing the bead, the dispenser comprising: (a) a feeder channel having a lower outlet; (b) a bead selection escapement with a depression having an outer lip and located below the first lower outlet such that a bead exiting the lower outlet comes to rest in the depression; (c) a dispenser channel descending from the level of the lip, wherein the lip impedes a bead situated on the bead selection escapement from entering the dispenser channel; and a first dispensing electrode for creating an electromagnetic potential to pull or push the bead over the rim and into the dispenser channel.

Abstract: A central motor-driven disk is formed with a row of open-bottomed pill-receiving virtually contiguous tubes about its border. The disk is surrounded by a first and second ring also having rows of pill-receiving open-bottomed tubes, the tubes come in to registry one-by-one with dispensing openings in a housing which supports these elements. Pills drop through a dispensing opening into a delivery drawer in the housing. Tab portions on the disk and the rings effect the driving by the disk of the first ring and then also the second ring as the pills in the previous ring or disk are dispensed.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing disks comprising a disk passage having an outlet in which the disks are arranged edge-to-edge for storage and dispensing. A closure member, such as a rotatable spherical member, is provided for closing the outlet. The closure member is arranged to apply force to a face of a disk in the region of the outlet whereby the disk is dispensed from the outlet through a guide assembly. The closure member is opened by the camming action of the disk in the region of the outlet. A spring plate is provided to bias the closure member towards a closed position wherein the outlet is normally closed.

Abstract: In a coin conveying device, a second coin outlet is provided nearby a first coin outlet and an outlet switching mechanism is provided between the first and second coin outlets so that coins can be ejected from either of the coin outlets selected by the outlet switching mechanism.

Abstract: A medication filling apparatus improves workability in filling a predetermined container with medications and also shortens the time required for medication filling. The medication filling apparatus is equipped with tablet cases for containing medications separately by type, a dispensing and counting device for dispensing the medications from the tablet cases and counting the dispensed medications, a turntable and guide for collecting the medications dispensed from the tablet cases, and a holder for filling a vial with the medications.

Abstract: A method of feeding a continuous packing machine with groups of tobacco items, in particular cigarettes, composed of at least one layer of items, whereby a continuously-moving conveyor with pockets for respective groups is supplied successively with the groups, each of which is expelled from a feedbox in a substantially transverse direction in relation to the items by arresting the items inside the feedbox and over the expelled items.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method of manufacture for a blister-type display package which includes a vacuum-formed dispenser housing, and a vacuum-formed dispenser door mounted on the rear of the housing. The housing includes a cavity to hold the objects to be dispensed and an undercut ridge adjacent to an opening in the cavity on the rear of the housing. The dispenser door has a movable portion to cover at least a portion of the cavity opening and an undercut outer ridge which cooperates with the undercut ridge on the housing to enable the movable door to be snapped into and out of a closed position. A securing lip on the door is secured to the rear of the housing. A hinge extending between the securing lip and the movable portion, enables the door to be opened and closed. A display card is heat sealed to the rear of the housing to secure the door to the housing.

Abstract: A card dispenser (32) comprising a body (33) having a compartment (38) for accommodating a stack of cards (39) and at least one outlet (43) through which cards (39) accommodated in the compartment (38) can be dispensed, transporting mechanism (41) provided in the body (33) and arranged to transport a card (39) from the said stack so accommodated towards the said or one of the said at least one outlet (43), and a random device (47) arranged to cause the or some of the cards (39) to be dispensed one by one to a plurality of locations in a random manner.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing corner protectors having elongate panels meeting at right angles onto vertical corners of pallet loads having vertical sides defining vertical corner comprises a magazine to hold a supply of the corner protectors and mechanisms for removing one corner protector from the magazine, transferring the corner protector to a position where one of its panels is disposed in close proximity to a vertical side of such a load, and displacing the corner protector until its other panel engages another side at the same corner of the load. In the magazine, the corner protectors extend vertically and are nested within one another. Also, the corner protectors are guided forwardly along a supporting chute. A wheeled carriage having an upright member is mounted operatively in the chute and prevents the corner protectors from tipping backwards.

Abstract: A dispenser having a base with a multiple of different sized perforated configurations which may be punched out and a groove for receiving a retaining tongue and a dispensing disk having an opening large enough to accommodate the largest perforation punch out. There is a cap having a slot for receiving the lever portion of the dispensing disk and a tongue for communication with the groove of the base, retaining the cap securely onto the base so that when the lever is moved back and forth a single unit is dispensed.

Abstract: A tablet selector has a selector plate interposed between a tablet-carrying rotatable disk having a plurality of pairs of first and second openings, and a pair of discharged tubes which lead to a form, fill and seal packaging station. The selector plate is pivotally movable by solenoid actuators to selectively block one or the other of the first and second openings of the rotatable disk. A pneumatic cylinder has an expandable arm which drives the selector plate into a complete blocking position.

Abstract: A coin hopper and dispenser is provided for receiving coins in bulk and singularly and reliably dispensing them. A rotating disc is received within a housing bore below the hopper, the disc having a number of coin receiving bores passing therethrough. On a bottom surface of the disc, riding upon a bottom plate surface within the housing bore, is a dispensing wheel having a thickness slightly greater than the thickness of the coins to be dispensed. The dispensing wheel has arms thereon extending between the coin receiving bores of the disc, the arms urging coins against a deflection spring which directs them through a coin slot. A spring retention plate is provided at the exterior of the coin slot to assure that the coins are overtly dispensed by rotation of the disc.

Abstract: An overall cylindrically shaped tablet dispenser that operates by exerting an external vertical force which compresses, through a sliding action, an upper portion toward a lower portion thereby causing a mechanism to issue a tablet. This tablet dispenser can be operated by placing the bottom of the dispenser against a ground surface and pushing downward on the top of the dispenser. Thus, this tablet dispenser is particularly advantageous to motor-impaired patients.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid objects such as, for example, pills or tablets, from a bulk supply into a receptacle containing individual doses of such medication. More particularly, the apparatus includes a series of plates, one of which is movable with respect to the other two, causing solid objects of predetermined shape and configuration to be efficiently and automatically transferred from a bulk supply source to individually accessible unit dose packages.

Abstract: Two dispensing port mechanisms are arranged in parallel in a banknote distributing and dispensing machine. A distributing mechanism is provided to be selectively arranged at either one of two dispensing port mechanisms. A transmission mechanism is provided to transmit the movement of conveyor belts in the distributing mechanism to the conveyor belts of the selected dispensing port mechanism.

Abstract: A turret journalled on a vertical axis has a plurality of vertically spaced pockets open at their upper and lower ends and spaced circumferentially around its outer periphery. A workpiece hopper has a downwardly extending outlet lying on the circle defined by the upper ends of the pockets so when a pocket registers with the outlet, a workpiece gravitates into the pocket. A motor driven worm gear which rotates about a horizontal axis is disposed adjacent the outer periphery of the pocket such that a workpiece deposited into the pocket registering with the hopper outlet is engaged by and between a pair of adjacent convolutions of the worm gear thread. That workpiece thus forms a driving connection between the worm gear and the turret to index the turret in a work-advancing direction to a position where the next upstream pocket on the turret registers with the hopper outlet to receive another workpiece and again index the turret in the work-advancing direction.

Abstract: A bill paying machine of a type to be disposed between two operators and used in common by them. Two paying outlets are arranged side by side on the front portion of the bill paying machine. The bills are transferred from bill containers of the bill paying machine to a position near the paying outlets. In that position, a distributing device is provided for receiving the bills and transferring the bills to one of the paying outlets in response to an instruction by the operator. The distributing device comprises a horizontally movable receiving plate for receiving the bills thereon and directing the bills to one of the paying outlets. Vertically and horizontally movable bill holding plates are provided above the receiving plate for holding the bills between the receiving plate and bill-holding plates.

Abstract: A drinking cup storage and feeding device for an automatic vending machine comprises a rotary type cup storage drum having a plurality of cup storage chambers around its periphery for receiving different kinds of drinking cups stacked in columns. A cup take-out stage has at least two cup take-out mechanisms spaced apart from each other and positioned adjacent to, but outside the rotational movement of the cup storage drum, for supplying specific cups one by one to a vending stage according to a selection signal. A switch detects when a cup take-out stage becomes empty of cups and then rotates the cup storage drum. A cup selecting mechanism detects when a full cup storage chamber storing a certain cup type reaches a position adjacent to the empty cup take-out stage for the same type of cup, during rotation of the cup storage drum, and stops rotation of the drum when the position is reached.

Abstract: Fast-dump feeding apparatus includes a hopper having an associated vertical feed chute. The hopper is formed with an openable door at its lower end and the feed chute is bottomed by a shutter. Both door and shutter may be opened to permit rapid evacuation of the hopper and chute. A pusher having a path across the top of the shutter is adapted to push individual fastener parts through a side opening in the chute immediately above the shutter. The pusher includes a pneumatic channel terminating at the front of the pusher to direct a blast of air toward the individual part to assist in moving it away from the chute.

Abstract: A paper sheet accumulator assembly for successively underlaying paper sheets in good order at a collection station which has a paddle wheel disposed downstream of a conveyor belt assembly for delivering paper sheets, such as bills of money, to the accumulator assembly. The paddle wheel has a number of overlapping paddles which receive paper sheets on their underside, and which are accumulated and released by an abutting plate. In use as a bank note discharge ports provided on opposite side walls of the frame of the dispenser, allowing a bundle of bank notes to be dispensed from either of the discharge ports as desired.

Abstract: Apparatus for simultaneously feeding a plurality of sticks to a confectionary mold. The sticks are fed from a storage hopper through spaced openings provided in a fixed bottom plate. A reciprocating plate slidable on the bottom plate within the hopper includes a plurality of openings adapted to be placed in registration with the openings in the bottom plate to dispense the sticks. Should a stick become clogged in an opening, the remaining openings can still be placed in registration to dispense sticks. This is accomplished by dividing the reciprocable, sliding plate into a plurality of sections which are spaced from each other by the dispensing openings in the plate. Side bars connect the sections so they can move as an integral unit. Each section however, has a first and second spring-connected portion.

Abstract: A dispenser for antibiotic sensitivity discs which automatically and simultaneously dispenses a plurality of discs onto a flat surface, for example a layer of agar gel in a petri dish. The dispenser comprises a removable magazine unit which carries the required number of standard cartridges, each filled with discs to be dispensed. The discs are in turn removed mechanically from the cartridges from where they are transferred to the surface of the gel by a plurality of pick-up tubes to which a vacuum is applied. The vacuum causes the discs to become attached to the ends of respective tubes so that the discs move with the tubes onto the gel surface, and are pressed onto the gel surface by a pressure equal to the weight of the tubes.