Abstract: A package dispensing mechanism for a vending machine, the mechanism being particularly adapted for dispensing cylindrical packages in a single column, of a single or a multiple depth stack. The mechanism has a cylindrical bucket open at one side and mounted for oscillation substantially about its axis, the bucket having one axially extending edge which simultaneously releases all of the packages in the lowermost tier of such a stack into the bucket and another such edge which sequentially vends the packages so received, and the mechanism has a pivoting gate disposable to support the next tier above such lowermost tier so that such one edge does not engage the such next tier, avoiding lifting of the entire stack even though the bucket and package have substantially different diameters, minimizing the power required to drive the bucket, and avoiding damage to such next tier.

Abstract: A device for dispensing tablets, pills and the like includes an enclosure containing a first cavity to store a plurality of tablets, a second cavity disposed adjacent the first cavity and a second cavity including a dispensing wheel including slots to convey a predetermined quantity of tablets or pills to a discharge opening, a control knob placed adjacent the dispensing wheel for moving the dispensing wheel. The control knob has a knurled surface such that a manual locking arm included in the dispensing device can engage a groove of the knurled surface to prevent rotation of the control knob and inadvertent dispensing of the tablets.

Abstract: For automatically mounting electronic components, such as tubular ceramic capacitors having no leads, in preassigned positions on a printed circuit board, there is employed a template having formed therein depressions arranged in mirror-image relationship to the arrangement of the preassigned mounting positions of the components on the circuit board. The depressions have a depth less than the diameter of each component. Removably mounted on the template is a guide plate having passages formed therethrough in register with the template depressions. The electronic components are chuted into the template depressions through the passages in the guide plate, and the positions or attitudes of the components in the template depressions are corrected by applying mechanical vibrations to the superposed template and guide plate, preferably while the latter are being tilted.

Abstract: A stick feeding apparatus includes a storage hopper which feeds sticks one at a time past an agitator to a delivery chute. The delivery chute leads to a delivery roller having uniformly-spaced longitudinal recesses in its surface. The roller rotates within a housing having a stick inlet opening and a stick delivery opening. A hydraulically or pneumatically driving apparatus steps the roller in one direction at a predetermined rate. A plurality of delivery rollers, each supplied from its own hopper, may be mounted on a common shaft driven by a single driving mechanism.

Abstract: Automatic sandwiching machine for cookies and the like. The cookies having design impressed on one side thereof are conveyed through an oven in rows with the design sides facing upwardly and the opposite or plain sides facing the oven conveyor. At least two side-by-side rows are up-ended and stacked one behind the other and conveyed to adjacent magazines with the sides with the design facing upwardly. The rows of cookies are flared as they leave the oven with four rows of cookies in each group of flared rows and are conveyed to separate magaines design side up. One magazine is spaced in advance of the other. The magazines drop the cookies on a conveyor where the advance cookies are positioned to be deposited on creme deposited on trailing or upstream cookies. One upstream magazine is spaced ahead of the other.

Abstract: A speed drill apparatus has a seed storage box SB with seed inlet manifold 2 to convey seeds to a rotatable collector wheel 5 having a number of peripheral seed receiving cavities 6. The seeds are ejected singly, assisted by a blade edge 11 running in a groove 5a joining the centers of the cavities, through an aperture B in casing 1 to fall into a groove 8 around the periphery of a distributor wheel 7. The groove 8 is subdivided by stops 9 into arcuate sectors each of which receives a seed. A retardation device 12 catches a seed in the groove 8 and holds same until carried on by a stop 9. The seed falls to the ground through outlet 13. The wheel 7 has a peripheral speed equal to the linear speed of motion over the ground and wheel 5 rotates more slowly with a reduction dependent on the ratio between the number of cavities 6 and number of stops 9. The retardation device 12 ensures accuracy of spacing by providing for discharge of each seed only when in abutment with a stop 9.

Abstract: This invention is a device for the discreet storage and dispensing of tampons. The device is characterized by including a storage container having a dispensing apparatus which will dispense one tampon at a time without display except when actually dispensed and wherein it is dispensed by means of an elongated member having a suitable pocket therein for said purpose. It is further characterized by being suitable to accommodate different sizes of commonly used tampons.

Abstract: A rotary cradle extends from front to back of a compartment for holding columns of articles to be dispensed. The cradle is of generally semi cylindrical hollow shape having a straight axial leading edge and a stepped trailing edge and mounted to be rotated about its cylinder axis. The cradle is free of internal partitions and is adapted for sequentially dispensing front and then rear articles from front and rear columns of articles in the compartment, or for dispensing single longer articles. A removable support in the cradle holds long narrow articles at the proper height for supporting a column of those articles in the compartment at the proper elevation for the straight leading edge of the cradle to isolate and support the column while dispensing an article in the cradle.

Abstract: A cigarette dispenser having a housing with a cigarette lighting arrangement therein, the housing having a storage chamber for the cigarettes, an incandescent wire cigarette lighting head disposed in the interior of the housing, and an arrangement for sliding out lighted cigarettes from an opening in the housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing paper money or currency bills according to which the bills are lodged in transparent containers fed from a magazine adapted for use in vending, amusement, gaming and other coin-operated or coin-handling machines. The dispensing mechanism is provided with open portions through which the transparent bill containers can be seen through a viewing window in the associated vending-like machine. An electromagnetic dispensing and safety lockout mechanism activates a dispensing gate to release one bill container at a time under control of circuit means in the vending or like associated machine.

Abstract: A circular seed plate for use with a tilted, cylindrically shaped hopper includes a plurality of cells formed in, and spaced around, the circumference of the plate. Each seed cell includes an end surface which extends radially inwardly from the outer diameter in a direction toward the center of the plate, a trailing shelf surface which extends forwardly in the direction of rotation of the plate from the radially innermost end of the end surface, and a leading shelf surface which extends forwardly from the trailing shelf surface also in the direction of rotation of the plate. Ideally each leading shelf surface is substantially longer than its corresponding trailing shelf surface. The edge defined by the intersection of each leading shelf surface and the upper face of the seed plate is beveled along substantially the entire length of the leading shelf surface.

Abstract: A fluid operated reciprocal slide picks off fasteners, one at a time, from a delivery slide and delivers the fasteners to a flexible conduit. The same fluid that moves the aforementioned slide drives the fastener into the flexible conduit and on to an automatic fastener insert mechanism. The fluid drive is selectively activated by the trigger at the automatic fastener insert mechanism.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming a stack of elongate articles, such as lumber, by vertically laying successive lumber courses and providing sticks between adjacent courses includes a conveyor operable for transferring a course to be stacked to a first station, a course positioner disposed adjacent the conveyor operable for selectively elevating a course as a unit and shifting it into position above a stacking station and a stick placer disposed above the stacking station operable for selectively depositing sticks generally transversely to the lengthwise dimension of the course at laterally spaced locations thereon. Further, the positioner includes elongate members rotatably mounted on a carriage, the elongate members being operable, during rotation thereof, for selective positioning above and below the riding surface of the conveyor to thereby raise and lower a course relative to the conveyor.

Abstract: A mechanism for dispensing seed or fertilizer, etc., for agricultural row crop implements such as seed drills and precision planters, comprises a resilient rotatable roller which cooperates with a flat vertical glass dispensing plate to dispense seed or fertilizer from a hopper through a nip between the plate and the roller. The roller is of unfoamed polyurethane formed with a honeycomb of axially extending recesses defining a relatively thin outer deflection band of the roller. The recesses give the roller the uniform and high degree of flexibility needed to accommodate a wide range of seed sizes while retaining the durability, consistency of physical characteristics and suitability for precision moulding, of unfoamed polyurethane.

Abstract: A resilient air cut-off pad 52 for an air planter is provided with an area of gradually decreasing thickness in the form of a seed discharge ramp 66 which has a rounded bottom 68 aligned with the circular path of the circumferentially spaced seed pockets 47 on the seed singulating disk 33. The seeds in the pockets 47 are relieved of pressure from the resilient pad 52 by their registration with the ramp 66 as they approach the trailing edge 54 of the pad 52. This insures that the seeds drop by gravity at uniform spacing without resilient thrust being imparted thereto by the trailing edge.

Abstract: A DIP-handling apparatus comprising a support chassis, an input tray attached to the support chassis and including a plurality of DIP-receiving input trays arrayed in parallel, a reorienting and metering device for receiving a DIP from one of the tracks of the input tray, for reorienting the received DIP and for discharging the DIP onto a track leading to a test head station, an output tray attached to the support chassis, and a shuttle device for transporting the DIP from the test station to a particular track of the output tray as determined by the result of the tests performed at the test station.

Abstract: This relates to a filling apparatus for simultaneously filling plural containers, which apparatus includes a product supply, a dispenser and a conveyor system wherein plural containers are positioned beneath the dispenser and plural products are dispensed by the dispenser from the supply into the plural containers simultaneously. Most specifically, the apparatus includes a container positioner of the vane and screw type and the dispenser is in the form of a turret having a plurality of spaces in accordance with the number of containers to be simultaneously filled, the plurality of spaces being arranged in groups and disposed radially about the axis of the turret. Most particularly, the apparatus is intended for filling cans with tennis balls.

Abstract: A soda straw dispenser consisting of a fixed body having an outlet for a single straw, a container movable within said body member and also having an outlet for a single straw, an ejector member carried by the container, the ejector member normally being open to the container for receiving a single straw therein, and mechanism carried by the container and operable to close the ejector member to the container and open it to the container outlet, when the body and container outlets are in registering relation.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for convenient dispensing of fish eggs for use as bait in sport fishing. The device offers convenience in individual dispensing of eggs in an outdoor environment as well as protection for the eggs in retaining oils necessary to keep the eggs fresh and untouched by human hands as an individual egg is raised into position for insertion of a fishing hook.

Abstract: An improved soldering device has a magazine to hold preformed solder shapes for dispensing them through a tubular duct onto a channel formed in a soldering bit. The channel leads to an opening formed in the bit to permit passage therethrough of the preformed solder shapes. An actuator is affixed to the magazine to dispense the preformed solder shapes one at a time. The preformed solder shapes do not become molten until passing through the opening in the bit.

Abstract: A cricket dispenser has a hollow tubular container with a conical funnel portion on one end formed of transparent plastic with a rotary transfer disc having a plurality of inwardly extending recesses extending in from its edge being mounted adjacent the apex of the conical portion so that alignment of one of the recesses with the interior of the conical portion permits a cricket in the container to enter the recess head first as a result of its natural instinct. The disc can then be rotated to a second position to present the tail portion of the cricket in the recess to the user to permit easy removal of the cricket by the user. A shroud encloses the disc for preventing escape of the cricket until the disc is in the proper position to permit controlled removal of the cricket; the shroud is of transparent plastic to permit visual confirmation of the presence of a cricket in the disc prior to rotation of the disc for dispensing the cricket.

Abstract: A lightweight, portable, compact, elongate dispenser capable of holding a number of toothpicks in a confined space in a clean and sanitary condition, with the dispenser when it is slowly rotated on its longitudinal axis causing one of the toothpicks to be engaged in a dispensable position, and by a further manual operation the engaged toothpick being dispensed without physically touching the balance of the toothpicks.

Abstract: A device for arranging playing elements such as dominoes and the like in upstanding disposition on a surface, in serial arrangement and spaced so that they will all be knocked over when the end member of the series falls over, comprises an element storage member and a wheel structure in a housing. The wheel structure consists of two axially spaced discs with peripheral notches. As the wheel structure is rolled across the surface, the elements are taken from the storage element, around the wheel while supported in the notches, and deposited on the surface at the bottom of the wheel where they are disengaged from the wheel in an upright disposition.

Abstract: A container provided with a dispensing closure comprising a cavity-containing ball rotatable in the neck of the container, a resilient retaining ring holding the ball in contact with the neck, and a locking ring thereover threadable on the neck.

Abstract: A dispensing device for loading pellets into the receiver of an air gun is provided and includes a housing having a pellet receiving aperture and a pellet dispensing aperture. The device includes an elongated hollow storage tube for retaining and storing a plurality of pellets in a predetermined orientation. One end of the storage tube is open for removably mating with the pellet receiving aperture in the housing to permit pellets retained and stored in the storage tube to enter the housing. Structure is provided within the housing for receiving one of the plurality of pellets from the storage tube through the pellet receiving aperture in the housing. This structure also transports within the housing a received pellet from the pellet receiving aperture to the pellet dispensing aperture for loading a single pellet in a predetermined orientation into the receiver of the air gun.

Abstract: A seed dispensing device comprising a housing in which is rotatably mounted a wheel member having a plurality of spokes each carrying a seed cup. The cups pick up seeds from a reservoir on rotation of the wheel member and under the combined action of centrifugal and gravitational forces discharge the seeds to an outlet chute. Opposed brushes are provided in the housing between which the cups pass to sweep excess seeds from the cups and to aid retention of a single seed in each cup to the discharge point. A rotatable cleaning brush element having tangential bristles is mounted in the housing to clean cups prior to the cups entering the mass of seeds in the reservoir. Further brushes and excess seed catching gutters may be provided to assist the reliability of solely a single seed being discharged at predetermined intervals. A power-operated ejector may be arranged to discharge foreign matter or broken seeds and so on from the reservoir.

Abstract: A machine for the manufacture of ampullae, particularly pharmaceutical ampullae, of the type according to which the ampullae are formed from sticks of glass.The machine has an automatic control device for sequentially introducing, at a determined position in said path, thelower end of each of the sticks of the bundle into a stick guide and supply scoop between the two corresponding mandrels.Principal applications: manufacture of pharmaceutical ampullae.

Abstract: Seed sowing apparatus comprising a plurality of ground-engaging discs arranged in staggered relationship in two or more rows and driven from ground-engaging wheels, with individual seed metering devices carried by and driven by each disc to deposit seeds at regularly spaced intervals.

Abstract: A blister-card package for housing cylindrical articles of merchandise, the package being convertible into an easel-supported display stand and a one-at-a-time dispenser. The package is constituted by a card covered by a transparent plastic dome to define a rectangular container for a stack of cylinders, the container having an opening in the lower end thereof from which the articles may be withdrawn.

Abstract: A seed metering device comprising a seed hopper having a base which is in part sealed by two sets of contra-rotated circular rotary members driven about adjacent substantially horizontal axes, one set of the rotary members having the form of Vee-belt pulleys each of which is provided with a plurality of regularly spaced single seed receptors at the base of its Vee-shaped peripheral slot, the other set of said rotary members having complementray Vee-shaped protruding rims of high friction material penetrating upper parts of the said slots with close tolerance to sweep open faces of the seed receptors, and at least one masking plate mounted in the seed hopper and having an arcuate edge closely spaced from the said open faces of the seed receptors, the masking plate being located beneath the location at which the Vee-shaped protruding rims sweep the said open faces of the seed receptors to maintain single seeds within the receptors until the seeds reach a position at which the seeds can be released from said rec

Abstract: A vertical rotating disc has perforated seed pockets which pick up individual kernels of seed from an air pressurized cavity of a planter housing. Air flowing through the perforated pockets creates a pressure differential which moves a kernel into each pocket as the pocket moves on an arcuate path upwardly through the cavity. The pocket then moves into axially confronting relation with a flat sealing surface of a resilient air cutoff pad which sealingly engages the seed disc to prevent escape of air and holds the seed in the pocket as the disc rotates further to bring the pocket to the lower part of the housing where the seed falls by gravity into the soil. The air cutoff pad is arcuate in shape and is held in place by a pair of screws. Thin sheets of plastic material are bonded to the front and back sides of the pad and stiffening material, such as plastic cement, is added to the radially outer edge of the pad.

Abstract: A finger-held and operated small seed dispenser has a seed container having one open end through which the container may receive the seeds to be dispensed, the open end being closed by a removable spout through which the seeds may pass; a seed dispensing rod extends through said container and the spout and beyond the enclosed end and there has a fingerpiece, said rod having a cylindrical portion that normally closes the open end of the spout against the escape of the seeds until the rod is finger operated, the rod having a longitudinal groove for the passage of the seeds and a transverse groove to facilitate the entrance of the seeds into the longitudinal groove.

Abstract: A rotating disc has perforated seed pockets which pick up individual kernels of seed from a cavity of a planter housing. Bulk seed flows by gravity from a hopper to the cavity which is pressurized by a blower. As the disc rotates through the cavity, air flowing through the perforated pockets will move the seeds into the pockets and hold them there as the disc rotates to bring the seed carrying pockets into axially confronting relation with a flat sealing surface. The flat sealing surface holds the seed in the pockets as the disc rotates further to a position wherein the pockets are exposed to an open bottom area of the housing at which point the seeds are free to fall by gravity into the soil.

Abstract: A rotating disc has perforated seed pockets which pick up individual kernels of seed from an air pressurized cavity of a planter housing. Air flowing through the perforated pockets creates a pressure differential which moves a kernel into each pocket as the pocket moves on a circular path upwardly through the cavity. The pocket then moves into axially confronting relation with a flat sealing surface. The flat sealing surface holds the seed in the pocket as the disc rotates further to bring the pocket to the lower part of the housing where the seed falls by gravity into the soil. Each of the circumferentially spaced pockets has an opening in its bottom which is large enough to permit air flow therethrough but smaller than the seed kernels to be planted. The pockets are clam shell shaped with the more gentle slope on the side of the pocket toward the direction of rotation of the disc during planting.

Abstract: A counter for discrete objects such as pills and capsules having a tray with pill and capsule receiving sides in back to back relationship, each side having a movable slider for selecting the number of recesses in said side to be filled, said tray being pivotable to dispense the counted objects.

Abstract: There is disclosed a low cost change dispensing apparatus which includes a plurality of coin channels supported at an acute angle with a horizontal plane. Coins are stacked on edge in each of the coin channels. A coin delivery mechanism associated with each coin channel includes a rockable actuator member which supports the lowermost coin of each channel on a laterally extending supporting surface. The actuator member is selectively rocked by the energizing of a solenoid member to eject the lowermost coin into a coin chute which delivers the coin to a coin receptacle. Associated with each actuator member is a guide member positioned adjacent the coin supporting surface of the actuator member for locating the lowermost coin of each coin channel on the supporting surface when the actuator member is in the home or coin non-dispensing position.

Abstract: A method of diverting from a supply of grains a plurality of parallel intermittent single flows of grains, especially for sowing one seed in each one of a number of plant growing pots. The method comprises the steps of causing the grains of the supply to move in a definite direction on a plane support by utilizing vibration feed, and dividing the resulting wide grain flow into a plurality of parallel single-row flows by guiding said wide grain flow into a corresponding number of grain paths connected to said plane. For this purpose each of said grain paths is designed so as to be able to convey only a single row of grains. Further, each grain path cooperates with one grain-carrying cavity for transferring the grains one by one to said cavity which rotates about an axle and discharges the grains at predetermined time intervals in accurately determined positions after rotation through a certain angle.

Abstract: Mechanism for operating a rotary cash drawer provided in an automatic banking unit. The cash drawer is movable between "home", "open", and "dump" positions for receiving paper money at the "home" position to be delivered at the "open" position, for accepting deposits in the "open" position, and for dumping at the "dump" position deposits, or money left in the drawer and not removed at the "open" position. The operating mechanism includes a simplified rotor movement control cam, a cooperating pair of solenoids, and a reversing drive motor. These control movement of the rotary cash drawer between the various positions, lock the rotary cash drawer in "home" position, and prevent retrograde rotor movement at certain times during the cycle of drawer operation.

Abstract: A seed planter attachment for a garden plow in which the planter is driven directly from the drive for the traction drive wheel. The planter includes a vertical seed planting disc which is rotated from such drive and which contains seed cups or pockets which pick up the seed through openings formed in the adjacent side wall of the seed hopper. The seed is discharged by gravity through a seed discharge tube extending downwardly from the seed hopper.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates as indicated to a seed planter attachment for garden plow and relates more particularly to a planter in which a planting disc is driven from the main drive for the traction drive wheel, with the planting disc being constructed and arranged on the seed hopper for pick up and gravity dicharge of the seed through a seed discharge tube extending below the seed hopper.The plow per se to be presently described is similar in most respects to the plow disclosed and claimed in my U.S. Pat. No.

Abstract: An improved straw dispenser dispenses a plurality of straws simultaneously into the open tops of a corresponding number of beverage containers in a container making machine. The dispenser has a plurality of dispensing stations, each containing a rotary index wheel which picks up a succession of straws from a hopper and delivers them one after another into a separate chute which guides the straws into a separate delivery tube positioned directly above a beverage container. The index wheels at all of the stations index in response to a signal from the container making machine in synchronism to drop a set of straws into those tubes. Gates at the lower ends of the tubes open simultaneously and drop the set of straws then in the tubes into containers positioned below them before the new set of straws reaches the tubes.

Abstract: Apparatus for inserting electronic connecting pins into and/or mounting leadless electronic parts such as capacitors, resistors, inductors and the like on a printed circuit board from a dispensing device, and particularly for securing the fragile electronic parts with uneven lengths onto the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A transportable and disposable feed hopper for straws or other elongated objects which feeds such objects out of the hopper in a predetermined orientation and at a selectively adjustable rate of egress.

Abstract: A multiple-row cell wheel assembly having in each row a plurality of circumferentially spaced, outwardly diverging, generally conical seed-receiving cells wherein the cells in one row are circumferentially offset relative to the cells in an adjacent row.

Abstract: A vending machine comprising an upright circular array of storage bins formed by an annular wall and by partitions extending from a hub which is horizontally journaled for rotation within the wall. A merchandise selector is vertically aligned with the bottommost bin through an opening in the wall and is adapted to receive a single item of merchandise from a plurality of loosely disposed items. The annular wall includes a spring-loaded, slidably overlapping portion which serves as a jam release. Ramp surfaces are provided on the partitions or on opposing edges of the wall opening to divert merchandise to the gravitational center of the bottommost bin.

Abstract: A coin-controlled, manually operable golf ball vending machine. The vending machine has a ball hopper and a ramp below the hopper defining a ball dispensing opening between them. A gate rotatably mounted at the opening, extends partially thereacross in its closed position to cause the balls to bridge the opening and is swung into the mass of balls to break up the bridging of balls for releasing them down the ramp when the actuating lever is pulled. The balls on the ramp are received in descending ballways for introduction into ball tubes formed in a rotatable cylinder extending across the bottom of the ballways. The actuating lever is operatively linked to both the gate and the cylindrical ball receiver for simultaneously rotating the gate to release balls down the ramp and the ball receiver for dumping balls therefrom. The actuating lever is maintained inoperative by a coin-releasable locking mechanism.