Abstract: An automatic vending machine for vending a product selected by a user includes: an automatic vending machine cabinet having an opening that is opened and closed by a door: a plurality of product racks that is provided in the automatic vending machine cabinet, each product rack including a plurality of product storage columns each storing products ordered in a line; and a product storage device that allows a user to take out one product at a time by holding a body of the product, when the door is opened to open the opening.

Abstract: The Novel Modular Vending Machine for Packaged Goods allows consumers to purchase packaged goods without an attendant present. The invention uses two or more conveyor assemblies to store and transfer packaged goods and primarily uses gravity to transfer the packaged goods from the storage location to the customer. When a vend is initiated, a dispensing drum rotates and places a packaged item on a delivery system for transportation to the customer. The remaining packaged goods move into position for the next vend. When the lower conveyor assembly is empty, an upper conveyor assembly is lowered into position to transfer the remaining packaged goods to the dispensing drum. The apparatus may be configured in a system comprised of multiple modular units controlled by a single user interface.

Abstract: There is provided a medicine packing device, which prevents a free end of a bottom plate of a tablet dispensing measure from tilting due to its own weight. A bottom plate 43 is provided at a lower opening of a tablet dispensing measure 42. The bottom plate 43 includes a pin 44 at its base end. A leading end of the bottom plate is a free end. When the tablet dispensing measure 42 reaches corresponding stepped portions 37a to 37d by a movement of a tablet dispensing member 36, an opening protrusion 144b of a fixed plate 37 is fitted to an opening recess 43c of the bottom plate 43 and thus the bottom plate 43 pivots about the pin 44 from a closed position to an open position. If the bottom plate 43 moves to the open position, then tablets in the tablet dispensing measure 42 drop.

Abstract: The current invention is a lid dispensing device and method of use comprising a base unit, a lid holder operatively connected to the base unit, a blade operatively mounted to the base which moves between a first position and a second position, the blade supporting a stack of lids by engaging a first lid in the stack of lids while the blade is in the first position, and the blade allowing the first lid to fall through an aperture in the blade away from the stack of lids, and still support the remaining stack of lids as the blade moves to the second position.

Abstract: A vending machine including a dispensing door openable to permit removal of merchandise from the vending machine, and a one-way stopper positioned relative to the dispensing door, such that upon removal of merchandise from the vending machine, the one-way stopper is deployed to a position that prevents placing the merchandise back in the vending machine.

Abstract: The effervescent tablet dispenser may be assembled onto the open end of a container tube (2). It consists of an annular lower part (3) which may be assembled onto the open end of a container tube (2). For this there is a lid (4) for closing the annular lower part (3). A dispenser tab (8) extends diametrically in a tongue-like manner in the lower part (3) in its clear opening This dispenser tab (8) is integrally formed on the inner edge (10) of the lower part (3) in the manner of a film hinge. With respect to the annular lower part (3) is may be pivoted out in the axial direction by at least 10°. When the container tube is tipped, the dispenser tab under the load of a tablet lying on it pivots approx. 10° downwards and the lowermost tablet may be easily removed with one hand, whilst the remaining ones are held back.

Abstract: A game apparatus is able to drop the balls one by one on the ground and to pick-up the balls on the ground one by one. The game apparatus includes a ball guide to store a plurality of balls to be movable by their own weight, an upper support provided at an upper portion of the ball guide, a lower housing provided at a lower portion of the ball guide, a ball stopper mechanism provided in the lower housing to stop and release the movement of the ball in the vertical direction, a drive part to stop and release the movement of the ball by the ball stopper mechanism, and a lever to operate the drive part from outside. The lever includes a ball picking mechanism for picking balls on the ground when the game apparatus is turned upside-down and pressed on the ball on the ground.

Abstract: A swine feeder for use in feeding individually housed gestating swine. The feeder includes a hollow tube containing feed. The tube controls the amount of feed by having its lower, angled end contained within a feeding tube that is moveable by the individual sow to discharge the feed only when the sow applies a force to the feeding tube. The feeder may be connected to a supply of feed, and typically, the feeder is attached to the individual crate of each sow such that a limited amount of feed is dispersed into the sow's feeding area, usually a trough.

Abstract: A container for holding and dispensing articles such as beverage cans and bottles wherein a first set of said articles are laid horizontally in a row over a slanted floor, and are retained therein by a vertically movable plate resting upon said row. A barrier projects downwardly from the front edge of the plate against the lowermost article in the first set and prevents the entire set from rolling toward an opening at the base of the slanted floor. A second set of articles is similarly positioned upon the plate. The weight of the second set prevents the plate and barrier from moving upward and freeing the first set until all the articles in the first set have rolled toward the opening. Additional plates and sets of articles can be superimposed above the first and second sets. A control gate is provided to allow the articles to be dispensed one by one through the opening.

Abstract: A spherical object drop mechanism for a game apparatus has a mechanism allowing to drop spherical objects one by one on the desired position on the ground. The spherical object drop mechanism includes a ball guide to store a plurality of spherical objects movable in vertical direction by gravity, an upper housing provided at an upper portion of the ball guide, a lower housing provided at a lower portion of the ball guide, a ball stopper ring to stop and release the movement of the spherical object in the vertical direction, a drive part to transmit the movement to the ball stopper ring, and a lever to operate the drive part from outside.

Abstract: A game apparatus has a mechanism allowing to drop spherical objects one by one on the desired positions on the ground. The spherical object drop mechanism includes a housing for storing a plurality of spherical objects to allow vertical movements of the spherical objects therein by their own weight, a first stopper provided in the housing for stopping the vertical movement of the spherical objects, a second stopper provided in the housing located at a location lower than the first stopper by the distance corresponding to the diameter of the spherical object for stopping the vertical movement or releasing the stop operation of the spherical objects, a stopper drive mechanism to operate the first stopper and the second stopper opposite to each other, and a knob to operate the stopper drive mechanism from outside.

Abstract: A merchandiser dispensing assembly for bottles having a cap and an integral neck flange, the assembly including a track having opposed rails receiving the neck flange in suspended sliding relation and a bottle engageable stop portion at the front end. A gate member is pivotally mounted at the front end adjacent one of the rails of the track to retain a rearward group of bottles in spaced relation from the first bottle. Removal of the first bottle permits the gate member to move out of the path of the group and allow the first bottle of the group to move into the position occupied by the removed bottle. The track includes hangers holding the rails apart and being attachable to forward and rearward transverse supports to hold the track in an inclined position to permit gravity feed of the bottles.

Abstract: A lid dispenser for storing and dispensing plastic drink lids. The dispenser has an elongated body within which the lids are stacked upside down and a dispensing slot in a sidewall facing a user. A gravity biased finger rides in a vertical trackway in a sidewall opposite the dispensing slot. The finger contacts the stack of drink lids, clamping the uppermost lid against the next-to-uppermost lid and tilting the uppermost lid at an angle towards the user. The uppermost lid can be grasped by the user and snapped through the dispensing slot.

Abstract: A ball can vending machine comprises a cylindrical storage drum including a housing section sized to hold a plurality of ball cans with the longitudinal axes of the cans disposed parallel to the cylindrical axis of the housing section. The housing section includes a forward-facing discharge opening and a rear can-guiding surface, and the storage drum is supported with its disposed horizontally. A retaining plate mounted within the housing section and disposed above the discharge opening slopes downwardly toward the rear can-guiding surface. The vending machine also includes a currency validator that produces an output signal upon receiving a preselected amount of currency. A can dispenser is disposed adjacent the discharge opening such that cans within the housing section are urged by gravity toward the can dispenser along the rear-can-guiding surface.

Abstract: A gravity-feed flow rack apparatus for multiple articles with rack modules arranged vertically.The rack apparatus include main module, front and rear auxiliary modules having article conveyance skid rails, insert joint for joining said modules, tiltable stopper means for serially advancing articles on said module, and control means performing control of desired operation condition of the rack apparatus.The rack apparatus may be a constructionally changeable in desired number and spaces of the rack modules in which flexible change is desired.

Abstract: Distributor of the type comprising ball storing means and an articulated arm supplying a ball to the striking area. According to the invention, the ball storage means consists of a prismatic housing including, adjacent to each of its ends, supporting devices causing the bottom thereof to slope downwards in the direction of its open downstream end, which delimits an outlet for the passage of only one ball, its arm being articulated about a pivot pin in the housing. The distributor comprises a longitudinal chute, the upstream end being longitudinally closed, but having an opening for the distribution of a ball, while the upstream end is configured in the shape of a scoop for seizing a ball. Spring return means are placed between the housing and the arm to bring said arm into a substantially vertical position, once a ball is released.

Abstract: Apparatus for regularly weighing groups of cigarettes comprises a suction drum arrangement (4,6) for picking up a predetermined number of cigarettes from a multi-layer flow of cigarettes (2) on a conveyor (3) and for feeding the cigarettes as a row (25) onto a ramp (14) connected to a weighing device (18), and including an arm (20) for arresting the cigarettes on the ramp until weighing has been accomplished, whereupon the arm is arranged to release the cigarettes to allow them to slide or roll down the ramp and back onto the flow of cigarettes on the conveyor (3).

Abstract: A vending or dispensing machine is operable in triple depth, double depth, and single depth operating modes. A cradle which is rotatable through 360.degree. is used to separate cylindrical articles from a number of tandem nonstaggered vertical columns. The rotatable cradle separates a single can or other cylindrical article from each of the columns disposed in a storage zone above the cylindrical cradle and drops the cans into an escrow zone. One of the cans in the escrow zone is immediately dispensed. If operating in a triple depth mode, the remaining two cans are held by side mounted pivotable escrow members which are controlled and movably operable by the cradle itself. Upon a second activation the cradle moves further in its sequence allowing one of the escrow members to release its hold on a second can such that that can drops into a dispensing zone accessable to a consumer.

Abstract: A vending or dispensing machine is operable in triple depth, double depth, and single depth operating modes. A cradle which is rotatable through 360.degree. is used to separate cylindrical articles from a number of tandem nonstaggered vertical columns. The rotatable cradle separates a single can or other cylindrical article from each of the columns disposed in a storage zone above the cylindrical cradle and drops the cans into an escrow zone. One of the cans in the escrow zone is immediately dispensed. If operating in a triple depth mode, the remaining two cans are held by side mounted pivotable escrow members which are controlled and movably operable by the cradle itself. Upon a second activation the cradle moves further in its sequence allowing one of the escrow members to release its hold on a second can such that that can drops into a dispensing zone accessable to a consumer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a can dispensing mechanism for releasing containers from a row of containers stored in an automatic vending machine. A slide driven by a motor or solenoid operates a can control gate and a row gate which are in the form of L-shaped levers. The slide is provided with gate position control surfaces including an inclined ramp or cam surface, an offset surface and an end surface. The control surfaces change the position of the gates about their pivotal connections during movement of the slide through the vend cycle. The gates are gravity biased to the open position and move into can blocking positions under influence of the control surfaces on the slide. Springs and complicated linkages are eliminated to provide a reliable, inexpensive, maintenance free unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an article storing and dispensing device adapted for storing and readying magnetic tape cassettes so that they can be automatically, individually dispensed from the device.

Abstract: An anti-runout device adapted to be mounted below the running surface or pass line of an inclined lane, gravity feed package conveyor and upstream from a package release mechanism at the discharge end of the conveyor is described. The device acts as a brake means to slow or stop the packages and includes a brake shoe mounted on a lifter means. The lifter means is moveably supported in a guide means for linear movement of the brake shoe and the lifter means. The shoe and the lifter means are mounted such that the shoe can move well above the running surface of the inclined lane to reach and to lift a package which can be moving rapidly enough to be substantially above and thus out of contact with the running surface of the conveyor.

Abstract: A bearing washing machine is provided having cleaning stages through which disassembled bearing races are continuously processed. The machine includes a pair of parallel support tracks selectively spaced from one another which are disposed at an angle to the horizontal. The tracks support opposite side edges of a bearing race which rolls down the inclination provided by the tracks. Cleaning nozzles are disposed adjacent to the tracks to provide cleaning stages through which each bearing race passes. The nozzles at the upper end of the tracks provide a washing solution to impinge against each bearing race while nozzles at the lower end of the tracks provide air for blowing off washing solution and drying the races. An overhead guide rail engages one of the upper edges of each race to maintain it in aligned rolling contact with the support tracks. The tracks and guide rail are selectively spaced from each other to accommodate races of various thicknesses or widths and of various diameters.

Abstract: A dispensing system apparatus for storing and dispensing cylindrical objects such as rolls of floor covering has a sloped rack on which the rolls are supported and further contains serially arranged dispensing and retaining blades for dispensing a roll near the leading edge of the rack on to a portable pallet carried by a conventional lift truck while retaining the roll behind it and then, by manipulation of the dispensing and retaining means, move the next cylindrical object into a position for dispensing while retaining in the storage facility a plurality of serially arranged cylindrical objects.

Abstract: A dispensing and control system, adaptable to coin operated vending machines, for selective operation of one of the dispensers acting as a means for releasing and dropping a selected merchandise to a delivery location using a mechanical or electrical control. Three dispenser mechanisms, suitable for different merchandise groups, are operable by a low power operating stroke suitable for a fully mechanical machine where the operating power comes from the manual actuation of operating knobs which are visually and mechanically linked to individual dispensers. Same dispensers are operable by an electrical power source using a novel selection system which includes a coupling and resetting control for coupling a selected dispenser actuator to a common power driven actuating member.

Abstract: A solenoid actuated retractable stop including a pivoted arm selectively operable to block or pass articles moving along the surface of a roller conveyor characterized by a positive stop linkage adapted to resist impact engagement and cumulative loading of articles travelling on a conveyor including a pivoted mounting for the stop with lever linkage adapted to raise the stop above the conveyor surface level, a positive latch mechanism for holding the lever linkage in the raised stop position, a solenoid adapted to release the latch mechanism so that forward force of an article against the stop will cause it to pivot to a retracted position below the level of the conveyor and remain there during the overpassing of any article load, and a spring return mechanism adapted to raise the stop and reengage the latch upon de-energizing the solenoid subject to completion of any overpassing of any article load.

Abstract: Coin controlled article vending apparatus which features a hydraulic system to release a selected article from stacked horizontal position for dispensing.