Abstract: A robotic feeding mechanism for feeding electrical connectors. Connector magazines having a plurality of electrical connectors therein can be held in a magazine feeder which comprises at least two worm gears for holding and moving connector magazines therebetween. The magazine feeder also comprises gates for holding a connector magazine received from the worm gears for dispensing individual connectors and means for operably moving the worm gears and gates for controllably advancing connector magazines towards the gates and moving the gates to replace an empty magazine with a new magazine. The feeding mechanism also comprises a device for feeding and inverting individual electrical connectors comprising a sloped feed path; a gate for holding a row of connectors; means for holding the row of connectors while a leading connector is allowed to advance along the feed path; and a tipping ledge and curved guide for inverting the lead connector as it advanced along the feed path.

Abstract: A manual marker dispenser for road markers which is supported from a wheel mounted adhesive applicator which deposits small amounts of adhesive at selected spaced positions along a roadway. The dispenser has an upright cage member in which the markers are placed which typically has measurements of four inches by four inches by about three feet. The cage is open at the top and bottom and at the bottom there are two release cams spaced on opposite sides of the dispenser. The cams are essentially cylindrical in shape with about a quarter of the cylinder removed in a V-shaped pattern. Handle and linkage are provided to rotate the cams from a first position where the markers rest on the cam to a second position where the cut-away portion lets the markers drop out of the cage.

Abstract: A machine and method for separation of nested articles such as trays. Nested articles of the type that do not separate from one another under the influence of gravity alone are stacked in vertical nesting relation to one another. Plural blade members are movably mounted about the periphery of the tray members. In a first embodiment, the blade members move horizontally and vertically in a novel sequence to dislodge one tray from the lowermost end of the stack during each cycle of the operation. In a second embodiment, the blade members are pivotally mounted.

Abstract: A device is provided for automatically dispensing terminals for electric cables into the receptacle of a reception part. The device includes a tubular body containing the terminals, means for causing a relative movement of the body and of the reception part, and resilient grippers mounted on the body and resiliently urged so as to close a lower orifice of the body and thus retain the terminals. An abutment is provided integral with the reception part for causing the grippers to open when the body and the reception part are brought into contact.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for taking containers out of a pile, comprising a magazine formed of a row of articulated parallelograms and, under this magazine, two superimposed rows of deformable parallelograms which are actuatable independently from each other to take the containers out of the pile and which can conform to any container shape or dimension.

Abstract: An apparatus for unstacking and stacking containers. The apparatus includes a frame defining a compartment to receive a stack of containers, and a guide mechanism mounted within the frame to guide the stack in vertical movement. Located beneath the compartment is a conveyor, which in the unstacking mode, will deliver a stack of containers to the compartment and discharge individual containers. A vertically movable lift mechanism is mounted in the frame and includes a plurality of pivotable lift members disposed to engage a rim on the second lowermost container, to elevate the stack, and a plurality of holding members mounted on the frame and disposed to engage the upper surface of the rim on the lowermost container to hold the lowermost container against elevation. After elevation of the stack, the separated lowermost container is in a ready position to be conveyed away on the conveyor, depending on a need in the conveying system.

Abstract: An iris mechanism for preventing unauthorized removal of containers from apparatus for dispensing containers, such as cups. The apparatus separates and releases a single container from a stack of containers. The iris mechanism defines a central opening through which a released container must pass. The size of the opening may be changed between a closed position wherein the opening is smaller than the largest diameter of a cup to be dispensed by the apparatus and an open position wherein the opening is at least as large as the largest diameter of a cup to be dispensed.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing markers for distribution in a terrain. The apatus is designed as an add-on unit for mounting on the rear of a self-propelled land vehicle.The markers are units of a foldable type comprising each a base plate and a visible marker member hingedly connected thereto and they are stacked in folded state inside one or more shafts of the apparatus. Near the bottom of each shaft there is provided a delivery gate and shears controllable from the vehicle for the sequential release of individual marker units.

Abstract: From a pile or stack of cups, which is available in a magazine, the lowermost one is released with the aid of a slide (4) in such a way, that simultaneously retaining elements (7, 16) are slid away from and separating and releasing elements (5) are slid in between the rims (3) of a lowermost cup and the one above it. In such a way, a positive release of a cup (3) is possible. The separating and releasing elements (5) are provided with upper (14) and lower (12) inclined surfaces and their common points are bevelled at (33) away from each other in the direction of feeding or releasing.

Abstract: The distributor separates plastic cups (3) which are provided with outwardly-facing rims (5) from a stack (2) in a store (1) and releases them one-at-a-time into a tube (6). The distributor comprises first, lower supports (13) and second, upper supports (14) arranged peripherally of the cups and separated by less than the distance between the rims (5) of the two adjacent cups. The supports (13 and 14) alternate in operative positions in which they support rims (5) of cups so that cups are released one-at-a-time and fall into the tube (6). The distributor also comprises compressed air blowers (25) which operate when the second supports (14) move into their operational positions to exert a pressure between the cup supported by the second supports (14) and the cup which has just ceased to be supported by the first supports (13).

Abstract: A lamination stack selector for supporting a vertical column of laminations in a chute and for selecting a stack of laminations having a predetermined height from the bottom of the column. The selector includes a plurality of support pins biased to a first, column-supporting position, wherein the support pins extend beneath and engage the bottom margin of the column, and movable to a second, column-releasing position, wherein all of the support pins are out of engagement with the bottom margin of the column. When a stack of laminations is to be selected from the lower end of the column, a lamination receptacle is elevated to a position beneath the column. As the lamination receptacle is moved into position to receive a stack of laminations, the support pins are pushed out of supporting engagement with the column by posts moving with the receptacle. The support for the column is thus removed and the column lowers into the receptacle. Thereafter, the receptacle may be lowered.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for handling and storing a plurality of workpieces on trays. A storage rack is provided and a plurality of trays may be stored in vertical stacked relationship. A trackway is provided for transferring trays into and from the storage rack and transfer mechanism is provided for transferring simultaneously a plurality of workpieces to or from individual rows on the trays. Rotatable support arms are engageable with the vertically stacked trays to support the trays above the lowermost tray so that the lowermost tray can slide into or out of the storage rack. The support arms move into operative or inoperative position when the lowermost tray is in a partially withdrawn position.

Abstract: A dispenser unit for use with a cutting machine for cutting metal parts from metal workpieces. The cutting machine has a main beam movable in a first direction which carries at least one cutting torch which is movable along the beam in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A cutting table with a planar cutting surface is located below the main beam. The dispenser unit carries a plurality of individual point support members for supporting workpieces to be cut on the cutting table. The dispenser unit includes an elongated tube with an open lower end which is mounted on the main beam for movement along the beam in the second direction.

Abstract: A postage stamp booklet dispenser mechanism uses a multi-position gate cam, which rotates about a central axis and controls the opening and closing of opposed pairs of gate members through which the stamp booklets are dispensed. The operative followers of each pair of gates alternately move between dwell and rest positions to thereby provide corresponding open and closed modes of operation, resulting in the selective dispensing of single booklets from a criss-cross stack. By disposing one pair of gate members in a position slightly offset from the gate cam's central axis, one of the gate members of that pair receives a slight preferential opening position to insure that the booklet dispensed when that pair of gates is opened, falls in the proper orientation onto the chute of the dispenser mechanism. Between each dispensing cycle, all four gates return to their rest positions to prevent inadvertent dispensing and "jackpotting" of the entire stored group of booklets.

Abstract: This invention shows two mechanisms for receiving, separating, delivering covers to a gravity chute, and thence to metering and cover-positioning and -pressing means. The feeding of covers may be automatic or may be hand-loaded. One embodiment shows the separation mechanism employing Y-members that are actuated by a reciprocated ring with jaws and guide supports in a common plane. Adjusting means for size and cover thickness, both metal and plastic, is contemplated. The other mechanism utilizes jaw arms that are stacked one above the other and preferably are arranged as four pairs, with upper arm jaws moved by one cycled ring and the lower arm jaws moved by another cycled ring. Vacuum cups remove and carry the removed cover to a gravity chute and a metering and cover-pressing apparatus that provides insured placement of only the forwardmost cover on a traveling container. Orienting means is also contemplated, and plural delivery chutes are shown. A height-adjusting means is also depicted.

Abstract: This invention relates to the dispensing of ceramic ferrules individually from a dispenser which is loaded from a disposable cartridge containing the ferrules. The dispenser has a longtitudinally slidable nose cone with different internal diameters, the smaller diameter holding a series of balls in the path of the ferrules to hold the ferrules in the dispenser, and the larger diameter allowing the weight of the dispensers to move the balls into the larger diameter to free the lowermost ferrule.

Abstract: An improved cup drop ring including a plurality of cams having pivot axes disposed on the locus of a circle for concomitant rotation to release a cup, respective pinions on said cams and respective racks engaging said pinions pivotally supported on a drive ring with a mechanism for concomitantly moving said pivot axes radially to accommodate a different size cup while maintaining said racks in engagement with said pinions.

Abstract: A game chip storage and dispensing device having telescopically slidable inner and outer sleeves. First and second sets of flexible and resilient fingers on the lower end of the inner sleeve have inwardly extending lateral protrusions on their lower ends for engaging respectively beneath the lowermost chip in a stack of chips in the inner sleeve and the next chip above. When the outer sleeve is moved down along the inner sleeve, the first fingers release the lowermost chip and the second fingers hold the next chip above. When the outer sleeve moves back up, the second fingers release the next chip to drop onto the lateral protrusions of the first fingers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic parison feed system for tubular plastic parisons. The parisons are fed, one at a time, from a parison feed unit into a parison loading unit. The parison loading unit, which holds a parison vertically, is positioned above a shuttered aperture in the upper wall of a heating furnace. The shutter of this aperture is opened as the parison loading unit descends vertically to a predetermined position within the furnace. The parison loading unit releases its parison, which falls onto a vertical parison pin mounted on an endless parison conveyor moving within the furnace. The parison loading unit is then raised from the furnace and the shutter is closed.

Abstract: A gravity feed rotary head tray dropper is provided which may be universally adjusted for different tray sizes, shapes and lip thicknesses. The device includes a rotatable blade to separate the bottom tray from a stack of trays and a rotatable tray support disc to hold the stack of trays in position between tray separations. The rotatable tray support disc is positioned beneath the rotatable blade and is vertically adjustable to accommodate tray lips of varying thicknesses.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for separating and discharging articles used in the fabrication of disposable fluid dispensing tubes fabricated by apparatus including a rotatively mounted tube receiving turret which indexes tubes through a series of stations positioned around the turret periphery at which various operations are performed. The separating and discharging apparatus includes elements for deforming a stack of nested articles, such as nozzles, to separate and release an article from the stack, in combination with a vacuum receiving cup for withdrawing the articles from the stack and retaining them for delivery to the turret where they are discharged. The method includes the steps of separating articles from the stack by deforming the stack to interrupt coupling between contiguous articles, and withdrawing the articles separated by application of vacuum for transport to a displaced location where they may be discharged.

Abstract: A storage space is defined by a wall which in its lower portion is provided with an inclined surface, which protrudes into the storage space. Claws are adapted to support superimposed platelike articles in the storage space. A pivoted pressure-applying lever is disposed opposite to the wall and arranged to clear the lowermost articles and to apply pressure to the second platelike article from below in the storage space so as to retain the second platelike article from below and to support platelike articles superimposed thereon in the storage space. The claws and the pressure applying lever are disengageable from the platelike articles in the storage space in alternation to effect a delivery of successive superimposed platelike articles from the storage space.

Abstract: An ice-cream sandwich is formed by dispensing individual rectangular edible wafers from a stack of face abutting wafers one at a time into a receptacle. After dispensing of the first wafer an ice-cream block is positioned on the first wafer and then a second wafer is dispensed onto the exposed face of the block to complete the sandwich.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a device which normally supports a plurality of relatively large receptacles thereatop in a stacked, nested relation to a receptacle carriage and dispenser frame. When the carriage and dispenser frame is actuated in a first direction, the stack is conditioned to permit the lowermost receptacle to be dispensed downwardly onto a support frame. Actuation of the carriage and dispenser frame in a second direction dispenses the lowermost receptacle onto the support frame which is simultaneously elevated to a position to be filled with a product such as fruit from a conveyor. Subsequent actuation of the carriage and dispenser frame in the first direction lowers the support frame to discharge the receptacle thereon onto the ground and simultaneously reconditions the balance of the stack to discharge the lowermost container thereof on the next operation of the carriage and dispenser frame in the second direction.

Abstract: Facilities are associated with the discharge end of an article stacker, suitable for use in container-filling applications, so that the articles are discharged from the stacker in discrete groups of N articles each. A system of horizontally extending projections are provided on a pair of cylindrical blocking members that act as escapement devices at the bottom of the stacker. The successive projections on the cylindrical blocking members are cyclically moved into engagement with the lower ends of peripheral rims on the N lowermost articles in the stack, after which the N engaged articles are successively discharged from the bottom of the stacker. During the engagement and discharge of the N lowermost articles, the stacked articles overlying the lowermost N articles are inhibited from downward movement in the stacker. After the discharge of the lowermost N articles, the next N articles in the stack are moved downwardly into operative position for discharge after a predetermined interval.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for dispensing elastic members in connection with orthodontic work wherein a cartridge of such members in an undistorted shape is located between a body and a piston. The body has a tapered surface and a generally cylindrical surface. The piston slides in a sleeve, but is not rotatable therein, and a clamp engages an elastic member to move it as the sleeve is moved, over the conical surface of the body and to expand the member onto the cylindrical surface and over the same onto the device to which it is to be mounted.

Abstract: A portable storing and dispensing device for chips, coins, or other disk-like members and embodying an elongated rigid chip-containing magazine which is adapted to store active and reserve chips in stacked relationship and has an open lower end through which the chips are successively dispensed. A flexible expansible gate mechanism restrains the active chips within the magazine and a plunger which is completely encased within the magazine is effective upon depression thereof to effect unit-chip displacement past said gate mechanism at a selected location on a playing board or the like. In a modified form of the device, the magazine contains only active chips and the plunger is telescopically received within the magazine so that its upper portion projects above the upper rim of the magazine for direct manipulation by the user of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing articles such as cafeteria trays comprising a lower supporting structure upon which a plurality of trays are stacked. An upper supporting structure is provided for holding the stack of trays in a vertical or upwardly extending alignment, and a dispensing opening is defined between the upper and lower supporting structures. A threaded element is adapted to engage the bottom edge of the forwardmost tray in a stack and to thereby pivot the tray about the upper supporting member for passing of the tray through the dispensing opening. Means such as a conveyor comprising part of a tray washing machine are positioned for collecting the trays dispensed.

Abstract: A depalletizer apparatus for unloading containers or other articles stacked in tiers which are separated by paperboard upon a pallet. The apparatus has a pallet infeed section, an elevator means for sequentially raising a loaded pallet to a height of one tier and sweep means operated in conjunction with the elevator to remove each tier onto a conveyor. Also disclosed is a pallet discharge means, and a paperboard removal means which together with the sweep means operate to move the pallets, the containers, and the paperboard onto three conveyors for transporting same to three separate collection areas, all conveyors being located adjacent the top of the elevator means. Finally, this specification also discloses a second elevator means for receiving the unloaded pallets and stacking same as well as a compartment for receiving paperboard and collecting same in a manner to facilitate subsequent removal and reuse.

Abstract: A matrix type storage unit including a series of upright storage units and a bottom loading, goods handling means.

Abstract: The flow of containers along a first conveyor providing a supply of unfilled containers to a filling machine is interrupted, with containers from the first conveyor being transferred to a second conveyor which, in turn, supplies containers to a filling machine. Each time a container is delivered from the secondary conveyor into the filling machine an additional container is transferred from the first conveyor to the secondary conveyor. Timing of containers entering the secondary conveyor is controlled to avoid interference with dispensing apparatus placing containers into the filling machine.

Abstract: A transparent security container for an article to be displayed, such as a tape cassette. The container includes an anti-theft device such as a microwave reradiator which triggers an alarm if it enters a microwave field. The container includes a pair of spaced key slots associated with clips for retaining the cassette. A release device at the checkout station permits easy release of the cassette. The container may then be reused.