Abstract: A sheet product dispenser for dispensing sheet product from a roll of sheet product is provided. The sheet product dispenser includes a housing defining an interior space configured to receive the roll of sheet product therein. The housing includes a nozzle configured to allow the sheet product to be dispensed therethrough and out of the interior space of the housing. The nozzle includes a first orifice disposed at or near an outer end of the nozzle, a second orifice disposed at or near an inner end of the nozzle, and a cavity disposed between the first orifice and the second orifice. The first orifice, the second orifice, and the cavity are configured to allow the sheet product to pass therethrough. The first orifice has a first cross-sectional area, the second orifice has a second cross-sectional area, and the cavity has a third cross-sectional area, wherein the third cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area and greater than the second cross sectional area.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling food products comprises an alignment trough disposed at an incline for holding a stack of the food products at an incline. The alignment trough defines a portion of a passage upon which the food products travel. The stack defines a bottom food product. At least one movable member extends into the passage to control the separation of the bottom food product from the remainder of the stack by moving to provide clearance fro the food product to pass.

Abstract: A dispenser configured to simultaneously dispenses a plurality of liquid retaining members from a plurality of different areas of the dispenser. Preferably, the liquid retaining members are drinking cups. Preferably, the dispenser is configured to simultaneously dispense a first stack of a plurality of drinking cups and a second stack of a plurality of drinking cups from corresponding ends of the dispensers. The dispenser includes a body having a first end and a second end. The first end has a first opening through which drinking cups in the first stack of a plurality of drinking cups can be individually dispensed one after the other. The second end has a second opening through which drinking cups in the second stack of drinking cups can be individually dispensed one after the other. Preferably, at least one biasing member biases the first stack of a plurality of drinking cups towards the first end of the body and biases the second stack of a plurality of drinking cups towards the second end of the body.

Abstract: A cup dispenser includes a body defining a storage region adapted for receiving for an associated stack of cup-shaped articles. The body includes an open end that provides access to the storage region. Multiple fingers are connected to the body for restricting the open end of the body. An adjustment ring is connected to the body and is movable relative to the body. Movement of the adjustment ring relative to the body alters a position of each of the fingers relative to the body. The adjustment ring includes a plurality of adjustment slots and the fingers each include an adjustment stud located in one of the adjustment slots. When the adjustment ring is rotated, the adjustment slots act as cams and the adjustment studs act as cam followers such that the fingers are simultaneously and uniformly adjusted in terms of their radial position relative to the body wall.

Abstract: Wipe dispenser and collector unit particularly for use in gents' toilets, with a storage cabinet (2) for batches of wipes (24), with an aperture for the bottom wipe (24) located at the center of an angled bottom at an acute angle with the horizontal; the cabinet has a wall-mounting rear cover (3) and a front panel (5) connected to it that can be tilted forward in order to open it, with those two components forming the interior of the closed wipe storage cabinet (2), with a waste container at a specific distance underneath, which also has a wall-mounting rear cover (30), whose storage space, open at the top, is defined by the rear cover (30) and the front unit that can be tilted against it, with the bottom of the front unit connecting to the holes (14) at the bottom of the rear cover (30) with matching bolts (15), which can be released when the unit is tilted forward.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a drug-sorting device for dispensing multiple drugs. [Solution] This drug-sorting device is equipped with multiple receiving parts that have an opening and are arranged side-by-side in the longitudinal direction, a conveyor means for conveying drugs into the respective receiving parts, and a first adjustment means for changing the width of the openings. Said first adjustment means is provided with a rail that extends in the longitudinal direction, multiple partitioning parts that partition two adjacent receiving parts and are slidable along the rail, and a rotatable width adjustment drum. On the width adjustment drum, multiple guide grooves are arranged side-by-side at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction and extend so as not to be parallel to each other in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A paperboard carton for receiving articles in two or more layers separated by a divider pad is provided. The divider pad is secured relative to an end panel arrangement at one end of the carton. The carton has a top panel, a base panel and a pair of opposite sides. One of the side panels has a removable portion adjacent one end, which, when removed, defines a roll out aperture for article removal when the carton is lying on the end panel arrangement.

Abstract: A modular recycling unit comprises a support for supporting a first container. The first container is tiltable between a first position where the interior of the container is accessible and a second position where the interior of the container is inaccessible. The first container is freely removable from the support. A second container is supported on the support such that it is in a stacked relationship relative to the first container. The second container is freely removable from the support.

Abstract: A tissue holder and dispenser includes a cuboid shaped housing having a front panel, two planer side panels and a planer rear panel as well as a planer bottom panel and an open top. The front planer panel includes a horizontal slot through which individual tissues are dispensed while one side wall includes a rectangular opening through which an empty tissue box can be ejected by pushing it out of the housing with a finger inserted through a circular opening on the opposite side wall that is aligned with the rectangular opening in the first side wall. The housing is constructed and dimensioned to hold from one to four tissue boxes with the top of each box facing a front surface of the rectangular front planer panel so that a slit in the top of the tissue box on the bottom of the housing will come into register with a slot in the lower portion of the rectangular front planer panel.

Abstract: This invention is related to a hanging, telescoping garment organizer for storing, displaying and dispensing rolled pair of socks or other small garments, comprising an upper and a lower container of elongated, tubular shape. The lower container can be telescoping inside the upper container to reduce the organizer's space when not in use. The lower container is held attached to the upper container by a plurality of snap hooks that snap locked with the corresponding locking edges at the bottom of the upper container. The front sides of both the upper and lower containers have vertical openings sufficiently wide to allow easy manual insertion and retrieval of rolled pairs of socks or other small garments.

Abstract: The invention relates to a golf ball dispenser having an upper container which houses the golf balls and a flange which receives the balls from the container and which supplies the balls individually to a dispensing arm. The dispensing arm, which is disposed such that it is essentially vertical in the rest position, includes structure for pivoting around a horizontal axis when a golf ball is being dispensed, the pivot structure is disposed in the upper part thereof close to the above-mentioned flange.

Abstract: Automatic feeding machines are commonly used for filling blister packs with items of product such as pharmaceutical dosage forms. These machines are usually designed for the handling of a specific shape and sized product item. Handling of different shaped items requires expensive re-tooling of all the product item contact components. The invention allows a single feeding machine to be quickly configured for use to handling a wide variety of item sizes/shapes. A machine (21) has a tray (36) defining a series of tapered channels (40) and a container (22) slideably mounted above the tray. A wall of the container and the channels together define apertures into each channel through which items of product pass out of the container. Sliding movement of the container across the planar tray surface (38), along and over the channels, allows the size of the apertures to be adjusted depending upon the size of the item of product to be handled, using the same components.

Abstract: In a household sanitary tissue paper container 1 that has a slender taking-out opening 2 where a film for supporting a household sanitary tissue paper 10 is not provided at the taking-out opening 2, the taking-out opening 2 having finger inserting portions 2B and supporting portions 2A for supporting a pulled-out household sanitary tissue paper 10 is provided, and in outside positions of edges of the supporting portions 2A in a width direction, crush portions for raising 5 along a longitudinal direction are formed respectively so as to continue into the taking-out opening 2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system that utilizes one or more containers (e.g., cassettes or trays), which hold one or more types of medicaments, the containers being configured for automatic and accurate dispensing of the medicaments. In one embodiment, a container for dispensing medicaments includes: a housing; a chamber within the housing to store the medicament units; an outlet defined in the housing to dispense the medicament units; and a movable medium within the housing and defining at least one compartment (e.g., radial groove) configured to hold and carry at least one medicament unit from the chamber to the outlet.

Abstract: An aesthetically pleasing and disposable tissue roll dispenser is disclosed. The tissue roll dispenser may be made from, for instance, a lightweight paperboard and may contain various design elements on the exterior surface. The tissue roll dispenser may contain at least one vertically stacked column of tissue rolls that are gravity fed through the dispenser. For instance, the dispenser may include an opening towards the base of the dispenser for dispensing the tissue rolls. In one embodiment, the opening may be covered by a plastic film that defines a slit. The slit may have a size sufficient to allow the tissue rolls to be dispensed therethrough. The plastic film may be used to protect the tissue rolls from dust, dirt and wetness.

Abstract: A vial supply apparatus comprises: a vial supply part having a plurality of storage portions which store vials having different heights according to size, each storage portion comprising a rotatable endless member disposed at a predetermined interval from a partition wall, partitioning members disposed at predetermined intervals on the endless member, endless member driving means, and a supply port for dispensing a vial stored between adjacent partitioning members; a chute portion for dropping the vial dispensed from the supply port such that an opening of the vial faces upward; a robot arm for holding the vial supplied from the chute portion; and an adjustment table disposed below the robot arm, for adjusting an opening height of the vial supplied from the chute portion in accordance with the height of the vial.

Abstract: A battery dispenser and a refill for a battery dispenser are provided. In one embodiment the battery dispenser includes a disk that supports a plurality of batteries, a cover that has an opening, a grip ring that rotates the disk to align the batteries with the opening of the cover, and a push element capable of advancing batteries from inside the cover to a landing external to the cover. The disk rotates relative to the grip ring between a load position and a dispensing position, and the disk is removable from the grip ring when the disk is in the load position.

Abstract: A magazine and tube dispensing method is provided. The magazine includes a receiving compartment for temporarily receiving unfilled tubes intended for filling with a flowable product, the compartment being formed with a movable outer rail wall. A gate assembly downstream from the receiving compartment includes a constriction passageway formed between a lateral inner wall and a lateral member wall allowing downward gravity feed of tubes only in a single file. The lateral member wall is movable in a direction toward or away from the lateral inner wall and integrally movable as a member of the outer rail wall, thereby adjusting a cross-sectional dimension of the passageway to accommodate processing of different diameter tubes.

Abstract: A dispenser for cup-shaped articles comprises a body defining a storage region for receiving an associated stack of cups or other cup-shaped articles. The body comprises an open end that communicates with the storage region. A resilient diaphragm restricts the open end of the body. A clamp member is releasably secured adjacent the open end of the body and retains the diaphragm relative to the open end of the body. A mounting flange projects outwardly away from the body. The clamp member and mounting flange comprise mating structures that releasably secure said clamp member to the mounting flange.

Abstract: A spring loaded adjustable cup dispenser featuring a tubular design with an open end and at least one adjustable cup retaining member disposed therein. After being installed in a counter or cabinet having a flat surface, the adjustable retaining members of the dispenser are accessible through the open end. Once accessed, the retaining members may be radially adjusted from a setting enabling the dispenser to house and dispense cups of a particular size to house and dispense cups of a different size. A cup retaining member is further provided. The retaining member features a first and second end connected together by an elongated body. The retaining member additionally features a rounded edge between the second end and the elongated body which is adapted to engage the lip of the uppermost cup in a dispenser in a manner which enables the cups to be readily dispensed one at a time.

Abstract: A napkin dispenser has a container body for holding a stack of napkins, and a pair of interchangeable face plates each connectable to the container body. One of the face plates has a first elongated dispensing opening exposing a bottom region of the napkin stack, for one-by-one dispensing, and the other face plate has a second elongated dispensing opening exposing an edge region of the napkin stack, for dispensing a plurality of napkins simultaneously.

Abstract: A dispenser for cup-shaped articles includes a housing defining a storage portion adapted to receive an associated stack of nested cup-shaped articles. The housing includes an open end that communicates with the storage portion. A cup retainer mounting base is located adjacent the open end of the housing. The mounting base defines an opening that communicates with the open end of the housing. The mounting base also defines a first plurality of mounting openings and a second plurality of mounting openings. A cup retainer is connected to the mounting base and restricts the opening of said mounting base. The cup retainer is movable between at least first and second operative positions wherein the cup retainer restricts the opening of the mounting base more in the first operative position as compared to the second operative position. The cup retainer is defined as separate stud members each including a resilient finger or as an annular band including a plurality of resilient fingers.

Abstract: The invention consists of a paper towel dispenser for dispensing individual sheets of paper towels from a roll of paper having regularly spaced apart lines of partial severance. The dispenser is comprised of a housing and a housing door which can be pivotally opened to allow a roll of sheet material to be inserted into the dispenser. The dispenser has a funnel-shaped exit to allow the end of the roll to protrude in order to be grasped by the user. A paper towel tearing member is located adjacent to the funnel outlet of said funnel and the opening of this member is adjustable in order to vary the size of the opening of the dispenser. This adjustment of the exit size creates an adjustment in the position at which the sheet tears away from the roll to allow the use of different types of sheet material in a single dispenser.

Abstract: A dispenser adapted to dispense sheet material therefrom is provided and includes a housing configured to support a sheet material product therein which has an exit port. The dispenser also includes at least an iris diaphragm for controlling the movement of sheet material from the housing through the exit port.

Abstract: An element for adjusting the width of the outlet (11) in paper towel dispensers (10) consists of a single piece molded in a plastic material having resilience features, in two specular left (1a) and right (1b) versions, which is substantially C-shaped with two lugs extending from a central body. Said lugs are parallel and spaced by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the bottom wall (12) of the dispenser (10) in the area where the outlet (11) is formed, so as to enclose said area between a first lug of smaller extension on the outer side and a second lug of greater extension on the inner side. The inner lug carries a securing member suitable to couple with any of a plurality of mating fixing members provided close to the outlet (11) of the dispenser (10), so as to reduce by an adjustable extent the free width of the outlet.

Abstract: A flexible diaphragm for covering the discharge end of a cup dispenser that stores a plurality of cups in a nested stack. The diaphragm includes an inner continuous edge defining a central discharge opening through which the bottom of the outermost cup in the stack extends to be grasped and withdrawn from the stack. The inner continuous edge is configured in a polygonal shape to retain the stack of cups to be dispensed while permitting the outermost cup in the stack to be withdrawn from the stack. Preferably, the inner continuous edge is hexagonal in shape.

Abstract: A cup dispenser includes a housing for storing a plurality of cups nested in a stack. The cup dispenser has an annular collar surrounding the exterior of the housing. An annular retaining ring carries a cup holding member that is removably mounted on the collar such that the cup holding member is disposed over the discharge end of the housing to control removal of cups from the stack. The collar and housing have a locking arrangement which cooperates to permit relative movement of the collar and housing between a locked position and an unlocked position where the collar and housing can be separated. Portions of the collar and locking arrangement exposed to the interior of the housing preferably are substantially free of crevices or cavities which can trap bacteria.

Abstract: A hopper assembly for feeding literature to a literature dispenser. The literature dispenser and a label dispenser are positioned on opposite sides of a conveyor on which products being furnished with literature and labels are transported. The hopper assembly includes a chute which is designed to have an upstream chute portion adjacent the conveyor. The upstream chute portion is positioned within the reach of an operator who is stationed on the same side of the conveyer as the label dispenser, and a single operator can load both the hopper assembly and the label dispenser without moving from one side of the conveyor to the other. The hopper assembly also includes a literature escapement having a plurality of retaining members mounted on a pair of support elements. The retaining members engage a forward facing surface of a piece of literature and are arranged in spaced relationship to provide an opening through which the piece of literature is removable from the hopper assembly in the forward direction.

Abstract: A commodity discharging device in an automatic vending machine, which can easily change the area of the commodity discharging opening, is disclosed. The commodity discharging device comprises: a drum which is rotatable with respect to a shaft extending in a vertical direction and is provided with a commodity discharging opening penetrating in a vertical direction, so as to discharge a commodity via said commodity discharging opening by rotating said drum through a predetermined angle; and an opening regulating member provided on the drum, which can change the effective opening area of said commodity discharging opening by overlapping said commodity discharging opening due to rotation thereof.

Abstract: The dispenser is adapted to dispense different size cups, such as portion cups, and includes a housing for storing a plurality of cups in a nested stack and a flexible diaphragm covering the discharge end of the housing. The diaphragm includes a web section having a central discharge opening through which the bottom of the outermost cup of the stack extends to be grasped and withdrawn from the stack. The discharge opening preferably has a symmetrical polygonal shape, such as a hexagonal shape, and has an inner periphery configured to retain a stack of the smallest cups to be dispensed in the housing while permitting the outermost cup in the stack to be drawn from the housing.

Abstract: A vending apparatus for supplying articles such as snacks is disclosed. Articles to be dispensed from the apparatus travel horizontally in a direction parallel with the front surface of the apparatus to a position from which the articles drop through a vertical shaft at the side of the apparatus to a delivery area. The apparatus is compact in size and is capable of holding a large inventory of different snack articles. The apparatus has a low profile and may be mounted to a wall by means of a mounting bracket.

Abstract: A vending rack for a vending machine is formed of a housing, a path for a merchandise defined in the housing and having an inlet side and an outlet side, an inlet regulating device situated at the inlet side of the path for regulating a size of the merchandise to be supplied to the path, a vending mechanism situated near the outlet side of the path, and an outlet regulating plate situated at the outlet side of the path. The position of the outlet regulating plate is adjusted according to the size of the merchandise. A connecting rod is situated between the inlet regulating device and the outlet regulating plate. The connecting rod is movably attached to the housing so that when one of the inlet regulating device and the outlet regulating plate is moved to adjust the size of the merchandise, the other of the inlet regulating device and the outlet regulating plate is moved to thereby adjust the inlet regulating device and the outlet regulating plate in one adjustment.

Abstract: A variable doorstop selectively determines the opening distance of an access door of a merchandising machine, the access door being mounted in channels of the merchandising machine to be slidable between an open position wherein the access door permits access to a compartment aligned therewith and a closed position wherein access to the compartment is restricted. The doorstop comprises a hinge assembly including at least one hinge. Each hinge has a backing plate for mounting the hinge on the merchandising machine and at least one abutment plate. The at least one abutment plate is rotatable about a pin of the hinge to selectively pivot the abutment plate from a non-engagement position in which the abutment plate is positioned away from the path of the access door to an engagement position in which the abutment plate is in the path of the access door.

Abstract: In a machine for dispensing stackable roofing washers individually and for driving fasteners through such washers, a shuttle is actuatable to displace a lowermost washer of one from a stack, either a small, circular or large, square washer. A gate is biased toward a lowermost position wherein it provides sufficient clearance for the lowermost washer but not any overlying washer to pass beneath it. A pawl mounted pivotally to the gate is biased to a lowermost position wherein the pawl engages a small washer displaced by the shuttle so as to restrain it against backward movement. A stop is adjustable so as to limit movement of a washer of whichever size is being displaced. A measuring bar is mounted via the stop. A screw gun, which provides a primary handle, and a secondary handle are mounted to an upright element so as to be independently adjustable.

Abstract: A low cost high speed counter and dispenser of tickets includes a feed roll and a hopper for feeding cards tangentially onto the feed roll. A pair of nip rolls rotating at a higher peripheral speed than the feed roll opens a gap between the trailing edge of one ticket and the leading edge of the next ticket that is detected by a photodetector cell providing an input for a digital counter. A D.C. motor drive is used which is dynamically braked when a desired count is reached. A collector bin includes a detector for determining if the bin is empty to automatically initiate a new dispensing cycle, if desired.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing tickets from a stack includes a base. A frame for enclosing a stack of tickets is fixedly mounted on the base. A partition wall whose position can be changed to accommodate tickets of different sizes is removably mounted in the frame. A gate for receiving tickets and allowing only one ticket at a time to pass through is also fixedly mounted on the base. The gate includes a slider element which is adjusted to different heights by a screw having two different sized threads in order to accommodate tickets of different thickness.

Abstract: An adjustable dispenser nozzle apparatus for a paper towel container of either rolled or folded towels. The apparatus comprises a base, an adjustable fixture and an inner sleeve. The base includes a plurality of extensions separated by slits. The fixture is adjustable and as it is further threaded onto the base the extensions of the base become narrowed, resulting in a smaller exit aperture for the dispenser nozzle. Furthermore, the bottom part of the base, which is comprised of a plurality of extensions, as well as the bottom part of the inner sleeve, have sharp edges. Thus, providing a suitable surface upon which the dispensed towel may be torn.

Abstract: In a bulk vendor having a dispensing wheel for carrying merchandise to a dispensing aperture, containers in the dispensing wheel are adjustable in size according to the size and volume of merchandise to be dispensed. An adjusting wing is rotationally secured to the dispensing wheel by a retractable pin, which when depressed permits the adjusting wing to rotate relative to the dispensing wheel and change the container size, either manually or with the use of a tool provided for this purpose.

Abstract: A theft deterrent device restricts the number of newspapers or other periodicals that can be retrieved from a newspaper vending machine at one time. The device includes a cover gate forming a generally T-shaped opening with a vertical passageway and a horizontal slot opening. The cover gate mounts over an access opening of the vending machine behind a hinged door that closes against the vending machine. The cover gate restricts the number of periodicals that can be withdrawn at one time from a storage cabinet portion of the machine after the hinged door is opened and lowered by a customer. The deterrent device is easily installed on existing newspaper vending machines by way of an engagement member that securely engages a fixed part of the vending machine in the region of the access opening. A lock mechanism on the cover gate serves to lock the cover gate to the dispensing machine and firmly hold the gate in place over the access opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing a supply of cup-shaped containers in a stacked, telescopically interfitted relationship comprises a tubular housing with a resilient diaphragm across the lower end. The diaphragm has a center opening through which the lowermost container extends. The diaphragm acts to retain the stack in the housing while permitting the lowermost container to be withdrawn. According to the invention, the diaphragm comprises a unitary piece of resilient, elastomeric material with the diaphragm having a resistance to elongation in directions circumferentially of the opening which increases progressively radially outwardly of the opening.

Abstract: A device for use in varying the effective cross-sectional area of an outlet opening of a dispensing unit for nested containers, e.g. paper cups, comprises at least two shutter members, pivotally mounted on equispaced pivots of a support means at the outlet end portion of the unit to define the outlet opening. The members are mounted for movement to vary the size of the opening; an adjustment device is mounted for rotation in operative connection with the shutter members whereby to move the members to adjust the size of the outlet opening. Adjustment of the area of the opening is readily accomplished so that the unit can be adjusted to accommodate cups of different dimensions.

Abstract: A handy adjusting assembly for disposable cup holder, including a cup sleeve for containing disposable cups; a sleeve connector screwed on lower end of the cup sleeve, lower end of the sleeve connector being formed with an outward extending cover shade, an inner surface of upper end of the cover shade being formed with a stopper portion; an adjusting ring screwed on the lower end of the sleeve connector and being provided with a plurality of support seats each of which is formed with a strip hold; and a plurality of support strips extending through the strip holes of the support seats to hang thereon, upper portion of each of the support strips extending outside the adjusting ring and lower portion thereof extending inside the adjusting ring, upper end of the support strip abutting against the stopper portion of the sleeve connector whereby by means of adjusting the height of the adjusting ring, lower ends of the support strips can be moved inward and outward to hold various disposable cups with different siz

Abstract: A group of flanged lids or cups of substantially identical construction and arranged in nested relation in a container are dispensed from an open end of the container by an elongated yieldable tension element disposed astride the open end of the container and arranged to override the flange of the article adjacent the open end of the container thereby to release and to aid in ejecting the article from the container.

Abstract: An anti-theft apparatus for use in a dispensing machine for newspapers and the like having a coin-operated locking access door. The apparatus includes a cover panel sized to mount within the access opening in the rack. The cover panel restricts access into the dispensing machine is through a T-shaped access opening in the cover panel. Newspapers and the like stacked within the dispensing machine may be grasped through the vertical slot in the T-shaped access opening and raised for removal through the horizontal slot in the opening along the axis of the horizontal slot. A pivoting gauge gate mounted to the cover panel above the T-shaped access opening restricts the thickness of newspapers and the like which may be removed through the hozizontal slot. The gauge gate pivots between an open position wherein newspapers and the like can be removed through the horizontal slot and a closed position wherein access through the horizontal slot is substantially restricted.

Abstract: An adjustable dispenser for holding and dispensing various size cups including the so-called jumbo cup. Radially adjustable retainers within a flanged storage tube frictionally hold the rim of the forwardmost cup against discharging until manually pulled out. Each retainer is locked in a serrated surface within the flange by a thumbscrew.

Abstract: A cup dispenser for dispensing a stacked array of cups comprising housing for enclosing a plurality of cups arranged in a stack, three parallel rods extending inwardly of the housing parallel to the axis of the stack of cups disposed in surrounding relation to the stack. A spring urged pusher guided by rods engaging the stack of cups at the end of the stack opposite a discharge opening for urging the stack of cups toward the discharge opening. An adjustable ring assembly is providd for releasably restraining cups of different size, comprising a first apertured ring or panel and a second ring rotatably supported relative to the first ring or panel and slots therein, coactive with pins extending from finger members for moving the finger members inwardly and outwardly relative to the stack.

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 inlet checking device for a stacking channel comprises at least one jaw provided with at least one inclined plane and a check groove, the jaw being located in a recess of the channel structure, and further comprising at least one jaw loading spring and control mechanisms for adjusting the radial projection of the jaw inside the channel.

Abstract: A tag container has a dispensing wall and contains a plurality of tags which are stackable in parallel to the dispensing wall. In the top wall of the container is a dispensing opening through which tags may be dispensed from the container by a slider which is slideable up and down along the dispensing wall. The slider includes a pusher portion which engages the bottom edge of a tag to push it upwardly and out through the dispensing opening.

Abstract: A unit combining a diaper dispenser and disposal drawer is shown. The unit consists of two sections, an upper dispensing section and a lower disposal section, which provide a single unit for new and soiled diapers, as well as other supplies used in changing a baby. The upper dispensing section has a number of dividers which define vertical shafts. Diapers are placed in these shafts and are removable at the bottom thereof through adjustable slots. The slots of the upper dispensing section are adjustable by using a removable shelf. The vertical shafts are also adjustable in cross-sectional size to accomodate different sized diapers. A slidable front panel permits easy access to one or more of the vertical shafts for reloading. The bottom disposal section comprises a cabinet generally rectangular in shape with a pivoting, top-opening door. This disposal section may contain a separate bin, such as a plastic bag or bucket which is easily removed to dispose of soiled diapers and other waste.