Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing flexible lids includes a housing having a lid stack holder for containing a coaxial stack of lids. Lids are supported within a substantially coaxial channel of the lid stack by a pair of opposing indexing shafts that rotate upon operation of a user operable drive device to pass a bottom-most lid to a discharge area. The drive device may be calibrated to rotate the indexing shafts by an adjustable amount that is determined, at least in part, by the height of each lid and/or the spacing between lids in the stack. Further, the housing may be constructed from a fixed housing portion and an adjustable housing portion. The adjustable housing portion allows the spacing between the indexing shafts to be adjusted to correspond to the circumference of the lids currently being dispensed.

Abstract: A product metering napkin dispenser includes a housing defining a storage magazine for receiving a stack of folded napkins and a metering member that penetrates the stack in order to segregate a predetermined number of napkins from the remainder of the stack for dispensing. Preferred embodiments include gravity feed napkin dispensers. In various embodiments the metering member may include: a pivoting plate cooperating with a hinged trap door support surface; a rotating semicircular disk co-rotating with a support disk; or a reciprocating jaw assembly urging napkins through an aperture.

Abstract: A product metering napkin dispenser includes a housing defining a storage magazine for receiving a stack of folded napkins and a metering member that penetrates the stack in order to segregate a predetermined number of napkins from the remainder of the stack for dispensing. Preferred embodiments include gravity feed napkin dispensers. In various embodiments the metering member may include: a pivoting plate cooperating with a hinged trap door support surface; a rotating semicircular disk co-rotating with a support disk; or a reciprocating jaw assembly urging napkins through an aperture.

Abstract: The present invention defines a system (200) for dispensing disposable cleanroom wipers. The system provides a housing (202), within which a supply of cleanroom wipers (204) is stored. A loading assembly (206) is disposed on or within one wall of the housing, for loading the cleanroom wipers into the housing. An access portal (224) is disposed on or within one wall of the housing. A retrieval assembly (208) is also disposed on or within one wall of the housing. The retrieval assembly comprises an actuating member (210) and a retrieval member (212), and is configured such that as the actuating member is asserted, the retrieval member engages and grasps a single cleanroom wiper (220) from the supply of cleanroom wipers, and moves that single cleanroom wiper into immediate proximity with the access portal.

Abstract: A product metering napkin dispenser includes a housing defining a storage magazine for receiving a stack of folded napkins and a metering member that penetrates the stack in order to segregate a predetermined number of napkins from the remainder of the stack for dispensing. Preferred embodiments include gravity feed napkin dispensers. In various embodiments the metering member may include: a pivoting plate cooperating with a hinged trap door support surface; a rotating semicircular disk co-rotating with a support disk; or a reciprocating jaw assembly urging napkins through an aperture.

Abstract: A storage and loading system for at least one bag utilizing a container having a wall portion which forms a chamber. At least one bag is stored in the chamber and is accessible through an aperture. A flange is rotatable held to the container at the aperture and rotates from a first nested position, relative to the container, to a second extended position. Location again downwardly from the extended position to the first position serves to support the bag through contact.

Abstract: A system for dispensing and redeeming electronic discount coupons in a store. A card-dispensing kiosk collects information from a customer and subsequently issues a “smart card” for storing electronic coupons. Upon completion of shopping, the customer redeems the electronic coupons at the checkout area, by inserting the card into the checkout station. During checkout, when UPC product data corresponds to coupons stored on the card, the customer is credited with the value of the corresponding coupon.

Abstract: A dispenser to dispense the top item from the stack of such items, in particular the uppermost inverted cup type coffee filter from an inverted stack of such filters, comprises a housing in which to receive a stack of inverted cup type coffee filters, positioned on an upwardly biased telescoping shaft to position the top filter in the stack for contact by the dispensing mechanism. A slidable carrier member of the dispensing mechanism, normally biased to its forward position, has a pivotably mounted ejection member therein with elongated contact arms extending forwardly which are pivotable between a raised position and lowered position.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing paper articles, such as coffee filters, from a nested stack of such articles is described. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an open-topped container and a separate lid having a mechanism for retrieving one coffee filter from a nested stack of filters. A pair of tabs are pivotally connected to the lid portion and extend through slots in the lid portion. A spring extends between the two tabs to maintain the tabs in an initial position. An elongate member depends from each tab, and the lower end of each member bears a contact surface bearing an adhesive or high friction material. In use, the tab upper ends are manually pivoted toward one another so that the elongate members bring the contact surface into an engaged position with the topmost filter in the stack. The lid is then withdrawn from the container with a single filter, leaving the remaining nested filters in the container.

Abstract: A stacked-paper dispenser in which a stack of paper is accommodated for dispensing a piece of paper is provided with: an accommodating member for accommodating the stack of paper therein; a stacked-paper placing base on which the stack of paper is placed, the stacked paper placing base being fitted in the accommodating member and adapted to be resiliently raised upward; a cover having an opening portion for dispensing the piece of paper; and a paper dispensing device including a bearing member capable of reciprocating in a longitudinal direction on an inner surface side of the cover, a roller member which is axially supported by the bearing member and which is nonrotatable in the movement in an advancing direction of the bearing member and rotatable in a returning direction, and a thumb slider for operating the bearing member from outside the cover.

Abstract: An apparatus for discharging disks from the bottom of a stack of aligned disks one at a time is provided. The apparatus includes a pair of feed gate subassemblies supported in a spaced apart, diametrically opposing relationship so as to define a disk receiving opening therebetween. The feed gate subassemblies are adapted to cooperatively support the stack of disks in the disk receiving opening and abuttingly engage at least a portion of the outer peripheral edge of the disk positioned at the bottom of the stack of disks so as to compress the bottom disk and thus cause the bottom disk to be discharged from the stack of disks.

Abstract: A ligating band dispenser for attachment to the distal end of a ligating device having proximal and distal ends with a lumen extending therebetween and being adapted for supporting a plurality of ligating bands includes a support for attachment to the distal end of the ligating device and for carrying the plurality of ligating bands and having a passage communicating with the lumen; and a dispenser including a first displacement element looped about each of the bands in series attached to the support and extending through the passage and lumen whereby proximal motion of the operator element from the proximal end of the ligating device transfers individually the most distal ligating band off the distal end of the support.

Abstract: A coffee filter container and/or dispenser for containing and dispensing coffee filters. The coffee filter container and/or dispenser comprises a base, a housing, a lid, a pair of opposed filter stops, and a filter engager. The filter engager and the filter stops cooperate with each other to separate one coffee filter from a stack of filters disposed in the housing. A method or process separating a coffee filter from a stack of coffee filters.

Abstract: A coffee filter dispenser to dispense individual coffee filters of the cup type from a stack, comprising a housing having a bottom wall, side walls, a rear wall and an open front wall, dimensioned to receive a stack of cup type coffee filters therein facing upside down. A friction bar is positioned to slide on tracks secured to the side walls, first in a rearward direction in which it makes initial contact with the uppermost filter in the stack to slightly raise and loosen it and then in the foreword direction to eject the loosened filter from the stack and from the dispenser. The friction bar is normally biased to its forward position by a pair of coil springs connected to respective end regions of the bar and to respective brackets extending forwardly from the forward edges of the side walls.

Abstract: A sheet separating device for removing an uppermost sheet of an adhesive pad containing a plurality of such sheets includes a housing; a support plate for holding the pad, resiliently biased in an upward direction. A sheet separator mechanism is movable in forward and reward directions, includes a frame, a pick wheel mounted for rotation within the frame, and a knife blade having a closed periphery opening therein defined in part by at least one entry projection, wherein the pick wheel is located ahead of the at least one entry projection of the knife blade in the forward direction such that, in use, the pick wheel lifts an edge of the uppermost sheet extending transverse to the forward direction, and the at least one entry projection of the knife blade then moves between the uppermost sheet and a next underlying sheet as the uppermost sheet passes through the closed periphery opening.

Abstract: A paper feed system suitable for use with a patty making machine to provide paper for separating patties, including a stack of sheet-form paper having a deformable element on the side edge thereof, a paper hopper, and a guide on the inside surface of a sidewall of the paper hopper for engaging the deformable element. Two guides are provided, each on opposite sidewalls of the hopper, engaging deformable elements on opposite sides of the paper stack. Preferably, the guides are male guides extending from the sidewalls with the end adjacent to where the paper is dispensed thicker than the remainder of the guide to support the paper. The deformable elements cooperate with the guides so that the paper is deformed by an extreme bend, but not torn, when each sheet is dispensed from the hopper. A stack of individual sheets of paper usable with this system includes recesses on opposite sides of each sheet of paper, where the recesses receive the guides when stacked in the hopper.

Abstract: A first embodiment of a coffee filter dispenser has a housing in which a stack of coffee filters to be dispensed are received. A plurality of resilient grippers are axially movable between a retracted and an extended position. A crank arm is connected to the resilient grippers for actuation thereof. By manipulation of the crank arm in axial and rotary directions, a single coffee filter may be dispensed from a stack of coffee filters through resilient plastic flaps in the housing. In a second embodiment, a coffee filter dispenser utilizes an axially reciprocal and rotary plunger having an adhesive foot for removing the top filter from a stack of coffee filters. The adhesive foot is radially offset from the plunger axis, and a spiral cam groove on the plunger causes the foot to be displaced radially as the plunger moves axially. In this manner, a single coffee filter may be laterally dispensed through a pivotal door in the dispenser housing.

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: A feeder for shape unstable articles such as pads for absorbing body fluids has an upright hopper having top and bottom openings for receiving and discharging pads. First and second rotationally driven upper pulleys having a plurality of round belt receiving grooves in their peripheries are mounted adjacent the bottom opening of the hopper on opposite sides of the vertical center line of the hopper. Third and fourth idler pulleys are arranged in laterally spaced apart relationship and symmetrical to the center line of the hopper at a lower level than the first and second pulleys. Because the lower pulleys are closer to each other than the upper pulleys, the belts converge toward each other such that articles which settle out of the hopper finally become wedged between the belts proximate to the lower pulleys.

Abstract: A combined filter housing for storing a plurality of filters therein and a combination cover and extractor for the stored filters includes a unitary extractor mechanism with cooperating arms removably disposed within a cover extending above and below the cover into the housing where semi-adhesive resilient members disposed on a pair of distal ends comes into contact with the stored filters. By applying pressure proximate the apex of the arms the filter is engaged by the semi-adhesive resilient member and by removing the combination cover and extractor a single filter may be removed.

Abstract: A magnetic disk cartridge is provided with a dust shutter which is slidably mounted on a casing to open and close a magnetic head access opening in the casing . A V-shaped shutter spring for urging the dust shutter toward the closing position is inserted into the casing through a spring insertion opening. A magnetic disk cartridge assembly system includes a guide member which has a guide groove for holding the shutter spring in a compressed state and is adapted to bring a first end of the guide groove in close opposition to the spring insertion opening of the casing, the width of the guide groove being not larger than that of the spring insertion opening at least at the first end, and a pusher which is adapted to move the spring along the guide groove and to insert it into the spring insertion opening through the first end of the guide groove.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for loading and dispensing flexible thermoplastic bags having at least two oppositely disposed walls movable with respect to each other to provide an open mouth for packing. The system includes a bag supply support which supports a supply of bags with one of the walls facing a packaging work area for opening the bag. The system also includes a bag opening means having a bag-attaching element and a pivotal arm on which the bag-attaching means is disposed for contacting the bags. The arm is actuable between a bag-engaging position wherein the bag-attaching element contacts an exposed wall of the bag and attaches it. The arm is also actuable to a bag-loading position wherein the bag-attaching element maintains the attached wall a distance away from a non-attached wall for loading.

Abstract: A combined filter housing for storing a plurality of flattened conically-shaped filters therein and a combination cover and extractor for the stored filters includes an extractor mechanism disposed within the cover having semi-adhesive resilient members disposed on a pair of distal ends which comes into contact with the stored filters. By applying pressure proximate the apex of the arms, the filter is engaged by the semi-adhesive resilient member and by removing the combination cover and extractor a single filter may be removed and is ready to be used without further handling.

Abstract: A completely enclosed filter housing capable of storing a plurality of filters therein and a combination cover and an extractor for the stored filters includes a housing and a form fitted cover to seal the housing. An extractor mechanism utilizing cooperating arms is affixed within the cover opening and extends above and below the cover into the housing where semi-adhesive resilient members disposed on one pair of distal ends comes in contact with the stored filters which are urged upwardly by a second resilient member. By applying pressure to the upwardly extending arms the filter is engaged by the semi-adhesive resilient member, and by removing the housing cover a single filter is removed.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding flat folded cartons from a stationary magazine to a continuously moving conveyor. The magazine has a choke at its discharge end formed from parallel guides which are spaced apart a distance less than the distance between the two folded edges of the cartons. A rotary carrier is located adjacent the magazine and the conveyor. A plurality of planetary members with attached suction cups are rotatably mounted on the carrier. A fixed cam cooperates with cam followers mounted on the planetary members to cause the planetary members to rotate on their own axes as the carrier rotates to pick up cartons from the magazine, open them and deposit them gently between transport lugs on the conveyor.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing one sheet at a time from a stack of sheets includes a hollow rectangular receptacle which receives and holds the stack and has an opening in the top wall to expose the top sheet of the stack and permit the top sheet to be removed through the opening. A lever is resiliently mounted on the receptacle adjacent the top wall and has a free end which normally extends over the opening in the top wall and which carries a pad of adhesive material on its underside. The free end of the lever may be pressed down manually to engage the pad with the top sheet of the stack and, when the free end is released, the lever returns to its normal position thereby lifting an end portion of the top sheet up through the opening where that sheet may be grasped and removed from the receptacle.

Abstract: A dispensing device for towels and like articles comprises a container having a removal closure with a slitted opening and a cap integral therewith for closing the slitted opening, and includes a threading protrusion integral with the cap for receipt through the slitted opening whereby a towel may be engaged therewith and drawn from the container through the slitted opening to initiate dispensing of towels through the slitted opening.

Abstract: A dispenser for flexible open topped paper-like containers which includes an upper storage compartment for holding a stack of inverted containers to be dispensed through a dispensing opening formed in the bottom of said compartment, said dispenser also including a container engaging and gripping element mounted for movement into gripping engagement with the lower most container in the stack and thereafter delivering said container downwardly through the opening for easy access and use by the operator.

Abstract: An orthodontic O-ring dispenser comprising a magazine or housing for containing a supply of stacked O-rings that are progressively advanced toward a slotted discharge opening wherein the respective O-rings are individually dispensed by stretching the endmost O-ring with the aid of a ligator to permit the dispensing of the O-ring through the discharge opening. The O-ring dispenser may also comprise a plurality of O-rings integrally molded to a core and which are connected thereto in a manner to facilitate the independent removal of the respective O-rings from the attached core.

Abstract: A dispenser for paper napkins consisting of a housing adapted to support a stack of napkins in such a manner that a flap of the lowermost napkin depends downwardly in the housing by a gravity, and an ejector mounted movably in the housing and operable by reciprocation to engage the depending napkin flap and extend it outwardly through an opening of the housing, where it may be grasped for removal from the housing.

Abstract: A machine for dispensing a single newspaper, magazine or the like from the top of the stack which includes a novel horizontally movable stripper assembly which allows dispensing of a single folded article in both a horizontal travel from left to right and the return travel from right to left. The folded articles, such as newspapers or magazines, are partially overlapped symmetrically about a vertical plane of symmetry and urged upwards against the horizontally traveling stripper assembly by a resilient platform. This dispenser has particular utility as a vending device where a single article only, such as a newspaper or magazine, will be dispensed upon selective operation of the horizontally movable stripper assembly in either direction of complete travel.