Abstract: A trigger-actuated sliding dental amalgam dispenser is provided with a material distribution shell within which a transport carriage is longitudinally reciprocated under the control of a trigger actuator. Liquid conduit channels in the shell carry mercury from a reservoir above the shell to a measuring chamber in the carriage. Upon actuation of the trigger, the measuring chamber, otherwise held in communication with the mercury reservoir by a spring bias on the trigger, is reciprocated relative to the shell to that the mercury in the measuring chamber is discharged into a dispensing well. Concurrently, a slide with a silver receptacle tray is repositioned to receive another tablet of silver from a tablet dispensing cartridge positioned above the material distribution shell. When the trigger is released, the tray carries the silver tablet into vertical registration with the dispensing well to drop the tablet into the well.

Abstract: Dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles such as thin substrates includes horizontally disposed shelves one above the other. Each shelf is divided into a plurality of lanes. Each lane includes at least one endless belt for moving a stack of upright substrates toward a front edge of the shelf. A drive mechanism is connected to each belt for driving each belt. A transfer member is provided for each lane adjacent the front end portion of the shelf. Each transfer member projects beyond the effective reach of its associated belt so that the leading substrate to be dispensed is supported by the transfer member prior to dropping downwardly off the free end of the transfer member.

Abstract: In a coin counting device for an automatic vending machine, the outputs of counters adapted to counts the number of inserted coins separately according to the denominations of the coins are multiplied by the factors which are set by setting circuits separately according to the denominations, respectively, to obtain the total amount of money of the inserted coins. The factors can be changed according to the denominations of coins to be handled by the automatic vending machine, without modifying the circuitry, so that the device can handle coins of any denominations.

Abstract: A machine for sorting objects, such as for instance mushrooms, depending upon the size of the object includes an elongated supporting frame, a continuous carrier chain extending longitudinally on each side of the frame, there being apparatus for synchronously driving the chains, and a plurality of spaced, transversely extending rods spanning the distance between the chains and carried thereby for movement therewith, there being a finger member carried by each of the rods in swingable engagement therewith, each finger member having an upper hook portion engaging the rod, a lower edge portion and an intermediate arcuate portion between the hook and the edge.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (OS) with a circuit for use in a television receiver is carried to a location of a conveyor (OD) for testing process. A printed circuit board takeout device (OB), automatic parts testing device (OF), first sorting device (OG), first automatic parts measuring/adjustment device (OI), second sorting device (OJ), second automatic parts measuring/adjustment device (OK), third sorting device (OL) etc. are sequentially arranged on a path of conveyance of the printed circuit board on the conveyor (OD). The automatic parts testing device (OF) is adapted to test whether or not a component part of a desired value exists in a desired location of the printed circuit board (OS). The first sorting device (OG) is adapted to transfer an unfit printed circuit board to a conveyor (OH) for unfit printed circuit board.

Abstract: A process for separating ore particles from gangue particles comprises the steps of (1) conditioning the particles with an agent comprising a compound having both a surface-selective functional group and a detectable moiety, to selectively coat either the ore particles or the gangue particles, to the substantial exclusion of the other; (2) detecting the coated particles; and (3) separating the detected, coated particles from the substantially uncoated particles. In one embodiment, the detectable moiety is fluorescent and detecting is performed under ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: A lift for moving a wheelchair over a stairway includes a ramp, a wheelchair supporting platform and a mechanism for operating the platform over the ramp. When the lift is inoperative, the wheelchair supporting platform can be removed from the ramp and the ramp can be stored such that it does not intrude into the stairway and the operating mechanism is inaccessible.

Abstract: A tank suitable for holding a lubricant is provided with a dipstick. A sleeve which is mounted on the tank and adapted to support the dipstick is interconnected with the output duct of the tank by means of a further duct. The arrangement is such that if the dipstick is incorrectly located in the sleeve, air is permitted to flow through the further duct into the output duct so that the pressure of the lubricant in the output duct is reduced. This pressure reduction consequently provides an indication of incorrect dipstick location.

Abstract: A container body of fiberboard or the like of rectangular form with a funnel-like dispensing bottom composed of a plurality of segmental insert sections, each of which is wedge shaped in both horizontal and vertical cross-sections to tightly wedge in place and direct material from the four upstanding sides of the container body to a central dispensing opening. To obtain adequate crush-resisting strength in the funnel-like bottom, a plurality of insert sections are disposed side-by-side along each of the upstanding sides of the container body.

Abstract: A self-sealing spout for a caulking cartridge or the like wherein the discharge tube of the spout extends through a central aperture in an end panel of the cartridge. The spout includes an enlarged annular base integral with the inner end of the discharge tube and engageable with the inner surface of the end panel about the central tube-receiving aperture. The base includes a flexible sealing lip defined peripherally thereabout by an annular groove, said sealing lip being retained in flexed sealed engagement with an annular inclined wall defined in the end panel. The spout is secured to the end panel by a locking of the flanged periphery of the end panel aperture within a peripheral groove about the discharge tube immediately outward of the base.

Abstract: A parts separator for separating small parts from a mixture with larger members, comprising a vertical cylindrical separator baffle wall and a continuously rotating conical rotor mounted co-axially in the baffle; the upper surface of the rotor is radially corrugated with the outer ends of the corrugation "valleys" large enough to accept the small parts but not the larger members. A mixture deposited on the rotor at an input location moves downwardly and outwardly, so that the small parts fall into the corrugation valleys and then through an annular gap between the rotor and the baffle onto a floor at the base of the separator; the small parts are pushed along the floor and out through a small parts discharge port. The larger members ride down the corrugation peaks and come out through a different discharge port, comprising a large gap in the baffle wall. A proximity switch monitors separator operation and affords an alarm in the event of interruption; a friction clutch affords specific overload protection.

Abstract: A method of sorting rivets or similarly shaped articles, and apparatus therefor. Rivets are directed along a track to a notch where they are supported in a shank-down attitude against a rotating gauging wheel having a plurality of gauging holes conforming generally to the shape of the shank. The wheel is rotated so the gauging holes move upwardly with respect to the shanks while grooves in the periphery of the wheel guide the shanks toward the holes. Rivets with a uniform shank will settle into the holes so their heads are below the periphery, while rivets with bent, gouged, burred or oversized shanks will not settle fully into the holes. A rivet kicker timed to the rotation of the wheel ejects rivets not fully settled in the holes. Fully settled rivets are blown out of the gauging holes into a tube where they are conveyed by air towards a riveting machine.

Abstract: A dispenser mechanism is provided for capping squeeze-bottle type containers, wherein a dual valve arrangement provides for the dispensing of the contents of the container with automatic closure during periods of non-use. The contents of the container are not exposed to ambient until such time as it is dispensed. The dual valves respond to differences in pressure, and cooperate to dispense the contents of the container, or seal the openings thereof during non-use. The cap may include a dispenser spout which is cleaned of material at the end of the dispensing period by the action of the dispenser mechanism herein.

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

Abstract: A method and device is disclosed for aseptically and automatically diluting and dispensing liquids such as medication. The quantities to be delivered are selected, and an electronic circuit translates the selections into sequential and repetitive pumping by syringes comprising part of the device. The syringes are powered by pressurized air, and the entire device is enclosed and supplied with filtered air at a positive pressure to produce aseptic conditions.

Abstract: Two embodiments of a system for dispensing currency notes are disclosed. The first embodiment of the system comprises two major components, a cartridge (10) and a dispenser (14). The second embodiment of the system comprises three major components, a cartridge (10), a loader (12) and a dispenser (14). The cartridge (10) comprises a housing (28) having a supply spool (30) and two takeup spools (32, 34) rotatably mounted therein. Outer and inner flexible films (36, 38) are secured to and wound about the spools. Individual currency notes (18) are sandwiched between the films (36, 38) and stored on the supply spool (30). The loader (12) separates and verifies individual currency notes from a stack and transports the currency notes to the cartridge (10). The loader (12) causes the supply spool (30) to rotate so that an individual currency note is stored on the spool and further resists the rotation of the takeup spools (32, 34) to maintain tension in the films (36, 38).

Abstract: A system for routing correspondence from a first location including a plurality of slot entries to a predetermined conveyor path to a second, discharge location. A collection assembly is disposed at the discharge location for collection of routed correspondence along two adjacent conveyor paths.

Abstract: A portable device for accurately metering a liquid for intravenous or enteric infusion into a patient's body in which the pressure from a pressure source is utilized to pressurize the liquid and the pressurized liquid becomes the sole driving force to meter and to infuse the liquid into the body. The pressurized liquid is applied alternately to one of a pair of flexible liquid bladders the other one being connected to a discharge device such as a tube so that, as one liquid bladder is filled with pressurized liquid, the other bladder is emptied into the patient. The expanding liquid bladder and the contracting liquid bladder cooperate with a teeter totter type control which applies pressure to the contracting liquid bladder and is damped to control the rate of expansion and contraction. The position of the teeter totter controls the valving for applying pressurized fluid from one side to the opposite by alternatively selecting channels of fluid flow to each liquid bladder.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting workpieces of different classification classes and for forming groups having a pre-set number of workpieces of the same class, comprising a base; a housing support mobile on the base having a number of partitions at least equal to the number of classes; a loading device for loading one workpiece at a time into the support partition when in a determined loading and unloading position with respect to the support; a control group receiving signals indicative of the class of the workpieces; a control device for operating the housing support, the control device being connected to the control group for positioning in the loading and unloading position a relevant partition provided for receiving the workpieces of the same class of the next workpiece to be loaded; an unloading device arranged in correspondence with the loading position; and a driving device for operating the unloading device, the driving device being connected to the control group and including an enabling mechanism for contr

Abstract: A machine for dispensing bulk merchandise comprises a dispensing chute comprised of a horizontally extending wall part and a merchandise dispensing receptacle attached thereto, and a vertically extending wall part extending upwardly from the horizontally extending wall part. The receptacle is movable through a discharge opening in the bottom of a housing containing the chute between a retracted and a forward, dispensing position, and the vertically extending wall part is pivotally connected to the horizontally extending wall part for movement therewith upon movement of the receptacle. A cut-off slide is movable with the receptacle between a retracted and a forward, cut-off position for cutting off delivery of merchandise from a hopper into the chute when the receptacle is moved into the forward position. A stop prevents the horizontally extending wall part from projecting beyond the discharge opening when the same is moved into the forward position wherein the receptacle projects therebeyond.