Abstract: An apparatus for dispending a fluid free of included air bubbles, such as for example, an adhesive bead, includes sensing devices for detecting the presence of an included air bubble in the conduit leading from a source of the fluid to a discharge of a movable fluid dispenser. The sensing devices are connected to a motor which drives an arm on which the fluid dispenser is mounted. A first sensing device slows movement of the dispenser upon sensing an air bubble in the fluid and a second sensing device stops movement of the dispenser upon sensing an air bubble in the fluid. The movement of the dispenser is restarted after a predetermined time period sufficient to allow the air bubble to pass out of the dispenser discharge. The sensing devices advantageously use a light beam, such as infra-red light or laser, to detect the presence of the included air bubble.

Abstract: A vending machine designed to increase the flexibility of product storage and distribution therein, allowing specific product capacities to be increased or decreased in small increments without a loss of product selection. In the vending machine, a plurality of substantially vertical partitions define a plurality of vertical adjacent columns for product storage, wherein adjacent product storage columns are separated by a vertical partition. A removable product transfer shelf is placed at a selected vertical position in at least one particular product storage column, such that products below the transfer shelf are vended by actuation of the vending mechanism for that particular product column, while products above the transfer shelf are transferred thereby to an adjacent product column to be vended by the vending machine for the adjacent product column.

Abstract: A recirculating document feeder for presenting document sheets to a copier apparatus for reproducing multiple collated sets of information respectively contained on one face of such document sheets, or information respectively contained on both faces of such sheets, at a rate which makes maximum use of the full reproduction rate of the copier apparatus. In the recirculating document feeder, during the first circulation of a set of document sheets, after both sides of each sheet are exposed to reproduce information contained thereon, such sheets are returned to the hopper with their facial orientation reversed with respect to their initial facial orientation in the hopper. During all during subsequent circulations of such document sheets except the last circulation, after both sides of each sheet are exposed to reproduce information contained thereon, such sheets are returned to the hopper with the facial orientation reversed with respect to their initial facial orientation in the hopper.

Abstract: System and method for preventing multiple vends in which a customer gets more than one product for the price of one. The invention is applicable to vending machines having separate vend motors for delivering different products, with product selection switches for selectively energizing the vend motors. When one of the vend motors is energized, energization of a second vend motor is inhibited for a predetermined period of time to prevent vending of a second product.

Abstract: A mixture control system for mixing a bactericidal chemical and water in a reservoir in batches. Flow of the water into the reservoir is initiated by a float actuated switch and the duration of the flow is controlled. While the flow is occurring, a dispenser dispenses chemical into the reservoir according to a preset dispensing cycle which is initiated when the water flow is initiated and also terminates therewith.

Abstract: A spray-type dispenser for on-demand dispensing of a solid block of chemical retained within a container in the form of an aqueous chemical solution of substantially constant concentration, comprising: (i) an upwardly dispoded spray nozzle, (ii) a three-dimensional support screen for supporting the solid block of chemical above the spray nozzle, and (iii) a housing enclosing the spray nozzle and support screen; the housing and support screen defining an annular cavity. In operation, a container retaining a solid block of a water-soluble chemical is placed within the dispenser such that the support screen contacts the chemical but not the container; thereby allowing the container to descend, by force of gravity into the annula cavity as the chemical retained therein is dissolved.

Abstract: The coins roll along track surfaces (1, 2, 3) merely supporting the bottoms of the coins, these track surfaces each being associated with respectively one steep guide surface supporting the coins along one side. The guide surfaces are formed on plates (11, 19, 24) that can be spread apart by pivoting. Beside the end of a first track surface (1) oriented toward a baffle surface (8), a second track surface (2) begins that extends in the opposite direction, on which the coins roll into a steadying chamber (15) having a V-shaped bottom cross section (35, 36), from which emanates a third track surface (3) on which the previously steadied coins pass through a coin checking station (20) at a velocity independent of the speed with which the coins have reached the steadying chamber (15).

Abstract: A container and follow plate assembly for highly viscous materials such as hand cleaner is selectively usable with dispensing devices having receiving ports of larger and smaller sizes. The preferably cylindrical container, which is sized so that one end fits the larger port, has a removable cover at that end and a fixed member closing the second end. The fixed member inlcudes a removably covered discharge opening therein which fits the smaller port. The follow plate, a one piece, preferably circular dish which is closely spaced from the inside of the container, is positioned adjacent the discharge opening end when the container is filled. The follow plate includes an integral but removable section aligned with and larger than the discharge opening.

Abstract: A system for applying sealant material to the welded seams of an automobile body including a reciprocating piston pump for supplying the material under pressure from a reservoir to an overhead distribution manifold. From the manifold the material is supplied to a plurality of extrusion guns through drop lines, each of which includes a pressure regulator and volumetric metering gear pump for maintaining a constant flow rate to the guns irrespective of pressure changes which may occur in the distribution manifold.

Abstract: The bill device comprises a main part made of an elongated casing. A bill insertion slit is formed at an end portion of a front panel of the casing and a bill conveying passage of an L-shape is provided in the casing and communicates with the bill insertion slit for conveying a bill in the longitudinal direction. A bill discrimination device is provided in a short straight portion of the bill conveying passage nearer to the bill insertion slit and a reciprocating mechanism is provided on one side of a long straight portion of the bill conveying passage for effecting a bill accumulating operation. A bill accumulating box is provided on the other side of the long straight portion of the bill conveying passage for accumulating bills pressed toward it by the reciprocating mechanism.

Abstract: A dry chemical pellet dispensing apparatus particularly adaptable for treatment of well water with chlorine pellets or like water purification tablets. A downwardly open pellet container is secured to a pellet flow regulator housing, which discharges pellets onto the surface of a metering plate. The discharge housing has baffles to regulate pellet flow. The metering plate has arrays of compartments for holding individual pellets. Select compartments are open and select compartments are closed. Open compartments can each receive a pellet. The pellet is moved in the open compartment upon rotation of the metering wheel to a location over a drop opening leading to a discharge tube which drops the pellet into the well. The speed of rotation of the metering wheel and the density of open compartments determines the dosage rate of pellets administered to the well.

Abstract: Elevator control apparatus comprising a sensing head containing a plurality of position responsive switches usable for elevator control. A tape guide is supported from the sensing head housing and includes separate guide members oppositely disposed at opposite sides of the sensing head housing along with screws for securing the oppositely disposed guide members to either side of the housing. Each guide member has a slot for receiving one side of the rigid tape.

Abstract: A slot machine of the type having a plurality of rotatable reels, each bearing an annular row of various symbols on the outer surface thereof, or a corresponding CRT display, which selects and displays combinations of symbols during each game, and which pays out coins not only when predetermined prize-winning combinations of symbols occur on prize-winning rows but also when a predetermined number of consecutive lost games take place.

Abstract: A device for mixing and spraying a mixture composed of at least two components, such as liquids, and of a propellant, comprising two containers disposed within each other for receiving the components to be mixed and the propellant, and comprising a dispensing valve mounted on the outer container and including a movably mounted dispensing tube. The dispensing valve is adapted to act on a closure member of the inner container in such a way that the inner container may be broken open by normal actuation of the dispensing valve or the dispensing tube thereof. In order to achieve and maintain a defined fluid communication between the interior of the inner container and the interior of the outer container, the closure member of the inner container preferably includes a sealing cap adapted to be pushed or urged into the container opening by the dispensing tube of the dispensing valve.

Abstract: A dispenser comprises a container having a movable wall in the form of a plunger and an opposite fixed wall opening into a dispensing nozzle. Dispensing is actuated by a fixed dispenser mechanism having an operating rod with a pusher plate. The pusher plate is biased in the retraction direction by a spring, and a bayonet coupling is provided for holding a base portion of the container in relation to a socket of the dispenser mechanism.

Abstract: Thickness indicator apparatus mounted adjacent to a bill path inside an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) includes a wishbone (45) having a pair of identical fingers (46) which contact bills moving in the bill path, and a metallic target (52). The wishbone is floatably mounted to the frame of the ATM such that target (52) is displaced an amount which is proportional to the thickness of the bills in contact with fingers (46). A sensor (66) senses the position of the target (52) and generates an electrical signal indicative of bill thickness.

Abstract: A dispensing device for a bactericidal pellet such as chlorine tablets which is readily adapted to being placed on a hopper container for the pellets and which can dispense the pellets such as in conjunction with a well or a water recirculation system while employing a minimum number of parts. The pellet dispenser employs a unique rotor member with pellet carrying passages designed to dispense the pellets from the hopper and out of the pellet dispenser in an individual manner and without jamming. In the instance where pellets may become improperly placed in the pellet carrying passages so that the rotor does not properly move inside the rotor housing, a bi-directional self-reversing motor is utilized so that the tablet dispensing sequence will continue in an accurate manner. This is effected in part by a bidirectional rotor member which is able to dispense tablets in a clockwise or counterclockwise manner.

Abstract: A portable pill storage and dispensing device adapted to record the time one or more pills are dispensed on demand or emits a time alarm as a reminder which events are recorded for future interrogation and where a novel pill-retaining cavity closure is selectively activated to disperse one or more pills. The device consists of a keyboard assembly which also stores and dispenses the pills and an electronic assembly which records the data regarding key closures whenever a pill is dispensed.

Abstract: A special door is added to the coin receiving mechanism of a pay telephone or other vending machine to discourage the practice of stuffing the mechanism with paper or other foreign matter to trap deposited coins. A slot in the door is normally aligned with the regular slot for coin deposit. If stuffing occurs, the door slides over, misaligning the two slots and preventing deposit of any further coins.

Abstract: This invention adds a fuel pressure sensitive piston at a location adjacent to the automatic shut off mechanism of a fuel dispensing nozzle. A lever responsive to the reciprocal movements of the piston biases against the diaphragm of the shut off mechanism raising it and disengaging its associated latch mechanism for release of the dispenser handle and closure of the nozzle poppet valve when there is no fuel being delivered from the pump. When there is fuel pressure from the pump at the inlet of the nozzle, the piston is forced in an opposite direction releasing its contact through a lever with said diaphragm and allowing the automatic shut off mechanism to routinely function.