Abstract: The planting machine comprises a hopper having a bottom formed by a belt conveyor which extends outside the hopper. A tuber supply device supplies the tubers one by one from the conveyor to the furrow to be sown and comprises a collector cup mounted at the end of the conveyor which receives each tuber from the conveyor. A device responsive to the presence of a tuber in the cup stops the conveyor when the tuber is in the cup. Movable cups for taking up the tuber received in the collector cup drive the tuber into the furrow.

Abstract: A dispensing rack assembly which includes an enclosure for storing one or more items to be dispensed, an access opening communicating with the interior of the enclosure through which an item can be withdrawn, and a detection device associated with the opening for detecting the withdrawal of an item from the enclosure wherein the detection device includes a radiant energy emitting device, such as an incandescent light, for directing a beam of radiant energy near the access opening, a receiving device, such as a photoelectric cell, associated with the emitting device for receiving the beam of radiant energy, and an electric circuit associated with the receiving device including a control responsive to a change in the beam received by the receiving device and a signal device actuatable by the control whereby withdrawal of an item from the enclosure changes the beam and actuates the signal device.

Abstract: A lottery-ticket assembly is disclosed in which lottery tickets are arranged in an upstanding position to project upwardly from a container. Upstanding lottery-ticket strips are anchored in the container and are stacked in side-by-side relation and relatively spaced by spacer strips. Each ticket strip has a plurality of tongues projecting upwardly from the container and tear-off lines in the base portion of the ticket strip to separate from the base portion a pulling portion of each tongue, the pulling portion being provided with a lottery-ticket designation.

Abstract: A control unit and dispensers for a gasoline station providing for prepayment at a single control of fuel dispensing at each of a plurality of dispensers, and automatic payout of change whenever a customer does not take all of the gasoline paid for. A control unit for introducing credits into a selected dispenser and removing credits from the dispenser (i.e., debiting the selected dispenser), and recording credits and debits.

Abstract: The vending control system has first and second motor- and dispensing- assemblies, each assembly including a motor for driving a load and dispensing a product, a motor cam switch connected to the motor, a load cam switch connected to the motor, a motor cam drivingly connected to the motor and operatively actuating the motor cam switch, a load cam operatively actuating the load cam switch, and a torque-limiting clutch interconnecting the cams for driving the load cam and for permitting relative rotational movement of the cams at predetermined torque value. The assemblies are connected in parallel, with the motor and load cam switch of each assembly connected across the power source. The motor cam switch of the first assembly is connected to the power source and to the motor cam switch of the second assembly.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for supplying a dry mortar mix comprising containers with a gate valve at one end and a hook at the opposite end and a support for holding at least two such containers with the gate valve lowermost and the hook uppermost. The support is placed at a construction site and the containers are filled at a plant with dry sand and cement mortar mix and are delivered to the construction site by truck. Installation of the containers and the support is done by a crane. Empty container(s) are removed and replaced by full one(s). Other container(s) can be tapped in the meantime to ensure that the supply of mix is continuous.

Abstract: For use at a non-paying exit from a vehicle parking facility, an automatic ticket chute which accepts, validates, and stores unused parking tickets of a conventional type. A ticket inserted into a ticket throat by a vehicle operator is read by an optical reader and identified as a valid parking ticket. A pinch roller drive mechanism is then energized to feed the ticket to a ticket chute whence it is shuttled to a ticket storage area.

Abstract: Battery dispenser including a flat, circular molded plastic casing comprising co-fitting upper and lower casing halves defining an enclosure with the upper casing half being rotatable and including a series of openings in its top wall for insertion of a voltmeter probe to contact the upper terminal surface of each one of a plurality of small, miniature button cell batteries held in the lower casing half in a spaced apart, circular row arrangement, the upper casing half further including a discharge outlet which circumscribes one of the series of openings and which is normally closed by a cover cap attached to the top wall by an integral flexible hinge. A conductor element is positioned internal of the enclosure in the form of a circular ring with branch elements extending therefrom in contact with the lower terminal surface of each battery.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for delivering two sulfur pellets or pills to the interior of hot glass containers which are moving on a conveyor. The pill delivery apparatus is supplied, through a magazine, with pills to a gating mechanism. The gating device which is pneumatically actuated, isolates two pills from the magazine, places the pills in the inlet to a delivery tube and then air under pressure, which actuates the gating device, is delivered to the two pills to pneumatically dispatch the pills through the delivery tube. The delivery tube has its delivery end positioned over the bottle conveyor so that the pills enter through the finish or neck of the bottle.

Abstract: A rear-to-front spiral vendor having special provision for vending items such as bags of snack products, e.g., bags of potato chips, without hang-up of the items against the front window of the cabinet of the vendor.

Abstract: A pan unstacker includes an elevator for lifting a stack of pans as it is depleted to position the top pan in a pick up position and a magnetic lift for engaging the lips of the top pan and raising the pan to a magnetic discharge conveyor. The unstacker is manually adjustable to accommodate different size pans through the use of threaded adjustment shafts and elevator and lift drives connecting fixed drive motors on the unstacker frame to moveable elevators and lift heads.

Abstract: An automatic closure device for use in combination with a pressurized container which has a liquid or pasty filling dischargeable as a foam, as well as a propellant, and comprises a valve spring-biassed into the closed position is described, which closure device comprises an actuator head having a discharge orifice, a discharge duct in the actuator head which duct connects the discharge orifice with an entry port, remote from the orifice, in the actuator head and serving for connecting the latter to an outlet opening of the container controlled by the aforesaid valve, the discharge duct and orifice being surrounded by an integral wall consisting, at the discharge orifice and the wall portion adjacent the latter, of two wall zones the contact edges of which at the discharge orifice are of equal length and abut each other in closed position while, in open position, these contact edges merge with each other under an acute angle, one of these wall zones being elastically flexible and the other rigid; and a beak-s

Abstract: A vending apparatus of a type utilizing a selectively rotatable helical member. The helical member is connected at one end to an annular plate having gear teeth around the inner periphery thereof. A drive gear is disposed within the annular plate and is in operative engagement with the teeth on the inner periphery of the annular plate. The drive gear and thereby the annular plate and helix is driven ultimately by an electric motor. Once the motor is turned on the helical member will rotate one-half of a revolution before being switched off by a switching device. A vertical divider is disposed within the helical member and supports the helical member along the top thereof. A portion of the helical member is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the helix and this portion is connected to the vertical divider for stabilizing and supporting the helical member as it rotates. A plurality of such vending units are stacked on top of one another and are slidable into and out from a cabinet housing.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for dispensing liquid which is adjustable to direct the streams of liquid at various angles. Multiple aligned clamp blocks are secured to a mounting bracket. Adjacent clamp blocks have mutually facing surfaces with pairs of recesses formed therein to pivotally receive a plurality of nozzles. The nozzles each include a tubular member having a spherical portion received in the recesses. The tubes are connected to sources of liquid. The number of nozzles in the assembly may be increased by linear extension as well as by adding additional rows to increase the depth of the assembly. A threaded member secures the clamp blocks to the bracket with the clamp blocks being pivotable and the nozzles being pivotable until the threaded member is tightened. A fastener secures the bracket to a bulkhead with the bracket being pivotable until the fastener is tightened. The clamp blocks have tapered cross sections to allow pivoting of the nozzles.

Abstract: An automatic system adapted to store, select for dispensation and count dispensed articles such as controlled drugs especially useful for the storage, dispensing and keeping of accurate, tamper proof records of controlled drugs in hospitals.A novel programmed strip for the system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dispenser-cover adapted to replace existing auxiliary caps on containers for granulated or powdered coffee or other material in particulate form, the cover serving to discharge a metered amount of such material. The cover is constituted by a cap attachable to the mouth of the container, the cylindrical side wall of the cap having an opening therein which receives a trough-like spout whose apex is pivoted to the side wall. Extending across the upper section of the spout is a divider that partitions the section into two zones, such that when the spout is swung open to expose the front zone and the container is tipped over, particulate material lying in the lower section of the spout whose capacity is equal to one teaspoon or any other predetermined measure, is discharged through the open zone, the divider blocking the discharge of additional material.

Abstract: An improved seed planter; improvements in planting devices adapted to plant individual seeds one by one, at spaced intervals in a prepared furrow; improved mechanism for individually receiving seeds one by one each in a moving receptacle, retaining each seed in its receptacle as it is moved to planting position and then ejecting the seeds from the receptacles one by one in timed and spaced sequence; improved seed feeding apparatus for continuously receiving seeds for planting from a source (i.e. a hopper), arranging them individually in sequence and feeding them in sequence to individual receptacles of a planting device; an improved seed planter module incorporating a furrow cutter, seed storing, feeding and planting apparatus, furrow closing apparatus and furrow tamping apparatus.

Abstract: Push-pull dispensing closure provided with interengaging angulated ribs and cooperating lugs on the exterior of the shell member chimney portion and interior of the tip member sleeve portion, respectively, to provide a limited degree of relative rotation therebetween during extension or opening movement of the tip member and finding particular utility when utilized as a dispensing closure for a bottle or container of viscous or thixotropic material requiring shaking immediately before use. This construction provides apparatus for preventing spurting upon opening of the closure after such shaking.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing system which will deliver a precise, pre-set quantity of a selected beverage at each actuation. The system is operated by low pressure gas from a quickly replaceable source, and utilizes a controlled stroke piston pump which is driven and returned by the pressurized gas. All the valves for automatic operation of the punp are contained in the compact pump housing, but the gas and liquid sections are completely isolated to avoid contamination. The pump and valve unit contains a minimum of parts, all of which are readily accessible for cleaning and servicing. An automatic count of operations is maintained and the system shuts off when the liquid level is too low for a full serving.

Abstract: A pouring adaptor adapted to be mounted over the open end in a container for liquid products comprising a central disc portion having a locking rib for securing the adaptor over the discharge opening in the container, a lower section depending into the container having a plurality of window-like discharge openings of a size and shape to control discharge of fluid therethrough and an upper generally cylindrical head section terminating in an outwardly flared lip and having flange members for detachably securing the adaptor to a closure.