Abstract: An order picking truck, in particular a high-lift order picking truck, is equipped with a driver's stand (3), a load-picking fork (5) and a wall (11) separating the driver's stand (3) from the load area. The fork (5) is secured on an initial lift device (7, 8, 9, 10) so that it can be moved up and down relative to the driver's stand (3). According to the invention, an additional lift device (17, 18, 20) is provided with which a load on the fork can be raised beyond the highest position of the initial lift device. The fork has two-part fork tines (12, 13) which each have a load picking upper part (13) and a lower part (12) secured to the initial lift device. Each two-part fork tine includes a scissor construction (19) guiding the upper part (13) of the tine parallel with the lower part (12) of the tine.

Abstract: A lifting platform for motor vehicles. The platform has easily adjustable support elements mounted on the ends of a beam. The support elements are applied to the pre-designated lifting points on the vehicle for safe lifting thereof.

Abstract: In the overhead supporting beam of an elevator door, the roller races (4,5) for the rollers of the door panels are formed from one piece with the overhead supporting beam (1). The door operating mechanism (11) with the door operating motor (15) is fitted to form a single unit with the overhead supporting beam (1) of the door.

Abstract: The sliding door assembly for an elevator and a method for replacing an existing swinging elevator door with a sliding elevator door. The swinging door assembly is removed and is replaced in situ with a sliding elevator door assembly. A portion of the wall adjacent to the elevator door is removed, permitting the sliding door to slide into the part of the wall which has been removed. The part of the wall which has been removed and in which the sliding door fits is covered by a stationary panel. In another embodiment, there are two sliding doors that slide behind the side stationary panel. A left sliding entrance door and a right sliding entrance door are in separate planes so that one of the doors can slide behind the other.

Abstract: A material dispenser includes a first panel for supporting pieces of material, and a second panel appended to the first panel. The second panel is formed to include a material-dispensing aperture to permit a piece of material to pass through the second panel. A material-dispensing plate is situated on the first panel and has a material-acquiring position and a material-dispensing position. The dispenser also includes a ledge appended to the material-dispensing plate and situated under the material when the material-dispensing plate is in the material-dispensing position and behind the material when the material-dispensing plate is in the material-acquiring position.

Abstract: An automatic golf ball dispenser wherein a hopper containing a large number of golf balls, which rest upon a rotary disc that is driven by a motor. To operate the dispenser, a customer deposits a form of currency into a control box, thereby actuating the rotary disc that will then dispense the desired number of golf balls to the customer. Controls contained within the control box govern various functions such as, how many balls are to be dispensed, ensuring that adequate safety features are in place, and checking that the dispenser is operating in a proper manner. The present invention also has an alternative wherein a signal is transmitted from the control box to a separate receiver indicating when the dispenser is in need of service.

Abstract: In a chemical analysis element cartridge, chemical analysis element pressing mechanism is inserted into a cartridge body to press a stack of chemical analysis elements in the cartridge body toward an element take-out port formed in one end of the cartridge body. The element pressing mechanism includes a stopper to be engaged with an engagement teeth formed on an inner wall surface of the cartridge body and a pressing member which presses the stack of the chemical analysis elements toward the element take-out port under the force of a coiled spring. The stopper has a slider member which is slidable relative to a shaft portion of the pressing member and the coiled spring is disposed around the slider member with its one end in abutment against the pressing member and its the other end retained by a spring retainer portion formed on one end of the slider member.

Abstract: A candy dispensing device uses an impeller to impart centrifugal force to a mass of candies held in the dispenser's housing. The swirling mass of candies may be a source of amusement to the user and may be used to dispense the candies through a spout. In one version of the invention, the dispensing device includes a handle and is sized to be portable by the user. The dispensing device uses a combination cap with two cap portions, one to cover the fill mouth, and the other to cover the spout.

Abstract: An overlay for a elevator guide rail extends over the joints between segments to provide a seamless engagement surface for the guide rail. The overlay separates the engagement surface from the joints between adjacent segments to minimize vibration and improve the comfort of the ride. In one embodiment, an elevator includes a guide rail having a support formed from multiple segments joined end to end and an overlay encompassing a portion of the support. The overlay defines the engagement surface for the guide shoes of the elevator.

Abstract: A refillable sheet dispenser of the type having walls defining a cavity adapted to receive a stack of sheets including first and second end walls at opposite ends of a side wall with the first end wall having an elongate outlet opening through which individual sheets from the stack in the cavity may be manually withdrawn, while the stack of sheets is biased toward the first end wall. The biasing is provided by a strip of non metallic material bent to provide the biasing force and to provide space within it in which refill stacks of sheets or other items may be stored.

Abstract: A gravity feed system for a merchandise dispenser such as a refrigerated cooler. This includes a plurality of downwardly inclined track assemblies that support a row of bottles by its neck flanges. The forwardmost bottle is prevented from exiting its track by a stop member. The stop member includes an opening whereby when the bottle is tilted toward the horizontal it can be removed from its track. The stop member also includes an arrangement for preventing tilting of the bottle when in its forwardmost position.

Abstract: An apparatus for housing multiple shapes and sizes of pills and simultaneously dispensing a single pill of each type, the apparatus comprising a vertically oriented support structure with an upper, middle and lower housing portions, each portion including a plurality of identically sized and spaced conduits. The upper conduits house a plurality of pills, while each of the middle conduits are designed to hold a single pill. The middle housing portion is capable of horizontal motion, and is normally positioned in an initial holding position in which the upper and middle conduits are aligned, and the middle and lower conduits are off-set. When the middle portion is moved into a second, release position, the middle conduits misalign with the upper conduits and align with the lower conduits, thereby allowing the single pill contained within each of the middle conduits to drop through the lower conduits and into the user's hand or, alternately, into a hollow collection area for retrieving the dispensed pills.

Abstract: Horizontally moveable elevator cabs (22, 23) are transferred from the upper deck of a first car frame (26) to the upper deck of a second car frame (27) and from the lower deck of the second car frame to the lower deck of the first car frame. Three elevator hoistways, each with a double deck car frame are controlled by computer routines. A rack and pinion horizontal motive means, for moving the cab from car frame to car frame is also briefly disclosed.

Abstract: A vending apparatus of the type having drop shelves, wherein the shelves are retained in an upright position by a solenoid, and wherein, when so positioned, the solenoid forms a series electrical circuit with the shelf, such that the position of the shelf can be tested by testing the integrity of this series electrical circuit. The vending apparatus can be equipped with an acoustic input, such that upon receiving a particular acoustic input signal, the machine will automatically test the position of the shelves by testing the shelf/solenoid circuit, and in this way, an inventory of the contents of the vending machine can be performed.

Abstract: Difficulties in handling drums when transporting them from one location to another may be avoided through use of an apparatus for transporting the drums that includes a cart frame (12) having spaced side members (13) and (14) extending to an open side. The spacing between the side members (13), (14) is such as to allow a drum (84) to be transported to fit between the side members (13), (14) by advancing the open side toward the drum (84). Wheels (18), (22) are located on the cart frame (10) and a lifting frame (12) is mounted on the cart frame (10) for elevating movement thereon. The lifting frame is open on one side to receive a drum to be transported and includes a lifting side (80) adapted to engage a rib (82) on a drum (84). Grapple arms (68) are located on the lifting frame (12) for engaging a drum (84) and holding the drum (84) against the lifting side (80). Lift assemblies (40) are provided for lifting the lifting frame (12) away from the cart frame (10).

Abstract: A horizontally moveable elevator cab (14) is transferred between a plurality of car frames (16-18) in successive hoistways (11-13) by horizontal motive means (44-47) in response to a signal processing controller (43, FIGS. 4 and 5).

Abstract: A dispenser of dispensing tablets one at a time which includes a feature which prevents children from dispensing tablets. The dispenser has a reservoir and a moving slider member that can be moved from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position, after an locking pin or detent is unlocked. The unlocking pin or detent is mounted on a movable thumbpad, which requires the application of upward force to unlock the locking pin or detent from a locking hole or recess. The slider member has a chamber which holds only one tablet, which chamber moves from a position where the tablet is blocked from dropping from the chamber to a position where the chamber is aligned with a dispensing opening. In the dispensing position, the tablet in the chamber is dispensed, whereas the remaining tablets in the dispenser prevented from entering the chamber by a wall on the slider member.

Abstract: A dispenser is formed of a flexible plastic pouch which has a removable flap providing an opening adjacent the bottom of the pouch, and a mounting or retaining element adjacent the top of the pouch. A plurality of stacked reclosable ended, opened, separate plastic bags are disposed in a folded stack within the pouch. The plastic bags are disposed adjacent the bottom of the pouch with the pouch mounted or retained. A portion of one outermost plastic bag reclosable end is disposed in the pouch opening, so that the user by the thumb and then the forefinger pulls the one plastic bag end portion causing the one plastic bag to slide over the adjacent plastic bag and through the opening. After removal of the one bag, the next adjacent bag is then similarly positioned for removal. The removed plastic bag is immediately ready for filling. The dispenser is particularly useful for dispensing reclosable plastic deli bags where the user's fingers are greasy.

Abstract: A lift truck provided with a fixed mast section, several moveable mast sections and a carriage supporting load carrying forks and operator's platform is hydraulically raised and lowered. Mast chains interconnect the fixed mast section and the moveable mast sections and the moveable mast sections and the carriage. One pair of cushioning devices is placed between the fixed mast section and lower most moveable mast section and a second pair of cushioning devices is placed between the uppermost moveable mast section and the carriage. Each cushioning device two spring elements, one with a relatively soft spring rate, the other with a relatively stiff spring rate. The cushioning devices and a common hydraulic connection between hydraulic cylinders combine to reduce the shock and jerk felt by the operator during mast staging while raising or lowering the mast in either an empty or loaded condition.

Abstract: A lottery ticket dispensing system is for pull-tab lottery tickets of the type that include a plurality of normally closed windows that can be opened to reveal play symbols thereunder with some of the play symbols being winning symbols. Each of the lottery tickets is provided bar code markings including ticket information for indicating each of the play symbols as aligned with its respective window. A lottery ticket dispensing machine includes a ticket storage area and means for initiating the dispensing of the ticket from the storage area to the front panel of the machine. When the ticket is being dispensed, it is aligned with a bar code reading device that is operably connected to electronic control circuitry of the machine that receives and stores the ticket information included in the bar code markings of the dispensed ticket. The front panel of the machine includes a plurality of display areas and associated switches that correspond to the windows of the ticket.