Abstract: A shutter (111) and shutter control mechanism are disclosed, for use in a banknote dispensing machine for closing the outlet aperture. The shutter (111) fixed to a pivoted arm (112) is normally locked by a latch (109) which lodges in a V-shaped notch formed in the end of the shutter arm (112). When a stack of banknotes approaches the outlet aperture, a control circuit (not shown) energises an actuating solenoid (106) which pulls a drive tooth (103) through a linkage (105) against the action of a return spring (107). The drive tooth (103) rotates clockwise until it rests in the position shown in FIG. 3. During its rotation to this position, a drive pin (108) on the drive tooth (103) pushes the latch (109) away from the shutter arm, thus releasing the shutter. Meanwhile a snail cam, (104) rotates anti-clockwise, and eventually engages a cam follower surface on a lower corner of the drive tooth (103), the drive tooth being pivoted close to its center.

Abstract: In a seed meter in which a pressure differential is utilized in conjunction with a rotating seed disk having a circumferential row of seed cells therein to pick up individual seeds from a seed mass and deliver the seeds to a seed discharge area, the seed cells are uniquely configured for use with seeds such as sunflower seeds which are of relatively long and slender configuration and of relatively low mass. Each seed cell includes a teardrop shaped recess in the side surface of the disk having an aperture extending through the disk from the bottom thereof to communicate the pressure differential to a seed held within the recess. The seed cell includes a projection extending outwardly from the side surface of the disk and having a surface generally continuous with the back wall of the seed cell so as to aid in picking up and retaining a seed within the recess in addition to providing agitation of the seed mass prior to pickup of the seed.

Abstract: The coin counting apparatus wherein coins of various denominations to be counted fall upon a rotating coin table that is designed to catch and hold coins of different denominations at different positions on the table so that each held coin may be detected before it is collected and a count initiated of the value of the coins collected: a denomination code is provided on a code disc driven in rotation in synchronism with the rotation of the table, the code being defined by arc segments of the disc that correspond to the radial positions of coins held on the table; the coins that are caught and held on the table are detected and an initiating signal is produced when a coin so held is detected; at the same time, the corresponding code disc arc segment is detected and signals representative of these are produced; and digital computer circuits responsive to the initiating signal and the code disc signals calculate the value of coins so detected.

Abstract: An apparatus for replaceably connecting a casting tube to a closable pouring spout of a tundish includes a gimbal device for supporting the casting tube and a double-arm lever including a first arm supporting the gimbal device and a second arm carrying a counterweight. The lever is supported about an axis such that the counterweight pivots the lever about the axis and causes the first arm and the gimbal device to press the casting tube against the mouth of the pouring spout. Supports are fixed to the tundish, a pin member defines the axis, and a mounting structure moves the pin member between an operative position pivotally supporting the lever on the supports and an inoperative position where the lever is released from the supports.

Abstract: A coin counter, dispenser and packaging device in which the coins pass downwardly along a ramp whose holes are of gradually increasing diameter downwardly and are defined by plates whose portions remote from a wall of a ramp are set back slightly more than the diameter of the coins adapted to pass through the holes so that the coins ride along this wall. Below the tubes in which the coins are collected beneath the ramp the support bars are provided which can be actuated to drop stacks of coins into sleeves with transparent sacks for packaging the coins. When the dispensing tray is fixed in place, these support bars are pressed back and the stacks are freed to rest upon the dispensing tray and ejector bars can be operated to discharge the coins one by one.

Abstract: A seed-sowing element intended to be mounted on a drill of the pneumatic type having a turbine, a general low pressure conduit circuit and a seed-sowing element, with the seed-sowing element comprising a low pressure assembly for recovering excess seeds including a first flap inserted in a low pressure conduit connected to a supply chamber for a disk, a second flap between the outlet of a hopper and the supply chamber, and a third flap positioned in a suction cover adjacent to the disk, the flaps being connected to an operating-cycle control assembly, itself controlled by a datum point set up on the ground and marking the plots to be sown.

Abstract: A dripless pouring cap having a funnel-shaped pouring spout with an outwardly curved pouring lip is screwed onto a container. Below the pouring lip are two catch basins to trap small amounts of liquid that has dripped from the pouring lip. A hinged lid is pivottally connected to the cap to facilitate opening and closing of the pouring spout. The catch basins and lid are so arranged so that opening and closing of the lid will not splash liquid trapped in the catch basins.

Abstract: A product dispensing mechanism in a vending machine dispensing such products as cigarettes and candy bars, the mechanism permitting the product to be vertically stacked in the vending machine, the lowermost unit of the product being seated between the adjacent coils of a short length of a coiled member which is rotated by an external operating member to advance the product along the member and discharge the same down a dispensing ramp.

Abstract: A coin slide mechanism adapter plate attachable to the coin slide mechanism of a vending machine such as may be used for automatic washing and drying machines or the like installed in apartment or other multiple dwelling complexes, forms a mechanical interface for mating the coin slide mechanism to the vending machine and includes a vending machine attachment bracket for supporting a start switch housing that contains a start switch and its activating member to initiate operation of the mechanism controlled by insertion of the correct coins in and operation of the coin slide mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing a moisture curable composition in a container having a body portion, a closure member for closing one end of the body portion having an outwardly projecting neck defining an outlet opening, and a closure piston at the other end of the body portion comprising a support for the closure member including an exit port for receiving the neck of the container and a moisture proof seal between the neck and the exit port. The support also includes a heater to melt the moisture curable composition which was forced from the container by pushing downwardly on the closure piston. A clamp clamps the body portion of the supported container in place on the support.

Abstract: A coin sorter has a hopper in which mixed coins are deposited. A resilient horizontal disc is disposed at the bottom of the hopper and a stationary sorting plate overlies the disc. Coins are carried by the rotating disc between the disc and plate and formed into a single file and single layer and carried to an exit at the perimeter of the sorting plate. A diverter plate engages the coins at the exit and tips them to a position in which they are upright against the peripheral edge of the rotating disc. The upright coins are carried by the edge of the disc past a series of sorting stations formed as openings in curved walls. The coins fall through an opening appropriate to their particular size and into drawers that are suspended beneath the openings on a rotatable collar.

Abstract: In a manually operated coin slide mechanism, the usual coin receiving coin slide is permitted a full inward stroke regardless of the value or validity of the coin inserted therein. Actuation of an apparatus controlled by the mechanism is governed instead by a secondary slide yieldingly coupled to the coin slide, and whose displacement is dependent upon the value and validity of the coin. The mechanism is thus protected against damage resulting from the use of brute force by vandals, and is further readily adapted to accept coins of different values, since the degree of displacement of the secondary slide can be made dependent upon the coin value.

Abstract: Liquid dispensing system utilizing individual modular cartridges removably mounted at the dispensing stations of a control console in plug-in fashion. Each cartridge carries one bottle, and has an outlet and valve structure for controlling the discharge of liquid from the bottle to the outlet. In some embodiments, the cartridge includes a measuring cup which determines the amount of liquid dispensed, and in some of these embodiments the liquid is pressurized for delivery to and/or from the measuring cup.

Abstract: A single newspaper vending machine comprises a cabinet and a gate unit, a paper support unit, and a paper display unit, each removably mounted on the cabinet. Newspapers are stacked on a spring loaded elevator within the cabinet. The gate unit is mounted at the top of the cabinet and includes a dispensing mechanism which is reciprocable between rear and forward positions for partially dispensing a top paper on the elevator to the paper support unit so that the front edge of the paper enters a paper access zone between the gate unit and the paper support unit. A coin mechanism operates a dispensing mechanism latch so as to lock the dispensing mechanism in the rear position until the proper amount of coins has been inserted. The gate unit also includes a blocking mechanism for preventing withdrawal of any paper from the elevator when the dispensing mechanism is in the rear position and for preventing withdrawal of a second paper from the elevator when the dispensing mechanism is in the forward position.

Abstract: Coin apparatus having coin chutes for nickels, dimes and quarters with a totalizer activated by a pivoted trip wire having a finger extending across the coin chutes is modified to accept an increased total value of coins. This modification is brought about by changing the paths of the coin chutes so that the coins index a fewer number of increments on the totalizer for each coin.

Abstract: An improved coin validation apparatus for detecting and accepting or rejecting a coin in a limited vertical and horizontal space. The validator includes a first downwardly inclined coin path for guiding a rolling coin along a predetermined first pathway toward a coin box, and a second downwardly inclined short coin path beginning at a predetermined point along the first coin path and positioned below the first coin path for directing a rejected coin from the first coin path along a predetermined second pathway toward a coin return outlet. An electronic coin sensor is positioned to sense the presence of a valid coin travelling along the first coin path, and a coin-directing guide member or flipper is provided along the first coin path to guide a valid coin toward the coin box and to release a rejected coin to fall to the second coin path to the coin return outlet.

Abstract: An automatic closure nozzle for a collapsible container is disclosed herein which opens to discharge the contents of the container when squeezed and which closes to seal the contents upon cessation of squeeze pressure. The inventive concept is particularly useful in connection with containers holding toothpaste, cosmetics, food products and a variety of liquid and semi-liquid products. The inventive concept includes a self sealing nozzle for a squeeze-type container composed of a pliable material which includes a flexible cap portion terminating at one end so as to define a discharge opening therein. The cap portion hingably mounts an inner and an outer seals, both of which have a plurality of stiff, triangularly shaped sections and coaxially disposed in spaced apart relationship. Each section in the respective inner and outer seals overlap to form a sealed closure in a first position and fully open in a second position to permit discharge of container contents through the discharge opening.

Abstract: A dispenser for discharging a substance on demand. The dispenser includes a body having an opening for receiving the substance with the body being defined in part by a dispenser plate having an outlet extending therethrough. It also includes a rotatable plate biased against a dispenser surface of the dispenser plate with the rotatable plate having a surface contacting the dispenser surface and an edge confronting the substance. The contacting surface has a tapered channel leading away from the confronting edge with the channel having a maximum depth at the confronting edge and tapering to the contacting surface. The dispenser also features the outlet extending through the dispenser plate so as to lie in the path of travel of the channel during rotation of the plate. With this arrangement, a handle can be provided for rotating the plate.

Abstract: The method of redeeming returnable containers includes a plurality of remotely-located machines receiving returnable containers and storing information about the numbers of such containers received according to different values of an identifying parameter. A central coordination facility accesses the stored information and determines how many returned containers the different facilities have collected, and ensures that all parties are properly reimbursed.

Abstract: A hand held and operated apparatus is provided for adjustably measuring and dispensing a flowable material. A vessel for containing the flowable material is positioned on a housing for movement between a first measuring position and second discharge position. An adjustable member is rotatably positioned with the housing and opposite the vessel for variably adjusting the quantity of material to be dispensed.