Abstract: Utensil dispensers and methods for making and using same. The utensil dispensers can include a housing configured to contain a stack of utensils. The stack of utensils can include a next utensil. A drive mechanism can be configured to contact the next utensil. An access port can provide an opening to the housing. An actuator can be operably connected to the drive mechanism and configured to move the drive mechanism into a release position such that the drive mechanism contacts the next utensil in the stack of the utensils to push the next utensil causing the next utensil to release from the stack of the utensils and become a released utensil. The released utensil can fall to a dispense position and be accessible via the access port for removing from the dispenser. A prime mechanism can be configured to move the drive mechanism to the release position without removing any released utensil from the dispense position.

Abstract: Utensil dispensers and methods for making and using same. The utensil dispensers can include a housing configured to contain a stack of utensils. The stack of utensils can include a next utensil. A drive mechanism can be configured to contact the next utensil. An access port can provide an opening to the housing. An actuator can be operably connected to the drive mechanism and configured to move the drive mechanism into a release position such that the drive mechanism contacts the next utensil in the stack of the utensils to push the next utensil causing the next utensil to release from the stack of the utensils and become a released utensil. The released utensil can fall to a dispense position and be accessible via the access port for removing from the dispenser. A prime mechanism can be configured to move the drive mechanism to the release position without removing any released utensil from the dispense position.