Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for gravity feeding of a dispensable product includes containing means and dispensing means. The containing means is adapted to contain the dispensable product and is operatively connected to the dispensing means whereby the dispensing means includes a chute means. Rotation of the chute means can cause the dispensable product to be able to be dispensed.

Abstract: A stamped bucket for a vending machine having an elongated body with opposing first and second ends, a first end wall integrally formed on the body along the first end and a second end wall integrally formed on the body along the second end. The first and second end walls extending in generally transverse relation to the body. The first end wall has one or more tab portions extending therefrom that are secured to the body adjacent the first end. The second end wall also has one or more tab portions extending therefrom that are secured to the body adjacent the second end. An axis of rotation extends between the first and second end walls substantially longitudinally along the body.

Abstract: A dispensing system for a vending machine includes a vend motor, a cradle, a load bar and a push arm. Upon selection of a particular product, the vend motor rotates the cradle, causing the product to emerge from the vending machine. The cradle is designed to accommodate a wide array of container sizes. The dispensing system incorporates a rotation sensor, a position sensor, and a lift arm. The sensors enable accurate rotation of the cradle through a plurality of vend angles depending upon the particular product being vended, while the lift arm cooperates with the push arm and load bar to refill the cradle after a series of product containers have been dispensed. In addition, the vend motor includes a soft start control that prevents instantaneous rotation of the output shaft so as to prolong an overall operational life of the motor.

Abstract: The daily pill dispensing apparatus has a front section connected to a back section, a top hinge disposed on the top between the front section and the back section, a dispenser lid connected to the top hinge and pivotally covering the front section, a septet of top doors disposed atop the back section, each top door pivotally covering a separate compartment of the back section via the top hinge, a day indicia disposed atop each top door, a dispensing door hingedly separating each compartment from the front section, each dispensing door opening into the front section, a display disposed atop the dispenser lid, a controls disposed in the front section bottom, the controls in communication with the display and with each dispensing door, whereby each dispensing door sequentially opens, each dispensing door opening only one day per week, and battery power.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an apparatus for dispensing capsules, preferably single-use, disposable capsules for the production of beverages, brews and the like, intended for use in connection with automatic food-product vending machines. The inventive capsule dispensing apparatus includes a plurality of receptacles adapted to accommodate capsules in a stacked arrangement, at least a rotary pick-up device provided with two or more compartments distributed about the axis of rotation thereof for removing the capsules from the receptacles, and a conveyor. The capsule dispensing apparatus is characterized in that between the at least a pick-up device and the conveyor there is arranged a distribution tray including a plurality of guide partitions adapted to enable the capsules to undergo a rotary motion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vending machine that converts a force applied from a manual operation means into an electric power, and operates by utilizing the electric power as a source of power. A drive force generation/transmission mechanism includes a generator (45) that generates the electric power by utilizing the force applied from the manual operation means (9) and motors (49-55) driven by the electric power generated by the generator (45). Article moving mechanisms (63-69) are constructed to operate by utilizing the output of the motors (49-55) as the operation source.

Abstract: The invention is an article vending machine comprising a plurality of article storage compartments covered by displaceable thermal barriers that are opened by an opener. The invention further comprises a cooling unit, an article extractor for extracting selected articles from the storage compartments, and a control center. Each article storage compartment has a displaceable thermal barrier that is opened and closed by an opener. Each displaceable thermal barrier is capable of being opened and closed independently of all other displaceable thermal barriers. During the vending cycle, only the displaceable thermal barrier covering the storage compartment accessed by the article extractor is opened, which prevents ambient air from mixing with cooled air in storage compartments not accessed by the article extractor. If a displaceable thermal barrier cannot be opened because it has frozen shut or the opener has broken, the remaining displaceable thermal barriers with functioning openers still can be opened.

Abstract: A dispensing machine for elongated containers has a plurality of clusters arranged within a housing. The clusters each have an actuator and comprise four tubes that are bound together with an interstice along a central axis of the cluster. The actuator is mounted in the interstice and each cluster is supported by a first bracket. A plurality of clusters are mounted from front to rear in the housing with the first brackets being removably mounted in a retainer. The clusters in the retainer form a set and can be tilted forward to replenish the tubes with containers. There are several sets side by side within the housing. The clusters of each set are held in place by one attachment that can be opened without tools to remove the clusters of that set.

Abstract: A dispensing system for a vending machine includes a vend motor, a cradle, a load bar and a push arm. Upon selection of a particular product, the vend motor rotates the cradle, causing the product to emerge from the vending machine. The cradle is designed to accommodate a wide array of container sizes. The dispensing system incorporates a rotation sensor, a position sensor, and a lift arm. The sensors enable accurate rotation of the cradle through a plurality of vend angles depending upon the particular product being vended, while the lift arm cooperates with the push arm and load bar to refill the cradle after a series of product containers have been dispensed. In addition, the vend motor includes a soft start control that prevents instantaneous rotation of the output shaft so as to prolong an overall operational life of the motor.

Abstract: A dispensing machine stores and dispenses containers longitudinally within the machine up to the time that a container is released to the outlet. The containers are arranged in vertical columns within the machine with four adjacent columns making up one set. Each set has a separate motor and the machine has a maximum selection equal to the number of sets. Each set has an upper abutment and a lower abutment that together control the movement of containers of each set to the outlet in succession. The two abutments are located a distance of less than the height of one container apart from one another. The containers are narrower at a top than at a base.

Abstract: A medicine compliance system is used for validating compliance with an entire drug regimen of dosages of different medicines in which the dosages are packaged in a dispensing container and identified in both a per medicine format and a dosage format.

Abstract: A multiple roll holder unit has a magazine in which rolls are stacked, and an associated roll holder having retaining arms moveable on opposite sides of a roll holding area. Actuation of a transfer mechanism having upper and lower cup members hinged at one side with each other causes a transfer of a lowermost one of the rolls in the magazine to the roll holding area as the retaining arms are retracted and set back following the motion of the cup members, releasing at the same time a depleted roll possibly held by the roll holder.

Abstract: An article dispensing and positioning device is disclosed in which a plurality of rectangular articles such as dominos or the like are placed on a flat surface in a plurality of parallel rows and in evenly spaced relationship with each other in each row. In one embodiment, the device includes a plurality of article dispensing assemblies mounted in a unitary housing which is capable of being propelled along the flat surface, preferably by motor mounted in the housing. In another embodiment, each article dispensing assembly is an integral unit, a plurality of which can be removably attached together to form a plurality of rows of dominos or the like.

Abstract: A multi-station article dispensing apparatus for use in a "merchandiser" game of skill or chance has a plurality of delivery/display stations juxtaposed along an axle. Each station includes a cradle wheel rotating freely about the axle and loaded from a gravity-fed magazine. Each cradle wheel includes a plurality of drive pins parallel to the axle. The cradle wheel is rotated by a drive rod that nutates along its axis to engage a drive pin. Each drive rod has a solenoid rotatably connected to it and engages its respective drive pin whenever that solenoid is actuated. When the solenoid associated with a given drive rod is not actuated, a bias spring moves the drive rod to a position in which it does not engage a drive pin. Thus, although a single motor and drive train drives all the drive rods in unison, only a selected cradle wheel is rotated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary magazine distributor apparatus (16) comprising a plurality of vertical channels (20) containing piles of respective different articles (6). The apparatus is arranged in order to dispense automatically articles selected by a buyer and which may have different prices. The rotary magazine (16) is provided with a powered driving system (24). A powered distribution mechanism (30) occupies a stationary location under the magazine and comprises an ejection finger (34) intended to push horizontally the lower article of the pile. A side casing (10) contains an electronic unit which controls all the distribution functions on the basis of information received from an electronic coiner, from a selection keyboard (15) and from stationary detectors (43) indicating the position of the magazine, the identity of the channels (20) and the presence of articles (6) in the channels.

Abstract: A vending or dispensing machine is operable in triple depth, double depth, and single depth operating modes. A cradle which is rotatable through 360.degree. is used to separate cylindrical articles from a number of tandem nonstaggered vertical columns. The rotatable cradle separates a single can or other cylindrical article from each of the columns disposed in a storage zone above the cylindrical cradle and drops the cans into an escrow zone. One of the cans in the escrow zone is immediately dispensed. If operating in a triple depth mode, the remaining two cans are held by side mounted pivotable escrow members which are controlled and movably operable by the cradle itself. Upon a second activation the cradle moves further in its sequence allowing one of the escrow members to release its hold on a second can such that that can drops into a dispensing zone accessable to a consumer.

Abstract: A vending or dispensing machine is operable in triple depth, double depth, and single depth operating modes. A cradle which is rotatable through 360.degree. is used to separate cylindrical articles from a number of tandem nonstaggered vertical columns. The rotatable cradle separates a single can or other cylindrical article from each of the columns disposed in a storage zone above the cylindrical cradle and drops the cans into an escrow zone. One of the cans in the escrow zone is immediately dispensed. If operating in a triple depth mode, the remaining two cans are held by side mounted pivotable escrow members which are controlled and movably operable by the cradle itself. Upon a second activation the cradle moves further in its sequence allowing one of the escrow members to release its hold on a second can such that that can drops into a dispensing zone accessable to a consumer.

Abstract: A vendor for sequentially vending in alternation successive lowermost articles, such as beverage cans, from at least two stacks which are arranged in tandem, using a shared generally semi-cylindrical angularly indexable cradle having a stepped edge, where angular movement of the cradle by a first increment is sufficient to drop one supported article from under a forward one of the stacks to a delivery station, but insufficient to drop an axially adjacent supported article from under a relatively rearward one of the stacks, is improved by being provided with an anti-theft device preferably in the form of a leaf spring based on the cradle and erectable into the volume of space which is at other times occupied by the one supported article.

Abstract: A vending or dispensing machine is disposable in modes for triple depth dispensing, double depth dispensing, and single depth dispensing. Upper and lower gating members or rockers are used to selectively release cylindrical articles such as cans or bottles from a storage compartment containing staggered tandem columns into a consumer accessible dispensing zone. The upper and lower rockers are moved by a drive plate which causes reciprocation of the rockers by way of drive pins. Removable retaining members are used for preventing premature release of center column cans and also provide an anti-theft feature. A removable gating piece is used to prevent the premature release of a rear column can. A freely swinging anti-theft bar has a stepped portion which keeps a can from being axially slid in the escrow zone disposed between the storage compartment and the dispensing zone, thereby preventing the unauthorized removal of the can.

Abstract: A rotary cradle extends from front to back of a compartment for holding columns of articles to be dispensed. The cradle is of generally semi cylindrical hollow shape having a straight axial leading edge and a stepped trailing edge and mounted to be rotated about its cylinder axis. The cradle is free of internal partitions and is adapted for sequentially dispensing front and then rear articles from front and rear columns of articles in the compartment, or for dispensing single longer articles. A removable support in the cradle holds long narrow articles at the proper height for supporting a column of those articles in the compartment at the proper elevation for the straight leading edge of the cradle to isolate and support the column while dispensing an article in the cradle.

Abstract: A cigarette dispenser comprising a casing having a plurality of dispensing means each movable to dispense a cigarette through a dispensing opening, slide means operable to actuate said dispensing means, and cam means associated with said slide means whereby successive movements of the latter actuates said dispensing means one at a time and in sequence.