Abstract: Mechanisms for dispensing items such as medications and medical supplies. Different mechanisms may be tailored to dispensing different kinds of items, for example medications in single dose packages, vials, syringes, or other similarly-shaped items. The dispensers may be placed in a dispensing unit that includes a lockable restock drawer and a dispense drawer into which items are dispensed by the dispensing mechanisms. The various kinds of dispensing mechanisms may be installed in the restock drawer in any workable proportion and arrangement. The dispensing mechanisms include multiple sensing technologies for tracking and inventory of items and for accurate sensing of items as they are dispensed.

Abstract: In a coin processing apparatus including a plurality of coin containers, each of the coin containers includes a housing guide and a screw-type conveyance member. The housing guide has both side sections paired in a left-right direction. The housing guide has lateral protrusions formed on inner surfaces of the paired side sections and protruding to extend close to each other. The screw-type conveyance member has a shaft having a cylindrical shape and a blade member spirally provided on an outer periphery of the shaft such that the blade member protrudes outward from the outer periphery, and is provided to the housing guide such that a part of the shaft and a part of the blade protrude upward in a space between the lateral protrusions and may rotate about a central axis of the shaft. The screw-type conveyance member is provided at an off-center position of the housing guide.

Abstract: A product discharging device includes: a lower pedal swingably arranged with a base in such a manner that a distal end thereof advances into and retreats from a product storage passage storing therein, along an up-and-down direction, products that are input thereto; an upper pedal swingably arranged with the base in a region above the lower pedal, in such a manner that a distal end thereof advances into and retreats from the product storage passage; and a sold-out detection switch configured to detect whether there is any product in the product storage passage by going into an ON state or an OFF state when the lower pedal is in a first standby posture and going into the OFF state or the ON state when the lower pedal is in a second standby posture.

Abstract: A sanitized vending machine includes product and cup dispensing mechanisms and an actuation mechanism. The product dispensing mechanism, holding product items, rotates through a product dispensing cycle to dispense them. The cup dispensing mechanism, holding a stack of cups, rotates through a cup dispensing cycle to dispense an empty cup to an intermediate location in a drop chute spaced above a final discharge location. Dispensing cycles occur in a predetermined sequence enabling the dispensed product items to be received in a dispensed empty cup and the cup dropped to the discharge location. An access door locking mechanism is coupled to the actuation mechanism so as to maintain the access door in a locked condition and closed position from start of an actuation cycle to completion thereof whereupon the access door is converted to an unlocked condition permitting a user to open the access door and remove a cup with product items.

Abstract: A sanitized vending machine includes product and cup dispensing mechanisms, a cup separation mechanism, and an actuation mechanism. The product dispensing mechanism, holding product items, rotates through a product dispensing cycle to dispense them. The cup dispensing mechanism, holding a stack of cups, rotates through a cup dispensing cycle to dispense an empty cup to an intermediate location in a drop chute spaced above a final discharge location. Dispensing cycles occur in a predetermined sequence enabling the dispensed product items to be received in a dispensed empty cup and the cup dropped to the discharge location. The cup separation mechanism coordinated with operation of a cup stack holder device of the cup dispensing mechanism such that outer and inner cup separator devices of the cup separation mechanism function to separate a lowermost cup from a stack thereof rotated by the cup stack holder over a cup dispensing opening.

Abstract: A sanitized vending machine includes product and cup dispensing mechanisms and an actuation mechanism. The product dispensing mechanism, holding one or more product items, rotates through a product dispensing cycle to dispense them. The cup dispensing mechanism, holding a stack of cups, rotates through a cup dispensing cycle to dispense a cup to a predetermined position. The dispensing cycles occur in a predetermined sequence so as to enable the dispensed product items to be received in a previously dispensed cup. The dispensing mechanisms respectively include rotatable first and second driven gears drivingly interfaced to rotate during respective product and cup dispensing cycles. The actuation mechanism includes a handle and a rotatable drive gear drivingly interfaced with the first driven gear. When the handle is turned by a user through an actuation cycle the driven gears rotate the respective mechanisms through respective product and cup dispensing cycles.

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 current invention is a lid dispensing device and method of use comprising a base unit, a lid holder operatively connected to the base unit, a blade operatively mounted to the base which moves between a first position and a second position, the blade supporting a stack of lids by engaging a first lid in the stack of lids while the blade is in the first position, and the blade allowing the first lid to fall through an aperture in the blade away from the stack of lids, and still support the remaining stack of lids as the blade moves to the second position.

Abstract: A rocker, which is pivotable for dispensing products and has a lower product support part, is arranged at the bottom of a product shaft in a product-dispensing device of a vending machine. To achieve trouble-free dispensing even in the case of bottles or cans made of a soft material, an upper product support part is formed by an attachment mounted tiltably on the rocker. A stop device, by which the rocker pivots the attachment with it, is provided between the rocker and the attachment. A free-running angle is provided between the rocker and the attachment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of deterring or reducing breakage or deformation when dispensing a vertical stack of containers. A blocking member used to restrict dispension of vertical stack containers above a container being dispensed, can have a biasing member associated with it to allow it to vertically move to cause the stack to drop in a controlled fashion so that the block is not forced into the side walls of the containers, and so the dropping of the containers is controlled in a manner to reduce or deter the likelihood of breakage or deformation of the containers. An alternative feature of the invention is the use of a biasing member to return the blocking member to an original member to an original position once the weight of any vertical stack above it is removed.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus and method for vending machines includes in one embodiment vertical vending from one or more columns. Each column is defined by two walls. A triggering mechanism at the bottom of the column is actuated by the rotation of a rod from the top of the column. The triggering mechanism blocks items placed along the column from being dropped out the bottom of the column to a delivery area but also controls when such dispensation occurs. The configuration allows items of different sizes, shapes, and types to be loaded into the column and therefore allows the column to be easily adapted to dispense a wide variety of items.

Abstract: A vending machine (10) is comprised of a platform assembly (110) encased by a transparent envelope (150) and supported by a anti-pilfering base (80) received within a housing (20). The platform assembly (110) includes a plurality of platforms (142) disposed about a helical path (260), and upon which articles to be vended are placed. A linkage assembly (170) includes a trigger means (210) and is operatively coupled between a latching mechanism (66) located within the housing (20) and at least one platform (142) to move the platform from a substantially horizontal plane to a substantially vertical downward position to discharge the article to be vended.

Abstract: A stack of condiment packages is loaded into a tube, and the tube is inserted into a receiver. The first package rests on a support platform, and the receiver holds the tube at a position to secure all of the packages above the first. A push block on the end of a piston rod pushes the first package out from under the tube, and then retracts to allow the stack to fall to the support platform.

Abstract: A pair of superposed inclined feed tracks have slots along their upper and lower walls respectively. Elongate gates with inturned tips are disposed along the tracks and pivoted intermediate their ends on pins. A yoke having an axis intermediate the two pins has outward parallel fingers which are disposed outward of the pins, and as the yoke is turned by a rotary solenoid, first in one direction and then the other, the fingers engage the gates on opposite sides of their pivot pins oppositely and alternately to alternately open and close the respective tracks. A reciprocating pusher pushes the parts into the working ends of the upper and lower dies and a settable counter counts the strokes of the pusher. A circuit causes activation of the solenoid to shift the gates to switch the feed from one feed track to the other track when the counter registers up to the set number of strokes.

Abstract: Apparatus for inserting sticks into ice cream bodies filled into mould cavities open at the top and continuously or stepwise passing below the stick inserting apparatus, said apparatus comprising a stick feeding mechanism feeding sticks to a conveyor which reciprocates relative to said feeding mechanism and which advances the sticks to a set of receiving means gripping and removing said sticks from the conveyor. The apparatus comprises furthermore a set of inserting means which remove the sticks from the receiving means so as to insert said sticks into the mould cavities. The apparatus comprises two feeding mechanisms are provided which feed their respective conveyor, said conveyors being associated with their respective set of receiving means and their respective set of inserting means. The sets of inserting means are disposed such that alternately they are moved into and insert the sticks in one and the same vertical inserting plane in the apparatus.

Abstract: A control device for a dispense mechanism is provided for eliminating failure of the dispense mechanism due to goods becoming stuck therein. In a dispense mechanism of the type wherein a rotating control plate is provided for restricting the motion of dispensing flappers, a control device is provided for controlling the operation of a motor which rotates the control plate. The control device provides a forward rotation signal to rotate the control plate and dispense goods in response to a dispense request. The control device further determines whether an article has become stuck by determining whether the flappers return to their original position while the control plate is being rotated. If an article is struck, the control device rotates the motor in the reverse direction such that the stuck article may be freed. Thereafter, the control device is rotated in a forward direction and again the determination is made whether the flappers have moved to their original position.

Abstract: An article dispenser for dispensing articles from a vending machine is disclosed. The article dispenser includes an article storage area which has a bottom opening through which articles are dispensed and an article dispensing mechanism which dispenses the lowermost articles stacked in the storage area through the bottom opening. The dispensing mechanism includes a rotating shaft which controls the opening and closing of the bottom opening of the storage area and is driven by a motor. The motor is controlled by a control device which starts the motor after receiving a start signal and which temporarily stops the motor after receiving a motor stop signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing markers for distribution in a terrain. The apatus is designed as an add-on unit for mounting on the rear of a self-propelled land vehicle.The markers are units of a foldable type comprising each a base plate and a visible marker member hingedly connected thereto and they are stacked in folded state inside one or more shafts of the apparatus. Near the bottom of each shaft there is provided a delivery gate and shears controllable from the vehicle for the sequential release of individual marker units.

Abstract: An apparatus for individually depositing articles comprises a cylinder with a plurality of accommodating apertures, each of which is adapted to accommodate a single article only from a supply. The apparatus is adapted to retain the articles in the apertures and comprises nozzles for removing superfluous articles from the cylinder. Moreover, the apparatus is adapted to release the articles from the apertures. In order to secure that the articles are deposited one by one without any interruptions in the depositing pattern, the apparatus comprises a supplementary cylinder having accommodating apertures corresponding to the accommodating apertures of the cylinder. Also each of the accommodating apertures of the supplementary cylinder is adapted to accommodate a single article only from a supply, the supplementary cylinder also comprises nozzles for removing superfluous articles and is also adapted to retain the articles in the accommodating apertures.

Abstract: A mechanism, for delivering two different kinds of fastener elements to a fastener-assembling apparatus, comprises a pair of hoppers for containing the two different fastener elements separately, and a pair of pick-up plates pivotally and vertically movable in the respective hoppers for picking up the fastener elements therein to deliver the same to a pair of separate chutes. The two pick-up plates are driven by a single drive, such as an air-cylinder or oil-cylinder.

Abstract: An article dispenser for dispensing articles from a vending machine includes an article storage area which has a bottom opening through which articles are dispensed and a front opening through which articles are loaded in a manner to form two vertically adjacent stacks. An article dispensing mechanism successively dispenses the lowermost articles stacked in the storage area through such bottom opening by the mechanism including a rotatable shaft which vertically extends within the storage area to divide the storage area into the two vertical stacks or columns. A control plate is fixed to the lower end of the rotatable shaft to control the operation of a pair of pivotally mounted doors positioned below the two vertical stacks of articles, respectively. As these doors open and close upon rotation of the rotatable shaft, the lowermost articles in the storage area are successively dispensed.

Abstract: An article dispenser for vending machines is disclosed. The article dispenser includes an article storage area which has a bottom opening through which the articles are dispensed and a front opening through which the articles are loaded to form two vertical rows. A rotatable shaft extends vertically in the storage area to divide the storage area into the two vertical rows. A pair of pivotable doors are disposed at the bottom opening to block the passage of articles therethrough. The doors are pivotably supported by two axially spaced shafts which extend along the same axis. A control plate is fixed on the lower end portion of the rotatable shaft and contacts the lower surface of the pivotable doors to control the pivotal movement of the door between open and closed positions. A holder member is fixed on the rotatable shaft to prevent the articles disposed above the lowermost article from falling when the lowermost article is discharged from the bottom opening.

Abstract: An article dispenser for dispensing articles from a vending machine is disclosed. The article dispenser includes an article storage area which has a bottom opening through which articles are dispensed and a front opening through which the articles are loaded to form two vertically adjacent rows. An article dispensing mechanism dispenses the lowermost articles stacked in the storage area through the bottom opening. This article dispensing mechanism includes a rotatable shaft which vertically extends within the storage area to divide the storage area into the two vertical rows or columns. A control plate is fixed to the lower end of the rotatable shaft to control the operation of a pair of flappers positioned below the two vertical rows of articles. As these flappers open and close upon rotation of the rotatable shaft, the lowermost articles in the storage area are dispensed.

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: The braking channel comprises a fixed channel section for each strand of bars, provided with two open-bottom chambers which are normally covered up by the sliding surfaces of a pendulum structure, the effect of which will brake the bars and let them come to rest. For bar discharge on to the cooling bed, the pendulum structure is swivelled rhythmically toward the right and left to positions in which the discharge openings reach underneath a pair of chambers. The kinematic inversion could also be applied, in which case the sliding section would be in a fixed position and the channel sections would move in pendulum fashion.

Abstract: An article dispensing apparatus including a plurality of spaced vertically disposed inclined shelves, each shelf having a first and second side by side supporting surface adapted to support an associated first and second row of articles. First and second gate members are respectively located at the lower ends of the first and second support surfaces. Each gate member is shiftable between two opposite positions, a blocking position such that the lower most article in the associated row is blocked from moving off the lower end of the associated support surface, and a releasing position such that a lower most article in the associated row may freely move off the lower end of the associated support surface and into an escrow cradle which constitutes a common receiving area. An actuator cooperates with the gate members to provide for the shifting of the gate members upon the dispensing of an article, which is rotated out of an escrow cradle by a consumer.

Abstract: A circuit reciprocator or alternator arrangement for alternately operating two vend motor-driven stack mechanisms loaded with the identical product brand from a single common customer-operable selector switch. An on-on type switch having SPDT contacts for alternately completing a circuit to the two vend motors is operated by an actuating linkage. The linkage is arranged such that switching or toggling of the on-on switch occurs prior to a particular known point or range of points of the vend cycle where the probability of a mechanism jam is higher. Therefore, if one of the vend motors jams, the circuit has already been completed to the other vend motor which can then be subsequently actuated. Further, the on-on switch is geld in a position where no furhter toggling or switching occurs, and the circuit will continue to be completed to the other, unjammed motor. The linkage is further arranged such that no damage occurs when one motor is stalled and the other continues to operate.

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: The device for automatically replacing defective cigarette packets discarded from a feeding line on which the packets advance in a single row comprises a pair of gravity-feed reserve hoppers, containing each a stack of reserve packets, and a transferring drum, operatively interposed between the said reserve hoppers and the feeding line. The drum is driven in step-by-step rotation in relation to the absence, signalled by suitable sensing and controlling devices, of a discarded defective packet. Upon each step rotation of the transferring drum, a cigarette packet is taken by the drum alternately from one of the said reserve hoppers, and it is progressively transferred onto the feeding line, to take the place of the previously discarded packet.

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.

Abstract: A vending machine having a compartment dimensioned to hold two pairs of columns of cylindrical articles with the columns of each pair arranged with their articles in axial alignment, front to rear, and the two pairs being vertically staggered and horizontally overlapping. A bail structure comprises upper and lower bail bars swingable about a central fore and aft axis, to opposite sides thereof. The lower bail bar, when in one lateral position, supports the bottom articles of one pair of columns while the upper bail bar supports all other articles in the compartment. The lower bail bar is laterally wider under the rear columns than under the front columns so that partial swinging of the bial releases the bottom article from only the front column and further swinging releases the bottom article of the rear column.