Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing and retrieving garments in a controlled manner. The apparatus retrieves the garments in a secure enclosure while accounting for the garments returned, and compacts the returned garments, all with a single, stand-alone apparatus. A paddle mechanism sweeps the garments into a horizontally extended storage compartment and compacts them with an upward movement. The paddle is articulated at a one-way joint to allow it to pass obstructions on its return path.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for dispensing scented coupons in a way that activates the scents as they are removed from a coupon dispenser. Incorporated into one section of the individual scented coupons is a microencapsulated scent. The dispenser comprises walls defining a cavity adapted to receive the stack of sheets, a rectangular flat top wall having an opening through which the sheets may be individually dispensed, a flat bottom wall having approximately the same dimensions as the flat top wall, with the flat bottom wall being approximately parallel to the flat top wall, and resilient means to push the stack of said sheets to the opening in the top wall of the dispenser. As individual, folded scented coupons are removed from the dispenser box, the coupon section having the microencapsulated scent is dragged across the scent release piece in the dispenser, thereby causing the microencapsules to break open allowing more of the scent of the coupons to be released.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for dispensing scented coupons in a way that activates the scents as they are removed from a coupon dispenser. Individual scented coupons have a folded end, with a light adhesive allowing for the On one side of As individual, folded scented coupons are removed from the dispenser box, The dispenser comprises walls defining a cavity adapted to receive the stack of sheets, a rectangular flat top wall having an opening through which the sheets may be individually dispensed, a flat bottom wall having approximately the same dimensions as the flat top wall, with the flat bottom wall being approximately parallel to the flat top wall, and resilient means to push the stack of said sheets to the opening in the top wall of the dispenser.

Abstract: A method and apparatus designed to insure the integrity of food and food service in vending cart. Specifically, disclosed is a system that ensures the integrity of the food will not be compromised, by providing an enclosed or environmentally protected food service station, either portable, mobile or stationary. The system may also provide food monitoring for security, time, temperature and transaction accounting. The system consists of an enclosed or environmentally protected food service station, a sealed food compartment in which food is served, a food storage compartment, an access door for providing service and cleaning to the sealed sections of the station, and optionally an integrated security system that ensures that all access doors and ports are monitored for access and integrity. The security system provides an alarm and reporting capability. Authorization codes are provided to control alarm reset and accounting features of the system.

Abstract: An automated self-service pizza process and system comprises a vending machine with self-contained cooking and processing equipment to rapidly prepare delicious pizza. The stand-alone unattended process and system visually displays pizzas with choices of different toppings for selection by a customer who can pay for the pizza by credit card, debit card, prepaid card, bank card, or by paper money or other cash. Pizza crust can be moved to an assembly area by a robot. In the assembly area, the selected toppings are automatically dispensed on the pizza crust. The pizza is then conveyed to an oven where it is cooked and discharged into a cardboard box or other suitable container. The type of pizza and customer's name can be printed on the box with an ink jet printer.

Abstract: A cigar vending machine provides for the automated vending of cigars which are stored in a humidor area within the machine until being dispensed. The humidor portion of the machine provides for the automatic control of the humidity and at least the minimum temperature therein, to maintain the freshness of the cigars stored therein until they are purchased. The machine may utilize conventional automated currency and credit card acceptance devices, and also utilizes a robotic arm dispensing device which withdraws a given cigar from an appropriate storage area within the humidor, depending upon the selection made by the purchaser. The separate storage areas may be adjusted in size to accommodate different sizes, types, and/or brands of cigars, as desired. The machine operates by accepting an appropriate currency or credit card input by a purchaser, who then makes a selection on a cigar selection panel on the front of the machine.

Abstract: A medicament dispensing cell for use in an automatic dispensing machine includes a housing defining a medicament storage section, a discharge section leading to an outlet, a passage between the sections, a rotatable platen and a dispensing assembly for dispensing medicament in single file from the storage section to the discharge section. A resilient, flexible bushing having outwardly extending fingers encloses the hub of the platen for conveying medicament through the passage. The platen includes a plurality of spirally configured conveying members defined on the surface thereof and the dispensing assembly includes a selectively adjustable passage wall for adjusting the breadth of the passage.

Abstract: A ball feeding device is mounted on the ball washer for feeding the dirty balls into the ball washer one by one. The ball feeding device is composed of a cylindrical body in which an upper plate, an intermediate plate, a lower plate, a suction apparatus, a first lobed wheel, a second lobed wheel, and a driving apparatus are housed. The dirty balls are drawn by the suction force into the cylindrical body such that the balls are first arranged in sequence in the first ball cells of the first lobed wheel, and that the balls are subsequently sent to the second ball cells of the second lobed wheel before they are selectively fed one by one into the ball washer.

Abstract: Contaminants are removed from a surface being prepared to receive a finish coating or a treatment. Solvent is applied manually to the surface with carrier sheets dispensed from reclosable packages where the solvent is contained along with a plurality of quarter-folded carrier sheets formed from non-woven material. The packages can be grounded to reduce the incidence of static electrical build-up.

Abstract: Contaminants are removed from a surface being prepared to receive a finish coating or a treatment. Solvent is applied manually to the surface with carrier sheets dispensed from reclosable packages where the solvent is contained along with a plurality of quarter-folded carrier sheets formed from non-woven material. The packages can be grounded to reduce the incidence of static electrical build-up.

Abstract: Apparatus for regularly weighing groups of cigarettes comprises a suction drum arrangement (4,6) for picking up a predetermined number of cigarettes from a multi-layer flow of cigarettes (2) on a conveyor (3) and for feeding the cigarettes as a row (25) onto a ramp (14) connected to a weighing device (18), and including an arm (20) for arresting the cigarettes on the ramp until weighing has been accomplished, whereupon the arm is arranged to release the cigarettes to allow them to slide or roll down the ramp and back onto the flow of cigarettes on the conveyor (3).

Abstract: A vending machine (10) for vending a rechargeable battery pack has a interface unit (12), new battery reservoir (14), battery dispensing unit (16), and a control unit (18). A customer interested in purchasing a new battery insets a payment in the money handling unit (30). A display (32) is provided and prompts the customer for a response. The customer responds by use of an entry pad (3), and the machine dispenses a new battery. Alternatively, if the customer is interested in exchanging a discharged battery for a fully charged one of similar condition, a battery pack received unit (20) is provided with a receiver port (42) for the customer to insert the spent battery. The spent battery is quickly analyzed by a battery test unit (22) and assigned a grade. If the spent battery is in usable condition, it is passed to a battery recharger, and the customer is prompted to choose between a new battery and one of similar grade to that deposited. If a new battery is selected, one is dispensed, as before.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a wet indexer for receiving a cassette of wafers from a previous processing station that have not been allowed to dry. The wet indexer then keeps the wafers submersed in processing solution before and during indexed transmission to later cleaning stations.

Abstract: A tennis ball handling system in which a first storage container (1) for many tennis balls (2) is filled at the tennis ball producer with new tennis balls suitable for play, is transported to an installation site, such as a sporting goods store, tennis facility, etc. and installed at the installation site, a second storage container for many tennis balls is filled at the installation site with used tennis balls that are no longer suitable for play and in which the used balls are transported back to the tennis ball producer or to a recycling operation and emptied there, and reusable player's storage containers that can be bought, rented, borrowed in a deposit system or acquired at no cost by the player, are filled with a small number of new tennis balls (2) that are removed from the first storage container (1) for use by the tennis player, and from which used tennis balls (2) that are no longer suitable for play are emptied by the player into the second storage container at the installation site.

Abstract: A combined joint compound bucket and tape dispenser comprising a cylindrical container with a removable cover. A roll of dry-wall construction tape is suspended at the top of the container beneath the cover by a rod extending through the center of the tape and engaging slots in opposite sides of the container. The container includes two slotted apertures on one side of the container and a third slotted aperture on the other side of the container. The tape is reeled from the rod, out through a first aperture, guided down along the outside of the container, back into the container at the second aperture adjacent the bottom of the container. The tape passes through mud deposited in the container and exits the container on the opposite side through the third aperture. The tape is thus coated with the mud and may be torn from the container on a serrated edge at the desired lengths. A removable guide rail is also provided to guide the tape from the first to the second apertures.

Abstract: A dispenser for containing and dispensing samples of a cosmetic product delivered by a roll of paper emerging from the dispenser in a predetermined sequence includes a housing for use with a C-shaped flange and a lid provided with a respective C-shaped flange juxtaposed with the flange of the housing having studs preventing the emerge of the paper above a predetermined length.

Abstract: A disposable strip dispenser for dispensing a single testing strip from a stack of testing strips is constructed with a housing and integrally formed magazine to hold a stack of testing strips. A cap assembly with a strip feeder mechanism is mounted to the housing to form a water proof chamber. The cap assembly is locked to the housing with a rib and channel locking assembly with the body of the cap assembly defining a slot and slide bar assembly slideably mounted in the slot. The slide bar assembly comprises a strip guide bar with a finger grip mount extending from the guide bar through the slot with the bottom of the guide bar engaging the topmost strip on a spring biased stack of strips allowing a single strip to be dispensed from the housing through an aperture defined in the cap assembly while maintaining the remaining strips of the stack of testing strips in a moisture free environment.

Abstract: Meltblown sheets suitable as wet wipes, containing from about 100 to about 700 weight percent liquid, exhibit liquid concentration stability over long periods of time. Stacks of these sheets maintain substantially equal liquid concentrations from the top to the bottom of the stack notwithstanding evaporation losses through the top of the stack.

Abstract: Paper towel dispensing and soiled towel stowing equipment includes a receptacle (24) for used towels, a dispenser containing a supply of paper towels and tamping means (44) for compressing used towel material in the receptacle (24). The tamping means 44 is biased into an uppermost position where it urges towel engaging means (47) into engagement with the paper towels. The towel engaging means (47) disengages the towels when the tamping means is depressed by means of a pedal (42) to compress the contents of the receptacle (24). Thus, the availability of the towel material is restricted unless the user depresses the pedal (42) to compress the soiled towels.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a seal for dispensing wet wipes from a container comprising a tube of generally tapered form having a relatively wide mouth for receiving wipes and a relatively narrow orifice for dispensing them, the tube being divided circumferentially into relatively rigid and relatively flexible axially extending zones, so that when a wet wipe is dispensed the orifice is capable of expansion.The seal according to the invention provides good dispensing action and prevents to a significant extent evaporation of the impregnated liquid.

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 and process for storing beads in a liquid medium and for draining and dispensing said beads essentially in the absence of said liquid medium is described. In one embodiment, the apparatus is designed so that the liquid medium in which the beads are stored can be captured in a separate compartment from the bead-containing compartment and the beads can be delivered without the liquid medium when the apparatus in inverted. This apparatus is designed so that the liquid medium will join with the beads for storage in the bead-containing compartment when the apparatus is upright. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a bottle with a removable, threaded inner container which is used to drain the liquid medium from the beads prior to attachment to a separate bead dispenser.

Abstract: A dispensing device for perfumes or deodorants comprises a housing for a reel of mounting tape with tabs adhesively mounted thereon. The mounting tape extends to a member impregnated with the perfume or deodorant and is passed against the member for coating the upper tab surface. The mounting tape extends to and around a discharge member for redirecting the mounting tape through a sharp angle and to dispense the coated tabs through a discharge opening in the housing. A take-up reel is provided for winding the mounting tape. A thumb wheel moves the take-up reel and operates the dispenser.

Abstract: This invention relates to a container for a stack of folded, preferably treated, towels, comprising a flexible, water-impermeable envelope having in the interior space thereof a movable apertured stiffening plate.

Abstract: A dispenser for containing and dispensing a premoistened web of material (26) comprises a magazine (2) for containing the web of material and a dispensing portion (3) associated with the magazine and having an opening (20) for dispensing the web of material. A passage (23) extends between the magazine (2) and the dispensing opening (20) and is adapted to take up the web of material such that the latter forms a seal in the passage, which prevents drying of the web of material.

Abstract: The towel cabinet of the present invention includes a first compartment for storing and dispensing clean, unused paper towels, and a second storage compartment for receiving and storing used paper towels. The two compartments are connected by a manual control which, when actuated, opens a door in the first compartment to permit a clean towel to be exposed and removed and at the same time actuates a panel in the second compartment which compresses used towels into the second compartment. An elevator is provided in the second compartment for adjusting the floorplate of the second compartment as more and more towels are compacted into it, and a corridor is provided between the door in the first compartment and the panel in the second compartment into which the clean towels are dispensed and disposed for retrieval by the operator and into which the used towel is discharged for movement by the panel into the second compartment.

Abstract: A tablet dispenser for dispensing a solid tablet or a predetermined number of tablets of a substantially uniform size from a storage area containing a relatively large number of tablets into a dispensing orifice upon operation of an external actuating mechanism. The tablet dispenser comprises a hollow body having an upper portion for storing the relatively large number of tablets and a lower base portion having the dispensing orifice formed in its bottom. A gate member is mounted for reciprocal movement above the tablet dispensing orifice and has a tablet receiving area formed therein. A field organizing member is mounted for reciprocal movement below the tablet storage portion and above the gate member and has a tablet receiving area formed therein which communicates with the tablet storage portion.

Abstract: A cane dipper-planter where the pre-cut cane setts are conveyed from a supply hopper to a rotary drum which contains the treatment liquid and a series of lifting members around its internal wall which lift the treated setts out of the liquid and discharges them via an outlet chute to the furrow for planting.

Abstract: A multiple-cell battery charger includes a housing having an open end leading to a chamber in the housing and adapted to receive battery cells of a pre-determined size in side-by-side abutting relation and another end having an opening which is adapted to retain the battery cells in said housing but permit removal when desired, one at a time, in a first in, first out order. An elongate negative contactor strip and an elongate positive connector buss strip are coupled to the leads of a D.C. power supply source and are positioned along opposite sides in the housing. The negative strip is formed with detent contact portions, each for making electrical contact with the negative terminal of a cell. Contact members are electrically coupled to the positive connector strip and are positioned to contact the positive terminal of individual cells.

Abstract: A demand feed and moistening apparatus is adapted to advance successive gummed labels from a stack to a ready position at a label dispensing station from which each label may be readily manually withdrawn and thereby moistened. Thereafter the next label in said stack is automatically advanced to said ready position and remains in this position until it also is manually removed. The use of such a label dispensing and moistening arrangement greatly facilitates the manual grasping of successive moistened labels and the application thereof to items that are to labeled.

Abstract: A flexible bag dispenser containing a roll of interconnected moist tissues is disclosed. The tissues are withdrawn from the center of the roll and pass through a restricted opening in the bag. A reclosable closure means is provided at the dispensing end of the bag to prevent evaporative losses and to protect the tissues when not in use.

Abstract: A dispensing package comprises a toroidal container body enclosing a coreless rolled web of moisture absorbent material having free rotation about the axis of the body on body side wall areas of reduced diameter at opposite ends of a liquid reservoir, the leading end of the web being drawn through a longitudinal slot in a body side wall extending the full width of said web and through upper and lower flange lips defining with the slot a dispensing passage.

Abstract: A hair roller dispenser comprising an open-topped container divided into a plurality of vertical compartments of several different sizes for containing vertically stacked hair rollers. The container is filled with a germicidal liquid to sterilize the rollers after each use, and each compartment is provided with a spring or float to bias the rollers upwardly in a position above the upper edges of the container so that the rollers are easily accessible from the top as needed. The rollers may be made buoyant to obviate the need for a biasing member.