Abstract: A tablet dispenser includes a device body and a plurality of tablet cassettes disposed on one face of the device body. Each tablet cassette is capable of accommodating a plurality of types of tablets and of dispensing the tablets contained therein in a lateral direction. A plurality of chutes are in communication with the plurality of tablet cassettes. Each chute is disposed on the one face of the device body, adjacent to a corresponding tablet cassette. Each chute retains tablets dispensed from the corresponding tablet cassette and dispenses the tablets in a downward direction into a container.

Abstract: Disclosed are a quantity regulating module of an automatic tablet dispenser, and a tablet dispensing method thereof, which are capable of automatically packing various-shaped tablets, and accurately, rapidly and cleanly controlling supplying of tablets without missing any.

Abstract: A parts feeder includes a feed device or tray for putting a pile of parts on. The feed device imparts vibration to the pile of parts to feed them. An ion generating device is disposed above the feed device for providing ions to the parts. An airflow passage is formed in the feed device for sucking in air to introduce ions within the pile of parts.

Abstract: A bead feeder for serially delivering beads to a downstream location comprises a bead supply wheel which rotates about a vertical axis. The bead supply wheel includes a bead supply bowl and a plurality of radially arranged channels below the bowl connected to rotate with the bowl. Discharge openings in the bowl are in alignment with the radially arranged channels to delivery beads to those channels, and a bead receiving pocket is positioned at the outer end of each channel. A transfer wheel picks up beads from the bead receiving pockets and transfers those beads to a delivery wheel by vacuum transfer and release. The delivery wheel serially delivers the beads to the downstream location.

Abstract: A positioning mechanism for a vending machine is provided to properly align product containers for vending purposes. The vending machine includes a cabinet that establishes a product storage zone, a product delivery zone and a dispensing chamber. Arranged within the product storage zone are a plurality of shelves which include dividers that separate the shelves into a plurality of product queues. Each product queue includes an dispensing mechanism that releases a selected product from the product queue for delivery to the dispensing chamber. In addition, each product queue includes a positioning mechanism to align products in the product queue. The positioning mechanism includes a support member secured to the divider and a spacer bar pivotally secured to the support member. The spacer bar automatically adjusts to a width of a product container placed in the product queue in order to assure proper alignment of the product for dispensing.

Abstract: An automatic dispensing device of orientable capsules for preparing hot beverages is described, comprising at least one storage compartment adapted to accommodate the capsules in open order, the storage compartment being provided with at least one inlet for capsules and at least one plurality of apertures adapted to the oriented exit of capsules. The device comprises means for rotating the storage compartment about a rotation axis in order to facilitate the oriented exit of capsules.

Abstract: A passive chute assembly includes: a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; and a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet. The passive dispensing unit has a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing. The staging portion is movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit. The staging portion includes an adaptive opening that, when the staging portion moves to the dispensing position, opens adaptively corresponding to a diameter of the receptacle.

Abstract: The golf ball positioning dispenser for putting practice comprises a hollow tube for holding golf balls. A stop mechanism attached to a body block near the bottom end of the tube dispenses balls one at a time. The stop mechanism includes a pivotally attached biased lever that controls movement of a ball release pin and a ball retention pin into the tube in alternating cycles. The body block is attached to a travel wheel for circumferential travel around a practice hole. A telescoping radial arm is provided to keep travel of the travel wheel a predetermined user selected radial distance from the hole. Cams attached to the wheel engage the biased lever to dispense the golf balls from the tube at predetermined intervals of arc along a circumference of travel. A stand is included to stabilize the tube in an upright position.

Abstract: A parts feeding apparatus includes a plurality of cassettes respectively holding therein rows of parts of different types and removably attached to a plurality of parts supply openings arranged at predetermined angular intervals along the peripheral edge of a rotating circular plate. The circular plate is intermittently rotatable so that a selected one of the parts supply openings and the cassette attached thereto are positioned relative to the inlet opening of a parts delivery chute. An open lower end of the cassette is opened and closed at predetermined time intervals by a reciprocating slide plate member disposed in a parts supply unit. The parts feeding apparatus thus constructed is compact in size and simple in construction. Since the cassettes are arranged on the same circumference on the circular plate, the parts to be fed can be automatically and smoothly changed or switched from one type to another.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing articles is disclosed. The apparatus includes a storage rack associated with a vertically disposed conduit proximate an outlet of the storage rack. A carriage adapted for a manual or spring-assisted upward and downward displacement within the conduit is configured to receive an article from the storage rack. A finger member mounted within the channel is formed to permit an upwardly directed passage thereby of an article loaded carriage and operates subsequently to unload that carriage of its article and thereafter retain that article within that channel at a location elevationally above the finger member.

Abstract: Products such as small chocolate bars, intended to be uniformly aligned on other products passing on a conveyor, such as pieces of dough in the manufacture of chocolate-filled cookies, are placed in a hopper having resiliently mounted walls. Beneath the hopper is a feeder comprising a cylindrical-sector-shaped feeder part. The feeder part includes a slot through which the chocolate bars can be disposed on the pieces of dough. By means of a motor-driven main crank assembly and a supplementary crank assembly, a perturbed sinusoidal motion is imparted to the feeder part, thus ensuring that the chocolate bars are consistently introduced into the feed slot, particularly in the vicinity of the walls of the hopper. A blocking and release mechanism, connected to the feeder and controlled by a sensor unit, ensures that only one chocolate bar drops on each piece of dough.

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: An apparatus for particular use in delivering leadless, tubular ceramic capacitors or like electronic components from a receptacle, containing a random pile of such components, to templates for the prearrangement of the components, preparatory to their attachment to printed circuit boards. The apparatus includes a vacuum pickup assembly for repeatedly picking up the components, at least one at a time, in the receptacle and depositing them on an entrance guide of approximately V-shaped cross section extending from an inclined, rotatable, tubular chute. The entrance guide functions to direct the components into the chute in alignment, for delivery to a desired location. After the pickup assembly deposits a component or components on the entrance guide each time, the entrance guide and the chute are bidirectionally rotated through a preassigned angle in each direction to facilitate the entrance of the component or components into the chute.