Abstract: An automatic vending machine for vending a product selected by a user includes: an automatic vending machine cabinet having an opening that is opened and closed by a door: a plurality of product racks that is provided in the automatic vending machine cabinet, each product rack including a plurality of product storage columns each storing products ordered in a line; and a product storage device that allows a user to take out one product at a time by holding a body of the product, when the door is opened to open the opening.

Abstract: A bullet loader for inserting toy bullets into a magazine is disclosed to include a housing having a bullet chamber, opposing inlet and outlet and a bullet passage in communication between the bullet chamber and the outlet, a press-control device having a press knob and a plunger extended from the press knob and inserted into the bullet chamber and terminating in a repeatedly curved lower plunger portion for pushing toy bullets out of the bullet passage into the outlet, a movable block coupled to the plunger in and horizontally reciprocatable by the repeatedly curved lower plunger portion to turn over storage toy bullets upon a vertical reciprocating motion of the plunger relative to the housing.

Abstract: A method and device for the removal of balls from a supply is disclosed. The device has a horizontal plate having one or a plurality of circular orifices of identical size in the form of transcurrent orifices running vertically from the upper side to the lower side. The plate on its upper side exhibits a depression around each orifice, in conjunction with which the base of the depression are curved, the periphery of the depression exhibits an elliptical, oval or spindle-shaped form at the level of the surface of the plate, the mid-point of the orifice in each case lies on the mid-point of the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis of the periphery of the depression, and the base of the depression is inclined towards the mid-point of the orifice along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An automatic screw feeder serves to automatically align a plurality screws laying in disarray and feed the aligned screws one by one to a power screwdriver so as to avoid screw clogging.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and isolating components that are accommodated as bulk material has a supply reservoir for receiving the bulk material. An orientation canal is connected to the supply reservoir through which the parts are transported succesively and in a proper orientation. A reliable and non-damaging isolation of the parts is achieved by an exit region of the supply reservoir. The exit region includes an inlet funnel for the orientation canal. The inlet funnel has two funnel walls that are oriented parallel to one another and that lie in one plane with bordering walls of the orientation canal. The apparatus of the invention is particularly suited for the isolation and provision of electronic components.

Abstract: An arrangement (10) and a manifold (12) are disclosed for feeding different sized or types of fasteners from a plurality of automatic screw feeding machines (11) into and through the manifold (12) to a fastening tool (21) at a remote location, whereby one fastener is output from the automatic screw feeding machines (11) and delivered to the remote location before another fastener is output from one of the screw feeding machines (11).

Abstract: A sheet brake improves laying sheets off onto a stack in the take-off unit of a sheet-fed rotary printing press. The sheet brake is provided with a crank drive that generates a back-and-forth stroke by way of a synchronized drive mechanism at the rate traveled by the sheets. The rear portion of each sheet is forced by suction against a suction strip provided on the brake so that the sheet is braked while being stretched and then lowered onto the top of the stack. The suction strip has a groove arranged such that the sheet is braked and stretched as the suction strip works in conjunction with an operation of a take over gripper to accurately guide the sheet to the stack.

Abstract: A mechanical vending machine for vending paper tablets or the like, one at a time. The machine comprises a cabinet housing the unvended paper tablets, a tablet delivery apparatus, a coin receptor mechanism for receiving the coins, and a coin box to retain the coins. The coins are deposited in a coin deposit box located in the interior of the cabinet thereof for storage until the service personnel retrieve the coins and restock the paper tablets in the cabinet. The paper tablet vending machine has a simplified design, a low initial cost of manufacture, is easy to install and maintain, is totally independent of an outside power source, and will allow paper tablets to be vended in locations considered impractical because of the operating labor and the power requirements of vending machines heretofore. The machine comprises a cabinet having a top panel, a base, a removable lockable side panel for restocking the machine, and an interior storage tray for storing unvended paper tablets.

Abstract: A gravity fed, track arrangement for assemblying orienting, and aligning a plurality of fasteners for use with an automatic screw feeding machine is disclosed. Inclined tracks having a space therebetween are provided with a pivotable stabilizing bar which bears upon the heads of the fasteners within the tracks. Vibrations are induced into the stabilizing bar and the tracks so as to assist gravity in urging the fasteners down the tracks and so as to continually act to maintain the alignment position of the fasteners within the tracks. Track purging apparatus is provided whereby any misaligned fastener is purged from the tracks.

Abstract: A dispenser for golf balls comprises an upper bin (1) containing the balls to be dispensed retained by means of an inclined plate (2) partially sealing the bin (1) so as to arrange in its lower portion an opening (3) for the passage of the balls. In order to avoid a significant bulk at the level of the opening (3) a second inclined plate (4) is arranged in an inverse sense to the perpendicular of the opening (3). A lower inclined ramp (5) is provided with perpendicular elements (7) defining channels (8) disposed opposite compartments (9) arranged on a rotating cylinder (10) in loading position at the extremity of the lower ramp (5). In an upper portion of the vertical elements (7) a closing plate (11) is connected in order to avoid the superposition of several layers of balls. Rotation of the cylinder (10) outputs the balls into a drain (18) responsive to the action of a crank (17) coupled to a coin receiver and to the cylinder (10).

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 seed singulator uses two opposing surfaces, one of which has a groove extending across it dimensioned to receive seeds in a single file. The two surfaces are moved relative to each other, with the groove having an angled relationship of less than 90.degree. with the relative direction motion of the two surfaces. Variation of the angle controls spacing between seeds independently of the velocity of relative movement between the surfaces. The surfaces are preferably flat with a centrally disposed seed containing area and the groove extending from that area to the periphery of the surfaces for discharge of the seed. In this form, the relative motion between the surfaces is preferably rotary to provide continuous operation.

Abstract: An oscillating feeding apparatus has an oscillating cup and a storage hopper. A rotatably driven separating disc is at the foot of the storage hopper and, at the lower edge of the storage hopper, there is provided an annular output opening which is closed by a flexible annular curtain. A separating disc defines a spiral path so that the parts are urged individually through the annular curtain into the oscillating cup.