Abstract: A medium placement device includes a placement unit configured to have cut single paper thereon, a cover member configured to have single paper supplied to or discharged from an opening portion thereon, and a movement unit configured to move the cover member between a first position and a second position that is lower than the first position.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus for selecting and removing items from a bundle such as stacked pieces of lumber boards is provided. Systems containing such apparatuses and methods for selecting and removing items from a bundle also are provided. The items are arranged in vertical columns and horizontal rows in the bundle; and ejector assemblies are used to individually remove the items. Other suitable items include, for example, wood, rolls, tubes, pipes, rods, packages, containers, bags, cases, cartons, and boxes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an arcade game with a rotating playing field and a radially projecting mechanism for moving targets located on the spinning mechanism board. Having the mechanism be radially projecting allows for more players by reducing the playing area that each player occupies. In a first embodiment, the player uses a vacuum mechanism. In another embodiment, the player uses a pusher to direct targets or prizes off the playing field in the radial direction. The pusher mechanism can push the targets toward the player (into a retrieval bin) or off the playing field at the center of the game. In a preferred embodiment, the game automatically replaces each displaced target with a new target so that the game always maintains the same number of targets on the playing field.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding bars to a lathe comprises a first end couplable with a spindle of the lathe; a stationary arrangement for guiding and supporting a bar in a first region; a drum element between a first end and an intermediate zone; a movable supporting arrangement provided on the drum element; the movable supporting arrangement is slidably drivable along the drum element parallel to the rotation axis between a contracted disengagement configuration, in which the movable supporting arrangement is collected near the first end to enable a bar to be positioned on the stationary guiding and supporting arrangement, and an extended engagement configuration, in which it is distributed between the first end and the intermediate zone to engage with the respective bar to be supported and guided.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing elongated articles such as straws, including: a container for holding the elongated articles; a hopper to receive some of the elongated articles, where the hopper is reversibly movable between a closed state and an open state; and a manipulator for performing a cycle to release a single elongated article by isolating a single article and then moving the hopper from the closed state to the open state, thereby releasing only the single elongated article.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gum dispenser for automatically dispensing gum by the vertical lifting of a gum case. Particularly, the present invention provides a container that has a self-sealing means, accurately dispenses a piece of gum one by one, prevents the generation of container defects, and provides ease of operation and molding. Currently, in the above operation structure, an inner case receiving gum therein is fitted in a lifting shaft of an outer case to be lifted or lowered so that a piece of gum is pushed up to an upper end of the lifting shaft, and then the gum is exposed to a dispensing hole perforated in a lid, which is coupled with the inner case, one by one for a user to enjoy.

Abstract: A blade dispenser apparatus includes a body, a blade receptacle coupled to and repositionable in relation to the body, a blade holder coupled to and repositionable in relation to the blade receptacle, and an actuator coupled to the blade holder, the actuator being deployable for repositioning of the blade holder to dispense a blade or for disengaging a portion of the blade receptacle from the body allowing a user of the blade dispenser to access the blade receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a manifold assembly. The manifold assembly includes a manifold and a door assembly. The manifold has a plenum and an inlet port in fluid communication with the plenum. The door assembly includes a door panel and a shield. The door panel is selectively moveable between a closed position, wherein the door panel restricts airflow through the inlet port, and an open position, wherein the door panel permits airflow through the inlet port. The shield defines a pocket to receive the door panel in the open position and thereby reduce or restrict flow of air behind the door panel.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an efficient and effective technique for storing and dispensing reagent beads. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided for dispensing reagent beads contained in a bead storage device which includes a bead carrier having a plurality of wells; a plurality of reagent beads disposed in the wells; and a cover tape releasably attached to the bead carrier to cover the wells and retain the reagent beads in the wells. The apparatus comprises a channel in which to place the bead storage device with the bead carrier facing a support wall of the channel and the cover tape facing a stripping wall of the channel. The stripping wall includes a stripping gap disposed between a stripping edge and an opposite edge, and a dispense opening provided adjacent the opposite edge on a side of the stripping wall opposite from the stripping edge.

Abstract: Containers for contents in a liquid bath, which are resealable and have an elevating lift therein. The lift is preferably operated by an operator that fits within the container. The lift engages both a feature on the operator and a feature on the container. A slope differential exists between the operator feature and the container feature. Rotation of the operator relative to the container results in longitudinal movement of the lift within the container. The lift can be moved toward an upper position to raise at least a portion of the contents out of the liquid bath to facilitate dispensing of the contents.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a dispensing apparatus for dispensing individual tissue cassettes from a stack of cassettes, the apparatus includes a hopper for receiving a stack of tissue cassettes, the hopper having an aperture through which cassettes are dispensable; ejection means for ejecting a cassette through the aperture; and retention means for retaining all but one of the cassettes in the stack as an individual cassette is ejected.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an efficient and effective technique for storing and dispensing reagent beads. In some embodiments, an apparatus is provided for dispensing reagent beads contained in a bead storage device which includes a bead carrier having a plurality of wells; a plurality of reagent beads disposed in the wells; and a cover tape releasably attached to the bead carrier to cover the wells and retain the reagent beads in the wells. The apparatus comprises a channel in which to place the bead storage device with the bead carrier facing a support wall of the channel and the cover tape facing a stripping wall of the channel. The stripping wall includes a stripping gap disposed between a stripping edge and an opposite edge, and a dispense opening provided adjacent the opposite edge on a side of the stripping wall opposite from the stripping edge.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an efficient and effective technique for storing and dispensing reagent beads. In some embodiments, an apparatus is provided for dispensing reagent beads contained in a bead storage device which includes a bead carrier having a plurality of wells; a plurality of reagent beads disposed in the wells; and a cover tape releasably attached to the bead carrier to cover the wells and retain the reagent beads in the wells. The apparatus comprises a channel in which to place the bead storage device with the bead carrier facing a support wall of the channel and the cover tape facing a stripping wall of the channel. The stripping wall includes a stripping gap disposed between a stripping edge and an opposite edge, and a dispense opening provided adjacent the opposite edge on a side of the stripping wall opposite from the stripping edge.

Abstract: The Novel Modular Vending Machine for Packaged Goods allows consumers to purchase packaged goods without an attendant present. The invention uses two or more conveyor assemblies to store and transfer packaged goods and primarily uses gravity to transfer the packaged goods from the storage location to the customer. When a vend is initiated, a dispensing drum rotates and places a packaged item on a delivery system for transportation to the customer. The remaining packaged goods move into position for the next vend. When the lower conveyor assembly is empty, an upper conveyor assembly is lowered into position to transfer the remaining packaged goods to the dispensing drum. The apparatus may be configured in a system comprised of multiple modular units controlled by a single user interface.

Abstract: A magazine for spot welding electrodes that stores mini chips and can feed the mini chips one by one. A mini chip storage portion and a cap chip storage portion slidably aligning and storing a plurality of mini chips and a plurality of cap chips are formed such that the mini chip storage portion and cap chip storage portion communicate with each other at one of their ends, where they open to the outside to serve as a supply port. When an arm is inserted into the supply port, a cap chip is mounted to the arm, as well as the cap chip presses the mini chip so that the mini chip is also mounted to the chip base. When the mounting operation is complete, a push-out member pushes the mini chips and cap chips so that the mini chips and cap chips are automatically fed to the supply port.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gum dispenser for automatically dispensing gum by the vertical lifting of a gum case. Particularly, the present invention provides a container that has a self-sealing means, accurately dispenses a piece of gum one by one, prevents the generation of container defects, and provides ease of operation and molding. Currently, in the above operation structure, an inner case receiving gum therein is fitted in a lifting shaft of an outer case to be lifted or lowered so that a piece of gum is pushed up to an upper end of the lifting shaft, and then the gum is exposed to a dispensing hole perforated in a lid, which is coupled with the inner case, one by one for a user to enjoy.

Abstract: A medicament storage and dispensing system (10) operable for storing and dispensing products (12) such as pre-packaged pharmaceutical boxes and/or bottles and broadly includes a cabinet (14); a plurality of product shelves (16) mounted within the cabinet; an infeed conveyor (18) for transporting products into the cabinet; an outfeed conveyor (20) for transporting products out of the cabinet; a transporter (22) moveable within the cabinet for transporting products between the shelves and the infeed and outfeed conveyors; and a control system (24) for controlling operation of the conveyors and the transporter in response to prescriptions received from a host computer (26). The shelves having a plurality of vertical walls (56) upon which the products rest and between which tines (130) of the transporter slide in order to retrieve products from and place products upon the shelves.

Abstract: A beverage container lid separator and dispenser is provided which allows individual beverage container lids to be dispensed in a neat and sanitary manner. The invention generally includes a vessel and an actuator, wherein a stack of lids is maintained in the vessel optionally within a housing. The vessel has an aperture at its lower end for dispensing the lids therefrom. The actuator is positioned below the vessel and extending up through a horizontal floor below the vessel, the floor supporting the lids thereon. In operation, the vessel preferably pivots to allow a bottom-most lid within the vessel to be pulled from underneath the vessel by the actuator. The vessel catches and maintains the remaining stack of lids for later dispensing by a subsequent user.

Abstract: A dispensing device for beverage cup lid which prevents excessive human contact with the lid prior to insertion upon the beverage cup, the device providing a central stationary lid retaining rod suspended from a lid cabinet upon which a stacked plurality of lids are retained through a central bore, the lids urged downward by a traveling press plate engaging a rotating threaded shaft, the threaded shaft moving the press plate against the uppermost lid on the retaining rod pressing the stacked plurality of lids down along the retaining rod in increments programmed to release only the lowermost lid from the end of the retaining rod onto the top of a beverage cup positioned below the retaining rod. The device is operated by the activation of a presence sensor, either a beverage cup or a clean hand, which causes the incremental dispensing of a single lid.

Abstract: A drug dispenser which can push a drug package in a stable state and discharge it. The drug dispenser includes a drug case (1) for containing a plurality of drug packages (100) stacked in a vertical direction, each of the plurality of drug packages (100) is packed in a rectangular package with a flange (100a), and a pushing mechanism (3) for pushing out the lowermost drug package (100) in a horizontal direction. A guide member (35) for supporting and guiding the flange (100a?) of the second drug package (100?), when the lowermost drug package (100) is pushed out, is provided in a pushing direction of the drug package (100).

Abstract: A newspaper vending machine includes a dispensing sled and an elevator supported by a frame within a housing. The elevator includes a base slidable between a rearward position, for loading a stack of newspapers, and a forward position. The dispensing sled engages the newspaper stack and is translatable between upper and lower positions to dispense the periodicals from an exit area. An actuation arm projects outwardly from a front panel for engagement by a user and is translated along a substantially vertical pathway as the dispensing sled is moved between its upper and lower positions. The frame of the vending machine is translatably supported on rails for movement between a retracted condition in which the frame is located within the interior and an extended condition in which the frame extends beyond a front end of the housing.

Abstract: A nutritional supplement dispenser for attachment to a bicycle frame or to a runner's belt has a hollow case with an openable top for placing tablets in the case and an inclined bottom tending to urge tablets forward under the influence of gravity. A dispenser located at a low point of the case dispenses a single tablet into an athlete's hand when manually depressed. VELCRO® brand fastener-equipped straps attach the case to the top tube and down tube of a bicycle or to a belt worn by a runner. Magnetically biased and spring biased dispensing mechanisms are described. A push-button dispensing mechanism is described. Bicycle-frame-conforming aerodynamic wings and a holster are described.

Abstract: A substantially moisture-proof, airtight dispenser for both storing and dispensing several flattened articles such as diagnostic test strips. The inventive dispenser includes a novel pivotable housing that a user need merely grab and squeeze to eject a test strip. Independent movement of the user's fingers to push a button or turn a knob is unnecessary to dispense a strip, which makes the present invention well suited for diabetics suffering from nerve damage in their extremities and other complications resulting from the disease. The invention includes a novel flexible arm member and pusher head that engage and push an article from the dispenser as the two parts of the housing are pivoted together. The articles are dispensed through an exit that is configured with a novel flexible seal that maintains the dispenser substantially airtight. Several inventive seal embodiments and methods of making the same are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an efficient and effective technique for storing and dispensing reagent beads. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided for dispensing reagent beads contained in a bead storage device which includes a bead carrier having a plurality of wells; a plurality of reagent beads disposed in the wells; and a cover tape releasably attached to the bead carrier to cover the wells and retain the reagent beads in the wells. The apparatus comprises a channel in which to place the bead storage device with the bead carrier facing a support wall of the channel and the cover tape facing a stripping wall of the channel. The stripping wall includes a stripping gap disposed between a stripping edge and an opposite edge, and a dispense opening provided adjacent the opposite edge on a side of the stripping wall opposite from the stripping edge.

Abstract: A medicament storage and dispensing system (10) operable for storing and dispensing products (12) such as pre-packaged pharmaceutical boxes and/or bottles and broadly includes a cabinet (14); a plurality of product shelves (16) mounted within the cabinet; an infeed conveyor (18) for transporting products into the cabinet; an outfeed conveyor (20) for transporting products out of the cabinet; a transporter (22) moveable within the cabinet for transporting products between the shelves and the infeed and outfeed conveyors; and a control system (24) for controlling operation of the conveyors and the transporter in response to prescriptions received from a host computer (26). The shelves having a plurality of vertical walls (56) upon which the products rest and between which tines (130) of the transporter slide in order to retrieve products from and place products upon the shelves.

Abstract: The efficiency of a John Deere planter to plant corn seed is improved where the planter is of the type having a vacuum operated metering unit enclosing a seed disk and a double eliminator. To improve the efficiency a kit is provided including an improved seed disk, an improved double eliminator, and an alignment tool for properly aligning the double eliminator with respect to the seed disk. When the parts are installed and properly aligned the planter can accept corn seed in the range of 1200 seeds per pound to 2800 seeds per pound without requiring readjustment of the vacuum setting or replacing the seed disk.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transport system for everyday commodities, comprising a supply device which is located, e.g., in a store, a transport arrangement with at least one open or closed transport way and a discharge device which, eg., is located in sales premises. The transport system is characterized in that the transport way comprises at least one of the following units: advertising units, temperature-regulating units, insulating units, storage units, detector units, pure transport units, push/pull units and delivery units.

Abstract: A mobile vending machine for transporting and vending a number of products. The mobile vending machine includes a storage compartment for storing the products, a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the products, and a drive mechanism. The storage compartment is positioned about the drive mechanism for movement therewith.

Abstract: An article dispensing apparatus with a novel structure is provided for lifting and taking out articles such as candies, stored in a stack within a case body, one by one from the top one. The article dispensing apparatus has a case body for storing articles in a stack. A dispensing opening that can take out the stored articles one by one from the top one is formed in the upper part of the case body, and an elastic member for biasing the stored articles toward the dispensing opening is provided in the lower part of the case body. A pair of engaging members are provided in the vicinity of the dispensing opening of the case body for engaging the both sides of the top article among a plurality of articles biased by the elastic member to prevent the plurality of articles from being dispensed from the dispensing opening.

Abstract: A pill dispenser for dispensing pills is provided that has a container for holding the pills to be dispensed. The container is closed at one end and open at the opposite end. The container is slidably received in a sleeve. The dispenser has an outlet through which a pill can pass from the container and a gate for closing the outlet to prevent a pill from passing through the outlet. The arrangement is such that the gate is opened when the container is moved in the sleeve, so that a pill can pass through the open end of the container to the outlet to be dispensed from the dispenser. The dispenser may be arranged so that one and only one pill is dispensed at a time.

Abstract: Partial wafer processing is achieved by down loading the wafer map of the whole wafer from a host (12) and if the partial wafer contains the reference die (14) move table to a locator die (15) and upload locator die coordinates to wafer map data host (16) and remove other partial wafer die coordinates from the map (17). If the partial wafer does not have the reference die and is not the last partial wafer, position wafer table to auxiliary reference die (18), validate the auxiliary reference die position (19) and compute auxiliary reference die coordinates from locator die coordinates (20) and move wafer table to locator die (22) and upload locator die coordinates to wafer map data host (23) and then using auxiliary reference die and locator die coordinates as information remove other partial wafer die coordinates from the map (24).

Abstract: Partial wafer processing is achieved by down loading the wafer map of the whole wafer from a host (2) and display the whole wafer in the die bonder monitor (3) move the wafer table to a first die pickup position (4) and move the display cursor to the first die pickup position (5) and teach two limit die coordinates in X direction (6) and teach two limit die coordinates in Y direction (7) and then using limit die coordinates as information remove other partial wafer die coordinates from the map (8) and select die pickup sequence (9).

Abstract: An improved rotary push arcade game including a turntable having a central aperture. Prize objects which are positioned on the surface of the turntable are moved by a pivoting arm member positioned above the turntable. An improved tip of the arm member is engaged with the surface of the turntable and is used to engage an object and push the object into a collection pocket. The collection pocket detects the presence of the object and provides the object to the player. An object dispenser which is positioned in the central aperture of the turntable is used for dispensing additional objects onto the surface of the turntable as required. A wheel mechanism coupled to the turntable near the edge of the turntable causes the turntable to rotate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically installing a clamp made from a flat blank on an object to be fastened thereby, in which individual blanks are separated from a supply of such blanks, are fed as individual blanks to a deformation station where the flat blank is deformed into circular shape, the thus-deformed clamp is transferred from the deformation station to the object to be fastened thereby where it is placed over the object, and the clamp is thereafter tightened.

Abstract: A label dispenser (10) includes a storage container (13) for labels (11). A withdrawal roller (15) is in contact with the labels (11) and is supported together with a gear-wheel pinion (17) and a free-wheeling bearing (19) at the storage container (13). The pinion (17) is engaged with a fixed-position gear rack (23). As soon as the finger pressure actuates the server plate (29), the storage container (13) is pressed downwardly, the gear-wheel pinion (17) rotates the withdrawal roller (15) such that the outermost label is pushed out downwardly out of the storage container (13). The outermost label is then gripped by a transport roller pair and can be transported off. As soon as the finger pressure is released, a helical spring (37) slides the storage container (13) back into the starting position. In this case, a hollow cylinder (33), together with an air valve (39) furnishes a braking of the speed, while the free-wheeling bearing (19) runs freely.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a stack of cups made of soft material one from each other and transferring them is provided. This apparatus includes a continuously rotating cup holder and a suction nozzle that is mounted on a vertically and horizontally movable arm. The suction nozzle sucks the top cup in a stack of cups that are in the cup holder while the other cups are rotated as the cup holder rotates. The top cup is separated from the other cups and transferred to a preselected position by the suction nozzle.

Abstract: An amusement apparatus in which a player controls positioning of a pick-up device such as a mechanical grabber having moveable claws or pincers over a floor area on which prize objects are placed. The floor area is rotatable and the pick up device is attached to an overhead transport mechanism for moving it back and forth across a portion of the floor area, so that the pick up device can cover the entire prize area during one complete revolution of the floor. Several pick up devices may be provided at spaced positions around the floor area so that more than one player may use the device at the same time. The floor area is preferably circular, and rotates around its center axis with the pick up devices travelling back and forth between the center and outer edge of the floor area. The entire device is enclosed in an outer housing which is at least partially transparent.

Abstract: An amusement apparatus or game comprises a moveable surface on which a plurality of items are distributed, and a pusher device for operation by a player in attempting to push items off the surface. The moveable surface is driven in a first predetermined path, and the pusher device is moveable in a linear path transverse to the path of travel of the surface. A reversible drive mechanism which is at least partially controlled by the player moves the pusher device in a linear path transversely across the moving surface. A delivery chute at one end of the path of the pusher device is arranged to deliver any item swept off the surface to the player.

Abstract: A vending machine having a casing enclosing a tiltable hopper cooperating with a feeding-out device. The hopper is suspended upon shelves located at the side walls of the casing, and comprises two series of pockets arranged back to back, the hopper being tiltable in two directions. The hopper does not have any permanent attachment to the tilting mechanism or to the feeding-out device, and can thus easily be fitted into the casing and be removed therefrom, respectively.

Abstract: A shotgun shell dispenser for efficient hand loading, the dispenser having a hopper into which a plurality of empty cases or hulls are oriented and stacked, a carousel reel for serial transport of casings from the hopper to a dispenser opening and a trip mechanism for releasing a single shell to a dispenser trough for convenient manual removal of the casing from the dispenser.

Abstract: A document feeder for advancing original documents to the exposure platen of an electrophotographic copier which is capable of operating in either a semiautomatic or fully automatic mode. In the semiautomatic mode, an original to be copied is manually inserted face up into an inlet where it is engaged by the semiautomatic transport assembly inverted and advances to a proper position for copying. After exposure the document is again inverted and guided into a receiving tray overlying the platen. In the automatic mode of operation, a second tray normally maintained in an inoperative position is swung down to a position at which its feed end is adjacent the feeder inlet. Documents to be copied are placed face up as a stack in the second tray, and feed rollers carried by the tray are actuated to advance documents individually from the stack to the inlet.

Abstract: A dispenser for thin flat rigid articles such as glass cover slips for microscope slides comprises a magazine for a stack of such articles and a dispensing block carrying the magazine and reciprocable relative to a spring blade running in a groove in the top of the block and under the magazine. The depth of the grooves changes so that the front of the blade rises as it travels in the groove, under the magazine, from a projection less than the thickness of article to a projection greater than that thickness, so as to engage and push only the lowermost article under a resilient barrier that restrains other articles in the stack.Also disclosed is an automatic microscope slide coverslipping machine incorporating the dispenser.

Abstract: This invention relates to an Electrically Operated Player Controlled Apparatus for Providing a Game of Skill wherein a rotating plane member visible to the player has placed upon it objects which are to be physically removed therefrom by an arm member rotatably maneuverable across a portion of the surface of said plane member, the object being to coordinate the movement of said arm member which travels in an arc-like path above the surface of the said plane member during a period of rotation of said plane member, so as to cause one of said objects placed on said rotating plane member to be dislodged therefrom.