Abstract: A medicine dispensing device capable of appropriately dispensing medicines independent of their form and having a compact structure. The medicine dispensing device has a device body (1) and a medicine conveyance member (3) for conveying, on one by one basis, medicines (D) arranged in rows in the device body (1). The medicine conveyance member (3) has a medicine holding member (40) reciprocatingly moving in the horizontal and vertical directions. The medicine holding member (40) has a support member (42), a forwardly/backwardly moving member (43) reciprocatingly moving in the forward and backward direction of the device body (1) while being supported by the support member (42), and a holding member (44) supported by the forwardly/backwardly moving member (43) so as to swing between a vertical position and a horizontal position and having a pair of holding sections (54) capable of holding a medicine (D).

Abstract: In a sticky note printer, a sticky note is peeled off and fed one by one from a bundle of notes set in position. In empty-feed motion, the sticky note is fed in a normal direction from a peel-off position through a sticky note ejecting slot to a pull-out position in which the sticky note protrudes outside the sticky note printer. In feed-back motion, the sticky note is fed in a reverse direction from the pull-out position to a retracted position in which printing can be performed. In feed-again motion, the sticky note is fed in the normal direction from the retracted position to the pull-out position. The empty-feed motion is made when the sticky note has been pulled away from the pull-out position. The feed-back motion or the feed-again motion is made, when an instruction for printing is given, in a manner synchronized with the printing operation.

Abstract: A medicine dispensing device capable of appropriately dispensing medicines independent of their form and having a compact structure. The medicine dispensing device has a device body (1) and a medicine conveyance member (3) for conveying, on one by one basis, medicines (D) arranged in rows in the device body (1). The medicine conveyance member (3) has a medicine holding member (40) reciprocatingly moving in the horizontal and vertical directions. The medicine holding member (40) has a support member (42), a forwardly/backwardly moving member (43) reciprocatingly moving in the forward and backward direction of the device body (1) while being supported by the support member(42), and a holding member (44) supported by the forwardly/backwardly moving member (43) so as to swing between a vertical position and a horizontal position and having a pair of holding sections (54) capable of holding a medicine (D).

Abstract: An apparatus for discharging tissue that is folded several times and stacked is provided. The apparatus includes a cartridge that holds stacked tissue and has a through hole at one end, and a holding member that is disposed adjacent to the through hole of the cartridge and pivots on an axis to grasp and remove tissues one at a time from the top of the stack through an arm. The inventive apparatus allows a user to easily replace tissue and check the amount of tissue used and the amount left to use through visual means. The apparatus virtually eliminates the problem of tissue dispensing failure, and has increased precision and reliability and reduced dispensing time over conventional apparatuses.

Abstract: Moving a lid dispenses single thin films from a container. A pad coated with TPE, rubber or silicone rotates downward and contacts the top thin film strip. The pad moves the strip toward a front opening. When the lid is fully opened, the strip has been ejected far enough for the user to remove it. A sliding top and lever dispense a strip. The user slides back the top of the container, causing lever with a living hinges and links to flex downward. A pad rotates downward towards the top strip and outward towards an opening exposed in the front of the container and the strip is ejected out this opening. The pad is connected to a lever on a gear. Sliding the top of the container rotates the gear. The pad contacts the strip and moves the strip through the uncovered front dispensing opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing both coffee in a reservoir and nested stacks of cup-shaped coffee filters, and then automatically filling individual filters with selected amounts of coffee and brewing the coffee while protecting the reservoir. Through a series of gears, an electric motor rotates an elastic projection with teeth and a disengaging curved tooth against the topmost filter in the stack, dragging it into a filter well beneath a coffee storage receptacle and then dropping it. Simultaneously, a rotating coffee dispenser fills with a selectable quantity of coffee and then dumps the coffee into the filter. The apparatus also includes a stirring device for insuring the stored coffee falls to the bottom of the coffee receptacle. A hot water dispenser operates in conjunction with a valve means for cutting off steam from the coffee reservoir.

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 dispensing mechanism is adapted to eject a test sensor from a cartridge opening formed in a cartridge containing test sensors. The dispensing mechanism comprises a gear rack, a gear, and a wheel. The gear rack includes a first portion and a second portion located generally parallel to one another. The second portion of the gear rack includes a first plurality of teeth. The gear includes a second plurality of teeth that are adapted to be engaged by the first plurality of teeth upon movement of the gear rack. The wheel is operatively engaged by the gear and is adapted to dispense the test sensor from the cartridge opening and to seal the cartridge opening. The movement of the gear rack in a first direction causes the gear to rotate causing the wheel to rotate. The rotation of the wheel dispenses the test sensor through the cartridge opening.

Abstract: Equipment for dispensing sheet goods and use of hair coloring solutions, or in other words a system for a hair colorist, is described. An aspect of the invention is a system for a hair colorist including a housing defining a first region capable of receiving one or more sheets of a stack of sheet goods. An indexing device is located on an exterior surface of the housing. A first bowl configured to be mated with the indexing device to restrain movement of the first bowl.

Abstract: A cup dispenser that dispenses a wide range of cup sizes and cup types. The dispenser comprises a suctioning device that adheres cups by creating a sufficient pressure differential to overcome the weight of a cup to be dispensed. The suctioning device is attached to a mechanism for raising and lowering the same and is thereby lowered to receive a cup and subsequently raised to dispense it. Other embodiments for dispensing cups include a belt that tightens around a cup and a pair of biasing pins that exert pressure against the walls of a cup.

Abstract: An automatic system (100) for conserving samples at a controlled temperature comprising at least one controlled-temperature thermo-insulated conservation chamber (1) with temperature control means (3) containing a set of disks (9) for storing samples (19) and a Cartesian robotic system (4) equipped with pick-up device (18), contained in an upper chamber (2) separated from the chamber (1) by means of an insulating shelf (6), where said Cartesian system (4) through the controlled-access opening (7) moves the samples (19) between the I/O drawer (20) and the above-mentioned set of disks (9). The combined and synchronized movement of the robotic device (4) and of every single disk of the set enables each storage location to be reached. The management of the devices of the automatic system (100) is controlled by an N/C system driven by dedicated management SW.

Abstract: An automatic supply apparatus for an elongate supply target member having elasticity and including both end portions includes a stock mechanism wherein a plurality of supply target members are stocked such that the plurality of supply target members are suspended in an inverted U shape and top portions of the plurality of supply target members are arranged side by side in a row direction, and an extraction mechanism to operate the top portions of the supply target members to extract one supply target member from the plurality of supply target members stocked in the stock mechanism.

Abstract: A container for a stack of individually removable paper products (9) such as facial tissues, handkerchiefs, towels and the like, or similar products made of non-woven material is described. The container has an upper wall (2), in which a withdrawal opening is formed which is closed by a tear-off-able lid (8) and a cavity accommodating the stack of products. The lid (8) has on its inner surface (12) an adhesive or bonding surface (11) by which the uppermost paper product (10) of the stack adheres, preferably detachably, to the lid (8).

Abstract: An automated article dispensing device for dispensing articles to a plurality of users, the device comprising: a) a plurality of storage compartments configured for storage of a vertical stack of cloth articles, the storage compartments arranged in a plurality of tiers; b) a plurality of cloth articles deployed in at least some of the storage compartments in vertical stack configurations; c) at least one dispensing outlet; d) an article delivery system configured to retrieve a top-most article from at least one the stack and deliver the article to the dispensing outlet, the article delivery system including a plurality of article retrieval systems equal in number to the number of tiers of the storage compartments; e) a user interface unit accessible to the users; and f) an on-board processing unit configured to control the article delivery system, the on-board processing unit being in electrical communication with the article delivery system, and the user interface unit.

Abstract: This invention is a vending machine and components parts that include a sophisticated positioning system, gripper and trays for improved efficiency in product retrieval and delivery. Following product selection, the positioning system quickly transports the gripper through the X-Y plane to the front of a tray queue containing the selected product. The gripper is extended in the Z-direction, and its fingers grasp the foremost product container in the queue. The gripper then retracts, and the positioning system transports the gripper carrying the product container to a delivery port. The gripper then releases the product which slides down a chute into a delivery bucket that is then tilted outward for customer pick up. Unique product storage trays are provided which work in conjunction with the gripper to allow only the foremost product to be removed from a tray queue. A specially designed door is provided to accommodate the X-Y positioning system.

Abstract: An external load port magazine for use with a storage unit includes a casing detachably mountable on an exterior of the storage unit and defining therein a space for holding at least one item to be loaded into the storage unit. An opening is formed in the casing for enabling automatic withdrawal or insertion of the at least one item from or into the space when the casing is mounted on the exterior of the storage unit. A mechanism is provided for moving the at least one stored item towards the opening.

Abstract: The prize arrangement is limited in many conventional prize-winning game machines, in which the usable area is only the floor. In a crane game machine of the present invention for grasping a prize, an object grasping system (grasping arms) grasping a prize is suspended by a first and a second wire which are respectively controlled in length by a first and a second Z mechanisms. Thus, the object grasping system can be moved in the longitudinal and the vertical direction, and a direction of the grasping arms can be rotated up-and-down by a predetermined angle. As a result, the grasping arms are capable of grasping the prize disposed on a self provided on the back wall face side of the game machine.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of dispensing a test strip is provided in which the dispensed test strip remains stationary while the inner housing moves within an outer housing. In another embodiment, a test strip dispenser is provided that dispenses one test strip at a time. The test strip dispenser includes a movable inner housing nested inside an outer housing. A test strip dispensing system is also described.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a device for anatomically orienting at least one tissue specimen, comprising a dispenser for carrying and selectably dispensing at least one pre-labeled specimen orientation tag. The dispenser comprises a vessel separable along its equator into an inferior base segment and a superior cover segment. The inferior base segment and superior cover segment enclose a dispensing ring that includes at least one set of paired radially projecting retaining prongs, which paired prongs define at least one dispensing bay, in which the specimen orientation tag is disposed for selective dispensation through at least one aperture radially arrayed along the equator of the dispsenser.

Abstract: An article storage container for use in an article handler which uses a suction-type gripping device. The container comprises a bin having wall portions and a bottom portion, for storing in a columnar manner, articles to be retrieved by the gripping device. The gripping device enters a dispensing end of the bin which is opposite the bottom portion of the bin. An airflow path providing device at the bottom portion of the bin prevents the gripping device from developing enough suction force to grip to the bottom of the bin.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling tubes with piles of disc-shaped articles, such as pills, comprising: two functional elements (5h, 5j), hinged at a horizontal axis (K) and mobile between a loading region (C), in which the functional elements (5h, 5j) provide at least a corresponding seating (6) for receiving and retaining a relative pill (3) released by a plurality of supply units (1), and a disengagement region (D) of the pill (3), at which the functional elements (5h, 5j) are rotated by ninety degrees and cooperate with gripping organs (11); the gripping organs (11) being mobile in a vertical direction in order to gather the pill (3) borne by the functional elements (5h, 5j) into the relative disengagement region (D), and to release the pill (3) internally of a corresponding tube (10) in phase relation with the movement of the functional elements (5h, 5j).

Abstract: A sticky note feeder includes: a casing; a discharge slot provided on the casing, to which slot a sticky note having an adhesive portion at one end of the back surface is sent; a feeding unit which sends the sticky note to the discharge slot along a feeding path; and a sticky note holding portion which holds the sticky note sent by the feeding unit such that the back face of the sticky note faces to below and that the end of the sticky note where the adhesive portion is not provided is exposed through the discharge slot. The sticky note holding portion is disposed on the upstream side of the discharge slot in the feeding direction at such a position as to face the feeding path from below.

Abstract: A device for packaging and dispensing stacked items may include, a box including: a first portion, in particular a cover; and a second portion, in particular a drawer, that is movable relative to the first portion between a retracted position and an extended position; and a stack of items disposed in the second portion; the first portion including a drive member configured to press against the stack of items while the second portion is being moved toward the retracted position, and to entrain an item in contact therewith relative to a remainder of the stack in order to enable the item to be grasped by a user; and the second portion and the drive member also being configured in such a manner as to prevent the drive member from pressing against the stack of items over at least a fraction of the stroke of the second portion from the retracted position toward the extended position.

Abstract: A bulk vending machine provides a dispensing conduit having a revolving mouth that floats on top of a heap of articles in the product bin. The mouth is movable between a horizontal orientation, in which the mouth can scoop articles off of the surface of the heap, and a vertical orientation in which a throat of the dispensing conduit opens to allow an article which has been scooped into the mouth to fall through the dispensing chute. Revolution of the dispensing conduit by turning the handle causes the mouth to revolve around the heap of articles, scooping up one or more articles in its path.

Abstract: A dispensing arrangement for inserting a part into a cast iron mold includes a dispenser apparatus configured to dispense a predetermined number of parts, a staging apparatus configured to position the parts in a selective orientation and a jig apparatus configured to grip and lift the parts from the staging apparatus and position the parts in a die of a mold. The apparatus may be located adjacent the mold in use.

Abstract: An item taking-out container making it possible to take out small items, such as candies or chocolates, one by one is composed of a container main body equipped with an accommodating portion capable of accommodating a plurality of items of a predetermined configuration and a cover member, an opening communicating with the accommodating portion being formed at a predetermined position on the surface of the container main body, the cover member being rotatably supported with respect to the container main body in order to close the opening so as to allow opening/closing, there being provided on the back side of the cover member an item taking-out means for holding the items accommodated in the accommodating portion and taking the items out of the container main body as the cover member is opened.

Abstract: A spout supply apparatus including a spout transfer device in which two spout holding devices 43 and 44 are respectively disposed on each end of a reciprocating swing arm 41 that makes a reciprocating swing motion in the horizontal plane through a swing angle of substantially 90 degrees about a supporting shaft 45. Upon the swing motion of the swing arm 41, the spout holding devices 43 and 44 alternatively receive a spout that is at the leading end of a row of lined spouts, at a spout receiving position T and are alternatively moved to spout transfer positions U, thus transferring the spout to the spout clamping member 3 which is at each one of the spout transfer positions U.

Abstract: A vending machine adopts a storing tray capable of storing a plurality of commodities in an upright state as storing means, and adopts means including a hand unit capable of gripping the commodity located at a taking-out portion of a predetermined storing tray as remaining in an upright state and a mechanism capable of moving the hand unit up and down, left and right, and back and forth as a common carrying-out means by a plurality of storing means. This allows the constitution of the storing means to be simplified, and the necessity of providing the carrying-out means for every storing means is eliminated so that the manufacturer's cost of the vending machine can be reduced.

Abstract: An automated machine is used to handle and manipulate individual pieces of particulate matter. The particulate matter is contained in a bin. The machine operates to pick single individual pieces of the particulate matter from the bin. The picked individual pieces are then conveyed for further handling. Pneumatic transport is primarily used for the conveying operation. One aspect of the handling involves individually weighing each piece of the picked particulate matters. Another aspect of the handling involves sorting the individual pieces of particulate matter into a plurality of receptacles. Yet another aspect of the handling involves both weighing and then sorting the individual pieces of particulate matter, wherein the sorting operation may be performed based upon the measured weight of each piece.

Abstract: An article retrieving container in which a novel container for storing articles such as confectionery allowing the articles to be retrieved one by one merely by a cover opening operation is provided, including a container body (3) and a cover body (5) installed on the container body (3), the container body (3) further including an article storage part (21) for storing a plurality of articles (X) such as the confectionery and an article retrieval part (37) having a communication part (41) with the article storage part (21) and an opening for retrieving the articles (X) to the outside, the cover body (5) rotatably installed on the container body (3) further including an article retrieving means (23) for retrieving the articles one by one installed on the inside thereof, whereby the article retrieving means (23) can retrieve the articles (X) by the opening operation of the cover body (5).

Abstract: Device for handling, transporting and storing capillaries, method for the production thereof and individual capillary dispenser therefrom.

Abstract: A paper dispenser generally comprises a chassis, an actuating member, a driven member, a paper pusher, an elastic member and a cover as a whole mounted to a paper box. The above-mentioned parts are assembled together so as to provide an interactive effect by pushing actions and paper pusher may push sheets smoothly, such that the user may take out the sheets easily and quickly.

Abstract: In a casing, a grasp means and a movement means are provided. The movement means is driven and controlled by a control means with a container box being positioned in a specified position based on coordinate data of an injection drug housing member preinstalled in a coordinate data table for moving the injection drug housing member to a graspable position by the grasp means. Next, after grasped by the grasp means, the injection drug housing member is automatically transported to a desired position.

Abstract: A device for connecting bar ends has a pipe section into which the rods to be connected are inserted with their ends. Several clamping elements each having an outer thread are provided that can be secured in threaded bores of the pipe section by being screwed in. The clamping elements are arranged in two rows and are positioned, relative to the circumference of the pipe section, on the same side of the pipe section. The clamping elements are staggered relative to one another.

Abstract: A paper dispenser generally comprises a chassis, an actuating member, a driven member, a paper pusher, an elastic member and a cover as a whole mounted to a paper box. The above-mentioned parts are assembled together so as to provide an interactive effect by pushing actions and paper pusher may push sheets smoothly, such that the user may take out the sheets easily and quickly.

Abstract: An article retrieving container in which a novel container for storing articles such as confectionery allowing the articles to be retrieved one by one merely by a cover opening operation is provided, including a container body (3) and a cover body (5) installed on the container body (3), the container body (3) further including an article storage part (21) for storing a plurality of articles (X) such as the confectionery and an article retrieval part (37) having a communication part (41) with the article storage part (21) and an opening for retrieving the articles (X) to the outside, the cover body (5) rotatably installed on the container body (3) further including an article retrieving means (23) for retrieving the articles one by one installed on the inside thereof, whereby the article retrieving means (23) can retrieve the articles (X) by the opening operation of the cover body (5).

Abstract: A component feeding material is useful for taking a forefront electronic component outside from electronic components transferred in alignment. The electronic components are transferred forward in alignment along a transfer passage such that the forefront electronic component abuts against a component stopper, and when the forefront electronic component is taken outside through a component ejection port, air pressure for relieving pressing force is exerted rearward on at least one of following electronic components, thereby relieving the pressing force exerted on the forefront electronic component abutting against the component stopper from the following electronic components.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing interfolded disposable sheets is disclosed. The dispenser includes a removable top that is releasably attached to the first sheet in the stack contained in the container. In accordance with the present invention, when the removable top is pulled off the container, the first sheet in the stack is partially withdrawn from the container. After being partially withdrawn, however, the sheet releases from the removable top.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention comprises a manually activated disc storage and dispensing device. A disc-grabbing-and-dispensing component is slideably mounted to a disc storage base containing a stack of discs. Manual depression of the disc-grabbing-and-dispensing component causes the disc-grabbing-and-dispensing component to slide toward the disc storage base and grab the stack of discs between two vertically mounted, continuous belts. Manual releasing of the disc-grabbing-and-dispensing component allows the disc-grabbing-and-dispensing component to return to the released position, carrying the stack of discs. Manual activation of a thumb wheel transfers rotational motion to gears on which the continuous belts are mounted, driving the continuous belts downward, and releasing discs one-at-a-time at a rate determined by the rate at which the thumb wheel is turned.

Abstract: A cover assembly for a container of coffee filters, with a tube, centrally located, extending below the cover. A plunger extending above and below the cover, slidably cooperating with the inner wall of the tube, the lower end terminated with an adhesive substance, the upper end terminated with a knob. When the plunger is depressed the adhesive attaches to the uppermost filter of a stack of nested filters and when the plunger is lifted up the filter is extracted from the nest of filters. The filter is then inserted into a coffee maker receptacle and the cover is pushed down to detach the filter from the adhesive tip on the plunger.

Abstract: A prize vending machine has a crane 1 moveable over a prize field 6 which may be loaded with prizes. The crane 1 may be moved from its home position 11 over dispenser 2 to a second position 12 under user control. Once a first grab attempt has been made repeat grab control 4 is actuated to allow a further grab attempt at second location 12 without returning the crane 1 to the first location 11.

Abstract: A feed unit for a container closure device, with a feed device for container closures and a transfer device which transfers the closures from the feed device to a workstation at which containers are closed. The feed device has a rail that terminates at a stationary check shoulder which protrudes into the feed path of the closures along the feed device rail to position each closure to be picked up by the transfer device moving on a path.

Abstract: A machine for vending articles, the machine including a housing, a storage area disposed within the housing and having a thermal barrier which separates the storage area from the remainder of the interior of the housing, a dispensing area having an access port disposed within the housing which allows a user of the machine to retrieve a dispensed article, a vertically oriented opening in the thermal barrier of the storage area, the opening dimensioned for allowing articles stored in the storage area to pass from the storage area to the dispensing area, and an article retrieval device nominally located in the storage area for moving articles from the storage area to the dispensing area via said opening. A door aligned with the opening is displaceable in response to movement of articles toward the opening by the article retrieval device.

Abstract: A seeding machine includes at least one seed metering system and at least one seed placement system. Each seed placement system includes a seed slide and a wheel. The wheel includes a structural hub, a resilient middle layer positioned radially around the hub, and a gripping outside layer positioned radially around the middle layer. The gripping outside layer has a circumferential periphery which is positioned adjacent to at least part of the seed slide. The circumferential periphery has a plurality of contiguous disc joint surfaces.

Abstract: An article handling apparatus embodied, for example, asa head (224) adapted to engage and secure to an article (223); a vending machine, includes a controllably positioned hose-type dispenser for retrievingthe first portion of the first positioning device comprises a carriage (218) which carries the feeder, and articles from an article storage area. A first end of the hose receives article securing energy (e.g., suction), and a second end is adapted to secure to and extract a selected article from the storage area. A hose positioning mechanism controllably positions the second end of the hose for retrieving articles from the article storage area. In order to maximize the height of the article storage volume, as well as provide other advantages, the following aspects of the invention are provided :1. the hose positioning mechanism maintains a constant height during hose positioning, 2.

Abstract: In a game machine for causing exhibited prizes such as stuffed toys to be acquired with game characteristics, the reliability of the game machine can be ensured, and a new game characteristic can be obtained. A prize acquisition game machine includes a prize exhibit portion for exhibiting a plurality of prizes provided with ID tags 3a having machine readable arbitrary identification marks, a prize selection unit for selecting desired prizes from the prize exhibit portion, an ID tag reading device 16 for reading the identification marks from the ID tags of the prizes selected by the prize selection unit, a judgement unit (e.g., a CPU) for comparing and judging whether or not the identification marks of the plurality of prizes selected by the prize selection unit 4 are identical to each other, and a control portion (e.g., a CPU) for driving a prize release unit in a case where a judgement result of the judgement means is YES, to release the plurality of prizes.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for storing medicaments in bulk and individually dispensing solid medicaments, such as medicine in tablet or pill form, including a rotatable carousel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart upwardly opening storage compartments, each receiving a plurality of identical medicaments in bulk different than the medicaments in each other compartment. Disposed on the carousel between each alternate pair of compartments is a vertical discharge chute which is rotated into alignment with a dispensing station after one of the medicaments is removed from one of the compartments. A vacuum operated probe is pivotally mounted on the frame opposite the dispensing station for swinging movement between a lower position, in which a terminal end of the probe is inside the compartments in engagement with a medicament therein, and a raised position above the carousel, allowing the carousel to rotate to a position in which the adjacent discharge chute is aligned with the terminal probe end.

Abstract: A stacked pad of large adhesive tape sheets containing a plurality of superimposed tape sheets formed from a substrate with an area of differential release, which extends less than the full length and width of the substrate. The second major surface of the substrate includes a layer of an adhesive. Sequential tape sheets in the pad are configured and arranged with the area of differential release alternating between first and second corners of the sheets with the adhesive layer of each tape sheet is releasably adhered to an adjacent tape sheet at a higher adhesion level, except for the area of differential release which adheres to an adjacent tape sheet at a lower adhesion level.

Abstract: An article dispensing apparatus embodied, for example, as a vending machine, including a controllably positioned suction hose dispenser for retrieving articles from a storage area. In one embodiment, an airflow control mechanism, i.e., a vacuum or suction release (i.e., breaker), is used to facilitate a “quick-release” of the article being handled. A mechanical linkage constructed and operating in accordance with the invention is used to activate, for example, the breaker in response to mechanical contact by the article handling mechanism. Such operation thereby causes a rapid equalization of air pressure inside the housing towards ambient when it is time for the article handling mechanism to release the selected article.

Abstract: A cover assembly for a container of coffee filters, with a tube, centrally located, extending below the cover. A plunger extending above and below the cover, slidably cooperating with the inner wall of the tube, the lower end terminated with an adhesive substance, the upper end terminated with a knob. When the plunger is depressed the adhesive attaches to the uppermost filter of a stack of nested filters and when the plunger is lifted up the filter is extracted from the nest of filters. The filter is then inserted into a coffee maker receptacle and the cover is pushed down to detach the filter from the adhesive tip on the plunger.