Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system allows for automated storage and retrieval of products at, for example, a retail facility. The automated storage and retrieval system may include a storage and retrieval machine having a retrieval tool adapted to engage a container and a storage unit having a shelf on which are disposed a plurality of containers. The containers, the retrieval tool, and/or the shelf are configured to facilitate access by the retrieval tool to an individual container of the plurality of containers by, for example, altering the container layout on the shelfs, altering the container geometry, or a combination of such features.

Abstract: An automatic packager including a cartridge and a cartridge mechanism is provided. The cartridge for the automatic packager includes a reservoir for storing a plurality of medications and a wheel including a bottom portion placed in the reservoir. The cartridge also includes a scooping member provided on the wheel to rotate with the wheel and singulate a medication from the reservoir. The cartridge mechanism for the automatic packager includes a platform configured to receive a medication from a cartridge and a camera system. The cartridge mechanism also includes an electronic processor coupled to the camera system configured to dispense the medication from the cartridge in response to determining that the expected medication is delivered to the platform and return the medication to the cartridge in response to determining that the expected medication is not delivered to the platform.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a single box for containing foodstuffs includes a housing, a lift subassembly, and a transfer subassembly. The housing at least partially defines an inner area. The lift subassembly is coupled to the housing and disposed at least partially within the inner area. The lift subassembly includes a nest configured to support a plurality of boxes disposed in a stack and translate with respect to the housing in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. The transfer subassembly is coupled to the housing and disposed at least partially within the inner area. The transfer subassembly includes a vacuum suction cup. The vacuum suction cup is configured to operatively engage a first box of the plurality of boxes to remove the first box from the stack and pivot the first box about a rotational axis to a surface outside of the inner area.

Abstract: A method for providing nestable cones to a plant tray that includes recesses. For quickly and effectively carrying this out, use is made of a device, which comprises i) a head and ii) a support surface for a stack of cones, wherein a first wall section of a first cone is engaged by the head and the remainder of the stack of cones is stopped by means of a stack stop, after which the engaged cone is released.

Abstract: A retaining-ring-attaching tool includes a holding portion having a notch in which a retaining ring is held; a body supporting the holding portion such that the holding portion is movable in one direction; a link mechanism including an operation portion supported by the body and being operable with a finger of a hand holding the body, the link mechanism being configured to move, when the operation portion is operated, the holding portion between a first position and a second position where the retaining ring held in the notch is ready to be attached to a shaft member, the link mechanism further including a force-applying portion applying an external force to the holding portion such that the holding portion moves to the second position; and a feeding portion supported by the body and, when the holding portion is moved to the first position, feeding the retaining ring to the notch.

Abstract: A ball guide having a body for receiving and guiding balls of a specified size along a specified path that is defined by the body. At least one vibration generator is provided which is connected to the body in a vibration-transmitting manner.

Abstract: A side-grip method of grasping and moving textile items in a vending machine from the storage area to the dispensing chute that does not require the textile item to be packaged comprising: (a) providing a stack of folded and unwrapped textile items; (b) providing an article selection mechanism configured with a gripping element; (c) vertically displacing said gripping element until said gripping element reaches a level of a top textile item in said stack; and (d) closing said gripping element solely on said textile item. Disclosed also is a vending machine configured to implement such a method.

Abstract: Device for storing and dispensing cuvettes from a stack. The device has at least one cuvette stack receiving compartment, which may be a tube open at both ends, wherein one of the openings is provided with retaining springs, partly blocking the opening, so that the cuvette stack having been dropped into the compartment may come to rest on the retaining springs. The retaining springs are being spaced apart from the opening of the compartment by a distance that allows at least two cuvettes in the stack to stick out of the compartment opening. Furthermore, a cuvette separator with retaining spring spreaders is provided, moveable between a standby position away from the compartment and a cuvette separation position across the retaining spring opening of the compartment, and in between the two cuvettes, sticking out of the compartment.

Abstract: An article dispensing apparatus has a housing defining a first chamber and a second chamber that are divided by a dividing wall, a lid covering the second chamber and a cover covering the first chamber, with the first chamber holding a plurality of articles, and an opening provided in the dividing wall to allow an article to pass through to the second chamber. A figure is retained inside the second chamber, the figure having a pair of arms that are normally positioned adjacent the opening in the dividing wall to receive an article that is transferred from the first chamber via the opening in the dividing wall. An actuator is coupled to the figure to push the figure upwardly through the lid so that the figure, and the article held in the arms of the figure, are delivered outside the housing.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus includes a hollow canister having a canister interior, a dispenser mechanism, and a plurality of stacked containers. The dispenser mechanism is shaped to be placed within the canister and has a bias device with a grasping portion and having open and closed positions, a base unit having a hollow interior and defining at least one opening shaped to receive the grasping portion therethrough to project from outside the base unit into the interior of the base unit, and a selection device moveably disposed with respect to the base unit and operable to selectively place the bias device between the open and closed positions when moved. The containers are each shaped to be stacked together within the hollow interior of the base unit and to be removably held therein by the bias device for individual dispensing of the stacked containers from the base unit.

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: A bulk dispenser (10) for dispensing pre-cut pieces of film is disclosed. In one embodiment, the dispenser includes a container body (12), a dispenser housing assembly (52) housed within the container body, arid a lid (14) which forms a moisture-tight seal with the container body. The dispenser housing assembly includes a product reservoir, a dispenser housing in engagement with the product reservoir, and a flexible indexing arm that is movable relative to the dispenser housing to dispense the pre-cut pieces of film. The pre-cut pieces of film can be encapsulated within a perforated continuous carrier (30) and contained within the product reservoir. The flexible indexing arm has features that cooperate with the continuous carrier to index the continuous carrier and dispense an individual pre-cut film piece. In an alternative embodiment, the dispenser employs a suction cup (150) in the container lid which is forced onto a film piece in a stack of film pieces to be dispensed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a random access and random load dispensing unit including a housing, at least one support located in the housing and defining a first axis, a plurality of platforms movable along the support along the first axis, a plurality of bins supported on the platforms, the bins being movable with the platforms, and a shuttle assembly movable along the first axis and further movable along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis between the plurality of platforms to access and retrieve products stored in the bins.

Abstract: Disclosed is a medicine discharge device of an automatic medicine packing machine, which is used to discharge a medicine, fed from a medicine cassette based on a medical prescription, into a medicine packing device. The medicine discharge device includes a medicine input unit installed under a medicine cassette mount to receive the medicine fed from the medicine cassette, a frame provided with a gate unit, the gate unit including gate members to be opened or closed by a drive unit so as to control movement of the medicine discharged from the medicine input unit, a plate installed under the frame and having an accommodation portion to receive the medicine and a recess to allow the medicine to be moved from the gate members to a discharge passage, a vibrator to vibrate the plate, and a medicine transfer unit to discharge the medicine, having passed through the recess, into a hopper.

Abstract: This is an improved retrieval mechanism for vending machines that includes 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 is raised in order to clear a retaining lip in the queue and 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 port 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. Related methods are also disclosed.

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. A unique initialization and calibration system is implemented at start up to determine the positions of shelves and trays of product containers in the machine, and may be implemented at other times if trays or shelves are added or removed, or if tray or shelf positions change. These positions are then used by the positioning and gripping systems to accurately and efficiently retrieve products from the trays. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention is a vending machine and components parts that include a sophisticated positioning system, catcher and trays for improved efficiency in product retrieval and delivery. Following product selection, the positioning system quickly transports the catcher through the X-Y plane to the front of a tray queue containing the selected product. The catcher is extended in the Z-direction, and lifts the foremost product container from the queue, moving one or more gates out of the way. The catcher then retracts, closing the gate, and the positioning system transports the catcher carrying the product container to a delivery port. The catcher then releases the product container which slides into a delivery port for customer pick up. Unique product storage trays are provided which work in conjunction with the catcher to allow only the foremost product to be removed from a tray queue. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention is a vending machine and components parts that include a sophisticated product retrieval and delivery system. Following product selection, the positioning system quickly transports a retrieval device to the front of a tray queue where a product container is retrieved. The positioning system transports the gripper carrying the product container to a delivery port. The product is released and slides down a specially designed chute into a specially designed delivery bucket that is then tilted outward for customer pick up. Sensors associated with the bucket detect the delivery and removal of the product container. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An automated method for dispensing pharmaceuticals, particularly tablets and capsules, and other small discrete objects, includes: receiving prescription information, selecting a container, labeling the container, dispensing the tablets or capsules into the labeled container, applying a closure to the filled, labeled container, and offloading the container to a designated location. Preferably, the tablets are dispensed with high speed dispensing bins that employ forced air to agitate and singulate the tablets. The other functions within the system are typically carried out at stations designed to offer speed, flexibility and precision to the dispensing operation.

Abstract: A gripper device for displacing at least one single unit of consumer packages comprising gripper blades movable in rotating and translating manner with control members accommodated in housing, gripper members engage units on two opposite longitudinal sides after closure for picking up, transfer and placement in outer packages. Clamping members for keeping the cover closed during pickup, transfer and discharge of closed units are placed between units to keep units in relative positions during pickup, transfer and placement, cooperating with gripper and clamping members. Holder members comprise intermediate plates suspended vertically through slots in housing bottom plate and are clamped between the units. Intermediate plates are pressed vertically by a spring member, wherein a suspended main portion and the intermediate plates merge into an engaging edge having an angle under 40.degrees between main portion and engaging edge, the engaging edge, ends at the bottom portion of such a unit.

Abstract: Heating devices and methods which are particularly useful in vending machines for hot products. Products such as beverages contained in individual containers such as cans are rapidly heated to serving temperature by induction heating for delivery to a customer. Various types of products with different heating characteristics are rapidly heated without deleterious effects on the product by varying the power and timing of the inductive heating. The type of product is identified by machine-readable indicia on the container which are automatically scanned prior to heating. The product containers are agitated before, during and/or after heating to mix the contents and distribute heat evenly. The containers are heated in a manner to safely heat the product without overheating or causing damage to the container.

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: A dispenser for dispensing flexible web material from a center pull roll capable of accommodating different types of web material in the form of sheets separated by lines of perforation. The dispenser includes dispenser apparatus permitting the device to self-adjust to the different thicknesses, sizes and physical characteristics of different types of web material. In certain preferred embodiments, the dispenser comprises a housing, a web support within the housing and structure permitting the dispenser to self-adjust to the effective cross-sectional area of the web. The preferred dispenser structure includes elements positioned to receive the web between them. At least one of the elements is movable and is biased for displacement toward the other. Frictional force applied against the web by the elements resists pull force applied to the web by a user so that a single web sheet separates from the web along the perforation between the elements and the lead end when a user pulls on the web outside the housing.

Abstract: An under-counter portable automatic pill-dispensing apparatus includes a double array of storage units for storing pills in bulk, a retriever between the two arrays for retrieving selected storage units, and a pill-dispensing module for unloading pills into a vial. The storage units each include an outer container, a track positioned in a bottom of the outer container, and a hopper movably positioned within the outer container for movement toward and away from the track. The pill-dispensing module includes an oscillator for the track, a pill counter, and a lift for raising and lowering the hopper to control flow of pills. A prescription information station is provided including a computer for receiving patient prescription information, a printer for printing a label for the vial and for applying the label to the vial, bar code scanners for verification, and distributed controllers for operating the various components.

Abstract: A dispenser is adjustable to contain beverage container lids of various sizes. A housing has a front element with an opening. Pager assemblies are mounted in slots which extend radially outwardly from the opening. A stack of lids is inserted into the housing through the opening, and the pager assemblies allow a single lid to be extracted from the stack by the pivoting of a door containing two claws which engage the frontmost lid. To reconfigure the dispenser for a different lid size, a template is positioned frontwardly of the housing front element, and the pager assemblies are adjusted to abut the template, thereby configuring the pager assemblies in the proper position. The claws on the lid are then replaced with claws which are configured to the new lid shape.

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: A dispensing game system includes a prize capsule storage hopper above two automatic hopper loaders that replenish the game below with prize capsules as needed. Two Ferris wheels carry free swinging gondolas that receive and hold the prize capsules from the loaders. Two or more player-activated actuator arms located next to the outer edge of the Ferris wheels are used to hit targets attached to the moving gondolas, in turn causing the gondolas to tip forward and release the prize capsule, which then falls down and rolls into the prize opening for the player to collect.

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. A rotating body is rotatably provided in the upper part of the case body, and a pair of holding pieces are provided in the rotating body for holding the both sides of the.

Abstract: An apparatus for arranging and supplying a plurality of objects, the apparatus including a chute which includes at least one end portion extending in a direction inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, and which causes the objects arranged in an array to be moved, a hopper which is provided on a side of the one end portion of the chute, which stores the objects in bulk, and which includes a funnelform bottom portion, a guide which is provided between a lower end of the bottom portion of the hopper and an upper end of the one end portion of the chute, and which guides, in a guiding direction, the objects from the hopper to the chute while arranging the objects into the array, the guide including a plurality of guide members comprising at least one movable guide member which is movable relative to at least one other guide member in the guiding direction, arid a movable-guide-member moving device which moves the movable guide member relative to the other guide member in the guiding direction.

Abstract: A coffee filter holder for holding coffee filters in a position for easy retrieval. The coffee filter holder includes an elongate member. The elongate member has a first end and a second end. The elongate member has a generally planar front side and a generally planar back side. An adhesive material is securely attached to the back side of the elongate member. A rod has a first end and a second end. The rod extends through the elongate member and is positioned generally between the first and second ends of the elongate member. The first end of the rod extends away from the front side of the elongate member. The first end of the rod is pointed.

Abstract: The lid dispenser of the present invention has four rods which extend from the front to the rear and which support and guide the lids. The rods are connected at the front to individual lid dispensing pagers, and are supported at the rear in arcuate tracks in an adjustment ring. The front pagers are also mounted in an adjustment ring with arcuate tracks. Both adjustment rings have serrated or ridged cylindrical edges, which allow the click-positioning of the rings at a desired position to force the rods and pagers into an evenly spaced radial position. Three plastic claws are flexibly supported on a support member which is mounted for front-to-back movement on cover guide rods. Each claw member is connected by flexible bands to positionable fasteners which are fixed in radial slots in the support member which allow some radial movement of the claws as they engage a cover. By use of such a dispenser in convenience stores and the like contact by customers with lids other than those dispensed is avoided.

Abstract: In an automatic medicament dispensing machine, a vial gripper mechanism includes a rotatable first jaw and a second jaw coupled with the output shaft of a jaw motor. In an open position, the jaws are spaced for receiving a medicament vial therebetween. Actuation of jaw motor rotates the second jaw toward the first jaw for gripping the vial therebetween in a gripping position. Continued rotation of the jaw motor causes rotation of both of said jaws and any vial gripped therebetween to a dispensing position for receipt of medicament into the vial from an adjacent dispensing cell.

Abstract: A tubular table tennis ball storage and discharge magazine formed with a lateral discharge opening and positioned gravitationally to feed the balls to the opening, the magazine having elastic retainers at the opening to hold the advance ball poised for selection.

Abstract: An automatic screw feeder to be coupled to a conventional electric screw driver so that a plurality of screws may be successively and automatically grasped and relocated from a screw supply to the screw driver bit. The screw feeder includes a swing arm assembly that is rotatable between a screw feeding position, at which the screws are removed from the supply, to a screw installing position, at which the screws are driven into a flat surface, or the like. The swing arm assembly includes a pair of opposing swing arms and a rotatable cam therebetween to control the separation and closing of the swing arms and the grasping and removing of the screws from the supply. The screws are carried on a spirally wound bandolier that is loaded within and removable from a storage drum.

Abstract: A kit of slide-like articles that includes a stack of slide test elements and a separate stack of containers bearing a sealed liquid, the containers and test elements having substantially the same outside dimensions so that the containers are processable just like a slide test element. The seal of the container is penetratable by a pipette tip.

Abstract: Packaged products dispenser device, consisting of a compartment situated on the lower part of a vertical loader (1) equipped with a base-plate (2) bearing the pile normally perpendicular with respect to it, and capable of turning downwards around a lower axis (3) such that, together with a retaining element (5) which holds the second product of the pile, the product situated underneath towards one side and in downward direction is expelled.

Abstract: A limited access container that limits the rate at which articles can be withdrawn therefrom includes a retrieval rod which extends through the top cover of the container and which has an article-holding implement on the lower end thereof. After securing an article thereto, the rod is lifted to the top of the container and the article passed through a slotted horizontal passageway to a vertical shaft down which it is lowered to a point adjacent a container opening for removal of the article. A pivotable lever is located adjacent the passageway having a passageway blocking member on one end and a blocking-activating member on the other end.

Abstract: Apparatus for accurately dispensing and positioning a credit card onto a predetermined area of a surface, includes a support tray which supports a stack of cards; a pusher assembly including a pusher plate which pushes out a leading edge of a lowermost one of the cards in the stack; gripper jaws which grip the lowermost edge of the pushed out card; and a control assembly which controls the gripper jaws to grip the lowermost edge of the pushed out card, to move over the predetermined area of the surface and to then release the gripped card so that the latter drops onto the predetermined area of the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and individually dispensing coffee machine filters. The apparatus is of cylindrical construction with a resilient dispensing type applicator insertable in the cylinder to permit a coffee filter to be removed. A bottom, upwardly protruding base member is provided in the cylindrical interior to contact the reverse side of a stack of coffee machine filters. The apparatus has a manually operable applicator with a plurality of spring arms to compress against the stack of coffee filters while frictionally engaging the upwardmost filter of said filters. The applicator has extension arms with curved end portions for guiding the arms upon the surface of the upwardmost coffee filter and further has the coarse, tacky interior surface for frictionally engaging upon the upward surface of the filters.

Abstract: A combined filter housing for storing a plurality of flattened conically-shaped filters therein and a combination cover and extractor for the stored filters includes an extractor mechanism disposed within the cover having semi-adhesive resilient members disposed on a pair of distal ends which comes into contact with the stored filters. By applying pressure proximate the apex of the arms, the filter is engaged by the semi-adhesive resilient member and by removing the combination cover and extractor a single filter may be removed and is ready to be used without further handling.

Abstract: An apparatus for discharging slide fasteners comprises a guide unit disposed on a horizontal longitudinal path downstream of a pair of feed rollers for receiving the slide fasteners therefrom one after another, and a gripping unit disposed in the path downstream of the guide unit for releasably gripping a leading end of the individual slide fastener received in the guide unit. The guide unit includes a stationary upper guide member and a lower guide member pivotally movable to open the bottom side of the guide unit to thereby allow the individual slide fasteners therein to fall and hence become suspended from the gripping unit.

Abstract: A bill paying machine of a type to be disposed between two operators and used in common by them. Two paying outlets are arranged side by side on the front portion of the bill paying machine. The bills are transferred from bill containers of the bill paying machine to a position near the paying outlets. In that position, a distributing device is provided for receiving the bills and transferring the bills to one of the paying outlets in response to an instruction by the operator. The distributing device comprises a horizontally movable receiving plate for receiving the bills thereon and directing the bills to one of the paying outlets. Vertically and horizontally movable bill holding plates are provided above the receiving plate for holding the bills between the receiving plate and bill-holding plates.

Abstract: A jig comprises a housing which has a front end and a storage channel. A split collet and an elongated slotted bar attached thereto are slideably moveable into and out of the housing. The jig further has an elongated bolt for transporting individual blanks from the storage channel to the front end of the housing. Respective first and second pistons located inside the housing are provided for operating the split collet and the elongated bolt. The split collet is movably received within the housing and is not formed by a section thereof.

Abstract: A loader for automatically supplying printed circuit supporting plates to a laminator where, above the stack of supporting plates, is provided a support moving to and fro in vertical direction relative to the plate stack, with the said support being fitted with two parallel running, horizontal guide rods having at their opposite ends cylinder-piston groups whose rods support parallel and horizontal ledgers, the free ends of which are equipped with gripping elements that can be displaced horizontally as well as vertically and are provided, in parallel to each horizontal ledger receiving the gripping elements, with a driven roller runway movable in the horizontal plane from a rest position to an operating position, in which it receives the plates having in precedence been collected by the gripping elements from the pile.

Abstract: A vending machine capable of dispensing individual beverage cups incorporating a soluble component, selectively from one of a plurality of stacks, each stack containing cups having a particular type of soluble component. The cups are positioned in inverted position within a stack, and are dispensed in such inverted position from the top of the stack. A claw mechanism, selectively positionable along a horizontal track which is tiltable about its own horizontal axis for actuating the claw mechanisms, is employed to engage a cup which is delivered to a chute structure carrying the same to a location where it may be manually engaged for subsequent filling with a liquid. With the removal of a cup from the top of a given stack, the stack is elevated to position the next succeeding cup of the stack within the path of movement of the claw mechanism, so that the operation may be repeated.

Abstract: A dispenser for flexible open topped paper-like containers which includes an upper storage compartment for holding a stack of inverted containers to be dispensed through a dispensing opening formed in the bottom of said compartment, said dispenser also including a container engaging and gripping element mounted for movement into gripping engagement with the lower most container in the stack and thereafter delivering said container downwardly through the opening for easy access and use by the operator.

Abstract: Wires are picked from a loose bundle of wires which have been cut to length, prior to feeding to a processing machine such as a grid welding machine. The bundle is laid on a supporting table (23) so that end parts of the wires project freely beyond the table. A lifting beam (18) having a vertical slot (19) is then raised beneath the projecting end parts of the wires so that most of the wires are raised but the others are received one above the other in the slot. A gripper having clamping cheeks (20) is applied from below and grips the lowermost wire in the slot. The gripper is mounted on a carrier (2) which is movable parallel to the wire axes to pull the gripped wire longitudinally out of the slot.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine for delivering soft ice cream or the like to ice cream cones or other containers. A pivotally mounted arm receives a cone and then moves to a product-dispensing station. The product is dispensed into the cone until a weight-responsive structure associated with the arm senses the predetermined weight of the product and stops delivery of the product to the cone. Then the arm is moved so that it deposits the cone in a delivery chamber and then is moved out of the delivery chamber back to a position to receive another cone. Mechanical latch structures are provided for latching the door to the delivery chamber in closed position until the arm has been completely withdrawn from the delivery chamber and a rod connects the arm to the latch for effecting unlatching of the door in response to movement of the arm so that the door is unlatched after the movement of the arm out of the delivery chamber.

Abstract: A mechanism kit is provided to enable fast and economical conversion of existing semi-honor newspaper vending machines to machines for dispensing one newspaper or magazine at a time following the insertion of proper coins into the conventional coin control mechanism. The customer thus has access to only a single newspaper and not the full contents of the vending machine after insertion of the coins. A manually operated reciprocating single newspaper gripping, transporting and release device withdraws each paper through a narrow slot in the front, side or top of the dispensing machine cabinet and this device is connected with a reciprocating element of the coin mechanism which is released for movement only after the insertion of proper coins by a customer. An associated cabinet door lock and release linkage releases the door for access by the customer to the last newspaper held on the cabinet door after the customary stack of newspapers is exhausted.

Abstract: A device carried by a fisherman for dispensing live insects, e.g., crickets and the like, used as fish bait. The device includes a bait container for holding a limited supply of the crickets and a bait dispensing head attached to the bait container for facilitating the act of empaling the cricket with a fishhook and for subsequently facilitating a gentle unrestrained removal of the cricket therefrom. The head includes a pair of jaws which entraps the cricket and constrains it as the fishhook is being thrust therethrough. The jaws are movable to an open position which releases the now hooked cricket allowing it to jump free of the dispensing head. The head also includes a movable gate for enabling the dispensing head to effectively constrain various different size crickets selectively therein.