Plural Or Combined With Manipulating Means Patents (Class 221/224)
  • Patent number: 11414277
    Abstract: Apparatus to bend bars, comprising: a bending unit (35) of at least one bar (B, B?) and a drawing unit (46) configured to define at least a direction of feed (A) of the bar (B, B?) to the bending unit (35). The bending apparatus is provided with: a support plane (11) on which the bars (B, B?) to be bent are put; a removal unit (19) to remove at least one bar (B, B?) from the support plane (11), a feed unit (33) configured to receive the bar (B, B?) removed by the removal unit (19) and to transfer it to the drawing unit (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: M.E.P. MACCHINE ELETTRONICHE PIEGATRICI S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Del Fabro
  • Patent number: 10751720
    Abstract: A biochip well is disclosed, including a vessel containing a well therewithin, the vessel forming at least base and side walls of the well and defining at least one aperture giving access to the well, and further including retaining means for holding a biochip at a predetermined position within the well, the well including a laterally offset region into which the biochip does not protrude when held at the predetermined position by the retaining means. Also disclosed are sealed well assemblies and apparatus and methods for opening sealed wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: RANDOX LABORATORIES LTD.
    Inventors: Gareth Wilson, Michael Hooks, Peter Fitzgerald, John Lamont, Ivan McConnell
  • Patent number: 10532272
    Abstract: A device for forming a random set of playing cards is disclosed. The device comprises: a top surface and a bottom surface of the device. A single card receiving area is provided for receiving an initial set of playing cards. A randomizing system for randomizing an order of the initial set of playing cards is provided. A card collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards one at a time into the card collection area, the collection surface receiving cards so that all cards are received below the top surface of the device is also provided. An image capture device reads rank and suit of each card before each card is received on the card collection surface. An elevator raises the card collection surface so that at least some randomized cards are elevated at least to the top surface of the device. A processor controls operation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Feraidoon Bourbour, Paul K. Scheper, Troy D. Nelson, James B. Stasson, Ronald R. Swanson, Attila Grauzer
  • Patent number: 10399764
    Abstract: A pill feeder accepts a quantity of pills and organizes the pills into a single file where each pill is output in a controlled orientation at a controlled rate. The pill feeder includes a rotating disk, a rotating rim, a lift gate, a separator gate, and an exit path. The rotating disk receives and moves pills in a rotation direction about a surface of the rotating disk at a first angular velocity. The rotating rim that moves pills received from the rotating disk in the same rotation direction as the rotating disk. The lift gate raises a height above the surface of the rotating rim that permits passage of a single layer of the plurality of pills. A transition to an exit chute of the pill feeder provides a plurality of slopes to control the orientation of pills transitioning from the rim to the exit chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: PerceptiMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Jeffrey Jacobs, Brandon Michael Loeb
  • Patent number: 9902512
    Abstract: Refinements made to distributor units which serve to continuously transfer and position tablets or pills in organized alveoli in an advancing strip, the advancing strip presenting its alveoli on each occasion in correspondence with holes positioned radially in a distributor disk. The distributor disk having holes is associated with a motor which supplies a rotation motion by an intermediate connector. The intermediate connector is connected stably to the distributor disk and detachably, by an intermediate member, to the motor which supplies the rotation motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE SPA
    Inventor: Ivano Baroncini
  • Patent number: 9877896
    Abstract: [Object] To achieve a compact construction while making it possible to dispense a medicine certainly one by one. [Solution] A medicine dispensing unit for dispensing a medicine retained is disposed. The medicine dispensing unit comprises a first rotator having a circular face rotatably disposed at a slant state to a horizontal plane; a second rotator having a ring face rotatably disposed over the horizontal plane at an outer peripheral side of the first rotator; and a guide member having a guide face, the guide face being disposed above the circular face of the first rotator while extending radially with respect to the circular face, being positioned at a downstream side in a rotational direction of the first rotator towards a periphery in a radial direction, and being capable of contacting with the medicine placed on the first rotator due to rotation of the first rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: YUYAMA MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Mitani
  • Patent number: 9004315
    Abstract: A medicine feeding device is configured by providing a first rotor that rotates around a first shaft, a second rotor that rotates around a second shaft, a partition wall extending from the second rotor towards the first rotor, a medicine discharge port provided on the outside of the second rotor, a medicine guide section located in the downstream of a movement section in the medicine transport direction, and a height regulator disposed between the movement section and medicine guide section. In addition, the width regulator that is disposed between the medicine guide section and the height regulator is further provided. Also, a medicine counting device is further provided with a medicine detection means for detecting the medicine that is supplied from the medicine discharge port, and a counting means (central control unit) for counting the medicines based on the detection performed by the medicine detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yuyama, Naoki Koike, Mitsuhiro Mitani, Masao Fukada
  • Patent number: 8998032
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Rex J. Kuriger, Tieming Ruan
  • Patent number: 8985389
    Abstract: A medicine feeding device is configured by providing a first rotor that rotates around a first shaft, a second rotor that rotates around a second shaft, a partition wall extending from the second rotor towards the first rotor, a medicine discharge port provided on the outside of the second rotor, a medicine guide section located in the downstream of a movement section in the medicine transport direction, and a height regulator disposed between the movement section and medicine guide section. In addition, the width regulator that is disposed between the medicine guide section and the height regulator is further provided. Also, a medicine counting device is further provided with a medicine detection means for detecting the medicine that is supplied from the medicine discharge port, and a counting means (central control unit) for counting the medicines based on the detection performed by the medicine detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yuyama, Naoki Koike, Mitsuhiro Mitani, Masao Fukada
  • Patent number: 8827112
    Abstract: A medicine feeding device is configured by providing a first rotor that rotates around a first shaft, a second rotor that rotates around a second shaft, a partition wall extending from the second rotor towards the first rotor, a medicine discharge port provided on the outside of the second rotor, a medicine guide section located in the downstream of a movement section in the medicine transport direction, and a height regulator disposed between the movement section and medicine guide section. In addition, the width regulator that is disposed between the medicine guide section and the height regulator is further provided. Also, a medicine counting device is further provided with a medicine detection means for detecting the medicine that is supplied from the medicine discharge port, and a counting means (central control unit) for counting the medicines based on the detection performed by the medicine detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yuyama, Naoki Koike, Mitsuhiro Mitani, Masao Fukada
  • Patent number: 8747782
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Cepheid
    Inventors: Ronald Chang, Douglas B. Dority, Steven Montgomery
  • Patent number: 8636172
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for controlling dispensing of medication are provided. A dispenser device used, for example, in the systems and methods can include a housing for storing units of medication and a dispensing well having an opening therein to permit removal of units of medication therefrom. The dispenser device can include first and second slides having openings therein that are configured to funnel a unit of medication toward the opening in the dispensing well. The opening in the first slide can be configured to funnel a unit of medication to the opening of the second slide upon movement of the first slide, while the second slide can be configured to funnel the unit of medication to the opening in the dispensing well upon movement of the second slide into a position that is aligned with the opening in the dispensing well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Dunn
  • Patent number: 8534494
    Abstract: A vending machine includes a product detection system for signaling a vending controller that a selected product has released from a product support shelf. The vending machine includes a product delivery device that, upon initiation of a vending operation, transports the selected product from the product support shelf towards a delivery area. Upon initiation of a vending operation, a motor moves a product delivery device to a position adjacent the selected product. A dispensing mechanism then releases the selected product which falls into the delivery device, imparting a downward force which is sensed at the motor. A sensor detects the downward force and signals the vending controller that the product has been received by the product delivery device. At this point, the vending controller continues with the vending operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Talbert James Black, Jr., Thomas Roger Meinardi
  • Patent number: 8459496
    Abstract: A machine particularly adapted for dispensing light items (19) packaged in symmetrical, frustum-shaped containers. The items are propelled through a tubular cartridge (3) by compressed air, and in the absence of any solid pushing, pulling or carrying device, then individually dispensed. A flow of compressed air generated by a blower (28) is s fed to the back of the cartridge. The items are dispensed under control of a toggling dual-gate mechanism (26, 27) at the front end of the cartridge. The dual-gate mechanism of a removable magazine (2) grouping a number of cartridges can be selectively addressed and activated by means of a solenoid-driven cross-bar assembly (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventors: Anton K. Simson, Henri J. A. Charmasson
  • Patent number: 8409531
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Cepheid
    Inventors: Ronald Chang, Douglas B. Dority, Steve Montgomery
  • Patent number: 8409530
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Cepheid
    Inventors: Ronald Chang, Douglas B. Dority, Steve Montgomery
  • Patent number: 8308025
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignees: Shinkokiki Co., Ltd., P&C Company Limited
    Inventors: Toshio Nakajima, Takeo Fukizawa
  • Publication number: 20120085775
    Abstract: The present invention is a pill dispensing method and apparatus wherein a first rotor rotates pills about a rotation axis along a first part of a spiral path at a first rotational speed whereupon the pills move spirally away from the rotation axis. A second rotor receives the pills from the first rotor and rotates the pills about the rotation axis along a second part of the spiral path at a second, greater rotational speed whereupon the pills move spirally away from the rotation axis toward a discharge chute which dispenses the pills into a pill bottle or a storage container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: CZARNEK & ORKIN LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventor: Robert Czarnek
  • Publication number: 20120048878
    Abstract: The invention relates to a modular automated tool dispenser comprising at least one tool delivery module with at least one tool compartment containing a plurality of tools that are combined to form tool classes and with a plurality of tool conveying devices, each device being associated with one of the tool classes and conveying tools of one class to a tool delivery point. Each tool class is defined by the tool type, tool size and/or the tool weight as a tool parameter. The dispenser also comprises a tool selection device for selecting the desired tool class and the number of tools to be delivered and for activating the tool conveying device that is associated with the selected tool class.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Guehring OHG
    Inventors: Hans Bürger, Steffen Klaus Lang
  • Publication number: 20110297695
    Abstract: A dispenser for administering strip-shaped substances (1), comprising a housing (2, 2?), said housing (2, 2?) having a chamber (3, 3?) to store a stack (4) of the strip-shaped substances (1), said housing (2, 2?) forming a removal opening (5, 5?) for the strip-shaped substances (1) that can be opened and closed again with a lid (6, 6?), said lid (6, 6?) being joined to the housing (2, 2?), and said lid (6, 6?) being joined to a transport bar (7, 7?) that can be moved together with the lid (6, 6?) in order to transport the strip-shaped substances (1), in view of the objective of designing and refining a dispenser of the above-mentioned type in such a manner as to allow a contamination-free and reliable transport of one single strip-shaped substance from the inside of the housing merely by moving the lid, is characterized in that the transport bar (7, 7?) is elastically pre-tensioned and mounted in the housing (2, 2?) in such a way that it is at a distance from the stack (4) when the removal opening (5, 5?) is
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventor: Matthias Schneider
  • Patent number: 8061556
    Abstract: An automated freezer stores food items stacked in a removable cartridge. The food items are dispensed from the automated freezer in response to a request for the food items. The food items are loaded into the cartridge outside of the automated freezer. When the cartridge is inserted into the automated freezer, the upper end of the cartridge is inserted into a buffer, pushing a plurality of arms in the buffer upwardly to allow food items to pass through the buffer. When the cartridge is removed from the freezer for reloading of food items, a resilient member biases the arms downwardly to retain any food items in the buffer and to prevent any food items in the buffer from falling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Restaurant Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Sands, Ronald J. Glavan, Andrew Paul Franklin, Randy L. Ginner, Henry Thomas Ewald
  • Patent number: 8002144
    Abstract: A vending machine includes first and second release mechanisms mounted to front portions of adjacent shelf dividers extending along a product shelf and establishing a product queue. A product transport system is arranged in the cabinet to carry a selected product container from the product queue towards a delivery chamber. A drive mechanism, operatively connected to each of the first and second release mechanisms, is mounted to an underside of the product shelf to simultaneously shift the first and second release mechanisms in order to release a selected product to the product transport system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Wayne Percy
  • Publication number: 20110024444
    Abstract: A system, method and corresponding apparatus are provided for storing, retrieving and delivering unit dose blisters in their natural, raw state (i.e., without over-wrapping or repackaging). In particular, a plurality of unit dose blister mounts are configured to position a corresponding plurality of different types of unit dose blisters in a predetermined, repeatable orientation, so that they can be retrieved and delivered using, for example, an automated retrieval system. The storage apparatus (or unit dose blister mount) may include a cavity that is configured to receive a unit dose medication or medication cavity of the unit dose blister in such a way that the unit dose blister lies substantially flat in the horizontal plane, enabling any identification information displayed on the underside of the unit dose blister (i.e., the side opposite the unit dose medication, or medication cavity) to be viewed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Patrick J. Braun, Shawn T. Greyshock
  • Publication number: 20110000409
    Abstract: In an air pressurized system for use in delivering seeds in an agricultural planter from a main hopper to plural remote bins each associated with a respective seed discharge unit, an air/seed mixture is provided to a seed discharge unit via an air pressure dissipator which vents the air to the atmosphere in controlling the rate at which seed is delivered to the seed discharge unit. The air pressure dissipator includes an upper, angled tube having an outwardly tapered lower end adapted to receive an upper end of a perforated screen tube which extends into the seed discharge unit. As the seed discharge unit fills with seed during operation, the air pressure dissipator regulates the air flow entraining and transporting the seed by directing a portion of the air to the atmosphere when necessary to provide seed to the seed discharge unit to substantially match the seed discharge rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Wilhelmi, Kenneth Shoup, Daniel Koop
  • Patent number: 7857163
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shigeyama, Hiroyuki Kanda
  • Publication number: 20100282230
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for launching incendiary projectiles is provided. The apparatus includes a support adapted to being mounted to a vehicle, a pneumatic launcher connected to the support and operable to launch a projectile that has been delivered to the launcher, a gas delivery system operable to deliver a volume of pressurized gas to the launcher for launching the projectile, a projectile delivery system operable to deliver projectiles to the launcher, an injector cooperating operable to receive projectiles from the projectile delivery system and to inject the projectiles with an amount of reactant suitable to produce a delayed exothermic reaction with the incendiary material to prime the projectile, and thereafter convey the primed projectile to the launcher; and a controller operable to operable to regulate the launching of the projectiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: DONMARK HOLDINGS INC.
    Inventors: Mark Toeckes, Earl Trautman, Cyril T. Boys
  • Patent number: 7822505
    Abstract: To dispense an article in a limited space within a tray appropriately with no useless operation, the present invention provides an article dispensing device, including a control means (61) which calls, from a storage means (64), an article map of an article (D) to be dispensed by a dispensing means (3) and a container map of a container (5) for accommodating the article (D), which searches for a vacant region by searching each container virtual region of the container map in a predetermined order, which specifies a dispensing position for the article (D) according to the article map, and which drive-controls the dispensing means (3) based on the specified dispensing position for causing the article (D) held to be accommodated in the container (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Yuyama, Akitomi Kohama, Takayuki Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 7802700
    Abstract: A product discharge and delivery system for a vending machine includes a product delivery cup including a carriage portion and a shroud portion having an open bottom section and a discharge element. After receiving a selected product, the product delivery cup is shifted toward a dispensing chamber causing the discharge element to engage with a discharge member mounted within the vending machine. Engagement of the discharge element and discharge member causes the shroud portion to pivot relative to the carrier portion exposing the open bottom section allowing a selected product to release into a dispensing chamber. A delivery port is mounted in the dispensing chamber that rotated between a product receiving position and a product delivery position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Ardern, Dan Bowen, Paul Miller, Charles Wayne Percy, Kevin A. Poyck, Denise Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7635067
    Abstract: A glove dispensing system includes glove bearing sheets and a glove opening mechanism. In use, the glove dispensing system opens a cuff end of the gloves carried by the glove bearing sheets and presents the open gloves to a user. As such, the glove dispensing system provides the user with a substantially sterile glove in a manner that allows the user to easily don the gloves while limiting a risk of the user contaminating an exterior surface of the glove by touching with his hands or other body parts. In one arrangement, the gloves are integrally formed as part of the glove bearing sheets, such as by a heat-sealing process. The gloves can include coupling mechanism that secures the gloves to the glove bearing sheets and that allows ease of removal of the gloves from the glove bearing sheets after being donned by the user by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Inventor: William Flynn
  • Patent number: 7604145
    Abstract: A vending machine includes first and second release mechanisms mounted to front portions of adjacent shelf dividers extending along a product shelf and establishing a product queue. A product transport system is arranged in the cabinet to carry a selected product container from the product queue towards a delivery chamber. A drive mechanism, operatively connected to each of the first and second release mechanisms, is mounted to an underside of the product shelf to simultaneously shift the first and second release mechanisms in order to release a selected product to the product transport system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Dixie-Narco, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Wayne Percy
  • Patent number: 7575721
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Cepheid
    Inventors: Ronald Chang, Douglas B. Dority, Steven Michael Montgomery
  • Patent number: 7552843
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Rex J. Kuriger, Tieming Ruan
  • Patent number: 7546934
    Abstract: A gravity-feed dispenser includes an internal blocker assembly to prevent folded sheet from falling away from the dispensing aperture. A preferred embodiment includes a spring biased blocker arm which cooperates with a spring biased guide plate to maintain the napkins in position throughout dispensing of the stack, especially when the stack is depleted and of insufficient weight to urge the remaining sheets into position. In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser is provided with a convertible support, suitable for mounting the dispenser on either a wall or a countertop with a quick release mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Product LP
    Inventors: Christopher M. Reinsel, Robert J. Aloisi
  • Patent number: 7510099
    Abstract: A cassette for dispensing pills whereby the cassette is coupled to a drive motor that operates in continuous revolution and the internal gears of the cassette translate the continuous motion into a stepping motion, whereby at each step, a system of turning members permit one pill to drop from the cassette into a target container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: QEM, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman D. Knoth, Jeffrey A. Johnsey
  • Publication number: 20090078719
    Abstract: Distributor device for solid products for individual use or for incorporation in automatic vending machines, wherein the products (P) are arranged aligned and adjacent to form a stack. The distributor device has particular constructive concept which facilitates the extraction of single solid products from the stack, even when tightly packed, including when “reciprocally stuck together,” as well as when the products are particularly slim, as often occurs with CD and DVD packaging. The first product from the stack is separated by means of a sheet, which creates a thrust action against one of the surfaces of the first product, completely sliding the first product from the stack. The sheet is realized in a flexible material in such a manner that, when the sheet slides forward to separate the first product, the sheet assumes a curved configuration and while during the following return stage, the sheet reassumes its flat configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventor: Roberto Guglielmi
  • Patent number: 7504067
    Abstract: An automatic tube-type specimen container supply apparatus includes a container storing box a bottom of which has a tapered surface having a container collecting position in a lowest part thereof to collect a plurality of tube-type specimen containers in one spot, a container individually-sending mechanism which lifts up the collected specimen containers one by one along one-side wall located close to the position, an outlet which allows the specimen containers to be discharged outside the box, and a container carry-out mechanism including a conveyor to automatically carry out the discharged specimen containers. The container individually-sending mechanism includes a lifting plate driven up and down and having a top end with a tapered surface. The tapered surface has a space to place only one specimen container lying on a side thereof and descending toward an outside of the container storing box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Inventor: Teruaki Itoh
  • Publication number: 20080296314
    Abstract: A commodity column for a vending machine in which commodities are arranged in a front-rear direction, a plurality of the commodity columns being placed in a left-right direction in a commodity accommodation chamber, the commodity column having commodity passage members each having a side wall extending in the front-rear direction and a bottom extending from the side wall in one direction along the left-right direction, the commodity passage members being capable of being connected to each other through an extending end of the bottom, and a passage side member capable of being connected to the extending end of the bottom of the commodity passage member. A plurality of the commodity passage members are placed one after another in one direction along the left-right direction, each adjacent pair of the commodity passage members being connected to each other through the extending end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: SANDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuki YANAGISAWA, Takeshi ONDA, Toshihiko KURIHARA, Masaru TSUNODA, Yoshitaka WATANABE
  • Patent number: 7449342
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for manipulating small amounts of solids. Specific embodiments of the invention are particularly suited for the automated transfer of small amounts of solids. In one embodiment, a uniform powder bed is lightly compressed into plugs of powder and dispensed. In another embodiment, the solid is placed in a liquid carrier to form a slurry, dispensed, and the liquid component is subsequently removed. In yet another embodiment, solids are manipulated using adhesive surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Transform Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Kane, Michael Cima, Javier Gonzalez-Zugasti, Jeanie Cherng, Anthony Lemmo, J. Richard Gyory
  • Patent number: 7404500
    Abstract: A pill dispensing cap for a bottle has an inner sleeve with a divider panel and a first base panel rotatable within an outer sleeve having a second base panel. First and second window openings are defined in the first and second base panels. A plate moveable across and within the two sleeves defines a third window opening and a fourth window opening is defined in the divider panel. The plate can be held in an initial position wherein the first and second windows are aligned, whilst the third and fourth windows are not aligned. The outer sleeve is rotatable to a condition wherein the first and second windows are not aligned and the plate can then be slid across to a condition wherein the third and fourth windows are aligned to allow pills in a bottle to enter the inner sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Owen Mumford Limited
    Inventors: Dennis Marteau, Steven Mark Rolfe
  • Patent number: 7360669
    Abstract: Spherical articles such as breath mints are released one at a time from a container by depressing a button, which simultaneously opens a first flow regulator and closes a second flow regulator in series with the first. When the button is released, the first flow regulator opens and the second flow regulator closes. The first flow regulator is preferably a pair of opposed weirs, and the second flow regulator is preferably a pair of parallel pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Inventor: Cornell Drajan
  • Patent number: 7204391
    Abstract: A one-at-a-time pill container and dispenser having a mechanism that allows for dispensing pills. Said pills are stored safely inside the device until dispensed preferably by actuating a plunger mechanism that operates by engagement to a helical cut or thread in a tube, and is maintained in place by a longitudinal cut or groove in a concentric tube. The pill is dispensed via an orifice fitted with an element-resistant septum that protects said tube contents pre-, intra-, and post-delivery. The plunger mechanism is actuated via rotation of the inner tube using a control switch. The dispenser is primarily intended for administering ergogenic substances to athletes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Inventor: Jonathan David Toker
  • Patent number: 7159740
    Abstract: A sample preparation system provides an automated process that dispenses appropriate amounts of solid material into wells of a microtiter plate for mixing into a suspension. The system utilizes an array of hollow tubes that are lowered into a particle reservoir such that particle material is forced up into the tubes. During loading, solid plungers in the tubes are positioned a known distance from the open end of the tubes. When the particle material is to be dispensed, the plungers are lowered to push the particle material out of the tubes and into receiving wells of the microtiter plate. The plunger stroke and internal diameter of the tubes defines the dispensed volume of particle material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Sequenom, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Nanthakumar, Josef Backes, Siegfried Unger
  • Patent number: 7124912
    Abstract: A pill delivery and packing apparatus having a feeder tube for delivering pills is provided. The feeder tube has a helical delivery chute that extends between an inlet side and an exit side of the tube. The delivery chute has a helical inner contour and a rectangular cross section that corresponds to the shape of the pills. The helical delivery chute is configured such that each of the pills rotates while proceeding through the delivery chute, whereby such rotation of the pills prevents jamming of the pills in the delivery chute. Independently extendable pins are used to alternately block and open the delivery chute, thus providing an escapement mechanism for dispensing pills. The tube also has an outer surface defining a helical outer contour that guides a rotatable tray on which pills are disposed. Associated apparatuses and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Aylward Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: John Thomas Aylward
  • Patent number: 7112130
    Abstract: Disclosed is a coin change which comprises a coin sort section 50 for sorting coins C discharged from an input hopper 21, and a coin storage section 60 for storing the coins C sorted by the coin sort section 50 on a coin type by type basis. The coin storage section 60 includes a plurality of coin storage grooves 63 provided respectively to the plural coin types and disposed parallel to each other. Each of the coin storage grooves has a width dimension slightly greater than the diameter of a corresponding one of the types of coins and extends approximately horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Inventors: Kazuya Nishimura, Hiroaki Yamauchi, Nobuo Takashima
  • Patent number: 6845881
    Abstract: Device for handling, transporting and storing capillaries, method for the production thereof and individual capillary dispenser therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Hirschmann Laborgeräte GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans Jürgen Bigus, Reinhard Frey, Hans Rieker
  • Patent number: 6742675
    Abstract: An electronic component feeding apparatus comprises a feeding rotor having a recess for forming a parallel space with a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis. By oscillating a feeding rotor within a predetermined angular range, the apparatus takes the electronic components stored in bulk in a storeroom into the parallel space, and move the electronic components in the parallel space toward a feeding path each time the bottom of the parallel space tilts down toward the feeding path during an oscillation of the feeding rotor, and take the electronic components into the feeding path one by one, and allow the electronic component taken into the feeding path to move downward by gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Taiyo Yudan Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Koji Saito, Atsuo Kamimura
  • Patent number: 6705819
    Abstract: A feeder for chip components is provided wherein the chip components can be supplied with high stability even in high-speed operation by operating a conveying member at a lower speed than that of a chip mounter and operating the conveying member even when the chip mounter is stopped. The chip components on a belt are supplied in one direction by lowering a feed lever according to the input load from a chip mounter so as to drive the belt connected to the feed lever via a transmission mechanism intermittently in one direction. urging means is provided for urging the feed lever in the returning direction by storing the input load of the chip mounter as energy while an eddy current damper is provided for delaying the returning operation of the feed lever relative to the returning operation of the chip mounter. When the chip mounter operates downwardly, the feed lever is moved downwardly by linking to the chip mounter while the conveyor belt is maintained in a stationary state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Nemoto, Shigeki Takahashi, Nihei Kaishita, Mitsuhiro Namura
  • Publication number: 20030178438
    Abstract: An electronic component feeding apparatus comprises a feeding rotor having a recess for forming a parallel space with a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis. By oscillating a feeding rotor within a predetermined angular range, the apparatus takes the electronic components stored in bulk in a storeroom into the parallel space, and move the electronic components in the parallel space toward a feeding path each time the bottom of the parallel space tilts down toward the feeding path during an oscillation of the feeding rotor, and take the electronic components into the feeding path one by one, and allow the electronic component taken into the feeding path to move downward by gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Saito, Atsuo Kamimura
  • Publication number: 20030155369
    Abstract: In order to dispense fresh sandwiches at any place and at all hours, this invention proposes an automatic sandwich dispenser which comprises a plurality of compartments in which whole fresh ingredients are stored. The dispenser comprises automatic sandwich making means which may be positioned opposite each compartment and which comprises arms for gripping and manipulating the compartments. When a consumer enters an order, the automatic sandwich making means slices each selected ingredient in a bread roll with the aid of a cutting device. Once the bread roll is filled with all the selected ingredients, the sandwich is delivered to the consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventor: Neemat Frem
  • Patent number: 6568558
    Abstract: An electronic component feeding apparatus comprises a feeding rotor having a recess for forming a parallel space with a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis. By oscillating a feeding rotor within a predetermined angular range, the apparatus takes the electronic components stored in bulk in a storeroom into the parallel space, and move the electronic components in the parallel space toward a feeding path each time the bottom of the parallel space tilts down toward the feeding path during an oscillation of the feeding rotor, and take the electronic components into the feeding path one by one, and allow the electronic component taken into the feeding path to move downward by gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Saito, Atsuo Kamimura