Three Or More Patents (Class 221/225)
  • Patent number: 9713911
    Abstract: A packing unit and method for folding a blank on a packing machine; the packing unit having: a packing conveyor having at least one pocket for receiving the blank; and a feed device for inserting the blank into the pocket on the packing conveyor; the packing conveyor has at least a first conveyor belt defining a bottom wall, of the pocket; at least a second conveyor belt separate from, parallel to, and alongside the first conveyor belt, and defining the bottom wall of the pocket together with the first conveyor belt; a first retaining member, which projects perpendicularly from the first conveyor belt and defines a front wall of the pocket; and a second retaining member, which projects perpendicularly from the second conveyor belt and defines a rear wall of the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: G.C. SOCIETA PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Luca Cavazza, Andrea Biondi, Umberto Zanetti
  • Patent number: 9604327
    Abstract: A nut feeding apparatus for feeding a weld nut to an upper electrode of a resistance welding machine, whose size and production cost are reduced, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a piston rod, a tension rod, a tube, a link mechanism and a nut chuck. When the piston rod is in a most retracting state, an upper surface of the nut chuck becomes substantially flush with a lower portion of an opening of the tube. While the tension rod is at a stop in a most advancing state and when the piston rod further advances, the link mechanism rotates around a rotation axis at a tip of the tension rod, and thereby, the weld nut held by the nut chuck moves to a feeding position of the weld nut in the upper electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Dengensha Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Iwamoto, Go Tamura, Shuhei Saeki
  • Patent number: 9539657
    Abstract: A double-saw band saw machine includes a base, a first band saw unit, a second band saw unit, a feeding unit and a clamp unit. When an object to be sawn is located in a sawing area between the first and second band saw units, the first and second motors control the first and second frames to move toward each other along the first axial direction, so that the first and second band saw blades can be used to cut the object to be sawn simultaneously. Hence, the sawing efficiency of the double-saw band saw machine is improved, and the replacement interval for the first and second band saw blades is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: EVERISING MACHINE CO.
    Inventor: Shu-Chia Chiao
  • Patent number: 9242436
    Abstract: A transaction and proximity cards having an improved construction and systems for utilizing such cards. The card system includes a card having only one top ply and only one bottom ply and a layer of high elongation adhesive between each of the only one top ply and the only one bottom ply. In one card embodiment, the card further includes at least one inlay between the only one top ply and the only one bottom ply and a layer of high elongation adhesive between each of the only one top ply and the only one bottom ply and the at least one inlay. In addition, the card system includes card dispensers adapted to dispense the cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Electronic Data Magnetics, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Russell Hallman, John Trentman
  • Patent number: 8511304
    Abstract: There is provided a medicament dispenser for use with plural elongate form medicament carriers, each having multiple distinct medicament dose portions carried thereby, the dispenser having a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the distinct medicament dose portions carried by each of the plural medicament carriers. The mechanism comprises a receiving station for receiving each of the plural medicament carriers; a release for releasing a distinct medicament dose portion from each of the plural medicament carriers on receipt thereof by the receiving station; an outlet, positioned to be in communication with the distinct medicament dose portions releasable by said a release; and an indexer for individually indexing the distinct medicament dose portions of each of the plural medicament carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited
    Inventors: Gregor John McLennan Anderson, Stanley George Bonney, Michael Birsha Davies, Daniel Thomas De Sansmarez Lintell, Alan Anthony Wilson
  • Patent number: 8430269
    Abstract: The tablet cassette includes a division block installed to be rotated by a drive motor to discharge tablets introduced from above through transfer passages indented in an outer circumferential surface thereof. Each of the transfer passage includes a separation recess for downward transfer of the tablets, a lower end of which is blocked by a prop, and a supply recess along which the tablets having passed through the separation recess are moved on the outer circumferential surface of the division block to thereby be discharged downward via rotation of the division block. The tablet cassette further includes a bottom ring provided around a lower end of the division block to transfer the tablets located in the separation recess into the supply recess via rotation of the division block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: JVM Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Hee Nam
  • Patent number: 8297472
    Abstract: A pellet loading apparatus includes a tablet pusher including a support surfaces including a pusher mechanism coupled thereto for vertical movement upon actuation. A tablet holder on the tablet pusher includes locations framed by sidewall members aligned in the vertical direction that form columns having open tops for holding a pellet stacks of mold component pellets. A pellet separator having a solid portion and apertures is sized to fit around a portion of a top mold pellet in the pellet stacks. The pellet separator includes a pellet drive for lateral moving the top mold pellets relative to under pellets so that after lateral movement the top mold pellets are laterally offset from the under pellets. A tablet lifter includes a pellet stopper having receiving positions for receiving top mold pellets upon receipt after a transfer actuation of the pusher mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Norbert Joson Santos, Edgar Dorotayo Balidoy, Anthony Steven Dominisac Panagan, Freddie Mariano Dela Cruz
  • Patent number: 7806292
    Abstract: A towelette dispenser is provided with an integrally molded lid. The lid has a central aperture for allowing access to a roll of towelettes maintained within a tub receiving the lid therein. The separation bar bridges the aperture, and provides a rip fence in the form of a fingered thimble that is angled with respect to the lid as a whole. The thimble is offset near one edge of the annular opening so that a user may access the back side thereof to thread an edge of the leading towelette through the thimble without having to remove the lid from the tub. A well is provided in the smaller portion of the aperture and a cap for the lid is provided with a stuffer tab to urge the leading edge of the next towelette into the well when the cap is closed. Barrier caps are also provided to seal the interior of the tub during shipment and storage before the first use of the towelette dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventor: Nelson E. Simkins
  • 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: 7416095
    Abstract: An automated banking machine includes a mechanism for accepting deposited items. Deposited items may be provided to the machine in envelopes which are first passed to a user from an envelope storage area (132) in the machine through a transport (124) and which are presented to the user through an opening (244). An envelope storage and dispensing device (134) is operative to assure that only a single envelope is delivered to the user. A user may thereafter include deposit items in the dispensed envelope. The deposited items are passed through the opening (244) and are deposited in a deposit-holding container (128). The deposited items may be marked with indicia corresponding to the transaction or properties of the deposited item where the envelope originally dispensed to the user for holding the deposited item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems division of Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventors: Sean Haney, Jeffrey M. Enright, Jeffrey Eastman, Franklin M. Theriault, R. Matthew Dunlap, William D. Beskitt, Colin Fitzpatrick, Edward L. Laskowski, Mike Ryan, Bill Lavelle, David Schultz, Matthew Force
  • 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: 7077289
    Abstract: A dispenser for individual strip bandages from a rolled elongate bandage supply having the individual strip bandages releasably interconnected between a pair of cover strips defining chambers about each strip bandage. The dispenser provides a feed spindle carrying the bandage supply that is moved to a cover strip separator adjacent to a delivery slot in a casement. The cover strips are removed from a given strip bandage in the separator and pass along waste courses to motor powered take-up devices which move the bandage supply and disperse the given strip bandage through the delivery slot. At least one cover strip waste course has a tension sensor to sense tension in the associated cover strip to control the take-up device moving the associated cover strip to maintain synchronization of the motion of the pair of cover strips on the take-up devices moving them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Inventor: Nadine Ross
  • Patent number: 6499624
    Abstract: A plurality of different operative candy dispensers which can be interconnected as one device through which candy pieces are dispensed from a first candy dispenser and which are dispensed in order through each of the interconnected candy dispensers. Each of the candy dispensers includes a main housing, a motor, gear train, power supply, control switch, candy reservoir, exit spout from said housing and a mechanism for moving and dispensing the candy from the exit spout of the housing. Each of the separate candy dispensers are equipped with an auxiliary electrical plug or connection by which each of the candy dispensers can be connected to a master switch which when closed will bypass the control switch of each separate candy dispenser to operate all of the interconnected dispensers together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas J. Coleman, William K. Schlotter, IV, Princess Ann Coleman, Ann M. Schlotter
  • Patent number: 6352174
    Abstract: A dispensing machine is used to dispense rectangularly shaped containers including milk cartons and the like, preferably of a size ranging from approximately one-half liter to approximately two liters or even larger. The machine can be used to dispense various products including juices, soft drinks, milk, candy and virtually any product that can be suitably contained in a square rectangular container. The machine has a vertical channel containing paddles where each paddle supports only some of the containers in the channel when the channel is filled with containers. Since the containers have flexible side walls, the paddles move simultaneously to gently lower the containers one space at a time when the machine is activated. Also, when the containers are in the vertical channel, the lowermost container is not subjected to the weight of all of the containers above it when the channel is filled with containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Nature-Pac Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Frederick Bauman, Barry B. Bauman
  • Patent number: 6155453
    Abstract: A plurality of different operative candy dispensers which can be interconnected as one device through which candy pieces are dispensed from a first candy dispenser and which are dispensed in order through each of the interconnected candy dispensers. Each of the candy dispensers includes a main housing, a motor, gear train, power supply, control switch, candy reservoir, exit spout from said housing and a mechanism for moving and dispensing the candy from the exit spout of the housing. Each of the separate candy dispensers are equipped with an auxiliary electrical plug or connection by which each of the candy dispensers can be connected to a master switch which when closed will bypass the control switch of each separate candy dispenser to operate all of the interconnected dispensers together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventors: Thomas J. Coleman, William K. Schlotter, IV, Princess Ann Coleman, Ann M. Schlotter
  • Patent number: 6149031
    Abstract: A dispensing machine is used to disperse plastic water bottles and the like, preferably of a size ranging from approximately one liter to approximately two liters or even larger. The machine can be used to dispense other products in containers as long as the containers are shaped to roll along a shelf. The machine has a vertical channel containing paddles where each paddle supports only some of the containers in the channel when the channel is filled with containers. The paddles move simultaneously to gently lower the containers one space at a time when the machine is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Nature-Pac Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Frederick Bauman, Barry B. Bauman
  • Patent number: 5791514
    Abstract: A dispenser having a housing for dispensing candies therefrom and having a rotatable raceway therein with a plurality of turntables disposed within the housing and on the raceway, with each of the turntables including a compartment sized to accommodate a candy to be dispensed, and a drive motor for driving the raceway and coupled to the turntables for rotating the turntables and for revolving the turntables within the housing to transport the candies to a dispensing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Cap Toys, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl D. Kirk, III, Paul Mulhauser, Diego Fontayne
  • Patent number: 5758798
    Abstract: An improved machine and method for properly orienting two or more sets of parts having different lengths. An escapement mechanism and a length adjusting rod are employed in conjunction with a reciprocating shuttle block. The shuttle block houses a single orientor shaft and parts receiving nest. A sensing mechanism, preferably employing photoelectric fibre optic sensors, is used to control the flow of parts into and away from the orientor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Nylok Fastener Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Duffy, Eugene D. Sessa
  • Patent number: 5549217
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing granules from a container having a circular mouth, includes a body having first and second cylindrical components joined together by an axial spindle, a cylindrical roundel including a radial slit which is adapted to clip onto the axial spindle, and a receptacle. The first and second cylindrical components of the body have a plurality of circumferential notches adapted to receive granules from the container. The cylindrical roundel has a radial slit which receives a single granule from the first cylindrical component, for passage to the second cylindrical component. The receptacle includes driving means adapted to rotate the body for dispensing the granules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Boiron
    Inventor: Jacques Benarrouch
  • Patent number: 5503300
    Abstract: A vending machine includes a refrigeration compartment, an oven compartment, structure for transferring a food product from the refrigeration compartment to the oven compartment, and structure for transferring the food product from the oven compartment to a user of the vending machine. The vending machine provides automated handling and cooking of packaged food products that enables a hot cooked food to be delivered to a customer in a cool package sleeve. The vending machine also includes a system for inventory control that enables vertical storage of packaged food products while minimizing crushing of packaged food products at the bottom of a stack. A magazine empty indicator automatically indicates when an inventory magazine is empty. An oven door latch mechanism eliminates the possibility that the oven can be operated while the oven door is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: KRh Thermal Systems
    Inventors: Jack R. Prescott, John D. Smead, Edward Durbin, Michael Kanyon, Michael E. Rudder, James W. Bradfield, Gregory Elliott, Stanley Arai, Mark A. Hopkins, Donald Morrison, Paul T. Rudewicz, Kenneth Sinera, Thom Thomas, Dale Weber
  • Patent number: 5469797
    Abstract: This invention is a multi-row full stalk sugar cane planter which utilizes a fully automatic hydraulically driven feed and distribution system to place cane stalks on the field in three or more successive rows including the row directly beneath the planter. A hydraulically driven, continuous chain, feed conveyor moves cane stalks in the semi-vertical position and in multiple columns toward a primary and optional secondary rotating distribution drum system. A pressure compensating proportioning control valve monitors pressure at the primary distribution drum motor and automatically compensates for high pressure spikes by slowing or hesitating the feed of cane stalks to the primary distribution drum. The special valve can be easily adjusted on the fly to compensate for differing field and weather conditions. A series of hydraulic secondary distribution drums are also provided to insure proper planting and placement of the cane stalks in three or more rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Inventor: David C. Hearne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5439134
    Abstract: A food storage and delivery device is formed of a reservoir for food items, a holding and transferring section situated adjacent to the reservoir, an ascending section for moving the holding and transferring section, and a controlling section for controlling the device. After positioning the holding and transferring section to one side of the storage and delivery sections at a predetermined vertical level by means of the ascending section based on a delivery command, the food item is delivered from the storage and delivery section to the holding and transferring section to hold the food item temporarily. After positioning the holding and transferring section to a vertical level corresponding to a delivery portion, the temporarily held food item is delivered to the delivery portion. The food items can be automatically and quickly delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiichiro Tsuda, Seiitsu Kin, Toru Kajimura
  • Patent number: 5411170
    Abstract: System for metered feeding of cylindrical bodies from a stock to a processing machine. This involves, starting from the stock, first aligning the cylindrical bodies and then feeding them in a metered manner to a transfer device in order to move the cylindrical bodies to the processing machine. According to the invention, the device for aligning the cylindrical bodies coming from the stock consists of a rotatable drum-shaped member consisting of a number of bars disposed in the form of a ring. Between the bars the opening through which the cylindrical bodies can emerge is delimited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Boschman Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Everardus H. Boschman
  • Patent number: 5400919
    Abstract: Applicant's invention comprises a single-vend dispensing machine particularly applicable to vending newspapers. The apparatus includes a platform along which a supply of newspapers (or magazines) are advanced by a specially configured push plate. Individual copies are advanced to a vend position by operation of a frictional roller which engages the foremost single copy and advances it over a platform edge to a vend position. A copy in the vend position rests against a trap door a lock for which is briefly disengaged upon payment by a customer for allowing the copy to fall to an access slot for recovery by the customer. After removal of the copy, a new copy is advanced to the vend position by friction roller. A biased bailer aids in maintaining the front-most copy in the appropriate position for falling into the vend position, which bailer is released upon actuation of the friction roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Inventors: R. Gregg Gomm, R. Gary Gomm
  • Patent number: 5392954
    Abstract: A device for delivery of fasteners having heads with tenons disposed beneath the heads to an insertion tool. The device includes a sloped track with two spaced-apart rails each having a fastener receiving surface to receive the undersides of the heads of the fasteners falling thereon. The fasteners drop onto the track from a rotating barrel and some are correctly aligned with the tenons between the rails and the undersides of the heads resting on the rails and many are misaligned. The fasteners slide to an orienting station which includes a plurality of fluid injector ports disposed around the track. Two of the ports face each other and a third port is disposed over the track. Blasts of air are directed through the ports sequentially so that misaligned fasteners on the track are forced into alignment or are removed from the track thereby leaving only properly aligned fasteners to proceed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Gartz & White Inc.
    Inventor: Kaj Gartz
  • Patent number: 5366111
    Abstract: A supporting member feeding device utilized for manufacturing a construction panel of three dimensional structure, has gears whose teeth partially extend into an interior of an inclined wall of a hopper containing supporting members and rotating in an opposite direction from the direction of the ascending supporting members to smoothly discharge the supporting members toward a chute, and the supporting members discharged from the outlet of the hopper are kept at a predetermined distance by a spiral conveyor whose teeth extend into the chute through a hole of the chute forming member so as to forcibly and exactly feed the supporting members toward an inclined discharging outlet of the chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Inventor: Se-Hong Ahn
  • Patent number: 5341854
    Abstract: The invention concerns the automated robotic system for dispensing drugs from vials into liquid containers such as IV bags or syringes. A robot selects a vial and a suitable container and transports them to a processing station together with a needle which may be double-ended. At the processing station the contents of the vial are transferred into the container. Some of the contents of the container may be transferred into the vial in order to reconstitute and/or wash out the vial contents and agitation may be provided for the vial. Various additional devices may be provided such as a decapping device for the vials, an alcohol swabbing station for swabbing the top of a vial and/or the input port of a IV bag or syringe. Moreover, a label printer may be provided so that the robot may deliver a label with the finally processed IV bag and empty vial to a verification station. When IV bags are used, the invention may feature a conveyor of trays of the bags to a pick-up station of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Alberta Research Council
    Inventors: Bohuslav J. Zezulka, Henry H. Voss, Anne M. Fincati
  • Patent number: 5337919
    Abstract: An automatic prescription dispensing system includes a housing or frame having a plurality of pill dispenser units mounted therein, a plurality of vial supply assemblies at one end of the housing, and a filled vial offload carousel at an opposite end. A vial manipulator assembly is mounted on the housing to enable translational movement of a vial manipulator frame vertically and horizontally and pivoting about a vertical axis to retrieve vials from the supply assemblies, fill the vials at the dispenser units, and deposit the filled vials onto the carousel. The vial manipulator frame includes spring loaded grippers to engage and carry the vials and a drive motor and gear for meshing with dispenser unit gears to operate the dispenser units. The system includes a controller including an interface for coupling to the printer port of a pharmacy host computer printer port for intercepting drug name and quantity data for a prescription which was directed to a prescription label printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Dispensing Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Spaulding, Pamela M. Spaulding, Kenneth M. Bueche
  • Patent number: 4840290
    Abstract: A coin exchanging machine has a coin case disposed at the bottom of a casing for accommodating a plurality of coin bundles, a coin pushing mechanism for pushing laterally a row of coin bundles piled up in the coin case, and a coin transferring mechanism for receiving a row of coin bundles from the coin case by pushing the coin bundles by the coin pushing mechanism and for feeding the coin bundles one by one into a coin accommodating space in response to the discharge of the coin bundles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sigma
    Inventors: Shunichi Nakamura, Kouichi Iimura, Kikuo Nakamura, Susumu Ozawa
  • Patent number: 4821916
    Abstract: A coin-operated dispenser for flexible supports such as postcards, comprises an element (1) shaped like a piece of furniture closed on three sides comprising a juxtaposition and a superposition of compartments (2) each containing a packet of flexible supports and apparatus for distributing individual supports, an assembly (3) for selection of and payment for the flexible supports, and a device (4) for closing the face of the element (1), provided at the upper part of each compartment (2) with a dispensing opening (5), and beneath this opening (5) with a housing (6) for receiving a display sample (7) of the flexible support contained in the corresponding compartment (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Inventor: Renee Dewaele
  • Patent number: 4714397
    Abstract: An automatic parts feeder has a bed, a base movable on the bed in a first direction, a hopper assembly mounted on the base, a delivery mechanism, a transfer mechanism, and a supply mechanism for supplying parts to a processing machine. The supply mechanism supplies the parts in a second direction normal to the first direction, and includes a movable assembly movable in both the first and second directions, a swing arm pivotally supported on the movable assembly and angularly movable in a plane normal to the second direction between a substantially vertical upstanding position and an inclined position, and parts receivers detachably mounted on the swing arm for receiving, holding, and releasing the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kuniaki Ohkuma, Reiji Nakagawa, Hisao Miyao, Shinichi Yoshimura, Toshio Suzuki, Toyoaki Hayashi, Masayasu Arakawa, Hideharu Koizumi
  • Patent number: 4687119
    Abstract: An automatic dispenser for hot and cold food products comprises an isothermal cabinet in which a plurality of horizontal conveyor belts arranged one above another comprises a plurality of conveyor belts on which the food products are stored and a single delivery conveyor belt leading to a delivery opening in the cabinet. A microwave oven disposed in the cabinet above the horizontal conveyor belts has a door and a small conveyor belt inside. A lift comprising a small conveyor belt on vertically movable frame is provided adjacent vertically aligned ends of the horizontal conveyor belts and oven conveyor belt. The conveyor belts, oven and lift are controlled by a computerized control system in the manner that if a customer selects a product to be eaten hot, the product is transported to the oven, heated and transported to the delivery opening. If a customer selects a product to be eaten cold, the product is transported to the delivery opening without going to the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Inventor: Hubert Juillet
  • Patent number: 4518100
    Abstract: A newspaper vending machine having a plurality of inclined slides mounted so that their top surfaces lie in a common plane and a plurality of friction belts, one between each pair of slides. The slides have a low coefficient of friction with paper while the friction belts have a high coefficient of friction with paper. The friction belts are movable from a normal position below the top surfaces of the slides to an elevated position above the latter surfaces and slightly rearwardly of their normal position. A pressure plate biases a vertical stack of newspapers positioned on the slides in a downward direction along the slides toward a discharge chute. Transporting structure is located between the discharge chute and the slides for engaging the bottom edge of the leading newspaper and removing the newspaper to and discharging it into the discharge chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Inventor: George E. Martin
  • Patent number: 4494902
    Abstract: A method for feeding chip components to positions in which they can be picked up by transfer members, in which the chips are pushed out of a feed channel while being held between an ejection pin and a transfer member part. An elongated part of a transfer member is advanced into a feed channel into contact with one side of a chip, an ejection pin then advances to the other side of the chip and pushes the chip and transfer member out of the feed channel through a removal opening, and the chip is then held by the transfer member while the ejection pin retracts. Preferably, a cover plate prevents movement of the chips toward the transfer member until the member is in contact with the side of the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Bernardus J. Kuppens, Hendrik C. Wardenaar
  • Patent number: 4484693
    Abstract: An apparatus for the high speed supply of individual circular or cylindrical articles such as chip resistors, shafts, pins and the like to a printed circuit board or other type of equipment is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first turn table, a vertically movable mounting table carried by the first turn table, a plurality of hoppers disposed in a circle on the mounting table, pipes movable into and out of the hoppers, chutes in the form of coiled springs, cylindrical chutes provided on the first turn table and connected to the pipes through the chutes in the form of coiled springs, escapement pushers having article holding holes disposed on the underside of the cylindrical chutes, a pickup chuck adapted to grip an article disposed in the article holding hole of a respective escapement pusher and to remove the article therefrom, and a push lever adapted to push each escapement pusher when each pusher is brought to a predetermined position as a result of rotation of said first turn table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Fujita, Yoshiaki Yoshida, Toshiyuki Higashiura, Kunio Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4469245
    Abstract: A bulk loaded coin dispensing machine maintains a supply of coins to be dispensed in a bulk loaded magazine made up of a plurality of layers of coin rolls or tubes, each layer having plural rows and columns of coin tubes resting directly on each other, without intervening portions among the tubes. Coin tubes are stripped from the magazine a row at a time, and then carried by a transport conveyor and an elevator to a dispensing mechanism. The magazine carrier is movable independently of the stripper, conveyor and elevator to allow inventory replacement, and the stripper and conveyor are vertically adjustable in accordance with the decreasing height of the magazine as the coin rolls are dispensed. The stripper, conveyor, elevator and dispenser are operable asynchronously under control of a microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Assignee: Casino Technology
    Inventors: Leonard A. Fish, David Sverdlik
  • Patent number: 4469246
    Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing newspapers, one at a time, having a frame with a wheel assembly movably attached thereto is provided for having wheels in contact with a stack of newspapers. The wheels have one-way bearings such that when the wheel assembly is pulled in a first direction, the wheels will not rotate and thereby frictionally engage a newspaper in contact therewith, thereby pulling the newspaper with the wheels. When the wheel assembly is pushed back in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, then the wheels are allowed to rotate against the next newspaper to be dispensed, to assume a ready position for the next operation. An assist mechanism is also provided for assisting the frictional engagement of a newspaper by the wheels and such assist mechanism has an adjustable feature for use with thin papers in one position thereof, or thick papers in another position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Assignee: Fawn Engineering Company
    Inventors: Henry J. Albright, Arthur N. Wirstlin
  • Patent number: 4438867
    Abstract: A manually-operable tool for holding a magazine containing a plurality of stacked, individual electrical components and selectively dispensing the components from the tool in predetermined orientation for loading on a printed circuit board, or the like. The magazine is inserted into an appropriately configured opening in the tool which is held by the operator with the magazine substantially vertical so that components are gravity fed to the lower end. Depression of a spring loaded rod by the operator's thumb moves a plunger to push a component out of engagement between a pair of gripper members. On the return stroke of the rod, a component transport member is moved thereby to carry the lowermost component fed by gravity from the magazine to engagement between the gripper members for ejection on the next depression of the rod and plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: Industrial Design & Development Corp.
    Inventors: David L. Mayne, David Jahsman
  • Patent number: 4429864
    Abstract: A high speed feeder for cartons being fed into a cartoner includes both mechanical and fluid flow environments for precisely delivering cartons. A preferably inclined conveyor receives cartons stacked on their edges and in a generally vertical orientation. A rotating metering wheel at the downstream end of the conveyor engages the top edges of the cartons and separates them one at a time from the incoming stack. A blower is provided to direct air onto the cartons adjacent the metering wheel to (a) blow the cartons against the metering wheel, (b) blow air between the first and second cartons of the stack as the metering wheel separates the first from the second, and (c) blow the cartons down to a horizontal attitude. Horizontal feed chains having feed lugs receive the horizontal cartons and advance them one at a time into the cartoner. Vacuum nozzles are provided to aid in controlling carton placement on the feed chains and lugs throughout a broad range of feed speeds. Methods are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: R. A. Jones & Co. Inc.
    Inventors: Eric W. Scarpa, Charles C. Hughes, Stanley F. Humbert
  • Patent number: 4410103
    Abstract: Apparatus for sequentially feeding headed fasteners such as rivets includes a carrier band of resilientily stretchable material with the fasteners driven through undersize holes equally spaced along the band, the band being advanced intermittently by a reciprocating actuator, toothed for simultaneous engagement with several of the fastener heads, to bring the fasteners in sequence between a striker and the entry to a delivery conduit, the striker being reciprocated to drive each fastener brought into alignment therewith into the delivery conduit, the fastener head being forced through the stretchable band, a jet of air through the striker impelling the fastener through the delivery conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Furma Manufacturing Co. Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Ralph Fuhrmeister
  • Patent number: 4220235
    Abstract: A vending machine control circuit which at relatively low cost effectively provides a lockout arrangement which ensures the delivery of only one article per money insertion and which allows alternate selection of articles when one selection is stalled or jammed. The circuit arrangement requires only two cam-operated switches per product selection, and has a single credit release relay common to all product selections. The credit release relay is energized when a vend relay is energized as the result of money insertion, and a time delay circuit is provided for maintaining energization of the credit release relay after the vend relay is de-energized near the beginning of a product vend cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1980
    Assignee: Cavalier Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Lindsey, Gregory S. Morgan
  • Patent number: 4120423
    Abstract: A cigarette dispenser comprising a casing having a plurality of dispensing means each movable to dispense a cigarette through a dispensing opening, slide means operable to actuate said dispensing means, and cam means associated with said slide means whereby successive movements of the latter actuates said dispensing means one at a time and in sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1978
    Inventor: Rudolf Fruhwirth
  • Patent number: 4101054
    Abstract: An automatic fastener feeder having fastener supply means to a carrying means and means to move the fasteners in the carrying means to a discharge end, first fastener metering means adapted to withhold and alternatively discharge single fasteners from the discharge end of the carrying means, a second fastener metering means adjacent the first metering means adapted to receive a single discharged fastener from the first metering means, and a feed tube connected at one end of the second metering means and connected at its other end to a fastener tool to supply fasteners thereto, the second metering means being adapted to release a single fastener to the feed tube when the first metering means is withholding a single fastener. The second metering means is provided with a hand openable latch plate so that it may easily be cleared of any jamming caused by deformed fasteners or parts thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1978
    Inventors: Francis Edmund Frost, Robert Mack
  • Patent number: 4078672
    Abstract: A device for step-feeding panels, in particular support bases for printed circuits, to a machine, and in which said panels are arranged edgewise on a support plane, and are advanced step-by-step transversely along said support plane and towards one end thereof by a bearing plane moved along said support plane by a powered slide. At said one end of the support plane cyclically movable feeding means are arranged, which support engage the panels moved, at any step, past said one end of the support plane, and displace the same from a first position substantially parallel with the bearing plane to a second position, in which said panels project outwards from said one end of the support plane and operate a means for stopping said movable feeding means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1978
    Assignee: OMCA S.r.l.
    Inventors: Sergio Crepaldi, Adriano Buzio, Romano Cornelio
  • Patent number: 4057172
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a predetermined number of golf balls has a hopper for storing golf balls, a receptacle for retaining the predetermined number of golf balls in position for dispensing, and a structure for guiding and conveying the golf balls from the hopper to the receptacle. Such structure includes a passageway and a wheel having a resilient outer circumferential surface defined by a plurality of substantially radially extending bristles thereon. The receptacle has an openable and closable gate at one end thereof through which the predetermined number of golf balls therein are dispensed. Structure is also provided for rotating the wheel to fill the receptacle until the predetermined number of golf balls are filled therein after the gate is closed after discharge of the golf balls therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1977
    Assignee: Gustafson Mfg. Co.
    Inventor: Harvey F. Olander
  • Patent number: 4043484
    Abstract: A newspaper vending machine has a receptacle with a front wall, a rearwardly ascending slide track to support a stack of newspapers on edge, the lower end of the slide track having an upstanding ledge to hold back the foremost paper in the stack which is pressed forward by a presser plate whose upper part is parallel to the front wall and whose lower part inclines rearwardly, and a delivery mechanism which by means of inclined needles engaging the foremost paper in the stack lifts the said paper until its lower edge swings forward over the upstanding ledge and then feeds the paper downwards through a delivery slot between the upstanding ledge and the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1977
    Inventor: Benno Vanjo
  • Patent number: 4042098
    Abstract: Apparatus for conveying cops from bulk storage to a usage station through intermediate storage points which includes a first conveyor belt which is sloped substantially upwardly carrying lateral limiting dividers to define single cop compartments, a second substantially horizontal or downwardly sloped conveyor belt, carrying pivotal limiting dividers to define single cop compartments whereby the limiting dividers for forming the single cop compartments pivot downwardly; an intermediate storage point substantially parallel and above the second belt carrying lateral guides for the cops and a frontal stop at the end of the intermediate storage point. At least one compartment of the first conveyor belt substantially coincides with one compartment of the second conveyor belt at a temporary position where they are both halted at the same time. The first belt moves step by step out of phase with the second belt which moves step to step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1977
    Assignee: Officine Savio, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Armando D'Agnolo, Luigi Minto
  • Patent number: 4042147
    Abstract: There is disclosed a device for taking tissue papers out of a container conveniently and hygienically as needed, by manual operation of a push plate mounted on the device, which actuates an air chamber to blow air onto the tissue and a roll which bears against the tissue surface for drawing out the tissue paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1977
    Inventor: Young Yee Lee
  • Patent number: 4034893
    Abstract: For uniformly positioning and closely spacing in a row electrical lead-bearing components of different types, including those having disc-shaped bodies to be disposed in overlapping relation, lead controlling means and component body positioning means coact with a conveyor conducting the components to be secured as by tape in selected sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: USM Corporation
    Inventors: Armand L. Tardiff, Glover F. Broughton, David R. Delorey, Bangt R. Pearson
  • Patent number: 4004713
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the dosed sowing of seed comprising periodically immersing a first hollow suction tube in a supply of seeds, retaining a limited number of seeds at the tube end by creating underpressure inside said tube, bringing the suction tube above a substantially horizontal strip, on which the seeds retained at the tube end are dropped by removal of the vacuum, after which the strip with the seeds lying thereon is moved relative to a narrowing channel in such a manner that in the narrowest part of the channel there comes to lie each time only one seed, which seed is taken up by a second suction tube and transferred to a nutrient substrate, while the rest of the seeds lying on the strip are returned to the supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1977
    Assignee: Visser Tuinbouwtechniek en Hout B.V.
    Inventor: Anthony Visser