Magazine Patents (Class 221/242)
  • Patent number: 5788116
    Abstract: The invention provides an adjustable tray dispenser having a plurality of tray guides for individually dispensing trays from a tray stock. Each of the tray guides is driven by a flexible drive shaft coupled to a gear box. The flexible drive shafts enable the independent adjustment of each tray guide with respect to each other, the dispenser, and the tray stock. A motor coupled to the gear box provides variable speed rotational motion to the flexible drive shafts. Each of the tray guides has a dispensing head that includes a timing adjustment mechanism. The timing adjustment mechanism enables the synchronization of all of the dispensing heads prior to tray dispensing. The independent adjustment ability of the tray guides enables use of the system with any size or shape tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: FMV Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Josef Bednar
  • Patent number: 5733093
    Abstract: A stack tube type feeder is designed to be versatile to dispense a variety of parts. The part dependent components of the feeder can be either selectively interchanged or adjusted to accommodate a wider variety of parts. Specifically, a part feeder includes a tube guide assembly for holding a plurality of part supply tubes. Within the tube guide assembly removable front and rear stops prevent longitudinal movement of the part supply tube in the feed position. Included is a removably mounted guide track element having a guide track as part of the feed guide path. The changeover mechanism of the present invention includes removable front and rear tube supports for supporting the part supply tube in the feed position, and removable and adjustable front and rear singulator elements for supporting a next fed tube in a staging position. Preferably, a pusher mechanism includes a pusher tape and pusher element which are driven to advance the parts from the part supply tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Robodyne Corporation
    Inventors: Troy T. Palm, Tim J. Hartman, Kevin J. Barr
  • Patent number: 5713490
    Abstract: An adjustable mechanism for vending products includes left and right column walls defining a column divided into front and rear sections for retaining the products in front and rear corded stacks. A rear spacer provided at the back side of the column is laterally adjustable relative to the front side of the column to accommodate products of different lengths in the rear section. Front and rear product funnels are positioned respectively in the front and rear sections above the bottom end of the column, with front and rear adjustable product ramps interposed between the outlets of the front and rear product funnels, respectively, and the open bottom end of the column. The front and rear adjustable product ramps are independently pivotable about their pivot axes in response to movement of front and rear adjustment rods to change the width of the open bottom of the column at the front and back sections to accommodate products of different diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Royal Vendors, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Oden, Michael D. Ring
  • Patent number: 5700004
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hold-back device for use with a magazine of an article-handling apparatus. The hold-back device includes a frame defining a feed gap through which articles from the magazine are fed. A plurality of threaded members are threadingly mounted in threaded openings defined by the frame. The threaded members have distal ends adapted to extend into the feed gap to hold back the articles held by the magazine. By threading the threaded members in or out of the frame, the distal ends of the threaded members can be set to desired positions in the feed gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: MGS Machine Corporation
    Inventors: Mel J. Bahr, Timothy A. Bahr
  • Patent number: 5611456
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing articles such as tickets and cards includes a cabinet and a plurality of article dispensing assemblies inside the cabinet. Each article dispensing assembly includes a base and a frame for enclosing articles to be dispensed in a stack. The bases are mounted on a pair of vertical support plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Algonquin Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Kazmier J. Kasper
  • Patent number: 5570811
    Abstract: A dispensing apparatus and method for vending machines includes in one embodiment a horizontal vending tray with one of more columns. Each column can have one or more tracks. A biasing device such as a spring is associated with a pusher plate that slides along the column. A triggering mechanism at the front of the column is actuated by the rotation of a rod from the back of the column. The triggering mechanism blocks items placed along the track from being pushed off the front of the column to a delivery area but also controls when such dispension occurs. The configuration allows items of different sizes, shapes, and types to be loaded into the column by standing on their bases and therefore allows the column to be easily adapted to dispense a wide variety of items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Fawn Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Francis A. Wittern, Jr., Paul L. Hawkins, James L. Denato
  • Patent number: 5516003
    Abstract: Vending machine (1) for newspapers, in the form of a cabinet capable of automatically delivering into a receptacle one copy of a newspaper which a purchaser has selected from a plurality of other newspapers and paid for with a payment device incorporated in the vending machine. The cabinet comprises fixed and movable shelves on which the newspapers are stored in various stacks each of a same newspaper. On each of the stacks is provided an individual discharge assembly for the upper newspaper of the stack of newspapers. There are two columns of fixed horizontal shelves (56) secured at each side to two vertical supports (61, 62) welded at their ends to the upper and lower parts of the cabinet and at least one movable shelf for each column. Each discharge assembly for the upper newspaper from a stack of newspapers is displaceable relative to the shelf supporting that stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Inventor: Maurice Hebert
  • Patent number: 5511646
    Abstract: A programmable size and price-setting mechanism for use in a vending machine has a plurality of n access doors aligned horizontally across a front of the vending machine, each of which access doors has a locked condition denying access therethrough and an unlocked condition allowing access therethrough, and each of which is selectably activatable between the locked and unlocked condition. There are a plurality of horizontal shelves each of which has a plurality of partitionable areas corresponding in size to a corresponding one of the n access doors, such that each shelf is selectably partitionable into a plurality of up to n product holding areas. A conveyor mechanism is provided for selectably moving each horizontal shelf into a vending position adjacent to the access doors so that each one of the n partitionable areas is adjacent to a corresponding one the n access doors. A sensor detects which of the plurality of shelves is positioned adjacent to the plurality of n access doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Rowe International, Inc.
    Inventors: Algert J. Maldanis, David K. Giegerich, Andris C. Sloss
  • Patent number: 5492213
    Abstract: A single copy publication dispenser having an enclosure with a suitable stationary, but adjustable, platform for retaining a stack of publications thereon. A publication discharge assembly overlies the platform and includes a discharge member which is slidable laterally between first and second positions against the force of springs for enabling selective discharge of a single publication, while the entire discharge assembly is slidable vertically under the force of gravity so that the discharge member abuts against the upper surface of the next publication for discharge. The discharge member includes a pivotable discharge bar operable between a first position at which it grips the publication adjacent an edge thereof as the pull bar is retracted under force of springs. An interlock mechanism is provided between a publication withdrawal pull bar and the coin mechanism for enabling actuation of the discharge assembly only when coins of the proper number and size are present in the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Inventor: Chang D. Kim
  • Patent number: 5482423
    Abstract: Goods drop out device 14 having goods receptacle portions 27 defined in a drop out box 23 and shutter devices 21 for opening and closing the bottoms of the goods receptacle portions 27, comprises the shutter devices 21 each comprise a smaller opening and closing member 56 pivotable about a support shaft 58 extending substantially in parallel to the bottom of the goods receptacle portion 27 for opening and closing the bottom, a pushing rod 62 contacting with the lower surface of the smaller opening and closing member 56 and moving toward and away from the lower surface, and an opening and closing cylinder device 63 for driving the pushing rod 62 and operating to close the bottom of the goods receptacle portion 27 by pushing up the opening and closing member 56 by the pushing rod 62.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotoshi Tawara
  • Patent number: 5360134
    Abstract: A multiple-product merchandising machine having a cylindrical drum mounted within a cabinet. The drum is divided into a plurality of horizontal shelves each of which is divided by a plurality of vertical walls into separate compartments from which the product can be dispensed. These compartments can be brought into alignment with access doors associated with each level and the doors, which are normally maintained locked, can be opened upon the insertion of adequate currancy in the machine to remove the product. The access door locking system prevents more than one door from being opened at one time. The drum is rotatable in either direction by a reversible motor. A viewing area is provided in the front of the machine which allows a prospective customer to see the product as it passes by. The drum is divided into sections with opaque walls which prevent viewing from the viewing area of more than half of the compartments on a shelf when the drum is in its rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Unidynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard P. Falk, Paul K. Griner
  • Patent number: 5285926
    Abstract: A multiple-product merchandising machine having a cylindrical drum mounted within a cabinet. The drum is divided into a plurality of horizontal shelves each of which is divided by a plurality of vertical walls into separate compartments from which the product can be dispensed. These compartments can be brought into allignment with access doors associated with each level and the doors, which are normally maintained locked, can be opened upon the insertion of adequate currancy in the machine to remove the product. The access door locking system prevents more than one door from being opened at one time. The drum is rotatable in either direction by a reversible motor. A viewing area is provided in the front of the machine which allows a prospective customer to see the product as it passes by. The drum is divided into sections with opaque walls which prevent viewing from the viewing area of more than half of the compartments on a shelf when the drum is in its rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Unidynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard P. Falk, Paul K. Griner
  • Patent number: 5205390
    Abstract: A stock separating apparatus which separates stocks that drop successively from a stock feed source through a chute and feeds them one by one to a working machine, for example, a forging press, the apparatus being capable of coping with a change in the size of stocks with ease and within a short time. The stock separating apparatus has an attachment (11) that is provided at the lower end of a chute (3), the attachment being replaceable in accordance with the size of stocks (2). A circularly curved lower chute (6) is provided at the lower end of the chute (3). The attachment (11) is detachably attached to an attachment holder (10) which is horizontally pivotably provided on a support member (12) that is secured to the apparatus body (1) through a bracket (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masahiro Ikenaka, Kunihiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5193966
    Abstract: The feeding device (1) comprises two sliding rails (2, 3) arranged in parallel to each other and obliquely to the horizontal. The gap (5) between these rails can be adjusted to the diameter of the bolt blanks to be profiled. In order to be able to perform this adjustment of the gap (5) faster and more accurately, the sliding rails (2, 3) form a parallelogram-type linkage with traverses (10) located above these rails and obliquely to their longitudinal extension. The traverses (10) are attached to bars (9) rotatable in clamping sleeves (6, 7) and mounted so that they can be fixed in position. The clamping sleeves (7) on the movable sliding rail (3) are located, in the conveying direction of the feeding device (1), in front of those (6) on the fixed sliding rail (2), so that the width of the gap (5) is adjustable by pivoting the traverses (10). The device is utilized in machines for rolling thread or other peripheral profiling operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: E. W. Menn GmbH & Co. Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Clemens Jung
  • Patent number: 5169027
    Abstract: A multiple-product merchandising machine having a cylindrical drum mounted within a cabinet. The drum is divided into a plurality of horizontal shelves each of which is divided by a plurality of vertical walls into separate compartments from which the product can be dispensed. These compartments can be brought into alignment with access doors associated with each level and the doors, which are normally maintained locked, can be opened upon the insertion of adequate currancy in the machine to remove the product. The access door locking system prevents more than one door from being opened at one time. The drum is rotatable in either direction by a reversible motor. A viewing area is provided in the front of the machine which allows a prospective customer to see the product as it passes by. The drum is divided into sections with opaque walls which prevent viewing from the viewing area of more than half of the compartment on a shelf when the drum is in its rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Unidynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard P. Falk, Paul K. Griner
  • Patent number: 5127546
    Abstract: A storage bin structure is used for superposed articles in an automatic vending machine and includes a front wall unit which can be moved to vary the volume of the storage space for the articles to be mold. A conveyer unit includes two motor-activated circular front wheels and two elliptical rear wheels. Two endless conveyer belts run around the front wheels and the rear wheels. When the belts are idle, the upper ends of the rear wheels are below those of the front wheels so as to prevent the lowermost one of the superposed articles from forward movement. When the belts circulate in response to entry of coin or coins, the rear wheels rotate so that the upper ends of the rear wheels are higher than those of the front wheels, thereby moving the articles forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Inventor: Ming-Ho Chen
  • Patent number: 5113636
    Abstract: A can lid feeder, for use with a can seamer, has a separator for can lids which projects into a drop hole provided in a cylindrical body at the bottom of a hopper and which separates dropped and stacked can lids one by one from the bottom of the stack. A rotary shaft of the separator extends in a gear box which is supported in the feeder in a freely swingable manner. The gear box is swingable so that the separator can move in the radial direction with respect to the cylindrical body having the drop hole. After a side surface of the swinging gear box has been brought into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body, the gear box is fixed in position by a clamp lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirokata Mihara, Koichi Takagi, Teruo Shimizu, Katsunori Tashiro, Hideo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5097983
    Abstract: A workpiece supply device used in semiconductor assembly machines such as wire bonding device, pellet bonding device, etc. including an elevator section having an elevator table that is raised and lowered and carries a magazine accommodated therein plate-form workpieces, a magazine stacker which guides the magazine, and a pusher assembly including a pusher arm pushing the workpiece out of the magazine one at a time. The magazine stacker is made up with a fixed guide and a movable guide. The movable guide is adjustable size wise in a direction wherein the workpiece is pushed out, and the pusher device is provided on the movable guide. Power source for the pusher device is installed parallel to the workpieces piled up in the magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Shinkawa
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ushiki, Takashi Endo, Hiroyuki Matuno
  • Patent number: 5074432
    Abstract: A card dispensing mechanism for an automatic card dispensing machine is provided with adjustable walls for storing cards of different lengths and interchangeable card ejecting device which can be selected to dispense cards of a preselected length. The card ejecting device may be adjusted to operate on cards of different thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Inventor: Barry A. R. MacNamara
  • Patent number: 5052583
    Abstract: An article dispenser is disclosed including a continuous carrier; a plurality of article engaging members formed on the carrier and regularly spaced therealong; a least two article guide members separated at a predetermined distance from one another and aligned with the carrier adjacent the article engaging members at a predetermined spacing therefrom; adjustment member for adjusting the predetermined distance and the predetermined spacing so that the article may be held between a pair of the article engaging members and leans at an angle against the article guide members for sliding movement therealong. Also disclosed is a method of dispensing articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: AEC Machinery Limited
    Inventor: Reinier Hill
  • Patent number: 5048717
    Abstract: A multiple-product merchandizing machine having a cylindrical drum mounted within a cabinet. The drum is divided into a plurality of horizontal shelves each of which is divided by a plurality of vertical walls into separate compartments from which the product can be dispensed. These compartments can be brought into alignment with access doors associated with each level and the doors, which are normally maintained locked, can be opened upon the insertion of adequate currancy in the machine to remove the product. The access door locking system prevents more than one door from being opened at one time. The drum is rotatable in either direction by a reversible motor. A viewing area is provided in the front of the machine which allows a prospective customer to see the product as it passes by. The drum is divided into sections with opaque walls which prevent viewing from the viewing areas of more than half of the compartments on a shelf when the drum is in its rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: UniDynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard P. Falk, Paul K. Griner
  • Patent number: 4984710
    Abstract: An article dispensing mechanism for a vending machine is disclosed which includes a pair of side plates which face one another at a predetermined spacing. One pair of serially cusp-shaped vertical panels are disposed transversely between the side plates to define a serpentine track. An upper, open end of the serpentine track is connected to an article loading space and a lower, open end of the serpentine track is connected to an article dispensing space. A spacer member extends vertically and is movable horizontally within a space defined between either one of the side plates and the serpentine track. At least one bracket is connected with the other side plate and, adjacent fixing plates on the spacer member. At least one of the spacer fixing plates or brackets are provided with projections, e.g. screws that can be tightened. At least the other one of the spacer fixing plates or brackets are provided with apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Katsumi Oike
  • Patent number: 4981236
    Abstract: An anti-theft apparatus for use in a dispensing machine for newspapers and the like having a coin-operated locking access door. The apparatus includes a cover panel sized to mount within the access opening in the rack. The cover panel restricts access into the dispensing machine is through a T-shaped access opening in the cover panel. Newspapers and the like stacked within the dispensing machine may be grasped through the vertical slot in the T-shaped access opening and raised for removal through the horizontal slot in the opening along the axis of the horizontal slot. A pivoting gauge gate mounted to the cover panel above the T-shaped access opening restricts the thickness of newspapers and the like which may be removed through the hozizontal slot. The gauge gate pivots between an open position wherein newspapers and the like can be removed through the horizontal slot and a closed position wherein access through the horizontal slot is substantially restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Inventors: Robert D. Riedle, Robert D. Riedle
  • Patent number: 4962867
    Abstract: An auxiliary dispenser for a merchandise vending machine of the type comprising a cabinet, a delivery bin at the front of the cabinet, near the bottom, and a merchandise dispensing apparatus in the cabinet above the bin for dispensing merchandise to the bin, the dispenser adapted to be mounted behind the bin, below the dispensing apparatus. The dispenser comprises a bank of at least one generally inverted-J shaped magazine for holding articles. The bank is preferably pivotally mounted at its upper end to pivot upwardly to facilitate filling. Each magazine has a generally vertically extending straight portion and a forwardly extending curved dispensing portion. A spring-biased guide member urges articles in the magazine upwardly toward the curved dispensing portion, the guide member can be releasably locked at the end of the magazine to facilitate filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Unidynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard A. Ficken, Robert L. Stadler
  • Patent number: 4930663
    Abstract: An article alignment unit adapted for use in a helix-type vending machine. The vending machine comprises a cabinet having a tray within the cabinet carrying at least two dispensing helices extending side-by-side from rear to front of the cabinet. Each helix is selectively driven for advancing articles to be dispensed placed on the tray between convolutions of the helix. A generally vertical central partition between the two helices has a top edge margin extending substantially the length of the helices, and first and second generally vertical outer partitions on opposite sides of the two helices. First and second article compartments are defined between the central partition and the first and second outer partitions, respectively, and each compartment contains one of the helices. The article alignment unit comprises a first elongate guide member adapted for pivoting about an axis parallel with and adjacent to the top edge margin of the central partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Unidynamics Corporation
    Inventor: Leonard A. Ficken
  • Patent number: 4927051
    Abstract: A multiple-product merchandising machine having a cylindrical drum mounted within a cabinet. The drum is divided into a plurality of horizontal shelves each of which is divided by a plurality of vertical walls into separate compartments from which the product can be dispensed. These compartments can be brought into alignment with access doors associated with each level and the doors, which are normally maintained locked, can be opened upon the insertion of adequate currency in the machine to remove the product. The access door locking system prevents more than one door from being opened at one time. The drum is rotatable in either direction by a reversible motor. A viewing area is provided in the front of the machine which allows a prospective customer to see the product as it passes by. The drum is divided into sections with opaque walls which prevent viewing from the viewing area of more than half of the compartments on a shelf when the drum is in its rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: UniDynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard P. Falk, Paul K. Griner
  • Patent number: 4896792
    Abstract: An automatic dispensing device for products is provided, and includes a warehouse with a back guide, a front guide, and an intermediate movable guide so as to define product chutes arranged one behind the other. Each chute is adapted to hold a plurality of products, one stacked upon the other. An inclined ramp is provided at the lower end of the product chutes for receiving the products from the chutes. The movable guide is movable between lowered and raised positions to control which chute is in communication with the ramp so that products from only one chute are in communication with the ramp at a given time. A control element is provided on the ramp for automatically releasing one product at a time from the ramp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Inventor: Michel Marchand
  • Patent number: 4897019
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for taking containers out of a pile, comprising a magazine formed of a row of articulated parallelograms and, under this magazine, two superimposed rows of deformable parallelograms which are actuatable independently from each other to take the containers out of the pile and which can conform to any container shape or dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: E. P. Remy & Cie.
    Inventors: Didier Lemaire, Jean-Marc Dronet
  • Patent number: 4862578
    Abstract: A tube magazine component feeder is disclosed. The component feeder is reconfigurable to accommodate different tube magazine sizes and different component configurations. The component feeder includes a pair of upright masts for supporting loaded tube magazines in a stacked upright manner. The spatial separation of the two masts is adjustable to accommodate different tube magazine lengths. Other elements of the component feeder are adjustable or replaceable so as to quickly and easily adapt the device to a different tube magazine size or different component configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Inventor: Gregory W. Holcomb
  • Patent number: 4860922
    Abstract: The dispenser includes a bin which is adjustable for width, and a release mechanism attached to the bin externally of its outlet. The mechanism comprises a sliding shutter and a baffle, vertically disposed and breasted in mutual contact. The shutter is provided with a slot of adjustable height and moves vertically between a raised receiving position and a lowered knockout position at which the packet of coins is ejected from the slot. The baffle is urged against the shutter by the weight of the packets of coin emerging from the outlet of the bin and thus accompanies the shutter at least through part of its vertical travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Unimac s.n.c. di Nadalini Raffaele & C.
    Inventors: William Malservisi, Claudio Righetti, Raffaele Nadalini, Umberto Braga, Marino Romagnoli
  • Patent number: 4850511
    Abstract: A display rack for dispensing packaged items from a vertical stack of items contained within magazines which are interchangeably received and retained by columns within a housing. The leading item within each magazine may be withdrawn through the discharge opening of the housing and upon withdrawal, a next leading item will be placed in a position for withdrawal as a result of the positive gravity feed of the magazine. A guard is provided which covers the discharge opening of the housing thereby preventing access to the packaged items within the magazines. The display rack also includes a means for locking the guard in first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: M&M/Mars
    Inventors: Rudy Kral, Joseph Mason
  • Patent number: 4831696
    Abstract: Apparatus for loading components into a component insertion machine. The apparatus comprises structure releasably mounted on component magazine loading apparatus to retain components in component magazines received by and aligned in the component magazine loading apparatus. The structure is removable after installation of the component loading apparatus on the component insertion machine to enable components to be selected by the component insertion machine from the component magazines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignees: American Telephone and Telegraph Company, AT&T Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Elliott, Richard A. Greene, Robert P. Kennedy, Robert P. Poe, Jr., William H. Steece
  • Patent number: 4770588
    Abstract: A feeder for containers comprising a magazine having counter-positioned controls for positioning a pile of containers, and a trolley movable horizontally, relative to the pile, and with two sheets for engaging the lowermost container of the pile, and with components for separating the lowermost container from the pile and having various further components whereby it can accommodate containers of various sizes and shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Elettromeccanica Suzzarese
    Inventor: Gilberto Ripatonda
  • Patent number: 4757915
    Abstract: Dispensing shelves for cabinet-type vending machines having a plurality of different sized helical feeder coils all on the same level for advancing articles interposed between the convolutions of the coils to a delivery opening. The width of the troughs holding the coils is variable on the same shelf level and the placement of the helical feeder coil within a trough is variable. The shelf is of either a sheet metal or a molded, high-density plastic type material. Drive units for the helical coils are removably mounted for operation without fastening devices and are adjustably laterally mounted within a single trough. A unique shelf support rail unit maintains the shelf side panels of the vending machine against lateral movement and bending. Further, a unique door closure member maintains the shelves in their vending positions at all times when the door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: Fawn Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Henry J. Albright, Paul L. Hawkins, Randy E. Harwood
  • Patent number: 4720230
    Abstract: An automatic flexible diskette picker for selectively ejecting flexible diskettes, one-at-a-time, from a stack of such diskettes. The picker comprises a stationary deadplate upon which a hopper containing a plurality of stacked diskettes of a given size is disposed. A gate device is affixed to the deadplate at a forward edge thereof and the gate has an aperture pattern for allowig the exit of diskettes of differing width and height dimensions therethrough, one-at-a-time. A motor-driven picker plate is disposed on the deadplate and reciprocally movable toward and away from the gate. The picker plate has a plurality of stepped vertical pick surfaces formed therein for accommodating diskettes of differing sizes. Thus, the device may be used to unstack, at different times, hoppers filled with floppy disks of the different sizes presently commercially available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Information Exchange Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald R. Johnson, Dennis L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4690317
    Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held tag attacher for attaching tags to merchandise and the like. The attacher includes a hopper for holding a stack of tags to be attached, a tag feeder for feeding one tag at a time into alignment with a needle at an attaching position, mechanism for advancing the needle through the tag at the attaching position, a push rod for pushing a bar of a fastener through the needle, and means for feeding fasteners one-by-one to the needle, wherein the tag feeder, the needle advancing mechanism, the push rod and the fastener feeding means operate in sequence by one-hand operation by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul H. Hamisch, Jr., James A. Makley, Robert M. Pabodie, Larry D. Strausburg
  • Patent number: 4684309
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and procedure for processing tubular or cylindrical stock, particularly short lengths thereof, into precision formed end products includes a chute, preferably formed of a pair of parallel wall surfaces mounting opposed guide plates at least a portion of which are adjustable. The orientation of the chute and its cross section are made such that in the delivery thereof the longitudinal axis of the stock is maintained substantially parallel to the position in which such axis must be set for the working thereof. A transfer device cycled to and from the delivery end of the chute successively receives elements of the stock discharged therefrom and carries them to a work station without change of their orientation. Upon reaching said working station, said transfer device first holds the stock loosely against a complementary abutment surface, essentially in the attitude required for the working thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Vulcan Tool Company
    Inventors: Charles Horn, Rickey L. Kelly, Thomas E. Orendorf, Terry L. Kiger
  • Patent number: 4638988
    Abstract: A stack support tray 41 for use with a sheet feeder such as used in a document handler is described. It has a first fixed registration guide 52 and a second movable registration guide 53 which is movable towards and away from the first guide. The movable guide 53 comprises first and second resiliently interconnected parts 71, 72. The part 72 frictionally slides in a track 75 and the second part 71 is adjustable against the stack. By this arrangement the part 71 retracts to a limited extent when it is released after being pushed against the stack due to its resilient interconnection with the part 72, the position of which is controlled by its frictional engagement with the slide track 75.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Ian G. Kershaw
  • Patent number: 4636126
    Abstract: An electrical connector pickup station for long electrical connectors, comprises an escapement assembly for receiving connectors from a gravity feed magazine and which is mounted above a base plate so as to be inclined in a vertical plane. A connector locating assembly, also mounted on the base plate, is pivotable and translatable between a first inclined position in alignment with the escapement assembly to receive a connector therefrom, and a second horizontal position in which the connector can be picked up from the locating assembly by the jaws of a robot or pick-and-place machine. A device is provided for securing the connector in the locating assembly during its movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Spotts
  • Patent number: 4585218
    Abstract: Improvements result from using a feed roller always rotating at a constant surface speed to feed mail items successively with gaps between them from a stack to a franking machine without undue variations in the gap lengths when there are variations in the mail item lengths in respective stacks. A cam rocks a cradle about an input roller axis to bring a feed roller against the stack at a frequency to feed the items forward one by one. Gearing between rollers drives a two speed transmission to a cam via one way clutches. For envelopes shorter than a predetermined limit, the higher speed drive operates. When a rear mail guide member engages envelopes longer than the limit, a lever allows a pawl to disengage a wrap spring clutch disabling the higher speed drive and rendering the lower speed drive effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Roneo Alcatel Limited
    Inventors: Thomas D. Williams, Paul Usher
  • Patent number: 4580697
    Abstract: An improved cup drop ring including a plurality of cams having pivot axes disposed on the locus of a circle for concomitant rotation to release a cup, respective pinions on said cams and respective racks engaging said pinions pivotally supported on a drive ring with a mechanism for concomitantly moving said pivot axes radially to accommodate a different size cup while maintaining said racks in engagement with said pinions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Rowe International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Maulshagen, Andris C. Sloss
  • Patent number: 4509738
    Abstract: A universal paper feed cassette wherein the lift of a bottom plate adapted to be raised by a spring lift member provided on a paper feed base is regulated by a paper-pressure regulator slidable in the widthwise direction of the recording paper along the inner surface of the bottom plate and having a thickness varying in the widthwise direction thereof, so that an equal paper pressure can be obtained irrespective of the size of the recording paper. The thickness of the paper-pressure regulator varies in a stepped manner in the widthwise direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Aoki
  • Patent number: 4369896
    Abstract: This invention involves a vending machine having helix discharge units which are used to store and dispense packaged objects such as chip products, candy, mints, chewing gum, candy bars, cigarettes, cigars, etc. The unit preferably utilizes a rotatable helix dispensing spindle having a pivotally adjustable panel within the convolutions of the helix which can be moved from horizontal to vertical to change the size of the compartment to accommodate different size packages. The size of the compartment is determined by the position of the panel with the compartment being largest when the panel is vertical and smallest when it is horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Assignee: D.O.V.E. Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: William C. Boettcher
  • Patent number: 4363422
    Abstract: This invention involves a vending machine having helix discharge units. The units are used to store and dispense packaged objects such as chip products, candy, mints, chewing gum, candy bars, cigarettes, cigars, etc. The unit preferably utilizes a rotatable helix dispensing spindle having a central divider within the convolutions of the helix which divides the helix into separate side-by-side compartments and is expansible to vary the size of the compartments to accommodate different size packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1982
    Assignee: D.O.V.E. Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: William C. Boettcher
  • Patent number: 4355938
    Abstract: An automatic work piece changer for a milling machine and the like is described. In the work piece changer there is provided a work piece hopper (2) for storing a plurality of work pieces to be movable, a carriage assembly (3) for removing work pieces from the hopper (2) to a work station where they are machined, a clamping assembly (6) for holding each of the work pieces in the work station so as to prevent their movement during the machining thereof and an ejecting assembly (60) for ejecting machined work pieces from the changer after they are machined. Operation of the work piece changer is controlled by signals received from the milling machine in a conventional manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1982
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Page
  • Patent number: 4323168
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for dispensing trays one at a time from the bottom of a nested stack of flanged flexible trays are disclosed. The bottommost tray rests on two supports, thereby supporting the stack, and a rotating barb or the like compresses the bottommost tray lengthwise so that it can pass between the supports and fall free of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1982
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Kevin M. Callahan
  • Patent number: 4312460
    Abstract: This invention involves a vending machine having helix discharge units in which the rearmost convolution of the helix is retained by a clip and held off the floor of the unit to reduce friction and prevent excessive side-to-side movement of the rear of the helix. The units are used to store and dispense packaged objects such as chip products, candy, mints, chewing gum, candy bars, cigarettes, cigars, etc. The unit preferably utilizes a rotatable helix dispensing spindle having a central divider within the convolutions of the helix which can be adjusted by rotation from horizontal to vertical and which divides the helix into separate side-by-side compartments which can be varied in any size to accommodate different size packages. The size of the compartments is determined by the position of the center divider, the two compartments being largest when the divider is vertical and smallest when it is horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Assignee: D.O.V.E. Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: William C. Boettcher
  • Patent number: 4260311
    Abstract: The basic structure of the tray of the invention is specially designed to be produced in a high speed hot polystyrene foam press (such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,830,611) and the invention matches the production rate of this basic tray structure by a method and apparatus which denests the press product to effect its conversion in a horizontal serial fed chain conveyor operation, to absorbent pad lined trays, this operation automatically concluding with recompacting the finished product in a horizontal column delivered onto a counter for manual packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventor: Mark J. Hanses
  • Patent number: 4254892
    Abstract: A low cost apparatus adapted to permit shelf type vending machines adapted to sell small items such as candy bars to be modified so that larger items such as cakes and pies can be sold therefrom. The apparatus comprises a panel which fits onto a shelf of the machine so as to widen it to accomodate such larger items. Ease of assembly is assured by having the panel engage the shelf with a pair of runners which engage the sides of said shelf and hold it in place with a friction fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1981
    Inventor: Stuart A. Lee
  • Patent number: 4253585
    Abstract: Two or four lead DIP components are stored in a generally vertical, adjustable chute for gravity feed during lateral removal of a single component by a coacting shuttle tooling clamp arm from the bottom of the supply. Individual component removal is facilitated by a spring biased plunger for blocking removal of the bottom-most component until the coacting clamp arm raises the plunger against the action of the spring biasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1981
    Assignee: Universal Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Janisiewicz, Robert H. Holmes