Abstract: A staple feed system utilizing an inclined staple feed ramp for axial loading of staples into a staple gun under the influence of gravity. The inclined feed ramp includes an inclined upper linear portion, an upwardly curving arcuate central portion, and a horizontal lower portion permitting the continuous feed of staples beneath the actuation mechanism of the staple gun while the staple gun is disposed in a generally horizontal position. The angulated feed system may be utilized with staple racks comprising multiple staples adhered one to the other. The arcuate ramp is sized to permit the smooth movement of staples thereon, allowing the transfer of gravitational force to the staples contiguous the actuation mechanism for the uninterrupted feeding of staples thereto.

Abstract: A dispenser for receiving and dispensing oral solid drugs from prior art a blister pack singulates and dispenses oral solid drugs. The dispenser for the blister pack includes a cylindrical cage defining at least one recess for keying to one or more of the blisters of the blister pack, the cage having a sufficient cylindrical dimension to permit the blister pack to be wrapped around the cage in a cylindrical disposition. A cylindrical dispenser container having a cylindrical inside dimension sufficient to receive the outside cylindrical diameter of the blister pack as disposed over the cage receives the cage and wrapped blister pack. This cylindrical container defines through the cylindrical side wall a dispensing window having a dimension sufficient to permit an oral solid drug dispensed from the blister pack to pass through the dispensing window. A rotational rachet successively registers to the dispensing window discrete blisters from the blister pack.

Abstract: An adhesive bandage dispensing system includes an elongated strand of individually sterile-wrapped adhesive bandages and a reusable dispenser for storing and dispensing the bandages. Each bandage is contained in a separate sterile compartment of an otherwise continuous wrapping material. Perforations formed in the wrapping material around each compartment allow the compartments to be individually opened. The strand is loaded into the dispenser, which is secured to a stable surface, so that the leading edge of the strand is frictionally held in biased guide flanges and protrudes from a dispensing opening defined by the flanges. The leading edge of the strand is pulled from the dispensing opening until an entire bandage is exposed, then the strand is pulled sharply to completely break the perforation, and the bandage can then be removed from the excess wrapping and prepared to be applied to a wound using both hands, if necessary.

Abstract: A dual pawl, feed mechanism for feeding a strip of fasteners into an installation apparatus. The mechanism includes first and second pawls which are connected together and reciprocate in horizontal synchronism. The dual pawls enable a second strip of fasteners to be loaded into a chute before the first strip of fasteners is exhausted. This permits uninterrupted operation of the fastener installation apparatus irrespective of the transition between strips of fasteners. The dual feed pawl mechanism also prevents a partial feed condition from taking place.

Abstract: Chip-type electronic elements are applied in line on the surface of a carrier tape before they are supplied to an automatic electronic-element supply apparatus so as to be automatically mounted on a printed circuit board. Side plates are disposed at an end portion of the body frame of the automatic electronic element supply apparatus for a chip-type electronic element mounting apparatus in such a manner that a plurality of carrier tape reels can be fastened to the side plates and the carrier tapes are discharged from the tape reels in a ratchet manner while moving adjacently in parallel to one another through another end portion of the body frame. Thus, a multiplicity of different kinds of electronic elements can be supplied from one supply apparatus.

Abstract: An assembling apparatus includes a space-saving parts cassette serving as a parts supply member provided in a parts supply section. A parts accommodating member comprises an injection-molded connecting member and a package. The parts accommodating member is capable of holding not only parts of a simple configuration, but also parts of a complicated configuration, with a high accuracy, whereby the parts cassette can be repeatedly used.

Abstract: A detaping machine is provided for removing parts from a reel of sealed pocket tape, with minimum handling of such parts. The machine has a spindle on which the sealed pocket tape is mounted. The pocket tape includes a carrier tape portion and a cover tape portion. The carrier tape is fed into the detaping machine in an inverted position; and it is guided on an upper track of the machine. The cover tape is wound on a take-up reel located beneath the upper track. As the cover tape is wound, the carrier tape is driven on the upper track between guide flanges. An aperture is located in the upper track, and it is sized to permit devices, located in the inverted pockets of the carrier tape, to drop through to a second guide track located beneath the aperture. The devices in the second guide track then may be repackaged in carrier tubes or the like, without damaging the leads and without manual handling.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically taping electronic components arranged such that when a timing belt retaining lead terminals of electronic components in its retainer grooves is engaged with a toothed pulley of a first rotary drum, the lead terminals are lifted to be transferred from the timing belt to the first rotary drum. The electronic components are transferred from the first drum to a third rotary drum via a second rotary drum being retained by their retainer teeth. A base tape is fed to the periphery of the third rotary drum and an adhesive tape is applied on the base tape, thereby fixing the lead terminals.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for inhibiting removal of a first article from a first blister-type container having at least one blister. The device includes a first member or second blister-type container positioned facing the first blister-type container with at least one opening in the second container in registry with the blister when the second container is in the first position. The first container likewise may include an opening in registry with a second blister of the second container when the second container is in the first position. The openings in the first and second containers are sized to permit passage of the respective articles therethrough. When the second container is in the second position, the second container is positioned to inhibit removal of a first article from the first container and the first container is positioned to inhibit removal of a second article from the second container.

Abstract: A system for dispensing medication includes a dispensing device unto which a prepackaged cassette can be releasably installed. The cassette contains medication that has been prepackaged in individual pockets along a strip. The strip is wound between a supply reel and a take up reel within the cassette. A control mechanism associated with the dispensing device advances the strip within the cassette by winding the strip onto the take up reel, while unwinding the strip from the supply reel, and while moving a dispensing mechanism also associated with the device into contact with the strip for opening a medication pocket to expel the medication from the strip and out of the cassette.

Abstract: Preferably, instant-winner lottery tickets are sold by the machine. The machine includes a bill acceptor to receive the money of the purchaser. It has from one to four windows in a front panel. Lottery tickets are displayed in the window and move past the window as they are being dispensed, thus allowing the buyer to see the messages and terms on the tickets themselves. When more than one window is provided in the machine, the buyer can select among a plurality of different instant-winner lottery games. The machine is connected electrically to a central computer for accounting and control functions. In another embodiment, representations of the tickets are displayed in a movable array on a video screen.

Abstract: A dispenser for plurality of finger bandages comprising: (a) a release liner treated base sheet; (b) a plurality of individual wound dressings each comprising: (i) a backing; (ii) an adhesive layer on one surface thereof; (iii) a pad adapted for covering a wound disposed on the adhesive surface between opposed ends of the backing; (iv) a release liner covering one exposed adhesive surface and the pad, the other exposed adhesive surface is releasably attached to the release liner treated base sheets.

Abstract: A pill strip dispenser (4) is used with a pill strip (6) having a series of pill-containing packets (8) so the pills (10) can be dispensed individually. The dispenser includes a housing (14) defining a supply region (18) within which the pill strip is housed. The pill strip extends from the supply region along a dispensing path within the housing to a discharge position (12) next to but external of the housing. The packets are dispensed one at a time by a manually actuated drive assembly (46) including a user operated plunger (80). The pill strip is captured between a pair of toothed drive wheels (48), positioned at each lateral edge (36, 38) of the pill strip, and overlying resilient rollers (50). The tooth drive wheels not only drive the pill strip, but also perforate the pill strip packets so that the contents of the dispensed packet can be easily accessed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a cover-tape peeling apparatus for a tape feeder for peeling a cover tape released from a tape having a number of chip-like electronic parts sealed therein in a substantially equally spaced relation to wind and receive it into a reel. The apparatus comprises a first arm rotatably supported on a first shaft stood upright on a base of the tape feeder and having a ratchet meshed with a gear tooth formed in the outer peripheral portion of the peeling reel, a second arm having a cam portion in engagement with a cam portion provided on the first arm and rotatably supported on a second shaft, an arm push-down member in contact with the second arm to push down and rotate the second arm, and an urging body extended between both the arms and for rotating the first arm in response to the rotation of the second arm rotated by the arm push-down member so that the peeling reel is rotated through the ratchet.

Abstract: A blister pack (10) comprises a support sheet (12) having a plurality of pockets (14) each of which retains a tablet (25) so that it rests on an edge (24) with its opposing edge (24) adjacent to a frangible cover sheet (20) which closes the pockets. The pockets comprise a support portion (22) which retains the tablets on their edge, and a guide portion (26) for facilitating loading of the tablets (25) into the support portion (22). The blister pack (10) can be mounted on a plate (50) for relative movement therewith, and a tablet (25) ejected from a pocket (14) by pushing the tablet (25) through the frangible cover sheet (20) and then through a dispensing window (67) in the plate (50).

Abstract: A dispensing device for medication that has been prepackaged in individual pockets along a strip includes a first holder for securing one end of the strip and a second holder for securing the opposite end of the strip. A drive mechanism advances the strip along a predetermined path leading from the first holder, through a dispensing mechanism and to the second holder. The dispensing mechanism has a first assembly that moves into contact with the strip and opens a medication pocket. A second assembly presses against the strip as it is further advanced to expel the medication from the opened pocket.

Abstract: A dispenser for a continuous strip of articles has two grippers with cantilevered gripping arms, one gripper positioned at each side of the strip. One of the grippers grips the end article in the continuous strip of articles and moves the end article downstream to a dispensing station through the open arms of the other gripper which moves upstream to a gripping position whereas it grips the article adjacent the end article. A cutter severs the article at the dispensing station from the continuous strip and the downstream gripper opens to dispense the article. The upstream gripper now grips the end article and may move downstream through the open gripping arms of the other gripper for dispensing this next article and this process may be repeated.

Abstract: A dispenser for delivering an uncovered first aid bandage into a readily accessible outlet chute from a strip of bandage packages where each bandage is covered by a layer of paper on each side thereof prior to being dispensed. The dispenser has a spool for holding a supply roll of bandage packages, and two opposed press rollers receive and advance the strip therebetween. Two stripping rollers remove a cover strip of paper from each side of the package and deliver the strips to waste disposal and free the bandage. A ratchet on one of the press rollers is driven by a manually operated lever to rotate that roller, and a motion transmitting driving connection causes both press rollers to be turned equally in opposite directions.

Abstract: A container for carrying a uniform, fan-folded stack of plastic sheet assemblies and for allowing the assemblies to be conveniently dispensed, one at a time, with minimal risk that the stack will become jammed. The stack of assemblies is retained behind a constriction within an elongated chamber having a corresponding shape and slightly larger size. Pulling the forward-most assembly through a narrow channel and exit slot at the forward end of the container flexes a trailing assembly past the constriction, while the remaining assemblies remain retained behind the constriction. In addition, a shallow recess in a wall defining the narrow channel conformingly receives a plastic sheet assembly in position to be dispensed, with the recess' rear periphery inhibiting the assembly from being moved unintentionally back into the chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing medication units from a card dispenser comprising a card on which medication units are secured in pockets formed in a flexible sheet material disposed in the card and sealed by a rupturable covering element thereof, has a base member upon which the card dispenser is supported. The base member has a body portion with a series of elongated channels in its upper surface defined by parallel extending ribs. A roller with a handle is rotatably rolled along the upper surface of the card dispenser while bridging the channels to press downwardly the medication units and cause the rupturable covering element to be severed and the medication units to drop into the channels.

Abstract: A feeder mechanism for a pick-and-place machine with an adjustable shutter mechanism is disclosed. The components are contained within pockets formed in a reeled tape. The shutter mechanism includes a pair of spring blades that cover the pocket, but are spread apart by the vacuum tip when the spindle is lowered. In this way, the shutter can maintain the component in the proper position for pick-up while allowing the vacuum spindle to access the component, which, in turn, maintains proper attitude of component while the blades are retracted.

Abstract: A work station is disclosed for dispensing electrical components (12) from a tape carrier (10) having a plurality of spaced component-containing cavities (14). During the dispensing operation, one side wall (18') of the cavity is opened by slitting the tape carrier with a dual-blade knife structure (46), such that a component-ejecting shuttle mechanism (40) can pass through an opening (50) in the cavity and guide the component into a fixture (52). The knife structure includes two knife blades (102, 104) arranged such that a V-shaped notch (100) is formed by two inwardly-facing single-bevel knife edges (112, 114). The improved knife structure positions and slits the tape carrier at the notch without causing the tape to buckle or tear.

Abstract: A tablet dispenser is described for dispensing tablets from individual packets into a small reaction chamber without contamination. The dispenser has a top shaft, and a thumb piece in which a cutting blade is engaged, the thumb piece being slidably mounted on the shaft. There is also provided a plate having a hole adapted to allow the blade to pass therethrough, the plate being connected to the top shaft by a support member, and a bottom shaft extending underneath the hole and in line with the cutting blade and top shaft. The bottom shaft is connected to the plate. Also provided is a clip for holding a package containing a tablet on top of the plate so that the package can be positioned to align the tablet over the hole and in the non-cutting path of the blade. When the thumb piece is depressed the tablet is released from the package and falls down the bottom shaft and into a reaction vessel placed below the bottom shaft.

Abstract: An adhesive bandage dispensing device is provided which facilitates efficient and quick access to an adhesive bandage. The device has a base, a spool holder, a removal platform having a slicer and cutter and an adhesive bandage carrier spool mounted to the device by the spool holder. A continuous strip of adhesive bandages is mounted on the spool. The strip consists of separate adhesive bandages wrapped in a protective coating. The action of pulling the strip away from the spool over the platform causes a portion of the protective covering of strip to be sliced by the slicer. This will expose a bandage which then can be lifted off the remaining portion of the protective coating for use. After this, the cutter is used to separate the bandageless strip from the device for subsequent disposal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for opening defective blister packages to recover their contained product that include shifting an inverted blister package against a stationary knife to partly sever its blisters and then camming the partly severed blisters open to discharge the product.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the dispensing of drugs to a patient is disclosed. This device includes a detector which determines the actual physical delivery of the drug dosage to the patient. This eliminates ambiguities associated with devices in the art which only monitor inferentially the dispensing of the drug dosage to the patient. The detector can include an optical sensor which notes the physical passage of the drug dosage through a dispensing port to the patient.

Abstract: A medicine cart is set forth and a means and method of dispensing medicines including narcotics on nurse rounds is disclosed. The cart includes a CPU with memory and various input devices. The cart has a locked section to secure narcotics. As nurse rounds are made, individual doses of narcotics and medicines or both are dispensed. At the end of the medication round, hard copies reflecting individual patient medications are printed, and beginning and ending narcotics inventories for the cart are also compiled. Chart entries for patients are likewise printed.

Abstract: A supplementary device for driving screws by means of a power-driven screw driver having a driver blade or the like and the device comprising a holding member extending parallel to the driver blade, variable in its length and having a lateral extension, and a magazine disc releasably attached to and rotatably supported upon the lateral extension, the magazine disc being adapted to receive a plurality of screws arranged upon a circular locus, the axis of the driver blade substantially extending through a point of the circular locus and the screws being supported upon the disc such that they can be removed from the disc by means of axial pressure applied thereto by means of the driver blade.

Abstract: A parts feed apparatus comprising a tape feeder which intermittently feeds a tape to a predetermined parts pickup position. A cover tape seals electronic parts at substantially equal intervals along a base tape. The apparatus includes a tape separator which separates the cover tape from the base tape and a parts pickup element which is positioned to block the parts from leaving the parts pickup position as the cover tape is being separated from the base tape. Thus, even when the electronic parts stick to the cover tape during removal, the parts pickup element blocks them from leaving the parts pickup position. The parts pickup element is then used to pick up the electronic parts from the parts pickup position. The tape feeder preferably provides slack to the cover tape before the cover tape is separated.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a series of different pills over a prescribed period. The dispenser is provided with an indicator that is adjustable to preset the start of the pill regimen on whatever day desired. The pill package and dispenser are constructed and arranged so that after the indicator has been preset the pill package can be fixedly positioned in the dispenser with the first pill of the regimen in position to be taken by the user on the first preselected day.

Abstract: A soap leaf packet for individually dispensing packets from a stack thereof contained within a housing, includes a wrapper having a plurality of flaps foldable about a soap leaf and which are seguentially dispensable from the bottom of the stack. The wrapper is provided with a tab having two segments with one serving as a depending pull tab which, when activated, elevates one wrapper flap, thus pushing up an overlying wrapper flap, so that continued pulling on the tab opens up one flap and urges the other flap to engage the pull tab of the next-above packet, to insure its projection through a bottom opening in the housing and to cause the opening of the other flap. In this manner the contained soap leaf is automatically readied for grasping by the user.

Abstract: A device for the removal of objects from blister packs, such device having a track member with a plurality of channels defined therein aligned with the columns of blisters of the blister pack to receive such blisters therein and a blade member disposed in a plane parallel to the surface of the track member and perpendicular to the plane along the length of the channels with a serrated roller to drive the blister pack against the blade member to slice off the blisters above the objects but below the planar back member of the blister pack.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for dispensing rubber gloves in an aseptic condition for insertion of the hands of a user. The gloves to be dispensed are contained within a chamber in a suitable housing provided with hand holes for a user. The gloves are attached to a continuous web of material provided with an aperture at each glove attachment for insertion of a hand of the user. Each glove is covered by a packaging film that is lightly perforated at each glove. The gloves are fed intermittently into registry with the hand holes in the housing. The user activates a vacuum pressure which is in fluid communication with the hand holes causing the gloves to expand and rupture through the film of packaging material. The user inserts his hands, deactivates the vacuum pressure, thrusts his hands further into the housing to detach a temporary retention of the gloves and removes his hands from the housing with the gloves aseptically applied.

Abstract: A packaging device for storing, dispensing and collecting a plurality of blood collection units. The packaging device includes a rectangularly shaped container, a first opening for dispensing unused blood collection units and a second opening for receiving the blood collection units after use. The device includes a slidable tape positioned on the upper surface of the container which is in the form of a continuous band mounted on the container. The unused blood collection units are attached to the slidable tape within the container and movement of the slidable tape with respect to the container advances the unused blood collection units into the first opening so that they are then removed from the slidable tape. A bag being initially folded and disposed within the portion of the container for holding the unused blood collection units, the ends of the bag having an open end attached to the container in alignment with a second opening for receiving and holding used blood collection units.

Abstract: A plurality of samples of a cosmetic product, such as nail enamel, lipstick, powder or cream makeup, fragrance, and the like, each comprising a quantity suitable for one sample dose, are provided on a sheet or continuous strip of material. The strip is provided with perforations between adjacent dose units to permit a prospective customer to tear off one or several samples at a time from the strip. The sheet or strip can be provided on a reel for convenient and compact disposition at the point of purchase.

Abstract: A top cover is peeled from a component supply tape by passing the cover around a guide surface and in a peeling direction generally reverse to the feeding direction of the supply tape while moving the guide surface in the peeling direction in order to minimize the tension necessary to accomplish the peeling.

Abstract: A component supply tape is stepped to present each pocket at a component pick-up area, and a top cover of the tape is peeled back so that each pocket is opened in turn. A shutter is positioned over the pick-up area prior to tape movement so that the pocket is covered by the shutter as the top cover is peeled from the substrate. After each indexing step, the shutter is actuated to uncover the opened pocket which is situated at the pick-up area for retrieval by the vacuum nozzle of a pick-and-place head. By the improved method and apparatus of the instant invention, the pick and place head is provided with a finger for opening the shutter of the feeder while the vacuum nozzle is advanced along a normal to the pick-up surface of the component, so as to minimize the period of time that the component is uncovered.

Abstract: A dispenser is disclosed for dispensing strips which contain medicine and can be divided into individual sections as they are dispensed. The dispenser includes a housing having a storage space for strips and a discharge passageway through which strips are dispensed. A ramp interconnects the storage space and passageway. A feed wheel having a peripheral gear feeds strips along the ramp. The feed wheel is actuated by a member operable from outside the housing. The actuating member shifts a drive pawl which engages the peripheral gear on the feed wheel. A cap is secured over the dispensing end of the housing and is held in place by a snap connection.

Abstract: A tablet container having a cover and sliding tray is used for dispensing birth control tablets for either a twenty-one-day or twenty-eight-day cycle. Normally, the tray does not slide completely out of the cover and is stabilized with respect thereto when open. The case resembles a cosmetic compact and is reuseable in that once birth control tablets contained in a blister pack are used up, a new blister pack may easily be inserted.

Abstract: A lotion applicator system is described for applying lotions, oils and the like to various parts of the human body. The system includes a container and a continuous lotion-carrying strip therein. The free end of the strip is accessible through an aperture in the container. Separable, disposable portions of the strip can be removed from the container and used to apply lotion to various parts of the human body. Optional clips or holders may be used to grasp and hold the ends of the strip portion being used.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, the supply tape is stepped to present each pocket at a pick-up area for removal of a component. Each pocket is opened in turn during the indexing step that positions it at the pick-up area, and a shutter is moved over the pick-up area prior to tape movement so that the pocket is covered by a shutter during the tape movement and peeling of the cover from the substrate. After each indexing step, the shutter is moved away from the pick-up area in order to provide access to the component in the opened pocket.

Abstract: A dispenser containing a plurality of packaged rolls of bandage strips includes a case having upper section and a lower section which accommodates packaged rolls of bandage strips. The case has at least one slot for dispensing bandage strips and the bottom side of the case has a flat area which can be adhered to a flat support. Each packaged roll of bandage strips includes a series of bandage strips disposed in end-to-end relation with packaging material surrounding the bandage strips, transverse seals for maintaining strips sterilely separate from each other, lines of weakness in the packaging material, each located forward of a respective seal for aiding the separation of the packaging material and a corresponding bandage strip from the remainder of the roll while maintaining the bandage strips in the remainder of the roll in a sealed sterile condition.

Abstract: A dosage sealing, monitoring and dispensing assembly including a mounting receptacle and one or more cartridges removably connected to the receptacle. Each cartridge has sealed therewithin a fresh, supply of dosage units (e.g. medicine or vitamins) carried in moisture impervious shells on a flexible, segmented strip. The strip contains a predetermined number of dosage units to be consumed by the user over a particular duration. Each cartridge also has mechanical linkage by which a dosage unit can be automatically removed from its shell on the strip and delivered to the user by way of a trough formed in the mounting receptacle. When the supply of dosage units within a cartridge is exhausted, that cartridge may be conveniently removed from the mounting receptacle and replaced by another cartridge having a new supply of the same or different ingredients.

Abstract: A package for connectors and an apparatus for dispensing them. The package comprises an elongated tape or pair of tapes and a plurality of an elongated connector containing tubes secured to and extending across the tape or tapes. The apparatus comprises a stand having upper and lower support members, a slide extending downwardly from the lower support member to a perch, and a stepping device for advancing successive tubes along the support members to the slide. Connectors are removed from the tubes descend the slide and are picked up from the perch by a robot and installed in a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A package for oral contraceptives that has the outward appearance of a hair brush. A first compartment serves as a pill storage compartment; it retains a three week supply of pills of the type that are individually packaged under a flexible bubble and collectively mounted on a frangible support surface. The floor of the first compartment is apertured and each aperture is pill-sized and positioned in registration with a pill under a bubble. A closure member such as a hinged lid masks the presence of the pill-storage compartment, but when the lid is open and a bubble is pressed against, the frangible support surface for the pill breaks and allows the pill to fall into a second compartment with an imperforate bottom. The second compartment is enclosed on three sides but open on a fourth so that a pill driven through its frangible support surface may be retrieved from such second compartment by tilting the brush.

Abstract: A tablet dispenser for dispensing a series of different pills over a prescribed period. The dispenser is provided with a daily indicator that can be present to begin the regimen on whatever day is selected. The tablet package when used up can be readily replaced with a new package and the indicator reset as desired.

Abstract: A device for feeding electronic components packed in tape to a pick-up position, comprising a housing with a holder or a supply reel, a feeding and locking mechanism, an ejection mechanism, and a wind-up mechanism, which mechanisms are united with the housing into a cassette unit.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a series of different pills over a prescribed period. In all embodiments, the pill package disposed in the dispenser is locked in place and cannot be removed therefrom. In one embodiment, the daily indicator employed for designating the period the particular pills are to be taken can be preset to start the regimen on any day selected by the user. Also, after the first pill has been taken and the tray containing the pill package has been moved to dispense a second pill the indicator cannot be repositioned.

Abstract: A system for scanning and dispensing postage stamps from a roll of stamps, including a scanning circuit for optically scanning each individual stamp on a stamp roll as the stamp passes thereby in order to detect the degree of opacity of such stamp and to produce a scanning output signal representative of the degree of opacity, an examination circuit including a first circuit portion operable to determine if an individual stamp boundary has been encountered and to produce a boundary detection signal in such event, and a second circuit portion responsive to such scanning output signal to determine if the degree of opacity detected identifies a non-blank stamp and to produce a non-blank status detection signal in such event, and a dispensing control circuit responsive to an externally generated dispense request signal and to the production of one or more boundary detection signals and non-blank status detection signals to control the operation of stamp movement and detaching devices.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved for dispensing solid members, such as electrical connectors, having extended rigid projections inserted in a penetrable flexible substrate sheet material. The apparatus for dispensing the solid members includes a rotatable drum having a solid surface. The sheet material containing the solid members is pulled across the drum surface by a frictional drive roller, thereby pulling the sheet material radially inwardly past the solid projections, creating a gap between the solid members and the sheet material. Wedge-like finger members are inserted in the gap, to complete removal of solid projections from the sheet material, thereby releasing the solid members for slideable movement along the finger members to a remote work station.