Abstract: The invention pertains to a tablet dispenser for distributing tablets in individual portions. The tablet dispenser described in the invention comprises a prismatic enclosure (29), the bottom face (22) of which presents an aperture (21) offset relative to a front face (36), the top face of which is open in its whole cross-section, and the side faces (34, 35) of which have a recess (29) on top. The described dispenser also comprises an internal component (10) with limited displacement, nested into the enclosure (10) by the open top (30) and featuring a tablet feed chamber (12), preferably prismatic, the bottom of which comprises a substantially vertical (13) tablet supply duct extending through the bottom aperture (21) provided in the enclosure (20), as well as a spring (14) resting upon the bottom face (22) of the enclosure and a blade (23) to limit the stroke.

Abstract: A pill dispenser to dispense a pill received from a pill container engaged therebelow. The pill dispenser comprises a cavity, said cavity having an exposed end and shaped to form a conical surface therein. The conical shape of the dispenser cavity, advantageously, allows pills to be engaged therein and dispensed therefrom, one at time, regardless of the shape and size of the pills. Optionally, the pill dispenser is disposed within a cap or closure member, mountable to common containers available at most retail outlets. Further optionally, the pill dispenser is disposed within the container itself.

Abstract: A candy dispenser includes a container defining a chamber adapted to hold a plurality of pieces of candy in a random fashion. The container has sides, a top, and a bottom which define the chamber. A dispensing tube extends along one side of the container. An opening in the container places the chamber in communication with the dispensing tube. The opening is sized to admit a piece of candy from the chamber to the dispensing tube. A leaf spring is mounted to the bottom of the container. The spring has a spring arm which closes the bottom of the dispensing tube and an upwardly extending finger on the spring arm which is received in the dispensing tube. A plunger associated with the dispenser moves the leaf spring from a relaxed state in which the spring finger is in the dispensing tube and closes the opening to a primed state in which the spring arm is urged away from the dispensing tube a distance sufficient for the spring finger to clear the opening to allow a piece of candy to enter the dispensing tube.

Abstract: A plug-dropping head in which the objects to be dropped are placed in individual discrete passages. A motor-driven or hand-operated rotating member orients an entrance to a passage going through it to, in series, individual passages in the housing for sequential dropping of objects downhole. A relief port is provided so that as the rotating outlet member moves from one passage in the housing to the next, the relief passage allows continuing flow delivered by the surface pump.

Abstract: A bulk vending machine having: a housing having a storage bin to store items; a dispensing mechanism attached to the storage bin to dispense the items, the dispensing mechanism having an opening; a flexible member secured to the dispensing mechanism to assist in ejecting the items through the opening; and a cover disposed around the flexible member to prevent the items from being damaged or breaking open.

Abstract: A tablet dispenser having a housing with a cover and base part that can be placed therein, and having an axially movable sliding part that is set through the housing, which dispenses one individual tablet respectively from a heap of tablets upon actuation by finger pressure on a button. The opening of a seal is avoided, and, after the removal of the individual tablet, the dispenser can be hermetically closed again without difficulty and without the contamination of further tablets. Specifically, this is achieved in that the sliding part has in the upper region an actuating bar connected to the cover, and in that the cover acts as a resilient resetting element, and in that the sliding part comprises in the lower region an allocating element, pushable through rotationally selectable openable passage in the base part and so as to be able to receive one tablet respectively, and in that the base part comprises a rotating seal.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus is disclosed which includes a support assembly for defining at least one dispensing location. A storage container is secured to the support assembly for holding a plurality of stackable objects. These stackable objects may include shims, washers, gaskets and seals. An escapement is operably associated with the support assembly. The escapement is operable for moving between a first position and a second position for transporting at least one of the stackable objects from the storage container to an external access location. The escapement may also be designed to be easily operated by a robot or robot actuated apparatus.

Abstract: A tablet feeder includes a mechanism for preventing tablets from being discharged from any pocket formed in the outer periphery of a rotor mounted on a tablet storage case when the case is fitted on or removed from a support. The tablet feeder includes the tablet storage case and the support. The rotor is rotatably mounted on an inner bottom of the case. A plurality of pockets are formed in the outer periphery of the rotor at predetermined intervals. The rotor is rotated by a motor through a gear. A resilient engaging member having a toothed tip is mounted on the inner bottom of the case. The resilient engaging member carries a disengaging arm. When the case is dismounted from the support, the toothed tip engages a gear provided at the bottom end of the rotor, preventing the rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A container for dispensing tablets in which the dispensing opening and/or a dispensing passage upstream of the dispensing opening is constricted such that a tablet is releasably retained with part of the tablet projecting outside of the dispensing opening. The part of the rim of the dispensing opening or an adjacent part of the container is movable relative to the rest of the container so as to facilitate the release of the retained tablet from the container.

Abstract: A medication filling apparatus is equipped with a tablet case for holding medications and a dispensing drum which lets the medications fall through an outlet from the tablet case as it rotates, thereby dispensing the medications; it is further equipped with a plurality of grooves into which the medications from the tablet case are fed and which let the medications fall therefrom when they are aligned with the outlet; and a separating member which is provided in such a manner that it juts out into or over the groove aligned with the outlet. The separating member is composed of a material which has predetermined lateral and longitudinal dimensions and also certain flexibility; the separating member is capable of securely retaining a medication thereon. Furthermore, since the separating member has certain flexibility, it does not scratch medications even if the medications bump against it, and it also prevents a dispensing failure caused by the medications being caught.

Abstract: A portable gumball dispenser has a reservoir mounted atop a pedestal formed of a nested assembly of concentric tubular members and a base. When offset apertures in top walls of the tubular members are in register with each other and with an opening in the bottom of the reservoir to permit a single gumball to drop into a dispensing chamber within the pedestal, apertures in the side walls are out of register to retain the gumball. Rotation of the tubular members to register the side wall apertures rotates the top wall apertures out of register to block any further gumballs dropping from the reservoir. A directional channel in the base facilitates a gumball rolling out when the side wall apertures in register. A cooperating annular ridge on the outside of the inner tubular member and an annular groove on the outer tubular member retain the tubular members in nested assembly.

Abstract: A chip component feeder is provided which includes a chip component storage box, a pick-up slider, a first feeding unit, and a second feeding unit. The pick-up slider slides to enter an outlet of the chip component storage box for picking up chip components and leads them to a feeding path formed in the first feeding unit communicating with the second feeding unit. The feeding path of the first feeding unit has a rectangular cross section suitable for the chip components of rectangular shape as well as square or circular shape.

Abstract: A mechanical seed meter having a stationary housing and a rotatable bowl. The stationary housing is provided with an axial inner wall, a radial outer wall and a flexible radial inner wall. The bowl is provided with seed receiving cells that form an axial outer wall for trapping singled seeds in the seed trapping area. A flexible and resilient insert together with an axially extending brush removes excess seeds from the seed receiving cells as they pass through the seed puddle before entering the seed trapping area. The seed slides along the radial outer wall by centrifugal force until it enters the outlet area from which the radial outer wall becomes part of the outlet and the metered seed is deposited through the outlet to a seed tube.

Abstract: A transportable, hand-held motorized dispenser having an amusement characteristic includes a disc-shaped housing of a top shell and a bottom shell and a motor driven turntable mounted for unidirectional rotation therein. The housing defines a recess for receiving compartments defined by the turntable for transporting objects supplied to the turntable through an entry slot and for dispensing the objects through a dispensing slot in the wall of the housing, one at a time.

Abstract: The unattended machine has a hopper for holding an inventory of uniformly-sized, individual, frozen or refrigerated portions of food and for maintaining the inventory in a frozen or refrigerated condition. Insertion into the machine of a genuine dollar bill is verified by an electro-optical mechanism which signals control and monitor circuitry to initiate food preparation by causing a microwave oven below the hopper to open and rotate into a food-receiving position below a dispenser, located below the hopper, which then dispenses an individual portion of food into the oven by gravity. The oven then rotates to a horizontal cooking position and closes its door, where the portion is heated by microwave energy for a pre-determined length of time. Upon completion of heating, the oven door is opened and the oven tilted downward and the heated portion of food is dispensed by gravity through an opening or port in the machine.

Abstract: Distributor of the type comprising ball storing means and an articulated arm supplying a ball to the striking area. According to the invention, the ball storage means consists of a prismatic housing including, adjacent to each of its ends, supporting devices causing the bottom thereof to slope downwards in the direction of its open downstream end, which delimits an outlet for the passage of only one ball, its arm being articulated about a pivot pin in the housing. The distributor comprises a longitudinal chute, the upstream end being longitudinally closed, but having an opening for the distribution of a ball, while the upstream end is configured in the shape of a scoop for seizing a ball. Spring return means are placed between the housing and the arm to bring said arm into a substantially vertical position, once a ball is released.

Abstract: The replenishing device for use in a light-sensitive material processing apparatus provided with a processing tank for storing a processing solution therein by which a light-sensitive material is processed, includes a first detector to detect an amount of light-sensitive material processed in the processing tank, and to output a detection signal when the amount has reached a predetermined value; a replenisher to replenish the processing agent from a solid agent storing member to the processing tank. The replenisher incudes a processing agent receiving section which receives the processing agent through an opening of a housing member provided inside of the replenisher in the process of movement from an initial position to a replenishing position, and replenishes it to the processing tank at the replenishing position. The device further includes a sliding member linked with the receiving section which slides on the inside of the housing member, to close the opening at the initial position.

Abstract: Test strip supply apparatus includes a rotatable container which has guide part materials for holding a through groove and a weight. Under a supporting table having a take-out hole for the test strip dropped from the through groove of the container, a conveyance stage is provided for receiving the test strip dropped from the through groove and transferring it. The weight facing near both ends of the through groove lets the test strip descend and prevents a surplus number of the test strips from entering the through groove.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dispenser for tablets, comprising a drawer element having a through going opening for the accommodation of just one tablet, which drawer element may be displaced along a narrow sidewall of a box shaped housing. A partition parallel with said sidewall bars the inlet of the opening when the dispenser is operated, and an opening serves as a dispensing opening when the drawer is displaced to align its through-going opening with the dispensing opening. The ends of the drawer are closed by trough shaped shells, the shell at the one end being at its end opposite the drawer hinged to the housing, and being at its end adjacent to the drawer hinged to the drawer, and the end of the housing adjacent to the hinged shell being obliquely cut, so that the narrow side of the housing adjacent to the hinge hinging the shell to the housing is longer than the narrow sidewall forming the sliding surface for the drawer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a simple mechanical seed meter having a casing that is provided with holding and dividing combs in which is rotated a metering drum. The metering drum is provided with angled flutes which define seed receiving valleys. One side of the drum is the dispensing side and the flutes at that side are provided with upwardly extending fingers which define seed pockets for individual seeds. The seed pockets carry the singled seeds from the seed receiving space defined by the dividing comb to the seed dispensing space where there are released to the outlet of the casing. The combs are secured to the casing by a hook and loop fastener assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring rod-shaped articles from the outlet of a magazine for parallel articles into the inlet of a pneumatic conveyor wherein the articles are moved in the direction of their longitudinal axes comprises a rotary drum-shaped conveyor having a peripheral surface provided with axially parallel flutes. When the rotary conveyor is driven, its flutes advance seriatim past the outlet of the magazine to accept discrete articles which are thereupon moved sideways toward alignment with the inlet of the pneumatic conveyor. A pneumatic ejector system is utilized to propel successive articles from their flutes into the pneumatic conveyor. The apparatus employs a hood having a concave surface which is complementary to a portion of the peripheral surface of the rotary conveyor.

Abstract: A separation-science disc dispenser (10) has a storage chamber (12) disposed normally to a base (20) that possesses a slot (24) into which a slidable member (26) resides. The storage chamber (12) contains disc units (14) that include a separation-science membrane (16) and a protective liner (18). Where the storage chamber (12) meets the base (20), there is an opening (30) in the storage chamber that allows disc units (14) to exit the storage chamber. The slidable member has a cavity (28) sized to receive a single disc unit (14) from the storage chamber (12) when the cavity (28) is in register with the opening (30). Drawing the slidable member (26) outward from slot (24) causes a single disc unit (14) to be discharged in a non-contaminated condition from the dispenser (10).

Abstract: In a machine for dispensing stackable roofing washers individually and for driving fasteners through such washers, a shuttle is actuatable to displace a lowermost washer of one from a stack, either a small, circular or large, square washer. A gate is biased toward a lowermost position wherein it provides sufficient clearance for the lowermost washer but not any overlying washer to pass beneath it. A pawl mounted pivotally to the gate is biased to a lowermost position wherein the pawl engages a small washer displaced by the shuttle so as to restrain it against backward movement. A stop is adjustable so as to limit movement of a washer of whichever size is being displaced. A measuring bar is mounted via the stop. A screw gun, which provides a primary handle, and a secondary handle are mounted to an upright element so as to be independently adjustable.

Abstract: An ice cube containing and dispensing device having a thermally insulating receptacle with a cooling unit, a mechanism for dispensing individual ice cubes including a lever with a pushbutton, a movable platform which closes an ice cube outlet of the receptacle and on which an ice cube is deposited as it awaits opening of the outlet, a stop attached to the lever which intercepts passage of the ice cubes toward the outlet, and a trapdoor which closes off the passage of the ice cubes from the receptacle. In another embodiment, a hopper holds the ice cubes in an interior thereof and has a separate enclosing chamber provided with orifices which connect it to the interior of the hopper. Heat exchange components of a cooling unit are arranged above the hopper. The cold from evaporators is distributed uniformly through the enclosing chamber.

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.

Abstract: A separation-science disc dispenser (10) has a storage chamber (12) disposed normally to a base (20) that possesses a slot (24) into which a slidable member (26) resides. The storage chamber (12) contains disc units (14) that include a separation-science membrane (16) and a protective liner (18). Where the storage chamber (12) meets the base (20), there is an opening (30) in the storage chamber that allows disc units (14) to exit the storage chamber. The slidable member has a cavity (28) sized to receive a single disc unit (14) from the storage chamber (12) when the cavity (28) is in register with the opening (30). Drawing the slidable member (26) outward from slot (24) causes a single disc unit (14) to be discharged in a non-contaminated condition from the dispenser (10).

Abstract: A dispenser for containing and dispensing elongated articles such as coffee stirrers, straws and the like is provided and presents an inclined wall therein including upper and lower end portions against and downwardly along which articles to be dispensed rest and may move by gravity. A dispensing member equipped with an upwardly opening groove is reciprocal transversely of the lower end portion of the inclined wall and includes an upper surface along which articles to be dispensed may move from the aforementioned lower end portion into the groove. The dispenser includes a side wall having an opening therein with which one end of the groove is registered and the opposite end of the groove is closed, whereby an article disposed in the groove may be dispensed through the opening upon movement of the dispensing member toward the one side wall of the dispenser.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a drug dispensing device which is portable, provides a high level of security, is flexible in accommodating a number of user selected drugs, is easily stockable, and reduces labor and time requirement for drug dispensing. The present invention provides an apparatus having a microprocessor means which controls the drug dispensing. The apparatus includes an interior medication storage area adapted to receive a plurality of different sized dispensers in user selectable combinations. A receiving drawer is provided below the interior medication storage area to receive and dispense the medications.A dispenser is provided which can be configured in a multiplicity of sizes and shapes to accommodate different sized medications. The dispenser is adapted to receive a cooperating cartridge which contains the medications. The dispenser includes an actuator which contacts and dispenses the medications from the cartridge.

Abstract: A dispenser for containing and dispensing elongated articles such as coffee stirrers is provided and presents an inclined wall therein including upper and lower end portions against and downwardly along which articles to be dispensed rest and may move by gravity. A dispensing member equipped with an upwardly opening groove is reciprocal transversely of the lower end portion of the inclined wall and includes an upper surface along which articles to be dispensed may move from the aforementioned lower end portion into the groove. The dispenser includes a side wall having an opening therein with which one end of the groove is registered and the opposite end of the groove is closed, whereby an article disposed in the groove may be dispensed through the opening upon movement of the dispensing member toward the one side wall of the dispenser.

Abstract: A system and method is provided-for low cost dispensing of soft packaged articles. The soft packaged articles include internally positioned forming member. The forming member and articles are then enclosed in protective material and heat shrinked so that each soft packaged article is uniformly shaped below the forming member. A dispenser for holding and dispensing one soft packaged article at a time is also provided.

Abstract: A linear or non-linear slender article dispenser comprising an open bottom storage box and a cooperating sliding drawer operating across and positioned above the open bottom that is slideable between opposite end limited positions. There is at least one article receiving and holding groove in the upper surface of the drawer; each groove optionally having at least a center opening for gripping said article and preferably, when used with non-linear articles, at each end, an end opening to allow for rotation of the non-linear end of the article resting within the groove and for movement of the article out of the storage box.

Abstract: A rivet feed system which includes a base feeder assembly (28), having a rivet passageway (30) extendign lengthwise therethrough. The base feeder assembly (28) includes cutout regions to receive rivet injectors (24) which are moved in operation between a first position and a second position. In the first position, an opening (80) in the injectors (24) forms a part of the passageway (30) through the base feeder assembly (28), while in the second position, the opening (80) is positioned directly beneath a vertically oriented rivet cartridge (22) to receive a rivet therefrom. The passageway (30) is connected to a source of pressurized air (32) which moves rivets therealong to a rivet machine or the like. The plurality of cartridges (22) positioned along the base feeder assembly contain rivets of various selected sizes.

Abstract: A child-proof dispenser for pharmaceutical tablets capable of dispensing such tablets one at a time is disclosed. A sliding drawer with an open-topped tablet receptacle moves from a first position inside the dispenser where a tablet drops into the receptacle from a storage chamber to a second position outside of the dispenser. During this movement, a horizontal extension on the drawer prevents any further tablets from dropping out of the storage chamber. When the drawer is in the first position, detent means on such drawer mate in locking relation with detent means on a flexible arm of a locking member to prevent any movement of the drawer. Digital pressure on the flexible arm of the locking member will move the appropriate detent means out of locking relation to enable the drawer to move out and dispense the tablet.

Abstract: A seed meter for a row crop planter unit having a seed disc rotating in a vertical plane includes improvements for seating individual seeds in seed cells on the periphery of the seed disc as the seed disc rotates through the seed reservoir. The improvements also include a barrier brush for preventing seeds from entering the delivery tube directly from the reservoir, and a brush holder which limits the effective width of a peripheral retainer brush so that the retainer brush cannot retain two seeds simultaneously in the same seed cell.

Abstract: A dispenser for the dispensing of individual tablets has a housing (1), a slide (3) displaceable with limited stroke, a tablet storage chamber with adjoining delivery chute (7), and front end closure surfaces and profiled flanks being developed, in part, fixed on the housing and, in part, on the slide (3). A moveable flank forms a separation chamber (A) and in the flank fixed on the housing has a separation finger (F) associated with the separation chamber. To obtain a structurally simple dispenser with optimal functioning and gentle treatment of the tablets, the separation finger (F) is formed by a bottom vertex (22) of a first oblique surface (I) which commences on top opposite an upper closure (23) of the separation chamber (A). A second oblique surface (II) is developed on the moveable flank (d), which surface, commencing at the upper closure (23) of the separation chamber (A), extends in upward direction, continuously increasing the cross-section of the delivery chute.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for low cost dispensing of soft packaged articles. The soft packaged articles each include an internally positioned forming member. The forming members and articles are enclosed in heat shrinked material so that each soft packaged article is uniformly shaped above and below the forming member. A dispenser for holding and dispensing one soft packaged article at a time is also provided.

Abstract: A pellet dispensing device having a rotor member with a pellet passage for transporting a pellet to a discharge opening. The rotor member has an escapement groove at the bottom for pieces of the pellet to be accommodated so that they do not jam the full sized pellets in the pellet passage. In a preferred embodiment, there is an additional groove at the top of the rotor member and in communication with the pellet passage which allows full sized pellets to be ejected therefrom by a dam member.

Abstract: A receptacle and dispenser for tennis balls and the like including, a portable barrel-like receptacle mounted upon a tubular wheeled frame. The lower edge of the receptacle at its foremost point is removed so as to present a dispensing mouth of a size greater that the diameter of a single tennis ball. A spring tension hinged tray extends beyond the circumference of the barrel to one side of the dispensing mouth so as to receive a plurality of tennis balls as they gravitate out of the receptacle, with the tray adapted to be manually pivoted about its hinged connection so as to expose the tennis balls therein for removal therefrom. A stop is placed in the path of pivotal travel of the tray to restrict its movement relative to the receptacle opening.

Abstract: An ice dispensing bin has an inward and rearward sloped front wall and a downward and forward sloped semi-cylindrical bottom wall. The rear wall and side walls and an upper portion of the front wall are generally vertical. A paddle wheel is positioned in a recess in the sloping front wall. The paddle wheel has a circular plate lying along a central portion of the annular recess. A truncated conical plate converges axially about 10 degrees from the circular plate. Paddles extend radially from the conical plate. Turbine blade-like paddles curve circumferentially and then axially and stop short of the front wall to trap and move ice along the front wall of the recess as the paddle wheel is rotated. A shaft extends through the paddle wheel and rearwardly to a bearing in the rear wall. An angular arm on the shaft breaks ice bridges as the shaft rotates with the paddle wheel.

Abstract: An overall cylindrically shaped tablet dispenser that operates by exerting an external vertical force which compresses, through a sliding action, an upper portion toward a lower portion thereby causing a mechanism to issue a tablet. This tablet dispenser can be operated by placing the bottom of the dispenser against a ground surface and pushing downward on the top of the dispenser. Thus, this tablet dispenser is particularly advantageous to motor-impaired patients.

Abstract: A tablet dispenser is set forth comprising a cap to "snap on" an associated tablet container wherein said cap includes a spring-biased plunger positioned normally in a retracted position communicating with a conduit aligned with the plunger wherein an opening directed orthogonally to said conduit permits passage of tablets upon inverting an associated tablet container and subsequent displacement of said tablet through said conduit by manual manipulation of said plunger. A modification provides a two-part cap wherein an upper part is rotatable relative to a lower part wherein said lower part is engageable with an associated tablet dispenser preventing undesirable withdrawal of tablets from said dispenser until alignment of the upper part of the cap with the lower part to align a two-part opening with an associated conduit wherein a spring-biased connection between the upper and lower parts of the cap maintain the two parts of the cap in a predetermined orientation relative to one another.

Abstract: A rivet manifold feed device (10) including a manifold body (12) that receives a rivet feed passageway (22). The manifold body (12) includes a plurality of rivet feed members or spools (14, 16, 18, 20), a plurality of air feed ports (84), and a plurality of rivet feed ports (82). A separate air feed port (84) and a separate rivet feed port (82) is positioned adjacent each respective feed spool. Each spool reciprocates back and forth between a first and a second position, wherein each spool includes a separate passageway (70, 72) that is in registration with the rivet feed passageway in each position. A rivet placed in one of the passageways (72) is delivered into the rivet feed passageway when a spool shifts into one of the positions and the air feed port adjacent that spool blasts the rivet downstream through the rivet feed passageway.

Abstract: In an apparatus for removing portions of identical materials (4) in the form of pieces by means of a sliding part which is encased in a dispensing container and operated from the outside and whose dispensing sector (5) is filled from inside the container and can be emptied outward, the sliding part is in the form of a tube section (1) which has one or more dispensing sectors (5) and is fed through an outer shell (3) and a stripper (2) located adjacent to the ejection orifice (9) and assigned to the dispensing sectors (5).

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a hopper structure which is in a hopper structure for separating chip parts, a swing roll is hopper body which has its lower spout merging into a lining-up cylindrical hole formed in a lining-up block. The swing roll is formed at its outer periphery with an arcuate mixing projection which has its upper end face positioned in the upper mouth of the lining-up cylindrical hole. There is provided a drive mechanism for bringing the swing roll into swinging motions of an angle smaller than the arcuate angle of the mixing projection.

Abstract: An escapement mechanism for an automatic screw feeding machine is disclosed. A rotor within a housing receives a fastener from a track feed arrangement and delivers the fastener to a delivery opening in communication with a conduit leading to the driver head of the automatic screw feeding machine. A cutout within the rotor is specially sized and positioned and the motion of the rotor is arranged so that no edges are presented which may cause the fastener to hang up or cause jamming of the escapement apparatus. A reed valve is used to open and close the delivery opening so that pneumatic apparatus may be used to drive the fastener to the driver head.

Abstract: A container for storing and dispensing small objects, such as capsules or pills containing medicament, one at a time, consists of a receptacle containing, within itself, a delivery mechanism including a funnel-shaped exit port for capsules and a capsule or pill delivery tube at the end of said funnel-shaped exit designed to accommodate no more than one pill or capsule. This funnel divides the outer receptacle into an upper storage compartment and a lower delivery compartment. The receptacle also contains between the exit end of the receptacle and the delivery tube a resilient gate member positioned to prevent or allow escape of a capsule or pill from the delivery tube. The inner end of the receptacle is pressed into or twisted in the user's hand which moves the resiliently mounted gate members, thus opening the delivery tube and delivering a single small object to the user.

Abstract: An article-dispensing assembly including a door movably mounted on a plate for selectively opening and closing an opening provided in the plate, the door including a shelf extending inwardly of the opening and providing a bin for holding an article to be dispensed. A control mechanism is movable to a first position to allow transfer of an article from a feed mechanism to the bin, and movable to a second position to block transfer of an article from the feed unit to the bin. An operating unit selectively interconnects the control unit and door to allow loading of the bin when the door is in its closed position and to preclude loading of the bin when the door is moved from the closed position.

Abstract: Stick delivery mechanism especially for but not limited to use in a candy floss machine for delivering a stick from a storage facility to a feed position from which the stick can enter a device which rotates the stick about its own axis.

Abstract: A dispensing container for dispensing small tablets one at a time wherein the container comprises an inner element within an outer element, both elements being substantially rectangular in plan so as to form a flat dispensing pack, and wherein the outer element has a tablet orienting member with a channel to receive tablets and to arrange the tablets in alignment, the channel terminating at one end thereof adjacent to a pocket provided in a projecting member, on the inner element, which is shaped to receive a single tablet, a dispensing opening being provided in the bottom of the outer element through which the projecting member can pass in such a way as normally to close the opening, downward movement of the inner member relatively to the outer member being effective to uncover the opening to dispense a single tablet.

Abstract: A seed planter comprises a seed transport member, usually in the form of a disc, having a number of depressions provided with ramp surfaces sloping downwardly from the surface of the seed transport member into the depression. Air is fed into the deepest portion of the depression and a single seed is trapped in this portion by the low pressure region which forms between the seed and the walls of the depression. Ejection of the seed from the depression is accomplished by increasing the pressure in this low pressure region. The planter is capable of metering spherical seeds very accurately at metering rates of about 40 seeds per second and can be made of small width so that a single row of planters on a planter assembly can plant closely spaced rows. The planter can also be used for sorting seed, for example by distinguishing spherical seeds from flat seeds. A planter assembly capable of planting multiple rows of seeds is provided by mounting a plurality of the seed planters on a frame.