Abstract: Disclosed are improvements in seed metering apparatus for seed planters such as disclosed in applicant's U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,888,387 and 3,999,690. The improvements relate to improved seed pick-up, retention, and release; to a non-wear pneumatic seal between rotating seed disc and housing; and a seed gate.

Abstract: A chip dispenser, such as a bingo chip dispenser, comprises a supply tube for a stack of chips which is connected to a body having a chamber which houses a dispensing member. The chips are dispensed through a bore in the body of the dispenser. The dispensing member is a crescent-shaped member having two horns. The distance between the tip of one of the horns and an opposed side wall of the chamber is less than the diameter of a chip, so that the chip is prevented from being dispensed when the dispensing member is in a ready position. In the dispensing position, the dispensing member is pivoted so that the distance between the chip of the one horn and the opposed side wall is greater than the diameter of the chip and the chip is moved to a position over the bore so that the chip falls through the bore and is dispensed.

Abstract: A holder for spare lead comprises a hollow cylindrical holder body, said holder having an open end portion and a longitudinal groove formed on the inner wall along the axial direction of the holder body for locating only a suitable number of leads to a position from which the leads are taken out, and a cap body frictionally and rotatably mounted on the one end portion of the holder body. The cap body has an opening to dispense the spare lead from the groove.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coffee powder metering device for coffee vending machines which, besides ensuring that all the coffee powder is metered out with no residue left behind, is also easy to manufacture.The metering device comprises in a structure: a tubular main part, an end wall for closing off one end of the the tubular main part and a thrust wall in the tubular main part opposite the end wall. The tubular main part, end wall and thrust wall thus form a compartment for receiving a given quantity of coffee powder, through an inlet in one of the sides, and forcing it out through the end by utilizing the thrust wall. On the wall facing the compartment, the thrust wall is fitted with at least one movable lip held firmly by way of an elastic device against the tubular main part so as to scrape it clean.

Abstract: A container for the dispensing of tablets one by one in which, below a drop-out chamber arranged below a sorting trough the container wall has a tablet drop-out opening in front of which, in each case, one of the tablets is released by spring-loaded sliding movement so as to drop out. Two housing caps supplement each other to form the container and can be telescopically inserted one within the other, one of the housing caps forming the drop-out chamber below the sorting trough which is formed by the two housing caps together, the drop-out opening of the chamber being closed in the relaxed position of the spring by a wall section of the other housing cap, the last-mentioned housing cap having a division finger which in the pushed-together position of the two housing caps closes off the sorting trough from the drop-out chamber.

Abstract: An indexable rotary cylindrical magazine has part pockets around the periphery parallel to the magazine axis. A guide supplies parts end-to-end to an entrance end of a pocket in a loading position. A reciprocable feed finger engages the downstream end of any part in a pocket at the loading position to index the magazine to the next pocket only if the part is substantially completely received in that pocket at the loading position. Stripper prongs remove the parts from the filled pockets and supply them side-by-side into a part chute. A utilization machine such as a planetary thread rolling machine has a feed mechanism to receive parts from the chute exit and feed them into the threading area. The feed mechanism has feed-in, retract and a dwell range and the parts have approximately twice the length of time to be received in a pocket at the loading position as the time duration of said dwell range.

Abstract: A ball injector for feeding balls to the ball gun of a ballistic printer in which a ball guide or separator is provided with a passage for receiving balls, a rotary saw blade whose teeth extend into the passage is driven to supply balls trapped between the teeth of the blade to the passage. To prevent jamming of a ball between one of the teeth and the passage entrance, a barrier having a resilient leading edge is disposed along the ball path portion adjacent the passage entrance. Preferably the resilient edge has a small radius of curvature and is disposed obliquely relative to the ball path.

Abstract: A dispenser for granular material includes a casing having an outlet for holding the material, a cap rockably mounted on top of the casing, and a spring for biasing the cap in a clockwise direction. The cap is formed with a groove into which a predetermined or desired amount of the material rolls when the dispenser is turned upside down. By returning it to its normal position and pressing down the front end of the cap, the groove will communicate with the outlet so that the predetermined amount of the material feeds out through the outlet.

Abstract: A sugar cane planter has a series of cane carrier elements which are moved through a supply of randomly oriented cane billets to select billets and deliver them to a soil furrow. The cane carrier elements move in a circular path and are maintained horizontal throughout said movement by attitude control means thereby providing sufficient time for reliable pick-up, doffing of excess billets, and billet alignment. A supply of billets to the selection mechanism is maintained from a trailed cane bin having a cane elevator. Fungicide is sprayed on the billets carried by the elevator.

Abstract: An escapement assembly utilizable in a fastener feeding apparatus for successively separating the fasteners one by one and feeding the separated fastener to a desired handling location comprises an escape passage and a nail plate supported for reciprocal movement. This nail plate is formed with an aperture adapted to be aligned with the escape passage, an inclined elongated groove having one end communicated to a receiving finger adapted to be communicated to a guide track of a chute assembly, and a parallel groove extending in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the nail plate and having one end communicated to the aperture and the other end communicated to the other end of the inclined elongated groove.

Abstract: An automatic screwdriving and feeding apparatus has a screwdriver body with a tubular housing axially moveable thereon. Screw holding elements are mounted in the tubular housing and are resiliently biased inwardly, or are resiliently deformable, so as to hold a screw for driving. Drive means in the body can move axially relatively to engage the screw and apply rotary drive. Feed means supply screws one at a time to the screw holding elements.

Abstract: A machine for erecting, filling and closing rectangular cartons, comprises a magazine for storing a plurality of flat folded cartons in a stack which has a bottom discharge opening for individual removal of each carton. A support bar located below the discharge opening defines a first station to which each carton in succession is moved past deflection means which effect a preliminary erection of the carton by deflecting side walls upwardly from the bottom. The shifting member is movable backwardly and forwardly over the support bar and has means for maintaining the carton in an upright erected condition while moving it and while it is being filled.

Abstract: A fastener positioning device is illustrated wherein an elongated member is slidably carried within a housing, the elongated member having a notch at the forward end thereof opening at the front end and on one side of the elongated member for receiving an enlarged fastener with the shank depending through the notch, and a retaining leaf spring engaging the enlarged head of the fastener. Means are provided for moving the elongated member forwardly while the retaining means supports and maintains the fastener within the notch during forward movement of the elongated member, but freeing the fastener when the elongated member is in forward position to permit retraction of the elongated member.

Abstract: This invention relates to a personal automatic tablet dispenser for the pocket or purse adapted to contain medical pills, vitamins, sugar substitutes, or the like and in the form of a container shaped somewhat like a writing pen of the ball point type. The dispenser mechanically discharges its contents one item at a time and includes relatively slidable barrel elements forming a housing for a plurality of stacked tablets or the like with a releasable lock mechanism to secure the barrel elements against relative movement. A chamber for one tablet to be discharged is provided and turning means is formed in the housing to position a tablet for passage into the chamber in position for ultimate discharge. The barrel elements are operated against the pressure of a spring means which returns the elements to normally closed position.

Abstract: A planter apparatus for attachment to a tractor or other draft vehicle and having a pair of vertically disposed interconnected pivoting frames. Front and rear ground engaging wheels are mounted along the longitudinal axis of the lower frame, and a pair of transversely disposed discs are mounted therebetween along the axis and for forming an incision in the ground. A chain and belt drive from the front wheel actuates a rotating seed discharge mechanism in a housing mounted over the rear portion of the discs whereby seed is discharged into the incision. The rear wheel compacts the soil over the incision with the seed therein.

Abstract: A fastener positioning device is illustrated wherein an elongated member is slidably carried within a housing, the elongated member having a notch at the forward end thereof opening at the front end and on one side of the elongated member for receiving an enlarged fastener with the shank depending through the notch, and a retaining leaf spring engaging the enlarged head of the fastener. Means are provided for moving the elongated member forwardly while the retaining means supports and maintains the fastener within the notch during forward movement of the elongated member, but freeing the fastener when the elongated member is in forward position to permit retraction of the elongated member.