Abstract: A one-at-a-time pill container and dispenser having a mechanism which allows for use of the device with existing containers. A child-proof lock is provided. The device has a mechanism for ensuring that only a single pill is brought into the dispensing chamber as a consequence of a partial rotation of the cap with respect to the bottle body. A reverse partial rotation of the cap then allows the pill to fall by gravity into the user's hand. The two-directional rotation to cause pill dispensing is easy for an adult but highly unlikely to be accidentally duplicated by a child. The mechanism is a series of wedge shaped chambers, sized for the capsule to be dispensed, with a covering flange over the dispensing chamber, to ensure that only a single capsule enters the dispensing aperture. The chambers are caused to be rotated by the mating engagement of the cap, via a pawl, with a segment shaped slot in the top of the dispensing mechanism.

Abstract: A mechanical seed meter having a stationary housing and a rotatable bowl. The stationary housing is provided with a first axial wall, an outer radial wall and a flexible inner radial wall. The bowl is provided with seed receiving cells that form a second axial wall for trapping singled seeds in the seed trapping area. A flexible and resilient flap maintains the seed in the seed receiving cells. 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 outer radial wall becomes part of the outlet and the metered seed is deposited through the outlet to a seed tube. Jammed seed, that is seed trapped in the seed receiving cells, are provided with a downward force by a bump located in the outlet and an upward force by a rotatable wheel located downstream from the outlet.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a predetermined quantity of food articles, such as frozen french fries, frozen chicken pieces, cheese sticks, and the like, having a support structure supporting a hopper, the hopper having a storage area positioned over an exit opening and a dispenser drum between the storage area and the exit opening. The dispenser drum is rotatably mounted in the hopper between two end walls on the hopper. The dispenser drum has an axis of rotation, a sealing lip at a first radius perpendicular to the axis of rotation and a catching lip at a second radius perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The second radius is longer than the first radius creating a non-cylindrical shaped dispenser drum. A diverter is pivotally mounted in the hopper. The diverter is positioned to be bumped by the dispenser drum to jostle food articles in the storage area. A driver portion is mounted on the support structure to engage and rotate the dispenser drum about the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A vacuum seed metering mechanism arranged in combination with a seed hopper for uniformly dispensing seeds to the ground. The seed metering mechanism comprises a rotational distributor disc provided with a circular row of openings toward a periphery of the disc. The disc carries seeds from a seed reservoir to a seed discharge area under the influence of pressure differential. The disc is rotatably mounted in a housing whose interior is divided by the seed disc into the seed reservoir, on one side of the seed disc, and a suction chamber, lying around a portion of the path of movement of the openings in the seed disc. A salient feature of the present invention relates to the provision of an apparatus for imparting vibrations to the housing for facilitating the release of seeds from the openings in the disc in the discharge area of the seed.

Abstract: An automatic golf ball dispenser wherein a hopper containing a large number of golf balls, which rest upon a rotary disc that is driven by a motor. To operate the dispenser, a customer deposits a form of currency into a control box, thereby actuating the rotary disc that will then dispense the desired number of golf balls to the customer. Controls contained within the control box govern various functions such as, how many balls are to be dispensed, ensuring that adequate safety features are in place, and checking that the dispenser is operating in a proper manner. The present invention also has an alternative wherein a signal is transmitted from the control box to a separate receiver indicating when the dispenser is in need of service.

Abstract: A drug storing apparatus for an automatic drug dispensing machine includes a frame provided with a multiplicity of inclined supports arranged one on top of the other or in rows for supporting a multiplicity of drug cases, and the supports may also be configured into rails. The drug cases are detachably connected to a multiplicity of drive boxes which may be mounted onto the frame along the inclined rails. The drug cases are arranged in such a manner that their outlets are oriented towards a central portion of a hopper. Each drive box is also provided with guide rails and contains therein a motor which has an axle oriented towards its corresponding drug case. When a drug case slides along the guide rails to fit onto its corresponding drive box, a coupling of a feeding element of the drug case just fits onto the axle of the motor.

Abstract: A component installation tool of the type having a rearward stroke to accommodate delivery of a component to the front of the tool and a forward stroke to engage, deliver and install the component at a workpiece, the tool including a housing, a reciprocating mechanism contained therein, a feeder support mounted on the housing, a reciprocal magazine mounted on the feeder support for reciprocation between a component receiving position adjacent the tool and a position for delivering a component in front of the mechanism; and delivery means for delivering a component to a chamber in the magazine when the magazine is in the component receiving position and the mechanism is in the forward stroke.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball dispensing apparatus. The invention includes a golf ball dispensing tube mounted on a base. The golf ball dispensing tube is provided with a release mechanism which may be actuated to sequentially release the golf balls. Each golf ball travels to the discharge end of the dispensing tube and drops into a pivotally mounted conveyor tube. The weight of the golf ball rotates the conveyor tube downward and positions the end of the conveyor tube over the tee for placing the golf ball on the tee.

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: A dispenser for dispensing granules from a container having a circular mouth, includes a body having first and second cylindrical components joined together by an axial spindle, a cylindrical roundel including a radial slit which is adapted to clip onto the axial spindle, and a receptacle. The first and second cylindrical components of the body have a plurality of circumferential notches adapted to receive granules from the container. The cylindrical roundel has a radial slit which receives a single granule from the first cylindrical component, for passage to the second cylindrical component. The receptacle includes driving means adapted to rotate the body for dispensing the granules.

Abstract: A medication dispenser cap and container comprises a base connected to the container and including a non-circular, for example polygonal, indication portion with multiple points or nodes. A cover which also has a non-circular shape is rotatably mounted to the base and moveable into aligned closed position with the base. The base includes multiple openings around its periphery and the cover includes one opening which can be aligned with one of the base openings to dispense medication, for example pills, from the container. The openings are aligned only when the cover is offset with respect to the base. This exposes parts of the base which may carry indicia that indicate when the dosage should be taken.

Abstract: An automatic machine for dispensing an ice cream portion comprises, in combination, a dispenser (10) for dispensing cones (18) or the like in an inverted position, and a seat (20) arranged to receive the cone (18) in an upright position and to convey it to an ice cream delivery mouth (27). Between the cone dispenser (10) and the seat (20) there is provided a cone (18) overturning and feed device (12) arranged to receive a cone (18) in an inverted position, to overturn it into an upright position and to feed it automatically into the seat (20).

Abstract: Novel gumball banks are provided for which dispense gumballs upon insertion of a coin and store inserted coins. The gumball bank comprises a reservoir for gumballs, a base, and a dispensing mechanism. The base defines an upper floor. The upper floor supports the reservoir and has a gumball opening communicating with the reservoir and a coin slot. The base further defines a lower floor. The lower floor has a chute adapted to receive gumballs and a coin slot. The base also defines a coin storage area in communication with the coin slot in the lower floor. The dispensing mechanism is disposed between the upper and lower floors and is adapted to dispense gumballs from the reservoir to the chute and to deposit coins in the coin storage area. The dispensing mechanism includes an actuator arm having a socket for receiving a coin and a coin slot aligned with the socket. The transfer arm has a gumball opening and a coin slot.

Abstract: A hopper type supply device includes a rod hopper for storing a large number of filter rods. A grooved hopper drum rotatably disposed directly under the rod hopper is provided for closing the discharging port of the rod hopper. A roller is rotatably disposed near the discharging port in the rod hopper and rotated in a direction opposite to the rotating direction of the hopper drum, for accelerating the filter rods lying near the roller by rotation thereof. The hopper drum takes out the filter rods received into the receiving grooves from the rod hopper according to the rotation thereof.

Abstract: A multi-station article dispensing apparatus for use in a "merchandiser" game of skill or chance has a plurality of delivery/display stations juxtaposed along an axle. Each station includes a cradle wheel rotating freely about the axle and loaded from a gravity-fed magazine. Each cradle wheel includes a plurality of drive pins parallel to the axle. The cradle wheel is rotated by a drive rod that nutates along its axis to engage a drive pin. Each drive rod has a solenoid rotatably connected to it and engages its respective drive pin whenever that solenoid is actuated. When the solenoid associated with a given drive rod is not actuated, a bias spring moves the drive rod to a position in which it does not engage a drive pin. Thus, although a single motor and drive train drives all the drive rods in unison, only a selected cradle wheel is rotated.

Abstract: A ball feeding device which can feed balls one by one without allowing many impacts on the balls and which can prevent the balls from being magnetized. Balls are accommodated in a housing formed with a conical hole in the bottom thereof. A rotary rod having a conical end is mounted in the housing, the conical end being located near and opposite to the conical hole. Balls are guided one by one into the area between the conical end and the conical hole and discharged one by one through the conical hole. A pair of inclined cylinders are provided under the housing. The balls discharged through the conical hole drop onto the higher end of the gap defined between the cylinders and roll along the gap. The gap expands gradually from the higher end toward the lower end. Thus, the balls drop through the gap into a pan provided under the cylinders while being fed along the gap.

Abstract: A new and improved multiple-roll toilet paper dispenser rack for storing a plurality of rolls of toilet paper within the unused space of a bathroom cabinet and dispensing the rolls one at a time through an opening in the cabinet, the multiple-roll toilet paper dispenser rack comprising an elongated shallow pan having an inside width essentially the same as the width of a toilet paper roll, the shallow pan having a length substantially greater than the diameter of a toilet paper roll wherein a plurality of rolls may be placed, the shallow pan being fixedly mounted at a slight downward incline inside a bathroom cabinet adjacent to an opening through the cabinet wherethrough toilet paper rolls may be dispensed.

Abstract: A housing arranged to dispense individual pen or pencil members is provided to include a housing having a front wall, with the front wall including an entrance opening and first and second ramp members arranged in a V-shaped configuration extending from the front wall opening terminating below a hopper mounting a plurality of the writing instruments. A rotary dispensing shaft having an elongate slot to receive individual writing instruments therewithin is rotatably mounted, including arcuate flanges to prevent additional writing instruments from access to the dispensing shaft and to the ramp structure, whereupon rotation of the dispensing shaft deposits a writing instrument upon the second ramp and the first ramp for access by an individual through the front wall opening.

Abstract: An automatic prescription dispensing system includes a housing or frame having a plurality of pill dispenser units mounted therein, a plurality of vial supply assemblies at one end of the housing, and a filled vial offload carousel at an opposite end. A vial manipulator assembly is mounted on the housing to enable translational movement of a vial manipulator frame vertically and horizontally and pivoting about a vertical axis to retrieve vials from the supply assemblies, fill the vials at the dispenser units, and deposit the filled vials onto the carousel. The vial manipulator frame includes spring loaded grippers to engage and carry the vials and a drive motor and gear for meshing with dispenser unit gears to operate the dispenser units. The system includes a controller including an interface for coupling to the printer port of a pharmacy host computer printer port for intercepting drug name and quantity data for a prescription which was directed to a prescription label printer.

Abstract: A coin payout mechanism for vending machines dispenses coins stored in vertical columns. The mechanism comprises an upper frame plate, a plastic retaining plate, a rigid coin receptor plate, a rotatable disk confined within a spacer plate, a bottom escape plate, and a motor-gear assembly to drive the rotatable disk and switches to monitor rotation and coin levels. The plates are fixed together in a stacked relationship; preferably all are square and of similar dimensions. The switches and motor assembly are mounted on the frame plate, which mounts the mechanism within a vending machine. A drive shaft of the motorgear assembly passes through a central orifice defined in the frame and the retaining and receptor plates. The retaining plate receives two coin tubes. The rigid coin receptor plate defines coin receptor orifices coaxial to the tubes. The rotatable disk is generally circular and defines a single oblong stripper orifice near its edge. The stripper orifice alternately indexes with the tubes.

Abstract: An automatic dispenser for ice cream cakes having a taking unit mounted in a shop window on a movable structure with respect to the product being dispensed. The unit includes a shovel on a structure movable in three orthogonal directions.

Abstract: An apparatus is described which can receive a large number of earplugs from a box and dispense one or two of them at a time to a worker. The apparatus includes a wheel (22, FIG. 1) which is rotatable on a frame (12) and which has holes (24) that move in a circular path and that can each receive a single earplug (16). As each hole moves over a dispense passage 18, the earplug in the hole can fall out, and be dispensed. A barrier (42, FIG. 2) lying above the wheel, prevents an earplug from falling into a hole that lies at the passage. The barrier covers only one side (52) of the path (32) of the holes, to allow a deformed earplug to move along the other, uncovered side (54) of the path. The wheel has a narrow slot (80) extending from each hole to the periphery, so a tool can be projected through a frame opening (84) and through the slot to dislodge an earplug stuck in a wheel hole.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a silver halide photographic material in a processing vessel containing a processing solution in which a solid agent is fed into the vessel to keep the property of the processing solution within a predetermined level.

Abstract: A rigid container having a cushioned outer layer includes a fluid tube directed into a front wall of the container canted towards the floor, wherein the fluid tube is baffled, having a vent directed towards the top wall of the container. A modification of the invention includes chlorine tablet dispensing structure for effecting bacterial control within the container structure, as well as a flush-out conduit therefore.

Abstract: An apparatus is described which can receive a large number of earplugs from a box and dispense one or two of them at a time to a worker, which avoids touching of the earplugs by any other person. The apparatus includes a wheel (22, FIG. 1 ) which is rotatable on a frame (12) and which has holes (24) that are each capable of holding a single earplug (26). As the wheel turns, earplugs fall into the holes. As each hole moves to a dispense location (30), the earplug in the hole can fall out of the hole along a dispense passage (16). A barrier (42) lying above the wheel, prevents an earplug from falling into a hole that lies at the dispense location, and sweeps away any second earplug which lies partially within a hole approaching the dispense location. A large number of earplugs are contained in a box (80) which is installed in an open top (82) of the dispenser.

Abstract: In a bulk vendor having a dispensing wheel for carrying merchandise to a dispensing aperture, containers in the dispensing wheel are adjustable in size according to the size and volume of merchandise to be dispensed. An adjusting wing is rotationally secured to the dispensing wheel by a retractable pin, which when depressed permits the adjusting wing to rotate relative to the dispensing wheel and change the container size, either manually or with the use of a tool provided for this purpose.

Abstract: A drug dispenser, having a drug case storing drugs and a dispensing mechanism mounted to a lower portion of the drug case. The dispensing mechanism includes an arrange body. The arrange body has a drug passageway for arranged vertically said drugs and a surface guiding the drug to the drug passageway. The dispensing mechanism includes a fixed plate provided under the arrange body. The fixed plate has a drug drop opening connected to the drug passageway. The fixed plate has a separator free to pass into an intermediate of the drug passageway. The dispensing mechanism includes a swing mechanism swinging said arrange body between a first position in which the separator closes the drug passageway and a second position in which the separator opens the drug passageway. The dispensing mechanism includes a drive means for the swing mechanism. The drug storing in the drug case is aligned in the drug passageway.

Abstract: A coin operated bulk vending apparatus is provided with brushes, preferably tension springs, extending over the aperture above the dispensing wheel. One end of each brush is anchored to a brush housing adjacent a periphery of the dispensing wheel, and the other end of each brush is anchored to an adjustable anchor disposed about the axle of the dispensing wheel. In a preferred embodiment the adjustable anchor comprises a notched bushing adapted to receive a moveable ring secured to the brushes. In a further embodiment the brushes are anchored to an invertible bushing. The brushes are preferably frustoconical in configuration to minimize gaps.

Abstract: An improvement in a coin operated vending machine for vending bulk articles comprises means for deflecting loose articles away from the entrance to the dispensing aperture. The means comprises a resilient rolling member, extending across an entry notch to a housing shielding the aperture, and rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of revolution of an advancing dispensing wheel, thus gripping and ejecting loose articles in the vicinity of the entry notch.

Abstract: A can vending machine provides a pair of vertical serpentine passages which can be loaded from a single access area. Serpentine passages are defined by cantilever declined shelves which are interleaved from pairs of walls defining the passages and storage areas. Beneath each of the storage areas is a rotating disc maintained upon a stationary disc or plate, the two discs having similar passages therethrough adapted to accommodate a can. A single motor or solenoid is interconnected with each of the rotatable discs to selectively dispense a can from the associated stack. The serpentine passages prevent the full weight of the can stack from being imposed upon the dispensing discs, but rather upon the cantilevered shelves themselves.

Abstract: A coin dispensing apparatus comprises a coin supply hopper secured to a base plate inclined at an angle to the horizontal and a coin feeding rotary disk rotatably supported on the base plate within the coin supply hopper. The coin feeding rotary disk has a disk body and a circumferential wall. The disk body includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced coin receiving through holes extended through the peripheral portion of the coin feeding rotary disk, and a plurality of coin feeding arms having a thickness smaller than the thickness of a coin to be treated and extending at an angle to the radial direction of the rotary disk on the peripheral portion of the bottom surface between the coin receiving through holes of the rotary disk. The disk body preferably has a sufficient thickness to provide coin receiving through holes having a deep depth for holding at least three coins therein.

Abstract: A tablet selector has a selector plate interposed between a tablet-carrying rotatable disk having a plurality of pairs of first and second openings, and a pair of discharged tubes which lead to a form, fill and seal packaging station. The selector plate is pivotally movable by solenoid actuators to selectively block one or the other of the first and second openings of the rotatable disk. A pneumatic cylinder has an expandable arm which drives the selector plate into a complete blocking position.

Abstract: A bulk coin hopper and dispensing system is provided. A loading disc and a dispensing disc are fixedly secured to a motor driven shaft in spaced apart relationship to each other. A dispensing blade is interposed between the two discs. Bores in the loading disc are loaded with coins from a bulk hopper, the lower most coin in each of the bores resting upon the dispensing disc. As the discs rotate, the blade engages the coins thereon and urges them out of dispensing slots within the dispensing disc. Ball plungers are provided to restrict movement of the coins upon the dispensing disc until contacted by the blade.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing disk-shaped objects, comprises a hopper for storing a multiplicity of disk-shaped objects, a rotatable member mounted on a bottom of the hopper and defining a plurality of perforations or cutouts arranged peripherally thereof for receiving the disk-shaped objects, a support member rotatable with the rotatable member for supporting parts of the disk-shaped objects logged in the perforations or cutouts, and a guide device provided on the bottom of the hopper for radially outwardly guiding the disk-shaped objects lodged in the perforations or cutouts and transported with rotation of the rotatable member. The support member is disposed at a radially intermediate position in an annular moving range of the perforations or cutouts defined in the rotatable member. The guide device includes a plurality of guide pins arranged radially of the rotatable member, and within the annular moving range of the perforations or cutouts and at opposite positions across the support member.

Abstract: A pellet dispenser unit in which a container of pellets can be attached to a motor and rotor assembly while the container is in an upright position. After attachment with the container, the container is inverted and the motor and rotor with the container are placed in a housing member from which the pellets are dispensed. The motor is electrically connected automatically when the motor and rotor assembly is placed in the housing member. In a preferred manner, plastic foam is placed in a housing for the motor and rotor to protect the motor as well as a circuit board from any corrosive fumes. The motor and rotor assembly are placed in a housing which is constructed so as to be easily handled by one hand for ease of attachment to the container when the container is in an upright position and the motor and rotor assembly inverted.

Abstract: A bulk coin hopper and dispenser is provided with a pair of rotating discs at the bottom thereof. A baffle shields the discs from the weight of the coins within the hopper, while a flexible flap is maintained adjacent to the discs to urge coins into coin receiving bores within a top one of such discs. A stationary plate having a single bore therethrough is interposed between the two discs. Rotation of the two discs over the surfaces of the stationary plate allows for singular dispensing of coins from the bores through the plate.

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 machine that vends a predetermined number of golf balls when activated by a coin or token-operated slide mechanism. A large plurality of golf balls are placed in a hopper and the balls are fed from the hopper, one at a time, into an elongate pipe that discharges into a bucket positioned in a chamber near the bottom of the machine. A motor rotates a turntable having golf ball receiving apertures formed in its outer periphery so that the balls fill each aperture as the turntable rotates. The upper end of the pipe is in the path of travel of and is in open communication with apertures formed in the turntable so that rotation of the turntable continuously fills the pipe as the apertures pass over its open end. Numerous structural features, including vibrating members, insure that the balls will not jam in the hopper and additional design features insure a jostling of the balls in the vicinity of the pipe's upper end to insure against jamming at that critical location.

Abstract: A coin payout system for a currency validator is presented. The system includes a bulk coin hopper having a pair of rotating discs at the bottom thereof. The discs each have a hole passing therethrough, with the holes of the two discs being in periodic registration with each other to pass coins from the bulk hopper to a dispensing area. One of the discs is caused to rotate at twice the speed of the other disc to accommodate the transfer function.

Abstract: A dispensing machine (100) is divided into three compartments (110, 112, 114). An animal-like figure including the body and head of an elephant (118) is located in a central compartment (112) and the head (118) can be rotated on the body by a drive mechanism (134) in the upper compartment (114). A number of non-prize containing packages (130) are provided in the central compartment (112) and prize-containing packages are located in the upper compartment (114). In operation, upon insertion of coins into the coin mechanism (154) the drive mechanism (134) is operated and causes the head (118) to turn through 360.degree. passing through the non-prize containing packages (130). Upon each cycle, one prize-containing package from the upper compartment (114) is released from the upper compartment and passes into the passage (112) in the head (118). The prize-containing package is discharged from the trunk of the head through opened bottomed bucket (128) into a prize-receiving receptacle (166).

Abstract: Fruit juice automatic dispenser, including a refrigerated unit for storing the fruit to be squashed, an assembly for cutting and squashing the individual citrus fruits, a station for removing a dose of squash, means for washing the squashing elements and for collecting the wash water and the peels of the citrus fruits and a control unit which controls the assemblies and is adapted to make them operate in succession when activated by a coin operated device.

Abstract: An apparatus which provides for deposition quasi-spherical objects onto food products includes a horizontal table for feeding the food products beneath a dispensing device which includes a trough, for receiving and containing a supply of the objects to be dispensed, having at least one discharge opening, each discharge opening being connected to a chute which leads downwards towards the table for providing an object from the trough to a flexible strip above the table having an aperture having a border for supporting the object upon the strip aperture. Positioned over the strip aperture is a pusher for forcing the articles through the aperture to be embedded onto the surface of the food product positioned on the table below.

Abstract: A planter for placement of plants in spaced parallel rows in the soil has a plant dispenser fed manually or automatically from a plant supply and delivering to a furrow-opening coulter assembly and press wheels. The plant dispenser comprises a drum having an internal impeller defining plant-receiving chutes through which the plants pass, and thence downwards and outwards through an opening in the drum. The coulter assembly has reciprocated coulter side plates which receive and support each plant in a receiving zone between them, and by forward movement relative to the plant and relative to a fixed placement member located in front of the plant, allow soil to flow back to cover the plant's root ball. The press wheels are mounted with a variable caster angle to vary their soil-gathering affect. A hitch has twin parallel toolbars whereby the row units are freely laterally position-adjustable even across the tractor hitch.

Abstract: Apparatus for depositing discrete articles such as pieces of fruit for a fruit cocktail in a continuously moving line of containers including a circular receptacle having a bottom and a confining rim, the bottom being formed with circular openings adjacent the rim, a plate underlying the receptacle which is imperforate except for a hole in a delivery position and on the circle of said openings to release one or more of such articles to a container, and container transport means including a helical transport underlying the receptacle and moving the containers in a straight line such that each container aligns with the hole in the plate and an opening in the receptacle for receiving one or more articles. Such apparatus preferably is modular with driving means for the receptacle and driving means for the containers which are connectable to and disconnectable from like driving means of other modules. Preferably also a means is provided to adjust the level of the receptacle during operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: A feeder or dispenser for feeding tablets, capsules or the like. A rotor is mounted in a container or feeder body. The capsules put into the container are guided into channels formed at outer edge of the rotor at angular spacings and then into pockets formed nearer to the center of rotation than the channels. The capsules are discharged from the pockets one by one each time the pockets are aligned with a feed opening provided in the bottom plate of the container as the rotor rotates.

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 dispenser for capsules or the like utilizes a turnstile member rotatable in only a single direction to transport the capsules from a reservoir to an exit port. Fingers on the turnstile arms interleave with corresponding fingers on the dispenser housing to prevent a capsule from being rotated beyond the exit port and back into the housing. A propeller member in the reservoir orients the capsules in a predetermined orientation before they are fed into the turnstile member. A cap on the exterior of the housing which rotates the turnstile member utilizes a bayonet-type detent mechanism to bias the cap into successive dispensing positions. The cap must be pushed toward the housing to be rotatable to the next dispensing position.

Abstract: A dispenser for shaped solids, in particular for tablets and pills of very small format, is described. In a cylindrical housing, a dosing device is inserted between a stock container and a collecting chamber, part of the dosing device being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the housing. The dosing device consists of three parts, i.e. (a) a cylindrical ring part from whose inner wall a lug projects radially, (b) a dosing wheel which can be inserted into the ring part and rotated about the longitudinal axis of the housing, and (c) a base part which can be inserted into the dosing wheel. The dosing wheel has a perforated plate with dosing orifices arranged in the peripheral region. A rim projects at right angles from the peripheral edge of the perforated plate, locking notches assigned to the dosing orifices being provided on the inner wall of the rim. The base part is inserted into the rim of the dosing wheel and is provided with an ejection hole for the tablet or pill to be dispensed.

Abstract: A powered seed dispenser for uniformly distributing seeds along the ground which includes a handle carrying a powered driven motor and a pivotally mounted seed distributor which is engaged and driven by the powered driven motor, the seed distributor being constructed of a pair of opposed discs, each disc having a pair of inner and outer sidewalls extending transversely therefrom toward its opposing disc, such discs being constructed and arranged to connect together telescopically in such manner as to create an inner metering chamber and an outer dispensing chamber wherein seeds contained inside the metering chamber discharge through openings in the inner sidewalls from the top portion of the volume of seeds, such seeds then falling into the dispensing chamber defined by the outer sidewalls where they are directed and discharged uniformly through dispensing apertures in the outer sidewalls at a point adjacent to the lowermost point of travel of the dispensing apertures.

Abstract: A system for dispensing components one-at-a-time upon demand for utilization comprises a component handling assembly and a buffer assembly. The component handling assembly receives bulk quantities of the components and when activated, properly orients each component and supplies the components in a randomly timed sequence to the buffer assembly. The buffer assembly comprises a cylindrical upper receiving housing having a plurality of cylindrical through-chambers radially disposed in a circular pattern and rotatable about a central generally vertical axis. A cylindrical lower dispensing member is closely aligned and coaxially rotatable both independently and together with the receiving housing. The dispensing member has a planar upper surface which forms a bottom cover for the chambers in the upper receiving housing and has a single passageway that can be aligned with each of the upper receiving chambers to dispense a component.