Abstract: A container dispenser having a lid and a case housing is disclosed. The dispenser includes an outlet at a bottom portion of the case housing and communicating with a vertical passage, a wing rotating within the case housing and dropping articles into the vertical passage, a cylindrical framework receiving the article through the vertical passage and dropping the same into the outlet while making a rotation in the vertical transfer passage, a rotational means formed in an external portion of the case housing and sequentially rotating the wing and the cylindrical framework; and a sealing means for sealing the framework to prevent the ambient coming in through the outlet from being flowed into the housing.

Abstract: Tablets T contained in a feeder vessel 2 are discharged through a feed port 7 by rotating a rotor 8 provided on the bottom of a feeder vessel 2. The bottom of the feeder vessel 2 is upwardly inclined toward the feed port 7 side. The rotor 8 has a disc-like shape and the outer periphery of the rotor 8 is formed with a substantially U-shaped cutout portion 9. The cutout portion 9 and the bottom of the feeder vessel 2 define a retaining portion 10 for retaining only one of the tablets T. Thus, the tablet feeder is capable of automatically feeding tablets, particularly half-tablets, with a simple and low-cost construction.

Abstract: A modular article dispensing unit for an automatic vending machine includes an article compartment for accommodating articles with a rotatably mounted rotary body at the dispensing opening of the article compartment for the removal and discharge of individual articles from the article compartment. The rotary body has at least one recess which in a removal position is filled with an article from the article compartment and delivers the article after a predetermined rotary movement in a dispensing position. Arranged in the interior of the article compartment is at least one motion member which is set in motion prior to and/or during each rotary movement of the rotary body.

Abstract: A planter apparatus includes a seed meter including a housing assembly with a cover releasably connected to a shell. The housing assembly includes at least one opening formed therein adjacent a seed discharge area to promote the release of seeds from a disc rotatably attached to the housing assembly. The disc divides an interior of the housing assembly to include a vacuum chamber and a seed chamber. The disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc. The planter apparatus may also include a singulator assembly having rotatably spools, a rotatable chute door, a disc having clusters of openings for simultaneous release, and a one-piece baffle.

Abstract: A distributor of horticultural seeds for a sowing agricultural implement, comprising a casing (10) and a disc (20) rotatably mounted inside the casing (10), dividing the latter into a seed chamber (CS) and in a suction chamber (CA) maintained in fluid communication with a suction device and selectively and adjustably connectable with the atmosphere, said disc (20) having at least two rows of holes (21, 22), each comprising a selector (50, 60) having a leading edge extension (51, 61), which is selectively displaced, in order to interfere, upon rotation of the disc (20), with the path of a predetermined part of the seeds which are pneumatically carried in each hole of the respective row of holes (21, 22), so that each hole enters the discharge chamber (CD) carrying a desired number of seeds, the discharge chamber (CD) being opened to discharge channels (15, 16) arranged in such a way as to receive the seeds released from a respective row of holes (21, 22), when they enter the discharge chamber (CD) and to direc

Abstract: A planter apparatus includes a seed meter including a housing assembly with a cover releasably connected to a shell. The housing assembly includes at least one opening formed therein adjacent a seed discharge area to promote the release of seeds from a disc rotatably attached to the housing assembly. The disc divides an interior of the housing assembly to include a vacuum chamber and a seed chamber. The disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc. The planter apparatus may also include a singulator assembly having rotatably spools, a rotatable chute door, a disc having clusters of openings for simultaneous release, and a one-piece baffle.

Abstract: A dispensing device for a container comprises a housing having an open top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion of the housing is attached or permanently affixed to a container opening. An adjustable opening is disposed at the bottom of the housing may be adjusted to permit one of the contents of the container to pass from the housing.

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 medicine is supplied in the form of a number of small units, partial doses, containing a determined, equal quantity of the active medical substance, and a number of these units, which correspond to a predetermined dose quantity, total dose, of the active medical substance are taken out and dispensed to the consumer. A device for the carrying out of the procedure comprises devices for counting and feeding-out of a number of units, partial doses of the medicine, which correspond to a predetermined dose quantity of the active medical substance and for transport of these units to a dispensing device for dispensing of the above-mentioned dose quantity, total dose, to a consumer.

Abstract: A dispenser for elongated rod-like articles. The dispenser has a housing which has a trap chamber rotatable cylinder wherein the trap gravitationally captures from the bottom of a pile, one at a time, one of the rod-like articles and arcuately moves it by means of the cylinder to a downwardly facing position from whence the rod-like article falls onto a chute. The housing is loaded from a cartridge which contains the rod-like articles and is inserted on top of the housing when in use. The cylinder is constructed of a plurality of spaced apart discs each of which has a radially extending notch in alignment with one another to thereby define an elongated trap for the rod-like articles to be dispensed.

Abstract: A candy dispenser that provides a message when a piece of candy is dispensed is provided with a housing adapted to hold candy, an actuating member, a candy dispensing mechanism that releases a piece of candy from the housing when the actuating member is moved and a message mechanism having a plurality of different messages associated therewith. The message mechanism includes a spinner that spins from a first radial position to a second and apparently random radial position when the actuating member is moved. The spinner includes visual indicators corresponding to a characteristic of the piece of candy.

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 tablet dispensing cap that allows an individual who is elderly, infirm, handicapped or visually impaired to dispense a single, non-liquid form through a single-handed operation.

Abstract: A planter apparatus includes a seed meter including a housing assembly with a cover releasably connected to a shell. The housing assembly includes at least one opening formed therein adjacent a seed discharge area to promote the release of seeds from a disc rotatably attached to the housing assembly. The disc divides an interior of the housing assembly to include a vacuum chamber and a seed chamber. The disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc. The planter apparatus may also include a singulator assembly having rotatably spools, a rotatable chute door, a disc having clusters of openings for simultaneous release, and a one-piece baffle.

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 method and an apparatus for the automated loading of integrated circuit carrier tubes into a tube dispensing device in a predetermined, preferred orientation without the attention of a human operator are described. The method utilizes a roller equipped with tube cavities in its peripheral surface and rotates the roller in a clockwise direction for receiving tube carriers from a top hopper-shaped opening and discharging the tube carriers from a bottom opening by gravity.

Abstract: A vending machine for vending a plurality of cans includes a storage means for storing plurality of cans to be vended, an article dispensing rod which is both pivotable and moveable in a vertical direction to control the movement of cans from the storage means to a dispensing station. A coin mechanism is provided having an output shaft operatively connected to the dispensing rod to effect both vertical movement of the dispensing rod and pivotable movement thereof. The movement of the dispensing rod by the output shaft of the coin mechanism enables the dispensing rod to control the movement of cans from the storage means to the dispensing station where the cans can be received by a user of the vending machine. A lockout mechanism is provided to prevent actuation of the coin mechanism and the dispensing rod when there are no cans present to be vended in the can storage means.

Abstract: A vending machine rotor is provided which allows for the holding and subsequent dispensing of two or more bottles from a vending machine. The vending machine rotor provides a reservoir which comprises at least two bottle locations in which bottles may be loaded and then from which the bottles may be dispensed. While loaded in the rotor, cut-outs in the rotor enable the necks of at least two of the bottles to overlap by providing recesses in which the outer surfaces of at least two of the bottles may partially radiate outward from the axis of the vending machine rotor. Finally, a thickened portion of the rotor body may be provided to prevent bottles which exceed a maximum diameter from being used with the rotor of the present invention.

Abstract: A ball can vending machine comprises a cylindrical storage drum including a housing section sized to hold a plurality of ball cans with the longitudinal axes of the cans disposed parallel to the cylindrical axis of the housing section. The housing section includes a forward-facing discharge opening and a rear can-guiding surface, and the storage drum is supported with its disposed horizontally. A retaining plate mounted within the housing section and disposed above the discharge opening slopes downwardly toward the rear can-guiding surface. The vending machine also includes a currency validator that produces an output signal upon receiving a preselected amount of currency. A can dispenser is disposed adjacent the discharge opening such that cans within the housing section are urged by gravity toward the can dispenser along the rear-can-guiding surface.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for dispensing cylindrical objects, the apparatus having a dispensing device comprising a device housing having a dispensing opening, a storage magazine disposed within the device housing for storing the objects, and a dispensing drum rotatably borne in the device housing and having a recess for accepting the objects, the recess communicating with the storage magazine and the dispensing opening. The drum has an axis of rotation substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the objects, and teeth disposed at the recess to push objects seating on the drum away from the drum. The apparatus is particularly well-suited for dispensing rolls of coins without damage to same and without jamming.

Abstract: An ampule dispenser for dispensing ampules from an ampule container in which a plurality of ampules are stored in a disorderly manner. It has a stocker for stocking ampules discharged from the ampule container. The stocker has a bottom wall sloping downward both in a first direction in which ampules are discharged from the ampule container and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A cylindrical rotor is provided in the bottom wall at one side thereof for rotation in one direction. The rotor has axial grooves formed in the outer periphery thereof and extending axially to receive a single ampule discharged at a time.

Abstract: An improved automated immunoassay analyzer including a high throughput automated immunoassay system which can perform high volume testing on a broad range of analytes while selecting from among a diverse set of immunoassays for any given sample. The immunoanalyzer has the capacity to perform a wide range of different types of immunoassays by facile storage and automated combination aboard the instrument among a wide variety of different types of reagents and heterogenous immunoassay beads stored on-board the instrument. The automated design allows reduced user interface (e.g., tests are performed automatically from computer input) including the ability to order, perform and reassay tests reflexively based on test results without operator intervention. Further, the inventive analyzer is not sample tube specific; that is, an instrument that can accept sample tube sizes within a broad size range.

Abstract: A medicine vial dispensing apparatus includes a housing for storing medicine vials in a substantially axially horizontal storage orientation and a dispensing assembly for dispensing the vials in an upright orientation. The preferred embodiment includes a pair of spaced, resilient arms having respective, inwardly extending prongs that receive a vial therebetween. A slotted, rotating wheel receives a vial in the storage orientation and places it between the prongs. The closed end of the vial slips by one of the prongs while the other prong holds the interior surface of the open end until the vial attains a substantially upright orientation.

Abstract: A picking apparatus which is capable of automatic retrieval of a selected number and kinds of cylindrical objects from stocks of such objects includes a plurality of storage sections arranged side-by-side, each storage section containing a different kind or type of cylindrical object. A discharge means is provided at a lower part of each storage section in order to discharge cylindrical objects one at a time from the storage section. A conveyor extends along the course of the storage sections and conveys discharged objects to a single location. A control unit is provided to control the discharge means of the respective storage sections so that the necessary number and kinds of cylindrical objects are retrieved therefrom.

Abstract: A golf ball dispenser formed of a plurality of transparent tubular golf ball containers attached by a mounting bridge member and a strap. A connector on the strap permits attaching the dispenser to a rigid object. Each container includes a loading opening and a dispensing opening. A pivotable golf ball dispensing cradle, located at the dispensing opening and spring biased in a normally closed position, is actuated by a lever to transport a golf ball from within the tubular container through the dispensing opening for removal by a golfer.

Abstract: A motorized tablet dispenser provides a tablet hopper mechanism suitable for storage of an entire prescription of tablets. A disk-like loading plate is carried at the base of the tablet hopper, and provides radially arrayed tablet voids and a spur gear perimeter. The loading plate is rotated by means of a high torque, low speed, geared motor. Each major type, size and shape of tablet is associated with a loading plate having voids sized to fit that tablet, and any loading plate may be installed in a dispenser. An easily operated pushbutton mechanism translates linear motion along a vertical axis into angular motion about a horizontal axis of a tablet transfer mechanism. A single tablet is moved from the loading plate into a recess in the tablet transfer mechanism. The interface between the cylindrical surface on the tablet transfer mechanism and the planar loading plate prevents jamming.

Abstract: A device for releasing the products in a vending machine includes a structure for containing the stack of products consisting in a front plate (1) and a rear plate (2) to which two flanks (3a, 3b) and two walls (4a, 4b) are secured, a pair of rocker levers (5a, 5b) and a revolving basket (6) being rotatably mounted inside structure for alternately supporting the two staggered columns forming the stack of products and for releasing the products. The driving components, which impart a unidirectional revolving motion to the basket (6), and the controlling components of the rockers (5a, 5b), which consist in a pair of cams (14) which rotate at half the revolving speed of the basket (6), are positioned outside said structure.

Abstract: The dispenser and rack for a roll of paper, plastic, or foil, which comprises a magazine for generally vertical disposition having an open bottom, and the inside dimensions of the magazine are sufficient to accommodate at least one roll. A paddle is mounted in the magazine, and a handle affixed to the paddle extends from an opening in the magazine and is free to be moved along the opening so as to actuate the paddle between a lower-most position and an upper-most position. The paddle is arranged so when in its lower-most position, it obstructs the open bottom so as to prevent a roll from dropping from the magazine; and when the paddle is actuated to its upper-most position, clearance is provided to allow a roll to drop from the magazine. A suitable bracket depends from the magazine beneath the open bottom, and the paddle allows one roll a time to drop from the magazine for engagement with the bracket, and is revolvedly mounted on the bracket, thereby exposing the roll for use.

Abstract: A container which is filled with an array of parallel hollow cylinders of cigarette paper is opened at the top and is overlapped by a retractible temporary cover prior to being partially inverted onto a downwardly sloping top wall of a magazine. The cover is thereupon retracted and the top wall is pivoted to permit entry of cylinders from the interior of the container into a chamber of te magazine. Such cylinders are thereupon caused or permitted to enter the flutes of an indexible drum-shaped conveyor which transports the cylinders seriatim to a station where successive cylinders receive rod-like fillers of particulate material, such as comminuted smokable material.

Abstract: An ammunition feed mechanism for an automatic or semiautomatic weapon which includes a mechanism for retarding the cyclic feeding of ammunition into the chamber of the weapon. The mechanism for retarding the cyclic feeding of ammunition includes an impeder which engages the bolt of the weapon. The ammunition feed mechanism also includes a magazine having a ramped bottom which directs ammunition projectiles to an exit therein where the ammunition projectiles are fed into the chamber of the weapon. The magazine includes a plurality of curved projections in the bottom which define a plurality of spaces into which the ammunition projectiles are received. The plurality of curved projections also guide the ammunition projectiles through the exit.

Abstract: Automated teller machine for dispensing coin rolls, comprising one or more vertical coin roll (2) dispensing wheels (9), the rolls are arranged in chutes (10) radially disposed about its rotational axis (11). Each wheel is enclosed in a circular fairing (12) which comprises, in the upper portion, a window (13) for loading the coin rolls and, in the lower portion, a window (14) for dispensing by gravity the coin rolls. The lower dispensing widow cooperates with elements (19) for controlling a receptacle (15) for opening and closing the latter, elements for controlling the dispensing receptacle and elements (20) for stepwise rotation of the wheel.

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 method and apparatus for loading a bobbin core from a plurality of bobbin cores onto a bobbin winding device. A plurality of stacked bobbin cores are received into a first end of a first chute. The first chute has a second end positioned adjacent to a rotatable hub. A bobbin core from the plurality of stacked bobbin cores in the first chute is received into a bobbin core holder on the rotatable hub. The rotatable hub is then rotated with hub driving means such that the bobbin core holder on the rotatable hub moves from the second end of the first chute to a first end of a second chute, the first end of the second chute being positioned adjacent to the rotatable hub. The second chute also includes a second end positioned adjacent to the bobbin winding device. The bobbin core previously received into the bobbin core holder is then dispensed onto the bobbin winding device by passing the bobbin core through the second chute.

Abstract: A safe box is provided with currency containers and a plurality of separate currency chutes with time delay access for security. Manually operated apparatus is provided for aligning and releasing containers into the chutes as well as manually operated drawers for selecting and dispensing only one container from the chutes during any time delay. A door is provided in the front panel for access to the interior of the safe box and the front panel of the safe box is hinged to open the box for servicing.

Abstract: A compact and lightweight ball bearing feeding device for use in connection with a production process. The device is easily adapted to be mounted at any point along such production process and includes a canister for maintaining a supply of ball bearings, a loading tube for transferring ball bearings from the canister to a two-position loading device, the loading device which places an individual ball bearing in an ejecting position and a delivery tube through which a ball bearing may be delivered to a desired production point. The device does not require any electrical power, employs pneumatic actuation for its operation, automatically senses when a supply of ball bearings is running low and minimizes the introduction of contaminants and magnetism into the ball bearings.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing reagent spheres from a vial includes a housing with an inlet through which the reagent spheres are received from the vial. Within the housing is a dispensing tube which forms a passageway for the reagent spheres and which has a first relatively large section in communication with the inlet and a funnel section in which the passageway reduces in cross section to a narrower linearizing section. The cross sectional area of the linearizing section is only slightly larger than one of the reagent spheres being dispensed. A metering shaft extends across and blocks the linearizing section of the passageway. The metering shaft has a depression for conveying one reagent sphere at a time between portions of linearizing section when the metering shaft is rotated 180 degrees. A gear on the metering shaft meshes with teeth on a plunger which is slidably mounted to the housing.

Abstract: A dispenser include a housing with an inlet through which reagent pills are received from a vial. Within the housing is a dispensing tube that forms a pill passageway which has a first portion of relatively large cross section adjacent the inlet and a funnel portion in which the passageway reduces in cross section to a narrower linearizing portion. The dispensing tube has a series of ridges on an exterior surface. A metering shaft extends across the linearizing portion and has a depression for conveying one reagent pill at a time between sections of the linearizing portion when the metering shaft is rotated. A gear on the metering shaft is meshes with teeth on a plunger which is slidably mounted in the housing. The plunger also has a member projecting therefrom and against dispensing tube. A user pressing the plunger causes the metering shaft to rotate transferring a reagent pill to a portion of the passageway connected to the outlet of the housing and thereby ejects that reagent pill from the housing.

Abstract: The seed metering method and apparatus utilizes a bank of individual metering discs within a pressurized singulating chamber wherein the seed cups around the peripheral edge of each disc are communicated with an air exhaust port through internal passages in the discs, thus, causing the seeds to cling to the seed cups as the discs rotate upwardly through the collection of seeds from the pressurized tank. As the seeds reach the far side of their circular path of travel on the discs, the access of the seed cups to the exhaust ports is terminated, allowing the seeds to release from the discs and drop into strategically located venturies associated with powerful conveying air streams. The venturies have the effect of sucking the released seeds instantly into the air streams so that the regular seed spacing established by the metering discs is maintained as the seeds enter the air transferring portion of the system.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for storing, advancing and replacing paper rolls. The apparatus comprises a vertical magazine for storing paper rolls in a vertical column, a pivotal cradle for advancing the bottom roll while holding back the next following roll, and a cammed-spindle mechanism for replacing a spent spool on a spindle with the bottom roll. A single mechanical impetus accomplishes these functions. Also disclosed is a method of using the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading a bobbin core from a plurality of bobbin cores onto a bobbin winding device. A plurality of stacked bobbin cores are received into a first end of a first chute. The first chute has a second end positioned adjacent to a rotatable hub. A bobbin core from the plurality of stacked bobbin cores in the first chute is received into a bobbin core holder on the rotatable hub. The rotatable hub is then rotated with hub driving means such that the bobbin core holder on the rotatable hub moves from the second end of the first chute to a first end of a second chute, the first end of the second chute being positioned adjacent to the rotatable hub. The second chute also includes a second end positioned adjacent to the bobbin winding device. The bobbin core previously received into the bobbin core holder is then dispensed onto the bobbin winding device by passing the bobbin core through the second chute.

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: A parts supply apparatus adapted to supply a part, such as a bolt (3) or a nut (41), which is engaged with a free end of a supply rod (4) capable of being turned and axially moved, to an object place. A retainer member (11) for retaining a part, such as a bolt or a nut temporarily is moved between a part receiving position and a part delivering position in which a part is positioned coaxially with the supply rod (4), or between a part transfer position and a retreating position, and a part is delivered to the supply rod (4) in the part delivering position. A detecting device (23) for ascertaining that a part is held normally on the retainer member (11) is provided.

Abstract: A dispenser apparatus for use in dispensing disposable stethoscope diaphragms for removable attachment to a stethoscope head is disclosed. The apparatus operates by removing a diaphragm from a stack, and presenting it for attachment to a stethoscope, when a dispensing plate is shuttled between retracted and extended positions. Also disclosed is a method for reducing the risk of infection by stethoscope use.

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: A small, wall mounted, coin operated vending machine vends individual tubed cigarettes directly from a cigarette manufacturer's original cigarette container. The machine has a removable hopper for loading and holding the cartons of tubed cigarettes. The cigarettes in the hopper are picked up one at a time in a slot of a dispensing member that is rotated by the coin mechanism. The dispensing member may have a plurality of slots to allow for the dispensing of a predetermined number of tubed cigarettes for each turn of the coin mechanism. Agitators may be placed on the dispenser to insure proper feeding of cigarettes into a dispenser slot. The coin mechanism may also be adapted to use tokens only. A "cheater" feature prevents dispensing of more cigarettes than have been properly purchased.

Abstract: A tennis ball handling system in which a first storage container (1) for many tennis balls (2) is filled at the tennis ball producer with new tennis balls suitable for play, is transported to an installation site, such as a sporting goods store, tennis facility, etc. and installed at the installation site, a second storage container for many tennis balls is filled at the installation site with used tennis balls that are no longer suitable for play and in which the used balls are transported back to the tennis ball producer or to a recycling operation and emptied there, and reusable player's storage containers that can be bought, rented, borrowed in a deposit system or acquired at no cost by the player, are filled with a small number of new tennis balls (2) that are removed from the first storage container (1) for use by the tennis player, and from which used tennis balls (2) that are no longer suitable for play are emptied by the player into the second storage container at the installation site.

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: Article dispensing display device includes a picture frame and an article-holding reservoir disposed within the picture frame. An article dispensing chute is associated with the picture frame for dispensing articles from the reservoir, and is controlled by an article-metering device configured to dispense one or more articles at a time.

Abstract: A vending machine (10) includes three individual vendors (28), each of which dispenses cigarettes (20) one at a time. Cigarettes (20) are loaded into a holding bin (50) via a loading box (30) having a removable, horizontal floor (62). The cigarettes (20) reside in the holding bin (50) in a horizontal orientation. The holding bin (50) feeds the cigarettes to a slot (102) in a cylindrical, horizontally disposed dispensing member (52). The dispensing member (52) rotates in a single direction under the control of a coin mechanism (22). As the coin mechanism rotates, an agitator (124) cooperates with dimensioning in the holding bin (50) to prevent arches or bridges from forming and to insure that a cigarette (20) is fed into the slot (102). Continued rotation of the dispensing member (52) causes the cigarette (20) contained within the slot (102) to pass out of the holding bin (50) and fall into a dispensing tray ( 54).

Abstract: A tablet dispenser includes a housing of rectangular configuration about the size of a credit card and formed with a compartment for holding a plurality of tablets, e.g., artificial sweetener tablets. The compartment is of a thickness only slightly greater than the thickness of the tablets to be dispensed such as to accommodate a single layer of tablets within the compartment. The housing is formed with an opening at one of the corners of the rectangle for dispensing tablets from the compartment, and a pivotal dispensing member is provided to dispense a single tablet from the compartment through the opening.