Abstract: A reagent feeder which can to be used in both a finger-push system and a slide system by only attaching and detaching a simple auxiliary component to and from a case body depending on the state of operation or a preference of the operator. The feeder includes a case body, a sphere discharge port and a discharge device, so as to discharge a sphere one by one by pushing down the discharge device. The discharge device is provided with an operation lever which extends out of the case body and can be pushed down by a finger. A slide cover surrounding an outer periphery of the case body is attached to the case body in such a way that it can be moved freely in a vertical direction and can be detached from the case body. The slide cover is engaged with the operation lever of the discharge device so that it can be moved integrally with the discharge device.

Abstract: An apparatus for agitating filters in a feed hopper from which the filters are fed pneumatically to a filter attaching machine. The hopper drive apparatus includes an independent drive and speed reducer mechanism that drives the filter agitators as long as the filter attaching machine receives filters. The agitation system uses a stand alone independent drive system that uses a timing belt to drive the agitators. This agitation system provides a means for operating with fragile, segmented charcoal filters in that the filters are permitted to move up and down more freely than with conventional agitation devices, allowing more room for incoming filters from the receiver and reducing damage to the filters and jamming of the filters in the transfer system.

Abstract: An article storage rack apparatus for storing and dispensing articles in first-in, first-out order comprises side-by-side columns of slant racks, in which alternate slant racks in each column are inclined downwardly in opposite direction. Articles are introduced onto the topmost slant rack and slide downward by gravity to successively lower slant racks. The articles are transferred from a slant rack to the next lower slant rack by a transfer mechanism comprising tables which are movable vertically and tiltable. The articles are maintained in the same orientation as they slide down the array of slant racks. At the lower end of the bottom slant rack, the articles are dispensed, by a tilting table dispenser, in the same order in which they were introduced onto the top slant rack.

Abstract: An apparatus for vending spherical objects such as golf balls including a housing from which the balls are loaded onto the upper end of an inclined row of parallel tracks thereby forming a column of balls in each track. A rotatable horizontal shaft is located adjacent to the lower end of the tracks. Tines are secured to the shaft such that, as the shaft rotates, the lowermost ball in each column is scooped up successively by the tines and deposited in a chute leading to a bucket. The tines are located in staggered positions on the shaft so that the number of balls discharged into the bucket depends on the length of time that the shaft rotates. A buyer may select his/her desired number of balls by inserting coins into slots that activate one of a number of timers having various time periods.

Abstract: A portable cabinet for effecting the cooling of beverage containers by utilization of a thermoelectric cooling unit comprises a rectilinear cabinet having spaced inner and outer walls formed of plastic and having the space between filled with a foam plastic. An upper container insertion opening and a lower container removal opening is provided in the front wall of the cabinet. A core block is inserted within the inner walls of the container and cooperates with the inner wall surfaces of the cabinet to define a channel extending in a downward direction between the insertion opening and the discharge opening, thereby permitting an inserted cylindrical container to roll through the channel under the influence of gravity.

Abstract: Parts are fed at an optimum speed to a device installed at the end of a feed passage. The invention is characterized in that the basic arrangement comprises a device for once stopping a part, the device being disposed at a position separated a required distance from the parts holding device, and in that a movable shield member is installed at the side to which parts and the feed rod are advanced. Further, the arrangement is applicable to a stud welding apparatus.

Abstract: A golf ball washer feeds wet balls into an air moving transport mechanism that drys the balls as they are carried to one of a number of dispensers. The wet balls move by gravity down an inclined infeed chute to a load station where each ball is supported on a flow disrupting ramp, and the transport conduit includes a necked down area at the load station which cooperates with the ramp to disrupt the air flow thereby avoiding the tendency of a spherical golf ball to remain suspended in the column of air rather than being moved downstream through the conduit. Each dispenser has an intermittently driven drum with radially outwardly open pockets to provide predetermined numbers of balls to a basket at the discharge station of the dispenser.

Abstract: A golf ball storage and dispensing device for transport in a golfer's bag that is operated to dispense, on demand, a single golf ball into a golfer's hand and consists of a tubular housing, that can be straight or cane shaped, and is for containing a column of golf balls that are supported on a spring biased platform therein to urge that column towards an open ball dispensing end of which tubular housing. A dispenser is provided across the dispensing end of the tubular housing that involves in one embodiment, a pivoting cup and, in another embodiment, a piston that is arranged to slide in a cylindrical sleeve, the piston to pickup and dispense a single golf ball when moved across the open tubular housing end. Both embodiments provide for depressing and locking the platform to load a column of golf balls therein, whereafter the platform is released, the spring biasing urging the column of golf balls against the dispenser.

Abstract: An air seed meter which dispenses individual seeds supplied by a seed hopper into a furrow at a controlled rate as the meter and others like it are advanced over the ground has a generally cylindrical housing containing a rotatable seed disk. As the seed disk is rotated past a mass of seeds on one side thereof, a plurality of seed cells formed by recesses in the surface of the seed disk at one or more circumferential rows of holes adjacent the outer periphery of the seed disk mechanically accelerate and eventually capture therein individual seeds from the seed mass. The individual seeds are held within the cells by a pressure differential created by a vacuum source coupled to the inside of the housing on the opposite side of the seed disk until the cells reach a discharge area. At the discharge area, the effects of the vacuum are cut off so as to release the individual seeds from the cells for discharge through a chute at the bottom of the housing to a seed furrow below.

Abstract: A device for reducing cigarette consumption is provided and consists of a container having a hopper compartment therein for holding a plurality of cigarettes. A cover is hinged to the container for normally closing the hopper compartment. A mechanism is carried in the container for allowing the dispensing of one cigarette at a time from the hopper compartment at predetermined timed intervals to make a person cut down on the amount of cigarettes they smoked.

Abstract: A tablet dispenser for housing a roll of tablets that are wrapped in a foil (or other protective material), and for sequentially removing tablets from the roll by cutting the foil. In one preferred embodiment, the roll is loaded at one end of a hollow case. A cap that attaches to the case via pivot means is located at the end of the case opposite its loading end. With the cap in a closed position, the roll is pressed in as far as possible so that the end-most tablet (to be dispensed) snugly fits to the entire interior of the cap. The cap has teeth along an interior wall. In the process of opening the cap, the teeth cut the foil and lift a tablet from the roll. When the cap is in its closed position, the roll is sealed from dust and other adverse environmental conditions.

Abstract: A device for sorting rod-like articles, for example cigarettes, according to their weight. The device feeds a single article from a hopper into a channel with the aid of two ribbed drums. The article then drops into a groove in a delivery shaft where it is tipped onto a series of "V"-shaped members located on the top of a balance. The weight of the article is determined and the article is then ejected by lifting arms onto the top wall of a ramp. The article is allowed to roll freely down the ramp. A microprocessor causes one of a number of doors in the top wall of the ramp to open according to the weight of the aritcle and the article then drops into a compartment below the ramp.

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

Abstract: A coin roll dispensing mechanism for use in dispensing coin rolls from a safe, the mechanism includes a coin roll dispenser for selectively distributing individual coin rolls, electrically operated solenoids to prevent operation of the dispenser and a first electrically operated combination entry device to disengage the solenoids. The safe door has a door handle, a plurality of bolts, a bolt works to manipulate the bolts, and electronic lock to restrict manipulation of the bolt works and a second electrically operated combination entry device to disengage the electronic lock. Upon entry of a first code sequence, the user can select a coin roll to be dispensed. To unlock the safe, a second code sequence is entered, which disables the electronic lock, allowing manual manipulation of the door handle.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating seeds includes a seed supply portion having a rotating drum with a small aperture for attracting a seed by vacuum created inside the drum and which is broken at a predetermined rotational position, and a gel-coating portion having a cylindrical cutting plunger disposed inside of a nozzle body for opening and closing a gel flow channel and forming a gel-coating layer. A curing vessel having a curing agent flow channel and a spray nozzle for washing the coated seeds are also provided.

Abstract: A tablet dispensing container comprehending a tubular sleeve, a reciprocating element and a locking mechanism. The tubular sleeve forms the container and has two opposing openings therein; a dispensing opening in the lower end and a reciprocating element opening in the upper end. The reciprocating element is attached to the tubular sleeve and is biased toward the upper end. A user manually depresses the reciprocating element which forces the end with the tablet accommodating mechanism through the dispensing opening thereby dispensing a tablet. A locking mechanism prevents the reciprocating element from reciprocating when in a locked position. The locking mechanism permits reciprocation of the reciprocating element when in the unlocked position. The locking mechanism is adapted to remain in either the locked or the unlocked position until manually moved to the other position. Preferably, the locking mechanism includes a visual signal which indicates when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position.

Abstract: A storage chamber large enough to store a predetermined number of probe covers is formed into a dispenser body. A spring biases the probe covers toward one end of the chamber at which is located a slide. The slide has an indentation used to retrieve a single probe cover from the chamber at a time when aligned with the chamber. Located in the indentation is an aperture tube for receiving a probe of the instrument to be covered. The probe is pressed into the probe cover and into the aperture thus causing the probe cover to stretch and cover the probe. A flange formed on the slide is pressed by a user to align the indentation of the slide with the chamber. The slide is spring loaded so that releasing the flange will result in the slide moving such that the identation is located outside the chamber and the retrieved probe cover can be applied to the instrument. A door in the dispenser is raised to allow access to the chamber for the insertion of a stack of probe covers.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention are devices for the automatic dispensing of bottles, notably in flexible material.The technical sector of the invention is that of the manufacture of automatic vending machines of drinks in individual containers, of the bottle type, particularly of plastic and containing mineral water.According to the invention the following devices consist of a drum (8) capable of rotation, which receives bottles (6) rolling from a chute (4), fed by ramps (15) set alternately. At each command by the customer for dispensing bottle, a chain drive system (9) provides this drum with an exact turn of rotation and makes the bottle fall into a hatch (7) accessible to the customer. When it returns to its resting position, the drum is reloaded with a new bottle, previously held in a waiting position by a stop mechanism (11) and the bottom of the drum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the individual feeding of studs or bolts 2 or pins 2', arranged one after the other between guide rails 1, to at least one bolt outlet, 3, 4, blasted with blowing air, and leading to a bolt-welding device. According to the invention, a rotor 5 is provided with at least two outlet slots 6, 7, for each bolt 2, this rotor 5 being arranged rotatably alternately between guide rails 1 and one or at least two bolt-welding devices or the bolt outlets 3, 4.

Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for manufacturing bakery products wherein a main drive motors powers feeding means for advancing rows of individual dough packets step-wise along an assembly line to a Ferris-wheel type conveyor including rows of cups into which individual dough packets are deposited row by row. The Ferris-wheel type conveyor is driven by the main drive motor to advance the rows of cup means step-wise row by row. The novel machine includes an inclined table with a surface over which the individual dough packets slide as the dough packets are advanced by the feeding means to the Ferris-wheel type conveyor. The table terminates at a lower end thereof near the Ferris-wheel type conveyor. A gate comprising a roller member with receptacles is positioned to receive the individual dough packets as the packets fall off the table member and into aligned receptacles. The roller has three rows of receptacles, with each row spaced apart from adjacent rows by 120.degree.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing cotton rolls. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus which may be supported on a work table, credenza, sideboard or the like in use in an operating room such as a dental operatory for readily supplying users such as dentists, surgeons, and assistants with absorbtive cotton rolls. The dispenser has a base which defines a delivery chute portion having horizontally spaced apart, upwardly directed surfaces, to which rolls are dispensed from a reservoir formed in part by a pair of planar lower wall portions, each lying on a plane parallel to said axis of rotation and diverging upwardly from a juncture line below the location of the axis of rotation of a dispensing wheel, and which direct rolls to the dispensing wheel which is mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis spaced above the delivery chute.

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 fastener driving apparatus is disclosed which comprises a vibrating feed hopper, a fastener feed assembly for receiving the fasteners from the hopper and serially delivering the fasteners to a discharge tube which leads to an automatic screwdriver. The fastener feed assembly comprises a body member which mounts a slide for transverse sliding movement between a first position wherein the fastener is received in a notch in the slide, and a second position where the fastener is delivered to a discharge opening which leads to the discharge tube and to the screwdriver. A first air line system is provided for moving the slide toward the first or fastener receiving position, and for concurrently injecting air into the discharge opening to move a fastener previously positioned in the tube to the screwdriver. A second air line is provided for directing a stream of air into contact with the fastener at the second position so as to positively move the fastener into the discharge opening.

Abstract: A display package is described. It comprises a backing sheet and a blister piece which combine to simulate a vending machine. The upper bowl portion of the simulated vending machine is filled with gum balls and a dispensing mechanism is disposed in the base portion of the simulated vending machine. A knob is rotated to dispense individual gum balls from the package. A breakaway tab provides means for deterring tampering and must be removed in order to dispense the gum balls.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically supplying long-continuous blanks comprises a hopper formed with a front wall having a V-shaped cut-off, a rear wall and an open bottom portion; a disk provided at its circumferential portion with at least one notch to receive a single blank, the disk being rotatable with an angular rotation of 90 degrees; and rollers and drum rollers for transferring the single blank to a subsequent machining station. The apparatus may further be provided with a pusher for pushing up and down the blanks in the hopper and a sensor interlinked with the pusher for carrying out efficiently the feeding operation of the blanks.

Abstract: This vending machine includes a housing frame (12) subdivided into vertical columns (1-8) adapted to receive cylindrical articles (C). Elongate, rotatable support members (60) are provided below each column for supporting the column of articles, which tend to rotate under the weight of the articles. A ratchet wheel (70) and pawl member (80) assembly provided at one end of each support member provides a release mechanism controlling rotation of the support member incident to dispensing an article. The release mechanism associated with a selected column is actuated by an indexing member (94) carried by an endless loop (100) driven by an electric motor (M). The indexing member is positioned adjacent one of the pawl members to dispense an article by moving an associated pawl member into and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel in response to customer selection.

Abstract: A combination spot seeder and tree harvesting mechanism which has a cylindrical seed canister with a top filler opening and a bottom dispensing opening. The spot seeder has a shaft with a seed pocket milled in it which shaft is slideably fitted within the dispensing opening for movement between a retracted position with the seed pocket inside the seed canister and an extended position with the seed pocket outside the seed canister. The seed pocket and the dispensing opening both have rounded edges to minimize damage to the seeds as the seed pocket is closed off by the dispensing opening. The spot seeder is mounted on a feller-buncher head, and the shaft is activated by each cutting stroke of the feller-buncher head.

Abstract: A V-shaped hopper is comprised of a pair of opposing linkages each formed of a lower angularly disposed rectangular plate hinged to an upper angularly disposed rectangular plate to form a hinged corner joint. Each linkage is mounted on a vertical sidewall of a rectangular opening with the bottom of its lower rectangular plate pivotally connected to the bottom thereof and with the top of its upper rectangular plate confined by retaining means thereon to move along the vertical plane thereof. Limiting means is also provided to limit the downward movement of opposing linkages when their hinged corner joints lie adjacent to each other. Upon dropping a plurality of dough balls into the V shaped hopper formed by the upper rectangular plates of the opposing linkages, one settles in the V bottom thereof and the others thereover.

Abstract: The dispenser includes a bin which is adjustable for width, and a release mechanism attached to the bin externally of its outlet. The mechanism comprises a sliding shutter and a baffle, vertically disposed and breasted in mutual contact. The shutter is provided with a slot of adjustable height and moves vertically between a raised receiving position and a lowered knockout position at which the packet of coins is ejected from the slot. The baffle is urged against the shutter by the weight of the packets of coin emerging from the outlet of the bin and thus accompanies the shutter at least through part of its vertical travel.

Abstract: An article dispenser of the type having a sphere enclosed vessel, the sphere having at least one cavity for transferring an article, such as a pill, from inside the vessel to outside the vessel, employs a novel improvement in the manner of suspending the sphere on the vessel. Specifically, a cradle bridging the opening of the vessel provides a track of arcuate shape and the sphere has an annular groove of appropriate depth to form a central shaft for rotatably engaging the track. The sphere is readily removable for refilling the vessel and for assembly. A plurality of diagonally oriented guards assure free rotation of the sphere with articles being transferred in the cavity.

Abstract: A continuous processing machine for bending long metal rods includes a rod bundle handling machine for separating a bundle of rods and advancing the rods one after the other, a rod cutting station and a rod bending station provided downstream of the handling machine for cutting and subsequently bending the rods. Transfer means are provided for transferring the rods from station to station.

Abstract: A continuous process for bending long metal rods comprises separating and feeding a bundle of rods and advancing the rods one by one to a rod cutting station downstream, cutting the rods and feeding them to a rod bending station downstream of the cutting station, and subsequently bending the rods and removing them from the machine.

Abstract: The device for testing or processing small electrical component parts having end face contacts includes an endless conveyor belt having a plurality of holes therein that are sized to fit the electrical components. The belt also includes a second parallel row of positioning holes. A component container maneuvers a single component into a complementary hole in the belt. A measurement and/or processing station includes a swing arm which extends across and above the belt and which moves towards the belt. On the swing arm is a pin-like positioning element that depends vertically from the swing arm and has a conical or spherical point. The diameter of the pin is slightly greater than the diameter of the positioning hole on the belt thereby providing an air cushioning effect when the pin approaches the belt. The swing arm also includes a contact element that contacts the end face contacts of the electrical component located in the component hole.

Abstract: A device for dispensing granular media or tablets in portions from a supply space therein is disclosed. The device comprises a casing having an outlet sealable by a normally closed spring-loaded tappet. The device also includes an actuating system located within a recess in the outer walls of the casing. The tappet emerges from an internal wall within the casing. The wall forms an internal shaft for supporting the tappet and spaces the tappet from the outer walls of the casing. The internal wall also forms a space between an outer walls and a supply space which is open towards the recess and allows for easy formation of the casing. The supply space has a lower portion from which there extends a duct which forms the outlet for the device. The tappet has an opening therethrough at a lower end thereof capable of being moved in front of the duct when in a dispensing position. The supply space is then sealed by an insert located within the lower portion of the supply space.

Abstract: With a metering dispenser (1) for compactates with a compactate store (3) and a metering disk (4) arranged pivotably around an axis (A) with respect to the store, containing several chambers (27) for accommodating individual compactates, in order to perform dispensing with sufficient reliability in the quantitative dispensing of the individual components in the household sector, given an essentially cylindrical design as well as relative rotatability of the store (3) and the metering disk (4) around the cylinder axis (A) the combination is provided with a metering cup (2) for liquid or free-flowing product. The metering dispenser (1) can be formed as a closure for a storage container accommodating one of the components, so that a multi-component package is present.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for simultaneously dispensing a plurality of golf balls are disclosed. A housing member having a plurality of guide members therein is provided for guiding the plurality of balls therethrough into a holding member suitable for being operably connected to a conventional coin dispenser. The manually operated, coin activated, dispenser is operated to allow the plurality of balls to be dispensed into a basket-like member for easy access to a user or player.

Abstract: A mechanism for transferring chip components from a supply source onto a conveyor. A manifold of individual disc members receive the component from a supply and rotate to position the component onto a conveyor. A drive crank rotates the disc from the receiving to the release position and sensors tell a machine control the position of the component and the disc.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing particulate material in a predetermined pattern over a subjacent surface. The apparatus includes an elongated hopper having a downwardly facing discharge mouth. A rotary dispensing shaft extends the length of the mouth. The shaft has a plurality of material receiving grooves formed to extend longitudinally thereof and sized to receive predetermined amounts of particulate material. Positioned about the shaft member and extending the length thereof is an elongated cylindrical sleeve which is mounted for selective rotation relative to the shaft with its exterior surface in sealing engagement with the mouth of the hopper. First and second circumferentially spaced, generally longitudinally extending openings are formed through the sleeve.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating and distributing granular goods includes a housing and a bucket wheel rotatable in the housing, the bucket wheel having an outer receiving side and an inner side along with a plurality of spaced-through holes extending between the inner side and the receiving side. An intake on the housing supplies granular goods to the receiving side of the bucket wheel and a discharge on the housing discharges the granular goods from the housing, the discharge being circumferentially spaced from the intake. An ejector is disposed within the bucket wheel and faces the inner side of the bucket wheel while a conduit supplies compressed air to the ejector, the ejector having a compressed air outlet directed toward the inner side of the bucket wheel such that the compressed air passing through the outlet acts on the through holes during rotation of the bucket wheel.

Abstract: In a manual sowing apparatus a cell wheel 132 is provided which is drivable by a wheel disk 116 directly or via a reduction gear and which conveys the grain seeds from a receiving chamber via pockets disposed in the wheel to a discharge station. A plurality of cell wheels are associated with each apparatus and can be fixed via a bayonet coupling on a support drum 72. Cell wheels which are not in use can be accommodated in a receiver 104. A resilient scraper is disposed at the discharge end of the receiving chamber and prevents jamming of the cell wheel by scraping off grains when they are too large or when there are too many in a pocket, while grains projecting a slight extent can pass beneath the scraper.

Abstract: Cigarettes are transferred by a rotatable device from the exit ends of guide channels in a receiving funnel to a device which arranges the cigarettes in layers for subsequent formation of cigarette blocks to be wrapped. The rotatable transfer device consists of a drum provided with spaced groups of cigarette receiving grooves on its periphery, the receiving funnel and the layer-forming device being generally oppositely situated with respect to the drum and being vertically separated whereby gravity feed to and discharge from the drum may be effected. A mechanism for insuring that cigarettes will be fed from the receiving means to all of the grooves of each group on the drum at the same time is associated with the drum.

Abstract: A gravity feeding pill dispenser is provided and consists of a device for dispensing pills from each aperture of a plurality of apertures on a caddy disc that is rotatably mounted to a shaft on a weighted base plate.

Abstract: In a seed meter in which a pressure differential is utilized in conjunction with a rotating seed disk having a circumferential row of seed cells therein to pick up individual seeds from a seed mass and deliver the seeds to a seed discharge area, the seed cells are uniquely configured for use with seeds such as sunflower seeds which are of relatively long and slender configuration and of relatively low mass. Each seed cell includes a teardrop shaped recess in the side surface of the disk having an aperture extending through the disk from the bottom thereof to communicate the pressure differential to a seed held within the recess. The seed cell includes a projection extending outwardly from the side surface of the disk and having a surface generally continuous with the back wall of the seed cell so as to aid in picking up and retaining a seed within the recess in addition to providing agitation of the seed mass prior to pickup of the seed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus which is applicable such as, for example, an automatic golf ball dispenser, and comprises a ball magazine floor which consists of a number of tracks for golf balls so that these are arranged in rows after one another, the ends of the tracks being combined to form a pivotal cradle whose depth corresponds to one golf ball, whereby each pivoting of the cradle entails emptying of only that number of golf balls which is present in the cradle.

Abstract: A firewood log storing and dispensing apparatus including a furniture-type cabinet housing having an upright log storage compartment in which logs are vertically stacked, a log delivery opening at the lower end of the compartment of a predetermined size adapted for passage therethrough of one log, and a closure mechanism mounted in the housing to extend across the delivery opening for selectively obstructing and opening the delivery opening to permit gravitational dispensing of logs from the compartment. A log cradle is movably arranged below the delivery opening to be vertically moved between a raised log receiving position at the delivery opening and a lowered log dispensing position spaced therebelow. An opening is provided in the cabinet for access to the cradle at its dispensing position for log removal therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus for planting seeds in drills at predetermined intervals is adapted to transport the seeds one by one by means of spoons (8) from a seed store to an outlet duct (10). To ensure a reliable, selective discharge of the seeds from the spoons (8), a compressed-air nozzle (13) is arranged to direct a flow of compressed air from a location opposite the inlet opening (11) of the outlet duct (10) towards each individual spoon (8) as it passes between the nozzle and the inlet opening (11).

Abstract: A dispenser is provided having a reservoir, a knife driven with a vertical reciprocal translational movement, and an inclinded ramp feeding the spokes into abutment against a drum provided with peripheral grooves. The rotation of the drum feeds the spokes one by one into a guide device comprising two inclined surfaces, the supper surface having a smooth surface and the lower surface being made of an adherent material. A spoke slides between the two surfaces and is discharged to a spoke holder of a spoke fitting machine.

Abstract: A vendor for sequentially vending in alternation successive lowermost articles, such as beverage cans, from at least two stacks which are arranged in tandem, using a shared generally semi-cylindrical angularly indexable cradle having a stepped edge, where angular movement of the cradle by a first increment is sufficient to drop one supported article from under a forward one of the stacks to a delivery station, but insufficient to drop an axially adjacent supported article from under a relatively rearward one of the stacks, is improved by being provided with an anti-theft device preferably in the form of a leaf spring based on the cradle and erectable into the volume of space which is at other times occupied by the one supported article.

Abstract: Capsule handling apparatus having a specially configured capsule carrier (50) which permits faster operation, ejection of misoriented capsules, and sizing of capsules having telescoping cap and body portions. A capsule is received in an elongated recess (50a) in a face of the carrier. A passage (50f), leading from an outside surface of the carrier into the recess, facilitates loading a capsule into the recess. In one form, the carrier recess has two compartments (50c, 50d). When a force (90) is imparted to a capsule tending to push the capsule through the passage, a properly oriented capsule hangs up on a wall (50e) between the compartments, while a misoriented capsule freely passes through the passage and is ejected. An oversized capsule having an end projecting from the passage is engaged by a guide (98) which pushes the projecting end of the capsule into the recess to size the capsule.

Abstract: A metering sleeve having radial openings in which radially extending plungers reciprocate to vary the effective volume of the openings, and a weight within the sleeve and connected to the plungers to reciprocate the latter in response to rotation of the sleeve. The plungers are loosely connected to the weight to lessen the tendency of the plungers to jam during rotation of the apparatus.