Abstract: An overhead pack dispensing apparatus includes a plurality of trays holding an extensive inventory of packs in an array of altitudinal stacks of packs with the lowermost pack of each stack in a field of lateral rows and longitudinal columns, the apparatus including a control system responsive to the selection of at least one pack, and a carriage carrying pickers for actuation by the control system to traverse the field and carry a picker for location beneath the selected pack such that a picker is located beneath at least one selected pack, enabling the selected pack to be picked from a stack and delivered by the carriage to a dispensing location.

Abstract: A method for treating a tree comprises the steps of punching at least one hole in a trunk of a tree and injecting an individual chemical pellet directly into the at least one hole. The chemical pellet dissolves in and mixes with sap of the tree to treat the tree. A dispenser for injecting the pellets and a punch hammer for punching holes in the tree, both of which are used in the tree treating method, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tube and plunger assembly for dispensing disc shaped game chips to a game board. The tube is elongate and cylindrical in nature and has opposing ends, with one end for loading the chips into the tube and the other end for dispensing the chips individually to a game board. The end that receives the game chips has a funnel to aid in loading and aligning the chips along the longitudinal central axis inside of the tube. The other opposing end of the tube has a resilient chip interference on the inside diameter and close to the end of the tube, and the tube terminates in a game board abutment surface. A slot is formed having a first portion extending axially along the longitudinal center line of the tube and intermediate the opposing ends and a second slot portion extending radially outwardly from the center line of the tube, with the second portion located on the receiving end of the tube.

Abstract: A flexible belt ejector mechanism for dispensing products from a product cartridge onto a conveyor in an automated order system (AOS). The flexible belt is disposed in an L-shaped guide track that is mounted adjacent to the cartridge with the ejector and dispenser oriented at a compound angle with respect to the underlying conveyor for efficient operation and resupply of the system. A pneumatic actuator is coupled to the belt to cause the belt to travel along the L-shaped track and eject the bottom-most product from the cartridge. The L-shape of the ejector minimizes the space required for the ejector mechanism enabling more product dispensers to be installed in the AOS over a given fixed conveyor length.

Abstract: A stripper assembly for unloading parts from an accumulating conveyor. The parts are moved by the conveyor between pivoting lever arms which hold the part as a push blade advances the part downward to a gravity release position.

Abstract: The method of feeding the discs to the automatic staple or nail gun includes the steps of providing a plurality of discs stacked atop one another, shuttling a first disc from the stack to a position normal to the staple or nail expulsion path, and retaining that first disc at that position until the staple or nail is expelled from the gun. The apparatus includes a shuttle which is moved from a position immediately below the stack of discs to a second position at which the disc, carried by the shuttle carriage, is grasped by a clip. The clip retains the disc in a position normal to the path of staple or nail expulsion. The discs have dimples protruding from both planar surfaces of the disc. The dimples are predisposed in a predetermined pattern such that the protrusions from one surface form a pattern which is non-equivalent to the pattern formed by the protrusions extending from the other surface of the disc. This dimple pattern is in a peripherally spaced band on the disc.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a candy tablet dispenser shaped to simulate a beverage can, or the like. What would normally be the pop-top region of the can slides laterally outwardly and, at the same time, ejects a tablet from the top of a stack of tablets that is stored internally. The ejector portion is finger-driven back and forth.

Abstract: An automatic lancet apparatus stores a plurality of sterile lancet needles which are loaded one at a time into an injecting position. After use of a needle, the apparatus ejects the used needle prior to loading a fresh needle. The needles include a cover over their tip ends which is automatically removed during loading. The loading operation also serves to reset the apparatus in preparation for injection. Once the needles are placed in the storage chamber, they are loaded, used, and ejected without further handling.

Abstract: A tongue depressor dispenser having a support base to which an upper cover detachably mounts. A dispenser assembly mounts to the support base. The dispenser assembly includes an ejector assembly that is movable to dispense a single tongue depressor at a time.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a deck washer from a storage magazine containing a stack of deck washers to a deck for installation. The transfer is accomplished by a reciprocating trolley which retrieves a washer from the stack and whose reciprocation urges the washer down a ramp on the trolley in to a holding chamber for installation.

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: A workpiece supply device used in semiconductor assembly machines such as wire bonding device, pellet bonding device, etc. including an elevator section having an elevator table that is raised and lowered and carries a magazine accommodated therein plate-form workpieces, a magazine stacker which guides the magazine, and a pusher assembly including a pusher arm pushing the workpiece out of the magazine one at a time. The magazine stacker is made up with a fixed guide and a movable guide. The movable guide is adjustable size wise in a direction wherein the workpiece is pushed out, and the pusher device is provided on the movable guide. Power source for the pusher device is installed parallel to the workpieces piled up in the magazine.

Abstract: A dispenser for edible tablets having a cylindrical case and a spring biased plunger therein for urging a stack of tablets within the case upwardly. Detents formed around the open end of the case hold the tablets in the spring biased arrangement. A closure cap is pivotally mounted on the case and includes a lifting arm that extends into the case to fit underneath the top tablet in the stack to pivot it upwardly and outwardly while preventing movement of the next tablet out of the case until the cap is reclosed and the lifting arm repositioned relative to the next tablet.

Abstract: A dispensing device is provided for dispensing a plurality of articles such as cigarette boxes. The device includes two levels of individual dispensing modules. Each dispensing module includes a plurality of vertical stack holders mounted on a support plate having an open center. A dispensing mechanism selectively withdraws an article from one of the stack holders and conveys the article to the open center such that the article drops through the open center for conveyance to a final destination. The dispensing mechanism includes a shuttle plate also having an open center and a mechanism for moving the shuttle plate beneath the support plate for the vertical stack holders. One or more solenoid-activated engagement pins on the shuttle plate selectively engage one or more of the articles held in the stack holders such that, as the shuttle plate moves, the engaged article or articles moves with the shuttle plate.

Abstract: The normal practice in serve yourself coffee outlets, such as cafeteria-style restaurants and some convenience stores, is to provide loose lids in a cardboard box. A common result is that lids are knocked on the floor and spread around so that different sizes of lids become mixed together. A simple solution to the problem is a lid dispenser which dispenses lids one at a time when a lever is pressed downwardly. The lever extends through the front wall of the dispenser for actuating a pusher arm which engages the flange of the lowermost lid of a stack of lids and pushes the lid through a slot in the dispenser housing. A helical spring returns the lever and the pusher arm to the rest position in which the arm is suitably located for another lid dispensing operation.

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 compact business or calling card dispenser which includes a casing in which a plurality of cards are stacked in a vertical array on a card support plate that is resiliently urged so as to align the cards relative to a discharge slot or opening in the casing and which includes an ejector mechanism which interacts with the card support plate to insure uniform card dispensing characteristics with each stack of cards carried within the dispenser.

Abstract: A method for dispensing boxed goods by horizontally ejecting the bottommost box from a vertical stack of boxes. A pusher is engaged with the vertical wall of the bottommost box at about its vertical center and is used to push the bottommost box horizontally outward. When the bottommost box has been pushed part way only, a smooth support is placed behind the pusher and at an elevation below the top of the bottommost box.When the bottommost box is fully ejected, the support breaks the fall of the next-to-bottom box and supports the entire stack of boxes at an intermediate elevation. Then when the pusher is fully withdrawn, the next-to-bottom box assumes the position formerly occupied by the bottommost box.In a preferred form, the support means includes a roller attached to the rearward side of the pusher and which rollingly supports the next-to-bottom box as it is being withdrawn.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing single ones of flat chips or discs from a multi-chip receptacle, and/or depositing them onto a surface at selected locations, is disclosed, as may be desireable, for example, when playing a game of bingo. In one preferred embodiment the chips are dispensed and deposited onto the surface in response to a downward motion or force on the apparatus against the surface after it is properly positioned at the selected location.

Abstract: An apparatus for taking out bundled bills includes an elevator arranged in front of the containing boxes for containing the bundled bills, a sliding block arranged between the elevator and the containing boxes and driven up and down by a belt, a discharging block mounted on a swing shaft which is swingably mounted on the sliding block, a discharging block regulating roller for regulating the rotation of the swing block in contact with the elevator, and, having a supporting block for receiving the bundled bills having fallen and slowly guiding the bundled bills into the elevator.

Abstract: A merchandise dispenser for storing and dispensing a plurality of items aligned within the dispenser and eased toward the front of the dispenser by a retractable member which is biased to push the remaining line of items forward when the first item in the line is removed. The dispenser is provided with an indicator which automatically indicates the quantity of items remaining in the dispenser.

Abstract: A device for automatically dispensing a unitary product has a frame having two grooves therethrough. A coil having a movable core is joined to the frame and one end of one U-shaped flange is joined to one end of the core of the coil for movement therewith. A stud is fixed relative to the frame and cooperative with the one U-shaped flange for guiding its movement. A projection from the one end of the one U-shaped flange joined to the core also butts against the stud, whereby to limit the movement of the one U-shaped flange with the core. A rack on the one U-shaped flange and a pinion rotate a toothed wheel at one end of another U-shaped flange. Two fingers are rotatably connected to the other end of the other U-shaped flange for movement respectively along the grooves upon the rotation of the other U-shaped flange for dispensing the product.

Abstract: Small workpieces are loaded into a pair of detenting (spring-biased) jaws along a loading station center line by a reciprocal feed finger. The jaws are shifted to a work station center line, where tooling is applied, by advancing one jaw toward the other. The jaws are shifted back to the loading station center line where the workpiece is ejected from the jaws concurrently with the loading of the next workpiece.

Abstract: Coacting, self-centering jaw members in a machine tool which machines small, cylindrical lightweight workpieces; coaction and self-centering is achieved by an equalizer arm actuated by a slide; the slide also actuates one jaw member while the equalizer applies an equal force to the other jaw member; a spring bias applied to each jaw member speeds production.

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

Abstract: An automatic feeder for animals adapted to dispense packaged food at a preset time, wherein the automatic feeder comprises an elongated vertical housing having a plurality of storage bins defined by a movable shelf selectively operated to drop stored food packages by means of a solenoid-operated ejector carriage which is mounted to a vertical track and supported in position by a retainer member adjacent each storage bin. The solenoid is activated by a timing device, causing the ejector to work its way down from the top of the housing and sequentially push each movable shelf to a discharge position, thus allowing each package to drop down a chute and engage cutting blades located adjacent the bottom of the chute, so as to release the food from the package for consumption.

Abstract: A transfer and storage mechanism is provided for disposable tube probes used in metallurgy. The transfer mechanism is arranged to select from several vertical stacks of such probes and to transfer the selected probe to a lance for insertion into a converter. The same mechanism provides several functions in that it holds the selected probe tube, pivots it into position for engagement with the lance and centers the probe for engagement for the lance. Moreover, arrangements are provided for engaging and sliding the selected tube out of the storage area into the transfer mechanism.

Abstract: A transfer finger for feeding small workpieces is pivotally mounted at the forward end of a rod which is adapted to be advanced and retracted by a reciprocating pneumatic actuator. During the initial portions of the advance and retract strokes of the actuator, one or more radially contractible collects frictionally grip the rod and prevent the rod from advancing and retracting the finger until such time as the actuator has pivoted the finger between active and inactive positions.

Abstract: A dispenser for thin flat rigid articles such as glass cover slips for microscope slides comprises a magazine for a stack of such articles and a dispensing block carrying the magazine and reciprocable relative to a spring blade running in a groove in the top of the block and under the magazine. The depth of the grooves changes so that the front of the blade rises as it travels in the groove, under the magazine, from a projection less than the thickness of article to a projection greater than that thickness, so as to engage and push only the lowermost article under a resilient barrier that restrains other articles in the stack.Also disclosed is an automatic microscope slide coverslipping machine incorporating the dispenser.

Abstract: Apparatus for counting yieldable flat articles such as paperback books or the like consisting of a stack of books with their sides in contacting relationship, the books being guided in such a fashion that a measured quantity may be removed by structure engaging the stack and movable translatively of the longitudinal axis of the stack. The stack guiding structure is provided with means for preventing movement of the stack in the guiding structure during the removing operation and return thereof. Structure is provided for moving the books in the guiding structure and subsequently placing a load on the books along the longitudinal axis thereof and counting the books by measuring part of the stack when so loaded.

Abstract: A slider-applying apparatus is disclosed for assembling sliders to a slide fastener chain, particularly to such fastener chain which has previously been attached to a garment or the like. A working table provided in the apparatus has a cut-away, "bay"-like recess at its front end adjacent a slider holding means, which recess serves to provide free space for the fastener chain and attached garment to move forward therethrough past the slider holder.

Abstract: A coin-moving member adjacent a coin-holding tube has a surface which can engage one part of the periphery of the end-most coin. Each endmost coin defines a plane perpendicular to the axis of the coinholding tube; and a connection between a coin-moving member and a source of motive power is intermediate that plane and the opposite end of the coin-holding tube. As the source of motive power moves the coin-moving member to dispense a coin, an axially-directed component of force will develop between the coin-engaging surface of the coin-moving member and the periphery of that coin; and that axially-directed component of force will be directed toward the opposite end of the coin-holding tube, and it will hold that coin-engaging surface in tight engagement with the periphery of that coin.