Gearing Patents (Class 221/275)
  • Patent number: 9336545
    Abstract: A vending machine for use in a vehicle includes: a vending housing operable to dispense at least one of a plurality of items stored within the vending housing; a display screen; and a processor coupled to the display screen and the vending housing. A vending computer program is configured to execute on the processor. The vending computer program, when executing, displays a selection of items on the display screen that can be purchased and dispensed from the vending housing and receives an identification of at least one item to be purchased. The program then receives a payment indicator indicating that payment has been received for the at least one item and controlling the vending machine to dispense that at least one item for which payment has been received. The vending machine is compact enough to be placed into a vehicle such as a taxi cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Vengo Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Shimmerlik, Steven Bofill, Brian Bofill, Adam Gartenberg
  • Patent number: 7264139
    Abstract: A sensor dispensing device (1) comprises a cartridge (2) having an outer casing (11) and a plurality of sensors (6) arranged one upon another in a stack. The cartridge has a first dispensing end (13) and a second opposing end (14) spaced a fixed distance apart, and the cartridge includes a first aperture (15) for the ejection of a sensor closest to the first end and a second aperture (16) opposed to the first aperture, for access by a pushing member (25). The first aperture and the second aperture are each provided with compliant sealing means (17) which are at least partly disposed outside the outer casing. The sealing means have first and second sealing surfaces which are capable of co-operating to releasably form a substantially moisture-tight seal when acted upon by suitable clamping forces. The device has a housing (34) for receiving the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Hypoguard Limited
    Inventors: David Brickwood, Graeme Maisey, Stuart Richard May
  • Patent number: 7246720
    Abstract: A condom dispensing device (10) including an outer hollow sleeve member (20) that slidably receives a feed unit (12) that includes a three sided feeder body member (30) having a spring biased elevator element (34) supporting a stack of condoms that are delivered to a dispensing unit (13) including a cap member (43) provided with a rack gear (44) that is pivotally connected to the feeder body member (30) and engageable with a pusher plate member (40) that delivers condoms through a feeder aperture (35) wherein, the cap member (43) and the outer hollow sleeve member (20) have a complementary appearance that disguises the purpose and the function of the condom dispensing device (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventor: Gregory F. Montoya, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7203650
    Abstract: In telecommunication systems including a terminal and a speech recognizer for vocal commanding, an indication signal originating from the terminal is detected, e.g., a telephone number dialed or a key signal or a vocal signal, or originating from an application located in the terminal or elsewhere in the network and in dependence of the indication signal a capacity parameter for the vocal commanding is adjusted, whereby a flexible capacity parameter is created for adjusting the available bandwidth between terminal and speech recognizer and/or for adjusting a processor capacity of terminal and/or speech recognizer, e.g., a sampling rate or a noise reduction being deactivated, as a result of which name dialing, command and control, and dictation can be done with the highest efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Jürgen Sienel, Dieter Kopp, Ulf Knoblich
  • Patent number: 6811053
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing flat articles, which is entirely mechanical, resistant to theft and vandalism and consistently dispenses the correct volume of merchandize. A dispensing mechanism locks out a patron as the last article or item of merchandize is dispensed from the merchandize magazine by arresting rotation of the coin mechanism at a point where a coin cannot be inserted. A novel locking mechanism for the door covering the secure compartment in which collected coins are stored and a novel protective flap for the dispensing slot are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Beaver Machine Corporation
    Inventor: Josef W. Schwarzli
  • Patent number: 6311867
    Abstract: Equipment is provided for issuing IC cards packed in transparent films, etc. without damaging the card or the packaging. The equipment includes a dispenser which can be loaded with s large number of cards in simple and at short time. An elevator for the card bodies is provided with a flexible rack a driving mechanism for moving the rack in up and down directions, a movable base which arranged at the bottom end, for carrying card bodies. The dispenser includes the elevator with the movable base as well as a fan for taking up the top most card body on the movable base and a tire or wheel for sending out the card body which is taken up at the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahito Yamamiya
  • Publication number: 20010013521
    Abstract: A clip fastener comprises a housing and a releasable cartridge located in or on the housing for holding a plurality of clips. A track is provided for receiving clips from the magazine. A ram rod moves the clip along a pathway defined by the track, and a spreader in the pathway separates an inner loop of the clip from an outer loop thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventor: John Hakala
  • Patent number: 6206236
    Abstract: A clip fastener has a housing and a magazine located in or on the housing for holding a plurality of clips. A track for receiving clips from the magazine is provided. The fastener has means for moving the clip along a pathway defined by the track, and spreader means in the pathway for separating an inner loop of the clip from an outer loop thereof. An adjustable track to accommodate clips of different sizes may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Inventor: John Hakala
  • Patent number: 5842598
    Abstract: An ejection apparatus for dispensing an item from a stack of items, for example, in a vending machine, includes an ejector member mounted for reciprocal movement. A movable member is connected to the ejector member and can be relatively rigid when transmitting force to the ejector member during an ejection stroke but can be bent during a return stroke to enable a compact storage configuration. A tube member can receive the movable member and bend it during its return stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tamotsu Tsuchida
  • Patent number: 5782377
    Abstract: An article dispensing and positioning device is disclosed in which a plurality of rectangular articles such as dominos or the like are placed on a flat surface in a plurality of parallel rows and in evenly spaced relationship with each other in each row. In one embodiment, the device includes a plurality of article dispensing assemblies mounted in a unitary housing which is capable of being propelled along the flat surface, preferably by motor mounted in the housing. In another embodiment, each article dispensing assembly is an integral unit, a plurality of which can be removably attached together to form a plurality of rows of dominos or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventor: Arnold Fassman
  • Patent number: 5605249
    Abstract: A miniature, battery operated vending machine for dispensing products includes a rotating carousel for holding stacks of products and a plunger assembly for dispensing products from the carousel into a dispensing area. A plurality of columns are disposed along a circumference of the carousel. A carousel rotation device aligns a column with the plunger mechanism. The plunger mechanism dispenses product from a column until the column is depleted of products. A controller senses product depletion and rotates the carousel to align another column with the plunger assembly. After all products have been dispensed, the controller blocks a coin insertion slot, displays a "sold-out" sign, and shuts the machine off. The vending machine also includes a device for allowing refilling of the carousel and a device for resetting the coin slot and "sold-out" sign. The vending machine also incluces a separate currency slot for accepting donations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Inventor: Gerald Gonyea
  • Patent number: 4715514
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Jofemar, S.A.
    Inventor: Felix G. Vidondo
  • Patent number: 4609018
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting wood is disclosed wherein a trailer provides an operator station at one end and a plurality of components for automatically cutting and splitting wood into fireplace-sized pieces. A boom arm is controlled by the operator to load logs onto a log deck. The log deck includes two parts which may be telescoped together during transportation and extended to receive long logs during operation. Cams allow a single log to be loaded onto a set of rollers which advances the log into a cutting station. The cutting station includes additional rollers for engaging the sides of the log and driving it to a predetermined location. Then, the saw automatically cuts the log and the cut piece is released to fall into a splitting section. A sensor detects when the log is in the splitting section and a hydraulic ram is activated to split the log into pieces. The pieces then fall down a slanted plate onto a conveyor belt for loading into a truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Inventor: Thomas L. Barker
  • Patent number: 4298141
    Abstract: A separator or escapement mechanism is disclosed which separates or holds one of serially movable objects, such as the second or nth object from the exit end of a support structure. This support may be a sloping ramp so that the objects, if of circular cross section, may roll toward the exit end. The object at the exit end may be held by a stop and the second or nth object may be engaged by a bar holder along the upper surface thereof regardless of the dimension of such object within a given range of sizes. The bar holder moves along a first path at an acute angle to second and third paths, the second path being the path of movement of the upper surface of the maximum size objects and the third path being the path of movement of the upper surface of minimum size objects. The first path intersects the ramp surface at approximately the exit end and is disposed at an acute angle to such ramp surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1981
    Assignee: Acme-Cleveland Corporation
    Inventor: Valdas S. Ramunas
  • Patent number: 4245756
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a plurality of rectangular objects and depositing the objects on a surface in uniformly spaced relationship with the objects standing upright on a short edge, more particularly, a device for setting up dominos in a row so that the dominos can be knocked down sequentially. The device includes a wheel supported body which supports an upstanding supply chamber for storing stacked dominos, and an ejecting assembly at the bottom of the supply chamber which ejects the bottom most domino toward the rear of the body as the body rolls across a surface. The ejecting assembly moves each domino into engagement with a top and side guide assembly which cooperates with the ejecting assembly to cause the domino to be deposited on the supporting surface and stabilized thereon in a stationary position before the device moves away from the domino so that the domino remains upright and does not fall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1981
    Inventors: LeRoy H. Byrne, Arnold Fassman, Thomas L. Simmel
  • Patent number: 4077557
    Abstract: A lightweight portable hand-held tool for use in producing printed circuit assemblies is provided with a squeezable handle piston grip surmounted by an incrementally detented ejection mechanism. The tool is topped by a rearwardly raked loading "snorkel" engaging and holding "dipstick" storage tubes for dual in line package or "DIP" integrated circuit assemblies, aligned end to end therein for lengthwise sliding, dispensing movement. A squeezable trigger-handgrip actuates a rack and pinion ejector ram-slider provided with a spring biased detent, producing forward feed movement of each DIP in turn from the snorkel magazine through an ejection portal, pausing with the DIP's terminals protruding for alignment with the mounting holes in the printed circuit board, followed by ejection of the DIP from the portable tool for insertion, produced by further squeezing movement of the trigger-handgrip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1978
    Inventor: LaVerne Merritt Green