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: An automatic golf ball placement device having a storage tube for holding a quantity of golf balls preparatory for placement onto a tee. One end of the tube receives the balls for storage while the opposite includes an opening for dispensing the first ball into a rotatable receiver for transfer to a dispensing shoot for delivery to the tee. The receiver is weighted so that upon placement of a ball on the tee, the receiver revolves back to the storage tube for accepting the next ball for dispensing onto the tee. A pedal attached to the receiver is actuated by a player's foot or engagement with a golf club to urge rotation of the receiver to dispense the first ball.

Abstract: A round-shaped article dispensing device, including a dispensing barrel and a guide member. The dispensing barrel is provided with a discharge hole that is selectively opened and closed by a door. The guide member is disposed in the dispensing barrel and is provided with a guide slit that is slanted and extended from the interior of the dispensing barrel to the discharge hole. The guide slit may be spirally formed along the wall of the guide member.

Abstract: A vacuum seed planter uses a single seed plate for planting multiple plots of seeds. The seed plate rotates through a seed chamber and uses vacuum pressure to pick up seeds to be planted, the seed chamber having an inlet passage for receiving seeds. A singulator dislodges excess seeds from the seed plate, and the excess seeds fall into an excess-seed compartment adjacent the seed chamber, the compartment having an outlet passage for evacuation of the excess seeds. A valve is movable between an operating position, in which the inlet passage communicates with a supply of seed and the outlet passage communicates with a vacuum source for evacuating excess seeds, and an evacuation position, in which the vacuum source is in communication with the inlet passage for evacuating the seeds in the seed chamber. Vacuum pressure on the seed plate can be maintained during evacuation of the seed chamber and excess-seed compartment.

Abstract: A constant-rate ampule feed device which can smoothly and reliably feed packaged ampules one by one at a constant rate. In a container body, a storage space is formed that is capable of storing packaged ampules in a single row with their central trunk portions arranged in parallel to each other. On the inner surface of the storage space, protrusions elongated toward a dispensing port at the bottom end are provided. The trunk portions of the packaged ampules are guided by the protrusions so as to prevent clogging of the packaged ampules. A rotor is provided at the dispensing port. In the outer surface of the rotor, a groove for receiving part of a packaged ampule is formed. A step is formed on the inner surface of the groove. The step contacts the trunk portions of packaged ampules to prevent clogging of packaged ampules at the dispensing port when packaged ampules are dispensed.

Abstract: A medicament dispensing cell (12) is provided which is used in large, automated dispensing machines (10) to provide rapid and accurate dispensing of medicament dosage forms such as tablets (124), capsules, or pills. The cell (12) includes a housing (20) for storage of tablets (124) and includes a rotatable platen conveyor assembly (68) which moves the tablets (124) along a passageway (96) and through an outlet opening (36). The passageway (96) includes a restricted throat section (98) defined by a bushing (78) and an inclined roller (100). The roller (100) is oriented so as to prevent simultaneous passage of two tablets (124) through the throat section (98).

Abstract: In a system and method for a payout in the form of paper tokens from a gaming machine, the system includes a hopper for dispensing the paper tokens, a cassette for containing the paper tokens, and software for controlling the operations of the payout of the paper tokens from the gaming machine. The cassette and hopper are located in the gaming machine in plain view of a player, and are locked for security purposes. Each paper token is transported through a payout path by mechanisms in the cassette and the hopper which interact to dispense a paper token. A plurality of sensors sense the transport of the paper token through the payout path, the operation of the transport mechanism, and the status of the paper token supply. An escrow area is provided in the cassette for rejected paper tokens, as sensed by sensors and diverted by a diverting mechanism into the escrow area. A memory element in the cassette stores operational information regarding dispensing of the paper tokens.

Abstract: A seeding machine has a common, bulk seed container that supplies a number of independent openers, each of which is provided with its own separate metering device. Each metering device is gravity-fed through a telescoping supply tube connected between the top of the metering device and the bottom of the seed container. Each metering device has a relative narrow metering wheel rotatable about a transverse horizontal axis that is provided with one or more rows of seed pockets on its outermost peripheral edge. As the wheel rotates upwardly through a pool of incoming seeds that have collected generally above the wheel in a seed chamber inside the metering device, the pockets become filled by gravity with seeds and then successively discharged at the bottom of the downsweep side of the wheel.

Abstract: A napkin dispenser is provided which dispenses napkins, one at a time. The casing or housing of the napkin dispenser sits on a rotatable support platform. The dispenser assembly principally includes a roller and a follower. The roller engages and respectively ejects a napkin from a weighted napkin stack via the follower which urges napkins into engagement with the roller. The roller has a plurality of metal protrusions peripherally attached on its exterior surface for penetrably engaging with the material substrate of each respective napkin which enables reliable and efficient delivery of individual napkins for dispensing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for article dispensing includes an article bay for holding a plurality of articles, and a conveying mechanism below the article bay operable to move an article. The conveying mechanism can repeat such movement for succeeding articles to a dispensing location. Succeeding articles can optionally be placed on top of the articles directly on the conveying mechanism. The succeeding articles are retained until they move by gravity to the conveying mechanism.

Abstract: In a system and method for a payout in the form of paper tokens from a gaming machine, the system includes a hopper for dispensing the paper tokens, a cassette for containing the paper tokens, and software for controlling the operations of the payout of the paper tokens from the gaming machine. The cassette and hopper are located in the gaming machine in plain view of a player, and are locked for security purposes. Each paper token is transported through a payout path by mechanisms in the cassette and the hopper which interact to dispense a paper token. A plurality of sensors sense the transport of the paper token through the payout path, the operation of the transport mechanism, and the status of the paper token supply. An escrow area is provided in the cassette for rejected paper tokens, as sensed by sensors and diverted by a diverting mechanism into the escrow area. A memory element in the cassette stores operational information regarding dispensing of the paper tokens.

Abstract: In a system and method for a payout in the form of paper tokens from a gaming machine, the system includes a hopper for dispensing the paper tokens, a cassette for containing the paper tokens, and software for controlling the operations of the payout of the paper tokens from the gaming machine. The cassette and hopper are located in the gaming machine in plain view of a player, and are locked for security purposes. Each paper token is transported through a payout path by mechanisms in the cassette and the hopper which interact to dispense a paper token. A plurality of sensors sense the transport of the paper token through the payout path, the operation of the transport mechanism, and the status of the paper token supply. An escrow area is provided in the cassette for rejected paper tokens, as sensed by sensors and diverted by a diverting mechanism into the escrow area. A memory element in the cassette stores operational information regarding dispensing of the paper tokens.

Abstract: An automatic high-speed pill counting apparatus comprising: a cylindrical pill hopper 3 having a pill exit 10 and a center hole in a base plate 2; a rotational separative feeder 5 mounted in the cylindrical pill hopper and removably fitted on a shaft 6 borne in the center hole of the base plate, the feeder including an upper diametrically smaller portion 5b and a lower diametrically larger portion 5c having an external diameter approximate to the internal diameter of the lower portion of the pill hopper, a multiplicity of vertically through holes 5c being formed in the outer circumference of the lower diametrically larger portion and allowed to come into alignment with the pill exit for accommodating a plurality of pills vertically, the multiple vertically through holes 5d being enlarged at their lower portions, a ring-shaped slit 8 being formed in such a position in the outer circumference of the lower diametrically larger portion as to accommodate substantially one pill from the bottom; and a pill separatin

Abstract: A vending apparatus for containing and releasing generally box-shaped or flat articles is disclosed. The articles are vertically stacked in a pre-packaged cartridge that removably mounts on top of a fixed housing. The main housing collects coins to account for purchases of each product independently, which is released by a rotating cam after the turning of a knob. A securable door allows limited access to the coin collecting box.

Abstract: A vending machine comprising a base (10) and a transparent lid (20) housing one or more wheel assemblies (30a-g). The lid (20) is provided with an access door (21) at a convenient height for a user and the wheels (30a-g) are independently rotatable in a user selection process to view products such as food displayed thereon. The access door (21) is releasable in response to a payment mechanism (13). Conveniently, many food products can be viewed independently, and multiple users can each independently control one of the plurality of display wheels (30a-g) giving improved user satisfaction and throughput.

Abstract: A vending machine for dispensing items from a plurality of horizontally arranged helical coils including a single dispenser for actuating for rotational movement of a selected helical coil. The machine includes, in a first embodiment, a horizontally positioned threaded bar on which is mounted the dispenser wherein rotation of the threaded horizontal bar re-positions the dispenser along a Y axis. A pair of vertical bars, a first vertical bar having a threaded exterior, rotation of the threaded vertical bar re-positions the horizontal bar with the following dispenser. Light emitters, positioned adjacent each helical coil, signal a receiver mounted on the dispenser assembly for positioning the dispenser in a pre-determined position. Once in position, dispenser is urged from a normal position out of engagement with any helical coil to an second position in engagement with a selected helical coil for actuation of the selected helical coil vending the selected article.

Abstract: A chip component feeder which has high feeding efficiency feeds chip components individually in stable orientations. The separating feeder of the present invention includes a scattering disk disposed so that the top surface thereof is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, a transferring groove formed on the scattering disk and a cavity formed at an outer peripheral end portion of the scattering disk. When the scattering disk is rotated, chip components are dropped into the transferring groove and are aligned in a predetermined direction. After the chip components are accommodated in the cavity by gravitational force (i.e., by upward rotation of the transferring groove), separation of the chip component in the cavity from the chip components in the transferring groove can be achieved.

Abstract: A device to separate rubber stoppers that have adhered together, typically as a result of sterilization. The device contains a hopper, a pair of rollers and a mechanism to turn the rollers. The rollers are hexagonal-shaped and each face has a scalloped concavity. The adhering stoppers are gravity-fed into the rollers from the hopper, where they are compressed and a shearing force is applied to separate the adherent stoppers. The separated stoppers are then collected for further processing.

Abstract: A parts feeder is provided which may be employed in feeding electronic parts such as chip components to a mounting device for mounting them on a printed circuit board, for example. The parts feeder is designed to lift up parts supplied from an inlet to a parts orientation chamber to an outlet along an inner peripheral surface of the parts orientation chamber using a magnetic mechanism. A parts orienting path is defined upstream of the outlet which allows only the parts oriented in given directions to pass therethrough. A guide member is disposed within the parts orientation chamber to guide the parts, which are unoriented in alignment with a parts transport path connecting the outlet and a parts pickup station and which are dropped from the outlet, to an inlet for facilitating transportation of the parts by the magnetic mechanism to the parts orienting path, thereby avoiding jamming of the parts in the parts orienting path.

Abstract: A component feeder minimizes damage to chip components and efficiently discharges chip components aligned in a line. A bulk case is attached on the top portion of an external storage housing capable of being supplied with a large number of chip components. A predetermined number of the chip components is supplied at a time from the external storage housing to an inner housing of a component storage housing via a supplying path. The chip components in the inner housing enter into the outer housing from the reception inlet via a guide path by being scooped up by pockets in accordance with rotation of a rotary drum. The chip components are dropped into an aligning groove to be aligned and are discharged aligned in a line via a gate and a discharge path. The chip components slide down on the aligning groove to be discharged to a discharge path, via the gate, aligned in a line.

Abstract: A squirrel cage-type article dispenser includes a tube having an upwardly open slot. The slot leads to an angled ramp within the tube leading to a semi-cylindrical dispensing chamber. A pivotable flap adjacent the ramp deters tampering. A ring-like plate has a circular periphery and a central opening slidable over the tube. A rotary squirrel cage includes an outer cylindrical wall to which the circular periphery of the plate may be releasably attached, and a plurality of radially inwardly extending ribs have respective inner extents configured such that the inner edges of the ribs slidably engage the outer surface of the tube when the squirrel cage is assembled thereover. Adjacent ribs define, with the inner surface of the cylindrical wall and the outer surface of the tube, individual sub-chambers sized and configured to store articles to be dispensed.

Abstract: A unit for orienting and supplying bottom shells, the unit having a drum rotating about a vertical axis and in turn having a number of seats, each for housing one bottom shell at a time; the unit also having a hopper for successively feeding a bottom shell into each seat on the drum; and an ejecting pin for successively ejecting each bottom shell from the respective seat so that the bottom shell drops inside an unloading conduit connected to the seat; the bottom shell being positioned indifferently, inside each seat, with the concavity facing inwards or outwards of the seat; and each seat being so formed that the bottom shell transferred into the unloading conduit is always oriented the same way; a pocket conveyor also being provided to pick up the succession of equioriented bottom shells issuing from the unloading conduits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fastener supply system and, more particularly, to a fastener supply system which uses a plurality of feed stands mounted upon a turntable which are automatically positioned to ensure continuous fastener feed. The system detects the flow of fasteners at one or more power feeders and when the fasteners are getting low, rotates a new supply of fasteners to the power feeder and begins to supply fasteners before the installation head supply is interrupted. The operator merely ensures that the feed stands have reels of fasteners in place and the system automatically continues to feed those fasteners.

Abstract: The preferred medicament dispensing cell (10) for use in an automatic dispensing machine (12) includes dual rotary platens (20,22). A storage platen (20) delivers medicament units (14) such as tablets and capsules from a storage section (86) to a discharge platen (22) in the discharge section (88) to deliver the units (14) to an outlet (50). In preferred forms, the platens (20,22) are sloped toward the respective peripheries in order to induce spreading of the units (14) into a single file for accurate counting during dispensing. The preferred embodiment also includes a discharge gate assembly (24) for receiving a medicament unit (14) in a gage chamber (108) to define the width of the discharge channel (110) leading to the outlet (50), and further includes an arcuate metering wall (26) shiftable into and out of the passage (84) between the storage and discharge sections (86,88) for metering medicament units (14) into the discharge section (88).

Abstract: An apparatus for weighing hard gelatine capsules or the like has a feed conduit and a discharge conduit, as well as a weighing receptacle that is disposed between them with virtually no cap. By means of a pawl, whichever of the lowermost hard gelatine capsule or the like is released in the feed conduit and pushed over onto the weighing receptacle by a lever can be pivoted into the feed conduit. A vane wheel is also present, whose vanes engages the feed conduit, the weighing receptacle and the discharge conduit and thereby form virtually closed-off transport chambers, each for one hard gelatine capsule or the like.

Abstract: A dispensing machine is used to disperse plastic water bottles and the like, preferably of a size ranging from approximately one liter to approximately two liters or even larger. The machine can be used to dispense other products in containers as long as the containers are shaped to roll along a shelf. The machine has a vertical channel containing paddles where each paddle supports only some of the containers in the channel when the channel is filled with containers. The paddles move simultaneously to gently lower the containers one space at a time when the machine is activated.

Abstract: In a packaged article vending machine having a forwardly, projecting motorized helix supported on a horizontally arranged tray in a wide column delimited by side walls which are disposed substantially further apart than the helix is broad in diameter, the helix is prevented from `walking` towards the sidewall towards which it would tend to move as the helix rotates, by securing a chock to the tray so as to tangentially engage at least two turns of the helix during a portion of a 360.degree. rotation of the helix, from externally of the helix, and have its rear end located sufficiently out of the way as to avoid possibly poking contact with from the front lower part of an impounded product package being conveyed forwards to eventually become the leading package, next to be vended.

Abstract: In a system and method for a payout in the form of paper tokens from a gaming machine, the system includes a hopper for dispensing the paper tokens, a cassette for containing the paper tokens, and software for controlling the operations of the payout of the paper tokens from the gaming machine. The cassette and hopper are located in the gaming machine in plain view of a player, and are locked for security purposes. Each paper token is transported through a payout path by mechanisms in the cassette and the hopper which interact to dispense a paper token. A plurality of sensors sense the transport of the paper token through the payout path, the operation of the transport mechanism, and the status of the paper token supply. An escrow area is provided in the cassette for rejected paper tokens, as sensed by sensors and diverted by a diverting mechanism into the escrow area. A memory element in the cassette stores operational information regarding dispensing of the paper tokens.

Abstract: A part-aligning apparatus is simple in structure, causes less damage to chip parts, and operates well even if its chip discharge passage is clogged or overflows. The apparatus has a part-holding chamber for accommodating a number of chip parts. An arc-shaped chute groove is formed in the inner surface of the bottom of the part-holding chamber to orient the chip parts in a given direction and to guide the sliding chips. A gate port is formed at the lower end of the chute groove to pass the sliding chip parts in series out of the apparatus. The discharge passage is formed tangent to the chute groove to align the passed chip parts in a row and to deliver the chip parts in sequence. A swingable plate having a blade is mounted inside the part-holding chamber. This blade urges any chip part which is stopped in the gate port due to an abnormal orientation toward a direction different from the direction in which the chip parts are discharged, thus removing clogging.

Abstract: A medicament dispensing cell for use in an automatic dispensing machine includes a housing defining a medicament storage section, a discharge section leading to an outlet, a passage between the sections, a rotatable platen and a dispensing assembly for dispensing medicament in single file from the storage section to the discharge section. A pair of resilient, spacing fingers extend from the outboard wall of the discharge section and are positioned to guide medicament units around the distal end thereof in order to space medicament units during rotation of the platen.

Abstract: A lottery machine preventing lotteries from drawing out illegally mainly includes a base, a lottery moving device, a face plate and a coil spring. A micro switch is provided on one of two parallel side plates of the base, and held in ON condition by a stop pushed by the lottery moving device laid between two rails on the left side plate to move back and forth. A lottery is normally moved out of an outlet of the face plate by turning on a motor of the lottery moving device. But when a lottery is to be pulled out unlawfully, the lottery moving device can be moved forward by an external force pulling the lottery, cutting off the micro switch to stop the lottery moving device. Then the lottery may be pressed down firmly by an activating plate against a guider under the outlet, unable to be pulled out unlawfully.

Abstract: An ampule collector which can collect selected ampules from corresponding feeders without breakage and jamming of ampules. The ampule collector has a plurality of cylindrically stacked ampule feeders in which are stored different kinds of ampules. In order that ampules, discharged from selected feeders drop only a short distance, a vertically movable ampule collecting container is provided in the center of the cylindrical structure defined by the feeders. Jamming of ampules is prevented by rotating a bottom cover provided at the center of the ampule collecting container, stirring ampules with protrusions formed on the conical inner surface, and changing the directions of the ampules with vanes provided on the conical inner surface. With the container inserted in an ampule stocker provided under the bottom cover, it is possible to supply ampules into the stocker without breaking them.

Abstract: A roller mechanism for a lottery ticket machine includes a face plate, a compartment, a roller unit, two position hook bars, a gear unit, and a motor device. The roller unit has a main and a subordinate rollers both provided with a pattern. The motor has a worm to rotate the gear unit and then the rollers. The position hook bars press elastically the subordinate roller to engage the main roller. The main roller rotates the subordinate roller in the reverse direction, rolling out a lottery ticket out from the two rollers. But when a lottery ticket is pulled by external force, the patterns of the rollers clamp the upper and the lower surface of the lottery ticket and increase friction, and the subordinate roller shrinks inward the position hook bars to engage tightly the main roller to prevent the lottery ticket from being pulled out.

Abstract: In a system and method for a payout in the form of paper tokens from a gaming machine, the system includes a hopper for dispensing the paper tokens, a cassette for containing the paper tokens, and software for controlling the operations of the payout of the paper tokens from the gaming machine. The cassette and hopper are located in the gaming machine in plain view of a player, and are locked for security purposes. Each paper token is transported through a payout path by mechanisms in the cassette and the hopper which interact to dispense a paper token. A plurality of sensors sense the transport of the paper token through the payout path, the operation of the transport mechanism, and the status of the paper token supply. An escrow area is provided in the cassette for rejected paper tokens, as sensed by sensors and diverted by a diverting mechanism into the escrow area. A memory element in the cassette stores operational information regarding dispensing of the paper tokens.

Abstract: This invention relates to a needle supply device for use in a needle attached suture manufacturing apparatus or its equivalent to automatically supply curved needles one by one to a predetermined position of the apparatus in a state that the needle is accurately set in the same posture. The needle supply device has a passage defining member 32 including a needle storage portion 42, passages 44 and 46, and a needle discharge tray 55 in this order. By driving the passage defining member 32 to vibrate, needles N set on the needle storage portion 42 proceed along the passages 44 and 46 toward the needle discharge tray 55. There are provided selecting units 48, 50, and 52 each in a certain passage form on the way of the passages 44 and 46 to exclusively allow the needles N in the predetermined posture to pass while maintaining the predetermined posture.

Abstract: A vending machine system is disclosed for vending computer storage media and specifically a computer floppy disk. The vending machine includes a housing having a disk carousel therein. The disk carousel holds a plurality of disks in a vertical position. Upon a user selecting a disk to be purchased, a signal is sent to a motor which rotates a carousel positioning the selected disk in front of the dispenser opening at which time a pusher element is actuated pushing a disk out through the dispenser opening.

Abstract: In a device for destacking and conveying sticks to be inserted into ice-cream bodies in an apparatus of the kind, in which the sticks are supplied in the form of an elongate stack of sticks in guide means (5, 6, P), from which the sticks are destacked singly adjacent to a carrier (7, 8) moving past the exit aperture (12) of the guide means (6, P), the destacking means is in the form of a rotor (7) with teeth resembling those of a ratchet wheel. With this arrangement, the sticks are destacked quickly and reliably, making it possible to achieve high operating rates, either when the sticks are placed directly in front of an ice-cream body, or when the sticks are inserted in pockets on a carrier belt (8). In the latter case, said belt (8) may have pockets or fingers with a substantially greater depth or height, respectively, than the thickness of an ice-lolly stick, so that the stick is held more securely during the further conveying.

Abstract: An electronically actuated and monitorable bulk vending machine assembly for electronically actuated vending from a select one of a plurality of rack mounted of bulk vending machines. The electronically actuated and monitorable bulk vending machine assembly includes a microprocessor controlled, interrogatable central control and currency acceptor unit and methods of assembly and use associated therewith.

Abstract: A card stacking and conveyance structure adapted for use in automatic card vending machines such as telephone card vending machines, including a securing seat, a conveyance device, and a press plate. Cards are disposed in a receiving space of the securing seat. The cards will actuate a switch to connect the relevant circuit elements. When a control circuit board receives a card discharge signal, it will actuate a motor which rotates a gear set to bring a roller set into operation. A card will then slide forwardly and gradually pass through a clearance between a front cover plate and a bottom cover plate due to the action of a first roller and a second roller, and then pass through a seam between a third roller and a fourth roller to a card slot of the vending machine.

Abstract: A tablet feeder can smoothly and continuously discharge all tablets in a case to the last one. The tablet feeder includes a tablet storage case and a support member. A rotor is rotatably mounted in the case on an inner bottom thereof. A plurality of pockets are formed in the outer periphery of the rotor at predetermined intervals. The rotor is rotated by a motor through a gear. A high-friction member is provided on the inner bottom of the case to prevent tablets from remaining on a boundary between the rotor and the inner bottom while bridging the rotor and the inner bottom.

Abstract: A device for separately releasing ball bodies and coins, including a motor, a base seat, a rotary disc, a driving lever, an outer cover and a shaft. The motor is disposed on rear side of the base seat with the shaft passed through the base seat and fitted into a shaft hole of the rotary disc. The driving lever is inclinedly locked on the base seat to abut against the rotary disc. An upper and a lower edges of the outer cover are formed with arch notches and ball releasing holes. The outer cover is locked on front side of the base seat. An opening of the outer cover is fitted with the collecting funnel. The ball releasing holes are disposed on lower edge of the outer cover and inclinedly arranged along the rotational direction of the motor. The ball bodies and coins going into the outer cover from the collecting funnel are rotarily driven by the rotary disc and separately released from the ball releasing holes and arch notches.

Abstract: A medicament dispensing cell for use in an automatic dispensing machine includes a housing defining a medicament storage section, a discharge section leading to an outlet, a passage between the sections, a rotatable platen and a dispensing assembly for dispensing medicament in single file from the storage section to the discharge section. A resilient, flexible bushing having outwardly extending fingers encloses the hub of the platen for conveying medicament through the passage. The platen includes a plurality of spirally configured conveying members defined on the surface thereof and the dispensing assembly includes a selectively adjustable passage wall for adjusting the breadth of the passage.

Abstract: A dispenser for disc-shaped car-park tickets which makes it possible on a permanent basis for the car-park tickets provided for issuing to be made available reliably, as required, from a supply of car-park tickets, and which is of simple design. The dispenser separates car-park tickets coming from a supply container and moves them, in a pushed group, through a transporting duct which bridges a spatial distance between the supply container and the issuing apparatus. In addition to the spatial distance bridged, a vertical ascent is also surmounted, in order that the car-park tickets can be moved into the issuing apparatus and issued from the same under the action of gravity. Further configurations of the invention can be gathered from the claims and from the following description.

Abstract: A particulate material dispensing system suitable for metering seed for individual rows of a seed sowing drill. The seed sowing drill having a container which acts as a seed hopper. Positioned beneath the container is a metering device. Below the metering device are a number of tubes which are seed outlets to which the metering device feeds the seed it receives from the container. A peripheral guide forms part of the metering device. The peripheral guide is a disc of material that defines an aperture. On the inner walls of the guide is a seed track and an outlet. There are a plurality of seed track/outlet combinations, one for each of the outlets. A vertical-axis rotor fits within the aperture of the guide. The rotor rotating within the aperture causes seed falling from the container into the guide to be dragged down and around the inside walls of the guide. The seeds are guided by a seed track to a guide outlet and into the appropriate seed outlet. At the base of the seed track is a flange.

Abstract: A device for the orderly supply of cigarettes; the device presenting at least one channel defined by two lateral walls and for feeding a respective column of cigarettes at a given dropdown speed and in a given traveling direction to the bottom opening of the channel; and an ordering device being provided upstream from the bottom opening in the traveling direction, and presenting at least two engaging elements located at either end of one of the two lateral walls and movable inside the channel to accompany the cigarettes along a given portion of the channel and so feed the cigarettes in orderly manner to the bottom end.

Abstract: An active feed loader for a paintball gun. The active feed loader includes a generally horizontal interior passageway or channel having a first end in communication with an interior space of the housing where paintballs are housed. A rotatable paddle positioned in the interior space forces paintballs out of the housing and through the interior passageway or channel until they drop through an opening therein into a vertical outfeed tube where they form a paintball stack. When the paintball gun is fired, the paintball stack is depleted until a sensor detects the absence of a paintball at a specified location within the outfeed tube. Upon detecting the absence, the sensor activates a motor which rotates the paddle to force paintballs through the interior passageway and into the outfeed tube where they replenish the paintball stack. When the stack is fully replenished, the sensor will detect the presence of a paintball at the specified location and deactivate the motor, thereby stopping the paddle.

Abstract: A burglarproof lottery ticket dispenser includes a triggering element having a handle. The triggering element is mounted on a slide shaft such that the handle is capable of locating or actuating a drive shaft. The dispenser further includes a driven shaft on which a driven element and a pawl are mounted. The driven element is provided with a driven gear engageable with a rotation gear, and an inner ratchet wheel capable of cooperating with the pawl. An electronic eye for counting the dispensed lottery tickets is located on an opening which is located between the ticket guiding arcuate edge and the second stopping edge of the upper and the lower guide plates.

Abstract: A tablet feeder has a partitioning member that allows tablets to be separated properly without causing any faults such as cracking in the pockets of the tablet array board. Tablets A accommodated in the tablet accommodating portion 2 are retained one by one into the pockets of the tablet array board 8, divided into two by the partitioning member 14, and thereafter discharged out at a discharge position. The partitioning member 14 has its partitioning portion 15 made up from a plurality of elastic bristles 17 in a comb-like shape.

Abstract: Sealing arrangement for a vacuum seed metering mechanism includes a housing assembly divided into a seed receiving chamber and a vacuum chamber by a circular seed disc having parallel and flat sides. The seed disc is provided with a circular row of openings proximate a periphery of the seed disc. Due to a pressure differential across the openings, seeds supplied to the seed receiving chamber of the seed metering mechanism are carried by the openings of the seed disc to a seed discharge area of the seed metering mechanism. The housing assembly of the seed metering mechanism includes a cover portion having an integrally formed sealing face; preferably formed of a pair of radially spaced annular flat sealing faces and a transverse ramp portion. The annular faces are joined to each other in a common plane to define the boundary of the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A feed mechanism for use with a paintball gun having an infeed tube for receiving paintballs that are to be fired from the paintball gun. The feed mechanism includes a storage container, a feeder tube, a feed structure, an electric motor and a switch for automatically stopping the electric motor. The storage container holds paintballs and has a bottom wall with a feeder opening therein. The feeder tube is connected to the infeed tube so as to form a feed path. The feed structure has a passage that extends between the feeder opening of the storage container and the feeder tube. The passage is defined in part by a first surface secured to the periphery of a first wheel and a second surface secured to the periphery of a second wheel. The first and second surfaces have a spacing therebetween that is smaller than the diameter of the paintballs. The first and second surfaces are composed of a deformable material that grips paintballs at the feeder opening.