Abstract: A method for assisting in the dispensing of pharmaceuticals is provided including the steps of: (1) determining what pharmaceutical needs to be restocked; (2) selecting a pharmaceutical distribution container corresponding to the pharmaceutical needing to be restocked, with the container including a tray and a sleeve. The tray has a base, a sidewall, and pharmaceutical retaining means within the tray, with such pharmaceutical retaining means including a rod, with the rod having a first and a second end and packets containing one each of the pharmaceutical needing to be restocked; (3) removing the tray from the sleeve; (4) removing the rod from the tray; and (5) transferring a predetermined number of packets from the rod to a restocking cart so the packets can be restocked.

Abstract: A dispensing assembly adapted to be mounted on a backboard that may be supported on an easel or other support structure. The dispensing assembly includes a cylindrical core; a length of sheet material in a roll coaxially around the core; and a molded plastic enclosure including an elongate front portion defining an elongate chamber having an open side, and a rear portion adapted to be mounted on a backboard. The front and rear portions include journal surface portions at their ends that journal projecting end portions of the core with the roll in the chamber, which journal surface portions are separated when the front and rear portions of the closure are separated. Edges of the portions are spaced to define an elongate opening through which lengths of sheet material can be pulled from the roll, and the sheet can be cut against a sharp edge at the opening on the front portion of the enclosure.

Abstract: A novelty dispenser for solid objects, such as condoms. The novel features are specifically based on a spring loaded movement of a dispensing element, which element moves an object such as a packaged condom from inside a compartment out through an opening. The dispenser is an everyday entertainment device that conceals a condom therein. It uses a spring, such as a coil spring, which feeds the condom from a magazine compartment and through a shutter to be released for use. The spring is returned to its original position once it has been used. Pulling a tab of the dispenser causes the spring to release within the magazine, forcing the condom through the shutter, such as miniature doors. The spring opens the magazine and doors, allowing the spring to advance the condom into the dispensed position for delivery to the user.

Abstract: Spaced arms position a fixed curved guide surface in front of a roll of paper towels in about the same plane as the axis of the roll of paper. The paper can come off the top or bottom of the roll and passes over the guide surface and then goes down behind the cutter bar which extends between the lower ends of the arms. The friction of the paper passing over the curved guide surface is enhanced by having the roller which is mounted in slots in the arms pinch the paper against the curved surface. The slots are slightly longer than necessary to have the roller surface engage the paper, thus ensuring the weight of the roller will be effective.

Abstract: A compact disc dispenser including a base formed with a hole at an corner, and a plurality of holders each including a supporting plate and a fixing plate which is integral with and makes an acute angle with the supporting plate thereby forming a spine between the supporting plate and the fixing plate, the fixing plate being formed at both sides with a hook portion adapted for engaging a cover of a compact disc container, each of the holders being provided at an corner of the spine with an axle formed with a recess at an upper end and a stem at a lower end, the recess of one of the holders being adapted to receive the stem of another end of the holders.

Abstract: A dispenser and display device is suspended by a ceiling element that is inserted in a drop ceiling in place of a standard drop ceiling panel. The ceiling element has a number of channels formed to run in different directions, so that the dispenser can assume various orientations. The dispenser has a main body that has gravity feed, article-holding trays movably mounted inside so that the trays can be released without removal from the main body. The trays can be rearranged relative to the main body so that dispensing of articles can take place from the front, rear, or both sides of the main body.

Abstract: A tablet dispensing system includes a container and an arcuate housing for containing a supply of tablets. The arcuate housing is configured for being removably attached around a generally cylindrical container and has sufficient length to extend around a majority of the perimeter of the container. The arcuate housing may be shipped in a single circular piece with a perforation therein for separating the arcuate housing and in order to removably dispose same on the cylindrical container. An open end of the arcuate housing is provided for dispensing the tablets therefrom, and a resilient outer wall of the arcuate housing enables one-by-one dispensing of tablets in a carrier therefrom without dispensing of tablets sequentially held in the carrier.

Abstract: A sheet dispenser or sheet dispenser subassembly including a coherent stack of tape flags or other adhesive-bearing sheets that can be unobtrusively permanently or removably adhered on a page of a book, catalog, brochure, etc., because it has a supple cover layer that is a thin, tear-resistant polymeric film. The dispenser subassembly has a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on a peripheral portion of the cover layer by which it can be adhered to the page which then serves as a back layer for the dispenser, whereas the dispenser includes a bottom layer on an outer surface of which is a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive layer by which the dispenser can be adhered to a surface.

Abstract: A vending device for vending newspapers and the like, comprising a plastic housing, a metal insert and a plastic base. The metal insert is retained in a channel in the housing and supported by the base, and includes an access door for accessing an inventory storage compartment, and a secure compartment containing a coin or credit card operated latch mechanism.

Abstract: A gravity feed dispensing holder which is adapted to receive and dispense cans directly from the open end of a multi-can carton. The open end of the multi-can carton fits into the holder which supports the carton on its side so the long axes of the cans are horizontal and at right angles to the direction of movement of the cans toward the open end of the carton. The holder tilts the carton towards its open end to cause gravity flow of the cans toward the open end of the carton into an outer extension of the holder. The holder substantially surrounds the bottom side, the open end and the lower front portion of the top and bottom of the carton. The outer extension of the holder has an upwardly facing opening from which the cans are successively removed. Gravity feed of the cans confined in the carton causes them to roll towards the opening for dispensing.

Abstract: A display apparatus is disclosed herein for dispensing a quantity of literature sheets or brochures stored in an ordered stack so that a portion of the uppermost piece of literature is visually displayed. Mechanism is provided for advancing the stack of literature within a housing so that the uppermost piece of literature bears against an advancement mechanism including rollers which advances the uppermost piece of literature so as to be partially exposed externally of a dispensing slot whereby a user may readily grasp the exposed portion and withdraw the literature. The stack of literature is carried on a spring-biased platform normally urging the stack upward against the underside of the advancement mechanism. An adjustable tension and system maintains the platform in a centered disposition with respect to the storage housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and automatically sorting items, in which the items are stored in bins or magazines arranged on bin-bases affixed to a frame from which individual bin-bases can be pulled out, includes a horizontal conveyor, each bin including an item dispenser through which items are dispensed onto the horizontal conveyor. The horizontal conveyor is positioned beneath the bin-bases and transversely to their end faces, and extends width-wise only across a central part of the apparatus. The apparatus further includes guide plates sloping down toward the conveyor in a part of the apparatus to which the conveyor does not extend for guiding items from the item dispensers to the conveyor. The frame includes an upper beam resting on a row of pillars mounted above the conveyor on A or inverted V-shaped supports whose legs rest on opposite lateral sides of the conveyor, one row of bin-bases being mounted on each side of the columns.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for serially dispensing flexible plastic bags from a wound package of bags which are joined along perforated severance lines, including a panel, and at least one elongate dispensing slot extending through the panel. The slot includes relatively narrow and linearly aligned outer edge portions, and a laterally extending tongue positioned between the outer edge portions. Also, an opening is located on one side of the tongue. In use, the opening is used to facilitate thread-up of the initial bag through the slot, and the two outer edge portions serve to engage and hold the bag in the slot. During withdrawal, the tongue engages the central portion of the bag, and when the tongue engages the next perforated severance line, or the bottom of the cut out in the case of T-shirt bags, a significant resistance is imparted which causes the severance line to rupture, with the next bag positioned in the slot and ready to be engaged and withdrawn.

Abstract: A carousel for dispensing canisters of film having a film-holding base secured to a vertical spine mounted centrally of the base, a plurality of vertical dividers extending radially from, and circumferentially of, the spine, vertically-extending wall sections secured to the outermost edges of the dividers, so that the spine, the dividers, and the wall sections together form vertical channels to receive and hold the canisters. The uppermost portions of the wall sections are open to receive the canisters, and the lowermost ends of the wall sections are spaced from the base sufficiently to permit removal of individual canisters, and the base and with the upper end of the spine are pivoted where they are to be attached to a display device so the entire unit can be rotated. If desired, the canisters can have keys on their bodies or their caps, and the channels can have corresponding key slots, so that the canisters will be held in the channels with their labels outermost.

Abstract: A disposable plastic cup dispenser incorporating a spring for imparting biasing action to a stack of nested cups in the dispenser so as to render the cups available for individual and discrete dispensing thereof. The spring is in a compressed condition and extends intermediate the inner bottom wall surface of the container and the bottom of the lowermost cup of the stack of cups, thereby biasing the stack of cups towards a discharge or dispensing opening formed in the opposite end of the housing through which the endmost cup of the stack partially protrudes.

Abstract: The dispenser is a box-like structure, preferably made of metal, that is suspended from a wall near an elevator. The structure enables cards stored to be pulled out of the dispenser. A pair of spring-loaded binding screws press the cards forwardly toward the dispenser access opening. In addition to advertising or other material thereon, the cards have the floor location imprinted thereon to help a party parking a car to retrieve same upon returning to the parking lot. The dispenser has a cover that is pivotally mounted to a base plate which is attached to a wall with a fastening means. When loading the cards, the dispenser cover is pivoted upward to allow loading of the cards on the binding screws. Then the cover of the dispenser is pivoted back to its original position, whereupon it is locked with the base plate. This structure enables the dispenser to be held securely against the wall so that it is not easily removed from the wall.

Abstract: A vending device for newspapers or other articles comprising a box like receptacle which can be pole or pedestal mounted. The device includes a one piece paper display member, an access door biasing means which is hidden from exposure to the weather, a door latch device which maintains the access door in an open position, a releasable lock device for locking a coin operating mechanism and coin box in the vending device and an access door locking unit for locking the access door to the coin operating mechanism.

Abstract: A flexible container of bread slices has bellows-like foldable longitudinal sides, having a closed end and an open end. It is located within a somewhat larger casing provided with a closable lid, an open end of the flexible container being effectively sealable by a flexible soft cushion mounted to an inside surface of the lid of the outer casing. A small breathing aperture is provided in the lid, and the cushion allows passage of air or vapors through the breathing aperture to let the stored bread slices breathe with little evaporation from the bread slices. A manually movable platen plate supported within the outer casing biases a closed end of the flexible bread container toward the lid. Individual bread slices are dispensed when the casing lid is opened, with additional bias provided by moving the platen plate forward.

Abstract: The container dispenser comprises a body member, a collar and a container biasing spring for initially receiving a column of nested containers and continuously exerting a biasing force on the containers, such that the last container of the column is disposed at the open end of the dispensing apparatus. The body member is preferrably made of a plastic material formed by extrusion blow molding or injection blow molding and in a further aspect of the invention, the collar is injection molded and secured to the body member by a snap fit or spin weld joining technique. The exterior of the body member is shaped to provide a number of inward depression adjacent the open end of the body member, for engaging the lower most containers of the stack of nested containers. Loading and/or dispensing of containers requires a localized resilient deformation as the containers move past the inward depressions.

Abstract: A method of dispensing ingestible units such as capsules, tablets and pills in such manner as to avoid tampering or adulteration comprises packaging such units in sealable containers, sealing the containers, and loading the sealed containers into a magazine at the factory where the units are produced. The sealed magazine is transported to the place of sale where it is inserted, while still sealed, into the housing of dispensing apparatus having an opening for introducing the magazine, a closure for the opening and a lock for securing the closure. Moreover, the apparatus includes blades for breaking the seal of the magazine when inserted to release the containers and mechanism for sequentially dispensing the containers in such manner as to prevent their reinsertion into the apparatus.

Abstract: A coin-operated dispenser for flexible supports such as postcards, comprises an element (1) shaped like a piece of furniture closed on three sides comprising a juxtaposition and a superposition of compartments (2) each containing a packet of flexible supports and apparatus for distributing individual supports, an assembly (3) for selection of and payment for the flexible supports, and a device (4) for closing the face of the element (1), provided at the upper part of each compartment (2) with a dispensing opening (5), and beneath this opening (5) with a housing (6) for receiving a display sample (7) of the flexible support contained in the corresponding compartment (2).

Abstract: Apparatus for storing and dispensing bags includes a container having an interior cavity featuring at least one pair of mutually opposed longitudinal members disposed along the interior surfaces of elongate sides of the container. The members in part define opposed compartments whereby bags may be positioned within the cavity and retained by the members for storage and/or selective removal from the container.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for relatively flat packets such as individually packaged non-prescription drugs is disclosed. A housing having openings in the top and front walls thereof receives a plurality of vertically disposed magazines. The magazines each comprise a packet receiving tray member and a removable sleeve which partly encloses the tray member. An opening in the magazine is provided by the cooperation of an opening in a wall of the sleeve and the tray member. A liner is disposed in the tray member depending from the wall of the tray member and engaging the inner rear wall of the tray member. A shelf depends from the magazine opening at the lower end of the opening. An optional laterally disposed extension is provided at the bottom of the housing.

Abstract: A home sanitary napkin dispenser is provided that can be mounted to a vertical flat surface out of the way in an inconspicuous place. The dispenser allows for easy access to one sanitary napkin at a time when the dispenser is activated by a person needing the sanitary napkin.

Abstract: A modular helical carrier mechanism for dispensing bottles and cans is readily mounted and dismounted from a vending machine, to make its parts and assemblies readily accessible. A frame portion of the module may include a tie bar providing support for the carriers, which tie bar engages the lower edge of an overlying partition wall of the machine, to provide an assembly of enhanced rigidity.

Abstract: A restricted pharmaceutical storage and dispensing cabinet which has a main supporting shell and a stock supporting rack internally of the shell, having vertically and horizontally aligned rows of stock supporting cubicles. The rack is secured by an inner closure which includes an operating panel affording limited access to items of stock. A mechanical locking arrangement is provided for locking and unlocking the inner closure. The operating panel is accessible through an outer locked shell with an unlocking arrangement which include an electrical key reader and readable operator assigned keys. A recording system is provided [with provision] for automatic accountability of items dispensed, date and time of removal and identification of recipient.

Abstract: A dispenser for split retaining rings includes a base, a bracket mounted on the base, a ring-retaining rail pivotably mounted to the bracket and a guide passage for a ring-removal tool. Lateral displacement of the rail is prevented by maintaining opposite sides of the rail in contact with stationary surfaces. The base is formed of a single piece of formed sheet metal and includes a bracket supporting platform and folded portions which prevent sagging of the platform. Frictional wear of the platform is prevented by a wear plate mounted thereatop. The ring-retaining portion of the rail is designed to accommodate a wide variety of retaining rings, including rings with and without a center prong. The dispenser is assembled at the time of manufacture with the rail permanently disposed with proper clearance above the guide passage.

Abstract: A paper plate dispenser houses a stack of plates and is provided with specially formed openings in its bottom and side walls to enable one or more of the plates to be removed easily. Brush-like retainers are supported on the inside of the dispenser housing and engage selected portions of the plates in the stack to aid in retaining the plates within the housing. The configuration of the dispenser is such that it may be supported in a horizontal or vertical attitude to facilitate its mounting in a variety of convenient locations.