Abstract: The present subject matter relates to automated gemstone feeding in a gemstone processing machine. In an implementation, the gemstone processing machine has a feeding conduit unit to receive a rough gemstone affixed to a holder from a user. The feeding conduit unit delivers the holder to a base plate. An actuating arm picks the holder from the base plate and transfers the holder to a pre-defined position in the gemstone processing machine. The automated feeding mechanism is controlled by the computing device and uses low-cost hardware equipment having limited or no manual intervention. Thus, providing an apt tradeoff between the accuracy of transfer of the rough gemstone and the cost associated with the equipment used for the processing of the gemstone.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for beverage pods, and beverage pod filling machines configured to fill such beverage pods with beverage material, wherein such machines are configured to have a small footprint, such that the filling machines can be provided for use in a home or office setting, for example. Examples of beverage pod components that can be filled with beverage materials and lidding systems therefore are also provided, where the combination of container and lids provides a beverage pod having beverage material therein for use in single serve brewing systems.

Abstract: A dispenser automatically dispenses beverage cans. A housing has a conveyor along which cans are conveyed by gravity to a removal opening. A dispensing flap is on the removal opening and can be pivoted between a closed position, in which it prevents the removal of products through the removal opening, and a removal position. The dispensing flap has two trough-shaped receptacles lying at right angles to the conveyor section for one can, and is pivotal such that in the closed position a can is conveyed from the conveyor section into the first receptacle positioned to the inside of the housing, removal of the can from the first receptacle being prevented. In the removal position the can rolls from the first receptacle into the second receptacle, at the same time a new can is prevented from being conveyed from the conveyor into the first receptacle.

Abstract: Hand-held placement dispenser element (6) and automated dispenser elements (18) are provided for placement of items such as metal domes or the like onto a placement position (21), such as right-side-up or upside-down, perhaps by allowing only a single item or predetermined number of items to eject from a dispenser element at a time. A dispenser element may include a trigger (7) allowing for non-complication in use. A dispenser element could accept a cartridge (1), such as a slotted cartridge (3). A dispenser element and cartridge may be interchangeable. Once a cartridge is empty, it may be desirable to remove the empty cartridge and replace it with a full one.

Abstract: A stack of disposable plates for food is describes, in which each plate comprises an upper rim and one or more tabs that depart from said upper rim, towards outside the plate, in which the tabs of a plate of the stack are angularly staggered with respect to the tabs of the adjacent plates of the stack of plates thereof. A dispenser of individual disposable food plates is also described, initially stacked according to the invention. The dispenser comprises a loading platform of a stack of plates, comprising in turn an discharge opening through which the first plate of the stack falls by gravity when separated from the stack and a separating element of the first plate of the stack with respect to the remaining plates of the stack, able to be actuated in rotation by the user.

Abstract: A drug dispenser which can push a drug package in a stable state and discharge it. The drug dispenser includes a drug case (1) for containing a plurality of drug packages (100) stacked in a vertical direction, each of the plurality of drug packages (100) is packed in a rectangular package with a flange (100a), and a pushing mechanism (3) for pushing out the lowermost drug package (100) in a horizontal direction. A guide member (35) for supporting and guiding the flange (100a?) of the second drug package (100?), when the lowermost drug package (100) is pushed out, is provided in a pushing direction of the drug package (100).

Abstract: An optical disc dispenser includes a base and a top cover with an opening for a stack of optical discs. The diameter of the opening is larger than the diameter of a disc so the discs can pass through the opening freely. The disc dispenser also includes two or more support gate elements, which in idle state, support the disc stack. These support gate elements, which form a support gate, can move. As a result of such movement of the support gate elements, their collective surface can create an opening larger or smaller than the size of a handled disc. The disc dispenser also includes synchronized separator fingers and a recess which is located on a height of the second disc from the bottom of the stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for precisely, detecting a tablet dropped in a last hopper so that packaging speed of tablets is increased and operation of a shutter and a sealer is precisely performed, is disclosed. The automatic medicine packaging machine includes a last hopper provided at the lower end of a hopper installed in a main frame, a shutter installed in the last hopper, and a shutter driving part for driving the shutter to open and close the last hopper, and the apparatus includes a dropping tablet detector installed in the last hopper to detect when the tablet is dropped into the last hopper and to input the detected information about the dropping tablet to the controller such that the moment when the shutter is opened is optimized.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the automated monitoring and the management of objects, especially medications in hospital environments, wherein this method consists, from a network of n individual housings containing a set of n objects, of transmitting to at least one of these objects, one or more movements selected from the extractions of said object from its housing and re-introductions of this object into an empty housing amongst the n housings, of automatically detecting the movement made and of using this detection in computer processes.

Abstract: A golf ball teeing device comprising, a platform having an upper surface, an opening in the platform, a tee for a golf ball the tee being arranged for reciprocal movement with respect to the opening between a lower position where the top of the tee is at a level below the upper surface of the platform to an upper position where the top of the tee is above upper surface of the platform, and golf ball deliver means arranged to load a golf ball on top of the tee when it is in the lower position, wherein the golf ball is at a level below the upper surface of the platform when it is loaded onto the tee by the golf ball delivery means.

Abstract: A housing has two side walls extend upwardly from a floor to define a channel extending between a primer inlet and a primer outlet. A lanyard clip is fastened to the side walls adjacent the primer inlet, compressing the clip releases it, allowing primers to be loaded through the primer inlet. A spring is riveted to the housing floor with a protruding spacer segment facing the primer inlet, and a restraint segment facing the outlet. Multiple primers are restrained between the spring spacer segment and the primer inlet, yet the spacer segment may be deflected by pushing a primer toward the primer outlet until it is positioned on the restraint segment, and presented for engagement on the primer holder of an in-line action muzzleloading rifle. Pulling the dispenser displaces the primer to move along and depress the restraint segment, and dispensing it. A floor cut-out acts as a decapper.

Abstract: A lid dispenser for storing and dispensing plastic drink lids. The dispenser has an elongated body within which the lids are stacked upside down and a dispensing slot in a sidewall facing a user. A gravity biased finger rides in a vertical trackway in a sidewall opposite the dispensing slot. The finger contacts the stack of drink lids, clamping the uppermost lid against the next-to-uppermost lid and tilting the uppermost lid at an angle towards the user. The uppermost lid can be grasped by the user and snapped through the dispensing slot.

Abstract: A rotary device has thereinside a driving device as a driving source for rotating a rotary block and opening and closing a shutter, and also includes a rod for transmitting a driving force to the rotary block and the shutter, a lever and a shaft for directly transmitting the driving force to the shutter, a spring for delaying a timing to open the shutter after the rotary block rises, a spring receiver for receiving the spring, and a joint for connecting the rod with the rotary block.

Abstract: A fruit feeder for vending machines includes a container for fruit storage, a fruit elevator and a horizontal fruit conveyor. The elevator is composed of two vertical endless chains between which are mounted horizontal vanes and which elevate and eject the fruit. The horizontal transporter is composed of two rollers turning in different directions and which have helical ribbings of opposite inclinations, receiving the fruit from the elevator to transport them to a collecting trough of the squeezer.

Abstract: In a machine for loading tape into cassettes, the cassettes to be processed are oriented horizontally and disposed one upon the other to form a stack vertically engaged in a magazine. A collapsible support located at the base of the magazine engages the lowermost cassette in the stack in order to orient it vertically and let it fall into fitting guide pieces associated with a loading station located in the loading machine. A retention element operable by an actuator maintains the positioning of the cassette on the collapsible support while the latter is moving to the dropped position.

Abstract: Apparatus for regularly weighing groups of cigarettes comprises a suction drum arrangement (4,6) for picking up a predetermined number of cigarettes from a multi-layer flow of cigarettes (2) on a conveyor (3) and for feeding the cigarettes as a row (25) onto a ramp (14) connected to a weighing device (18), and including an arm (20) for arresting the cigarettes on the ramp until weighing has been accomplished, whereupon the arm is arranged to release the cigarettes to allow them to slide or roll down the ramp and back onto the flow of cigarettes on the conveyor (3).

Abstract: A rail spike feeder, which may feed regular spikes, hairpin or lock spikes, and coach screws, uses a holder which receives spikes from a spike chute. The spikes do not assume any secure position from exiting the spike chute until after contact with the holder. The holder uses a four bar linkage arrangement such that the holder pivots about ends of first and second links at the same time the opposite ends of the links are swinging or pivoting about their mounts. This maintains a proper orientation for spikes moved into a spiking position whereat a spiker head, such as a spike hammer, may insert the spikes into tie plates and ties. A counterweighted finger assembly is used to maintain spike orientation as spikes are transferred from the spike chute to the holder.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering pharmaceutical product from blister packs and a method for doing same is provided. Pharmaceutical product blister pack cards, which are unsuitable for sale, are straightened, if necessary, and stacked in a magazine. Individual blister cards are indexed from the magazine stack onto an operations chain conveyor at a loading station by a finger indexing subsystem. The chain conveyor carries the blister card to a cutting station where the back face of the card receives a peripheral cut at the location of each blister pocket and inside the wall of the pocket. The chain conveyor then carries the blister card to a punching station where each product on the card is forced through the back face of the card utilizing moving the respective cut section of the card back, thereby discharging the product into a collection bin. The emptied blister card is moved to a discharge region where it is separated from the chain conveyor.

Abstract: In a machine for dispensing stackable roofing washers individually and for driving fasteners through such washers, a shuttle is actuatable to displace a lowermost washer of one from a stack, either a small, circular or large, square washer. A gate is biased toward a lowermost position wherein it provides sufficient clearance for the lowermost washer but not any overlying washer to pass beneath it. A pawl mounted pivotally to the gate is biased to a lowermost position wherein the pawl engages a small washer displaced by the shuttle so as to restrain it against backward movement. A stop is adjustable so as to limit movement of a washer of whichever size is being displaced. A measuring bar is mounted via the stop. A screw gun, which provides a primary handle, and a secondary handle are mounted to an upright element so as to be independently adjustable.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically feeding pipette tips is disclosed. The apparatus includes a carrier for receiving the pipette tips, one at a time, and for presenting the tips to the pipette of an associated apparatus, such as a blood analyzer. The apparatus further includes a generally elongated feed magazine for gravity-feed of the pipette tips to the carrier. Notably, the feed magazine includes an angled, generally funnel-like entrance portion which prevents insertion of the pipette tips into the magazine in an incorrect orientation, while permitting the tips to be inserted in the correct orientation.

Abstract: A filter feeder for automatically feeding filters one by one to casting molds traveling in a mold transfer line includes a rotatably arranged table and a plurality of cartridges vertically arranged on the table. Each of the cartridges accommodates a plurality of filters placed one upon another. A filter discharge mechanism is provided at a lower end of each cartridge to discharge a lowermost filter of the filters accommodated in the cartridge. The filter discharge mechanism includes a pair of shutter plates pivotally mounted on the lower end of the cartridge so that the lowermost filter may be discharged from the filter discharge mechanism when the shutter plates are opened. The filter feeder is further provided with a receiving mechanism for receiving the filter discharged from the filter discharge mechanism at a first location below the cartridge.

Abstract: For a vending machine for dispensing parallelepiped products, which are arranged in horizontal product stacks, a dispensing device is provided, which separates the first product package to be dispensed by tipping the package away from the product stack, with the remaining product stack being held in place. It is furthermore provided that the product package falls onto an inclined plane when tipped, from which it slides down under its own weight and reaches the dispensing opening of the vending machine. It is further provided that the dispensing device follows the product stack as the products are dispensed, or that the product stack be made so that it can move towards the dispensing device. The dispensing device is arranged on horizontal guide rails and several dispensing devices can be provided within one product row.

Abstract: A machine which supports a stack of bins adapted to store small objects prior to shipment. The machine includes an elevator which acts in conjunction with the bin retainers and a programmable controller to remove one bin from the stack and lower it into a filling position. After the filling is completed the elevator lowers the filled bin onto a transport conveyor which removes the bin to a remote storage area.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a hopper structure which is in a hopper structure for separating chip parts, a swing roll is hopper body which has its lower spout merging into a lining-up cylindrical hole formed in a lining-up block. The swing roll is formed at its outer periphery with an arcuate mixing projection which has its upper end face positioned in the upper mouth of the lining-up cylindrical hole. There is provided a drive mechanism for bringing the swing roll into swinging motions of an angle smaller than the arcuate angle of the mixing projection.

Abstract: A dispenser and component feeder for integration with automated assembly equipment is adapted for the high speed placement of self-orienting components of varying sizes and includes, a linear vibratory chute for transferring the self-orienting components from the storage hopper to an adjustable single roller feed assembly where the self-orienting components are conveyed to a pick-up position, the single roller feed assembly having a roller to facilitate in conveying the self-orienting components, and alternately reciprocating rod members to segregate a self-orienting component at the pick-up position. A pick-up and placement assembly is operative to pick-up the segregated self-orienting component from the pick-up position and move the same to a position for placement on an associated conveyor on the automated assembly equipment.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting cartridges for exposed photographic roll films to an opening station has a downwardly sloping duct whose inlet can receive the shells of successive cartridges only in a predetermined orientation. The lower end of an inserted container or cartridge comes to rest on a first gate and the gate is retracted from the duct so as to permit gravitational descent of the inserted cartridge only if the orientation of the inserted cartridge is proper. The cartridge which descends below the retracted first gate impinges upon a cylindrical bolt which tilts the cartridge approximately 90 degrees so that the axis of the shell of such tilted cartridge is substantially horizontal before the cartridge descends onto a second retractible gate and thereupon onto a third gate in the bottom of the duct. The inclination of the duct with reference to a horizontal plane is at least 45 degrees.

Abstract: A storage device for a number of different articles which are to be stored includes containers which are placed in a receiving frame on resting surfaces and acted on in an ejection direction which is perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the resting surfaces. The containers are held in the receiving frame by a hold-back device which can be overcome by action of a release device, each container having, associated with it, a release device and a receiving and code recognition device with which a given code is associated.

Abstract: A cam driven dispensing structure for coin-operated automatic vending machines in which vertical gravity feed magazines accommodate a plurality of cylindrical articles, varying in diameter and length. A motor driven cyclicly operated dispensing mechanism is disposed beneath each magazine for receiving articles therefrom and for delivering single articles, as selected, to the customer; each dispensing mechanism being equipped to receive articles from one or more vertical stacks thereof stored in overdisposed compartments of the magazine.

Abstract: Frozen goods, e.g. frozen foods, are arranged in a vertical stack of generally rectangular packages, 2, 3, 4, . . . . The bottom of the bottom package is supported by supports 7. Inflatable members 5, 5A, 6, 6A are provided for grasping the stack and for separating the bottom package from the stack while retaining the remaining packages. Those portions of the supports and the grasping and separating members which come into contact with the packages are inflatable at least to an extent such that inflation thereof breaks any ice that may have formed on these portions, thereby ensuring that the packages do not adhere to these portions during a dispensing operation.

Abstract: An unoriented supply of similar articles, each having a shank and a head of greater dimension than the shank are introduced into orienting means which include a trough having an inclined slot at its bottom and a plurality of cleats positioned at fixed locations on its side walls. Upon vibration, the articles become separated resulting in certain of the articles becoming oriented within the slot, with the unoriented articles being returned to the supply. The oriented articles are then directed to storing means which include a track including a straight lower portion, level maintaining means and a discharge end wherein the articles are discharged at a predetermined rate to article receiving, positioning and carrying means.

Abstract: An edible, stackable cone having a sanitary covering, and a method of vending such edible cones are provided. Each cone includes an inedible, non-toxic sanitary covering disposed over the bottom of the cone and extending upwardly at least a grasping distance, but terminating short of the open cone top. The covered cones are disposed in a nested stack, one above the other, and are automatically dispensed one at a time from the stack to a product-filling area. The covering may be a no-migration plastic, or food-grade paper, or aluminum foil, and the covering may be snugly - but readily removably - adhered to the cone by deforming selected areas of the covering into intimate contact with corresponding areas of the cone, or by providing an interference fit facilitated by ribbing.

Abstract: Apparatus for sequentially compacting a plurality of containers includes first and second plates each juxtaposed with respect to the other and having respective compacting surfaces, one of the plates being operated by a cam for effecting the reciprocal operation toward and away from the other plate so as to crush containers between the two compacting surfaces. A magazine is provided above the compacting plates for feeding the containers into the space therebetween, the magazine being pivoted above the plates such that downward rotation of the magazine occurs responsive to the weight of a predetermined number of the containers to operate a switch which energizes the cam mechanism.

Abstract: A depalletizing system of depalletizing articles which have been stacked in layers and separating them one by one so that loading work of those articles onto trucks or freight cars can be carried out more easily and in a shorter time than when carried out manually. The system includes hoisting means comprising a tiltable mast and a loading table, a chute secured to the upper portion of the hoisting means substantially in parallel with the plane of each layer of the articles, control means for controlling the upward movement of the loading table, selecting means for blocking the passage of the articles whenever required, and separating means for separating them one by one. The system further includes means for arranging those articles in the same orientation. Accordingly, all work from depalletizing to conveying them onto trucks or freight cars can be completely mechanized.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for separating bundled bars, which comprises a magazine for containing the bars in bundles cooperating with means which reduce its width and thus cause the overflow of a certain number of bars from one of its longitudinal sides. The apparatus is also provided with a device for rolling the bars back and forth so to arrange them side by side through a passage where bars are intercepted and withheld by a hooking device which separates the bars singly and release it for transfer to a subsequent operation.