Abstract: A package for connectors and an apparatus for dispensing them. The package comprises an elongated tape or pair of tapes and a plurality of an elongated connector containing tubes secured to and extending across the tape or tapes. The apparatus comprises a stand having upper and lower support members, a slide extending downwardly from the lower support member to a perch, and a stepping device for advancing successive tubes along the support members to the slide. Connectors are removed from the tubes descend the slide and are picked up from the perch by a robot and installed in a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A one-piece unitary guide member for guiding an article-engaging member of a metering device is disclosed. The guide member is fabricated from a rigid non-metallic material to form a through-hole having a rectangular transverse cross section just slightly larger than that of the article-engaging member which it guides. Apertures are formed in the guide member to provide for its attachment to a base plate by means of screws. The apertures are in a rectangular pattern which is offset lengthwise of the guide member so that two apertures are closely adjacent one edge. The guide member has a generally rectangular shape and is formed with wall structures which are of generally uniform thickness.

Abstract: An article dispenser for a vending machine includes an article storage area having a front opening and a bottom opening with a dispensing mechanism having an article holding device disposed in the lower portion of the storage area. The storage area is defined by two side plates, a back plate and an upper plate, and the front opening of the storage area formed for loading the articles is partly covered by a pivotably supported stopper plate. A U-cross section shaped element is fixed on each side plate at a position to oppose the holding device of the dispensing mechenism and a free end of the U-shaped element extends into a rectangular hole formed through the stopper plate to effect engagement therebetween whereby partial deformation of the side plates is prevented by engagement between the U-shaped element and the stopper plate.

Abstract: A dispenser unit for use with a cutting machine for cutting metal parts from metal workpieces. The cutting machine has a main beam movable in a first direction which carries at least one cutting torch which is movable along the beam in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A cutting table with a planar cutting surface is located below the main beam. The dispenser unit carries a plurality of individual point support members for supporting workpieces to be cut on the cutting table. The dispenser unit includes an elongated tube with an open lower end which is mounted on the main beam for movement along the beam in the second direction.

Abstract: A container for storing and dispensing small objects, such as capsules or pills containing medicament, one at a time, consists of a receptacle containing, within itself, a delivery mechanism including a funnel-shaped exit port for capsules and a capsule or pill delivery tube at the end of said funnel-shaped exit designed to accommodate no more than one pill or capsule. This funnel divides the outer receptacle into an upper storage compartment and a lower delivery compartment. The receptacle also contains between the exit end of the receptacle and the delivery tube a resilient gate member positioned to prevent or allow escape of a capsule or pill from the delivery tube. The inner end of the receptacle is pressed into or twisted in the user's hand which moves the resiliently mounted gate members, thus opening the delivery tube and delivering a single small object to the user.

Abstract: Apparatus for orienting elongate bodies, for example electrical connectors, comprises magazines for containing vertical stacks of the elongate bodies, escapement slides for releasing one body at a time from each magazine, as required, first and second slidable traps mounted beneath the escapement slides and having an advanced, body supporting position and a retracted body release position, and guide surfaces on the escapement slides for guiding each body as it falls from a magazine, so that it lies across both of the traps when they are in their body supporting position. A pair of receptacles are slidably mounted on a carriage beneath the traps so that either of these receptacles can be positioned to receive a body released by the traps. If one trap is first retracted, the body will fall into the receptacle in one vertical orientation and if the other trap is first retracted, the body will fall into the receptacle in the opposite vertical orientation.

Abstract: An article dispenser for dispensing articles from a vending machine includes an article storage area which has a bottom opening through which articles are dispensed and a front opening through which articles are loaded in a manner to form two vertically adjacent stacks. An article dispensing mechanism successively dispenses the lowermost articles stacked in the storage area through such bottom opening by the mechanism including a rotatable shaft which vertically extends within the storage area to divide the storage area into the two vertical stacks or columns. A control plate is fixed to the lower end of the rotatable shaft to control the operation of a pair of pivotally mounted doors positioned below the two vertical stacks of articles, respectively. As these doors open and close upon rotation of the rotatable shaft, the lowermost articles in the storage area are successively dispensed.

Abstract: An article dispenser for dispensing articles from a vending machine is disclosed. The article dispenser includes an article storage area which has a bottom opening through which articles are dispensed and a front opening through which the articles are loaded to form two vertically adjacent rows. An article dispensing mechanism dispenses the lowermost articles stacked in the storage area through the bottom opening. This article dispensing mechanism includes a rotatable shaft which vertically extends within the storage area to divide the storage area into the two vertical rows or columns. A control plate is fixed to the lower end of the rotatable shaft to control the operation of a pair of flappers positioned below the two vertical rows of articles. As these flappers open and close upon rotation of the rotatable shaft, the lowermost articles in the storage area are dispensed.

Abstract: A firewood log storing and dispensing apparatus including a furniture-type cabinet housing having an upright log storage compartment in which logs are vertically stacked, a log delivery opening at the lower end of the compartment of a predetermined size adapted for passage therethrough of one log, and a closure mechanism mounted in the housing to extend across the delivery opening for selectively obstructing and opening the delivery opening to permit gravitational dispensing of logs from the compartment. A log cradle is movably arranged below the delivery opening to be vertically moved between a raised log receiving position at the delivery opening and a lowered log dispensing position spaced therebelow. An opening is provided in the cabinet for access to the cradle at its dispensing position for log removal therefrom.

Abstract: A rack for supporting drilling tubulars such as drill pipe, collars and the like includes a base and a rail. The rail is coupled to the base by means of two columns, each of which is provided with threads such that the tilt angle of the rail with respect to the base can be adjusted to provide gravity feeding of drilling tubulars to either end of the rail. The rail is provided with two pivotably connected stop plates which move in opposition. The stop plates are controlled by means of an air cylinder to allow only one drilling tubular at a time from those stored on the rack to roll off the end of the rail. Furthermore, both stop plates can be retracted below the level of the rail so as not to interfere with the movement of tubulars onto the rack. The combination of the tiltable rail and the two stop plates provides a rack which can be used to control movement of drilling tubulars on to and off of the rack with a minimum of manpower requirements.

Abstract: A tamper resistant closure member adapted to be affixed to a dispensing container includes an inner housing affixed to the opening of the container. The inner housing has an opening and a recessed portion about the opening. A leaf member is positioned over the opening within the recess and is secured about its edge surface to the inner housing. An outer housing is rotatably nested over the inner housing. The outer housing includes an opening and a projection adjacent the opening. The projection is adapted to be received within the recess to engage and substantially close a leaf member as the opening of the outer housing is rotated in communication with the recess.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic feed system for storing and delivering headed fasteners, such as bolts or headed rivets to a fastening machine. The feed system is configured to release fasteners one at a time in a shank-first orientation and includes a cylindrical feed column that is attached to a gate unit. A cylindrical magazine that holds a supply of fasteners and permits rapid reloading mounts atop the feed column. The outer surface of the feed column and magazine include aligned, downwardly extending helical channels to hold the fasteners in a single-file row that advances downwardly under the force of gravity each time the gate unit is activated to eject a single fastener. Fasteners dispensed by the gate unit travel downwardly into a pneumatic supply line and are directed to the fastening machine that utilizes the feed system. A release mechanism located at the lower end of the magazine is used to retain the fasteners in the helical channel of the magazine when the magazine is separated from the feed column.

Abstract: Products such as small chocolate bars, intended to be uniformly aligned on other products passing on a conveyor, such as pieces of dough in the manufacture of chocolate-filled cookies, are placed in a hopper having resiliently mounted walls. Beneath the hopper is a feeder comprising a cylindrical-sector-shaped feeder part. The feeder part includes a slot through which the chocolate bars can be disposed on the pieces of dough. By means of a motor-driven main crank assembly and a supplementary crank assembly, a perturbed sinusoidal motion is imparted to the feeder part, thus ensuring that the chocolate bars are consistently introduced into the feed slot, particularly in the vicinity of the walls of the hopper. A blocking and release mechanism, connected to the feeder and controlled by a sensor unit, ensures that only one chocolate bar drops on each piece of dough.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding electric circuit elements includes a plurality of containers or stockers for electric circuit elements, a transfer member connected to a respective stocker for transferring the circuit elements, and a shutter assembly disposed across the feeding path of the transfer member, whereby a plurality of circuit elements are fed at one time by one stroke of the shutter assembly. The shutter assembly may have a cut-out portion at the edge thereof and is adjustably removable in a direction perpendicular to that of the stroke thereof to open the feeding paths which correspond to the cut-out portion. The stocker may include a receptacle, the bottom of which defines an opening to receive a capture member. The capture member has plural through holes extending axially therethrough and is opened at its conical top thereof to receive circuit elements by reciprocal movement of the capture member relative to the receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for slicing elongated products, such as sausages. A pair of product engaging members are driven simultaneously in opposite directions so that one member can feed the product to a slicer while the other member is returning to the start position. A magazine may be provided for storing a supply of products and automatically discharging the product in timed relationship with the product engaging members. In addition, the product engaging members may have tines for gripping the product during feeding to the slicer and for releasing the waste end of the product during the return stroke.

Abstract: A package dispensing mechanism for a vending machine, the mechanism being particularly adapted for dispensing cylindrical packages in a single column, of a single or a multiple depth stack. The mechanism has a cylindrical bucket open at one side and mounted for oscillation substantially about its axis, the bucket having one axially extending edge which simultaneously releases all of the packages in the lowermost tier of such a stack into the bucket and another such edge which sequentially vends the packages so received, and the mechanism has a pivoting gate disposable to support the next tier above such lowermost tier so that such one edge does not engage the such next tier, avoiding lifting of the entire stack even though the bucket and package have substantially different diameters, minimizing the power required to drive the bucket, and avoiding damage to such next tier.

Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed for reducing the overall effective size of the goods storage and discharging system in an automatic vending machine. The solenoid and transmission mechanism of each goods discharging mechanism are so disposed that the discharging mechanisms of adjacent goods storage shelves may be arranged in a back-to-back relation with the solenoids and transmission mechanisms thereof laterally adjacent each other. The overall size of the vending machine may thus be substantially reduced.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically storing and dispensing objects. This apparatus includes vertical storage pigeon-holes (7) contained in horizontal racks in drawers (3). Each pigeon-hole is filled with a stack (30) of objects and has an object extractor mechanism at its base, said mechanism being provided with a trap-door (31) and with a mechanism which jams the last but one object of the stack before and during the opening of the trap-door (31). A moving carriage (23) in a passage which is below the pigeon-holes of a rack allows the object extractor mechanisms to be actuated and the objects extracted from the pigeon-holes to be pushed towards the front of the drawer (3).

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of frozen confections includes an endless conveyor, a freezing chamber, means for moving the conveyor along a fixed path externally of the freezing chamber and then through the freezing chamber, a downwardly facing extruder nozzle of established cross sectional shape located above the fixed path, an apparatus for dispensing a lowermost cookie from the bottom of a stack of cookies onto a location along the fixed path including a frame, a substantially horizontal block supported by the frame having a vertical aperture therein, means connected to the block for holding the stack of cookies in vertical alignment with the aperture, a horizontal plate means under the block supported by a first moving means mounted on the frame operable to move the plate means between an obstructing position in which the plate obstructs the aperture to a cleared position in which the plate does not obstruct the aperture, a horizontal finger means above the horizontal plate means supported by a second

Abstract: An electromechanical selection control is transmitting the rotation of an electric motor output shaft to a selectively controlled reciprocating motion for performing a desired action in one or more selected stations. A coupling mechanism in each station is electrically selectable and mechanically connectable to a power drive and resettable by the power drive within a control cycle. Among the numerous applications the reciprocating coupled motion is usable in vending machines for operating dispenser actuators requiring a reciprocating motion. The control circuitry has flexibility to suit different conditions and it is satisfying the vending machine control requirements where a simple series connected selection switch chain is connectable to a coin validating unit which in the most complex form includes a multiprice and changemaker control circuitry and more than one selectable dispenser groups each including a drive motor and more than one selectable dispensers.

Abstract: A container for the dispensing of tablets one by one in which a tablet drop-out opening is provided in the wall of the container below a storage chamber, a spring-loaded slide traveling in front of the region of the opening and releasing in each case one of the tablets so that it can drop out, the slide having associated with it a division finger which, in the depressed position of the slide which is continued towards the outside by an actuating button, blocks the path between the bottom opening of the storage chamber and the tablet drop-out opening.

Abstract: An escapement having a pair of retractable stops spaced apart lengthwise of a downwardly inclined track along which workpieces are conveyed. The upstream stop is supported for pivotal movement lengthwise of the track so that its leading end is adapted to engage in the cleavage space between a pair of abutting workpieces when the stop is extended regardless of whether the cleavage space is located in exactly the same position for each pair of successive workpieces.

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: A rotary feeder mechanism capable of attachment to and synchronized operation with a variety of different types of fruit juice extracting apparatus, in which a fruit receiving hopper is rotatable about a generally vertical or tilted axis of rotation, the received fruit being moved under centrifugal force to the hopper periphery area containing entrance openings to depending magazines in which the fruits are stored in stacked relation. The lower ends of the magazines are respectively arranged with a pair of spaced-apart gating fingers which are controlled by separate cam tracks to successively release the lowermost fruit in the magazine, while opposing release of the other fruits in the magazine, at a predetermined point of the hopper rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a single metallic V-shaped strip from a package thereof and for feeding such single strip, in particular a strip suitable for binding printed, to a further process includes a pair of conical noses adapted to be inserted between the last and penultimate strips of a substantially vertically supported and guided strip package. This insertion disengages and makes free the last strip, while temporarily supporting the package, and normal package supports are shifted to an inoperative position during such insertion.

Abstract: This dispensing apparatus provides a high speed feeding device with a one-at-a-time positive delivery of an electrical component having a generally cylindrical body and two wire-like members. The members are disposed to extend one from each end of the body and substantially central thereof. The dispensing apparatus includes a zig-zag feeder or chute from which the electrical component is delivered to cam actuated plunger means which is reciprocated to present a first supportive position and in response to a cam displacement the component is dropped into a receiver pocket and then moved to a discharge position whereat the transferred component is delivered to other operations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a can dispensing mechanism for releasing containers from a row of containers stored in an automatic vending machine. A slide driven by a motor or solenoid operates a can control gate and a row gate which are in the form of L-shaped levers. The slide is provided with gate position control surfaces including an inclined ramp or cam surface, an offset surface and an end surface. The control surfaces change the position of the gates about their pivotal connections during movement of the slide through the vend cycle. The gates are gravity biased to the open position and move into can blocking positions under influence of the control surfaces on the slide. Springs and complicated linkages are eliminated to provide a reliable, inexpensive, maintenance free unit.

Abstract: A garment-hanging station associated with a garment-treating station, such as a tunnel finisher, is located along a rail section which slopes downwardly in the advancement direction and on which a plurality of successive clothes hangers is suspended. A singularizing arrangement frees hangers accumulated upstream of the same one at a time for downward sliding on the sloping rail section. The rail section has a transverse slot in which the hook of the freed hanger is received after engaging an abutment surface and in which it is confined by a latch for the duration of a garment-hanging operation. Subsequently, a releasing member expels the hanger hook out of the transverse slot for further downward sliding on the rail section, and the next succeeding hanger is freed by the singularizing arrangement for travel toward the transverse slot.

Abstract: A storage space is defined by a wall which in its lower portion is provided with an inclined surface, which protrudes into the storage space. Claws are adapted to support superimposed platelike articles in the storage space. A pivoted pressure-applying lever is disposed opposite to the wall and arranged to clear the lowermost articles and to apply pressure to the second platelike article from below in the storage space so as to retain the second platelike article from below and to support platelike articles superimposed thereon in the storage space. The claws and the pressure applying lever are disengageable from the platelike articles in the storage space in alternation to effect a delivery of successive superimposed platelike articles from the storage space.

Abstract: There is disclosed in the present application apparatus for separating articles or workpieces such as axially leaded electronic components, from a group of jumbled similar articles, arranging the articles in order in a reservoir in the form of a vertical guideway in which all are similarly oriented and discharging the articles from the reservoir one at a time in a controlled manner so as to obtain a count either of a predetermined number or of a total in a given lot.

Abstract: The feed duct of a tablet dispenser is formed with a movable wall portion which engages a tablet next adjacent the tablet being dispensed to prevent more than a single tablet from being dispensed at a time. A dispenser slide which opens and closes the discharge opening of the feed duct actuates displacement of the movable wall portion through an interposed spring member. Another movable wall portion of the feed duct located further upstream may operate in tandem with the first wall portion to block the feed duct and thereby prevent backward movement of tablets within the feed duct while the discharge opening is closed.

Abstract: An inclined conveyor for lowering uniformly spaced, cylindrical articles comprises a pair of inclined rails, paired pivotal rockers and fingers disposed along the inclined rails, and a pair of drawbars for sequentially pivoting the inclined pairs of rockers and fingers. The paired pivotal rockers and fingers are so cooperably disposed as to define a series of article receiving pockets accommodating controlled gravitational movement of the articles along the rails, as the rockers and fingers are sequentially pivoted by the drawbars.

Abstract: DIP components are released from storage in a generally vertical chute when a spring-biased first finger blocking the chute exit is pivoted away. A second finger presses laterally on a prong of the second lowest stored component and limits dispensing to a single component for each actuation of the first finger.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coil spring feeding apparatus comprising a plurality of elongated magazines supported by a frame in parallel relation to each other and each including a bottom and a discharge end, a conveyor assembly extending transversely of and adjacent to the discharge ends of the magazines for receiving the endmost coil springs from the magazines and for transporting the coil springs transversely of and away from the magazine ends, which conveyor includes a pair of spaced, parallel endless belts each having a top surface and supported for intermittent travel transversely of the magazine ends, an elongated platform having and upper surface, a cylinder for locating the platform, during belt movements, in a lower position with the platform upper surface beneath the belt top surfaces, and for locating the platform between belt movements, in a raised position, and a transfer device for withdrawing the endmost coil springs from the magazines and for transferring the endmost coil springs onto the conveyor

Abstract: A dispensing device for use with a guide or shaft for dispensed objects. The guide consists of a fixed guide wall and an adjustable wall, the distance between walls being adjustable according to the width of the dispensed objects by means of an adjustable spreader. An escapement means is provided, comprising two apertures formed in the guide wall one above the other; on the side remote from the shaft there is arranged a reciprocable shifter with a groove and a hollow for each of the apertures, in each of the mentioned recesses there being movingly seated a selectively operable, movable locking element.

Abstract: Apparatus for dropping rings one at a time from a stack and including apparatus for receiving piston rings so dropped and applying them to pistons. The apparatus includes a tube, upper and lower pawls slidably mounted in the lower end of said tube and an oscillating cam having a pin and slot interconnection to said pawls to cause them to project and retract alternately in order to drop a ring from the lower pawl while retaining the stack with the upper pawl and to drop the stack onto the lower pawl. Adjacent the lower end of the tube is a ring spreader which has a jaw engageable with one side of a piston ring and bifurcated jaw engageable with the other side of the piston ring with means to cause the jaws to engage the piston ring and spread the bifurcated jaws apart to open up the ring, whereupon the spreader may be lowered to position the ring around the piston.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for improvements in the receiving of folded cartons in a vertical manner and in a storage chute having a beam transport and reciprocating this beam in such a controlled manner so that on the forward stroke this beam is lifted to advance the cartons at a selected rate. From this horizontal chute and the reciprocated beam the cartons are delivered to a relatively horizontal delivery chute from which they are drawn one-at-a-time for erecting. Positive carton edge engagement and release is provided in a novel escapement means so that irregularly made cartons can be accommodated for delivery at a regular rate. This novel escapement insures that only one carton is engaged and pulled from the chute when engaged by the vacuum cups on the swinging suction arm of the erecting station.

Abstract: Apparatus for placing a sheath on a vertically oriented elongated member, the sheath having an open end for receiving the elongated member, comprises an upright magazine for containing a stacked plurality of the sheaths with the openings thereof oriented downwardly, a downwardly extending passage having an upper end communicating with the magazine and a lower end having a discharge opening arranged on a vertical axis with which the elongated member is to be aligned for being received in a respective said sheath discharged from the discharge opening onto the elongated member, a first gate defining the boundary between the magazine and the passage and for blocking transit of the sheath from the magazine into the passage and a second gate below the first gate a distance about equal to the length of a respective said sheath for blocking transit of the sheaths to the discharge opening of the passage, whereby the sheaths may be individually discharged by gravity onto respective said elongated members consecutively

Abstract: An automatic wire feeder for feeding pieces of wire in an assembly operation. More particularly, an automatic wire feeder for feeding pieces of wire in a radial assembly operation wherein the automatic wire feeder drops the wires, one by one, in a wire loading device having means for holding the wires in assembled condition.

Abstract: A pin is integral with a diaphragm and extends from one side of the diaphragm. The other side of the diaphragm is subjected to a pressure or vacuum to create a pressure differential across the diaphragm to move the pin into or out of engagement with an article within a controlled environment. The diaphragm isolates a fluid, which produces the pressure differential across the diaphragm, from the controlled environment. In one embodiment, the pin is formed at the center of the diaphragm and moves only in a straight line. In another embodiment, the pin is formed eccentric to the center of the diaphragm so as to have a combination movement of angular and straight. The pin can be employed to stop an article such as a semiconductor wafer, for example, or to raise or to lower the wafer without the actuating fluid contaminating the controlled environment in which the semiconductor wafer is disposed.

Abstract: An automatic probe feeding, setting and withdrawing apparatus includes a probe container case provided with a probe dispensing mechanism for dispensing individual probes to a probe transfer mechanism. The probe transfer mechanism has a motor-driven probe push member provided at one end of a carriage board formed with a V-shaped channel in its surface. The probes are transferred to a probe setting mechanism which has a movable block capable of making sliding movement through a given stroke by the operation a cylinder on a support board mounted for pivotal movement by the operation of a cylinder. The probes are moved from a horizontal to a vertical orientation by this probe-setting mechanism. The probes are so positioned that they can be grasped by a probe holding rod and can be appropriately inserted into a furnace for measurement of conditions therein. Thereafter, with the probes removed from the furnace, they are transferred to a probe withdrawing and recovering mechanism.

Abstract: An article storage unit device for use in a vending machine used for discharging an article at one time. A housing of the unit device defines at least one vertically extending article storing space and has a bottom opening. The housing is provided with a first stop adjacent the bottom opening by which an article is held in the space. A predetermined number of articles are stacked on the lowermost article within the space. The housing is also provided with a second stop for holding an article adjacent to and above the lowermost article. The first stop is releasable to discharge the lowermost article through the bottom opening by the gravity. The second stop is normally released and operates to hold the article for at least a time period during which the first stop is released. For the first and second stop, a cam may be used which is mounted on a drive shaft. The article storing space is adjusted by moving a movable plate within the space.

Abstract: A terminal for a single-tube pneumatic tube system adaptable for use in either an up-send/down-receive, or an up-receive/down-send, configuration. The terminal includes a send hopper into which a plurality of carriers can be inserted and stored prior to transmission on a sequential basis, an empty carrier hopper and a full carrier hopper which respectively store empty and full carriers transmitted to the terminal, and a transfer tube which reciprocates between positions aligned with the system tube, send hopper and empty and full carrier hoppers for transporting carriers therebetween.

Abstract: A coin-operated newspaper vending and dispensing machine adapted for low cost and maintenance, reliable dispensing of one newspaper at a time and accurate and quick setting for dispensing newspapers of any one of a plurality of thicknesses to suit the particular thickness of the current edition.

Abstract: A tennis ball dispensing device for practicing tennis strokes that includes an inclined tubular chute for retaining and delivering balls to a flexible sock having an opening therein for permitting release of a ball therethrough, the sock being suspended from a pivotal ring located at the lower end of the chute. The balls move to the end of the chute under the force of gravity and are delivered into the sock to be releasably held therein as a result of the racket's striking the ball held in the sock, the ball being driven from the sock as a result of the racket striking the sock and ball. A ball escape indexing mechanism releases one ball at a time into the net as a result of pivoting of the ring when the ball and sock are struck by the racket.

Abstract: In case packing apparatus which includes a stop subjacent a plurality of vertical container accumulating channels, pockets below the stop for accepting containers on release by the stop and means for discharging the containers from the pockets to a case, the improvement comprising a container drop escapement vertically reciprocable between the channels and the pockets. The method involves isolating stacks of fragile containers situated in the accumulating channels from the lower layer prior to deposition of the latter in the packing case to minimize impact damage.

Abstract: This invention relates to a magazine for wares for use in automatic shops, comprising a shaft for receiving a pile of packages, wherein there are distributed along the shaft a number of suction cups for retaining the packages individually in the shaft without the packages being in contact with each other, and wherein the suction cups are individually controllable in order to be made inoperative temporarily during a short interval one at a time in a sequence beginning from below and continuing upwards.

Abstract: An escapement mechanism for successively releasing rectangular groups of articles from an upright stack. The articles are of the type having reduced top ends and enlarged bottom ends. The articles are held within an upright hopper that guides the stack gravitationally toward the escapement mechanism. Successive groups of articles are engaged by a first stop mechanism at a first elevation and are lowered thereby to a second elevation. A retractable support is located at the second elevation to receive and support the successive groups of articles. While articles are resting upon the retractable support, the stop means is moved upwardly again to engage the bottom sides of the next successive group of articles and lift them upwardly from engagement with the top ends of the article group presently supported on the retractable support. Once to successive groups become disengaged from one another, the support is retracted to allow one group to fall gravitationally to a transfer mechanism.

Abstract: An improved, simply operable, self-servicing vending system for wheeled vehicles, particularly of the hand-operated cart-type. A vending island is designed to guide and retainably hold a plurality of wheeled carts in consecutive alignment. The vending island includes a platform for holding the carts having vehicle handling receiving and dispensing terminals. Carts are irremovably accepted to the platform at the receiving terminal by a receiver apparatus that is positioned to engage and controllably guide in the receiving direction a support wheel of the cart being received. The receiver apparatus enables a coin refund unit to eject therefrom a predetermined monetary amount upon complete acceptance of the cart by the receiver apparatus to the platform. Carts are dispensed from the platform at the dispensing terminal by a dispenser apparatus.

Abstract: This apparatus for dispensing under manual or automatic control action one or a plurality of articles, preferably containers such as tumblers, from a vertical tubular magazine in which the articles are stacked vertically so that each article is adapted to be released by gravity from the bottom of the stack, comprises a pair of clamps associated with a pivoting control member for engaging from underneath a peripheral projecting edge portion of each article. Another pair of clamping members may be provided if desired, for holding the stack of articles while exerting with the first pair of clamps a downward thrust, in case the articles tended to stick to one another.