Abstract: A gate assembly, for a dedicated feeder sub-system in a pharmaceutical product packaging system, includes a flexible gating structure. Product feed tubes leading from a product bin to a packaging web loading station carry slots in which flexible bands operate to intercept product within the product feed tubes. A drive mechanism controls the position of the flexible bands to intercept the line of flow product units and to index a single product unit at a time from each feed tube. The indexing of individual product from each feed tube is simultaneous thereby loading a matrix of product onto the packaging web in a single load operation. The operation of the drive is timed in synchronism with the operation of the packaging system. Change over adjustments are available for different product shapes, sizes and characteristics.

Abstract: An article dispensing and positioning device is disclosed in which a plurality of rectangular articles such as dominos or the like are placed on a flat surface in a plurality of parallel rows and in evenly spaced relationship with each other in each row. In one embodiment, the device includes a plurality of article dispensing assemblies mounted in a unitary housing which is capable of being propelled along the flat surface, preferably by motor mounted in the housing. In another embodiment, each article dispensing assembly is an integral unit, a plurality of which can be removably attached together to form a plurality of rows of dominos or the like.

Abstract: A device for dispensing and holding artificial fingernails for decoration includes a housing having an upper work platform, and a plurality of magazine assemblies disposed within the housing. Each of the magazine assemblies includes a body for storing a plurality of artificial fingernails in stacked relation, and a spring biased plunger disposed in the body for urging the artificial fingernails upwardly within the body. The device further includes a slide having a plurality of slide members which are slidable through the respective magazine bodies for engaging the rear edge of the uppermost fingernail in each of the magazine assemblies and advancing the fingernail outwardly through an exit opening in the body of each of the magazine assemblies. The exit openings are disposed on the upper work surface of the work platform.

Abstract: An apparatus for housing multiple shapes and sizes of pills and simultaneously dispensing a single pill of each type, the apparatus comprising a vertically oriented support structure with an upper, middle and lower housing portions, each portion including a plurality of identically sized and spaced conduits. The upper conduits house a plurality of pills, while each of the middle conduits are designed to hold a single pill. The middle housing portion is capable of horizontal motion, and is normally positioned in an initial holding position in which the upper and middle conduits are aligned, and the middle and lower conduits are off-set. When the middle portion is moved into a second, release position, the middle conduits misalign with the upper conduits and align with the lower conduits, thereby allowing the single pill contained within each of the middle conduits to drop through the lower conduits and into the user's hand or, alternately, into a hollow collection area for retrieving the dispensed pills.

Abstract: In an automatic prescription dispensing system, a multiplicity of pill dispensers dispensing the pills of different prescriptions are arranged in columns and rows. A conveyer organizes open and labeled pill bottles in columns corresponding to the columns of the pill dispensers and carries the columns of pill bottles severally past and beneath the pill dispensers in the array. The pill bottles are carried in bottle carriers which in turn are carried by pallets on a conveyer. When a pill bottle gets to a pill dispenser containing the pills to be dispensed for the prescription of a pill bottle, the pills are released from the dispenser into the pill bottle, whereby a plurality of pill bottles passing under the array of dispensers are filled simultaneously. The pill dispensers count the pills out one at a time and accumulate the pills of a prescription before the pill bottle to receive such prescription reaches the dispenser and then releases the pills en masse into the pill bottle.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading multiple pipette tips into laboratory storage boxes. The apparatus is principally composed of a dispenser that may be positioned above a box housing a pipette insert-rack. The dispenser is adapted to receive pipette tips from a magazine. The magazine contains multiple stack layers of pipette tips that are arranged one on top of the other. The pipette tips are configured so that each pipette tip can nest its pointed tip through an opening in the collar and inner bore of the pipette tip in the stack layer immediately below. Likewise, each pipette tip may receive the pointed tip of the pipette tip in the stack layer above. In normal operation the tips are transferred from the magazine into the dispenser and then a user may actuate a series of plates in the dispenser to separate the bottom stack layer from the other stacks above it, to allow it to fall downwardly into a storage rack.

Abstract: A filter change mechanism is disclosed. The mechanism includes a filter dispensing device, a device for releasably clamping a filter in a fluid line, a filter discharge device. Also included in the mechanism is a device for conveying a filter dispensed by the filter dispensing device to the fluid line for use in filtration and for conveying a used filter to the discharge device.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing flat objects, particularly susceptibility or sensitivity test discs (38), from a stack of similar objects housed in a cartridge (22) comprises a body portion (10); a plurality of receptacles (20) within the body portion, each receptacle being adapted to receive a respective object-containing cartridge; a plurality of dispensing ports (32), one associated with each receptacle; a plurality of tamping pins (50), one associated with each dispensing port, for tamping an object through the associated dispensing port; a transport plate arranged for rotary motion to transport an object from each cartridge in a receptacle to a dispensing position in alignment with the associated tamping pin and dispensing port; and a retaining plate (44) fixed with respect to the receptacles, for retaining the objects in position during transport from a cartridge to the associated dispensing position.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially releasing computer disks from a stack includes a hopper and a pusher member for sliding a lowermost disk from beneath the stack. A next lowermost disk is held at an angle to the lowermost disk to limit contact of the disks to rearward disk edges, so that sliding contact is minimized. The front edge of the next lowermost disk is supported by a sloped surface to achieve the desired angle and to allow gravitational feed of the disks as the pusher plate is unloaded by a forward disk delivery and a rearward return. At the rearward end of the next lowest disk, an inwardly sloped surface provides space for the disk to slide down the outwardly sloped surface into the loaded position. Preferably, the hopper is one of a number of hoppers used in collating computer disks.

Abstract: A dispenser and method for dispensing materials from a blister pack of one or more blister cards. A single blister card having a plurality of blisters thereon can be used with other blister cards in a stack. To dispense materials from the aligned blisters of stacked blister cards, a plunger is driven through a guide hole in a top plate and into aligned blisters of a stack of blister cards. In this way, a plurality of blisters can be quickly and cleanly opened. Thus, a plurality of medical pills can be liberated from the blisters and can easily gravitate to a collection region below the stack of blister cards. Several embodiments of the mount for the blister card stack is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for vending spherical objects such as golf balls including a housing from which the balls are loaded onto the upper end of an inclined row of parallel tracks thereby forming a column of balls in each track. A rotatable horizontal shaft is located adjacent to the lower end of the tracks. Tines are secured to the shaft such that, as the shaft rotates, the lowermost ball in each column is scooped up successively by the tines and deposited in a chute leading to a bucket. The tines are located in staggered positions on the shaft so that the number of balls discharged into the bucket depends on the length of time that the shaft rotates. A buyer may select his/her desired number of balls by inserting coins into slots that activate one of a number of timers having various time periods.

Abstract: A can vending machine provides a pair of vertical serpentine passages which can be loaded from a single access area. Serpentine passages are defined by cantilever declined shelves which are interleaved from pairs of walls defining the passages and storage areas. Beneath each of the storage areas is a rotating disc maintained upon a stationary disc or plate, the two discs having similar passages therethrough adapted to accommodate a can. A single motor or solenoid is interconnected with each of the rotatable discs to selectively dispense a can from the associated stack. The serpentine passages prevent the full weight of the can stack from being imposed upon the dispensing discs, but rather upon the cantilevered shelves themselves.

Abstract: An automatic sandwich preparation system including a meat patty and bun storage and delivery system. The patty system includes a number of canisters containing meat patties mounted on a carrousel and tilted inwardly toward the center of the canister. An ejection blade slides the bottom patty from the bottom of a selected canister onto a wire conveyor. Each canister is coded for the size of the meat patties contained in it. The carrousel is mounted in a freezing chamber. The bun system includes parallel shelves holding the bun portions in rows separated by step-driven dividers. The bun portions are delivered from the trays into a bun transport that in turn delivers the bun portions to a toaster.

Abstract: A method for automatically dispensing items from shelves includes the steps of orienting magazines for a particular type of item horizontally in multi-tier shelves in such a way that removal openings in the respective bottom side face walls of the item type magazines are horizontally aligned, assigning to each magazine tier at least one item pusher, simultaneously removing from the respective tiers the items belonging to a particular requisition order, collecting them in a collecting device, depositing them on or in a conveying device, and transporting them to merchandise delivery sites. The apparatus for facilitating use of the method includes a multi-tier shelf with item type magazines on each tier, an item pusher on each tier, and a conveyor for conveying the items removed from the magazines to transport apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for storing and dispensing comestibles, such as ice cream, has a cabinet defining an interior for holding a plurality of stacked ice cream containing magazines. A refrigeration system for cooling the interior of the cabinet below the freezing point of the ice cream is connected thereto. An X-Y picker assembly is positioned in the cabinet interior to transport ice cream from the selected magazine without heating the selected ice cream container or any other ice cream containers stored therein. The ice cream is carried by the X-Y picker assembly to a dispensing opening in the cabinet from which it can be accessed by the consumer. A nonvolatile information storage device is associated with the plurality of magazines and contains product characteristic information therein related to the flavors of ice cream in the magazines. A mapping system maps switch closures from product selection switches with the product characteristic information.

Abstract: A vending machine stores a plurality of cups that are filled with primary food products and sealed with covers, and on command, dispenses one cup from the plurality of cups, removes the cover from the one cup, and adds secondary food products to the primary food product in the one cup. The primary food product can be heated. The operation of the vending operation is automatically controlled.

Abstract: A method and personal banking machine is described by which two items such as cash and statement can be issued simultaneously through one and the same gate. The optimum point in time is determined and adaptively controlled by which the front edge of statement touches the bundle of bank notes during issuing movement of the bank notes. Then both, bank notes and statement, are moved together to their respective end positions. The method and the machine starts the statement transport after a certain monitored delay time (DELTA-STATEMENT). By calculating out of the time difference between the point in time at which the bank notes reach the end position and the statement reaches its end position, a new time delay (DELTA-STATEMENT) is calculated for the next combined cash and statement issue operation. The method provides for the simultaneous issuance of bank notes and a statement through a common exit gate.

Abstract: An apparatus for advancing a plurality of components comprising a vibrating feed tray, having a plurality of interchangeable modular troughs, each sized to receive a component of a particular size. The troughs are removably and slidably secured to the tray, and can be used in any combination. One end of each trough is characterized by only one side wall. A second, parallel side wall is provided each trough by means of sharing the side wall of the adjoining trough. In the event that there is no directly adjacent trough, a side stop is positioned adjacent the open side of the trough.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for destacking and dispensing cup-like containers, such as for use in association with an automated product packaging machine, are disclosed. The apparatus includes pairs of upper and lower jaws associated with each stack of containers received by the apparatus. Both the upper and lower jaws are mounted for movement inwardly and outwardly relative to each stack, with the lower jaws further mounted for vertical movement relative to the upper jaws. By this arrangement, the lower jaws can be operated to destack and separate the lowermost container of each stack, so that the separated container is received on a product conveyor of the packaging machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring headed pins includes a frame having a pair of spaced, parallel side rails and an end plate secured between the side rails at one end thereof. A pair of plates are secured together and connected between the side rails at the other ends thereof. The pair of plates have at least a portion of their opposed surfaces spaced from each other, and have aligned holes therethrough for receiving the pins to be transferred. A third plate having openings therethrough is slidable in the space between the pair of plates. An operating rod is connected to the third plate and can move the third plate between a first position in which the holes in the third plate are aligned with the holes in the pair of plates, and a second position in which the holes in the third plate only partially overlap the holes in the pair of plates. With the third plate in its second position, pins can be inserted through the holes and will not pass completely therethrough so that they will be held in the apparatus.

Abstract: An automatic parts feeder has a bed, a base movable on the bed in a first direction, a hopper assembly mounted on the base, a delivery mechanism, a transfer mechanism, and a supply mechanism for supplying parts to a processing machine. The supply mechanism supplies the parts in a second direction normal to the first direction, and includes a movable assembly movable in both the first and second directions, a swing arm pivotally supported on the movable assembly and angularly movable in a plane normal to the second direction between a substantially vertical upstanding position and an inclined position, and parts receivers detachably mounted on the swing arm for receiving, holding, and releasing the parts.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for simultaneously dispensing a plurality of golf balls are disclosed. A housing member having a plurality of guide members therein is provided for guiding the plurality of balls therethrough into a holding member suitable for being operably connected to a conventional coin dispenser. The manually operated, coin activated, dispenser is operated to allow the plurality of balls to be dispensed into a basket-like member for easy access to a user or player.

Abstract: An apparatus for individually depositing articles comprises a cylinder with a plurality of accommodating apertures, each of which is adapted to accommodate a single article only from a supply. The apparatus is adapted to retain the articles in the apertures and comprises nozzles for removing superfluous articles from the cylinder. Moreover, the apparatus is adapted to release the articles from the apertures. In order to secure that the articles are deposited one by one without any interruptions in the depositing pattern, the apparatus comprises a supplementary cylinder having accommodating apertures corresponding to the accommodating apertures of the cylinder. Also each of the accommodating apertures of the supplementary cylinder is adapted to accommodate a single article only from a supply, the supplementary cylinder also comprises nozzles for removing superfluous articles and is also adapted to retain the articles in the accommodating apertures.

Abstract: A component distribution device comprises a base structure disposed within an effective working region of component supply points, and a pallet engageable with and disengageable from the base structure, the pallet having a distribution plate adapted to hold the components as fed from a component source and force same to move to the component supply points.

Abstract: An apparatus for vending individual servings of ice cream at the demand and selection of a vendee. The apparatus includes a money activate switch for being closed when a predetermined amount of money is inserted thereinto; a selector switch for being energized when the money activated switch is closed; a container dispenser for dispensing one ice cream container when the selector switch is energized and one of a plurality of specific selection switches of the selector switch is closed; a container rotator for receiving the ice cream container from the container dispenser and for rotating the ice cream container; and an ice cream dispenser for dispensing ice cream into the ice cream container as the container is rotated by the container rotator. A syrup dispenser is preferably provided for selectively dispensing syrup onto the ice cream dispensed into the container.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus which is applicable such as, for example, an automatic golf ball dispenser, and comprises a ball magazine floor which consists of a number of tracks for golf balls so that these are arranged in rows after one another, the ends of the tracks being combined to form a pivotal cradle whose depth corresponds to one golf ball, whereby each pivoting of the cradle entails emptying of only that number of golf balls which is present in the cradle.

Abstract: A system and process for the automatic stacking, storage and withdrawal of packaged merchandise in large warehouses, the handling of the merchandise being controlled by a computer, so that the merchandise is withdrawn from shelves and loaded into passing transport containers. The shelves are subdivided into blocks for several product types. The merchandise pieces making up a single order, which are then ejected simultaneously at each block once the transport container has arrived at the preceding block, are collected and then simultaneously loaded into the transport container when the latter arrives at the proper block. After loading, the transport container is allowed to continue and the speed of the transport container is determined by the withdrawal, collection and loading times in such a way that the release of the merchandise of the entire warehouse occurs in a minimal time.

Abstract: A device for storing and dispensing mercury and tablets comprising:(a) a housing having a main discharge port;(b) a normally closed mercury reservoir extending from the housing, the reservoir including a discharge port;(c) a tablet container extending from the housing, the container having a discharge port;(d) a passageway within the housing, part being below the mercury discharge port and another being above the main discharge port, the passageway being adapted to receive a slidable member, the slidable member being adapted to slide within the passageway between first and second positions;(e) a vent including a passage communicating with the interior of the mercury reservoir near the top and with the passageway when the slidable member is not in the first position, but is sealed from the passageway when the slidable member is in the first position;(f) a mercury metering cavity within the slidable member to receive mercury from the reservoir through the discharge port when the slidable member is in one of the

Abstract: A system for the automatic stacking, storage and withdrawal of packaged merchandise in large warehouses, the handling of the merchandise being controlled by a computer, so that the merchandise is withdrawn from shelves and loaded into passing transport containers. The shelves are subdivided into blocks for several product types. The merchandise pieces making up a single order are then ejected simultaneously at each block once the transport container has arrived at the preceding block, are collected and then simultaneously loaded into the transport container when the latter arrives at the proper block. After loading, the transport container is allowed to continue and the speed of the transport container is determined by the withdrawal, collection and loading times in such a way that the release of the merchandise of the entire warehouse occurs in a minimal time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supplying electrode plates in the assembly of battery cell elements. The apparatus includes a shuttle feed device for containing a plurality of stacks of electrode plates of common polarity and successively dispensing a single plate from each stack, a walking beam transfer device for successively receiving plates from said shuttle device and moving the plates into a row with the plates commonly oriented and in predetermined spaced relation, and a plate loader for simultaneously engaging and removing from said walking beam transfer device the number of plates of common polarity required in the assembly of a battery cell element. The feeding device is adapted for easy plate loading, and in conjunction with the transfer device, is adapted to provide a reliable supply of electrode plates for use in the automated assembly of cell elements.

Abstract: Stressing tendons used in prestressing concrete are generally anchored to the concrete by wedge plates which are embedded in the concrete. The anchorage is accomplished by the use of gripping wedges which are placed around the stressing tendons and into the wedge plates.A gripping tool is provided which inserts and seats, in a single operation, gripping wedges. The tool is generally comprised of a holding and guiding piece and a sliding mechanism.

Abstract: Electrical and/or electronic parts are advanced simultaneously in a plurality of magazine tubes which are arranged in a matrix of openings in a grid. A holder below the magazine matrix contains pins in guides aligned with respective magazines, the holder being movable in the direction of the grid to advance the pins into the magazines. Friction between the pins and the holder is adjustable to allow the holder to slide along pins which have pushed their respective stacks to a stop surface in the grid. Preferably, the pins are arranged in rows and a hollow tube passes between the pins, fluid pressure in the tube being varied in order to adjust the level of friction between the pins and the holder.

Abstract: An apparatus for locating chip type circuit elements on a printed circuit board includes an accommodating assembly for temporarily storing said circuit elements supplied from hoppers, a movable shutter placed under the accommodating assembly, and which supports and rotates circuit elements within the accommodating assembly, and a template placed under the shutter to receive the circuit elements dropped from the accommodating assembly when the shutter is removed laterally from under the accommodating assembly.

Abstract: Process and relative feeding device to provide small objects on a single plane, according to which in a series of magazines holding the stacked objects of different thicknesses and tolerances a differentiated operation pusher by adjustable stroke is caused to act upon one end of each of the magazines, whereas at the same time the opposite ends or free top openings of the magazines are closed by a stop device, the objects thus moving against the device; then moving the latter away from the openings and contacting the aligned external surface of the objects with the planar surface onto which the objects will be applied.

Abstract: An automatically and semiautomatically unjamming nail selection device, designed particularly for machines riveting footwear heel seats onto corresponding heels. The device has a nail tank or magazine coupled with a rotary chamber equipped with units designed to lift the nails and drop them onto a chute having a number of raceways which join with corresponding guides leading to a mobile combshaped selector moving to-and-fro in a perpendicular direction relative to the nail feed direction. The selector is designed to select such nails and deliver them to a distributor moving to-and-fro parallel to the selector and having feeding ducts leading to the utilization outlet. The selector is integral with an arm controlled by a first fluid dynamic actuator which determines its to-and-fro elastic motion, and the distributor is connected--through a rigid coupling--to another arm which is, in turn, shifted elastically to-and-fro by a further fluid dynamic actuator.

Abstract: A device and a method of automatically mounting plate-shaped chips on printed circuit boards, the chips first being aligned and positioned with respect to each other before they are glued onto the printed circuit board, after which the whole assembly of parts is soldered down.

Abstract: An inventory device which is used for a route-man to take all the coins out of the coin containing cylinders of an automatic vending machine. With the inventory device, the coin containing cylinders are caused one after another to dispense the coins merely by operating a single switch. The inventory device comprises: the single switch; a shift register; and a coin dispensation control section connected to the bit output of the shift register. The signal "1" is successively shifted in the shift register in response to the operation of the single switch, to operate the coin dispensation control section, thereby to dispense the coins out of the coin containing cylinders.

Abstract: A hybrid integrated circuit is manufactured byplacing chip-type circuit elements on predetermined portions of a template;preparing a printed circuit board having predetermined conductive patterns thereon and adhesive material at predetermined portions thereof;placing the printed circuit board on the template so as to bring the circuit elements into contact with the adhesive material;turning the template with the circuit board upside down and then transferring the circuit elements to the circuit board by removing the template from the circuit board;hardening the adhesive material to temporarily hold the circuit elements on the circuit board; andsoldering the circuit elements to conductive patterns formed on the circuit board, so as to electrically connect the circuit elements with the conductive patterns.

Abstract: A stick feeding apparatus includes a storage hopper which feeds sticks one at a time past an agitator to a delivery chute. The delivery chute leads to a delivery roller having uniformly-spaced longitudinal recesses in its surface. The roller rotates within a housing having a stick inlet opening and a stick delivery opening. A hydraulically or pneumatically driving apparatus steps the roller in one direction at a predetermined rate. A plurality of delivery rollers, each supplied from its own hopper, may be mounted on a common shaft driven by a single driving mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for dispensing open-topped flanged containers such as propagation pots and the like from rows of pot stacks for individually locating the pots on a tray. The pot stacks of each row depend between parallel resiprocable support bars provided with opposite, laterally extending shoulders vertically staggered along their length, the shoulders each supporting a pot stack via the top flanges of the lowermost pot thereof. The upper ones of the shoulders have pointed wedge shaped ends that enter in between the top flanges of the two lowermost pots of the stack upon longitudinal motion of the support bars, thus separating the lowermost pot from the stack and taking over the supporting of the stack from the adjacent lower shoulder. Each lower shoulder terminates in a pointed end sloping down below the pointed wedge end of the adjacent upper shoulder to thereby enhance the separating action.

Abstract: A method whereby chip type circuit elements are mounted at predetermined locations on a printed circuit board by a suction means and apparatus for performing the method are disclosed. The suction means picks up each circuit element from a respective stack supported in a vertical magazine and transfers and positions them above the predetermined locations on the printed circuit board which can have a predetermined pattern of laminar conductors on the upper surface thereof. The circuit elements are then released by termination of the applied suction and adhered to the board by a thermoplastic adhesive setting operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing groups of integrated circuit (IC) packages in a pattern and quantity corresponding to the pattern of unpopulated IC sockets on a printed circuit board. The apparatus includes a plurality of storage racks stacked one on top of another, with each rack corresponding to one row of socket positions on the unpopulated printed circuit board. Each storage rack includes a number of loaded IC dispenser magazines corresponding to the number of positions in that rack's corresponding row of socket positions which are to be populated with IC packages. The storage racks are normally supported at an acute angle which is less than that at which IC packages will slide down the dispenser magazines. The bottom storage rack includes a handle and it is pivotable at its lower end. When the assembler-operator pulls up on the handle, the storage racks are pivoted to an angle at which one component is dispensed from each dispenser magazine.

Abstract: A dispenser for bank notes and currency having a plurality of storage receptacles for bank notes and currencies of different denominations, each with a permanently assigned take-up device. A central conveyor line common to all of the storage receptacles leads to a delivery or filing position. The central conveyor line and the take-up devices are arranged between partly open limits of the storage receptacle and the central conveyor line includes driven guides for the certificates.

Abstract: A separator device for separating from a succession of objects in a conveying path those objects having less than a desired length in the conveying direction, including an input channel via which the objects are conveyed to the separator device, an abutment member located downstream of the input channel for limiting movement of each object leaving the channel, a discharge path located below the input channel for conveying objects away from the device, and a mechanism which transfers each object in turn from the input channel to the discharge path while separating out each object which immediately follows an object being thus transferred and which has less than the desired length.

Abstract: A dispenser for antibiotic sensitivity discs which automatically and simultaneously dispenses a plurality of discs onto a flat surface, for example a layer of agar gel in a petri dish. The dispenser comprises a removable magazine unit which carries the required number of standard cartridges, each filled with discs to be dispensed. The discs are in turn removed mechanically from the cartridges from where they are transferred to the surface of the gel by a plurality of pick-up tubes to which a vacuum is applied. The vacuum causes the discs to become attached to the ends of respective tubes so that the discs move with the tubes onto the gel surface, and are pressed onto the gel surface by a pressure equal to the weight of the tubes.

Abstract: A ticket dispenser associated with a vending machine for vending goods or services of the type requiring the insertion of coins or tokens of a certain value in order to obtain the goods or services. The ticket dispenser provides for dispensing of a ticket by the machine in addition to the vending of the goods or services with the ticket being redeemable by the user of the machine for something of value in addition to the goods or services received. Ticket feeding pawls are employed for dispensing the tickets at a ticket delivery position, and the pawls are driven by coin operated actuating means of the machine so that the tickets are dispensed only upon insertion of sufficient coins or tokens. The pawls comprise a spring-loaded forward drive and locking pawl, and a spring-loaded retaining pawl. A ticket engaging baffle provides for simplified ticket removal.

Abstract: A control circuit for a multi-denomination cash dispenser in which the number of bills or coins of each denomination, for varying desired quantities of money to be dispensed, are selected such that the total amount of time required to dispense varying quantities of each denomination is minimized. The control circuit of this invention does not necessarily result in dispensing of cash with a minimum number of bills and/or coins. However, it does, in addition to minimizing the cycle time of the cash dispensing operation, equalize the wear on the various individual dispensers; deplete the inventories of different denominations at approximately the same rate, thereby avoiding premature depletion of one denomination relative to the others, and provide the user with a varied mix of denominations regardless of the amount of currency requested.

Abstract: The apparatus herein described is operative to dispense lines and rows of cups into a plurality of spaced receptacles of a tray, whereupon the tray is moved under successive portions of the apparatus or stations in order to add ice, fill and cup each of the cups in an efficient and regular sequence. The cup dispenser includes opposed recessed stripper bars to selectively strip off the lowermost cup in a stack upon operation of an associated slide mechanism. The ice dispenser includes variable volume chambers to permit a predetermined amount of ice to fall into each of the cups. The capper includes inclined chutes presenting a row of caps which catch on the rims of the cups and are pressed down as the tray is pulled through the capping device. The entire apparatus is designed to be easily disassembled for cleaning.

Abstract: A magazine for receiving a plurality of elongate, generally rod-shaped articles from a first or source location where such articles are arranged in parallel relation to one another and for transferring the articles in unscrambled parallel relation to a second or receiving location, is disclosed. The magazine comprises a partitioned housing defining a plurality of similar, open-bottomed chambers adjacent to, but isolated from, one another. Each of the chambers has a uniformly narrow dimension corresponding to the width of any of the aforementioned articles to provide loose lateral support for a selected number of the articles in a stacked array, with one such article upon the next. Each of the stacked arrays is releasably supported in its respective chamber by a respective elongate pin which can be laterally withdrawn from its corresponding chamber to allow the articles to fall as a batch and without losing their parallel disposition onto a receiving device, e.g., a hopper.

Abstract: A stacked plurality of snap rings adhesibly retained by varnish coating, or other bonding method applied to the rings. Internal or external circular or C-shaped snap rings typically have retainer ring holes and in this invention the holes in adjacent rings in the stack are misaligned. Snap ring pliers or automated equipment can be inserted into the retainer ring holes of the endmost snap ring fastened at the top of the stack, with the tips of the pins penetrating only through the holes in the topmost ring, due to their misalignment, with the topmost ring being removed by movement of the pins relative to each other, thereby facilitating efficient dispensing of one snap ring at a time.