Abstract: The vehicle coin dispenser is a device that is adapted for use with one or more coins. The vehicle coin dispenser is adapted for use with a vehicle. The vehicle coin dispenser is mounted on the dashboard of a vehicle. The vehicle coin dispenser receives coins, sorts the coins received by value, counts the coins received, receives a dispense amount request, and dispenses the collected and received coins such that the value of the dispensed coins equals the requested dispense amount. The vehicle coin dispenser comprises a housing and a control system.

Abstract: A moist towelette dispenser device adapted for use in combination with a toilet paper holder assembly having an elongated cylindrical spindle with two ends engageable which mount on a conventional toilet paper fixture to support a roll of toilet paper. The device provides for concurrent dispensing of toilet paper and moist towelettes and an air freshener. A housing provides a dispensing site for the towelettes and is engageable to the room mount by two elongated members. The toilet paper is operatively mounted on the spindle engaged between the members.

Abstract: A system for filling medication dose packs with oral-solid medication items comprises storage tray drawers each having storage trays. Each storage tray stores a specific type of oral-solid medication item. The storage tray drawers are displaceable to a drawn position to expose the storage trays thereof. A table supports dose packs having a plurality of receptacles arranged in rows, with each receptacle associated with an intake time and date of a patient prescription file. A dispensing mechanism has fingers for grasping by suction an oral-solid medication item, and degrees of freedom to displace the fingers from any one of the storage trays to the dose pack, to transfer the oral-solid medication items from the storage trays in the drawn position to the receptacles of the dose pack.

Abstract: A card dispensing apparatus having a compact configuration has a housing to support a stack of cards on a fixed base. Openings in the base member can permit surfaces from a conveying member to extend into the housing and contact a surface of the lowest card. The conveyer member can move horizontal to a release point and retract beneath the base member to return to an initial position. A movement unit provides a cyclic looping movement of the conveyer member into and out of the housing for transporting cards. A feed unit positioned at the dispensing point of the cards can grasp and release the cards from the card dispensing apparatus.

Abstract: A vending machine apparatus includes a housing which defines an internal cavity and an article storage area where predetermined groups of stored articles are located at predetermined positions within the housing. An article retrieval device associated with the housing moves articles to be vended from the storage area to a dispensing area. A user interface and control apparatus allows a user of the dispensing apparatus to initiate an article dispensing operation, and generates control signals for causing controlled movement of the article retrieval device so that a user selected article is retrieved from a predetermined location in the article storage area and moved to the dispensing area. The user interface and control apparatus includes a memory for storing therein at least two different groups of position data, each group of position data corresponding to the positions of a plurality of different article storage locations in the article storage area.

Abstract: A pusher-type prize dispensing device in which each of two support plates on which a bonus prize is placed is pivotally supported on one end on an axis of which the axial direction coincides with the horizontal and depth direction, and is locked almost horizontally by allowing the other end to be suspended on a locking member. A suspended string is tied to a bent upper portion, and the other end of the support plate is suspended on the top surface of a lower portion, whereby the locking member locks the support plate. When a weight member falls from a stationary table, the locking member moves rotationally due to the fall of the weight member so that the upper portion moves downward, whereby the support plate falls downward, causing the prize P placed on the top surface of the support plate to fall toward a prize receiving port.

Abstract: A feeding mechanism and method for feeding minute items, such as capacitors, resistors, or solder preforms. The mechanism is adapted to receive a plurality of the randomly-positioned and randomly-oriented extremely small or minute items, and to isolate, orient, and position one or more of the items in a specific repeatable pickup location wherefrom they may be removed for use by, for example, a computer-controlled automated assembly machine. The mechanism comprises a sliding shelf adapted to receive and support the items; a wiper arm adapted to achieve a single even layer of the items; and a pushing arm adapted to push the items into the pickup location. The mechanism can be adapted for providing the items with a more exact orientation, and can also be adapted for use in a liquid environment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a candy storage and dispenser device. A multi-compartment dispensing device offers a unique device for storing and dispensing candy. Accordingly, multiple types and/or colors of candy may be contained in a transparent housing to create a very colorful presentation. Any number of candy types, including powdered, beads, pellets and the like, may be stored and dispensed with the multi-compartment device. The compartments are joined by a series of apertures which may, or may not, be regulated by a movable barricade. Then, when desired, the multiple candies are dispensed through the series of compartment apertures and a dispensing aperture. One version comprises a flute-shaped device having an operational mouthpiece.

Abstract: The device and method for storing and dispensing components uses storage and transport cases. The components have a head and a stem, the length of the component being greater than the width of the head. The device comprises a storage element adapted to house components individually housed in the cases; a step-by-step selecting device to allow the cases to pass one by one through an outlet; a sending unit with a housing adapted to support at least one case loaded with a component coming from the outlet; blowing means associated with the housing to provide the transport fluid to the inside of the case for the purpose of driving the component out of the case and into a transport tube; and an unloading device to unload the empty case from the housing.

Abstract: An automated system for dispensing condiment packets includes a magazine for storing a stack of condiment packets and a dispenser for metering out those condiment packets. Multiple magazines and dispensers can be combined in a single condiment delivery assembly, thereby providing the means for dispensing a variety of condiment flavors. The delivery assembly can be incorporated into a fast food vending machine or can be designed as a standalone unit.

Abstract: The invention provides a vending machine for cooling food products. The vending machine includes a housing defining an interior. The vending machine also includes a plurality of holding members substantially thermally isolated from one another and disposed in the interior. Each of the plurality of holding members includes inner and outer hollow members telescopically engaged with one another to define an inner cavity with an opening operable to communicate an individual food product and an outer cavity with an inlet and an outlet spaced from the inlet. The vending machine also includes a refrigeration system disposed outside of the interior and fluidly communicating individually with each of the outer cavities to cool each of the inner cavities.

Abstract: A vending machine capable of selecting any one of a first of a fourth mode which make it possible to carry out a commodity and a prize and a fifth mode which makes it possible to carry out only a commodity by a mode selecting device. In a state in which the fifth mode is selected, an ordinary commodity sale in which a selected commodity is executed based on insertion of coins or paper money, and pushing a commodity selecting button 4 is executed. In a state in which any one of the first to the fourth mode is selected, carrying-out of the prize from a prize carrying-out unit is executed in parallel with carrying-out of the commodity or independently.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing a customized pharmaceutical mixture. In an embodiment of a method of the present invention, health information particular to a user of the mixture may be received interactively from the user, amounts of the components of the mixture to be dispensed may be determined based on the health information, and the amounts may be automatically mixed to produce the mixture. In an embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus may include a plurality of containers, that contain multiple pharmaceutical substances, and a controller that selects the containers containing the substances that make up the mixture, adjusts the amounts of the substances to be dispensed, and controls the amounts dispensed to produce the mixture. The apparatus dispenses these amounts based on health information particular to a user of the mixture. Accordingly, the user receives a customized pharmaceutical mixture.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing spacer sticks between layers of lumber is disclosed. The present invention includes an overheads feed system for distributing spacer sticks to a plurality of stick placement modules. Each stick placement module has a plurality of stick placement arms which are articulated to move in three dimensions. After the arms grasp a spacer stick, the deviation of the arms from their normal orientations are used to gauge the suitability of the spacer stick and then to reject the spacer stick if the quality of the spacer stick does not meet specifications. Also, the apparatus of the present invention is modular and can be retrofitted to existing lumber stacking machines.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing sheets, one-by-one, from the top of a stack utilizing a suction conveyor means disposed above the stack and provided with side-blowing means having first blowing nozzles which blow a first air flow directly against the side of the top sheets and a second blowing nozzle which blow an obliquely, upwardly directed air flow against the side of a sheet attracted by the suction conveyor means in order to shake loose sheets sticking to the attracted sheet. Front-blowing means is also utilized to blow air between the sheet to be removed by the suction conveyor means and the rest of the stack in order to press any following sheets firmly to the rest of the stack.

Abstract: A vitamin and pill dispensing device including a housing having an upper portion, a lower portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween. The upper portion has an open upper end, a closed lower end, a front face, a rear face, and a pair of opposed side walls. The upper portion has a plurality of divider panels extending between the closed lower end and the open upper end in a spaced relationship thereby separating the upper portion into a plurality of compartments. The closed lower end has a plurality of apertures therethrough whereby each aperture is disposed within one of each of the compartments. The intermediate portion has an inverted frustoconical configuration defined by an open upper end and an open lower end. The open upper end of the intermediate portion is integral with the closed lower end of the upper portion. The lower portion has an open upper end and an open lower end. The open upper end of the lower portion is integral with the open lower end of the intermediate portion.

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: An automated ordering system has a gathering conveyor belt and a plurality of product dispensers for dispensing products onto the gathering conveyor belt, the plurality of product dispensers arrayed in a matrix in rows and columns wherein each row of product dispensers and each column of product dispensers share common control elements. The product dispensers are of cartridge type utilizing gravity to eject products from a cartridge suspended above the gathering conveyor belt onto the gathering conveyor belt. A universal product dispenser platform accepts a wide range of different sizes and shapes of cartridges storing products to be dispensed. The universal product platform provides support for an actuator for singulating products mounted to the cartridge.

Abstract: A currency dispenser which is installed in an automotive vehicle and which includes a plurality of switches that may be optionally set to dispense different amounts of coins. Each switch is associated with a different toll and the driver simply pushes the proper switch when he approaches the toll. Optionally, dispensing of the currency may be activated by the driver's hand being placed beneath the dispenser.

Abstract: A flexible container featuring at least two chambers, each containing a predetermined amount of physiological solution for washing the extracorporeal, blood-side circuit of dialysis equipment; a first chamber being U-shaped, and the second chamber being located axially inwards of the first chamber.

Abstract: An automated ordering system has a gathering conveyor belt and a plurality of product dispensers for dispensing products onto the gathering conveyor belt, the plurality of product dispensers arrayed in a matrix in rows and columns wherein each row of product dispensers and each column of product dispensers share common control elements. The product dispensers are of cartridge type utilizing gravity to eject products from a cartridge suspended above the gathering conveyor belt onto the gathering conveyor belt. A universal product dispenser platform accepts a wide range of different sizes and shapes of cartridges storing products to be dispensed. The universal product platform provides support for an actuator for singulating products mounted to the cartridge.

Abstract: Molded carrier ring-type electrical components are unloaded from a shipping tube by providing the bottom of an escapement mechanism with a substantially flat surface to which the "coin stack" arrangement of components falls during loading of the stack into the escapement. This flat surface presents to the bottom component of the stack an area which is sufficient for preventing dumping of the stack through the escapement and for releveling components which become tilted during loading of the tube into the escapement. The flat surface is biased upwardly by springs and displaceable downwardly against such biasing by a component transfer slide during lateral displacement of the transfer slide to the stack in order to acquire and remove the bottom component from the stack.

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: Medication dispenser apparatus comprises a plurality of containers for holding different kinds of medications; an injector for selectively injecting medications from their responsive containers; a dispensing station for receiving the ejected medications; and a programmable control for controlling the ejection of medications from their respective containers according to pre-programmed kinds of medication, amounts, and times. The described preferred embodiment is a group dispenser for dispensing medications for a plurality of patients, such as in the ward of a hospital, at predetermined times and in predetermined amounts.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing items from a plurality of dispensers in one or more vending or amusement machines includes a plurality of elongate support members each having a rotatably mounted support plate at one end. Items are releasably supported by the support member so that one item is dispensed from the free end of the support member for each complete revolution. A single drive gear motor operates all of the support members and is connected to each support plate via a series of driven rollers or pulleys and a continuous belt or chain extending around the rollers. Each driven roller is drivably connected to a respective one of the support plates via a clutch. A releasable stop mechanism is associated with each support plate for releasably engaging the plate to prevent it from rotating. An actuator controls release of the respective support plates for rotation through one revolution, and one or more selected plates may be released at any one time.

Abstract: A vending machine which, after payment of a fee, delivers a complete meal from a number of meals which are available through the manipulation of a selector member. Each of the meals comprises two or more articles of food packaged in separate units. The units are stored in different compartments in the machine. The compartments are placed on different levels within the machine. The selector member comprises a traveller which can be displaced along a U-shaped arm which is journalled on a horizontal axis so it can be pivoted by drive motor, until the traveller is in a position to cooperate with one of several elevator frames. These frames are coaxially journalled, and has linkage arms for mechanical connection to different feeding out devices which are arranged at each respective compartment level.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding headed pins includes a frame having thereon a hopper into which the pins are placed. A ramp extends substantially horizontally from the hopper and has a plurality of spaced, parallel slots therein which are adapted to receive the pins with the heads of the pins seated on the surface of the ramp. At the end of the ramp is a transfer shuttle assembly which is adapted to feed pins from the slots into passages in a chute which extends vertically downwardly from the end of the ramp. The upper ends of the passages are offset from the ends of the slots. The shuttle transfer means includes a shuttle plate movable back and forth across the end of the ramp by means of pneumatic cylinders, and a plurality of gates mounted on the shuttle plate. Each gate has a notch in its end which can receive a pin.

Abstract: Improved sticker placer apparatus is described. The apparatus includes plural, inclined sticker feed pockets for holding stickers simultaneously to be placed and vertically reciprocable placement arms, each being capable of displacing one sticker at a time from the mouth of the sticker pocket to a variable height of lumber indexed therebeneath, and each having a positive sticker capture device including a generally horizontal pivotable support arm for cradling the sticker thereabove, and a downwardly impinging pincer arm for urging the sticker downwardly throughout the placement cycle. Each placement arm further has plural stops for halting the descent of the arm when the top of the lumber is reached, a slider link mechanism providing dwell time between the arm's downstroke and upstroke and a spring-tensioned rocker arm operable during the dwell time to pivot the support arm out from under the sticker when the associated stops are reached.

Abstract: An apparatus for the dividing, rounding and panning of doughballs. The apparatus includes a divider and rounder for dividing and rounding four doughballs simultaneously and an infeed gate having a central section and two outer sections for controlling the dispensing of the doughballs from two inner and two outer dough chutes into an apparatus for panning. For smaller doughballs and pans which accommodate four doughballs in a row, the three-section gate is operable to function as a unitary gate to dispense the four doughballs from the chutes at the same time. For larger doughballs and pans which accommodate only two doughballs in a row, the method of the present invention includes the dividing and rounding of four doughballs and the dispensing of the doughballs from the chutes two at a time.

Abstract: Electronic components are mounted on a substrate from thin-walled magazines which are arranged in a configuration corresponding to a desired implantation of the components. Stacks of components are pushed upwards in the magazines by a pulse of compressed gas in order to press the components against the substrate which has been arranged over the magazines with conductor tracks facing downwards. Local application of an adhesive solder paste to the substrate causes the component on the top of each stack to adhere to and be lifted simultaneously with the substrate.

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: 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: 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 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: Apparatus for loading contact pins into a loading fixture, the pins in two or more rows, has a magazine for holding pins in a plurality of vertically stacked rows. Automatic insertion members push pins from the magazine into the loading fixture. The number of pins, and disposition of the pins, in a row can be predetermined by a template. The pins are swaged at a position intermediate the ends and thus do not stack level in the magazine. The magazine is provided with a stepped formation so as to offset the effect of the swage and provide for pins to be horizontal at the levels at which they are to be inserted into the loading fixture. Small rings of solder can be positioned on the pins prior to insertion in the board.

Abstract: A sensitivity disc dispenser including a dispensing structure for housing a plurality of disc-containing cartridges and including structure for simultaneously dispensing a disc from each cartridge through each one of a selected number of discharge ports containing a cartridge in a predetermined pattern. The discs are positioned from these cartridges into alignment with the respective discharge port and a tamping mechanism expels the disc through the respective discharge ports into a receiving dish. Controls are provided on the dispenser for moving each disc into and retaining it in a predetermined position and orientation with respect to a selected discharge port and assuring the directing of each disc in the proper orientation by the tamping mechanism onto a receiving surface.

Abstract: A sensitivity disc dispenser including a dispensing structure for housing a plurality of discs containing cartridges and including structure for simultaneously dispensing a disc from each cartridge through each one of a selected number of discharge ports containing a cartridge in a predetermined pattern. The discs are positioned from each cartridge into alignment with the respective discharge port and a tamping mechanism expels the disc through the respective discharge ports into a receiving dish. This tamping mechanism is used to eliminate the time-consuming manual tamping operation required in free fall disc dispensers. It also produces a very consistent spacing between discs. An adjustment device is provided to facilitate vertical positioning of a dispenser with respect to a receiving dish.

Abstract: Paper money such as bank notes of various denominations are dispensed by an apparatus having bank note storing cases including spaces which are adapted to store in a packed state sheets of the bank notes classified in accordance with the denominations, a note removal device provided at the note delivering end of each space in the note storing cases for taking the notes out of the note storing cases, and a note lifting device adapted to be selectively positioned in alignment with the note removal device for receiving the notes taken out by the note removal device. Preferably, each note removal device has a suction head and note removal rollers, and the note lifting device is a note kick-up roller, a stop member for dressing the leading edges of the notes, and a cam for regulating the position of the stop member in accordance with the width of the notes of the pertinent denomination.