Abstract: Semi-automatic dispenser for disposable cups, comprising a semi-automatic dispensing mechanism (1-50), defined by a box (2-51) having in its upper section a tubular drawer (4-43) for the accommodation of several common disposable cups (C), arranged as a stack with their mouths facing downwards, and further, each cup is expected to be dispensed in a bottom drawer (6-62).

Abstract: Semi-automatic dispenser for disposable cups, comprising a semi-automatic dispensing mechanism (1-50), defined by a box (2-51) having in its upper section a tubular drawer (4-43) for the accommodation of several common disposable cups (C), arranged as a stack with their mouths facing downwards, and further, each cup is expected to be dispensed in a bottom drawer (6-62).

Abstract: An incubator includes (a) a housing, (b) a sample shelf holding at least one plate accommodating a sample, (c) a controller maintaining an environment inside of the housing at a given condition, (d) a first opening provided on the housing, (e) a first door for closing the first opening, (f) a second opening provided on the housing and smaller than the first opening and yet large enough for at least one plate being passed through, and (g) a second door for closing the second opening. This construction allows the incubator to minimize opening when the plate is taken out or restored during a test or a culture so that environment changes in the housing can be restrained. As a result, the incubator produces reliable data.

Abstract: The article dispensing apparatus includes an elongated barrel and a dispenser body received on the lower end of the elongated barrel for retaining and dispensing stacked articles. The dispenser body may be used to accommodate cups of a range of different sizes, shapes, and lip configurations due to a plurality of flexible fingers of the dispenser body. The flexible fingers are formed by pairs of spaced slots provided about a circumference of the dispenser body. The flexible fingers have radially inwardly sloping stop members which retain the cups and flex outward to dispense the cups. The elongated barrel is affixed to the dispenser body by one or more projections on the barrel which snap into corresponding recesses in the dispenser body.

Abstract: The invention provides a cup dispenser for sequentially dispensing a stacked column of disposable cups, including a mounting plate provided with means for attaching the dispenser to a vertical surface, a cup-retaining and dispensing body attachable thereto and suspendable therefrom, the body being provided with an annular opening having a lower edge and with retaining means consisting essentially of at least two wedge-like protrusions extending from the inner walls thereof and positioned within a same imaginary first semi-annular, co-planar segment of the opening, the wedge-like protrusions each having an apex, an inside face and a base, wherein the bases face the lower edge and the protrusions taper into the opening from the respective apexes to the respective bases along the inside face, and wherein at least one inner wall segment of the opening, positioned between the protrusions within the same imaginary semi-annular, co-planar segment of the opening, is provided with a recess to facilitate the local outw

Abstract: A cup dispenser is disclosed including a housing having an open end and a closed end defining a cup receiving cavity, a cup support reciprocally positioned within the cup receiving cavity for supporting at least one cup received in the cup receiving cavity and a spring for biasing the cup support towards the open end of the cup receiving cavity thereby projecting at least a portion of the cup from the housing. The cup dispenser further includes a guide for guiding the cup support within the housing with a guide including axially extending substantially diametrically opposed rails and a cup restraint for restraining outward movement of the cup within the cavity and a stop position adjacent the guide for stopping outward movement of the cup support. The stop includes at least one circumferentially extending contact surface which contacts a surface of the cup support in order to stop outward movement of the cup support.

Abstract: There is provided a system for dispensing a plurality of nurser liners one at a time. The system includes a dispenser having a bottom wall with an edge that defines a flap, and a plurality of nurser liners stacked in a nesting arrangement. The flap is adapted to move from a first position to a second position in which the flap exposes an aperture in the bottom wall. Each one of the plurality of nurser liners has a single open end, and the open end has a flexible rim with a diameter greater than that of the aperture. The plurality of nurser liners are positioned so that the rims are adjacent the aperture with a lowermost one of the plurality of nurser liners abutting the edge. Accordingly, the edge acts as a dual-sided guide for deflecting the rim inward of the lowermost nurser liner as the rim passes through the aperture, and restricts the remainder of the plurality of nurser liners from moving with the lowermost nurser liner out of the dispenser to overcome friction forces caused by the nesting arrangement.

Abstract: A dispensing device for dispensing a supply of cups. The dispensing device includes a magazine which is adapted to house the supply of cups and also includes a dispensing assembly having a passageway associated with the magazine. Resilient members are supported to obstruct the passage of cups through the dispensing assembly. The orientation of the resilient members can be adjusted, moved, lengthened or shortened, to vary the amount of obstruction.

Abstract: A group of flanged lids or cups of substantially identical construction and arranged in nested relation in a container are dispensed from an open end of the container by an elongated yieldable tension element disposed astride the open end of the container and arranged to override the flange of the article adjacent the open end of the container thereby to release and to aid in ejecting the article from the container.

Abstract: The dispenser contains a rotary magazine comprising a plurality of radial sectors, each containing plates of food stacked on the top of each other. The configuration of the plates allows the bottom of one plate not to rest on the food contained in the underlying plate. The machine furthermore comprises an elevator adapted to convey the plate selected by the user to a pair of movable jaws adapted to place the plate outside the machine or in an oven. A window may be provided at the rotary magazine to allow a user to view the plates contained therein.

Abstract: Dispensers for nested items such as cups or lids. Dispensers according to the present invention contain face plates which are easily removed so that the dispensers and their surrounding areas can be easily cleaned. One embodiment of dispensers according to the present invention includes a trim assembly and a container assembly for the items to be dispensed, which two assemblies can be attached as a unit to the face plate and removed with the face plate for quick and efficient cleaning and refilling. The face plates and trim assemblies may be color coded for aesthetic purposes and to differentiate various cup and lid sizes.

Abstract: A rack for holding and dispensing pitchers includes a base on which a cluster of a plurality of vertical tubes is rotatably mounted. The tubes are longitudinally slotted and have enlarged openings at the bottom through which the lowermost pitcher may be removed only when the other pitchers are lifted up in the tube.

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

Abstract: A dispenser for beverage accessories such as cups, napkins, individual packages of coffee, tea, sugar and creamers etc., and stirrers have been provided and may be connected to a bag in the box type beverage server to make a neat, attractive display which is easy to set up and clear away. Preferably the dispenser is made from a paper products carton blank and can be provided with a shelf and internal dividers dividing the dispenser into suitable compartments.

Abstract: An article holder and dispenser including a vertically extending elongate hollow container especially suitable for storing and dispensing a stack of nested articles such as ice-cream cones, cups and the like is disclosed herein along with a particular article release arrangement at the discharge end of the container. This arrangement utilizes a plurality of article retaining elements having upper gripping portions and lower supporting portions, the latter being adapted to engage the lowermost article in the stack for releasably retaining the engaged article and the rest of the stack within the container.

Abstract: A dispenser assembly for disposable plastic bowls is disclosed which includes a rectangular housing, open at the top, and a housing cover disposed thereover and defining a circular opening in the top. A slotted, flat, rectangular article supporting plate rides along raised, elongated and vertically extending rails formed on opposite inside walls of the housing which project into the slots. A coiled spring disposed in the housing supports the plate and extends around a raised circular wall formed on the bottom of the plate. A series of three elongated elements or nibs project downwardly from a ceiling of the housing cover around the circular opening and project inwardly of the opening a slight distance sufficient to interfere with and catch against the rolled rims of bowls stacked on the plate and projecting upward through the opening in the housing cover. A companion lid dispenser can be incorporated into the housing for convenience and efficient utilization of space.

Abstract: A dispenser for cup holders for flexible cup liners, in which the cup holders are stacked one on top of the other in a tube having a slot in the side thereof for receiving the handles of the stacked cup holders and the slot having an inlet slot portion for receiving the handles, an offset slot portion in which the handle of the lowest cup can rotate, and a discharge slot portion for discharging the lowest cup from the bottom opening of the tube after rotation of its handle.

Abstract: A generally rectangular cabinet having a pair of outwardly swinging doors. The center interior is designed to form a paper cup dispenser, the cups exiting at the center bottom. With proper shelving, hooks and clips the interior will hold toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, lotions, and any other desired bathroom supplies. The interior of the doors can be supplied with hooks for suspending the toothbrushes leaving the rest of the cabinet for other items. The outside top can be mounted with clips for holding combs in a readily available position. The entire cabinet is compact, light and portable. A stand is provided which can be permanently positioned in the bathroom. The stand comprises a horizontal platform portion and a rear vertical wall portion. The cabinet fits onto the platform and against the rear wall. Suitable hooks are provided for releasably locking the cabinet to the stand. This allows the cabinet to be used in a fixed place at home, but permits its removal for travel.

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