US3743135A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dispenser
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-21
•
Granted: 1973-07-03
•
Expires: 1990-12-21
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is disclosed for dispensing a preselected number of generally cylindrical articles of substantially uniform length and diameter. The apparatus includes a hopper having two facing vertical walls and two facing walls that converge downwardly. The lower edges of the walls form an opening at the bottom of the hopper such that only one article at a time can pass through the opening. The articles, which may be cylindrical cardboard tubes containing pens or pencils, are stacked side by side in the hopper with their longitudinal axes perpendicular to the facing vertical walls. A dispensing means is mounted on the bottom of the hopper for receiving and dispensing a preselected number of the articles. The converging walls of the hopper are movable and at least one of the walls is moved inwardly of the hopper each time the dispensing means is actuated to rearrange the articles and break up any bridge formed by two or more articles wedging between the converging walls above the opening so that the flow of articles through the opening to the dispensing means is uninterrupted.
Inventors
- 👤 C Brumley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:06
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D88/00; B65D88/54; B65D88/64; G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
315 words
An apparatus for dispensing a preselected number of generally cylindrical articles of substantially uniform length and diameter, comprising a housing; a hopper of generally rectangular horizontal cross section mounted in the housing, said hopper having first and second walls that face and converge downwardly to form an opening in said hopper through which only one article at a time can pass; abutment means near the converging edge of said first wall and mounted on said first wall for freely sliding movement generally in the plane of said first wall towards and away from said converging edge, said abutment means actuated for movement by said cylindrical articles in response to a bridge of said articles, which bridge would stop the movement of articles from the hopper, said second wall including means mounted for pivotal movement toward said first wall and disposed in said hopper to force such bridged articles towards said abutment means; two facing walls that are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the length of the articles so that they can be stacked in the hopper in a parallel, side-by-side relationship; dispensing means located below the opening in said hopper for dispensing a preselected number of the articles when actuated, including a member mounted below the opening in the hopper for pivoting between a first position for receiving a preselected number of articles through the hopper opening and a second position where the preselected number of articles are dispensed, while preventing the remaining articles in the hopper from passing through said opening; and means mounted in the housing for actuating the dispensing means, while causing said means mounted for pivotal movement to move toward said first wall to rearrange the articles stacked in the hopper near the opening each time the dispensing means is actuated and to urge such articles against said abutment means to break up any bridge formed by the articles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
315 words
An apparatus for dispensing a preselected number of generally cylindrical articles of substantially uniform length and diameter, comprising a housing; a hopper of generally rectangular horizontal cross section mounted in the housing, said hopper having first and second walls that face and converge downwardly to form an opening in said hopper through which only one article at a time can pass; abutment means near the converging edge of said first wall and mounted on said first wall for freely sliding movement generally in the plane of said first wall towards and away from said converging edge, said abutment means actuated for movement by said cylindrical articles in response to a bridge of said articles, which bridge would stop the movement of articles from the hopper, said second wall including means mounted for pivotal movement toward said first wall and disposed in said hopper to force such bridged articles towards said abutment means; two facing walls that are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the length of the articles so that they can be stacked in the hopper in a parallel, side-by-side relationship; dispensing means located below the opening in said hopper for dispensing a preselected number of the articles when actuated, including a member mounted below the opening in the hopper for pivoting between a first position for receiving a preselected number of articles through the hopper opening and a second position where the preselected number of articles are dispensed, while preventing the remaining articles in the hopper from passing through said opening; and means mounted in the housing for actuating the dispensing means, while causing said means mounted for pivotal movement to move toward said first wall to rearrange the articles stacked in the hopper near the opening each time the dispensing means is actuated and to urge such articles against said abutment means to break up any bridge formed by the articles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for dispensing a preselected number of articles, and said actuating means are formed by a unitary member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 further provided with a chute mounted below the hopper opening between the hopper and the dispensing means, said chute having a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the area of the opening so that articles located in the chute are in substantially vertical alignment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 in which the means actuating the dispensing means is coin operated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including means mounted on one of said first and second walls for varying the size of said opening in said hopper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dispensing means activates said pivotally mounted means by striking said pivotally mounted means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The dispensing apparatus of claim 6 in which the dispensing means has a V-shaped slot which is positioned below the hopper opening when the member is in its first position so that said preselected number of articles can be received in the slot from the hopper to be dispensed when the member is moved to its second position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said abutment means is a plate having a ridged edge at its end near the downwardly convErging edge of said first wall and is inclined with respect to said first wall back to its other end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
The dispensing apparatus of claim 8 wherein said plate includes a slotted opening near said other end to permit sliding of said abutment means along said first wall from a first position wherein said raised edge is adjacent said opening in said hopper to a second position when an article is between said abutment means and said means mounted for pivotal movement, said abutment means adapted to return from said second position to said first position by force of gravity while causing such an article to be properly aligned adjacent said opening in said hopper.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |