US3749280A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bulk loading can dispenser
Assignee: Rowe International Inc
•
Filing: 1971-11-05
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Granted: 1973-07-31
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Expires: 1991-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A bulk loading can dispenser for delivering cans of beverage or the like in response to the deposit of coins, for example, in which cans may be randomly stacked in an upper relatively deep hopper portion having a width approximating the height of a can upon removal of retaining elements at the front of the upper hopper portion in which the upper hopper section is provided with vertically staggered can kickers at the front and back thereof for ensuring that the centers of the cans do not become horizontally or vertically aligned as they move downwardly toward a relatively shallower can dispensing hopper section from which a can is released upon each operation of a releasing mechanism. An empty switch is provided at a location between the upper and lower hopper sections to cause the hopper to be refilled before the supply of cans falls below a level at which the upper hopper section leads into the lower hopper section.
Inventors
- 👤 R Gale
- 👤 M Gale
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:43
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F9/00; G07F9/02; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/04; G07F11/16; G07F11/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
Apparatus for dispensing cans including in combination, a hopper having a width approximately the length of a can to be dispensed for receiVing cans with the longitudinal axes thereof extending laterally of said hopper, said hopper comprising an upper hopper section and a lower hopper section, said upper hopper section being deeper than said lower hopper section and extending forwardly of said lower hopper section and rearwardly of said lower hopper section, respective inclined front steps leading from said upper hopper section to said lower hopper section, respective inclined rear steps leading from said upper hopper section to said lower hopper section, said rear steps being vertically staggered with respect to said front steps, a plurality of front can kickers extending transversely of the upper hopper section and into said upper hopper section at vertically spaced locations at the front thereof, a plurality of rear can kickers extending transversely of said upper hopper section and into the upper hopper section at vertically spaced locations at the rear thereof, said rear locations being staggered with respect to said front locations, means adjacent to the lower hopper section for delivering cans one at a time, and empty signal means located above and adjacent to the juncture between the upper and lower hopper sections.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
Apparatus for dispensing cans including in combination, a hopper having a width approximately the length of a can to be dispensed for receiVing cans with the longitudinal axes thereof extending laterally of said hopper, said hopper comprising an upper hopper section and a lower hopper section, said upper hopper section being deeper than said lower hopper section and extending forwardly of said lower hopper section and rearwardly of said lower hopper section, respective inclined front steps leading from said upper hopper section to said lower hopper section, respective inclined rear steps leading from said upper hopper section to said lower hopper section, said rear steps being vertically staggered with respect to said front steps, a plurality of front can kickers extending transversely of the upper hopper section and into said upper hopper section at vertically spaced locations at the front thereof, a plurality of rear can kickers extending transversely of said upper hopper section and into the upper hopper section at vertically spaced locations at the rear thereof, said rear locations being staggered with respect to said front locations, means adjacent to the lower hopper section for delivering cans one at a time, and empty signal means located above and adjacent to the juncture between the upper and lower hopper sections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 including detachable gates at the front of said upper hopper section for retaining cans therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for dispensing cans including in combination, a hopper having a width approximating the length of a can to be dispensed, said hopper comprising a lower hopper section constructed to hold a pair of columns of cans in side by side relationship with the longitudinal axes of the cans of each column generally vertically aligned and with the longitudinal axes of the cans of one column vertically staggered with respect to the longitudinal axes of the cans of the other column and an upper hopper section having a depth from front to back which is greater than that of the lower hopper section, said upper hopper section having a back spaced rearwardly from said lower hopper section and having a front spaced forwardly from said lower hopper section, a first pair of stationary forwardly inclined rear steps connecting the back of said upper hopper section to said lower hopper section, a second pair of stationary rearwardly inclined front steps for connecting the front of said upper hopper section to said lower hopper section, and means adjacent to the lower end of said lower hopper section for alternately dispensing cans from said columns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for dispensing cans including in combination, a hopper having a width approximating the length of a can to be dispensed, said hopper comprising a lower hopper section constructed to hold a pair of columns of cans in side by side relationship with the longitudinal axes of the cans of each column generally vertically aligned and with the longitudinal axes of the cans of one column vertically staggered with respect to the longitudinal axes of the cans of the other column and an upper hopper section having a depth from front to back which is greater than that of the lower hopper section, said upper hopper section having a back spaced rearwardly from said lower hopper section and having a front spaced forwardly from said lower hopper section, a first pair of stationary forwardly inclined rear steps connecting the back of said upper hopper section to said lower hopper section, a second pair of stationary rearwardly inclined front steps for connecting the front of said upper hopper section to said lower hopper section, and means adjacent to the lower end of said lower hopper section for alternately dispensing cans from said columns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said front steps have risers which are shorter than the rear step risers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said front steps have treads which are deeper than those of the rear steps.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 including a can kicker extending into said upper hopper section from the front thereof at a location intermediate the upper and lower ends of the upper hopper section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 including a can kicker extending into said upper hopper section from the rear thereof at a location intermediate the upper and lower ends of the upper hopper section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 including respective front and rear can kickers extending into the upper hopper section from the front and rear thereof at staggered locations intermediate the upper and lower ends of the upper hopper section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 in which the depth of said upper hopper section is greater than X can diameters but less than X + 1/2 can diameters, where X is an integer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 in which the depth of the lower hopper section is greater than y can diameters but less than y + 1/2 can diameters, where y is an integer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 in which the upper hopper section is deeper than the lower hopper section by greater than p but less than q can diameters, where p and q are integers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 including detachable gates extending across the Front of said upper hopper section for releasably retaining cans therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 including empty signal means located adjacent to and above the juncture between said upper and lower hopper sections.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 including a transversely extending partition located centrally of said lower hopper section to divide the lower hopper section into subsections, and in which said delivery means includes respective laterally extending rollers associated with the respective subsections for supporting the cans therein, means mounting said rollers for oscillatory movement below said subsections and means for oscillating said rollers with simple harmonic motion 90* out of phase whereby alternately to deliver cans from said front and rear subsections.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said front steps are vertically staggered with respect to said rear steps.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-30 | 1977-01-29 | 1977-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-30 | 1981-01-29 | 1981-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-30 | 1985-01-29 | 1985-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |