Article dispensing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for dispensing articles having like dimensions as measured in one direction comprising means defining a pair of elongate, laterally spaced, substantially parallel trays for supporting a plurality of such articles in adjacent rows, with the articles in each row contiguous and in line with each other with said like dimension of each article extending in a direction longitudinally of the tray, said trays being open at one set of their ends, article shifting means comprising a pair of article shifting elements and means mounting said shifting elements for movement longitudinally of said trays, with one of said shifting elements positioned to engage and shift articles in one of said trays toward said open end of the tray and the other of said shifting elements positioned to engage and shift articles in the other of said trays toward the open end of the other tray on movement of said shifting elements toward said open set of ends of the trays, and operating means operatively connected to said shifting means operable on actuation to shift said shifting elements simultaneously toward said set of ends of the trays a distance equal to one half said dimension of an article, with said elements being spaced different distances from the open ends of their associated trays, said difference in distances being substantially equal to a positive odd integer multiplied by one half of said dimension of an article.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of said trays is disposed above the other of said trays and said one end of said one tray extends longitudinally outwardly beyond said one end of the other tray.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an article has such a configuration that when it is shifted partially off said open end of its associated tray it rotates about the outer edge of the tray and tips outwardly and away from following articles in the row, and said apparatus further comprises stop means associated with each tray disposed above said end of the tray and spaced longitudinally outwardly therefrom which the upper edge margin of such a tipped article may engage when its bottom end is shifted partially off said tray, said stop means preventing falling of an article from its associated tray until its bottom is shifted fully from said tray.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises an elongate support element extending longitudinally of and substantially parallel to said trays, a support member mouNted on said support element for movement longitudinally therealong, and means detachably connected a shifting element to said support member.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said shifting element comprises a yoke portion which fits over side margins of said support element adjacent said support member, and said detachable connecting means comprises means for establishing and maintaining a desired alignment of said yoke portion relative to said support member and means releasably locking said yoke to said support member.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4, which further comprises roller support means mounted on a shifting element for providing rolling support of said element on its associated tray.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said support element comprises an elongate screw and said support member comprises a nut movable along said screw.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said operating means comprises means for turning said screw a requisite number of turns to advance said nut toward said open ends of the trays a distance equal to one half said like dimension of an article.

Claim 10

Apparatus for dispensing articles comprising means defining an elongate tray for supporting a plurality of articles with the articles disposed in an elongate row extending longitudinally of the tray, and article shifting means comprising an elongate support element extending longitudinally of and substantially parallel to said tray, a support member mounted on said support element for movement longitudinally therealong, a shifting element, and releasable connecting means including aligning pins mounted on the shifting element and aligning bores mounted in the support member a locking element mounted on said shifting element and shiftable between a connecting position and a release position and operable in said connecting position to secure said shifting element to said support member for movement with said support member in a position to engage and shift articles longitudinaly of said tray on movement of said shifting element and in said release position to permit removal of said shifting element from said support member laterally of said support element.

Claim 11

Apparatus for dispensing articles comprising means defining an elongate tray for supporting a plurality of articles with the articles disposed in an elongate row extending longitudinally of the tray, and article shifting means comprising an elongate support element extending longitudinally of and substantially parallel to said tray, a support member mounted on said support element for movement longitudinally therealong, a shifting element, and releasable connecting means including aligning pins mounted on the shifting element and aligning bores mounted in the support member a locking element mounted on said shifting element and shiftable between a connecting position and a release position and operable in said connecting position to secure said shifting element to said support member for movement with said support member in a position to engage and shift articles longitudinaly of said tray on movement of said shifting element and in said release position to permit removal of said shifting element from said support member laterally of said support element.

Claim 12

Apparatus for dispensing articles comprising means defining an elongate tray for supporting a plurality of articles with the articles disposed in an elogate row extending longitudinally of the tray, and article shifting means comprising an elongate screw, means mounting said screw for rotation about its longitudinal axis and in a position extending longitudinally of and substantially parallel to said tray, a nut mounted on said screw for movement longitudinally therealong on relative rotation between the screw and nut, a shifting element detachably connected to and movable with said nut in a position to engage and shift articles longitudinally of said tray on movement of said shifting element, operating means operatively connected to said screw operable on actuation to rotate said screw, and control means operable to limit rotation of said screw to produce a preselected movement of said support member and shifting element longitudinally of said tray on actuation of said operating means, said control means comprising a stationary abutment member and a rotatable control assembly operatively connected to said screw in such a manner that when the control assembly is permitted to rotate the screw may be rotated, and when the control assembly is prevented from rotating, the screw is prevented from rotating, said control assembly comprising a stop element rotatable with the assembly and mounted for shifting movement between a locking position spaced laterally outwardly from the center of rotation of said assembly in a position to engage said abutment member and a release position spaced inwardly toward said center of rotation from its said locking position to clear said abutment member on rotation of the assembly, means for releasably maintaining said stop element in either of its said positions, and means for producinG selected movement of said stop element between its said two positions.

Claim 13

Apparatus for dispensing articles comprising means defining an elongate tray for supporting a plurality of articles with the articles disposed in an elogate row extending longitudinally of the tray, and article shifting means comprising an elongate screw, means mounting said screw for rotation about its longitudinal axis and in a position extending longitudinally of and substantially parallel to said tray, a nut mounted on said screw for movement longitudinally therealong on relative rotation between the screw and nut, a shifting element detachably connected to and movable with said nut in a position to engage and shift articles longitudinally of said tray on movement of said shifting element, operating means operatively connected to said screw operable on actuation to rotate said screw, and control means operable to limit rotation of said screw to produce a preselected movement of said support member and shifting element longitudinally of said tray on actuation of said operating means, said control means comprising a stationary abutment member and a rotatable control assembly operatively connected to said screw in such a manner that when the control assembly is permitted to rotate the screw may be rotated, and when the control assembly is prevented from rotating, the screw is prevented from rotating, said control assembly comprising a stop element rotatable with the assembly and mounted for shifting movement between a locking position spaced laterally outwardly from the center of rotation of said assembly in a position to engage said abutment member and a release position spaced inwardly toward said center of rotation from its said locking position to clear said abutment member on rotation of the assembly, means for releasably maintaining said stop element in either of its said positions, and means for producinG selected movement of said stop element between its said two positions.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said means for producing movement of said stop element comprises release means adjacent said abutment means actuatable to shift said stop element from its locking to its release position and means spaced from said abutment means actuatable to cause said stop element to move from its release to its locking position.