US3927799A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cup dispensing device
Assignee: GILRON HOLDINGS Ltd
•
Filing: 1974-12-02
•
Granted: 1975-12-23
•
Expires: 1994-12-02
Abstract
Abstract A dispensing device is provided for dispensing cups, and includes a dispensing tube in which a stack of cups may be placed, and a sliding tongue at the bottom of the dispensing tube on which the stack of cups is supported. When it is desired to dispense a cup, a solenoid is actuated to withdraw the sliding tongue from beneath the bottom end of the dispensing tube, and at the same time to pivot a pivot arm attached to it so as to cause a detent arm to project into the interior of the dispensing tube to engage the outer surface of the beverage cup which was second from the bottom of the stack of cups before the actuation of the solenoid began. The bottom-most cup may then fall from the dispensing tube; or it may be pushed downwardly by one or more stripper arms which are associated with the pivot arm so as to extend into the interior of the dispensing tube and engage the upper rim of the bottom-most cup as the pivot arm moves to engage the detent arm. Upon cessation of actuation of the solenoid, the sliding tongue returns to its position below the bottom end of the dispensing tube and the remaining cups in the dispensing tube move downwardly so as to be supported by the sliding tongue.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald John Tindley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:34
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G59/00; B65G59/10; B65G59/101; G; G07; G07F; G07F13/00; G07F13/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
400 words
A dispensing device for dispensing articles such as beverage cups and the like, comprising: a sliding tongue adapted to move from a first position to a second position; a dispensing tube open at both ends and adapted to accommodate a pluraLity of stacked articles; said sliding tongue being arranged to underlie at least a portion of the bottom end of said dispensing tube when said tongue is in its first position, and to be substantially clear from the bottom end of said dispensing tube when said tongue is in its second position; the direction of sliding motion of said tongue being substantially perpendicular to the axis of said dispensing tube; a pivot arm attached at its lower end to said sliding tongue, and arranged to extend through a slot formed in a pivot bracket so as to pivot about an edge of said slot; a solenoid having a solenoid arm connected to said pivot arm and adapted to pivot said pivot arm from a first position to a second position upon actuation of said solenoid, and to retain said pivot arm in said second position for as long as said solenoid remains actuated; said first position of said pivot arm being when said sliding tongue is in its first position; a detent arm adapted to extend through an opening in the side of said dispensing tube upon interference therewith by the upper end of said pivot arm as said pivot arm moves towards its second position, so that when said pivot arm is in its second position said detent arm extends into said dispensing tube to engage the outer surface of the article therein which was second from the bottom before actuation of said solenoid began; said detent arm being biased outwardly so as not to engage the outer surface of any cup in said dispensing tube except when interfered with by said pivot arm; said pivot arm being arranged to move said sliding tongue from its first position to its second position when said arm is pivoted from its respective first position to its second position upon actuation of said solenoid and movement of said solenoid arm; and means for causing the return of said sliding tongue from its second position to its first position when actuation of said solenoid is completed, and also to cause return of said pivot arm from its second position to its first position,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
400 words
A dispensing device for dispensing articles such as beverage cups and the like, comprising: a sliding tongue adapted to move from a first position to a second position; a dispensing tube open at both ends and adapted to accommodate a pluraLity of stacked articles; said sliding tongue being arranged to underlie at least a portion of the bottom end of said dispensing tube when said tongue is in its first position, and to be substantially clear from the bottom end of said dispensing tube when said tongue is in its second position; the direction of sliding motion of said tongue being substantially perpendicular to the axis of said dispensing tube; a pivot arm attached at its lower end to said sliding tongue, and arranged to extend through a slot formed in a pivot bracket so as to pivot about an edge of said slot; a solenoid having a solenoid arm connected to said pivot arm and adapted to pivot said pivot arm from a first position to a second position upon actuation of said solenoid, and to retain said pivot arm in said second position for as long as said solenoid remains actuated; said first position of said pivot arm being when said sliding tongue is in its first position; a detent arm adapted to extend through an opening in the side of said dispensing tube upon interference therewith by the upper end of said pivot arm as said pivot arm moves towards its second position, so that when said pivot arm is in its second position said detent arm extends into said dispensing tube to engage the outer surface of the article therein which was second from the bottom before actuation of said solenoid began; said detent arm being biased outwardly so as not to engage the outer surface of any cup in said dispensing tube except when interfered with by said pivot arm; said pivot arm being arranged to move said sliding tongue from its first position to its second position when said arm is pivoted from its respective first position to its second position upon actuation of said solenoid and movement of said solenoid arm; and means for causing the return of said sliding tongue from its second position to its first position when actuation of said solenoid is completed, and also to cause return of said pivot arm from its second position to its first position,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The dispensing device of claim 1 where said means for causing the return of said sliding tongue from its second position to its first position is a spring secured to said tongue and biased to cause motion thereof towards said first position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The dispensing device of claim 1 where said means for causing the return of said sliding tongue from its second position to its first position is a return means on said solenoid arm to force movement thereof to its first position when actuation of said solenoid is completed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The dispensing device of claim 1, further including at least one stripper arm secured to the upper portion of said pivot arm and adapted to extend into said dispensing tube through an opening in the side thereof; said at least one stripper arm being arranged to interfere with a portion of the bottom-most article in said dispensing tube, and to push downwards thereagainst, as said pivot arm moves towards its second position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The dispensing device of claim 4 including a pair of stripper arms secured to said pivot arm so as to extent into said dispensing tube through two, spaced apart openings in the side thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The dispensing device of claim 1, further including switch means having a sensing arm extending into said dispensing tube above the place where said detent arm extends into said dispensing tube, to sense the presence or absence of an article in said dispensing tube at said sensing arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The dispensing device of claim 1 where a time delay circuit is associated with said solenoid so as to continue the actuation of said solenoid - and thereby to retain said sliding tongue and said pivot arm in their respective second positions - for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The dispensing device of claim 4 where, when said article in said dispensing tube are beverage cups, said at least one stripper arm is arranged to interfere with the upper rim of the bottom-most beverage cup.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
367 words
A dispensing devicE for dispensing articles such as beverage cups and the like, comprising: a sliding tongue adapted to move from a first position to a second position; a dispending tube open at both ends and adapted to accommodate a plurality of stacked articles, said sliding tongue being arranged to underlie at least a portion of the bottom end of said dispensing tube when said tongue is in its first position, and to be substantially clear from the bottom end of said dispensing tube when said tongue is in its second position, the direction of sliding motion of said tongue being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the said dispensing tube; a pivot arm pivotally attached at its lower end to said sliding tongue; actuating means connected to said pivot arm and adapted to pivot said pivot arm from a first position to a second position, and to retain said pivot arm in said second position for as long as said means remains actuated, said first position of said pivot arm being when said sliding tongue is in its first position; a detent arm adapted to extend through an opening in the side of said dispensing tube upon interference therewith by the upper end of said pivot arm as said pivot arm moves towards its second position, so that when said pivot arm is in its second position said detent arm extends into said dispensing tube to engage the outer surface of the article therein which was second from the bottom before actuation of said actuating means began, said detent arm being biased outwardly so as not to engage the outer surface of any cup in said dispensing tube except when interfered with by said pivot arm; said pivot arm being arranged to move said sliding tongue from its first position to its second position when said arm is pivoted from its respective first position to its second position upon actuation of said actuating means; means for causing the return of said sliding tongue from its second position to its first position when actuation of said actuating means is completed, and also to cause return of said pivot arm from its second position to its first position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
367 words
A dispensing devicE for dispensing articles such as beverage cups and the like, comprising: a sliding tongue adapted to move from a first position to a second position; a dispending tube open at both ends and adapted to accommodate a plurality of stacked articles, said sliding tongue being arranged to underlie at least a portion of the bottom end of said dispensing tube when said tongue is in its first position, and to be substantially clear from the bottom end of said dispensing tube when said tongue is in its second position, the direction of sliding motion of said tongue being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the said dispensing tube; a pivot arm pivotally attached at its lower end to said sliding tongue; actuating means connected to said pivot arm and adapted to pivot said pivot arm from a first position to a second position, and to retain said pivot arm in said second position for as long as said means remains actuated, said first position of said pivot arm being when said sliding tongue is in its first position; a detent arm adapted to extend through an opening in the side of said dispensing tube upon interference therewith by the upper end of said pivot arm as said pivot arm moves towards its second position, so that when said pivot arm is in its second position said detent arm extends into said dispensing tube to engage the outer surface of the article therein which was second from the bottom before actuation of said actuating means began, said detent arm being biased outwardly so as not to engage the outer surface of any cup in said dispensing tube except when interfered with by said pivot arm; said pivot arm being arranged to move said sliding tongue from its first position to its second position when said arm is pivoted from its respective first position to its second position upon actuation of said actuating means; means for causing the return of said sliding tongue from its second position to its first position when actuation of said actuating means is completed, and also to cause return of said pivot arm from its second position to its first position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
The dispensing device of claim 9, further including at least one stripper arm secured to the upper portion of said pivot arm and adapted to extend into said dispensing tube through an opening in the side thereof, said at least one stripper arm being arranged to interfere with a portion of the bottom-most article in said dispensing tube, and to push downwards thereagainst, as said pivot arm moves toward its second position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1396995A
Cited
US3795346A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-22 | 1979-06-23 | 1979-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-22 | 1983-06-23 | 1983-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-22 | 1987-06-23 | 1987-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |