Tray dispensing apparatus and method

Claim 2

A mechanism for depositing an article by gravity onto a surface, comprising: a receptacle adapted to receive a stack of said articles; and dispensing means disposed toward the lower end of said receptacle for depositing said articles one-by-one onto a surface therebelow from the bottom of said stack of articles by allowing the lowermost article in said stack to fall onto said surface while supporting the articles above said lowermost article, said dispensing means comprising: first movable stack supporting means movable into and out of engagement with the lowermost article in said stack; second movable stack supporting means movable into and out of engagement with the article immediately above the lowermost article in said stack; wherein movement of said second stack supporting means into engagement with the article above the lowermost article supports said article and the stack thereabove, and movement of said first stack supporting means out of engagement with said lowermost article allows said article to fall onto said surface by gravity, while said stack is retained by said second movable stack supporting means; and means for assisting in the separation of the lowermost article from said stack and for forcing said lowermost article downwardly onto said surface, wherein said means for assisting is associated with said second movable stack supporting means.

Claim 3

The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said second movable stack supporting means comprises a pair of movable members mounted for inward and outward movement in substantially horizontal slots formed in a pair of spaced side members, and actuator means for controlling the inward and outward movement of the movable members within said slots, and wherein said means for assisting comprises a flipper member pivotably mounted to each of the inwardly and outwardly movable members, said flipper member being selectively actuable upon outward movement of said movable members into engagement with the article above the lowermost article for simultaneously assisting in the downward movement of the lowermost article.

Claim 4

A mechanism for depositing an article by gravity onto a surface, comprising: a receptacle adapted to receive a stack of said articles; and dispensing means disposed toward the lower end of said receptable for depositing said articles one-by-one onto a surface therebelow from the bottom of said stack articles by allowing the lowermost article in said stack to fall onto said surface while supporting the articles above said lowermost article, said dispensing means comprising: first movable stack supporting means movable into and out of engagement with the lowermost article in said stack; second movable stack supporting means movable into and out of engagement with the article immediately above the lowermost article in said stack; wherein movement of said second stack supporting means into engagement with the article above the lowermost article supports said article and the stack thereabove, and movement of said first stack supporting means out of engagment with said lowermost article allows said article to fall onto said surface by gravity, while said stack is retained by said second movable stack supporting means; wherein said first movable stack supporting means and said second movable stack supporting means each comprise spaced pairs of movable members, with said stack disposed therebetween; wherein each movable member is mounted for inward and outward movement within, and guided by, substantially horizontal slots formed in a pair of spaced plates; and actuator means for controlling inward and outward movement of each movable member in said slots.

Claim 5

A mechanism for depositing an article by gravity onto a surface, comprising: a receptacle adapted to receive a stack of said articles; and dispensing means disposed toward the lower end of said receptable for depositing said articles one-by-one onto a surface therebelow from the bottom of said stack articles by allowing the lowermost article in said stack to fall onto said surface while supporting the articles above said lowermost article, said dispensing means comprising: first movable stack supporting means movable into and out of engagement with the lowermost article in said stack; second movable stack supporting means movable into and out of engagement with the article immediately above the lowermost article in said stack; wherein movement of said second stack supporting means into engagement with the article above the lowermost article supports said article and the stack thereabove, and movement of said first stack supporting means out of engagment with said lowermost article allows said article to fall onto said surface by gravity, while said stack is retained by said second movable stack supporting means; wherein said first movable stack supporting means and said second movable stack supporting means each comprise spaced pairs of movable members, with said stack disposed therebetween; wherein each movable member is mounted for inward and outward movement within, and guided by, substantially horizontal slots formed in a pair of spaced plates; and actuator means for controlling inward and outward movement of each movable member in said slots.

Claim 6

A mechanism for depositing an article by gravity onto a surface, comprising: a receptacle adapted to receive a stack of said articles; and dispensing means disposed toward the lower end of said receptacle for depositing said articles one-by-one onto a surface therebelow from the bottom of said stack of articles by allowing the lowermost article in said stack to fall onto said surface while supporting the articles above said lowermost article, said dispensing means comprising: first movable stack supporting means movable into and out of engagement with the lowermost article in said stack; second movable stack supporting means movable into and out of engagement with the article immediately above the lowermost article in said stack; wherein movement of said second stack supporting means into engagement with the article above the lowermost article supports said article and the stack thereabove, and movement of said first stack supporting means out of engagement with said lowermost article allows said article to fall onto said surface by gravity, while said stack is retained by said second movable stack supporting means; wherein said first movable stack supporting means and said second movable stack supporting means each comprise spaced pairs of movable members, with said stack disposed therebetween, wherein said movable members are mounted for inward and outward movement in substantially horizontal slots formed in a pair of spaced plates; and actuator means for controlling inward and outward movement of each movable member in said slots; comprising an actuator plate having a pair of cam slots formed therein, and wherein said movable members are provided with cam followers rotatably mounted thereto and disposed within said cam slots, said actuator plate being movable vertically so as to control horizontal movement of said movable members within said substantially horizontal slots.

Claim 7

A mechanism for depositing an article by gravity onto a surface, comprising: a receptacle adapted to receive a stack of said articles; and dispensing means disposed toward the lower end of said receptacle for depositing said articles one-by-one onto a surface therebelow from the bottom of said stack of articles by allowing the lowermost article in said stack to fall onto said surface while supporting the articles above said lowermost article, said dispensing means comprising: first movable stack supporting means movable into and out of engagement with the lowermost article in said stack; second movable stack supporting means movable into and out of engagement with the article immediately above the lowermost article in said stack; wherein movement of said second stack supporting means into engagement with the article above the lowermost article supports said article and the stack thereabove, and movement of said first stack supporting means out of engagement with said lowermost article allows said article to fall onto said surface by gravity, while said stack is retained by said second movable stack supporting means; wherein said first movable stack supporting means and said second movable stack supporting means each comprise spaced pairs of movable members, with said stack disposed therebetween, wherein said movable members are mounted for inward and outward movement in substantially horizontal slots formed in a pair of spaced plates; and actuator means for controlling inward and outward movement of each movable member in said slots; comprising an actuator plate having a pair of cam slots formed therein, and wherein said movable members are provided with cam followers rotatably mounted thereto and disposed within said cam slots, said actuator plate being movable vertically so as to control horizontal movement of said movable members within said substantially horizontal slots.

Claim 8

A mechanism for depositing an article by gravity onto a surface, comprising: a receptacle adapted to receive a stack of said articles; and a dispensing arrangement disposed toward the lower end of said receptacle for depositing said articles one-by-one onto a surface therebelow from the bottom of said stack of articles, comprising: first movable stack supporting means movable between a first extended position and a second retracted position, and including a plate member having a bracket member mounted thereto for engaging the underside of said lowermost article and for thereby solely supporting said stack thereabove when said first movable stack supporting means is in its first extended position, and wherein said first movable stack supporting means in its second retracted position is moved out of engagement with said stack, wherein the bracket member is mounted to the plate member so as to be positionable to varying elevations above the plate member for accommodating varying height of articles making up said stack; second movable stack supporting means movable between a first extended position for engaging the article immediately above the lowermost article in said stack, and a second retracted position for disengaging said stack; and an actuator arrangement for moving said second stack supporting means to its first extended position while moving said first stack supporting means to its second retracted position to release the lowermost article in said stack, and for moving said second stack supporting means to its second retracted position while moving said first stack supporting means to its first extended position.

Claim 9

A mechanism for depositing an article by gravity onto a surface, comprising: a receptacle adapted to receive a stack of said articles; and a dispensing arrangement disposed toward the lower end of said receptacle for depositing said articles one-by-one onto a surface therebelow from the bottom of said stack of articles, comprising: first movable stack supporting means movable between a first extended position and a second retracted position, and including a plate member having a bracket member mounted thereto for engaging the underside of said lowermost article and for thereby solely supporting said stack thereabove when said first movable stack supporting means is in its first extended position, and wherein said first movable stack supporting means in its second retracted position is moved out of engagement with said stack, wherein the bracket member is mounted to the plate member so as to be positionable to varying elevations above the plate member for accommodating varying height of articles making up said stack; second movable stack supporting means movable between a first extended position for engaging the article immediately above the lowermost article in said stack, and a second retracted position for disengaging said stack; and an actuator arrangement for moving said second stack supporting means to its first extended position while moving said first stack supporting means to its second retracted position to release the lowermost article in said stack, and for moving said second stack supporting means to its second retracted position while moving said first stack supporting means to its first extended position.

Claim 10

A mechanism for depositing an article by gravity onto a surface, comprising: a receptacle adapted to receive a stack of said articles; and a dispensing arrangement disposed toward the lower end of said receptacle for depositing said articles one-by-one onto a surface therebelow from the bottom of said stack of articles, comprising: first movable stack supporting means movable between a first extended position and a second retracted position, and including a first member located at a first predetermined elevation and a support member mounted to the first member for engaging the underside of said lowermost article and for solely supporting said stack thereabove when said first movable stack supporting means is in its first extended position, and wherein said first movable stack supporting means in its second retracted position is moved out of engagement with said stack; second movable stack supporting means movable between a first extended position for engaging the article immediately above the lowermost article in said stack at a second predetermined elevation above said first elevation, and a second retracted position for disengaging said stack; and an actuator arrangement for moving said second stack supporting means to its first extended position while moving said first stack supporting means to its second retracted position to release the lowermost article in said stack, and for moving said second stack supporting means to its second retracted position while moving said first stack supporting means to its first extended position; wherein said support member is mounted to said first member so as to be positionable to varying elevations relative to the first member for accommodating varying height of articles making up said stack.

Claim 11

A mechanism for depositing an article by gravity onto a surface, comprising: a receptacle adapted to receive a stack of said articles; and a dispensing arrangement disposed toward the lower end of said receptacle for depositing said articles one-by-one onto a surface therebelow from the bottom of said stack of articles, comprising: first movable stack supporting means movable between a first extended position and a second retracted position, and including a first member located at a first predetermined elevation and a support member mounted to the first member for engaging the underside of said lowermost article and for solely supporting said stack thereabove when said first movable stack supporting means is in its first extended position, and wherein said first movable stack supporting means in its second retracted position is moved out of engagement with said stack; second movable stack supporting means movable between a first extended position for engaging the article immediately above the lowermost article in said stack at a second predetermined elevation above said first elevation, and a second retracted position for disengaging said stack; and an actuator arrangement for moving said second stack supporting means to its first extended position while moving said first stack supporting means to its second retracted position to release the lowermost article in said stack, and for moving said second stack supporting means to its second retracted position while moving said first stack supporting means to its first extended position; wherein said support member is mounted to said first member so as to be positionable to varying elevations relative to the first member for accommodating varying height of articles making up said stack.