Article dispensing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016247346-A1
Application number	US-201615144655-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 2, 2016
Priority date	Jun 4, 2014
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An article dispensing apparatus capable of dispensing repeatedly the lowest-positioned article from a stack of articles while keeping the second lowest-positioned article in a stable situation is provided. A retainer for retaining the stack of articles is formed in a storing space of a storing section. In a dispensing section for dispensing the lowest-positioned article from the stack through the dispensing opening, a pusher includes an article placement portion on which the remainder of the articles is placed after the lowest-positioned article is dispensed from the stack. During the dispensing operation, the remainder of the articles is received temporarily on the article placement portion of the pusher in such a way that a lowest-positioned article of the remainder (i.e., the second lowest-positioned article in the stack) keeps its ordinary attitude in the storing space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An article dispensing apparatus for selectively dispensing an individual article from a stack of articles comprising:
a storing section that is configured to align a plurality of articles in a vertically aligned storing space with the lowest positioned article aligned to be selectably dispensed from the storing section; a dispensing base aligned adjacent the lowest positioned article having a driving device, a second slider with a pusher configured to contact and push the lowest article in the stack of the plurality of articles, a first slider aligned below the second slider and a linking mechanism that interconnects the first slider and the second slider, whereby the driving device can reciprocate the movements of the first slider and the second slider to contact the pusher on the second slider with the lowest article for a dispensing movement from the stack of articles and can activate further movements of the linking mechanism to separate the second slider from the first slider in a vertical direction to support the plurality of articles above the dispensed article.

2 . The article dispensing apparatus of claim 17 further including at least one spring to provide a restraining force on the second slider while the first slider is moved.

3 . The article dispensing apparatus of claim 18 wherein the linking mechanism can elevate the second slider when the restraining force is released to elevate the second slider above the first slider to prevent dispensing the adjacent article of the plurality of articles above the dispensed lowest article.

Assignees

• Asahi Seiko Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yamamiya Takahito

Classifications

• G07F11/005

  Special arrangements for insuring that only one single article may be dispensed at a time · CPC title

• G07F11/16 Primary

  Delivery means · CPC title

• G07F11/04

  in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other · CPC title