US3071292A

US3071292A - Adjustable cup dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3071292A
Application number: US752659A
Authority: US
Inventors: Seth G Atwood; Keith B Kittle; Robert E Slattery; Richard W Simpson
Original assignee: Automatic Canteen Co
Current assignee: Automatic Canteen Co
Priority date: 1958-08-01
Filing date: 1958-08-01
Publication date: 1963-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-01

Description

Jan. 1, 1963 s. G. ATWOOD ETAL 3,071,292

ADJUSTABLE CUP DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1, 1958 RMHARD W SIMPSON TTORNEY Jan. 1, 1963 s. e. ATWOOD ETAL 3,071,292

ADJUSTABLE CUP DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1, 1958 INVENTORS 4 SETH QATWOOD KEITH flK/TTLE RUBERT E. SZAFTERY RICHARE W $IMP$0IV 2 ATTORNFA fi United States Patent Office Patented Jan. 1, 1363 3,071,292 ADEUSTABLE CUP DESPENSER Seth G. Atwood, Keith B. Kittie, Robert E. Slattery, and Richard W. Simpson, all of Rockford, 111., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Automatic Canteen Company of America, Qhicago, ill, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 1, 1958, er. No. 752,659 19 Claims. (Cl. 221-223) This invention relates to dispensers and, more specifically, a new and improved cup dispenser, the improvements being herein more particularly concerned with what is known as the drop ring and the mechanism provided therein for stripping a cup (usually but not necessarily made of paper) from the lower end of a stack, while supporting the stack.

The cup dispenser of our invention embodies the following novel features:

(1) A plurality of cams are evenly spaced circumfercntially in a ring frame or ring shaped housing or drop ring and adjustable radially with respect thereto to accommodate different diameters of cups, the adjustment being effected by merely turning one ring element of the housing relative to another ring element thereof and then suitably clamping the rings in adjusted relationship until another adjustment for size of cup is necessary.

(2) The cams, which constitute the dispensing devices, have the upper and lower ends of their supporting spindles arranged as locating projections in radial slots provided in one of the relatively rotatably adjustable ring elements and also engaged in registering circumferentially extending cam slots provided in the other of said ring elements, so that the spindles are changed in location by being cammed radially inwardly or outwardly with respect to the drop ring unit, all to the same extent simultaneously in a given adjustment.

(3) Link connections are provided between crank arms on the cams and an actuating ring element which by oscillation relative to the other ring elements serves to oscillate all of the cams simultaneously to dispense one cup per operation, the link connections functioning alike in all positions of radial adjustment of the cams.

(4) The cams are profiled so as to enable dispensing of cups regardless of whether they have rolled or flat rims.

(5) Concentric relationship of the actuating ring element relative to the outer ring element of the ring shaped housing or drop ring is insured and minimum resistance to turning of the actuating ring is provided at the same time by the indenting of flat portions on the circumferentially extending wall of the outer ring element in tangential relationship to and line contact with the peripheral wall of the inner ring element.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- FIG. 1 is a plan view of a drop ring for a cup dispenser made in accordance with our invention, the cams being indicated in full lines in one extreme position of adjustment for the largest cup and in dotted lines in the other extreme position of adjustment for the smallest cup, the cams being, of course, adjustable to any other positions between these extremes to accommodate other sizes;

FIG. 2 is a side view with certain portions broken away and shown in section to better illustrate the construction;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional details taken on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are a top view and side view, showing two cams on diametrically opposite sides of a stack of nested cups, showing diagrammatically in FIG. 5 the nearly parallel relationship of the arc of movement of the outer ends of the links to the radial adjustability of the cams, and indicating in FIG. 6 the coplanar relationship of the different portions of the cams to rims on the lowermost and next to the lowermost cups of the stack;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are a top view and side view respectively of one of the cams on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration showing how the helical cam surface on the cams is generated, using a circular cutter the peripheral teeth of which are of semicircular form and of the same radius as the rims on the cups, in order to obtain line contact between the cams and the rims of the cups as distinguished from only point contact obtained heretofore with other constructions; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are more or less diagrammatic views (enlarged) illustrating the line contact, FIG. 10 show ing this in a vertical plane through the cup and FIG. 11 indicating this line contact in the form of a helix in a fragmentary plan view of a cup.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring to the drawings, the drop ring or ring frame indicated generally by the reference numeral 12 has three equally circumferentially spaced vertical studs 13 on the top thereof for the mounting of the drop ring on a mounting plate 14 on a cup dispenser, nuts 15 and lock washers 16 being also provided in connection with these studs for the secure fastening of the drop ring. Any suitable number of cams 17, which constitute dis pensing devices, of which there are in the present case six, is provided in the drop ring in evenly, circumferentially spaced relation providing supporting ledges 18 for engagement by the rim or lip portion 19 of cups 20, usually, but not necessarily, made of paper, there being a stack of these nested cups housed in a suitable vertical protective container provided therefor on the dispenser, with the lowermost cup projecting through the circular cup opening 21 in the drop ring and resting at its rim 19 on the ledges 18. The radial projections defining the supporting ledges 18 engage at their arcuate periphery 22 the cup at the under-lip diameter, which, of course, varies for diiferent sizes of cups. All of the cams 17, which have stepped spindles 23 entered with a press fit by their enlarged intermediate portions 24 in center holes 25 provided therefor in the cams, are adjustable radially with respect to the drop ring 12 by relative rotary adjustment of an outer two-section ring 26 with respect to a stationary two-section inner ring 27, the latter having lugs 28 projecting through circumferentially extending slots 29 provided in the outer ring 26 for support of the mounting studs 13 previously mentioned. There are radially extending slots 30 provided in the inner ring 27 and circumferentially extending intersecting cam slots 31 provided in the outer ring 26, and the upper and lower reduced end portions of the spindles 23 project through the slots 33 into and through the slots 31, so that when the outer ring 26 is adjusted rotatively with respect to the inner ring 27 the cams 17 are adjusted radially with respect to the drop ring 12, the spindles 23 moving inwardly and outwardly in the radial slots 30 according to the direction of rotary adjustment of the outer ring 26, in which the spindles 23 move endwise relative to slots 31 in the adjustment. A single circumferentially extending slot 32 provided in the bottom of the outer ring 26 has a stud 33 projecting through it from the bottom of the inner ring 27, and a wing nut 34 threaded on the stud 33 against a Washer 35 is loosened whenever the cams 17 are to be adjusted one way or the other for'a larger or smaller size cup, after which the tightening of the wing nut 34 clamps the

rings

26 and 27 in adjusted relationship. Graduations may be provided on top of the outer ring 26, as indicated at 36 in FIG. 1, ad-

jacent which a pointer, like that indicated in dotted lines at 37 in FIG. 1, provided on the mounting plate 14 on the dispenser, is disposed to indicate the correct position of adjustment of the outer ring 26 relative to the inner ring 27 for a given size cup, as may be indicated on a table provided at any convenient place on the dispenser, the number 0, for example, indicating the smallest size cup and the number the largest size in a given range of cup sizes, the other numbers, of course, indicating various intermediate sizes. In that way, there is no ditficulty in securing the correct setting for any given size of cup.

A two-section actuator ring 38 is provided inside the inner ring 27 previously mentioned and two portions of this ring provide a radially outwardly extending arm 39 for actuation of the earns 17 manually or otherwise by oscillation of the actuator ring 38 through a predetermined angularity, the movement in one direction through said angle releasing the lowermost cup by retraction of the ledges 18 simultaneously with the prying of the lowermost cup otf the stack, while retaining the next to the last cup of the stack, and then on the return movement, when the ledges 18 are returned to their inwardly projecting position, the stack drops down onto these ledges and the cup dispenser is then in readiness for the next operation. Each cam 17 has a thin horizontal blade portion 40 in a predetermined vertically spaced and rear- Wardly circumferentially spaced relation to the supporting ledge i8, providing on the top 41 thereof a supporting ledge, comparable to that on the top of ledge 18, to engage under the rim of the second to the last cup in the stack in the cup dispensing operation, while the lowermost cup is being pried off the stack by wedging engage merit between the rims of the last two cups of the inclined cam surface 42 defined on the under face of the wedge-shaped portion of the cam I7 in trailing relation to the blade portion 40. The upper ledge 41 may, if desired, be upwardly inclined, as indicated in dotted lines at 41 in FIGS. 6 and 8, from the blade 40 to provide a greater cup separation dimension than is afforded when the upper ledge 41 is horizontal like the lower ledge 18. The arcuate periphery 22' of the radial projection defining the supporting ledge 41 and cam surface 42 on each cam is on the same radius as the arcuate periphery 22 of the radial projection defining the supporting ledge 18, and the surface 22 therefore engages the next to the last cup in the stack at the under-lip diameter in the same way as the periphery 22 engages the lowermost cup at the under-lip diameter. The configuration of the cams 17 is such that the cup dispenser can handle all styles of cups regardless of Whether they have rolled or fiat rim portions. In the dispensing operation, the cams 17, as viewed in FIG. 5, are turned in a clockwise direction so that the supporting ledges 18 move out from under the rim 19 of the lowermost cup as the blade portions 40 move in between the rims 19 of the last two cups, whereby the stack is supported on ledges 41 and support by ledges 18 is removed from under the rim of the lowermost cup to permit the cup to be loosened and dropped. Ledges 18 are tapered off on top at their drop-off end as seen at 43 so as to provide a circumferential extension of the arcuate periphery 22 up to the beginning of the arcuate periphery 22' so that the stack of cups is kept cenralized in the cup opening 21 in the drop ring, because where the projections defining the supporting ledges 18 terminate so far as their centralizing function is concerned, the projections that define the supporting ledges 41 assume this centralizing function in the cup dispensing operation, and we have observed that, whereas in the absence of this tapered portion 43 cups being dispensed were apt to get cocked and fail to drop straight down as they should, that difficulty was completely eradicated with the addition of this tapered extension 43 on each cam.

The cams 17 are all preferably molded of nylon or other suitable material for low cost and closer uniformity in large quantity production. The radius indicated at 44 in FIGS. 6, 8 and 10 equals the radius of the section of the rim portion 19 on the cups 20, whereby to have line contact through approximately on a helical line a-b, as indicated in FIGS. 10 and 11 as distinguished from point contact commonly provided between the cams and the rims of the cups in cup dispensers, as heretofore constructed. The reason the line contact at ab is on a helix is that the curvature of the

cam surface

42 and 44 is generated in the machining of the cam blank 17' with a cutter 4-5 having semi-circular cutting teeth on the periphery thereof struck on the radius of the circle of the section of the rim 19 of the cups 213, as illustrated diagrammatically in MG. 9 wherein the arrow 0 indicates the direction of rotation of the cutter about its axis 46, arrow c! indicates the direction of rotary feed of blank 17 about the axis 47 and the arrow e indicates the direction of simultaneous axial feed of said blank. The molding die cavities for the molding of the cams 17 have that portion thereof for the cam surfaces 44), 4E, 42 and 44 patterned after the machined portion of blank 17, so that all of the cams 17 provide this line contact ab at equally circumferentially spaced points around the rim of the cup in the prying loose of the lowermost cup from the bottom of the stack in each cup dispensing operation, and the low unit pressure obtained with this kind of operation as compared with the high unit pressure inevitable with point contact is the reason the present cup dispenser operates so smoothly and surely regardless of how tightly wedged the cups in a given stack may be, and there is no danger of the rim portion of a cup getting crumpled, as there was otherwise.

The actuator ring 38 has sheet metal links 48 pivotally connected thereto by the engagement of vertically aligned trunnions 49 in vertically aligned holes 59 provided in the two sections of the ring 38, the links 43 being generally T-shaped at one end 51 to define the trunnions 49, as best appears in FIG. 2. A clevis 52 is formed on the other end of each of the links 48, and a pin 53, pivotally engaged in vertically aligned holes 54 provided in the opposed ears of the clevis 52, has a pivotal fit in a registering hole 55' provided therefor in a crank arm 56 on the cam 17 to be actuated. In the radial adjustment of the cams 17, the links 43 oscillate on their trunnions 49 and pivot pins 53 move along arcs fg, which are so nearly parallel to the radial lines of adjustment of spindles 23 as they move in the radial slots 30, that the cams 17 are given very little oscillation in their radial adjustment from one extreme position to the other. Consequently, the cup dispensing operation obtained with the cams 17 is substantially the same in their one extreme position of adjustment as in their other extreme position of adjustment.

A downwardly projecting lug 57 provided on the upper section of the inner ring 27 engages in an arcuate notch 58 provided in the inner periphery of the upper section of the actuator ring 38, as shown in FIG. 3, to limit oscillatory movement of the actuator ring, so that the cams 17 will be turned through the same angularity (approximately 90) in each cup dispensing operation and cannot be turned farther. Ledges 18 are wide enough in relation to the small angle of variation in position of the cams between the two extremes of their radial adjustability, that there is substantially the same amount of supporting ledge 18 exposed for engagement under the rim of the lowermost cup in the case of the smallest cups as in the case of the largest cups handled in the drop ring.

In closing, it should be evident from FIGS. 1-4 that the use of sheet metal stampings for the ring frame formed by the outer and

inner ring members

26 and 27 and defining the cup opening 21 for the stack of nested cups makes for low cost of manufacture. The two sections of the inner ring 27 are identical except for the provision of the downwardly projecting lug 57 on the upper section serving as a stop projection in notch 58 in the upper section of the actuator ring 33, and also the provision of the lugs 28 on the upper section for projection through slots 29 in the upper section of the outer ring 26 for attachment to the mounting plate 14 for support of the drop ring on the cup dispenser. This obviously makes for reduced die costs and also reduced production costs. The two sections are placed in opposed relationship with the circumferentially spaced downwardly projecting lugs 59 on the inner circumference of the upper section engaging in notches 60 provided in the inner circumference of the lower section, and correspondingly spaced upper projecting lugs 59 on the inner circumference of the lower section engage in correspondingly spaced notches 60 in the inner circumference of the upper section. The spaces 61 left between the lugs 59 of these interfitting sections are where the earns 17 are disposed and project radially inwardly from the drop ring as seen in FIG. 1 for operation with the stack of cups in the guideway 21 defined in the drop ring. The two sections of ring 27 interconnected in the manner stated constitute a single ring member secured by means of the studs 13 to the mounting plate 14 of a cup dispenser. The two sections of the outer ring 26 are also identical in form for economy in die costs and the production costs, but the upper section has the circumferentially extending slots 29 provided therein for accommodation of the lugs 28, and the lower section has the circumferentially extending slot 32 provided therein for accommodation of the stud 33. In addition the the upper section, which has its carn slots 31 made to register with the cam slots 31 in the lower section has impressed therein the graduations 36 numbered 0 to 10. The annularl-y projecting head 64 provided on the periphery of the two sections of the outer ring 26 lends rigidity and strength to these housing members hesides assuring greater freedom of relative rotation of the outer ring 26 with respect to the inner ring 27 in adjusting the drop ring for a different size of cup, because if there is any projecting burr on the outer edge of the sections of the inner ring 27 these will have ample clearance. The two sections of the actuating ring 31 have peripheral flanges 62 which are riveted or bolted together at circumferentially spaced points, as indicated at 63, so that they turn together as a single ring member when the cams 17 are to be adjusted one way or the other to accommodate cups of different sizes.

In assembling the drop ring 12, the lower section of the inner ring 27 is inserted in the lower section of the outer ring 26 with stud 33 entered through slot 32, then the lower section of the actuating ring 38 is inserted, and then all of the cams 17 together with their operating links 48 are assembled in place with spindles 23 entered in registering slots 3% and 31 and trunnions 49 in holes 50. Then the upper section of the actuating ring 38 is assembled over the upper trunnions 39 of links 48, and the upper section of the inner ring 27 is assembled on the lower section of the inner ring 27, entering lugs 59 in notches 6i and also entering lug '57 in notch 58 immediately after entry of the upper ends of spindles 23 in slots 30, after which the upper section of the outer ring 26 can be assembled easily over the projecting upper ends of spindles 23 by entry in slots 31 after entry of lugs 23 through slots 29. Rivets 63 previously assembled on the flange 62 of the lower section of the outer ring 26 and projecting through holes in the flange 62 on the upper section of the outer ring 26 can then be upset to complete the assembly. The annular flanges 66 on the two sections of the actuator ring 38 lend strength and rigidity to said ring and the radial arm 39 for operation of the actuating ring in the cup dispensing operation constitutes integral extensions of these flanges.

The indented flat portions 67 on the outer peripheral 6 wall of the outer sections of the outer ring 26 lie tangent with respect to and have line contact on the inside thereof with the outside of the peripheral wall of the sections of the actuator ring 38 for a two-fold purpose:

(a) To hold the actuating ring 38 truly concentric with respect to the rest of the drop ring 12 for uniform operation of the cams 17 in the dispensing operation, and

(2:) Reduce the frictional drag on the operation of the actuating ring 3? to a minimum.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therefrom without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended for the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a dispenser for use with a stack of nested articles the combination of a ring frame consisting of an outer member and an inner member rotatable with respect to each other and providing a drop opening for the stack of nested articles, dispensing devices mounted in circumferentially spaced relation around said opening, an actuator member oscillatable relative to said frame, means operatively connecting said actuator member with said dispensing devices for operating the latter in unison, means responsive to relative rotation of said outer and inner members adapted to radially adjust said dispensing devices with respect to said ring frame and actuator member to accommodate articles of different diameters, and means for oscillating said actuator member.

2. In a dispenser for use with a stack of nested articles the combination of a ring frame providing a drop opening for the stack of nested articles, dispensing devices mounted in circumferentially spaced relation around said opening, an actuator oscillatable relative to said frame, means operatively connecting said actuator with said dispensing devices for operating the latter in unison, said ring frame comprising: guide means for said dispensin g devices extending radially with respect to said ring frame permitting in and out adjustment of said devices with respect to said ring frame, a ring member rotatably adjustable with respect to said ring frame, means operatively connecting said ring member with said dispensing devices to adjust the latter in unison in or out relative to said radial guide means according to the direction of adjustment of said ring member, and means securing said ring member in adjusted position relative to said ring frame so as to hold said devices in adjusted position.

3. In a dispenser for use with a stack of nested articles the combination of a ring frame providing a drop opening for the stack of nested articles, dispensing devices disposed in circumferentially spaced relation around said opening and having article supporting surfaces, an actuator member oscillatable relative to said frame, means operatively connecting said actuator member with said dispensing devices for operating the latter in unison, substantially radial slots provided in said ring frame relative to which portions of said dispensing devices are slidable in or out relative to said drop opening so as to enable said surfaces to accommodate articles of different diameter, said ring frame having a ring member rotatably adjustable with respect to said ring frame and having circumferentially extending cam slots provided therein in intersecting relation to said radial slots and slidabl-y receiving said portions to transmit in or out adjustment to said dispensing devices in unison according to the direction of rotary adjustment of said ring member, and means for securing said ring member in adjusted position relative to said ring frame to maintain the adjustment of said dispensing devices.

4. In a dispenser for use with a stack of nested articles the combination of a ring frame providing a drop opening for the stack of nested articles, oscillatable dispensing cams and mounting means therefor on said ring frame in circumferentially spaced relation with respect to the opening, a member oscillatable relative to said frame, links pivotally connected at one end with said member at spaced apart points on said member and pivotally connected at the other end with an associated cam for oscillating the cams simultaneously, means on said ring frame for radially adjusting said cams with respect to said ring frame and said member to accommodate articles of different diameters while remaining operatively connected with said member, and means for oscillating said member.

5. In a dispenser for use with a stack of nested articles the combination of a ring frame providing a drop opening for the stack of nested articles, oscillating dispensing cams and mounting means therefor on said ring frame in circumferentially spaced relation with respect to said opening, ring means oscillatable relative to said frame, rigid link members pivotally connected at one end to said ring means at circumferentially spaced points and pivotally connected at the other end to crank arms provided on said cams for oscillation thereof, said ring frame comprising guide means for said cams extending radially with respect to said ring frame permitting in and out adjustment of said cams with respect to said ring frame, a ring member rotatably adjustable with respect to said ring frame, means operatively connecting said ring member with said cams to adjust the same in unison in or out relative to said radial guide means according to the direction of adjustment of said ring member; and means securing said ring member in adjusted position relative to said ring frame so as to hold said cams in adjusted position.

6. In a dispenser for use with a stack of nested articles the combination of a ring frame providing a drop opening for the stack of nested articles, oscillating dispensing cams and mounting means therefor on said ring frame in circumferentially spaced relation with respect to said opening and having article supporting projections, ring means osciliatable relative to said frame, rigid link members pivotally connected at one end to said ring means at circumferentially spaced points and pivotally connected at the other end to crank arms provided on said cams for oscillation thereof, substantially radial slots provided in said ring frame relative to which portions of said cams are slidable in or out relative to said drop opening in order for said projections to accommodate articles of different diameter, said ring frame comprising: a ring member rotatably adjustable With respect to said ring frame and having circumferentially extending cam slots provided therein in intersecting relation to said radial slots and slidably receiving said portions to transmit in or out adjustment to said cams in unison according to the direction of rotary adjustment of said ring member; and means for securing said ring member in adjusted position relative to said ring frame to maintain the adjustment of said cams.

7. In a dispenser for use with a stack of nested articles the combination of a ring frame providing a drop opening for the stack of nested articles, oscillating dispensing cams and mounting means therefor on said ring frame in circumferentially spaced relation with respect to said opening, a ring member oscillatable relative to said frame, links, pivotally connected at one end with said ring member at circumferentially spaced points of said ring member and each pivotally connected at the other end with an associated cam for oscillating the cams simultaneously, said ring frame comprising means whereby the cams are radially adjustable with respect to said ring frame and ring member to accommodate articles of different diameters While remaining operatively connected with said ring member, and means for oscillating the ring member, the links being elongated and the pivotal connections with the cams being movable in the radial adjustment of the cams in arcs nearly parallel with the direction of radial adjustment of the cams, whereby rotary adjustment of the cams incident to the radial adjustment is reduced to a minimum.

8. In a dispenser for use with a stack of nested articles the combination of a ring frame providing a drop opening for the stack of nested articles, dispensing devices disposed in circumferentially spaced relation around said opening, ring means oscillatable relative to Said frame, means operatively connecting said ring means with said dispensing devices for operating the latter in unison, substantially radial slots provided in said ring frame relative to which projections on said dispensing devices are slidable in or out relative to said drop opening to allow said dispensing devices to accommodate articles of different iameter, said ring frame comprising a ring member rotatably adjustable with respect to said ring frame and having circnmferentially extending cam slots provided therein in intersecting relation to said radial slots and slidably receiving said projections to transmit in or out adjustment to said dispensing devices in unison according to the direction of rotary adjustment of said ring member, graduations on the rotatably adjustable ring member movable in the rotary adjustment relative to a fixed index member stationary with respect thereto to indicate directly in each state of adjustment the diameter of article for which the dispenser is adjusted, and means for securing the last named ring member in adjusted position relative to said ring frame to maintain the adjustment of said dispensing devices.

9. In a dispenser for use with a stack of nested articles the combination of a ring frame providing a drop opening for the stack of nested articles, dispensing devices disposed in circumferentially spaced relation around said opening, rigid supports for said frame extending therefrom at circumferentially spaced points, a ring member oscillatable relative to said frame, means operatively connecting said ring member with said dispensing devices for operating the latter in unison, said ring frame comprising: guide means for said dispensing devices extending radially with respect to said ring frame permitting in and out adjustment of said devices with respect to said ring frame, a ring member having circumferentially extending slots provided therein receiving said supports to permit rotary adjustment of said latter ring member relative to said ring frame, said latter ring member being rotatably adjustable with respect to said ring frame, means operatively connecting said latter ring member with said dispensing devices to adjust the latter in unison in or out relative to said radial guide means according to the direction of adjustment of said latter ring member; and means securing the latter ring member in adjusted position relative to said ring frame so as to hold said devices in adjusted position.

10. In a dispenser for use with a stack of nested articles the combination of a ring frame providing a drop opening for the stack of nested articles, dispensing devices disposed in cireumferentially spaced relation around said opening and having article supporting surfaces, rigid supports for said frame extending therefrom at circumferentially spaced points, a ring member oscillatable relative to said frame,

means operatively connecting said ring member with said dispensing devices for operating the latter in unison, substantially radial slots provided in said ring frame relative to which projections on said dispensing devices are slidable in or out relative to said drop opening to enable said surfaces to accommodate articles of different diameter, said ring frame having a ring member having circumferentially extending slots provided therein receiving said supports to permit rotary adjustment of said latter ring member relative to said ring frame, said latter ring member being rotatably adjustable with respect to said ring frame and having circumferentially extending cam slots provided therein in intersecting relation to said radial slots and slidably receiving said projections to transmit in or out adjustment to said dispensing devices in unison according to the direction of rotary adjustment of said latter ring member, and means for securing the latter ring member in adjusted position relative to said ring frame to maintain the adjustment of said dispensing devices.

11. In a dispenser for a stack of nested articles, such as cups, having outwardly projecting rim portions, the combination of a ring frame defining therein a drop opening for the articles, the ring frame consisting of inner and outer ring members, one of which is fixed and the other oscillatably adjustable, means rigidly connecting the fixed ring member to a support, oscillatable dispensing cams having axial supporting spindles projecting through substantially radial slots provided in one of said ring members and into intersecting circumferentially extending cam slots provided in the other of said ring members, whereby said cams are slidably adjustable radially with respect to the drop opening in said frame upon adjustment of one of said ring members with respect to the other, means for securing said ring members in adjusted relationship, and means for transmitting a like amount of oscillation to all of said cams simultaneously and in the same direction.

12. A dispenser as set forth in claim 11 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a ring element oscillatable with respect to said ring frame and having links in circumferentially spaced relation to said ring element pivotally connected thereto at one end and pivotally connected at the other end to arms provided on said cams.

13. A dispenser as set forth in claim 11 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a ring element oscillatabie with respect to said ring frame and having links in circumferentially spaced relation to said ring element pivotally connected thereto at one end and pivotally connected at the other end to arms provided on said cams, said links being elongated and having the cam connected ends so disposed relative to the substantially radial slots that the radial adjustment of the cams is accompanied by a minimum amount of rotary adjustment of the cams from a normal position.

14. In a dispenser for a stack of nested articles, such as cups, the combination of a ring frame defining a drop opening for the articles, said ring frame comprising means defining an outer ring of generally channel-shaped section with the open side of the channel inward, and means defining an inner ring generally of channel-shaped section with the open side of the channel outward, one of said rings being fixed and the other oscillatably adjustable, oscillatory dispensing cams mounted for oscillation in the channel of the inner ring member between the top and bottom walls thereof and projecting peripherally into the drop opening through openings provided in the other wall of the channel, means on said ring frame for adjusting said cams radially with respect to said inner and outer ring members by rotary adjustment of one ring with respect to the other ring, means on said ring frame for securing the rings in rotatably adjusted relationship, an actuator ring rotatable in the inner ring and having an operating arm extending outwardly from said ring frame through a slot provided in the Outer wall thereof for oscillation relative to said ring frame, and means providing an operating connection between said actuating ring and each of said cams in all positions of radial adjustment of the latter.

15. A dispenser as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said inner and outer rings comprises separable top and bottom ring shaped sections, the cams being assembled between the two sections of the inner ring, and the two sections of the outer ring being assembled over the inner ring, supporting projections on one section of the inner ring extending through circumferentially extending slots provided in the abutting section of the outer ring, means for interconnecting the two sections of the inner ring so that they are fixed as a single ring in relation to the sections of the relatively oscillatable outer ring, and means for interconnecting the sections of the outer ring to turn together as a single ring.

16. A dispenser as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said inner and outer rings comprises top and bottom ring shaped sections, means releasably connecting the top and bottom sections of each of the inner and outer rings, the cams being assembled between the two sections of the inner ring, and the two sections of the outer ring being assembled over the inner ring, the means operatively connecting the actuating ring with said cams comprising links in circumferentially spaced relation in the inner ring pivotally connected at one end to the actuating ring and pivotally connected at the other end to arms provided on the cams.

17. A dispenser as set forth in claim 14 wherein the actuating ring is of channel section open inwardly and comprises top and bottom ring sections, the means interconnecting s aid actuating ring and the cams comprising elongated link members having vertically aligned trunnions on one and pivotally engaged in openings provided in the two sections of the actuating ring, and means on the other end of said links pivotally connecting the same to arms provided on said cams.

18. A dispenser as set forth in claim 14, wherein the outer ring comprises substantially identical top and bottom ring shaped sections with annular flanges on the outer peripheries, which, when the ring sections are assembled on the inner ring project toward each other, means for rigidly connecting said flanges together to form a single outer ring, the flanges leaving a space therebetween circumferentially of the ring frame, and the operating arm of the actuator ring extending outwardly through this space for operation from outside the dispenser.

19. In a dispenser for use with a stack of nested articles, the combination of a frame assembly providing an opening through which articles in said stack may pass, dispensing means positioned in generally circumferentially spaced relation around said opening, means oscillatable with respect to said frame assembly and operatively associated with said dispensing means for operating said dispensing means in unison, means on said frame assembly for permitting radial adjustment of said dispensing means, a portion of said frame assembly being rotatable with respect to another portion of said frame assembly to radially adjust said dispensing means so as to accommodate articles of different size, and means for securing said portions of said frame assembly so as to maintain said dispensing devices in adjusted position, whereby adjustment of said dispensing means is accomplished without disassembly of any portion of said dispenser.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,091,921 Flatau Mar. 21, 1914 1,890,062 Madden Dec. 6, 1932 2,004,520 Conti June 11, 1935 2,268,421 Reifsnyder et a1. Dec. 30, 1941 2,281,466 Terry Apr. 18, 1942 2,315,827 Tansley Apr. 6, 1943 2,643,584 Wertepny et a1 June 30, 1953 2,675,742 Petre Apr. 20, 1954 2,868,100 Seur Jan. 13, 1959 2,946,481 Carew July 26, 1960

Claims

10. IN A DISPENSER FOR USE WITH A STACK OF NESTED ARTICLES THE COMBINATION OF A RING FRAME PROVIDING A DROP OPENING FOR THE STACK OF NESTED ARTICLES, DISPENSING DEVICES DISPOSED IN CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED RELATION AROUND SAID OPENING AND HAVING ARTICLE SUPPORTING SURFACES, RIGID SUPPORTS FOR SAID FRAME EXTENDING THEREFROM AT CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED POINTS, A RING MEMBER OSCILLATABLE RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID RING MEMBER WITH SAID DISPENSING DEVICES FOR OPERATING THE LATTER IN UNISON, SUBSTANTIALLY RADIAL SLOTS PROVIDED IN SAID RING FRAME RELATIVE TO WHICH PROJECTIONS ON SAID DISPENSING DEVICES ARE SLIDABLE IN OR OUT RELATIVE TO SAID DROP OPENING TO ENABLE SAID SURFACES TO ACCOMMODATE ARTICLES OF DIFFERENT DIAMETER, SAID RING FRAME HAVING A RING MEMBER HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING SLOTS PROVIDED THEREIN RECEIVING SAID SUPPORTS TO PERMIT ROTARY ADJUSTMENT OF SAID LATTER RING MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID RING FRAME, SAID LATTER RING MEMBER BEING ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID RING FRAME AND HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING CAM SLOTS PROVIDED THEREIN IN INTERESTING RELATION TO SAID RADIAL SLOTS AND SLIDABLY RECEIVING SAID PROJECTIONS TO TRANSMIT IN OR OUT ADJUSTMENT TO SAID DISPENSING DEVICES IN UNISON ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTION OF ROTARY ADJUSTMENT OF SAID LATTER RING MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE LATTER RING MEMBER IN ADJUSSTED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID RING FRAME TO MAINTAIN THE ADJUSTMENT OF SAID DISPENSING DEVICES.