US1623353A - Cup dispenser - Google Patents

Description

1 623,353 Plll 5 1927' J. w. MccARTl-IY CUI DISPENSER Filed Nov. 8, 1925 l /1 27 INVENTOR 22M '24 26 2f 22 l /a I I!! Il BY A y [325 /g TORNEYv yPawnee Apr; 5, '1927.

. y 1,623,353 f P ArsNrorl-*l-CE.

J'OHN w. MUCARTHY, oF LocxroRT, NRw YORK, AssIGNoR, RY MESNR ASSIGNMENTS, To voRTRx MFG. co., on cHIcAGo, ILLINOIS, A coRroRA'rIoN oF ILLINOIS.

4GUI DISPENSER.

apneation ,mea November s, 1923. serial No. '673,510.4

This invention relates to dispensers for paper Cups'and with respect to its more specific features to devices for dispensingflexible conical paper cups from a nestof such cups, and whether the cupshave or have not projections, or flanges, at their mouths.

, One object ofthe inventionis the prol vision of a simple. relatively inexpensive and compact device for readily and efficiently dispensing conical paper cups one by one from a closely nested column without injury n to the cups; also. one that will4 operate .n

flanged aswell as unlanged cups. .p Other objects of the invention will be in part obviousand will in part appear here# inaffer'.

The invention accordingly comprises the' features of construction, combinations of elebe exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application ofwhich will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference shouldy be had to the following detailed description taken `in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: Y Figure 1- is a view of the dispenserin elevation, parts' being broken away 'and sectioned to disclose interior construction,

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section showing the cup support and the cup drawing mechanism of the dispenser as viewed at right angles 'to Fig. 1, Y

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views, partsbemg brokenv away, to showx interior construction, Fig. .4, in dotted lines, showing the gri-ppers in open and in closed position,

Fig. 5 isa vertical section through the' cup supporting ring, and showing one form of the fingers of such ring.-

Referring now more specifically to thel drawing, the frame'of the dispenser comprises an annular bracket 1 which may be horizontallyl disposed and providedwith a bracket 'supporting lug 2 adapted toengage a fixture 3 secured to a Waller table or-the like., The numeral 4 indicatesthe cup support which, in the embodiment illustrated, consists of a flanged portion of the. bracket 1, this portion having an "opening 5 -therethrough for the passage of the cups and also having a series of-rigid fingers 6 projecting toward the center of the opening 5. Preferably the fingers 6 are rounded peripherally a cup is drawn downwardly from the cup ing thus facilitated and injurythereto bef a drawn cup 'as illustrated at 7 When unflanged cups 'are ito be dispensed, the inner faces of the Y fingers as illustrated at 8 in Fig. 5. The numeral 9 represents a ring havin a flange 10 for restingy upon the upper dge of the bracket 1to support the ring 9 removably within the' bracket 1; The numeral 11 indi` 65 cates a cover. or dome, which may 'be of glass, closed at the top and held in the ring 9 in any suitable manner.. One of the paper cups to be dispensed is indicated at'12 in ,dotted-lines, these cups having conical side--70A walls, the side walls the cups illustratedy coming to -a pointer apex 13. The diameter at the mouths of the' cups is greater than the diametrical distance between opposite fingers 6, so that the cupsV aren'adapted to he'75 disposed in the opening 5 with their side walls resting against the fingers 6. In this position the mouths of the cups are above the fingers 6 and the greater portion of the conical side wall of the 4lowermostcup is 30 exposed for the operation of cup-drawing mechanism hereinafter described. -Between the fingers 6, the flange 4. is preferably cut away or recessed to such .an extent that when supporting fingers.' the conical wall of the cup may flex into the spaces50 between arl- ]Iacent fingers 6, the drawing of the cups beingf avoided.

`The numeral 13 indicates a lower rigid an# nular frame plate `having an vopening .14 Y through which the cups are discharged. The

numeral 15 indicates cup-'arresting fingers or lugs on the inner edge of the platel, projecting into the opening 14. and serving, in connection with the remainder of the inner periphery of the annular plate, to arrest in convenient position to be taken hold of by the hand of the user. The upperbracket 1 andthe lowerv plate 13 may be connected in anv suitable manner.- In'the present instance they areA connected by the rigid rods 16 and 17 which depend from the under face of the bracket 1, and have shouland 17 and are enclosed byapcircumferential 110 'j .ders 18 and reduced screw threaded ends- 19 v On the lup er face of the annular plate13 ing of ping. The grippers 32 are rigid metal mem. cast integrally with their at29 to 'a head or are thestan ards 22 and 23 providing bearings for the power shaft 24, which latter may extend outside the wall 21 and be provided with a crank or handle 25 for rotating the same and thereby actuating .the cup drawing mechanism. On the inner end of the shaftl24 is a crank O26 having acrank pin 27. in pivotal engagement with the end of-a gripper actuating member, or connecting rod 28,`which latter is in turn pivoted block reciprocal alongside the cup path and in the zpresent embodiment. guided by one ofthe rods 16 and another and parallel rigid rod 31 depending from the bracket member 1 and.l supported in a recess in the'upper face of `thegstandard 22, as illustrated Vin Fig. 1.k

The numerals 32- indicate the body portions ofcup'gripprs having sleeves 33 by which theyvare pivotallyimounted for oscil` lation on the rods 16 and 31 transversely of the cup path, the grippers'being also simultaneouslyreciprocally translatable along Saidrods to effect-cup drawing'and positionthe grippers for subsequent cup gripbers which may be sleeves 33 and with upper bearing eyes 34 also engaging the rods 16 and 31. Thusa` .long bearing .is -provided for the grippers so as to' maintain them in predetermined relative position as on the guide rods 16 and 31.. 0n the sleeve gripper actuating, or gripper turning,

33 of -eachgripper is a dog 35 withwhich the connecting rod 28 cooperates to effect oscillation of the grippers on their axes, or - guide rods 16 and 31.

Caraied .pivotal plate 36 adapted to move with and relative to the connecting rod. Cap screws 37 are threaded inthe plate 36 and pass loosely through the connecting rod 28, spi-'ings'38 being interposed between .the heads of these screws and the 'connecting'rod 28. In the embodiment illustrated', the connecting rod is provided with recesses in which the springs 38 lie. When the various parts are assembled-the v, dogs 35 lie between the. plate 36 and the connecting rodv 28, the latter lbeing recessed as at 51, if desired, -to accommodate said dogs. The gripper body, the connecting rodl28, the

A, head or Iblock30 and the `guide rods 16 and and; projecting grippers, 1 which 31 are of substantial rigid material, preferably metal, so that accurate positioning of the parts give', if any.

'f Inoperation a column'i'of closelyl nested conical Apaper cups will be set with thellowerinost cup su portedby the fingers 6 latter should be Aopen at there be any tendency they" oscillate and translate t y n sequently be removed. by the connecting rod 28 iS a may be relied upon withoutundue ownwardly between the.

that timef- When the Shaft 24 is rotated, the

latory axis will cause the plate' 36 to'be pressed against radialdogs 35 and effect cup approaching movement ofthe grippers and cause the soft faces of the' grippers resiliently to be pressed againsttheoutsidelateral wall of the lowermost cup of the column, the springs 38 being stressed by movement of rod 28 upon gripping contact with cup. Should the cup wall give unduly or'should for the grippers, on

their drawing movement, to separate from the cup'wall, the springs 38 will a'ct to move the giippers sufiiciently inwardly, So as resiliently 'to maintain grip on -the cup and resiliently resistreceding movement between the grippers when acup is being drawn. 'The head 3() as the head 30 reciprocates on the guide rods 16 and 31, the gripp'ers ciprocate therewith. As the connecting rod 28' moves downwardly, the grippers having been moved intoA Contact with the cup, the

51 contacting with and moving the dogs 35, thus freeing the gripped cup and permitlies between the sleeve 33 and the bearingv eyes 34 of the grippers so that)0 simultaneously l reting itto drop into the opening 14 where itl is caught by the fingers 15and maysubofthe grippers have' soft,

' The bodies 32 frictional, resilient, cup gripping faces 40 and 41, relatively softrubber bands being employed in practice, and in the present embodiin'ent, the body portions'32 are concave to provide reentrant cup tions, the soft, frictional, gripping faces. 40

a 21.1.0 centering body porand41\ of each gripper prolecting from the body 32 and being disposed at different distances from the axis of oscillation of the gripper. Inthe present embodiment, the body portion of each' gripper and the frictional faces referred to incline toward the longitudinal axis. of the drawing path in`the direction of* cup drawing, and-- the 'reentrant body portion of each gripper is of such peripheral extent paththat it cooperates with its compapion gripper foalinost fully enclosethe cup to grippers, although moving in arcuate transverselyofthe cup axis, 'do notdisturb- `correctly positioned'cups and'tend to coop-` :transversely of thecup* be drawn. In' this wise'the two vcooperative .1215

paths' be occasioned by some untoward happening.

The construction disclosed herein is an iniproved form of the dispenser disclosed in the copending application of'lla'rold Carle Serial No. 367,060, filed March 19, 1921).

Since certain changes may be made in' the above construe-tion and ditfcrent embodiments of the invention could be -made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accomgrippers,

panying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. A cup dispensei' comprising a container for a stack of nested cups, gripper mechanisms, means for oscillating the saine in a horizontal plane transversely of the cup path, and means adapted to be operated to cause saidV gripper mechanisms to be recipi'ocally translated to effect cup drawing and positioning of the gripper mechanisms for subsequent cup gripping.

2.' A cup'dispenser comprising a container t'or holding a stack of nestedcups, a vertical support therebelow, cup grippers thereon, means for oscillating the grippers at right angles to said support to effect a gripping and then a release operation of said and friction pads on said grippers at diierent distances from the axes of oscillz tion of the grippers.

v3'. A cup dispenser comprising a container for a stack of nested cups, pivoted cup grippers, a connecting'rod connected therewith,

i a. crank connected with said connecting rod,

and a handle for actuating said crank to cause the cap grippers to oscillate to grip and pull a cup from the container and then :release the cup.

`tor a column ot' nested cups, stationary axes mounted therebelow, grippers pivoted on said axes, a member connected to reciprocate grippers on said axes. means for operating said ineinhcr to cause the grippeis to oscillate transversely of said axesand means coupling said Amember with said grippers including dogs on said grippers. and a cooperating plat-e on 'said member.

5. A cup dispenser comprising a support for a stack of nested cups, stationary guides, cup grippers slidahl \y and pivotally mounted on said guides, a gripper actuator head reciprocal alongside said guides and coupled to effect reciprocal movementof said grippers, a connecting rod pivoted to said head, a. crank coupled to reciprocate and oscillate said connecting rod, and operative connections between said connecting rod and said grippers to cause operation of said connecting rod to effect pivotal movement of said grippers.

6. A dispenser of the class described comprising a support for a4 stack of nested cups, stationary guides. cup pivotally mounted thereon, a gripper actuating head reciprocal alongside of said guides and coupled yto effect reciprocal movement of said grippers. a connecting rod pivoted to said -Joint W. MCCARTHY.

4, A cup dispenser coinl'irising a support the grippers slidahly and l

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