US20200077808A1 - Object dispenser apparatus - Google Patents
Object dispenser apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20200077808A1 US20200077808A1 US16/122,925 US201816122925A US2020077808A1 US 20200077808 A1 US20200077808 A1 US 20200077808A1 US 201816122925 A US201816122925 A US 201816122925A US 2020077808 A1 US2020077808 A1 US 2020077808A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- container
- air
- lid
- tray
- dispenser apparatus
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
- A47F1/00—Racks for dispensing merchandise; Containers for dispensing merchandise
- A47F1/04—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs
- A47F1/06—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from top
Definitions
- the present invention relates to product dispensers and more particularly pertains to a new object dispenser apparatus for dispensing individual products for use without users touching products to be used by others.
- product dispensers are known in the prior art. More specifically, product dispensers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
- the prior art includes a dispensing apparatus including a load platform having a main floor on which to place a stack of lids and also having a parallelogram mechanism mounted to move in a linear direction forward to a dispense position and rearward to a home position.
- a dispensing device for beverage cup lid including, an externally threaded central rotary rod attached to a direct drive bidirectional electrical motor and suspended within a lid cabinet with a stacked plurality of lids retained upon the rotary rod through a central bore in each lid, the lids urged downward by a traveling press plate.
- another prior art includes a mechanism for separating individual, tapered rimless container parts in timed sequence from a vertical stack of such parts and wherein separable support fingers underlie the peripheral edge of the lowermost part and, a continuously revolved actuator controls a spring-powered striker member which is periodically released to engage the fingers with sufficient momentum to spread them enough to let the lowermost part fall beyond the fingers which are then immediately returned to original position to underlie and receive the also descending next lowermost part.
- another prior art includes a housing, shaft assemblies and a lid dispensing mechanism.
- Each shaft assembly includes a shaft that extends from a base of the housing, a lid shelf that supports at least a bottom-most lid in the lid stack area and a drive gear about its shaft so that rotation of the drive gear causes rotation of the associated shaft and lid shelf. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new object dispenser apparatus.
- the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a new object dispenser apparatus which has many of the advantages of the product dispensers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new object dispenser apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art product dispensers, either alone or in any combination thereof.
- the present invention includes a housing including an elongated container having an open top and adapted to store lids therein and also having a tray in communication with the container for dispensing the lids from the container; an actuator assembly disposed in the housing for dispensing the lids one-at-a-time from the container to the tray. None of the prior art includes the combination of the elements of the present invention.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new object dispenser apparatus for dispensing individual product for use without users touching product to be used by others.
- Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new object dispenser apparatus that eliminates the transmission of germs to products used with foods and drinks.
- Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new object dispenser apparatus that prevents product waste and thus reduces cost transferred to the users.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new object dispenser apparatus according to the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a partial side cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the actuator assembly of the second embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGS. 1 through 4 a new object dispenser apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
- the object dispenser apparatus 10 generally comprises a housing 11 including an elongated container 12 having an open top 13 and adapted to store objects 25 such as lids therein and also having a tray 28 in conventional communication with the container 12 for dispensing the objects 25 from the container 12 ; and an actuator assembly 14 disposed in the housing 11 for dispensing the objects 25 one-at-a-time from the container 12 to the tray 28 .
- the tray 28 is conventionally attached to and extends outwardly from the container 12 and is slanted downwardly from the open top 13 of the container 12 to facilitate sliding of the lids 25 for access by a user.
- the actuator assembly 14 includes a biased element 17 disposed in the container 12 for biasing the lids 25 to the open top 13 of the container 12 .
- the actuator assembly 14 also includes an air blower assembly 18 for moving the uppermost lid 25 at the open top 13 from the container 12 to the tray 28 and further includes an actuator 15 conventionally disposed upon the housing 11 for, actuating the air blower assembly 18 .
- the actuator 15 includes a motion sensor conventionally disposed upon the housing 11 , and also includes a controller 16 such as a circuit board in conventional communication with the motion sensor 15 and the air blower assembly 18 .
- the air blower assembly 18 includes an air pump 19 disposed in the housing 11 and conventionally connected to a power source and in operable communication with the controller 16 , and also includes an air hose 20 conventionally connected to the air pump 19 and having a distal end 22 , and further includes an air nozzle 21 conventionally connected to the distal end 22 of the air hose 20 and positioned at the open top 13 of the container 12 for blowing air onto the lid 25 at the open top 13 of the container 12 to move the lid 25 out of the container 12 and onto the tray 28 .
- a signal such as an electric signal or wireless signal is sent to the controller 16 which actuates the air pump 19 to pump air through the air nozzle 21 to move the lid 25 out of the container 12 .
- the air nozzle 21 has an open end 23 which is directed across a top 26 of the uppermost lid 25 at the open top 13 of the container 12 to create a venturi effect.
- the air nozzle 21 rests in a plane with the top 26 of the uppermost lid 25 in the container 12 so that forced air is emitted across the top 26 of the lid 25 which lifts the lid 25 out of the container 12 and onto the tray 28 .
- the air nozzle 21 has an arcuate distal end portion 24 which is positioned adjacent to and below the uppermost lid 25 in the container 12 .
- the open end 23 of the air nozzle 21 is directed upwardly to blow forced air on a bottom edge 27 of the lid 25 to lift and move the lid 25 out of the container 12 and onto the tray 28 .
- the air nozzle 21 is positioned to blow air either across the top 26 of the uppermost lid 25 or upon the bottom edge 27 of the lid 25 which lifts the lid 25 from the container 12 and onto the tray 28 .
- the objects 25 are loaded into the container 12 .
- a user motions in front of the motion sensor 15 which sends a signal to the controller 16 which actuates the air blower assembly 18 and blows air onto the uppermost object 25 in the container which moves the uppermost object 25 from the container 12 to the tray 28 .
- the air nozzle 21 is positioned either to blow air across the top 26 of the uppermost object 25 to create a venturi effect which lifts the uppermost object 25 from the container 12 and onto the tray 28 or to blow air on the bottom edge 27 of the uppermost object 25 to lift the object 25 off the container 12 and onto the tray 28 .
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to product dispensers and more particularly pertains to a new object dispenser apparatus for dispensing individual products for use without users touching products to be used by others.
- The use of product dispensers is known in the prior art. More specifically, product dispensers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
- The prior art includes a dispensing apparatus including a load platform having a main floor on which to place a stack of lids and also having a parallelogram mechanism mounted to move in a linear direction forward to a dispense position and rearward to a home position. Another prior art includes a dispensing device for beverage cup lid including, an externally threaded central rotary rod attached to a direct drive bidirectional electrical motor and suspended within a lid cabinet with a stacked plurality of lids retained upon the rotary rod through a central bore in each lid, the lids urged downward by a traveling press plate. Also, another prior art includes a mechanism for separating individual, tapered rimless container parts in timed sequence from a vertical stack of such parts and wherein separable support fingers underlie the peripheral edge of the lowermost part and, a continuously revolved actuator controls a spring-powered striker member which is periodically released to engage the fingers with sufficient momentum to spread them enough to let the lowermost part fall beyond the fingers which are then immediately returned to original position to underlie and receive the also descending next lowermost part. Further, another prior art includes a housing, shaft assemblies and a lid dispensing mechanism. Each shaft assembly includes a shaft that extends from a base of the housing, a lid shelf that supports at least a bottom-most lid in the lid stack area and a drive gear about its shaft so that rotation of the drive gear causes rotation of the associated shaft and lid shelf. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new object dispenser apparatus.
- The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new object dispenser apparatus which has many of the advantages of the product dispensers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new object dispenser apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art product dispensers, either alone or in any combination thereof. The present invention includes a housing including an elongated container having an open top and adapted to store lids therein and also having a tray in communication with the container for dispensing the lids from the container; an actuator assembly disposed in the housing for dispensing the lids one-at-a-time from the container to the tray. None of the prior art includes the combination of the elements of the present invention.
- There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the object dispenser apparatus in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
- In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a new object dispenser apparatus which has many of the advantages of the product dispensers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new object dispenser apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art product dispensers, either alone or in any combination thereof.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new object dispenser apparatus for dispensing individual product for use without users touching product to be used by others.
- Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new object dispenser apparatus that eliminates the transmission of germs to products used with foods and drinks.
- Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new object dispenser apparatus that prevents product waste and thus reduces cost transferred to the users.
- These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
- The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new object dispenser apparatus according to the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the present invention. -
FIG. 3 is a partial side cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the actuator assembly of the second embodiment of the present invention. - With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new object dispenser apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described. - As best illustrated in
FIGS. 1 through 4 , theobject dispenser apparatus 10 generally comprises ahousing 11 including anelongated container 12 having anopen top 13 and adapted tostore objects 25 such as lids therein and also having atray 28 in conventional communication with thecontainer 12 for dispensing theobjects 25 from thecontainer 12; and anactuator assembly 14 disposed in thehousing 11 for dispensing theobjects 25 one-at-a-time from thecontainer 12 to thetray 28. Thetray 28 is conventionally attached to and extends outwardly from thecontainer 12 and is slanted downwardly from theopen top 13 of thecontainer 12 to facilitate sliding of thelids 25 for access by a user. - The
actuator assembly 14 includes abiased element 17 disposed in thecontainer 12 for biasing thelids 25 to theopen top 13 of thecontainer 12. Theactuator assembly 14 also includes anair blower assembly 18 for moving theuppermost lid 25 at theopen top 13 from thecontainer 12 to thetray 28 and further includes anactuator 15 conventionally disposed upon thehousing 11 for, actuating theair blower assembly 18. Theactuator 15 includes a motion sensor conventionally disposed upon thehousing 11, and also includes acontroller 16 such as a circuit board in conventional communication with themotion sensor 15 and theair blower assembly 18. Theair blower assembly 18 includes anair pump 19 disposed in thehousing 11 and conventionally connected to a power source and in operable communication with thecontroller 16, and also includes anair hose 20 conventionally connected to theair pump 19 and having adistal end 22, and further includes anair nozzle 21 conventionally connected to thedistal end 22 of theair hose 20 and positioned at theopen top 13 of thecontainer 12 for blowing air onto thelid 25 at theopen top 13 of thecontainer 12 to move thelid 25 out of thecontainer 12 and onto thetray 28. Upon detection of motion by themotion sensor 15, a signal such as an electric signal or wireless signal is sent to thecontroller 16 which actuates theair pump 19 to pump air through theair nozzle 21 to move thelid 25 out of thecontainer 12. - The
air nozzle 21 has anopen end 23 which is directed across atop 26 of theuppermost lid 25 at theopen top 13 of thecontainer 12 to create a venturi effect. Theair nozzle 21 rests in a plane with thetop 26 of theuppermost lid 25 in thecontainer 12 so that forced air is emitted across thetop 26 of thelid 25 which lifts thelid 25 out of thecontainer 12 and onto thetray 28. - As a second embodiment, the
air nozzle 21 has an arcuatedistal end portion 24 which is positioned adjacent to and below theuppermost lid 25 in thecontainer 12. Theopen end 23 of theair nozzle 21 is directed upwardly to blow forced air on abottom edge 27 of thelid 25 to lift and move thelid 25 out of thecontainer 12 and onto thetray 28. Theair nozzle 21 is positioned to blow air either across thetop 26 of theuppermost lid 25 or upon thebottom edge 27 of thelid 25 which lifts thelid 25 from thecontainer 12 and onto thetray 28. - In use, the
objects 25 are loaded into thecontainer 12. A user motions in front of themotion sensor 15 which sends a signal to thecontroller 16 which actuates theair blower assembly 18 and blows air onto theuppermost object 25 in the container which moves theuppermost object 25 from thecontainer 12 to thetray 28. Theair nozzle 21 is positioned either to blow air across thetop 26 of theuppermost object 25 to create a venturi effect which lifts theuppermost object 25 from thecontainer 12 and onto thetray 28 or to blow air on thebottom edge 27 of theuppermost object 25 to lift theobject 25 off thecontainer 12 and onto thetray 28. - As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
- With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
- Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the object dispenser apparatus. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Claims (11)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US16/122,925 US20200077808A1 (en) | 2018-09-06 | 2018-09-06 | Object dispenser apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US16/122,925 US20200077808A1 (en) | 2018-09-06 | 2018-09-06 | Object dispenser apparatus |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20200077808A1 true US20200077808A1 (en) | 2020-03-12 |
Family
ID=69721049
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US16/122,925 Abandoned US20200077808A1 (en) | 2018-09-06 | 2018-09-06 | Object dispenser apparatus |
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Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20200077808A1 (en) |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3099120A (en) * | 1961-03-30 | 1963-07-30 | Andersen & Brunn S Fabrikker A | Apparatus for the removal one by one of bottle-caps from a stack and positioning them |
US3129543A (en) * | 1961-10-16 | 1964-04-21 | Henry G Paulus | Cap applicator |
US4741458A (en) * | 1985-07-22 | 1988-05-03 | Azionaria Costruzoni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A. | Plastic cup distributor |
US5335816A (en) * | 1989-09-29 | 1994-08-09 | Healthtech Services Corporation | Interactive medication delivery system for medication prepackaged in blister packs |
US5476191A (en) * | 1994-06-23 | 1995-12-19 | Technicolor Videocassette Of Michigan, Inc. | Package dispensing apparatus |
US8021099B1 (en) * | 2007-10-21 | 2011-09-20 | Polytype America Corporation | Reversed venturi system for separating and feeding nested foam cups |
US20110229297A1 (en) * | 2010-03-18 | 2011-09-22 | Axis Automation, Llc | Tray denester with air nozzle separators |
US20130232807A1 (en) * | 2011-05-12 | 2013-09-12 | Michael E. Robert | Hand Dryer With Sanitizing Ionization Assembly |
-
2018
- 2018-09-06 US US16/122,925 patent/US20200077808A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3099120A (en) * | 1961-03-30 | 1963-07-30 | Andersen & Brunn S Fabrikker A | Apparatus for the removal one by one of bottle-caps from a stack and positioning them |
US3129543A (en) * | 1961-10-16 | 1964-04-21 | Henry G Paulus | Cap applicator |
US4741458A (en) * | 1985-07-22 | 1988-05-03 | Azionaria Costruzoni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A. | Plastic cup distributor |
US5335816A (en) * | 1989-09-29 | 1994-08-09 | Healthtech Services Corporation | Interactive medication delivery system for medication prepackaged in blister packs |
US5476191A (en) * | 1994-06-23 | 1995-12-19 | Technicolor Videocassette Of Michigan, Inc. | Package dispensing apparatus |
US8021099B1 (en) * | 2007-10-21 | 2011-09-20 | Polytype America Corporation | Reversed venturi system for separating and feeding nested foam cups |
US20110229297A1 (en) * | 2010-03-18 | 2011-09-22 | Axis Automation, Llc | Tray denester with air nozzle separators |
US20130232807A1 (en) * | 2011-05-12 | 2013-09-12 | Michael E. Robert | Hand Dryer With Sanitizing Ionization Assembly |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: DAN AND O'BRIEN ENTERPRISES, LLC, MINNESOTA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:O'BRIEN, KEIRAN W., MR.;MCCAULEY, MARC, MR.;HAHNE, JESSE, MR.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:046942/0545 Effective date: 20180913 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: DAN AND O'B ENTERPRISES, LLC, MINNESOTA Free format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 046942 FRAME: 0545. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT;ASSIGNORS:O'BRIEN, KEIRAN, MR;MCCAULEY, MARC, MR;HAHNE, JESSE, MR;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:047570/0470 Effective date: 20180913 Owner name: DAN AND O'B ENTERPRISES, LLC, MINNESOTA Free format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 046942 FRAME: 0545. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT;ASSIGNORS:O'BRIEN, KEIRAN, MR.;MCCAULEY, MARC, MR.;HAHNE, JESSE, MR.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:047570/0479 Effective date: 20180913 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |