US2851192A - Dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 9, 1958 w. 'r. MAYOET AL 2,851,192

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed April 16, 1953 Z Sheets-Sheet l ErnesiLHendezson M'llzlzmZ'Mayo BY 2 at? ATTORNEY S" Sept. 9, 1958 w. T'. MAYO ETAL 2,851,192

DISPENSING DEVICE -12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1953 FIG..9.

s m 62 M' 9 5 65 i W 77 67 58 64 FIGJJ. 76 72 71 74 FIGJZ, 70

as 3 11.51 #15 INVE TORS 7 980 96 Erne'siL.He2zd; ls0n 9Y5 mlliamlfMayo ATTORNEW 2,851,192 Patented Sept. 9

United States Patent Ofiice DISPENSING DEVICE William T. Mayo and Ernest L. Henderson, Silver Spring, Md.

Application April 16, 1953, Serial No. 349,142 1 Claim. (Cl. 221-273) The present invention relates to an improved dispensing device for ejecting articles from a container.

An important object is to provide a dispensing device 7 I with simple, eflicient, economical and sanitary means for withdrawing singly or sequentially articles therefrom.

the lowermost lid on the base may be moved. outwardly in order that a projecting tab portion can be readily grasped to withdraw the lid from the dispenser.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with drawings.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a sideview of a dispensing device constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is a front view of Figure. l.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2. l

.Figure 4 is a view similar'to Figure .3 showing a lid being projected from the dispenser.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is aside view with parts in section showing means for transferringlids from a carton to adispenser. Figure 7 is a sectional view of a modified form of housing for the articles.

Figure 8 is a plan view with parts in section of a modified form of the invention. v

. Figure 9 is a side view of Figure 8. I I

Figure 10 is a front view with parts in section of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 11-11 of Figure 8. Figure 12 is a bottom plan view of the invention, and

' Figure 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 13-13 of Figure 12. i Referring to the drawings, 15 indicates a supporting base which, as shown in Figure 1, has a circular bottom 16 provided with an elongated opening 17'. Extending upwardly from the bottom 16 is a semicircular flange 18 a modified form of having diametrically disposed-slots 19 for receiving the radial pins 20 that extend outwardly from opposite sides of an article container, such as the housing 21 which,

as shown, is provided with an open lower end 22a'nd an open upper end 23 that may be closed by a removable cover 24. The articles 25 to be dispensed, such as paper lids for drinking cups and the like, are stacked in the housingZl, preferably in a manner subsequently to be described, so that the lowermost lid 26 (Fig. 1) willrest on the top of the'base 16. A reciprocating ejector plate the accompanying claim and pending lug 28 so'that normally, the tension of the 16 on the base and is secured to a depending lug 28 that extends loosely through the slot 17 in any suitable manner such as by the screw 29. The plate 27 may be shaped as shown in Figure 3 and has a reduced centrally disposed rear portion 30 that terminates in an upwardly extending lip or lug 31 which normally is positioned below the lower end of the housing 21 (Fig. 3) and is movable outwardly to the position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, when ejecting the lowermost lid from the dispenser. The base 15 has extending outwardly from oneside thereof,'an arm 32 (Fig. 3) arranged to be vertically movable in a slot 33 of the bracket 34 which is suitably secured to a wall or the like by the bolts 35. The arm 32 terminates in an angularly disposed flange 36 arranged to abut the inner side of the front of the bracket 34 when the parts are assembled.

A bifurcated member 37 extends downwarly from the underside of the bottom 16 of the base and has a manually operated lever 38 pivotally connected thereto as at 39. The inner end of the lever '38 terminates in a curved portion or hook 40 which is arranged to engage a cam shouldered surface 41 on one side of the depending member or lug 28 (Fig. 5) so that when the lever 38 is moved downwardly from the position as shown in Figure l to that disclosed in Figure 5, it will cause the depending member 28 and the ejector plate 27 to be moved outwardly relative to the base 15. The arm 32 (Fig. 5) has extending downwardly therefrom, a lug 42 to which is connected at one end a coil spring 43 that has secured to'its opposite .end as at 44, a substantially rectangular strap. member 45 that extends loosely around the de spring 43 will urge the lug 28 and the ejector plate 27 to their inoperative position as shown in Figure 3. The outer end of the lever 38 may terminate in a triangular shaped flat portion 46 so as to facilitate the manual operation of the lever.

or member 27 (Fig. 5) is slidably mounted .Onthe bottom Assuming that the dispenser is to be used for ejecting the lids of paper cups or the like 25, each of which isof circular shape (Fig. 4) and is formed with an outwardly projecting tab 47, the housing 21 preferably has its 'ver tical sideedges 48 spaced apart (Fig. 2)'so as toform the slot 49 in which is slidably mounted the tabs 47 when the housing is mounted on the dispenser. -The opposed sides 48 are connected preferably by the vertically spaced straps 50 which are welded or otherwise connected to opposite sides of the housing. The strap member 45 may be maintained in position on the lug 28 in any suitable manner such as by the pin 51 which limits the down ward movement of the strap 45 when the parts are assembled. I V In order that the lids may be applied to their containers, such as drinking cups or the like, in a sanitary condition and without danger of contaminating the contents of the cups with which they are used, the base 15 and housing 21 may be bodily removed'from the Wall bracket 34 (Fig. 6) and inserted in the square or diamond shaped carton 52 (Fig. 6) in which the lids 25 arepacked, so as not to damage the tabs 47. The tabs are positioned to register with the vertical slot 49 in order that the lids 25 may be inserted in the housing 21 without comin'gin contact with the hands of the operator. After. the lids have been transferred from the carton or box 52- tothe housing 21, the base 15 andthe housing 21 may again be connected to the wall bracket 34 so as to be main tained in proper position for ejecting the lids from the-disk penser. Instead of the housingZl being provided with a vertical slot or opening 49, it may be formed-in ,one piece as shown in Figure 7, and be' provided withan integral curved projection 53 for slidablyreceivingthe tabs 47 whenthe lids are stacked in the housing.-

, Thus, it will be seen that when the parts are assembled,

asshown-inliigure 1, the lowermost lid 26 rests .upon the ejector plate 27 and is engaged by the lip 31. The tension of the spring 43 now maintains the lever 38 in substantially horizontalrpo'sition so that it :may b e:conveniently-actuated. When:the:leveri38risdepressed, soxas: to assume the1 posi1ionasshown in Figure 5, thevhook portion- 40 initially en'gagesi the cam surface-41so as:to force the lug 28' outwardly. At thersame time, it .moves: the-ejector plate27' and-the" lowermost lid26' outwardly in orderto exposethe tabr47 (Fig; 4) so that the lid may be-manually withdrawn and applied to the cup -or container with which the lid. is associated. Upon release. of the handle 38 the" tension of the. spring 431= causes. the: ejector plate arid itsassociated parts' to be. returnedto their normal or inoperative 'position southat the next lowermost lid may" be withdrawn from. the :dispenser.

In -the modifiedtform ofithe inventionshown. in Figures'=8, 9, landill the-supporting member orbase. 54 has its outer surface or sides 55 rofsubstantially square or-diamond shape, and its inner surface formed ofa circular inner wall 57 thatextends upwardly alimited. distance from the bottom 58 of the supporting member (Fig. 11). The inner circular wall 57 terminates. in an outwardly 'curved or flared portion.59 for a purpose subsequently to be described. The lids 60 are stackedin the square carton or container61' so that the tabs 62 are positioned loosely in the vertical cut-out portionsor groove 62' that constitutes a guide and protecting means .for preventing the tabs from being bent or damaged. The tabsare located=adjacent the juncture of two: sides of the carton (Fig. 8). The'supporting. member 54..is formed with a substantially squareishaped recessior groove 63 of the same size andshape-as theicarton 61: so that.the lowenend of' the carton 61" may. be. insertedithereirr in orderthat the lidsmay be properly positioned so as to be sequentially-"ejected from the dispenser. The recess 63-terminates short of thebottom 58, and the front side. of the base adjacent the bottom is provided with a transverse slot or discharge throat 64 through which the lowermost lid 65 (Fig. 9) in the carton is ejected. The bottom 58 or thebase-has an elongated slot 66 throughwhich extends the depending lug 67 that is connected" to the slidable ejector plate 68 by the screw 69. An operating lever 70 is pivotally connectedas at 71 to a bracket 72 connected to the undersideofi the bottom- 58. The lever 70 has a curved orhooked inuerend' 73 arranged to engage the cam-shouldered surface 74 on the inner sideof the lug 67. The-ejector plate 68 is maintained in its inoperative position'by arectangular shaped strap or member 75 which loosely engages the lug 67' at one end and is conneeted at its opposite end to a coil spring 76 as at 77. The opposite end of the spring 76 is connected to a depending boss 78 that projects from the centrally disposed arm 79 of the base 54. A bracket 80 (Fig. 8)" may be connected to a wall by thebolts 81 and is provided with the spaced lugs 82 which slidably receive the transverse flange 83 that extends laterally from the arm 79 so as to detachably secure the base 54 and its associated parts ina fixed position. The. flared portion of the wall 57 servesto guide the lids downwardly into the base so that they "willbe properly positioned relative to the ejector plate.

"The base 54' and its associated parts are substantially similar in construction and operation to the base previously described. The ejector plate 68 is formed at its innerend withan upwardly extending lug 84 (Fig. 8) which ".normally is positioned so as to engage themriphery of the lowermost lid 65 so that upon actuation of' the handle 70, this lid will be moved outwardly in order toexpose the tab 62 through the opening 64 in order-that the lid may be manually removed from the dispenser and applied to a cup or the like.

In the modifiedform of the invention shown in Figures 12 and- 13, the dispenser housing 85 may be similar in construction to the forms previouslydescribed, and has its bottom 86 adjacent its, rear end provided with an, elongated slot 87 in which is slidably mounted a lug 88 that extends upwardly from a reciprocating rod 89. The lug 88 normally engages the adjacent side of the lowermost lid 90. The rod 89 extends through a housing 91 in which is confined a coil spring 92 that is'connected at one end to a fixed collar or flange :93. on-..the rod. The housing 91 may be connected to .the underside of the bottom 86 in any suitable manner such as by the spaced bolts 94. The rod 89 at its outer'endis preferably. formed-with a handle )5. Normally, thetensionnof the spring 92 causes the rod 89. and .the.lug.88-. to assume the position as shown in Figure 13. When it is desired to eject the lowermost lid in the dispenserzSS therefrom; the handle 95 is pushed outwardly, thus exposing the tab 96 of the lid so that it may be manually engaged and withdrawn from the dispenser. Upon release of pressure on the handle 95,

the spring 92 r returns the'rod and :the lug 88 :to their normal orninoperativeipositiomso. that the lug now engages the .-lowermost .lid; in order that the same maybe ejected whentheihandle 95 iis.again moved ontwardly. Thus. it will beiseenthat in all forms of theinvention' the supporting basetmember is arranged to have mounted thereona stack.of;articles,. such as. paper or cardboard lidsin order-that these lids. mayrbe conveniently ejected fromtthedispenser. Further, positive means are pro vided for: preventing contact of the hands with portions otthe lid-which comein contact withthe'contents of thetcup orscontainer with which thelids are to be used.

While: the dispensing device .hassbeen shown associated with lids, it will bemanifest that it is equally efiicient for use for. dispensing separatelyvariousother articles such 3SP13.Sll101 wooden spoons, flat sheet materials and the like. vThe housing for theiar'ticles: maybe formedof any light, durable material, such as transparent plastic or the like.

It willbe understood-that the forms ofithe invention shown-are merelyillustrativeof preferred embodiments and that such changes maybe made. as: come. within .the scope of thefollowingclaim.

We claim:

. In combination with a dispenser for'paper' cup lids, a carton having circular lids packed therein, said lids havingtabs extending laterally and. outwardly therefrom, said dispenser including a supporting member having a horizontal. base provided with a hollow upwardly extending portion, said extending portion having an outer surface ofsubstantially square shape inhorizontal cross section and a substantially cylindrical. shaped inner surface, the inner'wall of said extending portion having a vertical groove substantially coextensive inlength therewith and communicating with a laterally extending discharge throat adjacent-esaidbase, said groove being disposed adjacent a corner of the outer square surface of the supporting: membcr,,the upwardly extending portion of said supporting member havinga substantiallysquare shaped recess-extending vertically and downwardly from the top thereof, said carton being of substantiallysquare shape and havingan openedend mounted in said recess so that the lids in the carton. fall into-said'cylindrical shaped inner surface and the tabs extend into. said vertical, groove "when the opened end of the carton is inserted into said recess, an ejector plate. having an upwardly extending ejectorfinger slideably mounted on said base sothatthe lowermost lid in the. carton rests onthe ejector plate in frontof- .said. finger, and means for actuating said plate so as toejectthe lowermost lid through said discharge throat.

.-References. Cited in the. file. of this patent UNITED STATES' PATENTS Re. 23,233 Schneider May 23, 1950 483,849 Marsden Oct. 4, 1892 (Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Klepetar June 3, 1902 Van Dyke May 11, 1909 Rese June 24, 1913 Cooley May 8, 1917 Hammer Dec. 21, 1926 Aldrich July 9, 1929 Towey Dec. 29, 1931 Wessman Mar. 22, 1932 La Bombard et a1. May 8, 1934 Geyer Jan. 22, 1935 Swart Oct. 19, 1937 Lobley Nov. 30, 1937 6 Fuselier June: "7 1938 Carew Dec. 27, 1938 Stuart Jan. 10, 1939 Greenhill June 4, 1940 Bohlman June 13, 1944 Hait Apr. 1, 1947 Drexel May 1, 1951 Kreul Apr. 14, 1953 Charland -12.-- July 12, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Feb. 3, 1936

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