The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 06, 1977
Filed:
Mar. 22, 1976
Joseph A Lotspeich, Eagen, MN (US);
Gross-Given Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
Improved dispensing apparatus for dispensing machines of the type having at least one dispensing tray containing a dispensing unit which dispenses articles from the machine by the use of a helical dispensing coil. Improved mounting apparatus is provided for supporting both the forward and back end portions of the dispensing coil. A cross-bracket member having a portion extending across the diameter of the coil, is mounted to the back portion of the coil. A cross-bracket holding device, connected for rotation by appropriate motor means, releasably accepts the cross-bracket for mounting the back portion of the coil in elevated position above the shelf surface of the dispensing tray. The cross-bracket holding device is configured to matingly accept differently sized cross-bracket members, to enable rapid interchangeability of differently sized dispensing coils in the machine. Coil support apparatus mounted to slidably engage the outer circumference of the dispensing coil near its forward end supports the forward end of the coil in elevated spaced-apart manner above the tray surface, and supports the coil in a manner which minimizes jamming of the items being dispensed at the forward end of the coil. Coil compression means mounted adjacent the forward end of the dispensing coil causes the coil to positively eject or to impart dispensing motion to the item being dispensed from the convolutions of the coil, during the dispensing rotation movement of the coil.