Claims
- 1. A lid dispenser comprising at least one gear to at least partially assist in driving the dispensing of a lid.
- 2. A dispenser for an article from a plurality of articles comprising:
a drive system comprising at least one gear.
- 3. The dispenser according to claim 2, further comprises:
a track member at least partially surrounding the plurality of articles; and an ejection assembly comprising an ejection arm; wherein the drive system comprises a plurality of gears arranged in at least one cluster gear for driving the track member and ejection assembly.
- 4. The dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the article is a lid.
- 5. The dispenser according to claim 2, further comprising a motor to power the drive system.
- 6. The dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the track member forms teeth and a first cluster gear communicates with the teeth, the ejection assembly further comprises a shaft with an ejection arm gear mounted on one end and the ejection arm mounted on an another end, and the drive system comprises a motor cluster gear communicating with the first cluster gear and the ejection arm gear wherein a motor drives the motor cluster gear for rotating the track member and pivoting the ejection arm.
- 7. A dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the motor is an electric motor, a gasoline motor, or a diesel motor.
- 8. A dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the motor is an electric motor.
- 9. A dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the motor is reversible.
- 10. A dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the motor is mono-directional.
- 11. A dispenser comprising a tube at least partially surrounding a plurality of articles; wherein the tube forms at least one triangular hole corresponding to a respective at least one isolating member for isolating an endmost article from at least one adjacent article.
- 12. The dispenser according to claim 11, further forming at least one other hole for preventing the creation of a suction to aid the separation of an endmost article during dispensing.
- 13. The dispenser according to claim 11, further forming at least one slot for permitting the insertion of a ledge of a release.
- 14. A dispenser comprising:
an arm comprising a body formed integrally with a first post on a first side and a second post on an opposite side wherein the body forms a slot for receiving an isolating member.
- 15. A dispenser comprising:
a release comprising a body formed integrally with a first post on a first side, a second post on an opposite side, and a ledge for releasing an article for dispensing.
- 16. The dispenser according to claim 14, further comprising a coverplate forming apertures for receiving the second post of the arm.
- 17. The dispenser according to claim 15, further comprising a coverplate forming apertures for receiving the second post of the arm.
- 18. A lid dispensing method, comprising sequential steps:
supporting vertically from underneath bottommost lid, a stack of cup lids and, wedging-supporting vertically, first lid overlaying bottommost lid; removing said underlying support therefrom said bottommost lid in the stack, allowing said bottommost cup lid to drop free, below the stack; restoring underlying support, meanwhile unwedging-unsupporting said overlaying lid thus, allowing said overlaying lid and all remaining stack of lids lying thereon to drop down supported underneath, thus completing one lid dispensing cycle.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/214,146, filed Aug. 8, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/663,203, filed Sep. 18, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,092.
Divisions (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10214146 |
Aug 2002 |
US |
Child |
10641026 |
Aug 2003 |
US |
Parent |
09663203 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
Child |
10214146 |
Aug 2002 |
US |