Container dispensing device

• US 4,205,763 A
• Filed: 12/26/1978
• Issued: 06/03/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PNC Bank National Association (The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Marlboro Marketing Incorporated
• Inventors: Merl, Milton
• Primary Examiner(s): Knowles, Allen N.
• Application Number:
  US05/972,683
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 221/289, 221/303, 221/22, 221/173, 312/45, 312/72, 211/49 D, 193/32, 193/40
• US Class Current: 221/173
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence

Abstract

An automatic dispenser for cylindrical containers is disclosed in which containers are disposed one-by-one from a vertical presentment position. The dispenser comprises a storage compartment which stores the containers substantially horizontally in a side-by-side relationship, and a dispenser portion which is located at one end of the storage compartment. The storage compartment has a downward and sideway slant so that the containers are gravitationally urged to roll towards the dispenser portion. The degree of slant of the surface upon which the containers move is such as to provide sufficient torque when the container engages a swivel means to cause it to swivel and drop from the stored horizontal to vertical presentment positions.

Claims

1. An automatic dispenser for cylindrical containers or the like comprising a storage compartment portion adapted to hold containers in horizontal side-by-side relation while being stored and a dispenser portion at one end of said compartment portion to which said containers are fed, one-by-one, in an upstanding vertical presentment position for retrieval, said compartment comprising a container receiving surface slanted downwardly toward said dispenser portion and slanted sidewardly, and container swivel means located at the bottom of said compartment, said containers being gravitationally urged to roll toward said dispenser portion, each of said containers abutting said swivel means as it reaches said dispenser portion, said swivel means causing said container to swivel from said stored horizontal position to said upstanding position thereof wherein it is retrievable.

2. An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dispenser is formed of a plastic material.

3. An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said storage compartment portion, said swivel means, said dispenser portion and said container receiving surface are integrally formed as a single unit.

4. An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said swivel means has an arcuate shape complementary to the tops of said containers and being so located such that the next stored container is in engagement with said arcuate shape prior to removal of the upstanding container from said dispenser portion, said next stored container pivoting about said swivel means when said upstanding container is removed due to the static gravitational forces acting on said next stored container.

5. An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 4, wherein said dispenser portion comprises a C-shaped guard railing extending forwardly from said storage compartment, and a platform located below said container receiving surface, said upstanding containers resting on said platform and C-shaped guard railing holding said upstanding container in position when on said platform, said swivel means being defined by a free end of said C-shaped guard.

6. An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 5, wherein said platform is so located with respect to said container receiving surface such that the top of the upstanding container bears against the bottom of the next stored container maintaining said stored containers in said side-by-side relationship.

7. An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 6, wherein said guard rail comprises a downwardly extending partial wall segment located toward the bottom of said containers, said wall segment contacting and guiding said containers as they drop onto said platform.

8. An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 7, wherein said container receiving surface further comprises a slide surface located at the front of said container receiving surface, said slide surface contacting the upper portion of said container to guide it toward said wall segment as the next stored container begins to move to its upstanding position.