Dennis Wf Dutkevitch

US Patent:

53358180, Aug 9, 1994

Filed:

Jun 3, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/071641

Inventors:

Algert J. Maldanis - Heath TX
Robert I. Courts - Caledonia MI
Dennis Dutkevitch - Clifton NJ
David J. Mooney - Flanders NJ

Assignee:

C-Power Companies, Inc. - Rockwell TX

International Classification:

G07T 1100
B65G 5900

US Classification:

221131

Abstract:

A vending mechanism for a cylindrical article dispenser of a type having a column of stacked cylindrical articles moved along a dispensing pathway by a force, such as by the force of gravity, is disclosed, which has an escapement mechanism which is attachable in operative alignment with a vending pathway of a column of stacked cylindrical articles. An upstream arm is pivotably attached in the escapement mechanism, having a first position blocking a portion of the vending pathway and having a second position retracted from the vending pathway to allow cylindrical articles to move past the upstream arm. A downstream arm is pivotably attached in the escapement mechanism, having a first position blocking a portion of the vending pathway and having a second position retracted from the vending pathway to allow cylindrical articles to move past the downstream arm. A first rotary cam is rotatably attached in the escapement mechanism and has a profile shape for moving the upstream arm between its first and second positions. A second rotary cam is coaxially rotatable with the first cam and has a profile shape for moving the downstream arm between its second position and its first position.

US Patent:

63118319, Nov 6, 2001

Filed:

Nov 30, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/451373

Inventors:

Pieter S. van der Griendt - Far Hills NJ
Dennis Dutkevitch - Clifton NJ

Assignee:

Polytype America Corporation - Mahwah NJ

International Classification:

B65G 4790

US Classification:

1984871

Abstract:

A tube loading system includes two flat conveyor belts which are perpendicular to each other for holding a tube having an open end thereagainst with two lines of contact; a motor drive for moving the conveyor belts; a gap between the two lines of contact at meeting edges of the conveyor belts; a vacuum source positioned behind the conveyor belts for supplying a vacuum to the gap so as to pull the tube against both conveyor belts in engagement with the two lines of contact; a pin chain having a plurality of pins spaced therealong for receiving the open ends of the tubes thereon, the pins being positioned adjacent the conveyor belts; and a delivery device for supplying the tubes in sequence to the conveyor belts such that each tube is held in engagement against both conveyor belts with the two lines of contact by the vacuum at the gap, and as the belt moves, each tube is deposited on a respective pin of the pin chain.