Container dispensing systems especially useful for dispensing edible cones
US5918765A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 17, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jul 6, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 17, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G59/105
- WIPO fieldFood chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Container dispensing system sequentially dispense containers from a nested stack. The systems have a support frame for accepting multiple stack of nested containers aligned in a cross-machine direction having upper and lower opposed pairs of gates. The gates are coupled to the support frame and extend in the cross-machine direction. Each upper and lower opposed pairs of gates defines gate openings sized so as to capture and support a lowermost and a next lowermost container in the stack respectively. A controller (e.g., a programmable controller operatively coupled to pneumatic solenoid valves or the like) controllable moves the upper and lower opposed pairs of gates between their gated and released positions such that (i) the upper and lower pairs of opposed gates are each in the gated position so as to respectively capture and support the lowermost and next lowermost containers in the stack, (ii) the lower pair of opposed gates is moved into the released position while the upper pair of opposed gates remains in the gated position so as to allow the lowermost container to drop by gravity from the stack thereof, and thereafter (iii) the lower pair of opposed gates returns to the ga…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.