Article dispensing – With discharge assistant – Fluid pressure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-29
2001-06-26
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Article dispensing
With discharge assistant
Fluid pressure
C221S279000, C221S226000, C221S31200B, C221S045000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250501
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to a method of storing and dispensing thin, flimsy objects. More particular, the invention relates to a method of storing and dispensing objects such as end disks suitable for forming the ends of light-tight packages.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently rolls of photographic film and paper are packaged in several different ways to facilitate room light loading into cooperating apparatus which dispenses or otherwise uses the film or paper. Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,148,395 (Apr. 10, 1979, by Syracuse et al., and entitled “Roll Package”) and 5,515,970 (May 14, 1996, by Ritchie et al., and entitled “Light-Tight Package”) each discloses a package which includes a pair of flexible opaque end disks or covers attached to the ends of the core of the roll and an attached leader attached to the leading end of the length of film or paper forming the roll. A peripheral portion of each disk is folded over and adhered to the edge of an underlying convolution of the leader.
Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,171 (Jul. 28, 1992, by Chase et al., and entitled “Light-Tight Packaging Method For Photosensitive Web Roll”) discloses a package that includes a pair of similar end disks and a leader. After a first convolution of the leader is wrapped onto the roll, peripheral portions of the end disks are folded over the first convolution. A second convolution is then wrapped onto the roll to capture the folded-over peripheral portions between the first and second convolutions and to make the package light-tight.
An existing practice for installing end disks on light-tight packages of the sort described above include manually grasping an end disk from a stack and then fastening it to the ends of the core. Another practice includes using a vacuum suction device to pick out a single end disk and then transfer it to the core of the roll. Each of the above practices, however, has numerous shortcomings that the present invention solves. In particular, an operator will invariable damage thin, flimsy, end disks when handling them manually. Moreover, multiple end disks are dispensed although only one is intended.
Although not particularly related to the problem encountered by the inventors, U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,076 (Apr. 22, 1980, by Brown and entitled, “Cup Dispenser”) discloses a dispenser of cups that has a slidable plate for supporting a stack of cups and an end plate having a cavity through which the cups are dispensed one at a time. The patent does not provide means for storing and dispensing thin, substantially flat objects.
Therefore a need persists in the art for a method of storing and dispensing thin flimsy objects that is simple to use, protects the fragile objects from damage and is cost effective to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a method for storing and dispensing a plurality of thin flimsy objects.
It is another object of the invention to provide a method for storing and dispensing thin flimsy objects that can dispense a single object without affecting the next adjacent object in the stack.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the present invention, a method of storing and dispensing thin, flimsy objects each having a first, removed concentric section, a loading side and an opposed active side, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a cassette having a base member, a hub member arranged centrally in the base member, a pusher plate arranged on said cassette for supporting a portion of one of said thin flimsy objects arranged in a stack, a stripper plate having a removed section for relieving a top most thin flimsy object from said cassette, and a source of air for separating said top most thin flimsy object from a nearest adjacent thin flimsy object;
mounting said thin flimsy objects onto said hub member with the loading side of one object in contact with he unloading side of the nearest adjacent object arranged in the stack; and,
directing a burst of air to said loading side of said top most object and to the unloading side of said nearest adjacent object for relieving said top most object from said hub and then through said removed section of said stripper plate.
The advantages of the method of present invention include it's simplicity, ease of removing a object, elimination of damage to features of the thin flimsy object upon removal, such as interior diameter, and it is easily adaptable to various materials.
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DePoint, Jr. John
Juskiewicz Marion T.
Spina John A.
Bailey, Sr. Clyde E.
Eastman Kodak Company
Ellis Christopher P.
Shapiro Jeffrey A.
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