US2740551A - Cup dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1956 V H. cAREw 2,740,551

CUP DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April '7, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 f1? 5 17 far Haw/72m 6 4/ 61 April 3, 1956 H. CAREW 2,740,551

CUP DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 7, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 5 18a 18a 18a 2:5 &

I I s E E I 1 3 23 Un I W .25 l li -19 April 3, 1956 H. CAREW 2,740,551

CUP DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 7, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet s [17 1 217 2 U1" Haw/72012 6 07 620 April 3, 1956 H. cAREw 2,740,551

our DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April '7, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Haw/r2422 ape! Fifi/5 United States Patent CUP DISPENSING'APPARATUS Herman Carew, Easton, Pa., assignor to Dixie Cup Company, Easton, Pa., acorporation of Delaware Application April 7, 1950, Serial'No. 154,713

1 Claim. (Cl; 221-63) This invention relates to cup dispensing apparatus, and particularly to apparatus which. may be effectively employed in the storage and dispensing of disposable conical paper cups such as are used at soda fountains and other dispensatories of liquid beverages and semiliquid confections.

This use of disposable paper cups includes several considerations among which are storage and use of the cups under a high degree of sanitation, and rapidity and ease in the dispensing of the individual cups for use.

Part of these problems were solved-by the invention disclosed and claimed in my application for patent, Serial No. 510,311, filed November 15, 1943, now Patent No. 2,509,132, which provides a cup holder,. the throat of which embodies means for engaging the exterior of the cup at the end of a nested stack. and withdrawing the same from the stack in position for use in the cup holder. This operation is rapid andlinvolves' a minimum of manual efiort. Furthermore, it obviates the necessity of the operators hand touching the cups, thus contributing to sanitation.

With such type of operation, however, it is necessary that the stack of cups be restrained from longitudinal movement in order that the holder may operate to en gage the endmost cup for removal therefrom from the stack. In order to accomplish this restraint against longitudinal movement of the stack it. has been customary to place the stack of nested cups on a firm foundation with the points of the cups extendingupwardly. In dispensing from this stack the holder is inverted to engage and remove the uppermost cup from the stack. This requires that the entire stack be left exposed in order to readily present the endmost' cup to the holder as the stack diminishes in height. Such: necessity of the stock remaining exposed is obviously undesirable from a sanitary standpoint. Neither does. the use of open unconfined stacks facilitate the orderly arrangement of a supply of cups such as is required for use at a soda fountain or similar establishment.

While the above-described procedure is rapid,v the fact remains that the necessity of inverting, the cup holder to engage and remove the cup therefrom also involves extra effort on the part of the operator.

The present invention overcomes.- the foregoing disadvantages by making it possible to store the stacks of nested cups in enclosed containers with the bottom portion' of the endrnost cup projecting therefrom in position to be engaged and graspedby the cup holder without the necessity of inverting the same prior to such engagement. This desired end is accomplished by the provision of a mechanism which resists longitudinal movement of the stack when the holder is pressed over the endm'ost cup and which at the same time permits ready removal of that individual cup from the stack;

By using closed containers for the stacksof nested cups to be dispensed it is. alsopossible, in accordance with the present invention, to. mount a pl'uralit'yof such containers on. a single supportingst'and thus conserving 2) space and facilitatingaccess to the various stacks and to various sizes of cups carried by such separate stacks. Furthermore, the use of such closed containers keeps the cups free of dust and" other. foreign-matter thus enhancing maintenance of the cups in. sanitary condition.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a dispenser for a stack of nested cups wherein the stack is restrained from upward longitudinal movement when upward pressure is. applied to the lowermost cup of the stack.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide an enclosed container for a stack of nested cups wherein the weight of the stack. is. carriedby means within the container which include means forv resisting upward movement of the stack whenupward pressure is ap-' plied to the lowermost cup of the stack for engagement at their upper ends and suspended from standardsv mounted on the stand and having the lowermost cups of nested stacks contained therein projecting, from the lower ends of said containers above the stand; certain at least of said containers being provided with dispensing mechanism that restrains longitudinal movement of the stack within the containers when upward pressure is applied to the lowermost cup in the dispensing thereof.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the specification and the accompanying drawings. The invention (in a preferred form) is shown on the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing a supporting stand equipped with a plurality of tubular dispensers closed at their upper ends and-certain of which are. provided with.

the dispensing means of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation view with parts broken away and parts in section showinga stand equipped with the dispensers of this invention.

Figure 3 is an end elevationview with parts shownin. section of the stand shown in Figure 2 with the dispensing containers carried thereby shown in dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of another supporting standv equipped with dispensers embodying. the principles of this invention.

Figure 5 is a side elevation view with parts broken away of the stand shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line VIVI of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an. enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line VIIVH of Figure 6 showing the stack restraining means in the position assumed by its during. filling or loading of a dispensing container.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the stack restraining means in normal stack restraining position.

Figure 9 is a section on" the liheIX-IX of. Figure 6 showing the stack restraining means in normal position.

Figures 1 to 4, inclusive; illustrate various arrangements of" supporting stands"- which maybe used to carry detachably mounted thereon, a plurality of dispensing containers which are so mounted that the endmost cups of stacks of conical cups contained therein are spaced upwardly above the base of the supporting stand and project in a downward direction so that the weight of the nested stack of cups therein will tend to force the endmost cup of the stack outwardly of the dispensing container as the preceding. endmost cup is removed therefrom. These figures show containers of dilferent diameter which may be used to carry nested stacks of cups of different sizes and since certain of these dispensers need not be adapted for use with dispensing types of cup holders to be hereinafter referred to, it is not necessary that all of these tubular containers be provided with the improved mechanism of this invention.

The stand shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 includes a base member 10, preferably of metal, and conveniently provided with non-slip vacuum cup foot members 11 which engage the surface on which the stand is supported. Secured to the base member 10 in any suitable manner as by thumb screws 12 are a pair of rectangular uprights 13 which project upwardly from the base member and alford a support for a vertically spaced pair of rectangular dispenser supporting frame members 14 secured to said uprights 13 in any suitable manner as by wing nuts 15.

Aflixed to the rectangular frame members 14 in any desired spacing and position are vertically aligned wedgeshaped socket members 16 which are of less width at their lower than at their upper ends and which are adapted to detachably receive wedge-shaped bosses 17 attached to the side walls of tubular container members 18 in which nested stacks of conical cups 19 are carried. The tubular container members 18 are preferably provided with removable covers 18a to permit of the insertion of a stack of nested cups therein with the points downwardly said covers to be thereafter replaced to prevent ingress of dirt and other foreign matter into the interior of said containers.

It will be further apparent from the foregoing description that the individual containers 18 may be readily removed from the supporting stand by the mere expedient of lifting the same in an upward direction whereupon the bosses 17 are withdrawn from the wedge-shaped sockets 16. As shown in Figure 1, the sockets 16 may be mounted on the forward faces of the frame member 14, thus being on the inner faces of said frame member at the rear of the stand and on the forward faces of said frame member at the front of the stand. Said sockets 16 may be attached to the frame members by riveting, welding or in any suitable manner. As shown in Figure 1 the frame 14 may carry a relatively large number of the tubular members 18, certain of which may be equipped with standard dispenser mechanisms well known in the art, and certain others of which may be equipped with the improved dispensing mechanism to be hereinafter described.

Figures 4 and show a somewhat difierent supporting stand arrangement, the stand here comprising a base member 20 with a centrally positioned upright supporting member 21 secured thereto, preferably at the center of said base member. Non-slip members 11a similar to the members 11 previously described may be provided to cushion the base 20 to prevent slipping thereof on its supporting surface.

Secured to each face of the support member 21 is a socket member 16a identical in construction with the socket members 16 previously described. Here again these socket members 16a are secured to the support member or standard 21 by means of screws, rivets, welding, or in any suitable manner. If desired, similar support members 16a may be aflixed to the standard or support member 21 in vertical alignment therewith, longitudinally spaced therefrom and approximately at a midpoint of the standard or support.

In the structure shown in Figures 4 and 5 four dispensing containers are carried by the supporting stand 20-21. As in the previous structure these dispensing containers are so carried that the endmost cups of nested stacks of cups carried thereby are positioned at a point well above the upper surface of the standard. In the structure shown in these figures I have illustrated dispensing containers in pairs of different sizes so as to have available to the operator within convenient reach required different sizes of cups to be dispensed. In Figures 4 and 5 I have designated the larger dispensing containers by reference numerals 18b and their covers by the reference numerals 18c. Except for a difierence in size, however, these dispensing containers are identical with the dispensing containers 18-18a previously described. The

endmost cup of the stacks of cups contained within dis-v pensing containers 18b has been designated by the reference numeral 19a.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the supporting stands for the dispensing containers of this invention aiford a very flexible arrangement for conveniently supporting and mounting a plurality of dispensing containers to hold nested stacks of cups of diiferent sizes. desirable result of holding the endmost cup well above the base of these supporting stand where it may be en gaged by a cup holder for removal of the endmost cup from the stack in accordance with the invention disclosed in my application Serial No. 510,311, now Patent No. 2,509,132 aforesaid.

As shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, a cup holder 22 is as positioned by the operator in the withdrawal ofthe endmost cup 19 from the nested stack of cups contained within the tubular member 18. This cup holder 22, which is of hourglass shape, is open at both ends and the upper portion of its interior is so shaped as to conform to the exterior of the end of the conical cup 19 carried thereby. When the operator places this cup holder 22 over the end of the endmost cup of the stack and exerts an upward pressure, the exterior of the cup is engaged by pro tuberances shown diagrammatically at 22a within the interior of the holder and those protuberances elfect such frictional engagement with the exteriorsurface of the cup that upon downward movement of the holder, the cup is withdrawn from the stack while being retained in its position within the holder. The initial movement of this operation requires application of an upward force, or a force inwardly and longitudinally of the container. If the cup holder is to operate satisfactorily in its engagement with the cup for withdrawal from the stack, it is obvious that longitudinal movement of the stack of cups in response to such upwardly or inwardly directed force must be restrained. This desired result is accomplished in accordance with the present invention by means of the structure illustrated in Figures 6 to 10, inclusive, and will now be described. Referring to Figure 6 it will be noted that the lower end of the tubular member 18 is pressed inwardly along four equal spaced sections of its circumference to provide what amountto guiding shoulders 23 and restricting walls 24 which tend to more accurately position the lower end of the stack of nested cups 19 within the tubular member. The restricting walls 24 terminate in further inwardly extending shoulders 25 substantially coextensive in length with the shoulders 23 and positioned directly beneath the same, said shoulders 25 being so positioned as to engage sections of the rim of the lowermost cup 19 and thus support the nested stack of cups within the container. The diametrical distance between oppositely positioned shoulders 25 is such that only a portion of the rim of the lowermost cup overlaps the shoulders (see Figure 6) wherefore upon slight distortion the lowermost cup may be readily withdrawn past the rigid or non-yielding shoulder and past portions of the container 26 depending from such shoulders 25 for individual dispensing of such cup. This procedure and arrangement as to the individual dispensing of cups Furthermore, these supporting stands achieve the from the containers 18 is in general accord with procedure heretofore followed in the individual dispensing of cups from. nested stacks of cups mounted within similar tubular containers.

As previously noted, however, when longitudinal force upwardly and inwardly toward the container is applied to the endmost cup 19 of the stack of nested cups within the container, such force will tend to move the nested stack of cups within the container longitudinally upwardly and inwardly and thus prevent efiective gripping of the cup by the cup holder 22.

The mechanism of this invention shown in detail in Figures 6 to 10, inclusive, is provided for restraining and preventing this inward and upward longitudinal movement of the nested stack of cups when such external inward and upward force is applied to the endmost cup by the cup holder.

The mechanism so provided is mounted within housings 27 positioned diametrically opposite each other and suitably secured to the exterior of the tubular member 18 as shown in Figures 6 to 10, inclusive. Secured within each of the housings 27 is a shaft 28 which provides a pivotal support for a pair of pawls 29 of identical con struction, the pawls 29 being mounted on the shaft and spaced from the end walls of the housing 27 by spacers 30. Each of the pawls 29 is provided with an inwardly projecting foot member 29a which is adapted to be engaged between the rims of adjacent cups in the nested stack of cups 19 as shown in Figure 8 and when so engaged will resist upward and inward movement of that nested stack when an upward and inwardly directed longitudinal force is applied to the endmost cup of the stack. Said pawls 29 are normally held in the position shown in Figure 8 by flat leaf springs 31 which engage the outside of the pawls as shown in Figures 7, 8, and 9, and which are secured between the lower flange 27a of the housing 27 and the exterior surface of the tubular member 18 by rivets 32. The free ends of the leaf springs 31 project upwardly into a recess between the rear side of the pawl 29 and a stop 2% formed as a tail member on the pawl and integral therewith, which upon inward movement of the pawl to the dotted line position shown in Figure 9, engages the inner side of the leaf spring 31, thus limiting inward and upward movement of the pawl.

Figure 7 illustrates the position of the pawls 29 and the feet 29a thereof as the nested stack of cups 19 is being placed in the container. It will be noted that during this operation the feet 29a of the pawls are pushed outwardly against the action of the spring 31 to permit the nested stack of cups to assume the position shown in Figure 8 at which time the springs 31 force the pawls inwardly so that the feet 29a thereof engage between the rims of adjacent cups in the nested stack and by reason of such engagement resist upward movement of the stack when an upwardly and inwardly directed force is applied thereto as by the application of a cup holder to the endmost cup for the removal of a cup.

When the dispensing container 18 is empty, or substantially empty, so that the upper cup of the remaining stack is beneath the foot of the pawl 29, then the pawl under influence of the spring 31 assumes the dotted line position shown in Figure 9. With the pawls in that po sition they are first engaged by a new stack of nested cups which is being inserted into the tubular member 18, forced to the position shown in Figure 7, and finally when the endmost cup of that stack engages the shoulder 25 reassume the position shown in Figure 8 under the influence of the spring 31. It will thus be noted that the provision of these pawls for restraining movement in an inward longitudinal direction in no way interferes with the replenishment of stacks of nested cups within the depenser.

At the same time it will be observed that when the pawls 29 with their feet 29a are in operative position,

they do. effectively resist upward and inward movement of the stack in response to a force applied to the endmost. cup in that direction. By reason of this arrangement and the restraining of such" inward force, the cup holder 22 may be engaged against the endmost cup of the stack with sufiicient force to cause frictional or distorting engagement of the protuberances or other inward extensions 22a with the exterior of the endmost cup and thus permit the subsequent Withdrawal of that cup from the stack past the shoulders 25 while it is still retained within the cup holder in position for prompt use.

It will thus be noted that this invention makes it possible to use such cup holder method of dispensing of stacks of nested cups which are stored within closed containers to prevent access of dirt and other foreign matter to the cups contained therein. At the same time the supply within the individual containers may be readily replenished by the simple expedient of removing the cover and inserting a new stack. By reason of the fact that the points of the cups extend downwardly it is not necessary that the operator invert the cup holder in order to position a cup therein and withdraw the same from the nested stack.

While I have shown dispensers wherein the feed of the cups to the shoulders 25 is due to gravity and is by reason of the weight of the cups in the nested stack, it will be obvious that this invention might be applicable to dispensing containers held in other than a vertical position with the force of gravity for feeding the cups toward the shoulders 25 supplemented or replaced by follower springs or similar mechanisms well known in the art.

It is understood that details of construction may be varied without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not intended to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A paper cup dispenser comprising a stand having a base member for engaging a supporting surface, a support standard positioned and carried uprightly on said base member, and at least one dispensing container carried on said support standard, each said dispensing container comprising a vertically disposed tubular member having a charging opening at the top end and a discharge opening at the bottom end, a cover member for closing said charging opening, said tubular member having radially inwardly extending portions adjacent said discharge opening forming restricting wall portions for guiding a stack of paper cups and terminating in a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially inwardly ex tending stop shoulders for underlying the lower side of the rim on the lowermost cup in the stack of cups, said stop shoulders having circumferentially alternate spaces therebetween, whereby slight distortion of the lowermost paper cup will withdraw the said rim past said stop shoulders, pivot shafts secured to said tubular member on diametrically opposite sides thereof and being spaced axially adjacent the discharge opening, a pair of spaced pawls on each respective pivot shaft, each pawl having a lever arm portion pivotally carried by a corresponding pivot shaft and terminating in a foot member extending towards the discharge opening, each said foot member having a lower concave surface and a relatively fiat sharp toe for engaging on and between adjoining cup rims, and resilient means operatively connected between said tubular member and said pawls biasing said pawls radially inwardly into position to resist inward and upward movement of the stack of cups by transmitting cup-setting thrusts applied to the lowermost cup to the tubular member, said pawls being displaced radially outwardly against the biasing force whenever the stack of paper cups is replenished or moves to replace a lowermost cup in outwardly projectihg relatibn to the discharge opening.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Henvis June 29, 1915 Luellen Apr. 20, 1920 Bergman July 13, 1920 Bergmarm July 19, 1927 10 8 Wessman Dec. 19, 1933 Reifsnyder Oct. 2, 1934 Wass'erlein Mar. 9, 1937 Carew Dec. 27, 1938 Balton Feb. 18, 1941 Turnbull Mar. 25, 1941 Terry et a1. Dec. 26, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS France May 18, 1911

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