Article dispensing machine with spring-driven carriages for advancing articles to be dispensed

摘要

A dispensing machine in which a carriage moves articles along a horizontal trough toward a releasing mechanism by which the articles are dispensed one at a time. The carriage is driven by a tape spring that forms a coil when unrestrained, the coiled portion of the spring being mounted on the carriage with the uncoiled portion extending along the trough to the releasing mechanism. The force exerted on the carriage by the tape spring remains substantially constant regardless of the number of articles in the trough and the corresponding position of the carriage. The trough is open along the top so that articles can be inserted between the carriage and the releasing mechanism in any order desired. A plurality of such troughs are mounted on drawers that can be withdrawn from a cabinet for loading from above.