US 12,582,243 B2 · Cup holding assembly and dental cup dispenser using same

Abstract

Provided is a cup holding assembly and a dental cup dispenser using same, the cup holding assembly including a plurality of holding modules, each has a seat portion and can hold a cup by contacting the cup from a plurality of directions in a mounting space and a rotary plate which has an inner opening overlapping with the mounting space and includes at least one spiral rail coupled to each of the plurality of seat portions in a non-fixed manner, thereby providing a spiral guide path to each of the plurality of seat portions. Each of the plurality of seat portions moves along the spiral guide path according to the rotation of the rotary plate. The plurality of holding modules move in a direction toward or away from the mounting space or the center of the first inner opening according to the movements of the plurality of seat portions.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A cup holding assembly for holding a cup, comprising:

a plurality of holding modules disposed to hold a cup by coming into contact with the cup in a plurality of directions in a holding space, wherein each of the plurality of holding modules has a seating part;
and
a rotary plate having (i) an inner opening overlapping the holding space and (ii) at least one spiral rail coupled to the plurality of seating parts in a non-fixed manner to provide a spiral guide path to each of the plurality of seating parts,
wherein the plurality of seating parts each move along the spiral guide path as the rotary plate rotates, and
the plurality of holding modules move toward or away from a center of the holding space or a center of a first inner opening as the plurality of seating parts move,
wherein a curvature of the spiral rail decreases away from the holding space and the first inner opening.

3 more elements

A dental cup dispenser comprising:

a first case including a plurality of first accommodation portions and defining a holding space;
a plurality of holding modules accommodated in the plurality of first accommodation portions, the plurality of holding modules being movable within the plurality of first accommodation portions, each of the plurality of holding modules including a seating part and being configured to hold a cup by contacting the cup in the holding space from a plurality of directions;
and
a rotary plate including (i) a first inner opening that overlaps the holding space and (ii) at least one spiral rail coupled to the plurality of seating parts in a non-fixed manner to provide a spiral guide path to each of the plurality of seating parts,
wherein the plurality of seating parts each move along the spiral guide path as the rotary plate rotates, and
the plurality of holding modules move toward or away from a center of the holding space or a center of the first inner opening in response to movement of the plurality of seating parts,
wherein a curvature of the spiral rail decreases away from the holding space and the first inner opening.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cup holding assembly and dental cup dispenser using same

Life of this patent

Cup holding assembly and dental cup dispenser using same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18