Apparatus for dispensing and inserting sticks

Apparatus for mounting a product on a stick, including:

• means for inserting said stick into said product along an axis of insertion;
• means for delivering said stick to a feed position wherein the longitudinal axis of a stick thereat forms an angle with respect to said insertion axis;
• and
• means operably coupling said inserting means to said delivering means for shifting said stick from said feed position thereof to said inserting means and into longitudinal alignment with said insertion axis;
• said stick delivery means includes a feed station for supporting said stick in said feed position thereof, and said inserting means includes an inserting station for supporting said sticks in longitudinal alignment with said axis of insertion;
• said stick shifting means includes a rotatable structure provided with a slotted portion for receiving one of said sticks therein, said rotatable structure being rotatable between first and second positions in communication with said feed station and said inserting station respectively, and said inserting means includes structure shiftable into engagement with said rotatable structure for causing the latter to rotate whereby to shift said stick from said feed station to said insertion station;
• said rotatable structure comprising an essentially planar member mounted adjacent said inserting station for pivotable motion about a reference axis extending essentially perpendicular to said insertion axis, said slotted portions comprising notched areas in at least one side wall of said planar member along one edge of the latter, and
• said planar member includes an engagable lever arm spaced from said reference axis in a direction away from said notched areas and in registration with said shiftable structure of said inserting means whereby to be engaged by the latter upon operation of said inserting means.

Apparatus for shifting and rotating an elongate stick or the like from a first position wherein the longitudinal axis of said stick is aligned in a first direction, to a second position wherein said latter mentioned axis is aligned in a second direction angularly displaced from said first direction, comprising:

• a swingable member having a slotted section for receiving at least portions of said stick therein;
• means for mounting said swingable member for swinging movement about a reference axis extending essentially perpendicular to said first and second directions;
• means communicating with said swingable member for sequentially delivering each of a plurality of sticks to said slotted section in said swingable member;
• a wall disposed adjacent said swingable member and facing said slotted section, said wall extending parallel to said first direction and operative for guiding said stick during shifting and rotation of the latter, whereby to maintain said stick axis in essentially a single plane,
• said swingable member including a pedestal for engaging one end of said stick when the latter reaches said second position thereof whereby to support said stick in said second position thereof.