Can dispensing apparatus

An apparatus for selectively dispensing cylindrical cans individually from a supply of such cans, comprising in combination:

• a. storage means for storing a plurality of cans, said storage means having a discharge end and including a lowermost storage conveyance inclined downwardly toward said discharge end for conveying said plurality of stored cans thereto, said storage means causing those of said plurality of stored cans proximate said discharge end to be serially aligned, said serially aligned cans proximate said discharge end including, at any particular time, a first can closest to said discharge end and a second can disposed immediately behind said first can;
• b. a stop secured to said discharge end for engaging said first can to prevent said serially aligned cans proximate said discharge end from freely falling therefrom;
• c. a dispensing lever having first and second ends and including a ramp portion therebetween inclined downwardly toward the first end of said dispensing lever for delivering a dispensed can thereto, the second end of said dispensing lever including a camming surface disposed generally behind said stop for engaging said first can and raising said first can above and over said stop when the second end of said dispensing lever is raised, the second end of said dispensing lever further including a catch disposed generally behind and below said camming surface for engaging said second can when the second end of said dispensing lever is raised;
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• d. support means for supporting said dispensing lever to allow said dispensing lever to be turned relative to the first and second ends thereof about a lateral axis whereupon the application of a downward force to the first end of said dispensing lever causes said dispensing lever to turn about said lateral axis from a rest position to a raised position for raising the second end of said dispensing lever, in turn raising said first can over said stop and allowing said first can to advance onto said ramp portion of said dispensing lever while preventing substantial advancement of said second can toward said discharge end through engagement of said catch with said second can, and whereupon the removal of said downward force allows said dispensing lever to return from the raised position toward the rest position, thereby terminating the engagement between said catch and the second can and allowing said second can to advance toward said stop, said support means including:
• i. linkage means having an upper end pivotally secured to said discharge end at a first pivot point and having an opposing lower end pivotally secured to said dispensing lever at a second pivot point;
• ii. a support means secured to said discharge end for supporting the second end of said dispensing lever when said dispensing lever is at said rest position;
• iii. a fulcrum for engaging the underside of said dispensing lever between said second pivot point and the first end of said dispensing lever, said lateral axis about which said dispensing lever turns being coincident with the point of engagement between said fulcrum and the underside of said dispensing lever;
• and
• iv. the application of a downward force to the first end of said dispensing lever turning said dispensing lever about said fulcrum to raise the second end of said dispensing lever off of said support member, and said linkage means guiding turning movement of said dispensing lever between said rest position and said raised position.