Iris mechanism
AssigneeUnidynamics Corporation
InventorLeonard A. Ficken
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An iris mechanism for preventing unauthorized removal of containers from apparatus for dispensing containers, such as cups. The apparatus separates and releases a single container from a stack of containers. The iris mechanism defines a central opening through which a released container must pass. The size of the opening may be changed between a closed position wherein the opening is smaller than the largest diameter of a cup to be dispensed by the apparatus and an open position wherein the opening is at least as large as the largest diameter of a cup to be dispensed.
Claims20
An iris mechanism for preventing unauthorized removal of containers from apparatus for dispensing containers, such as cups, the apparatus including means for separating and releasing a single container from a stack of containers, the iris mechanism having a plurality of horizontally disposed blades with arcuate edges defining a central opening surrounded by the blades through which a released container must pass and having means for changing the size of the opening between a closed position wherein the opening is smaller than the largest diameter of a container to be dispensed by the apparatus and an open position wherein the opening is at least as large as the largest diameter of a container to be dispensed said blades forming a substantially encompassing horizontal wall about a lower portion of the container when in the closed position so as to block access to an upper portion of a container from below.
In combination with apparatus for dispensing containers, such as cups, from a stack of nested containers, the apparatus comprising means for dispensing a specific number of containers, such as one, while retaining the other containers in the stack;
- an iris mechanism for preventing unauthorized removal of containers from the dispensing apparatus, the iris mechanism having a plurality of horizontally disposed blades with arcuate edges defining a central opening surrounded by the blades through which a released container must pass and having means for changing the size of the opening between a closed position wherein the opening is smaller than the largest diameter of a container to be dispensed by the apparatus and an open position wherein the opening is at least as large as the largest diameter of a container to be dispensed said blades forming a substantially encompassing horizontal wall about a lower portion of the container when in the closed position so as to block access to an upper portion of a container from below.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.