# US 5,704,516 A · Ampule dispenser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,516 A - Document ID: US5704516A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/575,154 - Filed: 1995-12-19 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1994-12-20 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Yuyama Seisakusho - Inventors: Shoji Yuyama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704516A ## CPC - B65G 47/1471: {Movement in one direction, substantially outwards} - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract An ampule dispenser is capable of discharging ampules stored in a random manner one by one after arranging them in an orderly manner. A hole is formed in the bottom plate of an ampule housing. The bottom plate has a top surface sloping downward toward this hole. A push-up member adapted to be moved up and down through the hole has an ampule supporting portion on which a single ampule is placed at a time in a laid-down position. By moving the push-up member upward, the ampule supported on its supporting portion is raised to the highest position, where it slides down the sloping supporting portion and is discharged through a discharge port formed in the peripheral wall of the ampule housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ampule dispenser comprising: an ampule housing for housing a plurality of ampules in a disorganized manner, said ampule housing comprising a bottom plate having an edge and a hole in said bottom plate near said edge, said bottom plate sloping downward toward said hole, and a peripheral wall having a take-out port therein located above said hole in said bottom plate; a push-up member received in said hole of said bottom plate such that said push-up member can move up and down through said hole, said push-up member having an ampule supporting portion on a top surface thereof capable of supporting only one ampule at a time in a laid-down position and sloping downward toward said take-out port when said push-up member is in an upper position, whereby ampules can be lifted one by one from said housing and discharged through said take-out port; a container smaller than said housing connected to said take-out port, said container having a bottom plate sloping downward in an ampule discharge direction, said bottom plate having a lowest end and a hole at said lowest end, and a peripheral wall having a discharge port and a sloping chute connected with said discharge port; and a second push-up member received in said hole of said container such that said second push-up member can move up and down in said hole of said container, said second push-up member having an ampule supporting portion capable of supporting only one ampule at a time in a laid-down position, said ampule supporting portion of said second push-up member sloping in the same direction as said bottom plate of said container, and said ampule supporting portion of said second push-up member having a highest position in which said ampule supporting portion of said second push-up member is located opposite to said discharge port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, and further comprising a plurality of sensors for detecting ampules on said bottom plate of said container and a control means for stopping said push-up member of said ampule housing if at least two of said plurality of sensors separately detect ampules on said bottom plate of said container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The dispenser of claim 2, and further comprising a stirrer in said ampule housing for stirring ampules near said push-up member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The dispenser of claim 3, wherein said stirrer comprises a stirring member extending through said bottom plate of said ampule housing near said push-up member and capable of moving up and down through said bottom plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The dispenser of claim 2, wherein said ampule housing comprises a pair of guide surfaces on side walls on opposite sides of said push-up member for guiding ampules toward said hole formed in said bottom plate of said ampule housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The dispenser of claim 5, wherein said guide surfaces are displaced relative to each other in the direction in which said bottom plate of said ampule housing slopes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, and further comprising a stopper movable between one position in which said stopper protrudes into said sloping chute for stopping an ampule in said chute and another position in which said sloping chute is unblocked. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, and further comprising a stirrer in said ampule housing for stirring ampules near said push-up member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The dispenser of claim 8, wherein said stirrer comprises a stirring member extending through said bottom plate of said ampule housing near said push-up member and capable of moving up and down through said bottom plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said ampule housing comprises a pair of guide surfaces on side walls on opposite sides of said push-up member for guiding ampules toward said hole formed in said bottom plate of said ampule housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The dispenser of claim 10, wherein said guide surfaces are displaced relative to each other in the direction in which said bottom plate of said ampule housing slopes. ### Claim 12 An ampule dispenser comprising: an ampule housing for housing a plurality of ampules in a disorganized manner, said ampule housing comprising a bottom plate having an edge and a hole in said bottom plate near said edge, said bottom plate sloping downward toward said hole, and a peripheral wall having a take-out port therein located above said hole in said bottom plate; a push-up member received in said hole of said bottom plate such that said push-up member can move up and down through said hole, said push-up member having an ampule supporting portion on a top surface thereof capable of supporting only one ampule at a time in a laid-down position and sloping downward toward said take-out port when said push-up member is in an upper position, whereby ampules can be lifted one by one from said housing and discharged through said take-out port; and a stirrer in said ampule housing for stirring ampules near said push-up member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The dispenser of claim 12, wherein said stirrer comprises a stirring member extending through said bottom plate of said ampule housing near said push-up member and capable of moving up and down through said bottom plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The dispenser of claim 13, said ampule housing comprises a pair of guide surfaces on side walls on opposite sides of said push-up member for guiding ampules toward said hole formed in said bottom plate of said ampule housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The dispenser of claim 14, wherein said guide surfaces are displaced relative to each other in the direction in which said bottom plate of said ampule housing slopes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The dispenser of claim 12, said ampule housing comprises a pair of guide surfaces on side walls on opposite sides of said push-up member for guiding ampules toward said hole formed in said bottom plate of said ampule housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The dispenser of claim 16, wherein said guide surfaces are displaced relative to each other in the direction in which said bottom plate of said ampule housing slopes. ### Claim 18 An ampule dispenser comprising: an ampule housing for housing a plurality of ampules in a disorganized manner, said ampule housing comprising a bottom plate having an edge and a hole in said bottom plate near said edge, said bottom plate sloping downward toward said hole, and a peripheral wall having a take-out port therein located above said hole in said bottom plate; a push-up member received in said hole of said bottom plate such that said push-up member can move up and down through said hole, said push-up member having an ampule supporting portion on a top surface thereof capable of supporting only one ampule at a time in a laid-down position and sloping downward toward said take-out port when said push-up member is in an upper position, whereby ampules can be lifted one by one from said housing and discharged through said take-out port; and a pair of guide surfaces on side walls on opposite sides of said push-up member for guiding ampules toward said hole formed in said bottom plate of said ampule housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The dispenser of claim 18, wherein said guide surfaces are displaced relative to each other in the direction in which said bottom plate of said ampule housing slopes.