Lid dispenser with dial adjustment and pivoting access door

An apparatus for dispensing container lids, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing having portions defining a lid dispensing opening;
• a support for a stack of lids positioned within the housing to discharge lids at the lid dispensing opening;
• a front ring positioned around the lid dispensing opening, the front ring having a plurality of slots therein which have a component which extends radially and a component which extends peripherally;
• a plurality of lid restraint members which extend from the housing frontwardly of the lid dispensing opening and engage with a frontmost lid of the stack, wherein portions of each lid restraint member extend into one of said slots, the lid restraint members being supported on the housing for radial displacement, such that rotation of the front ring causes the simultaneous radial displacement of the lid restraint members for adjustable engagement with lids contained in the stack;
• a rigid arm positionably fixed to the housing and extending radially inwardly and frontwardly of the housing lid dispensing opening, wherein the lid restraint member is pivotably connected to the arm;
• and
• a spring which extends between the lid restraint member and the arm, wherein the lid restraint member is biased frontwardly by the spring, such that the lid restraint member remains fixed with respect to the arm when lids are urged frontwardly against the lid restraint member, but the lid restraint member pivots rearwardly when a stack of lids is inserted into the apparatus through the lid dispensing opening.

An apparatus for dispensing container lids, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing having portions defining a lid dispensing opening;
• a support for a stack of lids positioned within the housing to discharge lids at the lid dispensing opening;
• a front ring positioned around the lid dispensing opening, the front ring having a plurality of slots therein which have a component which extends radially and a component which extends peripherally;
• a plurality of lid restraint members which extend from the housing frontwardly of the lid dispensing opening and engage with a frontmost lid of the stack, wherein portions of each lid restraint member extend into one of said slots, the lid restraint members being supported on the housing for radial displacement, such that rotation of the front ring causes the simultaneous radial displacement of the lid restraint members for adjustable engagement with lids contained in the stack;
• portions of the housing rearward of the front ring which define a plurality of radially extending slots;
• a plurality of lid support rods which extend from the lid restraint members to the radial slots;
• and
• a rear ring rotatably connected to the housing adjacent said radial slots and having portions defining a plurality of second slots which extend with a circumferential component, such that rotation of the rear ring causes the rods to move radially in unison, to thereby permit the convenient adjustment of the spacing of the support rods to accommodate different diameter lids.

An apparatus for dispensing container lids, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing having portions defining a lid dispensing opening;
• a support for a stack of lids positioned within the housing to discharge lids at the lid dispensing opening;
• a front ring positioned around the lid dispensing opening, the front ring having a plurality of slots therein which have a component which extends radially and a component which extends peripherally;
• a plurality of lid restraint members which extend from the housing frontwardly of the lid dispensing opening and engage with a frontmost lid of the stack wherein portions of each lid restraint member extend into one of said slots, the lid restraint members being supported on the housing for radial displacement, such that rotation of the front ring causes the simultaneous radial displacement of the lid restraint members for adjustable engagement with lids contained in the stack;
• a door positioned frontwardly of the lid dispensing opening, the door being pivotably mounted to the housing to pivot between a first position which covers the lid dispensing opening, to a second position which allows access to the interior of the door;
• and
• a claw assembly mounted to the interior of the door, the claw assembly having a plurality of claws which in the door first position engage with a lid in the lid stack, and which in the door second position extract said engaged lid and present it for removal by a user.

An apparatus for dispensing container lids comprising;

• a housing having portions which support a stack of lids;
• a biasing member disposed between the housing and the stack, wherein the biasing member urges the stack frontwardly;
• a door pivotably mounted to the housing, the door being pivotable between a closed position, and an open position;
• a plurality of claw assemblies mounted to the door, wherein each claw assembly has a base which is slidably retained in relation to a ring which is rotatably connected to the door, the ring having a plurality of slots therein, portions of each claw assembly engaging within one of said plurality of slots in the ring, the slots extending radially and peripherally, such that rotation of the ring causes the simultaneous radial displacement of the claws, said simultaneous adjustment permitting the rapid and convenient reconfiguration of the claw assemblies to engage lids of different dimensions.

An apparatus for dispensing individual container lids, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing which supports a stack of lids, wherein portions of the housing define a lid dispensing opening;
• a door which is pivotably mounted to the housing, the door being pivotable between a first position in which the door covers and blocks access to the lid dispensing opening, and a second position in which the door is tilted outwardly from the lid dispensing opening;
• and
• a claw assembly mounted to the door, the claw assembly having a plurality of claws, wherein displacement of the door to the first position causes the claws to engage with a single lid in the stack retained within the housing and wherein pivoting the door outwardly into the second position removes said engaged single lid from the stack and presents it for removal by a user, wherein the door is biased in the first closed position by at least one spring extending between the door and the housing, and wherein at least one catch extends rearwardly from the door, the catch having portions which protrude sidewardly to engage with a step portion of the housing, the catch being positioned to restrict pivotable displacement of the door beyond the second position by engaging with the step portion, and wherein the catch may be depressed to no longer engage the step portion to permit pivoting of the door to a third position more fully open than the second position, the door in the third position permitting loading of the apparatus with a stack of lids.