Single drive multi stage dispenser

Abstract

The dispenser of the present invention is for delivering product such as cards, paper stock or the like product to a demand location. The dispenser includes a product hopper for a plurality of product; a feed belt for receiving the product; at least two feed assemblies; and a drive motor operably attached to the feed belt and each feed assembly.

What is claimed as the invention is:  
     
         1 . A dispenser for delivering product such as cards, paper stock or the like product to a demand location comprising: 
 a product hopper for a plurality of product;    a feed belt for receiving the product;    at least two feed assemblies; and    a drive motor operably attached to the feed belt and each feed assembly.    
     
     
         2 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein there is a first, second and third feed assembly, each assembly having a drive shaft and an idler shaft and wherein the first feed assembly idler shaft and the second feed assembly drive shaft is a common shaft and the second feed assembly idler shaft and the third feed assembly drive shaft is a common shaft and whereas the product moves from the first feed assembly to the second feed assembly to the third feed assembly.  
     
     
         3 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the product hopper is at an angle to the horizontal and the feed belt is at the same angle.  
     
     
         4 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the first feed assembly is at the same angle as the feed belt.  
     
     
         5 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the second feed assembly is at a lesser angle to the horizontal.  
     
     
         6 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the third feed assembly is generally horizontal.  
     
     
         7 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the speed of the third feed assembly is faster than the speed of the second feed assembly.  
     
     
         8 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the speed of the first and second feed assembly is generally the same.  
     
     
         9 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 8  wherein each feed assembly includes an upper drive belt and a lower drive belt.  
     
     
         10 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the drive motor directly drives third feed assembly drive shaft.  
     
     
         11 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the speed of the third feed assembly is faster than the speed of the second feed assembly.  
     
     
         12 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the speed of the first and second feed assembly is generally the same.  
     
     
         13 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the common drive shaft of the second and third feed assemblies is operably connected to the drive motor through a plurality of gears.  
     
     
         14 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 13  wherein one of the pluralities of gears is interchangeable and wherein changing the gear size changes the relative speed between speed of the third feed assembly and speed of the second and third feed assemblies.  
     
     
         15 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the product hopper is at an angle to the horizontal and the feed belt is at the same angle.  
     
     
         16 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the first feed assembly is at the same angle as the feed belt.  
     
     
         17 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the second feed assembly is at a lesser angle to the horizontal.  
     
     
         18 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the third feed assembly is generally horizontal.  
     
     
         19 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the speed of the third feed assembly is faster than the speed of the second feed assembly.  
     
     
         20 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the speed of the first and second feed assembly is generally the same.  
     
     
         21 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 20  wherein each feed assembly includes an upper drive belt and a lower drive belt.  
     
     
         22 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the drive motor is directly drives the downstream most feed assembly and the speed of the downstream most drive assembly is faster than the up stream drive assemblies.  
     
     
         23 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the speed of the downstream most feed assembly is faster than the speed of the adjacent upstream feed assembly.  
     
     
         24 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the product hopper is at an angle to the horizontal and the feed belt is at the same angle.  
     
     
         25 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the feed assembly adjacent to the feed belt is at the same angle as the feed belt.  
     
     
         26 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the downstream most feed assembly is generally horizontal.  
     
     
         27 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the speed of the downstream most feed assembly is faster than the speed of the upstream feed assembly.  
     
     
         28 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 27  wherein each feed assembly includes an upper drive belt and a lower drive belt.  
     
     
         29 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the upstream feed assembly is operably connected to the drive motor through a plurality of gears.  
     
     
         30 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 29  wherein one of the pluralities of gears is interchangeable and wherein changing the gear size changes the relative speed between speed of the downstream feed assembly and upstream feed assembly.