Cup dispenser

Abstract

A cup dispenser for separating a bottom-most cup from a stack of cups having rims, the dispenser including a reciprocating separator defining an oblong opening for supporting the stack of cups, a portion of the opening having a diameter smaller than the rims, a wedge on each side of the separator adapted and configured for insertion between each side of a bottom-most cup and a second-to-bottom-most cup in the stack, so as to separate the bottom-most cup from the second-to-bottom-most cup, until the bottom-most cup falls through a wider diameter portion of the opening, and a stop member for engaging the stack during separation. The cup dispenser may further include a released cup holder and/or an adapter for changing the diameter of the opening.

1 . A cup dispenser comprising:
 a cup container for holding a stack of cups having rims;   a separator unit mounted for reciprocating motion in a housing beneath said cup container;   said separator unit including:
 a substantially planar body having an actuator rod at one end and a distal end; 
 said planar body defining an oblong opening; 
 said one end of said body and said distal end having a diameter slightly smaller than that of the rims of the cups in said stack; 
 each side of said body defining a recess, said recesses being in registration with one another, and defining a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the rim of the cups of said stack, to permit passage of a cup therebetween; and 
 a pair of wedges, extending parallel to and adjacent said recesses, adapted and configured to enter between the rim of a bottom-most cup in the stack of cups in the cup container and the rim of a second-to bottom-most cup when said separator is actuated by actuator rod, so as to release the bottom-most cup from the stack. 
   a released cup holder, depending from said separator unit, having a substantially semi-circular aperture defined by an inwardly facing flange for engaging a rim of a released cup.   
   
   
       2 . The cup dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stop member on said housing for engaging and supporting said stack of cups during release of said bottom-most cup. 
   
   
       3 . The cup dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing defines a separator receiving recess for receiving said distal end. 
   
   
       4 . The cup dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one diameter adapter mountable on said separator for reducing diameter of said oblong opening. 
   
   
       5 . The cup dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one wedge adapter configured to be mounted on one of said wedges for reducing the distance between said wedges. 
   
   
       6 . The cup dispenser according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least one adaptor comprises:
 a pair of adaptors, each configured to be mounted on one of said wedges; and   means for mounting said adaptors on said wedges.   
   
   
       7 . The cup dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein said separator is removably mounted in said housing for replacement with an alternative separator of different diameter. 
   
   
       8 . The cup dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lower flange on the housing adapted and configured to catch a separated cup by its rim. 
   
   
       9 . The cup dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said wedges include an elongated separating edge. 
   
   
       10 . A cup dispenser for separating a bottom-most cup from a stack of cups having rims, the dispenser comprising:
 a reciprocating separator defining an oblong opening for supporting the stack of cups, a portion of said opening having a diameter smaller than said rims;   a wedge on each side of said separator adapted and configured for insertion between each side of a bottom-most cup and a second-to-bottom-most cup in the stack, so as to separate said bottom-most cup from said second-to-bottom-most cup, until said bottom-most cup falls through a wider diameter portion of said opening; and   a stop member for engaging said stack during separation.   
   
   
       11 . A cup dispenser comprising:
 a housing;   a cup separator mounted for reciprocating motion in the housing;   said cup separator defining a substantially circular aperture for holding a stack of cups by their rims and two wedge portions adapted and configured to move between a lowermost cup and a second-to-lowermost cup in the stack so as to release the lowermost cup;   the housing defining a lower flange adapted and configured to catch a separated cup by its rim.   
   
   
       12 . The cup dispenser according to  claim 11 , further including a stop member mounted on said housing for stopping motion of the stack of cups without stopping motion of the cup separator. 
   
   
       13 . A method for separating a bottom-most cup from a stack of cups having rims, the method comprising:
 moving a reciprocating separator supporting the stack of cups on a diameter smaller than said rims; and   by moving said separator, inserting a wedge on each side of said separator between each side of a bottom-most cup and a second-to-bottom-most cup in the stack, so as to separate said bottom-most cup from said second-to-bottom-most cup, until said bottom-most cup falls through a wider diameter portion in said separator, while said stack thereon engages a stop member.   
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising catching said bottom-most cup on a flange on said housing after it falls. 
   
   
       15 . A method for forming a cup dispenser, the method comprising:
 providing a cup container for holding a stack of cups having rims;   mounting a separator unit for reciprocating motion in a housing beneath said cup container, said separator unit including:
 a substantially planar body having an actuator rod at one end and a distal end; 
 said planar body defining an oblong opening; 
 said one end of said body and said distal end having a diameter slightly smaller than that of the rims of the cups in said stack; 
 each side of said body defining a recess, said recesses being in registration with one another, and defining a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the rims of the cups of said stack, to permit passage of a cup therebetween; and 
 a pair of wedges, extending parallel to and adjacent said recesses, adapted and configured to enter between the rim of a bottom-most cup in the stack of cups in the cup container and the rim of a second-to bottom-most cup when separator is actuated by actuator rod, so as to release the bottom-most cup from the stack.