Confetti discharge methods and machines

Abstract

Confetti is discharged by machine from a stack by engagement of a rotating drum 6 with the bottom of the stack. The stack is retained within a tubular cassette 2 by a pin 4 which obstructs the open bottom of the cassette 2 and which is removed to release the stack onto the drum 6 once the cassette 2 is entered into the machine 1 . The rate of discharge of confetti from the stack through a mouth 7 of the machine 1 is regulated by control of the speed of an electric motor 8 that drives the drum 6 . The drum 6 may have a rubber or grit surface 14 and may have a projecting blade 15 for removal of the packaging of billets or wads of confetti that are fed onto the drum 6.

1 . A method for discharge of confetti wherein discharge takes place from a stack of the confetti by engagement of a rotating member with the confetti at the bottom of the stack.  
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rate of rotation of the rotating member is controlled for regulating the rate of discharge of the confetti from the bottom of the stack.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotating member is driven in rotation by an electric motor.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotating member has a rubber or grit surface for frictionally engaging the confetti at the bottom of the stack to effect its discharge.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotating member is a rotating drum.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotating member carries a projecting blade for removal of packaging from the stack.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the stack of confetti is contained within a tubular cassette, and wherein the rotating member engages the bottom of the stack beneath the cassette.  
   
   
       8 . A machine for discharge of confetti, comprising means for holding a stack of confetti, said stack having a bottom and a top, a rotatable member for engaging the confetti at the bottom of the stack, and means for rotating the rotatable member to discharge the confetti piece by piece from the bottom of the stack.  
   
   
       9 . The machine according to  claim 8 , including means for controlling the rate of rotation of the rotatable member so as to regulate the rate of discharge of the confetti from the bottom of the stack.  
   
   
       10 . The machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the means for rotating the rotatable member is an electric motor.  
   
   
       11 . The machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the rotatable member has a rubber or grit surface for frictionally engaging the confetti at the bottom of the stack to effect its discharge.  
   
   
       12 . The machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the rotatable member is a rotatably-mounted drum.  
   
   
       13 . The machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the rotatable member carries a projecting blade for removal of packaging from the stack.  
   
   
       14 . The machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the means for holding the stack of confetti is a tubular cassette, and wherein the rotatable member engages the bottom of the stack beneath the cassette.