Lid dispensing system with stock cartridges

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a lid dispensing assembly for supplying container lids in a container packaging process, wherein stacks of container lids are disposed in cartridges. The dispensing assembly may include a magazine having a plurality of openings extending between a top surface and a bottom surface of the magazine and shaped to correspond to the shape of the container lids being dispensed from the lid dispensing assembly, and a plurality of rods extending upwardly from the top surface of the magazine proximate each of the openings, with the rods proximate each opening defining a holding area above the opening configured to receive a cartridge containing a stack of the container lids and to align the cartridge and the stack of container lids with the opening. Either the opening or the rods defining the holding area above the opening are configured to engage the cartridge to prevent the cartridge from passing through the opening and to allow the stack of container lids to pass through the opening.

1 . A lid dispensing assembly for supplying container lids in a container packaging process, the lid dispensing assembly comprising: 
 a magazine having a plurality of openings extending between a top surface and a bottom surface of the magazine and shaped to correspond to the shape of the container lids being dispensed from the lid dispensing assembly;    a plurality of rods extending upwardly from the top surface of the magazine proximate each of the openings, wherein the rods proximate each opening define a holding area above the opening configured to receive a stack of the container lids and align the stack of container lids with the opening; and    adjustable retention mechanisms connected to the bottom surface of the magazine and disposed proximate the openings of the magazine with at least a portion of the retention mechanisms disposed inwardly of the edges of the openings to engage bottommost container lids of the stacks of container lids disposed in the holding areas and passing through the openings, wherein the retention mechanisms are moveable between at least a first position in which the retention mechanisms are disposed a first distance inwardly from the edges of the openings and a second position wherein the mechanisms are disposed a second distance inwardly from the edges of the openings that is greater then the first distance.    
   
   
       2 . A lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable retention mechanisms comprise guide bars and a plurality of brackets connecting each guide bar to the bottom surface of the magazine so that the guide bar extends across a plurality of the openings of the magazine, wherein the brackets are configured to facilitate movement of the corresponding guide bar between the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       3 . A lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein each bracket receives the corresponding guide bar and comprises an outwardly extending flange having an elongated slot, the retention mechanisms further comprising set screws slidably disposed within corresponding slots of the brackets and received in corresponding throughbores in the bottom surface of the magazine, wherein the guide bars are moved between the first and second positions by loosening the set screws, repositioning the brackets and guide bars by sliding the brackets relative to the set screws, and retightening the set screws.  
   
   
       4 . A lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein each bracket comprises a plurality of receiving portions each configured to receive the corresponding guide bar when the bracket is attached to the bottom surface of the magazine, wherein the guide bars are disposed in the first position when they are disposed in first receiving portions of the corresponding brackets, and the guide bars are disposed in the second position when they are disposed in second receiving portions of the corresponding brackets.  
   
   
       5 . A lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable retention mechanisms comprise guide bars, a plurality of brackets receiving each guide bar, eccentric holders disposed and rotatable within the bottom surface of the magazine, wherein each bracket is connected to a corresponding one of the eccentric holders at a point eccentric to the rotational axis of the eccentric holder, and wherein the guide bars are moved between the first and second positions by rotating the corresponding eccentric holders.  
   
   
       6 . A lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable retention mechanisms comprise eccentric washers connected to the bottom surface of the magazine by corresponding set screws, wherein the eccentric washers are moved between the first and second positions by loosening the corresponding set screws and rotating the eccentric washers such that the distance between the outer edge of the eccentric washers and the edges of the corresponding opening changes from the first distance to the second distance.  
   
   
       7 . A lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable retention mechanisms are moveable to a third position wherein the retention mechanisms do not extend past the edges of the openings and do not engage the bottommost container lids of the stacks of container lids passing through the openings.  
   
   
       8 . A lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the stacks of container lids are disposed in cartridges, and wherein the holding areas defined by the rods are configured to receive the cartridges containing the stacks of container lids.  
   
   
       9 . A lid dispensing assembly for supplying container lids in a container packaging process, wherein stacks of container lids are disposed in cartridges, the dispensing assembly comprising: 
 a magazine having a plurality of openings extending between a top surface and a bottom surface of the magazine and shaped to correspond to the shape of the container lids being dispensed from the lid dispensing assembly; and    a plurality of rods extending upwardly from the top surface of the magazine proximate each of the openings, wherein the rods proximate each opening define a holding area above the opening configured to receive a cartridge containing a stack of the container lids and to align the cartridge and the stack of container lids with the opening,    wherein one of the opening and the rods defining the holding area above the opening are configured to engage the cartridge to prevent the cartridge from passing through the opening and to allow the stack of container lids to pass through the opening.    
   
   
       10 . A lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein an inner surface of the magazine defining an opening defines an inwardly extending shoulder within the opening between the top and bottom surfaces of the magazine configured to engage an open end of the cartridge disposed within the holding area, wherein the portion of the opening above the shoulder is large enough to receive the open end of the cartridge, and wherein the portion of the opening below the shoulder is large enough to allow the stack of container lids from the cartridge to pass out of the cartridge and through the opening.  
   
   
       11 . A lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the inner surface of the magazine defining an opening defines an inwardly extending annular flange disposed below the shoulder and proximate the bottom surface of the magazine, wherein the annular flange is configured to engage the outer edges of the bottommost container lid of the container lid stack.  
   
   
       12 . A lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the magazine includes a plurality of surfaces each defining a relief cut extending inwardly from an outer edge of the magazine to a corresponding one of the openings and downwardly from the top surface of the magazine to a position below the shoulder of the opening such that the portion of the opening below the shoulder is accessible through the relief cut when a cartridge disposed within the corresponding holding area is engaged by the shoulder.  
   
   
       13 . A lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the cartridges include ribs extending outwardly from the outer surface of the cartridge, and wherein the outer surfaces of the rods are aligned with the inner surface defining the portion of the corresponding opening below the shoulder, and wherein the shoulder is configured to engage the ribs of a cartridge disposed within the holding area to prevent the cartridge from passing through the opening.  
   
   
       14 . A lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the openings are configured to allow the container lids to pass through the openings and to not allow the cartridges to pass through the openings, and wherein the rods are configured with the outer surfaces of the rods disposed outwardly from the openings to receive the cartridges with the open ends of the cartridges engaging the top surface of the magazine surrounding the openings.  
   
   
       15 . A lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 9 , comprising adjustable retention mechanisms connected to the bottom surface of the magazine and disposed proximate the openings of the magazine with at least a portion of the retention mechanisms disposed inwardly of the edges of the openings to engage bottommost container lids of stacks of container lids disposed in the holding areas and passing through the openings, wherein the retention mechanisms are moveable between at least a first position in which the retention mechanisms are disposed a first distance inwardly from the edges of the openings and a second position wherein the mechanisms are disposed a second distance inwardly from the edges of the openings that is greater then the first distance.  
   
   
       16 . A cartridge for a lid dispensing assembly for supplying container lids in a container packaging process, comprising: 
 an outer wall defining an elongated cavity having a cross-section corresponding to the shape of the container lids being dispensed from the lid dispensing assembly and having a length dimensioned to allow the cartridge to receive a stack of container lids within the elongated cavity; and    an open end configured to receive a stack of the container lids being inserted into the elongated cavity.    
   
   
       17 . A cartridge for a lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising a second end disposed opposite the open end and having an inwardly extending lip configured to engage the lateral edges of the endmost container lid of the stack of container lids received through the open end of the cartridge to prevent the container lids from passing through the second end of the cartridge, and configured to provide an opening for engagement of a portion of the surface of the endmost container lid from the exterior of the cartridge.  
   
   
       18 . A cartridge for a lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising an opening through the outer wall of the cartridge such that a stack of container lids disposed within the cartridge is visible through the opening.  
   
   
       19 . A cartridge for a lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the outer wall of the cartridge is fabricated from a translucent material.  
   
   
       20 . A cartridge for a lid dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising at least one pair of outwardly extending shoulders disposed on an outer surface of the outer wall and extending parallel axially along the length of the cartridge and defining a channel configured to receive an upwardly extending rod of a magazine of the lid supply assembly to align the cartridge with an opening of the magazine.