Patent ID: 7325700
Filing Date: 2008-02-05
Classification: A47F

Abstract:
1. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing rod-shaped objects comprising: a. a hopper assembly comprised of a hopper bin, and a cylindrical cavity formed beneath said hopper bin; b. disposed within said cylindrical cavity of said hopper assembly, a conveyor drum having a central rotational axis, a perimeter surface, and comprising a slot in said perimeter surface for acquiring and indexing one of said rod shaped objects, and a pinion extending outwardly along said central rotational axis through an end wall of said cylindrical cavity; c. an actuating linkage assembly connected to said hopper assembly; said actuating linkage assembly including an actuator bar, and a rack engaged with said pinion wherein displacing said actuator bar rotates said pinion and said conveyor drum around said central rotational axis; d. a chute for receiving said one of said rod shaped objects from said slot in said conveyor drum and guiding said one of said rod shaped objects out of said dispensing apparatus; e. a housing and a cover enclosing said hopper assembly, said conveyor drum, and at least a portion of said actuating linkage assembly; and f. a base comprised of a step for engagement with an edge of a countertop.