Patent ID: 6824010
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
A selective actuating apparatus for a cup dispenser wherein one of a plurality of actuating members disposed with a predetermined spacing in a predetermined direction is selected, each actuating member is configured to dispense a cup and the selected said one of a plurality of actuating members is actuated due to a torque obtained by a single motor, comprising:a first rotating member rotated by said torque transmitted; a second rotating member disposed coaxially with respect to said first rotating member; a free wheeling clutch means placed inside said first rotating member for transmitting the torque of said first rotating member to said second rotating member when said first rotating member rotates in a first rotating direction; and a displacing means disposed in between said first rotating member and said second rotating member for displacing said second rotating member with said predetermined spacing in said predetermined direction due to a rotating operation of said first rotating member when said first rotating member rotates in a second rotating direction; said second rotating member selecting said one of a plurality of actuating members at a position in said predetermined direction determined as a result of displacement by said displacing means, and being constituted so as to actuate said one of a plurality of actuating members by means of said torque transmitted through said free wheeling clutch means, wherein said free wheeling clutch means includes a first engaging projection formed on a barrel located inside said first rotating member, and a second engaging projection defined in said first rotating member, and said displacing means includes a stepped part defined in a stepped contour on the inner circumference of said first rotating member with a step corresponding to said predetermined spacing, and a projecting part defined on the outer circumference of said second rotating member, the projecting part configured to engage with said stepped part, and said first rotating member rotates when rotated in said second rotating direction in a condition where no torque is transmitted to said second rotating member as a result of uncoupling of said free wheeling clutch means, and displaces said second rotating member with said predetermined spacing in said predetermined direction as a result of sliding of said projecting part, defined on the outer circumference of said second rotating member, along said stepped part.