Patent ID: 8899451
Filing Date: 2014-12-02
Classification: B05C,B65D,F16H

Abstract:
1. A dispenser comprising: a first pawl coupled to a first axle and configured to engage and disengage notches on a toothed wheel coupled to a second axle responsive to angular translation of the first pawl about the first axle, the first pawl being configured to drive the toothed wheel in a first direction responsive to engagement of the first pawl with a notch in the toothed wheel and angular translation of the first axle around the second axle in said first direction; a second pawl coupled to a third axle, the second pawl having first and second portions, both of which extend away from the third axle, the first portion extending from the third axle toward the toothed wheel and configured to engage and disengage notches in the toothed wheel responsive to rotation of the second pawl around the third axle, the first portion being biased to engage notches on the toothed wheel, the first portion capable of being disengaged from the notches responsive to a force applied to the second portion of the second pawl; the first pawl, toothed wheel and second pawl being configured such that engagement of the first end of the second pawl with notches in the toothed wheel allows the toothed wheel to be driven in the first direction by the first pawl but prevents the toothed wheel from rotating in an opposite second direction, disengagement of the first end of the second pawl from the toothed wheel responsive to a force applied to second end of the second pawl also causes the first pawl to disengage from the toothed wheel and thereby allows the toothed wheel to rotate in the second direction; a sprocket having a plurality of teeth, the sprocket being attached to and configured to rotate with the toothed wheel; a push chain having first and second ends and a plurality of substantially U-shaped chain links between said ends, each chain link having a first side that is open and an opposite, substantially smooth second side, the first side being configured to receive a chain sprocket tooth, the plurality of chain links being configured such that they are able to fold toward each other such that when fully folded, open first sides face each other, when fully unfolded, adjacent and fully unfolded links provide a substantially planar surface comprised of the substantially smooth second sides of adjacent, fully unfolded links, and which when unfolded are capable of providing a section of chain links that are rigid and substantially columnar, the chain links and sprocket being configured such that at least some of the chain links wrap part way around the sprocket; wherein the push chain, when wrapped part way around the sprocket, comprises first and second substantially straight sections of chain, the corresponding links of which are fully unfolded, the first and second substantially straight sections extending away from the sprocket, the push chain being additionally comprised of a curving third section of chain between the first and second substantially straight sections of chain, the curving third section being comprised of chain links that engage sprocket teeth, the curving third section extending part way around the sprocket, the rodless dispenser being additionally comprised of first and second push chain retainers fixed at locations proximate to where the first and second substantially straight sections of the chain meet the third section of the chain as the sprocket rotates and moves the chain.