Abstract:
A mechanism for deploying cylindrical objects from a spinning container includes a dispenser that uses rotation around the axis of symmetry of the dispenser to eject several cylindrical objects in any of many regular, predictable patterns. The dispenser rigidly holds the cylinders within a carrier vehicle as the vehicle accelerates to high velocity. The dispenser is spinning about the axis of the dispenser at a high rate. Then on signal, the dispenser releases all of the cylinders simultaneously. Each one of the cylinders leaves the vehicle with the cylinder&#39;s axis parallel to that of the dispenser and at each cylinder&#39;s own tangential velocity.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an object dispenser, and more particularly, to a dispenser that uses rotation around the dispenser&#39;s axis of symmetry to eject cylindrical objects in any of several precise, predetermined patterns. 
     2. Description of the Background Art 
     An assortment of object dispensing devices have been used. Present devices that use rotation to eject objects, have been limited to sometimes only one object at a time. Even with one object, there has been a lack of control of the direction and speed. Some existing methods hold objects within a band or sleeve, then release the objects by breaking or sliding the band or sleeve from the objects. The bands and sleeves bunch the objects together, and do not positively control their orientation relative to one another or their container. Techniques used to break or remove the bands or sleeves produce random forces that cause the objects to leave the container in unpredictable ways, including random tumbling and chaotic trajectories that cause collisions between objects being released. 
     Another type of object dispensers had barriers that prevented emission of the projectile at the precise moment that it achieves its maximum speed. Complicated deploying mechanism have caused much problems in reliability and precision in releasing the objects from the dispenser. 
     An exemplar of the art is U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,086 issued to Rutten for A Rotor for Centrifugal Launching Devices. The device is designed to launch oblong shaped objects similar to conventional shells. A rotor with a cylindrical gun is rotated around an axis. The gun is located across the radius of the rotor. U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,655 issued to Tobin et al. for A Centrifugal Gun discloses a centrifugal gun that releases projectiles at very high velocities. The gun has a rotatable impeller with a center of rotation. The device fires a projectile by a track-controlled radial and tangential accelerations utilizing centrifugal force. U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,745 issued to Acker for A Device for Launching A Projectile discloses a device that has a rotatably driven carrier that has one or more guide tubes radially arranged. The feeding path for the projectiles are located near the rotational axis. U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,014 issued to Kahelin for A Variable Speed Single-Wheeled Ball Propelling Machine discloses a ball guided along the wheel until it is released tangentially along the circumference of the wheel. U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,508 issued to Kruse, et al. for A Spin Stabilized Carrier Projectile Equipped with A Driving Band discloses a carrier projectile that distributes the connection of the driving band and projectile object body so as to impart a spinning force. The rifling of the gun barrel causes the driving band to spin which in turn causes the projectile base to spin. The projectile body is then forced to spin by the force transmitted from the projectile base. U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,722 issued to Moody for A Projectile Launcher discloses a projectile launcher that has a barrel for supporting a projectile before and during the launch. The device uses a pulley system for stretching a rubber like material. The force created by the stretched rubber material accelerates the projectile. U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,723 issued to Hogan for An Elastic Band Slinger discloses an elastic band slinger that has an elongated base with an elongated guide track. An arrow shape projectile is positionable along the guide track for launching. The force of the band propels the projectile. U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,003 issued to Burri for A Projectile Rotating Band discloses a band that is secured to the projectile base. The rotating bands guide the projectile inside the barrel when it is discharged to cause a rotating motion around the longitudinal axis of the projectile. U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,206 issued to Gregory for A Rotating Launch Device for A Remotely Piloted Aircraft discloses an aircraft that is rotated around a circular path about a fixed pivot point until a predetermined speed is reached. The aircraft and a counterweight on the rotating arm are both released at the same time. The aircraft is forced in path tangent to the circular path at the point of release. U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,305 issued to Chiarelli et al. for A Subcaliber Projectile Including A Core, A Sabot And A Sleeve discloses a projectile that has a sleeve that separates into several sectors under the effect of centrifugal force. U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,389 issued to Sabranski et al. for A Carrier Projectile discloses a large caliber carrier projectile that has an ejector plate that separates into at least two separable parts because of the centrifugal force after ejection from the carrier projectile. The multiple segments of the ejector plate are held together by a vulcanization layer formed of materials like rubber. The centrifugal force breaks the ejector plate into the multiple segments. U.S. Pat. No. 3,956,990 issued to Rowe for Beehive Projectile discloses an anti-personnel ammunition capable of direct and indirect fire. U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,442 issued to Donadio for Serrated Supporting Keying System for a Beehive Projectile discloses a keying system for interlocking the components of a beehive type projectile by set back force generated by firing of the projectile. I have found that the art does not show a way to reliability and accurately eject objects through a rotational motion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide cylinders that are ejected from a dispenser by being controlled accurately and precisely by machined components without bunching. 
     It is another object to have releasing forces that act parallel to the axis of each cylinder, minimizing off-axis force components that would disturb the cylinders&#39; natural trajectory. 
     It is another object to simultaneously release objects such as cylinders that are controlled by the characteristics and interaction of just two components making deployment reliable and precise. 
     It is yet another object to limit the motion of the deployment mechanism to engagement depth plus clearance dimension, minimizing the distance of actuation and thereby minimizing deployment time and cylinder misalignment (“tip-off” disturbance); 
     It is still another object to require no dunnage or packing material that could interfere with smooth cylinder motion during deployment. 
     To achieve the objectives of the present invention, there is provided a dispenser that uses rotation around the axis of symmetry of the dispenser to eject several cylindrical objects in any of many regular, predictable patterns. The dispenser includes a holding plate supporting a first side of an object, a nose plate supporting a second side of the object, an axle aligning the holding and nose plates, the holding plate, nose plate, and object rotating around the axle, and a firing unit when activated, releasing the holding plate along the axle away from the first side of the object and the nose plate being released away from the second side of the object, the object being released away from the axle when the holding plate and the nose plate releases away from the object. The dispenser rigidly holds the cylinders within a carrier vehicle as the vehicle accelerates to a high velocity. The dispenser is spinning about the axis of the dispenser at a high rate. Then on signal, the dispenser releases all of the cylinders simultaneously. Each one of the cylinders leaves the vehicle with the cylinder&#39;s axis parallel to that of the dispenser and at each cylinder&#39;s own tangential velocity. 
     A top tail plate may be placed above the dispenser plate and a bottom plate may be placed below the nose plate. A stopper plate made of honeycomb aluminum may be placed in between the top tail plate and the holding plate and another stopper plate between the bottom tail plate and the nose plate to absorb any impact from the motion of the holding plate and the nose plate. The mass of the holding plate assembly and the nose plate assembly is preferably the same. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete appreciation of this invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the dispenser assembly; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the dispenser in the closed position; 
     FIG. 3 is cross sectional view of the dispenser in the armed and closed positions; 
     FIG. 4 is cross sectional view of the dispenser in the open position; 
     FIG. 5 shows an overhead view of the movement of cylindrical objects from the dispenser; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a two stage dispenser assembly; 
     FIG. 7 is a close-up cross sectional view of one of the stages of the dispenser from FIG. 6 in the closed position; 
     FIG. 8 is a close-up cross sectional view of one of the stages of the dispenser from FIG. 6 in the open position; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a dispenser of another embodiment in the closed position; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the dispenser of FIG. 9 in the armed position with space bars deployed and sear pin retracted; 
     FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the dispenser of FIG. 10 in the open position with firing pin released and plates clear of cylinders; 
     FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the dispenser of FIG. 11 in the open position with honeycomb stopper plates half crushed and cylinders beginning deployment; 
     FIG. 13 is a cross sectional of view of the dispenser of FIG. 12 in the open position with honeycomb stopper plates fully crushed and cylinders continuing to deploy; 
     FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of the dispenser of FIG. 13 in the open position with the cylinder patterns expanding out of the dispenser; and 
     FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the dispenser of FIG.  14 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention having a dispenser  10  that uses the tangential velocity of rotation to eject patterns of cylindrical objects  22 . More specifically, the dispenser  10  uses the gradient of the tangential velocity with radius from the axis of rotation to eject patterns of cylindrical objects  22 . The dispenser has a tail plate  12 , holding plate  14 , and nose plate  16  riding on a central alignment axle  38 . The tail plate  12  and the nose plate  16  are secured to the alignment axle  38 . The alignment axle  38  has locking dowel pins  20 . The holding plate  14  is movable between tail plate  12  and the nose plate  16  along the axle  38 , but can be locked in place. Referring to FIG. 1, with the holding plate  14  locked in the closed position, holding plate  14  and nose plate  16  positively trap several cylinders  22  by counterbored holes  26  in the holding plate  14  that grip one end  28  of each cylinder  22  and form-fitting depressions  30  made to “cylinder engagement depth” D 3  in the nose plate  16 . The form-fitting depressions  30  hold the front end tips  32  of the cylinders  22 . The tail plate  12  has protrusions  24  of a length equal to the thickness of the holding plate  14  plus a release allowance (or clearance) D 1  that must be found according to factors such as acceleration, and vibration of the dispenser. Each protrusion in the tail plate  12  aligns with a hole  26  in the holding plate  14 . The dimensions of the tail plate  12 , holding plate  14 , nose plate  16 , and the alignment axle  38  are chosen to produce a gap D 2  between the protrusions  24  of the tail plate  12  and the base  28  of each cylinder  22 . The gap D 2  must be the sum of the cylinder engagement depth and a release clearance that must be found according such factors as acceleration, vibration of the dispenser including aerodynamic buffeting. 
     In operation, the dispenser mounts in a vehicle that carries the dispenser to a high speed along the axis of alignment axle  38  while spinning at a rapid rate around the axis of alignment axle  38 . Upon command, an actuation device (not shown) applies a force to the holding plate  14  parallel to the alignment axle  38  in the direction of the tail plate  12 . The holding plate  14  drags cylinders  22  toward tail plate  12 , disengaging cylinders  22  from the nose plate  16 . When the motion of the holding plate  14  brings the ends  28  of the cylinders  22  into contact with the protrusions  24  in the tail plate  12 , the cylinders  22  stop moving relative to the tail plate  12 , while the holding plate  14  continues in the direction of the tail plate  12 . Referring to FIG. 1, when the holding plate  14  contacts the tail plate  12  (the dispenser&#39;s open position), cylinders  22  are released simultaneously so that each cylinder&#39;s tangential velocity will carry them out of the confines of the rotating dispenser. Actuation force on the holding plate  14  is chosen to be large enough to keep the time of actuation short, to the point that the longitudinal axis  23  of the cylinder  22  are substantially parallel to the dispenser&#39;s axis of rotation as cylinders  22  depart from the dispenser  10 . Each cylinder  22  leaves the dispenser with the axis  23  of the cylinder parallel to that of the dispenser at each cylinder&#39;s  22  own tangential velocity. 
     FIGS. 2 through 4 show another embodiment of the present invention. A bottom tail plate  118  has protrusions  152  that penetrate through counterbored holes  150  of the nose plate  116  in a fashion similar to the top tail plate  112 . Each protrusion  124  in the tail plate  112  aligns with a hole  126  in the holding plate  114 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, the firing mechanism is shown more clearly shown. The holding plate  114  and the nose plate  116  are held in place by the firing mechanism. The firing mechanism has a firing pin  178  parallel with the alignment axle  138 . The firing pin  178  is supported and enclosed within a firing pin case  180 . The firing pin  176  is separated from the top holding plate by a spring  184  and a retainer bushing  186 . In the closed position as seen in FIG. 2, The firing pin  176  is held in place by a sear pin  170  penetrating through a bottom portion  178  of the firing pin  176 . The sear pin  170  is perpendicular to the firing pin  176 . The sear pin  170  has a sear pin retainer bushing  174  at the end away from the firing pin  176 . A spring  172  circumscribes the sear pin  170 . A boar rider  170 a of the sear pin  170  protrudes out of the sear pin retainer bushing  174  when the dispenser  110  is in the armed and closed position as seen in FIG. 3. A gas generator  154  is located along the alignment axle  138 . When the shell comes off the projectile, in the dispenser  110 , a boar rider  170   a  comes out of the sear pin  170  by the spring  172 . The sear pin  170  moves out of the firing pin aperture  182 . The release of the sear pin  170  releases the firing pin  176  downward toward the percussion primer  156 . The impact of the head  182  of the firing pin  176  on the percussion primer  156  initiates the propellant in the gas generator  154  and lowers to the bottom of cavity  192 , and the percussion primer  156  along with the firing pin  176  and the firing pin case  180  are pushed upwards, compressing the spring  184 . The pressure from the propellant acts to raise the holding plate  114  against the top tail plate  112 , and the nose plate  116  is forced downward against the bottom tail plate  118 . When the holding plate  114  and the nose plate  116  move, the cylindrical objects  122  are released from the dispenser. 
     As seen in FIG. 4, when in the open position, the holding plate  114  and the nose plate  116  move towards the top tail plate  112  and bottom tail plate  118 , respectively, as shown by arrows  142  and  144 . This motion releases the cylindrical objects or darts  122  from the dispenser  110 . 
     FIG. 5, shows the trajectory of the cylindrical objects  122 . At time=0, cylindrical objects  122   a ,  122   b ,  122   c , and  122   d  are within the dispenser  110  and the dispenser has just been positioned in the open state. The distance between the alignment axle  138  and the cylindrical object  122   a  is x 1  at t=0. The alignment axle  138  is located on the midpoint of the dispenser  110 . The distance between  122   a  and  122   b  is x 2  at t=0. The distance between  122   b  and  122   c  is x 3  at t=0. The distance between  122   c  and  122   d  is x 4  at t=0. 
     At time=1, the cylindrical objects,  122   a ,  122   b ,  122   c ,  122   d  are being ejected from the dispenser  10 . The distance between the alignment axle  138  and the cylindrical object  122   a  is y 1  at t=1. The distance between  122   a  and  122   b  is y 2  at t=1. The distance between  122   b  and  122   c  is y 3  at t=1. The distance between  122   c  and  122   d  is y 4  at t=1. 
     At time=2, the cylindrical objects  122   a ,  122   b ,  122   c ,  122   d  are traveling further. The distance between the alignment axle  138  and the cylindrical object  122   a  is z 1  at t=2. The distance between  122   a  and  122   b  is z 2  at t=2. The distance between  122   b  and  122   c  is z 3  at t=2. The distance between  122   c  and  122   d  is z 4  at t=2. 
     The following ratios hold as the cylindrical objects  122  travel from time=0 (t=0) to time=2. For example (x 1 /x 2 )=(y 1 /y 2 )=(z 1 /z 2 ). Also, (x 1 /x 4 )=(y 1 /y 4 )=(z 1 /z 4 ). 
     As the cylindrical objects  122  are moving away from the dispenser  110 , the cylindrical objects  122  maintain a uniform rate of separation from each other, allowing all ratios of distances  1 s between objects  122  to be the same. If for example, x 1 =x 2 =x 3 =x 4 , then y 1 =y 2 =y 3 =y 4 , and z 1 =z 2 =z 3 =z 4 . 
     As the cylindrical objects  122  leave the dispenser  110 , they will maintain the same rotational speed as the dispenser  110 . The darts (or cylindrical objects)  122  will have no acceleration once leaving the dispenser but will have an initial velocity at time equal to zero when the dispenser releases the darts  122 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6, a two stage dispenser  210  is shown. The first stage  234  and the second stage  236  are located along a single alignment axle  218 . The dispenser, has cylindrical objects  222  that are encased within a holding plate  214  and a nose plate  216  in stage one  234  and stage two  236 . The cylindrical objects are engaged with the holes  226  of the holding plate  214  and the holes  226  of the nose plate  216 . Stage one  234  has a large tail plate  290  that forms a support for the nose plate  216  for stage one  234  and the large tail plate  290  support for the holding plate  214  for stage two  236 . As seen in FIG. 7, the tail plate  218  forms the support for the nose plate  216  for stage two  236 . 
     The embodiment as shown in FIGS. 6,  7  and  8  have the same operation mechanism as the embodiment as in FIGS. 2,  3 , and  4 . A spring  284  compresses or expands according to the motion of the firing pin  278 . When the firing pin  278  activates propellants through a gas generator  254 , the force from the propellants allows the movement of the tail plates  214 , and nose plates  216 , releasing the cylindrical objects  222  from the dispenser  210  as seen in FIG.  8 . 
     As seen in FIG. 6, at one end of the dispenser  210 , the gas generator  296  is responsible for striping the shell  298  of the projectile  208 . A ballast weight  298  is connected to the other end of the dispenser  296 . The ballast weight  298  is responsible for interfacing with the nose of the projectile  208  and for balancing the projectile (or vehicle)  208 . The space bars  296  secure the holding plate  214  and the nose plate  216  in position until the shell  298  is released from the vehicle  208 . 
     The objects may have forms other than a cylindrical shape such as a spherical shape or other possible shapes. 
     In another embodiment, as seen in FIGS.9 through 15, the dispenser  310  has a top end plate  312 , a top honeycomb stopper plate  313 , holding plate  314 , nose plate  316 , a bottom honeycomb stopper plate  317 , and a bottom end plate  318 , riding on a central alignment axle  338 . The top honeycomb stopper plate  313  and the bottom honeycomb stopper plate  317  are made of an aluminum honeycomb material. The stopper plates  313  and  317  can also be made of any other energy absorbing material or assembly that does not have a rebound. The stopper plates  313  and  317  serve to minimize the length of the dispenser. The stopper plates  313  and  317  made of aluminum honeycomb absorb the kinetic energy by the buckling of the honeycomb walls. The honeycomb is pre-crushed to about ¼ inch to reduce the peak stopping-load. In the dispenser  310 , the stopper plates  313  and  317  prevent the holding plate  314  and the nose plate  316  from slamming into end plates  312  and  318 , respectively. Slamming into the end plates  312  and  318  can affect the deployment of cylinders  322  from the dispenser  310 . End plates  312  and  318  are secured to alignment axle  338  with locking devices  320  such as dowel pins, setscrews, retaining rings, adhesives, or weldments. It is preferred that the holding plate assembly  364  and nose plate assembly  366  have the same mass. The holding plate assembly  364  includes the holding plate  314  and any components supported by the holding plate  314  such as the firing pin  378 , the firing pin case  380 , the retainer bushing for the firing pin  386 , the firing pin spring  384 , the detent ball  373 , the percussion primer  356 , and any other members supported by the holding plate  314 . The nose plate assembly  366  includes the nose plate  316  and components supported by the holding plate such as the sear pin  370 , boar rider for the sear pin  370 a, retainer bushing for the sear pin  374 , the sear pin spring  372 , and any other members supported by the nose plate  316 . Holding plate  314  and nose plate  316  lock together, and can move or lock in place between the top end plate  312  and the bottom end plate  318  along axle  138 . Holding plate  314  and nose plate  316  locked together on axle  138  in the “closed” position as seen in FIG. 9, holes  326  in holding plate  314  and holes  362  in the nose plate  316  engage several cylinders  322 , positively holding the cylinders  322  between the holding plate  314  and nose plate  316 . Counter-sunk hollow-lock setscrews  360  in the holding plate  314  allow adjustment of the force holding the individual cylinders  322 , whose lengths may differ slightly due to fabrication tolerances. The counter-sunk hollow-lock setscrews  360  of the holding plate  314  are sized to produce a nominal engagement depth. Nose plate  316  has counter-sunk holes  362  sized to produce a cylinder engagement depth. Dimensions of the top end plate  312 , a top honeycomb stopper plate  313 , holding plate  314 , nose plate  316 , a bottom honeycomb stopper plate  317 , and a bottom end plate  318 , riding on a central alignment axle  338  are chosen to produce a gap between the top honeycomb stopper  313  and holding plate  314 , and between nose plate  316  and the bottom honeycomb stopper  317 . Each gap has a dimension at least equal to the cylinder engagement depth plus a release allowance that is found according to factors such as acceleration and vibration of the dispenser  310 . 
     One mechanism for spreading the holding plate  314  from the nose plate  316 , uses a gas generator  354 , mounted at the closed end of the nose plate  316 . The gas generator  354  contains several grams of propellant, such as black powder, bull&#39;s eye, etc., or a propellant gas under pressure. One or several actuation devices activate the gas generator  354 . An actuation device includes a firing mechanism and an initiator. 
     The firing mechanism may be mechanical, electromechanical, or electrical. One mechanical firing mechanism includes the components of a hollow-lock retainer  374 , sear pin  370 , sear pin spring  372 , detent ball  373 , firing pin  378 , firing spring retainer  386 , and firing spring  384 . The sear pin  370  in each firing mechanism acts to hold a detent ball  373  against a firing pin  378 , loaded by firing spring  384  in a firing pin case  380 . When the sear pin  370  is released, loads from the firing pin spring  384  (acting on the detent ball  373  through the firing pin  378 ) and from the sear pin spring  372 , combine to release the detent ball  373  from the firing pin  378 . When the firing pin  378  releases, the firing pin spring  384  accelerates the firing pin  378  until the firing pin  378  slams into a percussion primer  356 . Hot gases and particles from the percussion primer initiate propellant in the gas generator  354 . Pressure from the propellant acts on the flat face  314 a of the holding plate  314 , and the inside cylinder  316 a of the nose plate  316  to spread holding plate  314  apart from nose plate  316 . The holding plate  314  and the nose plate  316  preferably start to spread simultaneously. The holding plate  314  and the nose plate  316  preferably spread apart with the same magnitude of velocities but in opposite directions and the same acceleration. The motion of the holding plate  314  is preferably mirrored by the nose plate  316  at all points in time but moving in opposite directions away from each other. The uniform motion of the holding plate  314  and  316  accommodates the uniform release of the cylinders  322 . 
     In operation, the dispenser mounts in a vehicle that carries the dispenser  310  to a high speed along the axis of the alignment axle  338  while rotating around the axis of the alignment axle  338 . The space bars  396  secure the holding plate  314  and the nose plate  316  in position until the shell of the vehicle is released. The shell for instance forms an outer cover of the vehicle and surrounds the dispenser. When the space bars  396  are released, as seen in FIG. 10, the boar rider  370   a  of the sear pin  370  protrudes in an “armed” position, ready for activation. Upon command, an actuation device applies an actuation force to the holding plate  314  and the nose plate  316 . The actuation force pushes the holding plate  314  away from nose plate  316  (direction arrow  342 ), and the actuation force pushes the nose plate  316  away from holding plate  314  (direction arrow  344 ), parallel to alignment axle  338 . When the mass of holding plate assembly  364  is equal to the mass of nose plate assembly  366 , then the holding plate  314  and nose plate  316  move away from each other with equal and opposite accelerations and velocities relative to cylinders  322  from the dispenser  310  simultaneously so that each cylinder&#39;s longitudinal axis remains substantially parallel to the dispenser&#39;s longitudinal axis. The separation of holding plate  314  from nose plate  316  disengages cylinders  322 , from the dispenser  310  simultaneously, so that each cylinder&#39;s  322  tangential velocity takes it out of the confines of the rotating dispenser  310 . Actuation force is calculated to minimize the actuation time of the dispenser to the point that the orientation of cylinders&#39;  322  longitudinal axis  322   a  remain substantially parallel to the dispenser&#39;s axis of rotation  338   a  regardless of small differences in the masses of the holding plate assembly  364  and nose plate assembly  366  that result from manufacturing tolerances. The pattern of the cylinders  322  expand uniformly at a rate determined by the angular velocity (rotation rate) of the dispenser  310 . The uniform expansion of the cylinders  322  is shown in FIG.  5 . 
     As seen above, the present invention provides cylinders that are ejected from a dispenser by being controlled accurately and precisely by machined components without bunching. The releasing forces act parallel to the axis of each cylinder, minimizing off-axis force components that would disturb the cylinders&#39; natural trajectory. The dispenser simultaneously releases objects such as cylinders that are controlled by the characteristics and interaction of just two components making deployment reliable and precise. The present invention limits the motion of the deployment mechanism to engagement depth plus clearance dimension, minimizing the distance of actuation and thereby minimizing deployment time and cylinder misalignment. There is also no requirement for dunnage or packing material that could interfere with smooth cylinder motion during deployment. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.