Patent ID: 6874654

Claim:
An apparatus for dispensing a fully threaded bobbin to an operator upon the depositing of an empty bobbin into the apparatus, said apparatus comprising: a housing defining a storage compartment for storing the bobbins, said housing having a first opening for depositing the empty bobbins therein and a second opening for dispensing the full bobbins therefrom; a tray mounted to said housing within said storage compartment for orienting and feeding fully threaded bobbins; a top slide for transporting the full bobbins from said tray to said second opening; an actuator lever slidably coupled to said housing for activating said apparatus; a release hinge mounted to a portion of said slide and operatively coupled to said actuator lever for releasing a single full bobbin from said slide and said second opening in response to said actuator lever being activated from a fully extended position to an actuated position and an empty bobbin being deposited into said first opening; an accommodator operatively coupled between said actuator lever and said tray for orienting the bobbins for transportation in said slide for cooperation with said release hinge; a lever channel supported by said housing for slidably receiving and guiding said actuator lever between said fully extended position and said actuated position; and an empty bobbin slide connected between said lever channel and said first opening for transporting and depositing an empty bobbin into said lever channel for engagement with said actuator lever and said release hinge.