Patent ID: 7377507

Claim:
An automatic flat-article dispensing apparatus comprising: a table which supports stacked flat articles thereon, said stacked flat articles being stacked in a stacked direction; a suction port disposed over the table and facing the flat articles, said suction port comprising a first suction port and a second suction port, said first suction port and said second suction port being disposed in a lateral direction with respect to said stacked direction; a casing defining a circular hole; an electric motor; a partition wall intersecting with said lateral direction and extending in a direction perpendicular to said lateral direction; a suction device comprising a cylindrical equalizer box having an upper opening and an axial-flow fan, said cylindrical equalizer box extending in a vertical direction, said cylindrical equalizer box being divided in said lateral direction into a first chamber and a second chamber via said partition wall, said first chamber and said second chamber having a predetermined capacity, wherein a lower end face of said first chamber defines said first suction port and a lower end face of said second chamber defines said second suction port, whereby a total length of said lower end face of said first chamber and said lower end face of said second chamber is shorter than a length of one of said stacked articles, said axial-flow fan being attached to said upper opening of said equalizer box such that said axial-flow fan is disposed opposite said first suction port and said second suction port, said axial-flow fan being located within said circular hole, said electric motor actuating said axial-flow fan such that said axial-flow fan rotates about an axis perpendicular to said lateral direction, said suction device suctioning a top flat article of the stacked flat articles by sucking air through said first suction port and said second port such that air is suctioned from a small space defined by a lower end of said equalizer box and said top flat article, said first suction port and said second suction port holding the top flat article; and a conveyance device for conveying the flat article sucked via the suction port in said lateral direction, said conveyance device being disposed within said first chamber and said second chamber.