Dixie Cup dispensers. How does this machine work?!?

EngrDelaCruz

Ok, it's definitely not magical (just wrote that to get your attention), but checkout this machine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxwswYfjsRY

How does this machine separate one cup from the rest of the stack?

Can you think of a simple mechanism to do the same thing?

I'm very curious and I have been thinking about it :/

Thanks for the help!

Bobbywhy

EngrDelaCruz, Welcome to Physics Forums!

Dixie Cup dispensers allow one cup to be removed at a time. I recommend you check the patents for this mechanism. Here's one to get you started:
http://books.google.com/books?id=fPU...hanism&f=false

Cheers,
Bobbywhy

Mordred

Judging from the airlines I'd say suction.

EngrDelaCruz

If the concept in the patent was used in a university project wherein we have to build a cup vending machine, will that be legal?

Bobbywhy

I am not qualified to advise you on Patent Law. Normally a patent-holder's monopoly expires after 20 years. You may get some background information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Term_of..._United_States

But your University advisor should check on the legal ramifications.

Cheers,
Bobbywhy

russ_watters

Welcome to PF!
You can see in the video a grooved cylinder on each side of the cup grabs the lip and pulls the cup down and away from the cup above it.

AlephZero

If you don't want to just copy somebody else's idea from a patent, look at the way the "escapement" works on a mechanical clock or watch to let the gears turn one tooth at a time.

Then figure out how to do something similar with a stack of cups, and gravity.