Utensil dispensers and methods for making and using same. The utensil dispensers can include a housing configured to contain a stack of utensils. The stack of utensils can include a next utensil. A drive mechanism can be configured to contact the next utensil. An access port can provide an opening to the housing. An actuator can be operably connected to the drive mechanism and configured to move the drive mechanism into a release position such that the drive mechanism contacts the next utensil in the stack of the utensils to push the next utensil causing the next utensil to release from the stack of the utensils and become a released utensil. The released utensil can fall to a dispense position and be accessible via the access port for removing from the dispenser. A prime mechanism can be configured to move the drive mechanism to the release position without removing any released utensil from the dispense position.

In a dispensing system for utensils and cutlery, a housing with a cutlery distribution area has one or more openings for exposing a handle end of a presenting utensil for removal by a user. The system has one or more stack chambers, each configured to hold a vertical stack of utensils. A trigger assembly within the housing is actuated by the user removing a single presenting utensil out of an opening, causing the release of a single lowest utensil from the vertical stack, for presentation as the next presenting utensil for removal by a next user. A chute delivers each released single lowest utensil of a vertical stack to its opening for removal by the next user, and causes the released utensil to rotate about its axis from entry into the chute to exit at the opening.

In a dispensing system for utensils and cutlery, a housing with a cutlery distribution area has one or more openings for exposing a handle end of a presenting utensil for removal by a user. The system has one or more stack chambers, each configured to hold a vertical stack of utensils. A trigger assembly within the housing is actuated by the user removing a single presenting utensil out of an opening, causing the release of a single lowest utensil from the vertical stack, for presentation as the next presenting utensil for removal by a next user. A chute delivers each released single lowest utensil of a vertical stack to its opening for removal by the next user, and causes the released utensil to rotate about its axis from entry into the chute to exit at the opening.

A device for dispensing cutlery utensils individually, having a housing containing a quantity of utensils with the housing having sides and product guides within. The front wall contains an opposing leaf escapement mechanism connected to it, to hold and singulate the utensils such that they dispense seriatim, without a user being required to physically touch or interface with any part of dispenser other than the actual desired utensil.

A device for dispensing cutlery utensils individually, having a housing containing a quantity of utensils with the housing having sides and product guides within. The front wall contains an opposing leaf escapement mechanism connected to it, to hold and singulate the utensils such that they dispense seriatim, without a user being required to physically touch or interface with any part of dispenser other than the actual desired utensil.

Utensil dispensers and methods for making and using the same. In some examples, the utensil dispensers can include a housing configured to contain a stack of the utensils therein, wherein the stack of the utensils comprises at least one utensil in addition to a next utensil and each utensil comprises at least one contoured projection extending outwardly therefrom. A front pedestal can be disposed inside the housing and can be configured to support the at least one contoured projection extending outwardly from the next utensil. A moveable member can be disposed within the housing and configured to move from a ready position to a dispense position. The moveable member can have at least one extension arm configured with at least one engaging section capable of receiving the contoured projection extending outwardly from the next utensil.

Utensil dispensers and methods for making and using the same. In some examples, the utensil dispensers can include a housing configured to contain a stack of the utensils therein, wherein the stack of the utensils comprises at least one utensil in addition to a next utensil and each utensil comprises at least one contoured projection extending outwardly therefrom. A front pedestal can be disposed inside the housing and can be configured to support the at least one contoured projection extending outwardly from the next utensil. A moveable member can be disposed within the housing and configured to move from a ready position to a dispense position. The moveable member can have at least one extension arm configured with at least one engaging section capable of receiving the contoured projection extending outwardly from the next utensil.

An escapement mechanism of a cutlery dispenser causes a cutlery article to fall from a vertical stack onto a slide track that guides it to a dispensing position. A slide channel and head channel of the slide track can laterally confine the cutlery article. A dampening surface can reduce cutlery bouncing and skewing. The escapement mechanism can include at least three pivots and/or a coil return spring. Dispensers can be installed in a base in any desired combination and retained therein by compatible features such as flanges and slots that prevent dispenser tipping. In embodiments, individual dispensers can be horizontally slid part-way out of the base to access side features that would otherwise be obscured by a neighboring dispenser. A cutlery quantity indicator can laterally contact the cutlery stack and can pivot to display a low-cutlery signal when the cutlery stack falls below an indicator height.

An escapement mechanism of a cutlery dispenser causes a cutlery article to fall from a vertical stack onto a slide track that guides it to a dispensing position. A slide channel and head channel of the slide track can laterally confine the cutlery article. A dampening surface can reduce cutlery bouncing and skewing. The escapement mechanism can include at least three pivots and/or a coil return spring. Dispensers can be installed in a base in any desired combination and retained therein by compatible features such as flanges and slots that prevent dispenser tipping. In embodiments, individual dispensers can be horizontally slid part-way out of the base to access side features that would otherwise be obscured by a neighboring dispenser. A cutlery quantity indicator can laterally contact the cutlery stack and can pivot to display a low-cutlery signal when the cutlery stack falls below an indicator height.

Utensil dispensers and methods for making and using same. In some examples, the utensil dispensers can include a housing. A dispense chassis can be configured to fit within the housing. At least one post can be disposed on an outer surface of the dispense chassis, and at least one glide mechanism can be disposed within the housing. The glide mechanism is configured to engage the dispense chassis post. The glide mechanism can include a slot configured to guide the dispense chassis between a dispensing position in which the dispense chassis is configured to dispense utensils from the housing and a loading position in which the dispense chassis is configured to be loaded with utensils.