Abstract: A hot water feeding device having an upper water tank and a lower water tank connected with the upper tank by a conduit. The water is heated by heater means provided for the lower tank. The hot water is selectively taken out from the lower tank through a port. An additional pipe is provided for the lower tank which communicates therewith through the upper wall of the lower tank. The additional pipe upwardly extends through a bottom wall and the interior of the upper tank and opens over the current water level of the upper tank.A plurality of pipes may be provided between the lower tank and the port. Different amounts of hot water may be selectively taken out during a constant time period by opening selected valve means of the additional pipes.

Abstract: An article storage unit device for use in a vending machine comprising a housing including a plurality of vertically extending article stacking spaces and a mechanism for discharging articles one at a time. The device is characterized by an arrangement for reducing failure of article discharge and by another arrangement for readily loading or feeding fresh articles into the stacking spaces without any disassembling. The article discharging mechanism comprises a pendulous stopper plate disposed at the lower portion of each article stacking space and a control for projecting the stopper plate into the article stacking space to hold the article and for releasing the stopper plate to permit the article to fall down. An inner wall of the article stacking space opposite to the stopper plate is provided with a depression to prevent the article from being held by the inner wall and the upper article at a time when the stopper plate is released.

Abstract: A vending machine having a plurality of article storage housing units which are removably mounted in the machine cabinet. Each of the housing units is slidably supported at the top and bottom ends by guide means to be smoothly drawable out of the machine cabinet. The machine is provided with releasable stopper means for preventing the movement of each housing unit loaded within the cabinet. It is performed after releasing the releasable stopper means to drawing the housing unit out of the cabinet. The machine is further provided with means for regulating electric cables connected to each housing unit to prevent the cables from being caught during the movement of said housing unit.

Abstract: An article storage unit device for use in a vending machine used for discharging an article at one time. A housing of the unit device defines at least one vertically extending article storing space and has a bottom opening. The housing is provided with a first stop adjacent the bottom opening by which an article is held in the space. A predetermined number of articles are stacked on the lowermost article within the space. The housing is also provided with a second stop for holding an article adjacent to and above the lowermost article. The first stop is releasable to discharge the lowermost article through the bottom opening by the gravity. The second stop is normally released and operates to hold the article for at least a time period during which the first stop is released. For the first and second stop, a cam may be used which is mounted on a drive shaft. The article storing space is adjusted by moving a movable plate within the space.

Abstract: Apparatus for perforating a cover of a top covered cup and pouring a liquid in a predetermined quantity into the cup comprising a perforating tubular member and a liquid pipe which is controlled by a solenoid valve. The perforating tubular member is disposed over a predetermined position where the cup should is to be placed so that the tube vertically extends over and is movable downwardly to perforate the cover of the cup by a sharpened lower end thereof. The perforating member is vertically reciprocated by a driving means which is started by the operation of a switch and is stopped by a second detecting means which detects a time when the perforating member has been restored to its rest position. The output port of the liquid pipe is also disposed over the position where the cup should be placed and is mounted within the perforating tubular member. A first detecting means is provided which detect a time when the perforating member arrives a predetermined position after perforation.

Abstract: A refrigerant compressor in a wobble type suitable for air-conditioning systems for automobiles, in which pistons are reciprocated within respective cylinders by a wobble plate member driven by a wedge-shaped rotor member which is secured on a drive shaft. Needle thrust bearing assemblies are disposed between an inner surface of an end plate of a compressor housing and an end surface of the wedge-shaped rotor member and between an inclining end surface of the wedge-shaped rotor member and an end surface of the wobble plate member.

Abstract: A vending machine for selling foods contained in cups (cup-foods) is provided with an apparatus for cooking the foods in the cup. The cooking apparatus comprises a cooking chamber and a hot water feeding device. A door of the cooking chamber may be opened only during a predetermined time period after each cup food is sold and is locked during other time periods. The hot water feeding device is operable only during a time period when the door of the cooking chamber is closed during a predetermined time period after the each cup food is sold. The hot water feeding device is operated by the operation of a cook selection button to pour hot water into the cup which is put in the cooking chamber. The predetermined time period during which the door may be opened is determined by a timer and the time period of the operation of the hot water feeding device, which is shorter than this predetermined time period is determined by another timer.

Abstract: A fluid suction and discharge apparatus of a small volume suitable for a fluid compressor which can be used for an air-conditioning system, which includes a cylinder block having a plurality of axially directed cylinders formed therein in annular relation and a single sheet of suction reed valve means which is formed of a metal sheet and with a plurality of holes corresponding to a plurality of cylinders and with a plurality of suction reeds extending in the holes respectively and means for preventing the fluid such as a refrigerant gas from leaking out of the cylinders through the contact gap between the suction reed valve means and a valve plate which the suction reed valve is secured to and is in contact with.The valve plate is secured onto one end surface of the cylinder block by means of bolts which extend through the valve plate, the suction reed valve means and a gasket which is held between the cylinder block and the suction reed valve means.

Abstract: A refrigerant compressor having pistons reciprocated in respective cylinders through piston rods by a wobble plate driven by a wedge-shaped rotor which is secured on a drive shaft, which compressor has a structure which is dynamically balanced so that reduced vibration of the compressor may occur in the operation thereof. The wobble plate and the wedge-shaped rotor are, respectively and/or in combination, so formed that all of the centrifugal forces developed on the plate and the rotor cancel out one another in radial directions, and the torques on the wobble plate and the rotor developed due to the centrifugal forces cancel torques provided on the wobble plate due to inertia of the wobble plate, pistons and piston rods which are reciprocated.