Abstract: Discrimination between genuine coins and unacceptable coins (i.e., slugs) deposited in a coin-actuated vending machine, is achieved by guiding a deposited coin for movement along a guide path, and positioning a disk-shaped coil which forms part of an oscillator circuit at a certain position relative to the first guide path such that coins of certain diameters will interact with flux produced by the coil when the latter is excited by the oscillator circuit and the coins are guided in proximity with the coil. Amplitude and frequency values each corresponding to operation of the oscillator circuit (1) in the absence of a proximate coin, and (2) when a deposited coin is at positions along the first guide path which are in proximity with the coil, are measured. Degrees of shift in the amplitude and the frequency values between measurements made at (1) and (2) are then determined. The determined degrees of shift are compared against known shift limits for acceptable (i.e.

Abstract: A theft deterrent device restricts the number of newspapers or other periodicals that can be retrieved from a newspaper vending machine at one time. The device includes a cover gate forming a generally T-shaped opening with a vertical passageway and a horizontal slot opening. The cover gate mounts over an access opening of the vending machine behind a hinged door that closes against the vending machine. The cover gate restricts the number of periodicals that can be withdrawn at one time from a storage cabinet portion of the machine after the hinged door is opened and lowered by a customer. The deterrent device is easily installed on existing newspaper vending machines by way of an engagement member that securely engages a fixed part of the vending machine in the region of the access opening. A lock mechanism on the cover gate serves to lock the cover gate to the dispensing machine and firmly hold the gate in place over the access opening.

Abstract: A vending apparatus well suited for vending such articles as newspapers, magazines or the like which vary in size, in which the articles to be vended are supplied to one side of an access opening in the vending apparatus enclosure. Access opening gating normally in a closed position prevents removal of an article unless, after paying a prescribed fee, the customer operates a gating actuator to cause the gating to be shifted to an open position in which an article can be removed through the access opening. Removal of the article causes the release of the gating permitting it to be returned to its normally closed position. The size of the access opening is readily adjustable, preferably by tubular members movable to more or less obstruct the access opening, and including elongated blocking members one of which extends through each of the tubular adjusting members to close the access opening.

Abstract: A satellite vending machine having a tier of manually operated ejectors for dispensing a selection of packaged articles from storage magazines therein to expand the capacity of a parent vending machine is installed on top of the parent and utilizes the coin-actuated totalizer unit and associated mechanism of the parent and provides a linkage to its own heavy duty mechanism responsive to the latch positions in the parent as pilferage protection. The dual pricing capability of the parent is extended to the satellite by a linkage from the ejectors of the magazines having the higher priced articles in the satellite to the latch mechanism of the parent to lock both parent and satellite latch mechanisms when a higher priced ejector in the satellite is pulled with the deposit of coins sufficient only for the lower priced articles.