Abstract: The invention provides a vending machine for dispensing hot packaged food. The vending machine includes a storage and dispenser unit comprising plural dispensing trays arranged in an array for storing one or more packaged foods, a frame, and a carrier structure. Each individual dispensing tray includes a pivotable gate and a slideway inclined by a tilting angle from a horizontal axis. The carrier structure comprises a carrying arm having an engaging feature; and an engaging mechanism for actuating the pivotable gate. The engaging mechanism is configured to move the carrying arm towards the individual dispensing tray such that the engaging feature actuates the pivotable gate from a locked position to an unlocked position. The packaged food is prevented from sliding down when the pivotable gate is at the locked position. The packaged food is slidable relative to the individual dispensing tray when the pivotable gate is at the unlocked position.

Abstract: A document feeding apparatus for use with a document processing device. The document feeding apparatus comprises an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of documents and at least one feeding wheel adapted to strip documents, one at a time, from the stack of documents. The feeding wheel includes a moveable insert having a high friction surface adapted to engage and to advance each of the documents.

Abstract: A lock adapted to be used in conjunction with a slidably insertable card comprises a front housing segment and a rear housing segment, a bolt movable along a slide path from a normally open position to a fully locked position, a card housing, a lockout member with a first blocking position and movable to a second release position, a blocking member affixed to the lockout member, and normally disposed in the slide path of the bolt but movable out of the slide path of the bolt. The lockout member also has a peg that engages opening in the card and in the front housing segment constructed and arranged to receive the peg and allow free movement of the bolt into the fully locked position. An improper card or a proper card inserted improperly will not allow the peg to move into the opening, and the blocking member will remain in the slide path of the bolt, preventing the lock from being locked.

Abstract: The Mechanism has a platform which has a coin chute formed thereon, and which rotatably journals a slotted plate. In opposite 180.degree. positions a plate slot aligns with the coin chute, there being two of such slots. Each slot has an abutment which, when the slot is aligned with the coin chute, is engageable by a spring-biased pawl to prevent rotation of the plate if no coinage, or inadequate coinage has been passed through the chute to occupy the chute-aligned slot. A second pawl engages reliefs formed in the plate to hold the plate in a position in which a slot is aligned with the chute, and a spring-loaded arm, pivotably coupled to the platform, also positions the plate for coinage reception. An arcuate wall fixed to the platform, and circumjacent the plate, guides coinage to a bottom portion of the Mechanism.