Abstract: A feed device includes a feed roller, a transport roller pair provided further to the downstream side in the transport direction of a sheet than the feed roller, a first motor by which the feed roller is driven, and a second motor by which the transport roller pair is driven, and in which a controller that controls the first motor, and performs a skew removal operation accompanying reverse transport of the sheet by the transport roller pair causes a reverse current and a hold current as suppression currents that suppress the reverse transport amount of the feed roller to the reverse transport amount of the transport roller pair or less to flow to the first motor in at least a part of the skew removal operation.

Abstract: A method is provided for feeding small items, for example pills, that does not require tooling changes or position adjustment regardless of the size or shape of the pills. A first hopper supplies small items to a second hopper that separates the small items. The method incorporates sensors to detect the presence, size and travel time of the pills in the separating bowl hopper. The method uses the sensed values for setting vibration amplitude and the duration of an air flow to discharge pills from the apparatus.

Abstract: In accordance with printer-control method and printer-control apparatus according to the present invention, in speed control for a paper-supply motor from the time when a paper-supply roller starts a paper-supply operation to the time when an upper end of a printing paper abuts against a paper-feed roller and a driven roller thereof and then the paper-supply motor is stopped with the upper end portion of the printing paper being nipped by the paper-feed roller and the driven roller thereof, when a difference between a target speed and a current speed in a constant speed section under feedback control becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value, a proportional gain coefficient used for speed control calculation is changed to a value which is larger than an usual value.

Abstract: A newspaper vending machine includes a newspaper let-off mechanism which is triggered to turn on a toothed on-way gyrostate causing it to send out one copy of the newspaper through a newspaper outlet when a coin is dropped in, and a sample copy release control mechanism which is triggered to release the sample copy when a coin is dropped in after the copies of the newspaper have been sold out.

Abstract: An article dispensing apparatus which comprises a frame having a protective housing mounted thereon and a rotatable turret having a plurality of vertical channels circumferentially arranged about the axis of the turret, each channel holding a stack of articles. A hand-operated handle is mounted on the frame, and means operated by the handle rotates the turret a partial turn to bring a channel into register with an outlet for discharging the article. A reciprocating ram means is operable by the handle to push the bottom article from the channel into the outlet.

Abstract: The object of this invention is a machine which automatically collects hollow conical road markers, stores them, transports them and dispenses them in a line. This machine is comprised of a vehicle carrying a series of vertical cylindrical magazines open at both ends which are supported by a vertical central shaft which rotates them stepwise (into position). The machine includes a device which collects the cone markers comprised of a chain elevator having projections each of which penetrates one cone marker.When the chain reaches the top, the cone marker is released into the top of the magazine where they pile up one on top of the other.

Abstract: In a trap door chute for vending machines, doors are pivotably mounted to sidewalls of the machine, in a certain trap door chute division. Each door supports itself in its merchandise storing position by a finger on an electric detention member. Along one chute wall extends at least one vertical track, along which a carriage with a cam for the deflection of the detention member is movably guided. A lifting bar extends parallel to the track and has a row of teeth whose spacing corresponds to the smallest trap door chute division. The carriage supports itself on the row of teeth via a stepping pawl. A stop is provided on the carriage, with which it rests on one of the detention members. The detention members are tines of a rake made of a spring material.

Abstract: An inventory device which is used for a route-man to take all the coins out of the coin containing cylinders of an automatic vending machine. With the inventory device, the coin containing cylinders are caused one after another to dispense the coins merely by operating a single switch. The inventory device comprises: the single switch; a shift register; and a coin dispensation control section connected to the bit output of the shift register. The signal "1" is successively shifted in the shift register in response to the operation of the single switch, to operate the coin dispensation control section, thereby to dispense the coins out of the coin containing cylinders.