Abstract: A single copy newspaper vending machine which dispenses one newspaper copy each time proper coins are deposited. Newspapers are stacked on a tray which is urged upwardly toward a ski device that rides on the newspaper stack. The ski device can be pulled forwardly to dispense a single newspaper by depositing proper coins and pulling on the handle of a slide arm. The slide arm is normally locked in a retracted position but is released when the coins are accepted. The ski device includes pointed prongs which penetrate the upper surface of the top newspaper in the stack. The back folded edge of the top newspaper is engaged by cleats projecting from a cleat plate carried on the ski device. A pivotal dog member assures that the slide arm is moved through a single complete stroke each time it is released. After the stack of newspapers on the tray has been exhausted, the next stroke of the slide arm causes the dispensing of a display copy carried in a display case on the front of the machine.

Abstract: A newspaper vending machine. The machine has a housing receiving a stack of newspapers which are secured and protected within the housing and which are dispensed consecutively in a secured manner without opening the machine. An operating handle is rotated and by linkage causes a newspaper gripping and feeding member to pivot in a cyclical and repetitious manner forwardly in a newspaper gripping and feeding operation and rearwardly in a retracting movement for consecutive vending operations. A gripping and feeding member is employed comprising a stiff toothed newspaper engaging element which can flex somewhat while engaging a newspaper adjacent the centerfold and slide it as a unit in the direction of the side fold. A lock comprised of a cam connected to a handle shaft is provided to lock the handle and feeding mechanism against operation until freed by operation of conventional coin acceptor mechanism.

Abstract: This invention pertains to pins carried by and in a retainer head member with the pins actuated when and as the head member and an associated contact member reaches the outermost portion of a paperboard member whereat the pins are caused to move obliquely to this surface and penetrate the paperboard sufficiently to engage and retain the paperboard. These pin ends by latch members are maintained in the desired penetrating position during transfer. This latch is actuated to release the projected pins when transfer is completed. The paperboard is conventionally of corrugated paperboard construction and the extent of pin end protrusion is carefully controlled so that the pin ends in the penetrating position do not protrude and penetrate the rear panel or wall of the paperboard so that only one penetrated paperboard member is transferred. The embodiments shown are adapted for use with paperboard which is not supple or flexible as is cloth or leather.

Abstract: A vending machine for articles such as newspapers, magazines or the like is provided wherein the articles are held in a vertical plane and can be viewed through a transparent front glass and wherein a single article is dispensed at a time and wherein the operation is substantially theft-proof in that it is virtually impossible to obtain more than a single article for each payment.

Abstract: Vending machine for flat articles having a housing at a portion of which there is an article delivery slot. Within the housing there is an ejection plate which can be moved by an actuating handle and by which one article at a time can be carried through the delivery slot from the stack of articles which is standing on an inclined supporting plate within the housing.

Abstract: A mechanism for dispensing a single generally flat rectangular article having a penetrable surface, such as a newspaper, from a stack of articles within an enclosure, preferably a coin controlled enclosure, comprising a spring loaded vertically movable generally horizontally disposed elevator platform for supporting a stack of articles and an article engaging structure mounted above the stack including a reciprocable bracket movable forwardly, rearwardly and vertically having spaced pin brackets which are pivotally moveable about an axis parallel with the lateral walls of the enclosure with each of the brackets having a depending article penetrating structure adapted to engage and move the uppermost article in the stack outwardly through an article dispensing opening in the front wall of the enclosure when the bracket is moved into its forwardly position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing a single generally flat rectangular article having a penetrable surface from the top of a stack of the articles within an enclosure structure preferably of the coin-controlled type in which a spring-loaded vertically movable generally horizontally disposed elevator is provided for supporting a stack of the articles between an elevator platform and a pressure regulating abutment supported by a panel member pivotally attached to the enclosure structure at a level within the enclosure structure level where the article is to be dispensed.

Abstract: A dispensing device is disclosed for dispensing nested dished papers. The device has a base for holding a stack of nested dished papers. The dishing of the papers is such that each paper has a bottom wall and a substantially conical side wall. The device includes a paper sticking member mounted on the base adjacent to the stack of nested dished papers. The stack of nested dished papers and the paper sticking member are moved relative to each other so that the conical side wall of the adjacent paper of the stack of nested dished papers is stuck with the paper sticking member. The conical side wall and continued relative movement of the paper sticking member are used for pulling the paper from the stack of nested dished papers and dispensing the same.

Abstract: Apparatus for mechanically denesting and delivering the bottom one of a nested stack of trays for eggs of the like, each substantially consisting of a plane web portion and projections extending upwardly and downwardly from said web portion, which projections engage with each other during nesting. The apparatus is provided with a plurality of tray engaging members for pulling said bottom tray downwardly both by downwardly extending projections and its peripheral edge.

Abstract: A vendor issuing a single article at a time from a stack of flat articles such as newspapers or magazines. The vendor has a separator to peel an edge of the end article off the stack, a conveyer to be inserted between the peeled edge and the subsequent article, and ejector structure to aid in issuing the article after it is released at least partially to rest on the conveyer. A coin release enables an actuator such as a handle to operate the vendor only after proper coinage has been supplied.

Abstract: An automatic vending arrangement in which newspapers are horizontally supported on a support table. The table with a set of pulleys has a spring exert a force on the pulley in an upward direction. A sensor on a pivot arm has a pin extend into a sprocket wheel of a chain pulley through the lifting of the table so as to arrest the latter at that height. Manipulation of a handgrip causes the uppermost newspaper to pivot about the support point of the sensor to project out of a dispensing slot so as to be grasped and pulled out by a customer.

Abstract: A newspaper dispenser (10) includes a dispensing mechanism (44) in which a carriage (92) is mounted for rolling forwardly and rearwardly on tracks (84) and (86). A transverse bar (126) is rotatably mounted on the carriage (92), and a cocking lever (104) is fixedly mounted on one end of the transverse bar. A pair of pins (134) are mounted in the transverse bar (126). In an engagement position, the pins extend downwardly and towards the front of the dispenser (10) at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. In a disengagement position, the pins extend towards the front of the dispenser (10) in a horizontal orientation. When the carriage (92) is moved along the tracks (84) and (86) towards the rear of the dispenser (10), the cocking lever (104) engages a cocking stop (108) and rotates the pins (134) into an engagement position causing them to pierce a newspaper disposed below the carriage.

Abstract: Apparatus for vending papers, such as newspapers, singly therefrom. The apparatus comprises an enclosure having a slot formed therein for dispensing papers, a handle and a coin control mechanism. Papers are stacked vertically in the enclosure on a platform movable in a vertical direction. A cart, movable in a horizontal direction, has friction pads extending therefrom which engage the top paper of the stack of papers and dispense it out of the slot as the cart is pulled across the top of the stack of newspapers by pulling movement of the handle.

Abstract: A portable hand held soap leaf dispenser includes a housing adapted to support a stack of soap leaves therein. The housing has an opening adjacent one end through which soap leaves are individually dispensed. An ejector member is slidably supported in the housing for fore and aft movement between a forward ejecting position and a rearward retracted position. A biasing mechanism urges the ejector member and adjacent soap leaf into engagement whereby the adjacent soap leaf is dispensed through the opening in response to movement of the ejector member from the retracted position to the ejecting position therefor. The soap leaves may be supported on a platform biased toward the ejector member by the biasing mechanism. A plurality of wedges on the underside of the ejector member retentively engage a soap leaf in response to forward movement of the ejector member and freely slide over the soap leaves in response to rearward movement of the ejector member.

Abstract: A vendor for dispensing a single article at a time from a stack of flat articles such as papers or magazines. The vendor has a separator to separate at least an edge of the top article from the stack, and a conveyor insertable beneath the separated article to convey the separated top article away from the stack. A presser can optionally be provided to press against the separated top article and hold it to the conveyor means while the article is being dispensed. A coin operated release is provided to prevent operation of the device except after some prerequisite condition has been met, for example the insertion of a predetermined number of coins. The invention contemplates the method of lifting the edge, inserting the conveyor underneath it, and issuing the article on the conveyor. Optionally the presser can hold the article firmly to the conveyor to assist the operation.

Abstract: A vending machine is disclosed for newspapers and magazines with a gripping means held on an arm pivotable about a vertical shaft, where the arm is free to move downwardly as depletion of the stack of newspapers or magazines proceeds. An enclosing housing, along with a shield plate, assures dispensing of articles only when inserted coins permit turning of the shaft by a handle above and outside the housing.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a platform for supporting a substantially vertical stack of articles, such as newspapers, magazines and the like, with the articles inclined downwardly and forwardly. Article hold-back apparatus, positioned alongside the platform, extends upwardly therefrom and is adapted to engage and extend across forward edges of the articles in the stack to restrain the same from forward sliding movement from the stack, and a carriage mounted for substantially vertical movement alongside the forward edges of the articles in the stack, is operatively connected to the article hold-back apparatus to successively effect disengagement of the article hold-back apparatus with the uppermost article in the stack.

Abstract: A mechanism for dispensing individual napkins from a napkin stack comprising a sliding actuator, spring biased to extend out of a dispenser housing, connected through a connecting rod to articulate a pivotally mounted advancing bell crank. The normal disposition of the bell crank deploys a pin on the free end thereof adjacent and within a slot on the underside of the napkin stack, the articulating arc of the pin around the pivot being such as to engage the underside of an individual napkin. As the bell crank is thus articulated the napkin is advanced through a slot for use.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing cup-shaped paper coffee filters from the top of a nested stack of such filters includes a box for storing and retaining the stack, a lever connected by a hinge to the lid of the box, apparatus for moving the lever to engage the top filter of the stack, and flexible plastic fingers for holding all of the filters except the top one in place as the lever engages the top filter and removes it from the stack. The lid of the box is hinged so that the box can be opened to remove the top filter from the end of the lever. Once the lever has engaged the top filter, the end of the lever is moved away from the axis of the filter stack. Lifting the lid simultaneously imparts an axially upward component to the motion of the lever, so that the lever both separates the top filter from the stack and lifts it. The filter can then be easily removed from the end of the lever.

Abstract: A vending machine for flat, folded paper maps comprising, a box-like housing with a horizontal interior plate, elongate vertical open-ended chutes with front, side and rear walls, slidably receiving vertical stacks of flat multi-panel folded paper maps and arranged in the housing above the plate, structure yieldingly connecting the rear walls to the plate, members yieldingly urging the upper ends of the chutes rearwardly to incline the chutes rearwardly to vary the vertical space between the plate and lower edge of the front walls of the chutes, discharge slots in the housing spaced forward of the lower ends of the chutes, U-shaped ejector slides with flat bases slidably engaged on the plate beneath the bottoms of the chutes and vertical side flanges slidably engaging the exterior of the side walls of the chutes, gripping elements on the slides to grip arched portions of the lowermost maps upon forward shifting of the slides to urge the maps forwardly beneath the lower edges of the front walls of the chutes a

Abstract: A newspaper vending machine has a receptacle with a front wall, a rearwardly ascending slide track to support a stack of newspapers on edge, the lower end of the slide track having an upstanding ledge to hold back the foremost paper in the stack which is pressed forward by a presser plate whose upper part is parallel to the front wall and whose lower part inclines rearwardly, and a delivery mechanism which by means of inclined needles engaging the foremost paper in the stack lifts the said paper until its lower edge swings forward over the upstanding ledge and then feeds the paper downwards through a delivery slot between the upstanding ledge and the front wall.

Abstract: There is disclosed a tag attaching method, particularly a method of pinning tags to merchandise and apparatus for carrying out the method. The illustrated apparatus includes a plunger and a cooperable anvil between which a tag and merchandise are positioned and through which a fastener specifically a pin is driven to attach the tag to the merchandise. While the pin is being driven through the tag and merchandise, a movable pin guiding and crimping member moves relative to the plunger, the tag and the pin. The pin is driven firstly through the tag, secondly through the merchandise, thirdly through the merchandise again, fourthly through the tag again, and fifthly through the tag again, and thereupon the movable pin guiding and pin crimping member is moved again to crimp the pin. A bottom tag in a stack is separated by feeding it toward the pinning zone in one machine cycle and the separated tag is positioned between the anvil and the plunger during the early part of the next machine cycle.

Abstract: A process for separating one or more supple sheets from a stack includes the steps of compressing the stack at least in the vicinity of its opposite upper edges, simultaneously or subsequently introducing sharp projections in or near the edges in order to pick up the sheet or sheets, moving the opposite projections apart slightly in opposite directions to tighten or stretch the sheet or sheets and finally lifting the engaged and tightened sheet or sheets from the stack. Apparatus for performing this process comprises a pair of separating members movable vertically toward and away from the stack of sheets, the members including a surface adapted to compress the stack in the vicinity of opposite upper edges thereof. The members also include pricking members which are movable horizontally relative to the stack and engageable with a predetermined number of uppermost sheets therein.

Abstract: A device for issuing single copies of flat flexible articles, such as newspapers or magazines. A stripper member comprising a rotatable conveyor has engagement elements which engage an article to be issued near one of the edges of the article. The conveyor is rotated while traversing the face of the article, carrying the edge with it so as to wrap the article upon the conveyor's periphery until the article is stripped (peeled) from the stack. The article is then released and discharged through an exit orifice. The device may be coin-controlled, so as to issue an article only after the necessary coins have been provided, either by permitting the stripper member to be moved with an engaged article only when proper coins have been inserted, or by permitting the engagement elements to engage the article only when a coin has been inserted. The device may be provided with a holder to display one of the articles and issue it as the last article, after the other inventory has been issued.