Abstract: In apparatus for forming a succession of cookies into groups as the cookies leave the vertical output portion of a supply shaft in which they are grouped, there being a clamping device movable between a position in which it holds the cookies in the shaft and a release position in which it permits the cookies to descend in the shaft, adjustment difficulties are reduced by the provision of a depository element which can move up and down, and a pusher which moves to deposit a group of cookies leaving the shaft onto the depository element when the latter is in its raised position and which moves to push such group away from the depository element when the latter is in its lowered position.

Abstract: A coin-operated newspaper vending and dispensing machine adapted for low cost and maintenance, reliable dispensing of one newspaper at a time and accurate and quick setting for dispensing newspapers of any one of a plurality of thicknesses to suit the particular thickness of the current edition.

Abstract: The planting machine comprises a hopper having a bottom formed by a belt conveyor which extends outside the hopper. A tuber supply device supplies the tubers one by one from the conveyor to the furrow to be sown and comprises a collector cup mounted at the end of the conveyor which receives each tuber from the conveyor. A device responsive to the presence of a tuber in the cup stops the conveyor when the tuber is in the cup. Movable cups for taking up the tuber received in the collector cup drive the tuber into the furrow.

Abstract: An automatic material feeding arrangement having particular adaptability for moving, at a programmed rate, successive layers of vertically stacked lumber for further processing by selective indexing, including, in one example, hydraulic operative ejecting mechanisms cooperating with linkage systems.

Abstract: This apparatus for dispensing under manual or automatic control action one or a plurality of articles, preferably containers such as tumblers, from a vertical tubular magazine in which the articles are stacked vertically so that each article is adapted to be released by gravity from the bottom of the stack, comprises a pair of clamps associated with a pivoting control member for engaging from underneath a peripheral projecting edge portion of each article. Another pair of clamping members may be provided if desired, for holding the stack of articles while exerting with the first pair of clamps a downward thrust, in case the articles tended to stick to one another.

Abstract: A coin-controlled, manually operable golf ball vending machine. The vending machine has a ball hopper and a ramp below the hopper defining a ball dispensing opening between them. A gate rotatably mounted at the opening, extends partially thereacross in its closed position to cause the balls to bridge the opening and is swung into the mass of balls to break up the bridging of balls for releasing them down the ramp when the actuating lever is pulled. The balls on the ramp are received in descending ballways for introduction into ball tubes formed in a rotatable cylinder extending across the bottom of the ballways. The actuating lever is operatively linked to both the gate and the cylindrical ball receiver for simultaneously rotating the gate to release balls down the ramp and the ball receiver for dumping balls therefrom. The actuating lever is maintained inoperative by a coin-releasable locking mechanism.