Abstract: A vending apparatus for individually vending an article from a set of articles and for vending a display article after the set of articles has been depleted. The apparatus includes a rack for vertical storage of a stack of newspapers, and a bracket for positioning a display newspaper in a front window of the vending apparatus. The invented vending apparatus includes means for individually dispensing newspapers from the stack of newspapers and includes means for discharging the display newspaper after the stack of newspapers has been depleted. The dispensing means includes a dispensing bar having spikes for engaging the front newspaper in the stack of newspapers. The dispensing bar is protected by a dispensing bar cover that encases the dispensing bar and spikes when the door is in an opened position for loading newspapers. The cover has an extension with a distal roller for engaging a guide on the housing.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for individually dispensing an item such as a newspaper from among a set of items. The dispensing machine includes a mechanism for individually dispensing an item from among a vertically stacked set of items; a money collection device for activating the dispensing mechanism upon payment of particular sum of money, and a housing containing the dispensing mechanism and the money collection device. Each article is urged against the front of the machine, and upon activation, is lifted slightly to clear a barrier, then discharged to the exterior of the machine.

Abstract: A centrifugal switch for preventing overspeed of a rotary shaft driven by an electrical motor is arranged to open the electrical circuit to the starting windings at a predetermined speed of rotation. A split slip ring arrangement is engaged by metallic conducting elements urged into the conductive position by a compression means, which, when the compressive force is overcome, allows the contacts to move outward from the slip ring, to break the electrical contact. The critical rotational speed can be readily adjusted by changing the weight of the metallic conducting elements or by changing the tensile force of the compression spring.

Abstract: A centrifugal switch for effecting an activation or deactivation of an electrical circuit at a predetermined rotational speed of a shaft. The switch comprises magnetic means mounted for rotation about an axis and for sliding movement under the influence of centrifugal force from a starting position adjacent the axis to an operating position radially outwardly therefrom, spring means urging the magnetic means toward the starting position, and electrical switch means operatively responsive to the movement of the magnetic means at a predetermined rotational speed so as to either activate or deactivate an associated electrical circuit.

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.