Abstract: A vending machine is designed to dispense multiple copies of a publication one at a time. The machine includes a storage member adapted to temporarily store multiple copies of a publication in a face-to-face orientation, a suction assembly formed of at least one suction cup that is adapted to seize and transport the front most copy of the publication to a dispensing position, a valve assembly associated with the suction cup to cause the cup to vent when in a dispensing position to dispense such copy into a delivery chute, and a slidable backplate biased to continuously urge the remaining copies of the publication forward.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 17, 1993
Date of Patent:
November 15, 1994
Assignee:
Seven, Ltd.
Inventors:
Danny E. Crawford, Gene A. Hall, Dennis A. Jendro, Dennis P. Rolph, Danny L. Nelson, Paul D. Elst, Gregory E. Erlandson, Jack T. Mowry, Robert L. Neiss, Craig K. Loebig, Richard A. Helms