Abstract: A coin sorter for sorting coins in terms of their diameter includes a referencing wall engaging the radially outer edges of the coins as they are advanced circumferentially so that the radially outer edges of the coins are positioned at a preselected radial location, whereby the radially inner edges of the coins are positioned at different radial locations determined by the diameters of the respective coins. A series of circumferentially spaced exit recesses are formed around the outer periphery of a guide plate with the radially inner edges of the inner ends of successive exit recesses located at different radial positions for receiving the inner portions of coins of progressively increasing diameter. A ramp at the inlet end of each of the exit recesses slopes from the lowermost surface of the guide plate at the inlet end of the exit recess upwardly to the top surface of the exit recess for easing coins into the exit recess under the pressure of a resilient surface.

Abstract: A coin loader for loading a stack of coins including a base having a stacking end and a mounting end is provided. An arcuate trough inclined at an angle is affixed at the stacking end of the base. A pivotable mount which enables the mounting of a coin wrapper is affixed at the mounting end of the base. The pivotable mount pivots from a first position for mounting the wrapper and a second position for loading the coins into the wrapper. The arcuate trough includes two side walls to assist in positioning the wrapper.

Abstract: A device for use in washing automobile windshields, the device comprising a receptacle including a front wall having first and second openings therein, a first bin for holding and dispensing towels, and second bin for holding water and a windshield washing device. The first bin has an upper end and includes a front panel having a lower end having an opening therein, a back panel spaced apart from the front panel and having a portion opposite the opening slanting toward the lower end of the front panel, and a towel dispenser above the opening for supporting towels in the upper end and for dispensing towels through the opening. The first bin is removably received in the first opening in the front wall of the receptacle such that the opening communicates with the exterior of the receptacle.

Abstract: Dispensing shelves for cabinet-type vending machines having a plurality of different sized helical feeder coils all on the same level for advancing articles interposed between the convolutions of the coils to a delivery opening. The width of the troughs holding the coils is variable on the same shelf level and the placement of the helical feeder coil within a trough is variable. The shelf is of either a sheet metal or a molded, high-density plastic type material. Drive units for the helical coils are removably mounted for operation without fastening devices and are adjustably laterally mounted within a single trough. A unique shelf support rail unit maintains the shelf side panels of the vending machine against lateral movement and bending. Further, a unique door closure member maintains the shelves in their vending positions at all times when the door is closed.

Abstract: Electromagnet system for influencing a dipper armature forms part of a closing unit. A solenoid coil with a U-shaped magnetic core for influencing a dipper armature is mounted on a cylindrical core and has on each end a flat pole piece, each of which is connected to the cylindrical core so as to be connected mechanically and conduct magnetically. The U-shaped magnetic flux element of the electromagnet system is mounted with its two pole pieces on support bars of the recipient housing. Stop lugs are mounted on the field spool and are locked in position with appropriately shaped parts of the recipient housing.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling and stacking thin flexible objects or strips, which is particularly useful for labels and may also be used for tickets, cards, etc. In the preferred embodiment shown a supply of the strips is provided by withdrawing an elongated sheet from roll stock and cutting it into strips by coacting knife drum and strip support drum apparatus. A vacuum drum picks up the strips from the strip support drum and transfers the strips to a stacking apparatus. The transfer drum has grooves formed in its periphery to receive stripping fingers extending from the stacking apparatus. The stripping fingers divert the strips from the transfer drum to a stacking position at the stacking apparatus. A magazine and strip pusher are disposed on the opposite sides of the stacking position. Side and bottom wall extensions of the magazine define the stacking position and support the strip therein. The strip pusher includes a frame positioned across from the magazine opening.

Abstract: For a copier with a dual mode document handling system for handling both computer forms web (CF) and individual document sheets, there is provided a plural mode integral unit system easily mountable to an end of the copier for handling the input and/or output of both types of documents and providing improved work space. The system includes a first document stacking tray providing both an operator work space and a tray for individual sheets fed to or from the copier document feeder, and also defining a CF guide aperture therein for CF document feeding to or from the document feeder. The system also includes an integral second document stacking tray for properly supporting a fan-folded stack of CF in a operating position. This second tray is pivotally mounted to the first tray and compactly closable thereunder without interfering with the operation of the first tray to provide an attractive and compact closed unit.

Abstract: A coin sorter has a rotating disc with a resilient upper surface that operates in conjunction with an overlying stationary sorter plate. The plate has a nominal plane surface that is spaced from the resilient surface of the disc a distance less than the thickness of the thinnest coin to be sorted. A series of recesses are provided from the nominal surface. Each recess has inwardly and outwardly facing converging shoulders which extend from a distance at least as great as the diameter of the largest coin to a distance which is less than the contact width of the smallest coin. Coins are deposited on the disc through a central opening in the plate and are moved through the recesses. The converging shoulders form the coins into a single file against one of the shoulders and strip overlapped or interleaved coins so that a single layer of coins is formed in a single file adjacent the perimeter of the disc.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for sanitizing beverage dispensing systems of the type using a pump that draws beverage from a single port collapsible container which is otherwise airtight. The system provides a manifold having a main manifold chamber with one input and at least one output and having a secondary manifold chamber with an input and an output, and sanitizing fluid containers. The drink dispensing hoses are attached to the outputs of the main manifold chamber, and either a sanitizing fluid or water is attached to the input of the main manifold chamber. The water may be provided through the secondary manifold chamber. Afterward, sanitizing fluid and water are drawn through the manifold and the dispensing hoses and heads, sanitizing the system. Sanitizing fluid is provided in collapsible containers similar to the beverage containers and having a venting device.

Abstract: A package for dispensing a carbonated beverage pre-mix at a controlled flow rate in the micro-gravity conditions of outer space comprising a rigid outer container, a collapsible bag in the container, and an adjustable flow rate control valve. Positive pressure is applied to the collapsible container by CO.sub.2 gas in the container surrounding the bag to assist the dispensing of the pre-mix therefrom. The pre-mix is dispensed from a spout, directly into an astronaut's mouth upon actuation of a lever disposed on the top of the package.

Abstract: A coin sorting apparatus in which the oscillation constants of oscillators change with the passage of a coin, and the amount of change in each of the oscillation constants or a value converted therefrom is compared with a reference value of a coin to be identified which is stored in a memory to identify whether the coin is genuine and the class thereof. Whether the reference values for each coin are corrected is determined by a plurality of counters which correct the reference values of corresponding classes of coins when their counts exceed a predetermined set value. At the same time, when the inserted coin is identified as genuine, a corresponding counter is activated, thus improving the performance of eliminating spurious coins without reducing the acceptability of genuine coins even under ambient temperature changes or secular variations of component elements with time.

Abstract: A copy sheet transport is provided for integration between a copier and an indexing sorter arranged for collating the copier output into copy sets or booklets. The transport is associated with a control system for controlling the acceleration or deceleration of indexing movement of the sorter in accordance with the positional relationship of copy sheets in the transport. Sensors and a timing arrangement are devised for determining the positional relationship, and to impart correctional signals to the drive for the sorter.

Abstract: A vending machine (20) comprises a housing (21) and a pair of product vending shelf units (24, 26) mounted within the housing (21) in vertically stacked relation. Each shelf unit has a front end higher than the rear end thereof. A product selection mechanism (29) is mounted within the housing (21) for actuation of each of the shelf units (24,26) to vend a product (90) forwardly therefrom in response to a customer selection. An anti-theft product delivery drawer assembly (31) is mounted below the lower shelf (26) within the housing (21) and receives the vended product in an inner stored position, and exposes the product for retrieval by the customer upon the customer pulling the drawer outwardly, a drawer cover plate (153) slidable outwardly over the drawer (151) as the drawer is pulled outwardly for preventing access to the interior of the vending machine.

Abstract: A rack for display of articles comprises a plurality of trays for holding the articles. Each tray comprises upper and lower courses connected at opposite ends. At one end, an upper course communicates with the lower course by means of a gate. The gate is controlled by the presence of objects in the lower course so that objects from the upper course are transmitted to the lower course only after the lower course is empty. The gate includes a flag for indicating when the objects are being supplied from the upper gate. Trays are moveable between dispensing and loading positions. In the loading position, objects may be easily placed in the upper course so that they are passed to the lower course when the upper course becomes full. The objects are preferably cylindrical, and the course are arranged to allow the objects to roll along the courses to facilitate dispensing and loading.

Abstract: A coin acceptor which receives coins in a slanted coin chute with a final size gauge system. The coin is first rebounded against a tapered wall and enters a first zone. All three coin sizes enter the first zone and then the lightest weight one passes down a tapered ramp which is spring loaded, but the lightest weight coins will not depress the ramp and therefore such coins are diverted into a second zone. The heavier different sized coins pass down and trip the tapered ramps, both a first and second one, and then the widest of the coins continues downwardly in the first zone to be processed and sized for diameter. The largest diameter coin is trapped between two pins where it is then tilted off of a ramp onto a diverter and passes into a third zone for processing. As all of the coins reach the bottom of their three separate zones, they enter into a final size gauge system which has three coin chutes sized precisely to reject any coin which is bent, burred, or oversized.

Abstract: A plastic squeeze bottle has a dispensing end having a central, closed-ended, cone-shaped portion which serves as a stem or core for a valve assembly which includes an elastomeric seal which overlies and resiliently grips and circumferentially seals around the stem. The seal also covers apertures in the bottle end adjacent the stem. A small central aperture in the seal where it overlies the closed end of the stem, enables dispensing contents from the bottle when the bottle is squeezed, as the resulting internal pressure causes the seal to balloon slightly away from the stem and permit passage of saline solution from the bottle through the bottle end apertures and seal central aperture. When the squeezing stops, the seal resiliently retracts against the stem and closes the bottle. A snap-on overcap assembly has seal control and closure maintenance features to avoid accidental dispensing of bottle contents due to unintentional squeezing of the bottle when the overcap is closed.

Abstract: A pair of mount members extending longitudinally of the body of a tractor are fixedly provided at opposite sides of the tractor body. A pair of projecting brackets positioned toward the front from the steps of the tractor extend laterally outward from front portions of the pair of mount members and are provided with a pair of opposite mount portions for a front loader and with a pair of opposite front mount portions for a working implement of the mid-mount type. A pair of opposite rear mount portions for the implement are provided at opposite sides of longitudinally intermediate portions of the mount members or of a longitudinally intermediate portion of the tractor body.

Abstract: A cash handling machine includes a housing having an aperture through which cash is put in, a bank note conveyor, a bank note sorter for sorting the bank notes conveyed by the bank note conveyor according to type of bank notes, a coin conveyor, and a coin sorter for sorting the coins conveyed by the coin conveyor according to type of coins. The machine has a single cash receiver for receiving both bank notes and coins put in through the aperture, a bank note feeder connected to the single cash receiver for taking out the bank notes from the single cash receiver and for feeding the bank notes to the bank note conveyor, and coin feeder connected to the single cash receiver for taking out the coins from the single cash receiver and for feeding the coins to the coin conveyor.

Abstract: A liquid concentrate dispensing apparatus having a removable and refillable concentrate tank with sensors connected therewith flush with the inside wall of the tank to facilitate cleaning. The sensors comprise detectors which include an electrically conductive housing, one wall of the housing is substantially flush with the inside wall of the tank. Spring biased detent members on the outside of the tank releasably connect the detectors with the dispensing apparatus when the tank is inserted to a preselected position. The tank is provided with two such sensors, one is located in the sidewall and the other is located in the bottom wall. When the tank is inserted into the dispensing apparatus, the spring biased detent members engage contacts on the apparatus. A current passes between the detectors on the sidewall and bottom wall when both are covered by liquid concentrate.

Abstract: Sheet feeder having adaptive mechanism for assuring dependable automatic operation when the stack of sheets to be fed consists of sheets having varying thicknesses and weights. In a sheet feeder having pickers to move a document from the top of a stack of sheets supported by a moveable table to a feed-in position, the latter possibly including a vacuum belt for moving the document, sensors supply signals to indicate a sheet has been picked. After moving the pickers and table to initial positions, the controller moves the picker to a predetermined reference position. If a sheet is picked above or below the predetermined initial position, the position of the table is adjusted accordingly.