Abstract: A method for centralized mass processing of substitutable, good-holding magazines used in conjunction with computer-controlled vending machines. A memory-chip-mounting smart-card is used, not only to enter into the machines the magazine location and price of the various goods, but also to carry a sales transaction record of the replaced magazine, thus avoiding the need for magazine locking mechanisms and other security measures.

Abstract: A candy dispenser comprises a head end and a tail end linked by a substantially translucent tube, a spring being contained in and visible through the tube and extending from the head end of the candy dispenser to the tail end of the candy dispenser. The spring contained within the tube impedes the free fall of candy pellets and functions as a track upon which some candy pellets can ride from one end of the candy dispenser to the other, while some other candy pellets fall through the center of the spring, the falling action and movement of the candy pellets creating a fun and interesting visual image.

Abstract: A continuous strip of individual napkin ring blanks that can be separated to form a plurality of napkin rings. Each individual ring blank extends between a leading edge and a trailing edge and includes a first adhesive area and a second adhesive area. A line of perforation is formed between the leading edge of one ring blank and the trailing edge of the preceding ring blank such that the ring blanks can be separated from each other. Each of the ring blanks includes a pair of angled locating surfaces formed near its leading edge and a pair of angled locating surfaces formed near its trailing edge to provide a visual indication of the line of perforation between the ring blanks.

Abstract: A falling object, such as a product falling from a magazine to a discharge chute of a vending machine, is detected using a rectangular light curtain having parallel sides. A plurality of light emitters are positioned along one side and a plurality of receptors are positioned along another side opposite the emitters. A timing circuit momentarily illuminates the emitters one at a time at a time while an electronic controller examines the outputs signal from all the receptors. Where one of the receptors fails to receive a signal from one of the emitters an object is presumed to have interrupted the signal. To work properly the electronic controller must complete a cycle of illuminating all the emitters within the time frame that a falling object interrupts the light curtain.

Abstract: A contact lens dispensing unit includes a left upright member and a right upright member. Each upright member has a top end and an opposite bottom end and defines a channel therein that is capable of receiving therein a stacked plurality of prepackaged contact lenses. Each upright member also defines an opening through which a prepackaged contact lens may pass. An attachment device that facilitates securing the dispensing unit to a wall is coupled to the back. In a packaging system for contact lenses, a plurality of sterile sealed contact lens packets, each holding a contact lens, is disposed in a row. Each packet in the row is joined to at least one adjacent packet and is separated by a serration.

Abstract: An apparatus for sampling perfume includes a card dispenser which includes a built-in atomizer. The dispenser is operated by a simple control which applies a scent onto a card and ejects the card from the dispenser. The dispenser is preferably designed to be resistant to theft. In this regard, the size and appearance of the dispenser may be sufficient to dissuade a shoplifter. Alternatively, the dispenser can be locked to a display counter. According to one of the methods of the invention, the cards dispensed from the dispenser bear advertising indicia indicating the name of the perfume. According to another method of the invention cards are provided with indicia indicating a discount coupon for the perfume purchase.

Abstract: A combination card dealing shoe and protective guard plate is disclosed. An improved card follower device is also included for more effective control of the cards when the shoe is in use. The guard plate may be formed integrally with the shoe or it may be fabricated as a separate item for retrofitting attachment to an existing shoe. The plate is bifurcated and the two parts are joined by a hinge with a coil spring which urges the lower portion of the cover plate downward and inward to substantially cover the finger opening in the front panel of the shoe to conceal the card which is in position ready for dealing. The hinged portion of the cover plate has a projecting member defining an opening which is sufficient to give the dealer's thumb and/or finger access to the shoe without exposing the card that is being dealt, thus preventing one type of cheating by a dealer.

Abstract: A machine for vending products include a housing, an magazine indexing drive mechanism in the housing and drivingly coupled to a product storage and dispensing magazine at spaced apart lower and upper portions of the magazine, a plurality of ball bearings rotatably supporting the magazine on a product separation fixture in the housing, a resiliently yieldable mechanism supported on the separation fixture and having a spring-biased pivotally-movable flap operable to impart a positive downwardly-directed force on the lowermost product that will push it downward toward an opening in the housing, and portions of the housing and the separation fixture defining a path for passage of products to the opening which is located outwardly of and bypasses the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A product dispenser comprising a cover, a slidable push element, a base and a landing is provided. The cover and the base are rotatable with respect to each other about a common axis. The cover comprises a roof opening in which the push element slides in opposing directions, advancing product from the interior of the cover onto the landing. In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser houses miniature zinc air batteries, secured to the base using an adhesive layer. When a cell is advanced from the interior of the cover onto the landing, the cell is separated from the adhesive layer, allowing air to pass into the cell and the cell to be activated. The landing preferably comprises a magnet for releasably securing product. The dispenser is then used as an inserter for orienting and placing the product in position in a device. The product is not directly handled during its removal from the dispenser or during its insertion into a device.

Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a golf/tee placement device having a housing 32 having a hopper 18 therein for the placement of a plurality of golf balls 14 and a canister for the placement of a plurality of tees 16. The housing uses compressed air to move a golf ball 14 and golf tee 16 away from the device and drive the tee 16 into the ground with the golf ball 14 placed thereon. Positioned on the exterior face of the housing 32 is a control panel 26 with user selectable variables such as the depth of the golf tee and the time duration for the placement of subsequent balls and tees. The device moves a tee 16 into the extending placement arm 22 using compressed air. In conjunction with the loading of the tee 16 a single ball 14 is released into the placement arm 22.

Abstract: A singulating and counting device includes a bulk housing for storing a plurality of substantially identical articles, an exit channel, and in the exit channel, forwardly- and rearwardly-directed jet apertures, each of which is fluidly connected to a positive pressure source. A forwardly-directed jet generated by the positive pressure source through the forward jet aperture can accelerate singulated articles in the exit channel, thereby increasing the interval between individual articles and rendering them more easily and accurately counted. A rearwardly-directed jet generated by the positive pressure source through the rearwardly-directed jet aperture can cause articles in the exit channel to return to the housing.

Abstract: A vending machine for newspapers has an outer housing, a door, a slot device, an inner housing, a moving plate and a controlling device. The inner housing is secured in the outer housing, and the inner housing is divided into multiple chambers each for receiving one newspaper. The moving plate is moveably attached to the inner housing to close the chamber. The controlling device is attached to the inner housing and controls the moving plate to move relative to the inner housing as the door is opened and then closed. Consequently, the vending machine can limit a buyer to access a quantity of newspapers corresponding exactly to the correct amount of money paid.

Abstract: A product metering napkin dispenser includes a housing defining a storage magazine for receiving a stack of folded napkins and a metering member that penetrates the stack in order to segregate a predetermined number of napkins from the remainder of the stack for dispensing. Preferred embodiments include gravity feed napkin dispensers. In various embodiments the metering member may include: a pivoting plate cooperating with a hinged trap door support surface; a rotating semicircular disk co-rotating with a support disk; or a reciprocating jaw assembly urging napkins through an aperture.

Abstract: An automated medicine dispensing apparatus for dispensing an accurate amount of medication at a particular time of the day.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a hoistway having a vertically adjacent structural platform, i.e., a roof slab or pit slab, that includes a recess, and a machine that fits within the recess. The vertically adjacent structural platform defines either the ceiling or floor of the hoistway. As a result of having the machine tucked into the recess in the hoistway, the machine is removed from the hoistway and the hoistway need not be expanded, either horizontally or vertically, to accommodate the machine.

Abstract: A multiple roll holder unit has a magazine in which rolls are stacked, and an associated roll holder having retaining arms moveable on opposite sides of a roll holding area. Actuation of a transfer mechanism having upper and lower cup members hinged at one side with each other causes a transfer of a lowermost one of the rolls in the magazine to the roll holding area as the retaining arms are retracted and set back following the motion of the cup members, releasing at the same time a depleted roll possibly held by the roll holder.

Abstract: A bun dispensing device for a hot dog dispensing machine operative for dispensing buns from a bun containing element which includes a plurality of individual bun containers and a common film to which the bun containers are releasably attached one after the other, the device has a unit for pulling the bun containing element, a unit for separating the bun containers with buns accommodated therein from the film of the bun containing element and located upstream of the pulling a unit, and a unit for guiding the bun containing element and located upstream of the separating unit, the separating unit being formed so that each of the bun containers with the bun accommodated therein is individually separated from the film under the action of the separating unit.

Abstract: A ticket vending machine includes a face panel defining a ticket passageway and a ticket outlet at one end of the ticket passageway, a side plate mounted with an axle for holding a ticket roll, a sheet-transfer cylinder assembly controlled to transfer the continuous ticket sheet of the ticket roll to the ticket outlet, a cutting unit disposed between the sheet-transfer cylinder assembly and the ticket passageway and controlled to reciprocate a cutting plate and to cut off the continuous ticket sheet.

Abstract: A medicine feeder apparatus comprising a plurality of cassettes each of which contains a different kind of medicine and a base portion on which the plurality of cassettes are mounted and which discharges the medicine in accordance with the prescription. the apparatus comprises an identification which is provided on each cassette, the identification showing information on the medicine contained in the cassette; a reader which is provided on the base portion, the reader reading the identification of the cassette during the cassette is mounted on the base portion; and a rock which is provided on the base portion, the rock preventing the cassette from being mounted. If the information of the medicine read from the identification by the reader does not coincide with a previously stored information, the rock is operated, while if coincide, the rock is released.

Abstract: A toothpicks dispenser is made up of a top cover, a box embodiment, a bottom board, a holder plate, a pair of pivotal dispensing plane units jointly engaged with the holder plate by a shaft pin and retractably operable by a bias spring. The holder plate and the two symmetric dispensing plane units are integrally housed in the box embodiment which is provided with a rectangular cut at each longitudinal side wall and a flanged top opening with which the top cover is registered. The holder plate of a roof shape is made up of two symmetric oblique planes on which toothpicks are piled up. The two dispensing plane units placed under and in pivotal engagement with the holder plate are provided with a horizontal press wing tab and a vertical toothpick shooting edge on the longitudinal outer side thereof respectively.