Abstract: The method of redeeming returnable containers includes a plurality of remotely-located machines receiving returnable containers and storing information about the numbers of such containers received according to different values of an identifying parameter. A central coordination facility accesses the stored information and determines how many returned containers the different facilities have collected, and ensures that all parties are properly reimbursed.

Abstract: A hand held and operated apparatus is provided for adjustably measuring and dispensing a flowable material. A vessel for containing the flowable material is positioned on a housing for movement between a first measuring position and second discharge position. An adjustable member is rotatably positioned with the housing and opposite the vessel for variably adjusting the quantity of material to be dispensed.

Abstract: A coin discriminator comprises photoreceivers along a vertical drawn from an infed coin run chute whereby screening and illuminating the photoreceivers from a photoemissive source permit coin diameter identification. Two coils on either side of the chute detect the coin alloy. Coin thickness is determined using a stepshaped transversal section across the chute track where the step risers lie opposite the photoreceivers which transmit a signal word identifying the infed coin diameter and thickness. This signal word is compared with memorized words representative of acceptable coin dimensions. If the dimensions are acceptable, a combination of impedances in a bridge circuit incorporating the coils is selected in terms of the alloy corresponding to the acceptable dimensions. If the bridge balances for this combination as the coin rolls between the coils, the coin is accepted.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the regulator of a device for spreading salt and the like onto road surfaces, the apparatus comprising: a sensor for measuring the temperature of liquid on the road surface; a collector for liquid removed from the road surface, adapted for operation on a moving vehicle; a device operatively associated with the collector for measuring the concentration of salt in the collected liquid; and, a device operatively associated with the collector for measuring the quantity of liquid present per surface unit area of the road, based upon the quantity of collected liquid and a measured factor related to movement of the vehicle along the road, whereby sufficient information is available from the apparatus for regulation of a device for spreading salt and the like to achieve a salt concentration on the road surface just sufficient to avoid freezing at any predetermined tempertaure and for any predicted quantity of precipitation.

Abstract: Method and means of supplying currency includes assembling and packing currency on a transport medium which is secured within a housing and which is incrementally unpacked under security control to dispense the desired amount of currency. Method and means for assembling and packing currency on the transport medium include adhesive regions on the transport medium for attaching currency thereto in substantially coplanar array to facilitate selective unpacking by non-coplanar manipulation of currency and transport medium. Another embodiment utilizes packets of currency that move along with the adhesive transport medium to facilitate self-contained assembly of units of currency on the transport medium. Equal rates of movement of the next unit of currency and the transport medium assure that only the next unit of currency will be transported on the adhesive medium.

Abstract: A system for the disposition of shopping carts including at least one storage area for carts, which are intended to be removed and returned from the storage area by users. Each storing area has at least one gate in an outlet passage to permit a cart to pass therethrough only if a deposit is received and a gate in an inlet passage to permit cart to pass therethrough if identified as authorized, in which event the deposit is repayed.

Abstract: A coin discrimination member and a coin selection member are mounted on one of two plates defining a coin path. Counterfeit coins are removed from the coin path between the two plates at an upstream portion thereof in response to a discrimination signal from an electronic discrimination unit. Thereafter, the authentic coins are discriminated and sorted by the coin discrimination member and the coin selection member. One plate is detachably pivoted about the other plate.

Abstract: A coin-operated vending machine for bottles or cans of a moderate capacity, including a plurality of side-by-side storage chutes for feeding bottles or cans to openings in the front wall of the vending machine, a cradle in each of the openings forming a row of adjacent cradles for receiving the bottles or cans from the chutes, and a mechanical interlock between the respective cradles for precluding the dispensing of more than one product for any vend cycle. The mechanical interlock also includes a spring-detent assembly for indexing the cradles between closed, intermediate, and fully-open positions in a step-by-step manner. The mechanical interlock is designed to be substantially tamper-proof. A vend chute structure is also provided which permits flexibility of product loading, the free flow of cooling air throughout the vending machine cabinet, and easy cleaning of the vend chute and associated components. The vending machine is adaptable for use on a counter top or mounting to the wall of a building.

Abstract: A dispensing valve for use on a supply bottle containing fluid for a copier or printer, including an outer unit having a bottle cap with a central spider with slots and having an inner sleeve projecting into the bottle forming a valve seat, and including an inner unit having an elastomer member and having a spring-biased seal plug urging the elastomer member against the valve seat, said plug being adapted to rotate slightly to fit the elastomer member to the valve seat and said plug having a high strength, chisel-like tip for breaking a secondary seal in the bottle.

Abstract: A method of recovering ink deposits which remain in the ink drum liner of a substantially empty container which comprises the steps of positioning the mouth end of the drum liner proximate to a roller nip region of wringer assembly structure, inserting the mouth end into the wringer assembly, rotating the wringer assembly so as to draw the liner therethrough while simultaneously urging the ink remaining in the liner towards the closed end as a bulge, pulling the liner through the wringer assembly, opening the closed end of the liner to release the bulge of remaining ink deposits from the closed end of the liner, releasing the accumulated ink deposits from the liner and removing the ink drum liner from said wringer assembly structure.

Abstract: A coin 12 to be checked is passed through a test coil 1 connected in parallel with a capacitor 2. A comparison coil 3 having an adjustable core 5 is also connected in parallel with a capacitor 4 and a direct current is passed through both coils in parallel from a rail 13 to an interrupter 14. The simultaneous interruption of the current through both coils produces between each coil and its capacitor a respective oscillatory discharge in the form of a decaying wave train and the characteristics and dimensions of the two coils and their capacitors are such that when a coin of the selected denomination passes through the test coil, the two wave trains are substantially identical. The two wave trains are compared by a comparator device 6 and a voltage comparator 7 generates a signal when the result of the comparison is below a predetermined datum, thus indicating that the coin is a genuine one.

Abstract: A pressure vessel for storing and delivering liquid under pressure which includes a housing, a removable cover on the housing, and a seal between the housing and the cover providing a liquid-tight and air-tight seal. Locking elements cooperate between the cover and the housing to provide a bayonet type lock therebetween. The vessel is provided with a manually unlockable excess pressure valve in the cover, the valve having a seating face arranged to be seated against a valve seat and the cover and a spring which urges the valve seating face into such seated relation. The structure is also provided for locking the valve seating face in unseated relation against the action of the spring means.

Abstract: A newspaper display machine has a container and an access door pivotably mounted to the container. The door includes a transparent window large enough to expose the full length and full width of a newspaper. A pair of pressure plates are pivotably mounted on the inside of the door for retaining a display newspaper against a rear surface of the window. Closure springs bias the pressure plates and access door to their closed positions. The container is provided with retainer openings which receive lower corners of the pressure plates when the pressure plates and the access door are all in their opened positions, in order to hold-open the pressure plates and access door against the closure biases of the springs.

Abstract: An improved agitator for a coin hopper having a rotatable pinwheel includes a hub mounted to the pinwheel and a plurality of elongated, longitudinally resilient blades projecting radially outward from the hub. The hub is preferably made of neoprene or other flexible material, and is mounted to the center of the plate so that the two rotate together. The blades are preferably made of spring steel or similar material and are not themselves attached to the pinwheel, but are embedded in the hub. The blades have hard, low friction surfaces, and longitudinally yield upon impact with the coins in the hopper and act to stir the coins and urge them into coin receiving slots on the pinwheel.

Abstract: A baby changing apparatus is provided in the form of a coin-operated vending machine having a fold down table on which the baby may be placed while his diaper is changed. Paper towelling is provided for the table, and a safety belt restrains the baby from rolling off the table. The apparatus vends a package containing a fresh disposable diaper and various accessories.

Abstract: A seed planting apparatus (10) is disclosed having a seed distribution tray (11) with a top plate (17) with perforations (18) therein at the desired spacing of the seeds to be planted. Vacuum draw is provided to a vacuum chamber (25) defined by walls (23, 24) of the tray to hold seeds spread onto the top plate at the position of the perforations (18). The excess seeds not held to the perforations (18) are removed by tilting the tray upwardly, allowing the seeds to be gathered along the upright side walls (19) of the tray and discharged therefrom, with the inverted tray being thereafter supported on a holding pan (12) in an accurately located position over a planting tray or cell flat which is also held in the holding pan (12). When the seed distribution tray (11) is so located, the vacuum to it is cut off and the seeds are allowed to drop down into their desired positions in the planting tray.

Abstract: Non-refillable valve for a pressure container which includes a housing with a central bore, which has a lower portion that is narrower than its middle portion which in turn is narrower than its upper portion. A side port is present in the lower region of the middle portion and an outlet nozzle is attached to the side port. The lower end of the housing is adapted to sealingly engage the pressure to provide communication therebetween. The valve stem is rotatably positioned in the upper portion of the central bore. A tube is mounted on the internal end of the valve stem which extends into the middle portion of the central bore. A resilient valve sealing member has a body portion and an upper flange that extends upwardly and outwardly from the body. A longitudinal passageway is present part way through the body portion. A vertical post is positioned in the middle of the longitudinal passageway and slidingly engaging the tube on the bottom of the valve stem.

Abstract: A container and dispenser for golf tees which is formed of a tube having a cylindrical opening through the center thereof for housing a plurality of golf tees one atop the other. The tube has attached at one end thereof an elastomeric nipple having an orifice therethrough for dispensing the tees. The tube is additionally provided with an opening for loading tees into the cylindrical opening thereof.

Abstract: A trolley locking device of the type comprising two co-operating parts, one of which is attached to each of two trolleys and whereof one part is a lock unit and the other is a key unit. The key and lock units are adapted to be releasable locked together with a coin or token is introduced into a slot in the side of the lock unit which enables the key to move a plug inside the lock unit axially to free the plug for rotation between two terminal positions thereof. The key engages the coin or token which acts as the medium for creating axial movement of the plug which is biased against such movement. Co-operating formations on the plug and lock unit prevent rotation of the plug unless moved axially against the bias applied to the plug. The coin or token can only be removed while the key and lock unit are engaged and the key can only be removed from the lock unit when a coin or token is present in the latter.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing cups one by one from a stack comprising a plurality of cams spaced about a first axis, coaxial with the axis of the stack of cups when present, drive means for rotating the cams together, each about an associated axis parallel with the first axis, each of the cams having a cam face which is a helix about its axis and is arranged to engage the rim of the end cup of a stack of cups located in the dispenser so that rotation of the cams in one direction pushes the end cup away from the remainder of the stack to dispense it, the spiral angle of the helix of the cam being in the range of about 8 degrees to about 14 degrees, and in which the cam face of each cam is chamfered with respect to any diameter of the cam, with the angle of chamfer of the cam face through its entire length in the range of substantially 22 degrees to substantially 28 degrees.