Abstract: The invention relates to a cigarette vending machine, especially for installing in the checkout area of a market or the like, comprising a housing (12) wherein several shafts (16) are located (16). Said shafts accommodate columns of cigarette packs (18) which are oriented upright with their broad sides resting against each other. A discharge outlet for individual cigarette packs is located at the front of the shafts (16). The aim of the invention is to provide a simple means of discharging a cigarette pack whilst ensuring that the packs are suitably presented to the customer. The pack should not however be removed directly from the supply shaft. To this end, an optionally controllable drive mechanism (36, 38, 40) is allocated to each shaft (16). Each drive mechanism has a pressure piece (42) which exerts pressure acting on the back side of the rearmost cigarette pack (18) of the column of packs, urging frontwards.

Abstract: The invention relates to an empty bottle collector with an intake chamber (14) for empty bottles (16) and a carriage (20) as an interchangeable store (22). To simplify operations when the interchangeable store (22) is being filled and emptied, the empty bottle store (22) is accessible from the stationary intake chamber (14) via a closable aperture (38) transverse to the intake aperture (11). In addition, there is a conveyor with a transverse slide (68) movable to and fro transversely to the intake direction through the intake chamber (14) towards the aperture (38). The bottles are sorted via a sensor slide (44) movable to and fro in the intake direction crossing the path of the transverse slide (68) in the region of the intake chamber and fitted with sensors (48) for contactlessly scanning the shape of the bottle.

Abstract: An apparatus that serves to collect and account for empty beverage bottles in beverage stores. A carriage is provided as the receptacle, the bottom of which is automatically displaceable in height by means of a chain drive, operated via light beam emitters and tripping vanes, in accordance with the bottles continually introduced into the receptacle. The bottles, on being introduced, enter an intake rotor having sectors. This rotor alternately changes its direction of rotation after each bottle is introduced, so that the bottles pass into the receptacle in two different directions in alternation via guide chutes. Pyramids of bottles are thereby prevented from forming on one side only. Therefore bottle breakage is avoided as a result of the adaptation of the height of the bottom, and that replacing a full container with an empty one can be accomplished without difficulty. When used with a bottle recognition and evaluation unit, the apparatus can accept bottles and calculate the amount of deposit due.