Abstract: For a vending machine for dispensing parallelepiped products, which are arranged in horizontal product stacks, a dispensing device is provided, which separates the first product package to be dispensed by tipping the package away from the product stack, with the remaining product stack being held in place. It is furthermore provided that the product package falls onto an inclined plane when tipped, from which it slides down under its own weight and reaches the dispensing opening of the vending machine. It is further provided that the dispensing device follows the product stack as the products are dispensed, or that the product stack be made so that it can move towards the dispensing device. The dispensing device is arranged on horizontal guide rails and several dispensing devices can be provided within one product row.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing cigarettes includes a tobacco hopper having a lower aperture, a dispensing device receiving tobacco from the aperture and dispensing the tobacco, a tobacco supply chamber disposed below the hopper to receive tobacco from the dispensing device, conveyor spindle means in the tobacco supply chamber for forming tobacco into a strand, an outlet on the tobacco supply chamber for the lateral discharge of the strand of tobacco, and a cigarette paper shell filling tube disposed adjacent to the outlet to receive therefrom the strand of tobacco to thereby form a cigarette.