Abstract: A theft deterrent device restricts the number of newspapers or other periodicals that can be retrieved from a newspaper vending machine at one time. The device includes a cover gate forming a generally T-shaped opening with a vertical passageway and a horizontal slot opening. The cover gate mounts over an access opening of the vending machine behind a hinged door that closes against the vending machine. The cover gate restricts the number of periodicals that can be withdrawn at one time from a storage cabinet portion of the machine after the hinged door is opened and lowered by a customer. The deterrent device is easily installed on existing newspaper vending machines by way of an engagement member that securely engages a fixed part of the vending machine in the region of the access opening. A lock mechanism on the cover gate serves to lock the cover gate to the dispensing machine and firmly hold the gate in place over the access opening.

Abstract: A coin sorter is described for sorting coins of different denominations by means of ramps and flaps, the sorted coins being directed to different chutes, one chute being provided for each coin denomination, the chutes and coin exit openings at the ends of chutes as well as the ramps being formed in two complementary parts of the coin sorter. The sorter may be provided either in a coin operated assembly for use in an existing coin operated vending machine or in a new machine and in either case is best used in conjunction with a coin totalizer having a ratchet wheel, a price cam and at least two circular cams, the price cam and circular cams being rotatable with the ratchet wheel when the latter is rotated by a trip wire-lever, the degree of rotation being determined by the chute through which a given coin passes.

Abstract: A dispenser for a stack of horizontally disposed, rectangular cards or the like and a product vending machine incorporating the dispenser. The dispenser features a magazine for the stack of cards and a dispensing chute beneath the magazine. Between the magazine and the chute, on one lateral side thereof, is a slider with a pair of laterally extending front and rear fingers that can be moved frontally and rearwardly against the front and rear edges, repectively, of the bottommost card of the stack. When the dispenser is actuated, the slider moves rearwardly so that its front finger urges the bottommost card to move rearwardly to an intermediate position in which the rear portions of the card are restrained from moving downwardly while the front portions of the card are free to move downwardly into the dispensing chute.