Abstract: Stitch quality monitoring system for use in combination with a sewing machine having one or more stitch threads and comprising sensor means for at least one of said one or more stitch threads for detecting thread motion during each sewing stitch cycle. Encoder means is operatively associated with the sewing machine for creating a predetermined constant number of sensor means sampling signals for each stitch cycle of the sewing machine, and circuit means is electrically connected to the sensor means and encoder means for detecting stitch defects during the formation of potentially defective stitches.

Abstract: A vendor for packs of cigarettes comprising a cabinet having a window at the front, a plurality of dispensers in the cabinet for the packs, each adapted to hold a plurality of packs of one brand in a row extending in rear-to-front direction in the cabinet, the dispensers being arranged in tiers one above another in the cabinet with a plurality of dispensers located side-by-side in each tier. The tiers are slanted upward from rear to front, and each tier above the lowermost tier overhangs the tier next below at the front. A transparent panel fixed in place at the front of each tier is engageable by the forward packs of the rows in the tier, the fronts of the forward packs being visible through the window and the panel. The forward pack of a row is dispensed, upon its selection by a purchaser (and accompanying deposit of an amount sufficient for its purchase), by being pushed down from behind the respective transparent panel, and drops down to a delivery pan located below the window.

Abstract: A vendor having sliding trays or carriers in a cabinet, a latch being pivotably mounted on one side of the cabinet adjacent the front end of one of a pair of channels in which channels the carrier is slidably mounted by means of two series of rollers, the series being on opposite sides of the carrier. Each channel has upper and lower flanges which extend from its respective side toward the opposite side of the cabinet. A pair of rail members are disposed, one on each of the sides of the cabinets, at the forward ends of the channels. Each rail member has a rear upper surface portion generally flush with the lower flange of its channel and a forward upper surface portion which progresses upwardly in forward direction from the rear upper surface portion to a peak. The peaks are spaced from the forward ends of the upper flanges of their respective channels a distance greater than the diameter of the rollers.

Abstract: A vendor comprising a cabinet having a front door and shelves in the cabinet for holding items to be vended, the shelves being slidable into and out of the cabinet at the front of the cabinet when the door is open, the vendor having means for locking the shelves in the cabinet unless the door is opened far enough to enable the shelves to be slid out without striking the door, and means for locking the door in open position when any shelf is in an extended position at least within a predetermined range of extension from its position within the cabinet to prevent closing the door against a shelf.

Abstract: A rear-to-front spiral vendor having special provision for vending items such as bags of snack products, e.g., bags of potato chips, without hang-up of the items against the front window of the cabinet of the vendor.