Abstract: An apparatus and method for storing and dispensing comestibles, such as ice cream, has a cabinet defining an interior for holding a plurality of stacked ice cream containing magazines. A refrigeration system for cooling the interior of the cabinet below the freezing point of the ice cream is connected thereto. An X-Y picker assembly is positioned in the cabinet interior to transport ice cream from the selected magazine without heating the selected ice cream container or any other ice cream containers stored therein. The ice cream is carried by the X-Y picker assembly to a dispensing opening in the cabinet from which it can be accessed by the consumer. A nonvolatile information storage device is associated with the plurality of magazines and contains product characteristic information therein related to the flavors of ice cream in the magazines. A mapping system maps switch closures from product selection switches with the product characteristic information.

Abstract: Presented is a vending machine with an outer door, a space for merchandise capable of being seen through the outer door and filled with merchandise, and with additional units, as for example coin changer/coin counter, etc., adjacent to the merchandise space, which are lockable with the outer door. The merchandise space is cooled by a cooling assembly and the vending machine displays means that reduce cold losses during operation, in particular at the time of dispensing merchandise, removal of merchandise and/or refilling with merchandise. In this manner, it is also possible to offer and sell with the vending machine cooled merchandise, in particular low-temperature-cooled merchandise.

Abstract: Medication dispenser apparatus comprises a plurality of containers for holding different kinds of medications; an injector for selectively injecting medications from their responsive containers; a dispensing station for receiving the ejected medications; and a programmable control for controlling the ejection of medications from their respective containers according to pre-programmed kinds of medication, amounts, and times. The described preferred embodiment is a group dispenser for dispensing medications for a plurality of patients, such as in the ward of a hospital, at predetermined times and in predetermined amounts.

Abstract: An automatic distribution machine includes a plurality of bin modules, each bin module being adapted to dispense packages onto a conveyor belt or the like. The bin modules are removable and interchangeable, thereby facilitating replacement if one fails. A sorting operation performed by the machine is controlled by a computer, which communicates with the bin modules through a common data bus. Expansion of the sorting operation can be achieved by extending the data bus to additional bin modules.

Abstract: A slant-shelf magazine for an automatic, coin controlled, vending machine adapted to dispense cylindrical articles, such as canned or bottled beverages, which are stored and gravitationally fed from plural, parallel, horizontally inclined superposed storage racks into a vertical drop chute located opposite the lower ends of such racks. The drop chute communicates with a horizontally inclined delivery chute having a vend mechanism at its lowermost end for releasing articles one-by-one to a discharge hopper upon customer selection. The delivery chute is oppositely inclined from the storage racks and is joined to the drop chute by an intervening curvilinear guideway formed to reverse the gravitational movement direction of the articles prior to entry into the delivery chute for purposes of reducing article load forces on the vend mechanism.

Abstract: A method of preparing electronic components for insertion into printed circuit boards by means of an automatic insertion machine which has an attached set of component retaining and dispensing magazines, comprising the steps of loading another set of magazines at a position detached from the automatic insertion machine while the machine is in operation, then shutting down the machine and swapping the loaded set of magazines for the set previously attached to the machine, and restarting the machine.

Abstract: A card dispensing mechanism for an automatic card dispensing machine is provided with adjustable walls for storing cards of different lengths and interchangeable card ejecting device which can be selected to dispense cards of a preselected length. The card ejecting device may be adjusted to operate on cards of different thickness.

Abstract: A fastener feeding machine is provided with a plurality of fluid powered escapements for selecting and delivering fasteners in a predetermined sequence and orientation. The fastener feeding machine includes a manifold body with individual mounting stations at which the escapements are positioned. The manifold body includes a plurality of ports located at the mounting stations to communicate with the escapements and thereby provide for control of the escapements through a central pressurized fluid supply. An escapement mounting arrangement on the manifold body allows for quick detachment of the individual escapements, and simultaneous sealing of individual ports upon re-attachment.

Abstract: A dispensing device is provided for dispensing a plurality of articles such as cigarette boxes. The device includes two levels of individual dispensing modules. Each dispensing module includes a plurality of vertical stack holders mounted on a support plate having an open center. A dispensing mechanism selectively withdraws an article from one of the stack holders and conveys the article to the open center such that the article drops through the open center for conveyance to a final destination. The dispensing mechanism includes a shuttle plate also having an open center and a mechanism for moving the shuttle plate beneath the support plate for the vertical stack holders. One or more solenoid-activated engagement pins on the shuttle plate selectively engage one or more of the articles held in the stack holders such that, as the shuttle plate moves, the engaged article or articles moves with the shuttle plate.

Abstract: A vacuum beam product singulator to singulate "soft" products in an automated order dispensing system (AOS) is comprised of a product cartridge and an inclined conveyor belt. The conveyor belt picks the products from the bottom of the cartridge using a vacuum control element and carries it up the conveyor until it reaches a pinch roller that holds the product ready to be dispensed to a central conveyor of the AOS. Products are picked from the product cartridge by the inclined conveyor in an unbalanced position such that a product will fall off the conveyor unless held by a vacuum generated by the vacuum control element. Thus, random multiplies removed from the cartridge with the picked product fall off the conveyor. The product stream from the hopper is thereby singulated.

Abstract: A flare carrier and dispenser for the safe and convenient transportation of a plurality of flares. The flares are stacked vertically in two spaced inclined columns within a housing and are dispensable on command by the depression of a spring-loaded gate disposed at the bottom of each column of flares.

Abstract: A dispensing device for dispensing a supply of cups. The dispensing device includes a magazine which is adapted to house the supply of cups and also includes a dispensing assembly having a passageway associated with the magazine. Resilient members are supported to obstruct the passage of cups through the dispensing assembly. The orientation of the resilient members can be adjusted, moved, lengthened or shortened, to vary the amount of obstruction.

Abstract: An agricultural implement such as a grain drill or similar seeding implement includes a plurality of transversely spaced seed meters having fluted feed wheels fixed to and transversely movable with a drive shaft which is controlled by an actuator to vary seeding rate in response to an indication provided by a sensor or sensors associated with one or more of the meters. An electronic controller includes a desired seeding rate input and provides an indication of the actual seeding rate. In one embodiment of the invention, an error signal indicative of the difference between the actual and desired seeding rates is utilized in a closed-loop system to move the shaft to automatically maintain the desired seeding rate. In a wider implement with more than one shaft, a switching circuit is utilized to permit a single control circuit to provide individual section seeding rates and to automatically operate the actuator associated with the given drive shaft in accordance with the error signal.

Abstract: A cartonless recyclable package for protectively enclosing a product, such as photographic film, comprises a recyclable plastic container and mating cap with recyclably compatible plastic labels thereon bearing product information. One such label on the cap has readily tearable tab portions extending therefrom and tautly secured to the container, to tear apart when the cap is first removed. A second label, secured to the container and overlapping the tearable tab portions, includes inner and outer sheets separably adhered together. The outer sheet can be peeled back to reveal information on the interfacing surfaces of both sheets, and then re-adhered to the inner sheet. A third label, separably adhered to the first label on the cap, may be peeled away and re-adhered to some other surface for reference after the product has been removed.

Abstract: A vending machine includes a cabinet, a first merchandise carrying member disposed within said cabinet having a plurality of vertically aligned conveyor racks and a vertically extending elevator disposed within the cabinet. The elevator has a movable bucket. The machine also includes a second merchandise carrying member disposed within the cabinet, disposed under the plurality of conveyor racks and including at least one serpentine rack. A conveyor mechanism is disposed under the at least one serpentine rack for receiving merchandise from the at least one serpentine rack and for carrying this same merchandise to the bucket of the elevator.

Abstract: An article dispensing machine (10) comprising a cabinet (12) containing a plurality of upstanding columns (14),(15),(16) each of which includes a first serpentine track unit (17) having an upper article receiving end (19) and a lower article dispensing end (21), the first track unit (17) having serpentine track sections overlying each other in contiguous relationship, a second track unit (22) including an upper serpentine section (23) disposed above the first track unit (17) and including also a rear substantially straight, vertically disposed track section (26) connected to the lower end of the upper section (23) and disposed behind said first track unit (17) and having a lower article dispensing end (27), and article dispensing control units (28),(29) at the lower dispensing ends of said first and second track units, each control unit selectively pushing and lifting an article (18),(18') to be dispensed for aiding the release thereof.

Abstract: A magazine having multiple columns for storing cylindrical articles, such as canned beverages, in a coin operated vending machine. The magazine is fabricated preferably of sheet metal to include a plurality of vertical planar wall members held in parallel spaced relation by intervening transverse spacers and connector rods forming a plurality of vertical article storage columns therebetween. Opposing faces of each of two adjacent wall members are provided with a pair of laterally spaced non-overlapping serpentine rail assemblies. Opposing pairs of such rail assemblies between adjacent wall members are registeringly aligned to form two non-overlapping serpentine tracks which are designed to support cylindrical articles, such as beverage cans and the like.

Abstract: A vending machine for supplying different articles, the articles being located in magazines which are detachably fixed in compartments of the cabinet. The articles are removable through a flap of each magazine and the magazines are individually removable through a front opening of the cabinet for refilling with new articles. The magazines are of at least one narrow and one wide type. Each compartment is arranged for accommodating at least two narrow magazines juxtaposed to each other. At least two of the narrow magazines are replaceable by a wide magazine, the width of which is substantially equal to the total width of the magazines it replaces.

Abstract: On a transport path starting from a bankbook outlet from which a customer picks up a bankbook and extending into the inside of the bankbook issuing apparatus, a plurality of store units are disposed one after another. Bankbooks of several different types are stacked in the store units each reserving those of a same type. Upon request from a customer or a host computer, one of the store units in which requested bankbooks are stacked is selected. A bankbook at the lowest position in the selected store unit is then drawn therefrom to be transported on the transport path back to the bankbook outlet and to the customer.

Abstract: When a commodity package fed out from a commodity column accommodating a plurality of commodity packages has been accommodated in a package holder of a transporter, the transporter is moved along a guide to transport the commodity package to a position above a heater and is allowed to fall into a receptacle of the heater by the operation of a dropping mechanism. When the commodity in the package has been heated by the heater, the commodity package in the receptacle is fed out up to an opening of the discharging chute and allowed to fall.

Abstract: A storage and dispensing device is provided for use in a tape cassette dispensing machine. The device comprises a bin with side by side sliding compartments, each slidable to extend from one bid side to expose an open compartment side for insertion or removal of a cassette. The bin is mounted by means of two tongues extending from each of the upper and lower bin sides. The tongues extend rearwardly from the upper and lower bin sides. Each tongue has an opening with a slot and a locking rod is inserted into a pair of slots.

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking conical objects includes right hand and left hand side walls which are joined by divergent walls to define a tapering horizontal cross-section column in which the spacing between the opposite walls is shorter than the length of any one of the conical objects. The conical objects can be placed manually in the top of the column 1 but only in a given orientation (thanks to the tapering horizontal cross-section of the column) and only when hooked on a retaining finger projecting into the column through the side wall. The conical object at the top of the stack thus settles into an inclined orientation which it retains when the retaining finger is released to drop the cone down the column, thanks to an inertia brake to retard the wider diameter end of the falling cone and preventing the cone from becoming vertical. The retaining finger at the foot of the column releases only the bottom cone and allows any cones above it to become indexed downwardly into the bottom-most position.

Abstract: A ball dispenser for dispensing balls includes a first elongated open-ended tube for stacking the balls, a finger-operable dispenser permitting positioning, touch and inspection of a lowermost ball, and release of the lowermost ball by the finger of one hand of the user, so as to leave the other hand free. The finger-operable dispenser mechanism includes a holder mounted near one end of the first tube, a two-position spring-loaded lever pivotably mounted on the holder, and having a ball support portion normally supporting the lowermost ball, a finger-operable portion connected to the ball support portion, and a transient ball resting portion opposite the ball support portion, and which protrudes into the first tube interior through a slot formed in the tube.

Abstract: A vitamin dispenser designed for home use may be hung on a wall and includes manual release levers for dispensing different types of vitamins when desired. The dispenser includes a plurality of slots for holding different types of vitamins, and viewing windows in the dispenser provide an indication as to when a particular type of vitamin should be refilled.

Abstract: A double-acting, vending machine dispensing mechanism is shown whereby product units are alternately dispensed from adjacent storage compartments by an ejection device. The ejection device comprises a horizontally reciprocating dispensing bar connected to, and moved by the pendular movement of a rocker frame, motion of the latter being induced by the camming action of a gear mounted boss. The camming gear, in turn, is driven by a separate gear attached to the operating handle of a coin released mechanism.

Abstract: A dosage sealing, monitoring and dispensing assembly including a mounting receptacle and one or more cartridges removably connected to the receptacle. Each cartridge has sealed therewithin a fresh, supply of dosage units (e.g. medicine or vitamins) carried in moisture impervious shells on a flexible, segmented strip. The strip contains a predetermined number of dosage units to be consumed by the user over a particular duration. Each cartridge also has mechanical linkage by which a dosage unit can be automatically removed from its shell on the strip and delivered to the user by way of a trough formed in the mounting receptacle. When the supply of dosage units within a cartridge is exhausted, that cartridge may be conveniently removed from the mounting receptacle and replaced by another cartridge having a new supply of the same or different ingredients.

Abstract: The device of this invention is an integrated circuit singulator apparatus comprised of several arm assemblies (14, 18, 34) which act in concert to isolate or singulate an individual integrated circuit for testing of the accuracy of the circuits therein. This integrated circuit handler can accommodate integrated circuits of varying dimensions. The various arm assemblies (14, 18, 34) act to control movement of the integrated circuit devices on a track (12) without damage occurring to the integrated circuit devices.

Abstract: A space-to-sales vend rack including a plurality of adjacent vend columns having a wide range of respective storage capactities, first columns are provided for supporting products in vertical stacks with the longitudinal axes of the products orthogonal to the vending machine face, other columns are provided for supporting products in vertical stacks with the longitudinal axes of the products parallel to the vending machine face. The products with axes parallel to the front face of the vending machine are supported on slide-out racks for ease of loading.

Abstract: An automatic parts feeder has a bed, a base movable on the bed in a first direction, a hopper assembly mounted on the base, a delivery mechanism, a transfer mechanism, and a supply mechanism for supplying parts to a processing machine. The supply mechanism supplies the parts in a second direction normal to the first direction, and includes a movable assembly movable in both the first and second directions, a swing arm pivotally supported on the movable assembly and angularly movable in a plane normal to the second direction between a substantially vertical upstanding position and an inclined position, and parts receivers detachably mounted on the swing arm for receiving, holding, and releasing the parts.

Abstract: A vending machine designed to increase the flexibility of product storage and distribution therein, allowing specific product capacities to be increased or decreased in small increments without a loss of product selection. In the vending machine, a plurality of substantially vertical partitions define a plurality of vertical adjacent columns for product storage, wherein adjacent product storage columns are separated by a vertical partition. A removable product transfer shelf is placed at a selected vertical position in at least one particular product storage column, such that products below the transfer shelf are vended by actuation of the vending mechanism for that particular product column, while products above the transfer shelf are transferred thereby to an adjacent product column to be vended by the vending machine for the adjacent product column.

Abstract: A coupon packet housing defines a vertically disposed compartment for receiving a stack of substantially vertically aligned, vertically juxtaposed packets. A forwardly and rearwardly movable reciprocable floor plate underlies the compartment and has a flat surfaced, recessed portion extending rearwardly from its front end to define a generally vertically disposed dispensing shoulder which lies adjacent the rear of the compartment when the plate is in rearward position. The lowermost packet is received in the recessed portion, and is separated from the stack and then the recessed portion when the plate is respectively moved forwardly and thence returned rearwardly.

Abstract: An article dispenser for dispensing articles from a vending machine is disclosed. The article dispenser includes an article storage area which has a bottom opening through which articles are dispensed and an article dispensing mechanism which dispenses the lowermost articles stacked in the storage area through the bottom opening. The dispensing mechanism includes a rotating shaft which controls the opening and closing of the bottom opening of the storage area and is driven by a motor. The motor is controlled by a control device which rotates the motor in a first direction as determined by selection switches and reverses the direction of the motor after it has rotated 90.degree. and returns the motor to its initial starting position.

Abstract: Apparatus for orienting elongate bodies, for example electrical connectors, comprises magazines for containing vertical stacks of the elongate bodies, escapement slides for releasing one body at a time from each magazine, as required, first and second slidable traps mounted beneath the escapement slides and having an advanced, body supporting position and a retracted body release position, and guide surfaces on the escapement slides for guiding each body as it falls from a magazine, so that it lies across both of the traps when they are in their body supporting position. A pair of receptacles are slidably mounted on a carriage beneath the traps so that either of these receptacles can be positioned to receive a body released by the traps. If one trap is first retracted, the body will fall into the receptacle in one vertical orientation and if the other trap is first retracted, the body will fall into the receptacle in the opposite vertical orientation.

Abstract: An article vendor comprising a cabinet having a front and a rear and left and right sides, front and rear banks of article holding magazines with each bank having a plurality of the magazines arranged in banks with the magazines extending horizontally one above another from adjacent one side of the cabinet to adjacent the other, each magazine being adapted to hold articles to be vended in a first horizontal row for being dispensed from the left end of the magazine and in the second horizontal row for being dispensed from the right end of the magazine, each magazine in the front bank being constructed for ejection of articles at the left and right ends thereof toward the front and each magazine in the rear bank being constructed for ejection of articles at the left and right ends thereof towards the rear.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus having a tray for holding a plurality of containers to be dispensed and having an elevated shelf for receiving containers which is inclined to cause such containers to move towards the front end of the tray. A stop is disposed at the front of the tray for contacting an intermediate portion of the frontmost one of the containers for preventing the containers from being dispensed until such operation is desired. An ejector is operatively attached to the front of the tray for selectively pushing the frontmost one of the containers over the top of the stop and then resetting itself such that the next frontmost container will be ready to be dispensed when desired.

Abstract: A chest for storing, warming and dispensing ampules of medicants such as novocaine. In addition, provision is made for storing the hypodermic needles and the hypodermic syringes separately from the ampules of medicants so that the hypodermic syringes, the hypodermic needles and the ampules of medicants all are stored in orderly fashion. In particular, the chest includes a number of apertures for receiving therein the hypodermic syringes so that the hypodermic syringe can be easily selected for use. The chest includes two covered compartments which have trays removably stored therein. The hypodermic needles can be stored in one of the two trays and ampules of medicants such as novocaine or the like can be stored in the other one of the two trays. In addition, each of the two compartments is formed to receive a number of the ampules and to convey these ampules to a dispensing mechanism which is actuated simply by pressing a handle at the front of the chest to individually dispense the ampules.

Abstract: A can dispenser includes a storage rack having a lowermost storage shelf extending downwardly at a slight angle to the horizontal toward a discharge end thereof. A pair of stops are secured to the discharge end along opposing sides thereof for preventing the stored cans from freely rolling out of the discharge end. A dispensing lever includes first and second ends and is supported for limited turning movement about a lateral axis to raise the second end of the dispensing lever when the first end thereof is forced downward. The second end of the dispensing lever includes a camming surface disposed between and extending generally behind the stops for raising a can to be dispensed off of the lowermost storage shelf and above the stops, while a catch surface disposed behind and below the camming surface temporarily prevents further advancement of the remaining cans in the storage rack.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically storing and dispensing objects. This apparatus includes vertical storage pigeon-holes (7) contained in horizontal racks in drawers (3). Each pigeon-hole is filled with a stack (30) of objects and has an object extractor mechanism at its base, said mechanism being provided with a trap-door (31) and with a mechanism which jams the last but one object of the stack before and during the opening of the trap-door (31). A moving carriage (23) in a passage which is below the pigeon-holes of a rack allows the object extractor mechanisms to be actuated and the objects extracted from the pigeon-holes to be pushed towards the front of the drawer (3).

Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed for reducing the overall effective size of the goods storage and discharging system in an automatic vending machine. The solenoid and transmission mechanism of each goods discharging mechanism are so disposed that the discharging mechanisms of adjacent goods storage shelves may be arranged in a back-to-back relation with the solenoids and transmission mechanisms thereof laterally adjacent each other. The overall size of the vending machine may thus be substantially reduced.

Abstract: The present ice cream cone dispenser has an elongated hollow housing with a closed bottom and an open top and a peripheral flange at the top for mounting it at an opening in a counter top. A compression spring urges a follower plate upward inside the housing, and a flexible line limits the upward expansion of the spring to retain the follower plate within the housing when the spring is fully expanded. A shipping container holding stacked cones is inserted down into the housing until the lowermost cones are engaged from below by the follower plate. An apertured retainer is snapped into place at the counter top opening to hold down the uppermost cones which, however, may be removed manually through an opening in the retainer. The entire dispenser is removeable for cleaning purposes.

Abstract: Dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles such as thin substrates includes horizontally disposed shelves one above the other. Each shelf is divided into a plurality of lanes. Each lane includes at least one endless belt for moving a stack of upright substrates toward a front edge of the shelf. A drive mechanism is connected to each belt for driving each belt. A transfer member is provided for each lane adjacent the front end portion of the shelf. Each transfer member projects beyond the effective reach of its associated belt so that the leading substrate to be dispensed is supported by the transfer member prior to dropping downwardly off the free end of the transfer member.

Abstract: An apparatus for adapting a conventional mechanical cigarette vending machine having an upper tier of magazines and a lower tier of magazines, a first shelf for supporting a primary stack of cigarettes and a second shelf for supporting a reserve stack of cigarettes, to dispense cigarette packages containing one-half the number of cigarettes in a conventional package of cigarettes.The apparatus consists of three elements: an L-shaped insert designed to be attached to the pusher plate for moving the reserve stack of cigarettes into the vending position, a second insert designed to be attached by means of clips to the vertical wall of the forward portion of the magazine, and a clip element designed to be attached to the floor of this magazine below the reserve stack of cigarettes. This apparatus maintains the stack of packages of cigarettes, containing one-half the number of cigarettes in a normal package, in stacked relationship.

Abstract: Cassette modules and cassette displays for merchandizing tubular articles such as spools of thread are disclosed. In the preferred embodiments, the cassette modules are formed from module halves and are juxtaposed to form a cassette display, each cassette module comprising a plurality of chambers superposed in a column for housing the articles. In one disclosed embodiment, a frame is provided in which the cassette modules are mounted and removable from to form a cassette display. In that embodiment, each cassette module is pivotable about its upper end to facilitate mounting and also to facilitate loading of the articles into the chambers of the cassette modules. The height of the chambers of an individual cassette module and/or the chambers of cassette modules may vary to accommodate articles of different tubular sizes and the cassette modules may have different widths to accommodate articles of different length.

Abstract: A potato seed planter in which seeds are loaded into cups on an endless conveyor from a hopper of a seed receptacle. The conveyor is driven on upper and lower sprockets and arranged on the receptacle with the cups in two parallel rows in staggered constant relationship and moving upwardly through the hopper for seed loading. The cups pass around the upper sprocket, invert and enter a contoured tube thereat and descend in an attached discharge tube to a furrow. The cup bottoms are inclined transversely and support the seeds in their descent against the wall of the discharge tube. At the bottom the seeds are discharged from the planter and guided by the transversely inclined cup bottoms are deposited one by one alternately from one row and then the other in the furrow with precision heretofore unachieved. The planter further comprises a wheeled frame and one or more, attached, laterally extending, flexible frames upon which the receptacle is supported.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cap adapted for enclosing an aerosol can such as a shaving cream can, formed by a peripheral side wall and having a closed top and an open bottom end, the cap being substantially cylindrical in configuration, the peripheral side wall of the cap including an elongated slot extending along a line parallel to the tangential plane of the peripheral side wall and further including engagement lugs mounted on the peripheral side wall of the cap and positioned below the elongated slot, the engagement lugs cooperating with the elongated slot to facilitate the retention of a blade cartridge razor therein. In a preferred embodiment, the cap is further provided with a plurality of vertically oriented slots formed in the side wall, the slots having a closed bottom and an open top, access to which is had through a cut-away portion in the top of the cap, each of the vertically oriented slots being adapted to carry in storage configuration, a blade cartridge.

Abstract: A device for displaying and storing articles includes a wall structure which defines at least one chamber which is open at one end and which is adapted to receive in its interior a plurality of articles arranged one behind the other with one of the articles situated nearer to the open end of the chamber than the other articles. A pusher engages in the chamber that one of the articles which is most distant from the open end of the chamber, and a spring structure cooperates with the pusher to urge the latter toward the open end of the chamber so that the pusher tends to advance the articles out of the chamber through the open end thereof. A retainer structure is situated at the open end of the chamber for retaining the articles therein in such a way that the particular article which is nearest to the open end of the chamber can be manually removed therefrom, whereupon all of the articles are advanced by the pusher until the next article occupies the space previously occupied by the withdrawn article.

Abstract: An article storage unit device for use in a vending machine used for discharging an article at one time. A housing of the unit device defines at least one vertically extending article storing space and has a bottom opening. The housing is provided with a first stop adjacent the bottom opening by which an article is held in the space. A predetermined number of articles are stacked on the lowermost article within the space. The housing is also provided with a second stop for holding an article adjacent to and above the lowermost article. The first stop is releasable to discharge the lowermost article through the bottom opening by the gravity. The second stop is normally released and operates to hold the article for at least a time period during which the first stop is released. For the first and second stop, a cam may be used which is mounted on a drive shaft. The article storing space is adjusted by moving a movable plate within the space.

Abstract: Coin controlled article vending apparatus which features a hydraulic system to release a selected article from stacked horizontal position for dispensing.

Abstract: An adjustable multiple container dispensing apparatus in which first and second sets of container dispensing cams are arranged in first and second rows to define a plurality of container dispensing throats with four cams arranged to engage and dispense containers in each dispensing throat and with the cams of the first and second sets adjustable toward and away from each other to vary the size of the dispensing throat for dispensing different size containers. First and second sets of stack guide members are mounted for adjustment with the first and second sets of container dispensing cams to adjust the size of the container magazines simultaneous with adjustment of the size of the container dispensing throats.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a display panel for use in combination with two vending machine units. The vending machine units are positioned in a side-by-side arrangement and are bolted and operatively connected together to act as a single unit. The two vending machine units are controlled by a single coin mechanism which will enable an individual to select a primary product or one of a plurality of secondary products which are dispensed from either the first vending machine unit or the second vending machine unit. The display panel extends completely across the width dimension of both units and includes a logo thereon. A first vending machine unit includes an enlarged primary product selection button with the same product identification positioned thereon as the display panel and is disposed directly adjacent to a coin insertion slot.