Abstract: A game token dispenser is equipped with a token hopper for dispensing, to a token receiving port, a predetermined number of tokens supplied from a token reservoir. The token hopper is divided into a sequentially operating preliminary hopper and a dispensing hopper. The preliminary hopper has a sensor for detecting whether or not there are any tokens received from the reservoir, and a conveying mechanism for conveying the tokens forwardly. The dispensing hopper has a sensor for detecting whether or not there are any tokens received from the preliminary hopper. A discharging mechanism is provided for discharging the tokens one by one to the token receiving port. The dispenser preferably includes a display, on a front surface of a housing, for displaying whether or not it is possible to dispense the tokens and the number of the tokens dispensed.

Abstract: A multiple-product merchandising machine having a cylindrical drum mounted within a cabinet. The drum is divided into a plurality of horizontal shelves each of which is divided by a plurality of vertical walls into separate compartments from which the product can be dispensed. These compartments can be brought into alignment with access doors associated with each level and the doors, which are normally maintained locked, can be opened upon the insertion of adequate currancy in the machine to remove the product. The access door locking system prevents more than one door from being opened at one time. The drum is rotatable in either direction by a reversible motor. A viewing area is provided in the front of the machine which allows a prospective customer to see the product as it passes by. The drum is divided into sections with opaque walls which prevent viewing from the viewing area of more than half of the compartments on a shelf when the drum is in its rest position.

Abstract: A dispensing device has a storage compartment for holding one or more of the medication containers. The compartment has an opening. A push member moves in a path aligned with the opening between a first position, spaced from the opening, and a second position, adjacent the opening. A first mechanism moves one container held within the compartment into the path as the push member is moved from its second position toward its first position. The push member, when subsequently moved from its first position toward its second position, ejects the one container in the path from the compartment through the opening. The first mechanism also serves to move another container held within the compartment into the path after the one container is ejected and the push member is moved from its second position back toward its first position.

Abstract: A multiple-product merchandising machine having a cylindrical drum mounted within a cabinet. The drum is divided into a plurality of horizontal shelves each of which is divided by a plurality of vertical walls into separate compartments from which the product can be dispensed. These compartments can be brought into allignment with access doors associated with each level and the doors, which are normally maintained locked, can be opened upon the insertion of adequate currancy in the machine to remove the product. The access door locking system prevents more than one door from being opened at one time. The drum is rotatable in either direction by a reversible motor. A viewing area is provided in the front of the machine which allows a prospective customer to see the product as it passes by. The drum is divided into sections with opaque walls which prevent viewing from the viewing area of more than half of the compartments on a shelf when the drum is in its rest position.

Abstract: An essentially jam-free bulk loader for a semi-automatic paintball gun includes a storage housing positionable above the gun infeed opening and adapted to hold a quantity of paintballs to be gravity fed to and fired by the gun. Extending downwardly from a bottom outlet opening in the housing is a feed tube having a bottom end portion connectable to outer end of the gun infeed elbow. During normal operation of the loader, a series of paintballs fall into the tube and infeed elbow and are vertically stacked therein for sequential downward delivery to the gu through the inner end of the infeed elbow. If a paintball jam occurs within the storage housing above its outlet opening during firing of the gun, a void is created in a top end portion of the feed tube above the downwardly moving paintball stack. An optical sensor detects the void and responsively actuates a motor driven agitator member within the storage housing adjacent its bottom outlet opening.

Abstract: An envelope dispensing module (10) for use in an ATM includes feed belts (26) for feeding the lowermost envelope (18') of a stack of envelopes (18) along a feed path (49) towards an exit slot (50). Pulse generating apparatus (54) includes a roller (62) which is urged into engagement with the underside of the lowermost envelope (18') as this envelope (18') is fed along the feed path (49). During such feeding movement, a sensor (68) associated with a timing disc (64) mounted for rotation with the roller (62) generates a series of timing pulses in response to rotation of the roller (62) due to its engagement with the lowermost envelope (18'). Electronic control circuitry is arranged to stop the feed belts (26) with the lowermost envelope (18') in its correctly presented position at the exit slot (50) in response to the control circuitry counting a predetermined number of timing pulses subsequent to the sensing of the leading edge of this envelope (18') by an exit sensor (78) positioned behind the exit slot (50).

Abstract: The blockage module is designed to be mounted on air seeder seeding equipment. Piezoelectric sensors extending into the flow tubes monitor flow by producing high frequency ringing signals when struck by seeds. During a calibration step, the module will monitor each sensor and adjust the gain of the signal until the number of seed hits per second above a fixed voltage threshold is near a predetermined value. Each sensor connected to the module will be similarly calibrated, and the calibrated gain and hit rate will be stored. It has been found that if a blockage or partial blockage occurs under these calibrated conditions, the number of hits above the fixed voltage threshold will be sharply reduced. The reduced hit rate is compared to the calibrated hit rate, and an alarm is generated if the reduction is great enough. Because the reduced hit rate is immediately detectable, the response time to report a blockage is very short.

Abstract: A multiple-product merchandising machine having a cylindrical drum mounted within a cabinet. The drum is divided into a plurality of horizontal shelves each of which is divided by a plurality of vertical walls into separate compartments from which the product can be dispensed. These compartments can be brought into alignment with access doors associated with each level and the doors, which are normally maintained locked, can be opened upon the insertion of adequate currancy in the machine to remove the product. The access door locking system prevents more than one door from being opened at one time. The drum is rotatable in either direction by a reversible motor. A viewing area is provided in the front of the machine which allows a prospective customer to see the product as it passes by. The drum is divided into sections with opaque walls which prevent viewing from the viewing area of more than half of the compartment on a shelf when the drum is in its rest position.

Abstract: Apparatus for identifying and indicating the content of document canisters such as those used to hold supplies of documents in Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), includes a canister (10) holding a stack of documents (30) and having a face plate (24). Face plate (24) includes a plurality of buttonholes (26). Spring loaded buttons (25) are distributed among buttonholes (26); the arrangement of said buttons representing items of data such as ownership of the canister, canister serial number, and document information such as the type, denomination, amount, and character of the documents in the canister. In operating position, canister (10) is located in an ATM in contact with a picker mechanism (100) which removes documents, one at a time from the canister. The picker mechanism incorporates a switch plate (126) which is adjacent to face plate (24) when canister (10) and picker mechanism (100) are in operating position.

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: A workpiece supply device used in semiconductor assembly machines such as wire bonding device, pellet bonding device, etc. including an elevator section having an elevator table that is raised and lowered and carries a magazine accommodated therein plate-form workpieces, a magazine stacker which guides the magazine, and a pusher assembly including a pusher arm pushing the workpiece out of the magazine one at a time. The magazine stacker is made up with a fixed guide and a movable guide. The movable guide is adjustable size wise in a direction wherein the workpiece is pushed out, and the pusher device is provided on the movable guide. Power source for the pusher device is installed parallel to the workpieces piled up in the magazine.

Abstract: A document delivery and abort mechanism 11 for an automatic document dispensing machine 13 for dispensing currency comprises an accept door 15 for dispensing documents from automatic document dispensing machine 13, a power shaft 17 which operates in response to signals from the automatic document dispensing machine to open the accept door 15 or abort delivery of the currency, an accept door opening mechanism connected between power shaft 17 and accept door 15 for opening accept door 15, a locking mechanism for preventing rotation of the power shaft in a direction that opens the accept door 15 for locking accept door 15 in a closed position, when desired, and an abort door connected to power shaft 17 for aborting delivery of the currency when it has been processed incorrectly.

Abstract: A currency note dispenser especially adapted for under-the counter use in which a conveyor carries notes removed from the bottom of a supply stack to a delivery tray at an access location above the supply. In response to a malfunction of the dispenser, an energizable element moves the tray to an inoperative position at which notes previously delivered thereto fall to an escrow area in the dispenser cabinet and hold the tray in that position until all notes received by the conveyor have passed to the escrow area. Before moving the tray, the energizable element releases a mechanical lock which prevents movement of the tray to its inoperative position in the absence of energization of the energizable element.

Abstract: A multiple-product merchandizing machine having a cylindrical drum mounted within a cabinet. The drum is divided into a plurality of horizontal shelves each of which is divided by a plurality of vertical walls into separate compartments from which the product can be dispensed. These compartments can be brought into alignment with access doors associated with each level and the doors, which are normally maintained locked, can be opened upon the insertion of adequate currancy in the machine to remove the product. The access door locking system prevents more than one door from being opened at one time. The drum is rotatable in either direction by a reversible motor. A viewing area is provided in the front of the machine which allows a prospective customer to see the product as it passes by. The drum is divided into sections with opaque walls which prevent viewing from the viewing areas of more than half of the compartments on a shelf when the drum is in its rest position.

Abstract: A medication dispenser that includes a receptacle having a counting compartment with a first opening into the receptacle and a second opening through which the pills are dispensed. To be dispensed, the pills must passthrough the counting compartment and are counted during such passage. Both openings are blocked or unblocked by logic built into or remotely connected to the dispenser, which logic determines whether the pills in the compartment should be dispensed. In one embodiment of the dispenser, the pills are counted by sensing the amount of light that is passed through the compartment. The logic counts the pills by subtracting the amount of light transmitted through the compartment when it contains pills from the amount of light transmitted through an empty compartment and comparing the result to the known size of the pills. In an alternative embodiment, the pills are weighed in the counted compartment and the weight is compared to the known weight of a single pill.

Abstract: An automated drinkmaker system which is designed to accept an input drink order, as from a cash register, and deliver the drink order, for different sizes and different flavors, with or without ice, completely finished in lidded containers to an output station. The automated drinkmaker system is designed for labor free processing of drink orders in high volume quick service or fast food establishments. The machine is designed around a carousel type of drink transporter which intermittently carries each drink to and from four circularly spaced stations, cup dispensing, ice dispensing, soda dispensing, lid application and marking. The carousel design allows a cup to be dispensed at one station while another cup is being filled with ice at a second station, and yet another is being filled with soda at a third station, etc. The use of carousels is extended to both cup and lid dispensing.

Abstract: A card dispensing apparatus is disclosed of a type comprising a draw roller for drawing a card to be dispensed from a bottom of a stack of cards and a delivery roller for delivering the drawn card toward an outlet of the apparatus. The card dispensing apparatus further comprises an antidoubling roller positioned above the delivery roller and reversely rotated relative to the delivery roller to preventing an upper card of two overlapped cards from delivering to the outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for successive supply of parts comprises a main parts feeding device for feeding parts successively to a predetermined position, a auxiliary parts feeding device provided with a parts storing portion and operative to supply parts kept in the parts storing portion in a selected situation, a checking device for checking a parts feeding condition of the main parts feeding portion, and a feeding control device operative to cause the auxiliary parts feeding device to feed the parts kept in the parts storing portion to the feeding control device when the checking device detects that the main parts feeding device fails to feed the parts to the predetermined position. The parts fed to the predetermined position and the parts fed to the feeding control device are supplied to a common destination through the feeding control device.

Abstract: A paper document transacting apparatus for storing and extracting a paper document into and out of storages through a transporting unit. The apparatus comprises a detector for detecting a transporting condition of the paper document, an indicator for indicating an abnormal transport position of the document, a control switch for controlling a transporting unit, and a controller for controlling the indicator such that, when the abnormal transport position is detected, at least a leading abnormal transport position in a transporting direction out of abnormal transport positions is indicated as well as driving the transporting unit at a low speed according to a signal from the control switch.

Abstract: A multiple-product merchandising machine having a cylindrical drum mounted within a cabinet. The drum is divided into a plurality of horizontal shelves each of which is divided by a plurality of vertical walls into separate compartments from which the product can be dispensed. These compartments can be brought into alignment with access doors associated with each level and the doors, which are normally maintained locked, can be opened upon the insertion of adequate currency in the machine to remove the product. The access door locking system prevents more than one door from being opened at one time. The drum is rotatable in either direction by a reversible motor. A viewing area is provided in the front of the machine which allows a prospective customer to see the product as it passes by. The drum is divided into sections with opaque walls which prevent viewing from the viewing area of more than half of the compartments on a shelf when the drum is in its rest position.

Abstract: An article gripper is moved by a robotic transporter in two perpendicular directions within a transport plane between a reference location and ID code reading locations aligned with an access port and storage cells of storage assemblies mounted in doors closing a transport compartment of an automatic vending machine. The gripper is also moved by the robotic transporter in a direction intersecting the transport plane to insert or withdraw articles carried by the gripper after displacement by incremental amounts from the aligned reading locations to gripping or releasing positions. The foregoing movements of the gripper as well as other related operations are under programmed control of a computer and inputted data from a keypad and card reader to perform merchandising transactions with respect to manufactured articles stored in the doors of the machine as well as to accommodate servicing operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the supply of cap members from a magazine or supply bin, via a channel, to the capping mechanism of a capping machine. At least one signal emitter, which is provided at the channel, generates an emitted signal that changes as the cap members move past, with a disruption signal being derived from the emitted signal if this emitted signal does not change during a specified time interval. A cycle signal is derived from the working or machine cycle of the capping machine. If no change of the emitted signal is determined in two successive cycles, the sum of which correspond to a full period of the cycle signal, the disruption signal is generated.

Abstract: A vending machine control apparatus has a product delivery motor home circuit and a DC power supply modulated in response to varying line voltage and/or load by a pulse width modulation circuit. The modulated DC power signal supplies power to one or more DC product delivery motors in a vending machine. Each product delivery motor has an associated switch which passes pulses, resulting from the modulation of the power supply, when the delivery motor is in its home position. A simple motor home detection circuit detects these pulses, and preferably a microprocessor control circuit connected to the detection circuit determines that a home condition exists.

Abstract: A ticket issuing device for a ticket machine according to the present invention comprises a holding plate for receiving thereon tickets fed one by one from a data writing station by a feeding mechanism and for temporarily holding the tickets in a layered condition thereon, a receiving plate located adjacent a ticket issuing port, and an operating member for discharging tickets on the holding plate onto the receiving plate when an issuing signal is issued. Thus, a plurality of tickets can be discharged at a time onto the receiving plate, thereby giving facilities to a person who tries to receive the tickets. The device further comprises a transferrer constituted by electromagnets, the holding plates, and a mechanism interconnecting them which operates when an issue stopping signal is issued to transfer tickets on the holding plate toward a storage. Thus, tickets to be withdrawn are automatically transferred into the storage, thereby giving facilities to a withdrawing person.

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 starts the motor after receiving a start signal and which temporarily stops the motor after receiving a motor stop signal.

Abstract: A stamp dispensing apparatus receives and transmits serial data between itself and a central computer. The data from the computer includes stamp dispensing commands as well as supervisory commands in a predetermined serial data format. The stamp dispensing apparatus comprises interface means for receiving the data, decoding the data, and actuating a stamp dispensing mechanism. The apparatus includes an LED-photodetector mechanism for detecting stamp perforations to allow counting of the number of stamps dispensed. Dispensing errors are detected and reported back to the computer.

Abstract: A system for scanning and dispensing postage stamps from a roll of stamps, including a scanning circuit for optically scanning each individual stamp on a stamp roll as the stamp passes thereby in order to detect the degree of opacity of such stamp and to produce a scanning output signal representative of the degree of opacity, an examination circuit including a first circuit portion operable to determine if an individual stamp boundary has been encountered and to produce a boundary detection signal in such event, and a second circuit portion responsive to such scanning output signal to determine if the degree of opacity detected identifies a non-blank stamp and to produce a non-blank status detection signal in such event, and a dispensing control circuit responsive to an externally generated dispense request signal and to the production of one or more boundary detection signals and non-blank status detection signals to control the operation of stamp movement and detaching devices.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a device for operating upon a filter-rod lengths comprising a first conveyor for transferring the filter lengths from a supply outlet to a plurality of further conveyors. The further conveyors carry the filter lengths past a heat rod-forming elements and a barrier-depositing assembly. All the conveyors are driven from a single power source. The first conveyor may be selectively manually disengaged from the power source so that filter-rod lengths which have passed the first conveyor can be cleared from the device before the device is shut down.

Abstract: The combination of a vend control circuit with a device to accumulate an ongoing history of the operation of a vending machine capable of vending products and making change, the improvements comprising circuit elements for detecting the occurence of an interruption in the supply of power from a power source to the circuit and operable to prevent loss of stored information on the ongoing machine operations before resetting the circuit, an internal source of energy rechargeable by the power source, a pricing matrix and associated switches the combined settings of which establish the vend price for the machine, and a sensor device responsive whether or not the door to the vending the machine is open for restocking or servicing including a control circuit associated with the door sensor device for distinguishing between vends made by the vending machine when the door is open and vends made by the machine when the door is closed.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing machine provided with the ability to alter machine characteristics and to diagnose machine faults without additional fault indicating displays through use of beverage select buttons normally used to select a variety of beverage selections offered by the machine.

Abstract: A rivet injector/rejector device (10) is provided for use with a riveting machine (12) having a plurality of rivet gripping fingers (120, 122). The device (10) includes a supporting member (16) fixedly mounted to the riveting machine (12). A tubular member (92) is provided for delivering a rivet (148) to the fingers (120, 122). The tubular member (92) is mounted to the supporting member (16) so that an end portion (118) of the tubular member may be moved downwardly relative to the fingers (120, 122). The end portion (118) is shaped so that as it moves downwardly it spreads the fingers thereby permitting a rivet to drop free therefrom.

Abstract: A document and currency handling machine in which bills to be handled are loaded in a cartridge having a first endless belt with a pusher plate which is spring biased towards the sheet-by-sheet feeder in the machine by a spiral spring coupled between the first endless belt and the shaft of one roller over which the first belt passes, so as to assure constant pressure by the pusher plate throughout its travel; a second endless belt, receiving separated bills from the sheet-by-sheet feeder, passes them by a sensor which detects defective bills and activates a diverter which diverts such defective bills into a reject tray, the good bills passing to an output stacker which, when the predetermined number of bills has been received by it, pivots to permit easy removal of the good bills.

Abstract: An order filling apparatus includes an elongated belt conveyor having a bin-on switch and a bin-off switch at opposite ends thereof. A plurality of item dispensers are positioned along the conveyor, and each dispenser is loaded with a single type of item. An order filling control computer has a bus cable extending along the conveyor, and each dispenser has a dispenser control board connected to the bus. Each control board includes an address decoder and circuitry for relaying command signals from the controller to the dispenser and for generating status signals indicating the operational status of the dispenser. A conveyor travel encoder provides a position signal indicative of conveyor travel. The controller stores orders to be filled with items. An order filling method includes a conveying item receptacle bins past the dispensers to receive items therefrom. As each bin engages the bin-on switch, an order is activated and associated with the bin.

Abstract: Banknote feeding apparatus is disclosed which includes a cassette for a stack (S) of banknotes, a reciprocating suction arm (6) acting on the endmost banknote for removing banknotes singly from the end of the stack and conveying them into the nip of a pair of rollers, and which is characterized by a "gulp" arm (27) with a blade (29) which is inserted into the stack and removes from the end of the stack a batch of banknotes, conveying them into the same nip rollers. The gulp arm is coupled to the rotation of the drive shaft (21) of the suction arm (6) by means of a parallel drive shaft (23) which is driven by a drive arm (22) by means of a follower (24) only in the event of a blockage of banknotes. A blockage signal energizes a solenoid (20) which pushes the follower (24) into a position such that it will be driven by the drive arm (22), so rotating the gulp arm (27). The removal of a batch from the end of the stack should clear the blockage.

Abstract: Applicant has provided a hopper feed mechanism used to feed articles into other process equipment. The operator feeds the articles into the hopper. Upon actuation, a shuttle blade conveys an article out of the hopper and under a feedwheel. The shuttle blade is movably supported to the fixed frame of the mechanism, and is powered by an air cylinder. The feedwheel is lifted as the article is propeled under the feedwheel and is lowered to feed the article into other process equipment.

Abstract: A control device for re-starting a cigarette packing machine, while it is slowing down after having cleared itself of a cigarette starvation condition in a flow channel (2), comprises: a triggering circuit (A2, I1) pulsed by a stroboscopic switch (S1) at machine speed, and controlling two flip-flop counters (F1 and F2); a fault emission circuit (R1, C1, R2, C2 and A1) fed from the starvation detector switch (40); a main shut-down circuit (I2, S2) connected from the output of one flip-flop (F1); and a re-start circuit (C3, R3, S3) connected from the output of the other flip-flop (F2).

Abstract: A bill and coin changer in which a circuit employing a programmed microcomputer controls the bill-validating and coin-dispensing procedures and searches for faults in the operation of the sensors and electromechanical components of the changer. During bill validation, a bill is moved at a predetermined speed along a path past a plurality of sensors, and rejection signals are generated if a particular sensor is actuated for other than a predetermined permissible duration or generates a predetermined output within a test period delimited by the delayed output of the other sensors. In response to a rejection signal, the bill is returned to the customer and a diagnostic hexadecimal rejection code character is displayed indicating the condition prompting rejection. Jammed objects are extricated from the bill transport by alternatingly actuating the transport to move the object in one direction and then in the other upon sensing a jammed condition.

Abstract: The device has a feed roller with a high friction rubber segment which picks notes one at a time for each roller revolution or cycle. A counter-rotating separator roller normally prevents picking doubles. A cooperative doubles detector detects doubles when picked and returns the doubles to the note supply stack. The picker mechanism has a biasing lever which holds the note stack out of contact with the feed roller against stack pressure until the friction segment is in note separating and picking position.

Abstract: A bill packet discharging apparatus is disclosed, in which bill packets can be automatically supplied to an outlet from a bill packet storage section in which bill packets are accommodated in a stacked form. Bill packets can be successively fed out from the lowermost bill packet in the stack in the storage section to a transport path by a bill packet feeding mechanism. When the bill packet being fed out is a defective bill packet with the band thereof broken so that the bills are released, this state is detected optically, and the defective bill packet is automatically collected in a recovery section.

Abstract: A pill dispenser mechanism is provided in which a multilayered compartment is releasably attachable to a receptacle for pills in such a way that pills may be selectively advanced into one compartment, then by selective advancement of one of the compartment layers transfer the pill from the first compartment into a discharge compartment to permit sequential recovery of pills therefrom. In order to accommodate different sized pills, the compartments may be provided with different sized openings to conform to the substantial size and configuration of the pill. Electrical contact switches may be associated with the compartments to sense for the purpose of recording the movement of a pill between one or more, or a combination of both, compartments.

Abstract: Vending machine control and diagnostic apparatus for a vending apparatus having product delivery means comprising an electrically operated actuator for delivery of products, an impedance element and a circuit opening switch. The impedance element and the switch are connected electrically in series with each other and in a parallel circuit with the actuator, and the opening and closing of the switch is controlled by the operation of the actuator. The control and diagnostic apparatus detects changes in impedance of the parallel circuit.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a coin handling apparatus such as a coin packaging apparatus which is free from any trouble that would be caused when the power supply service is interrupted or when the power supply circuit is carelessly broken. The coin handling apparatus includes a rotary solenoid which can rotate back and forth at a predetermined angle thereby to control the opening and closing operations of the guide passage by a rotary pin. Further inclusive is a power source detecting circuit which is made operative to detect the existence of the power supply to the coin handling apparatus thereby to generate output signals respectively corresponding to the existence and nonexistence of the power supply.

Abstract: A retrieval mechanism for a divert-container-equipped ATM of typical construction to retrieve and protect paper money bills dispensed at a customer's request by the ATM and left at an accessible location at the ATM bill delivery station unpicked by the customer. The unpicked bills are sensed after a short time delay in unpicked status. The unpicked bills when sensed are automatically returned to the reversible conveyor of such typical divert-container-equipped ATM and transported by reversal of the conveyor to the divert container.

Abstract: A label feed control system for separating labels sequentially from the base ribbon. The base ribbon is transported for a certain length after the front edge of each label has been detected. The feed amount of the label after its front edge has been detected is substantially constant even if the front edge detector is interfered by a finger or the like and a label detection signal is erroneously generated.

Abstract: The present invention comprehends a circuit arrangement for detecting and interpreting interferences with automatic machines and particularly coin telephones. Free use of the automatic machine by manipulations (statically charged persons, electronic cigarette lighters or gas lighters) is prevented by means of a highly sensitive interference discriminator whose input is connected to the housing of the automatic machine or to an antenna, and whose output controls the malfunction detector in such a way that the latter blocks the use of the automatic machine when the discriminator responds.

Abstract: A note disbursing machine is formed with a reject pool section instead of an independent reject box. An uppermost note receiving box is adapted to be accommodated in the note disbursing machine so as to face the reject pool section. The receiving box has an upper cover. A reject box for receiving rejected notes is rotatably mounted on the upper cover. A cover for covering the reject box and guiding the rejected notes is rotatably mounted on the reject box.

Abstract: A vending machine including a plurality of receptacles in which articles to be vended are stored and releasing mechanisms that selectively release the articles from the receptacles. An enabler counts money or other tender deposition in the machine and enables the releasing mechanisms associated with those receptacles containing appropriately priced articles as successive predetermined totals are reached. The money is temporarily deposited in an escrow chamber from which it is released into a bank only after a sensing device determines that an article has in fact been released.

Abstract: An improved vending control system for controlling events and sequences of events involved in vending and paying out or refunding of amounts deposited, the system including product delivery sensing apparatus to monitor the delivery of products and to indicate when a product dispensing cycle has been successfully completed, the sensing apparatus including a sensor device located to sense the dispensing of all products, circuits connecting the sensor device to produce outputs whenever a product being delivered is sensed, a timing device for establishing a predetermined time interval whenever a product delivery operation is initiated, and a comparator circuit to compare the time of occurrence of an output of the sensing apparatus to the predetermined time interval to control terminating a vend cycle and the subtracting of the price of a vend from an amount of credit entered by the customer.

Abstract: A coin counting machine is described having an anti-jamming device for removing jammed coins from a passageway. A jam detection circuit is provided for indicating the jamming of a passageway. A stop control circuit is provided whereby the coin counting machine operation is halted at which time the jam is removed. Jam removal is accomplished by reversing direction of operation of the counting machine. The apparatus described thereby prevents damage to the machine which would normally result from coin jamming.

Abstract: A packing machine is disclosed in which an apparatus for automatically stopping a pair of intermittently operated pinching rollers for transferring a strip-like plastics bag material is provided. The apparatus is a kind of emergency stop and is arranged to be automatically operated in case the bag material loaded in the machine has been broken.