Abstract: A novel vending machine for sequentially and selectively dispensing and vending in a merchandise dispensing region each one of a plurality of substantially similarly-shaped flat merchandise objects (usually each of substantially parallelopiped shape, such as that of a newspaper, magazine, or the like, although not specifically so limited) in an object-size-adjustable manner making it possible to quickly and easily initially adjust the apparatus to correspond to a particular thickness of depth-direction dimension of each of the merchandise objects which are to be dispensed so the dispensing apparatus is set exactly for that particular thickness of each of the similar merchandise objects; and conversely, being just as easily being differently adjusted for the appropriate sequential dispensing of each one of a plurality of different merchandise objects having completely different thicknesses in each case than in the first-mentioned case; and capable of easy adjustment into any intermediate adjusted relationship

Abstract: A dispenser for the individual portioned dispensing of tablets (1), pastes or the like, having a housing pipe (2) which is provided at one end with a delivery opening (6) and, opposite same, is equipped with a push bottom (13) for transporting of the material to be dispensed in the direction towards the delivery opening (6), which push bottom (13) can be displaced stepwise in the direction towards the delivery opening by means of an actuating handle which is adjacent the delivery opening and is connected to the push bottom. In order to obtain a favorable accommodation for the material to the dispensed, the bar connection between actuating handle (9) and push bottom (13) extends along the inner surface of the housing pipe wall, leaving the inside of the housing pipe (2) free.

Abstract: A single item vending machine, particularly for vending only a single newspaper for each vend operation, is disclosed. The machine has a slot, which is adjustable in height, in the front of the frame of the machine through which the newspaper is vended. A door on the front of the machine prevents access to the slot unless the door is opened. The door cannot be opened unless the required coins are placed in a coin mechanism, thus releasing a door lock. Mounted inside the machine is a base plate. Mounted on top of the base plate are ball bearings. Resting on the ball bearings is a transfer plate which has a raised rear portion which is approximately 1/2 inch higher than a lower front portion of the transfer plate. When the machine is in the closed and locked position, the newspapers are stacked on the lower front portion of the transfer plate. The transfer plate, which is connected to the door by at least one hinge and lever arm, slides forward when the door is opened by the purchaser.

Abstract: A machine for permitting access to and manual removal of one uppermost article from a stack of vertically positioned articles, such as a newspaper, upon deposit of a predetermined amount of payment in the form of coins and the like, including a manually movable vending mechanism actuated by a machine door that allows access to an article closure having an article access opening that is normally closed by a barrier member which is self-adjusting to the thickness of the article to be vended and which by a pawl and ratchet mechanism is withdrawn from access blocking position upon actuation of the vending mechanism by the machine door. The machine may include a coin receiver and totalizer that permits access through the movable door to the article to be vended through the article access opening.

Abstract: A coin operated newspaper and like article vending system for dispensing articles on a one-at-a-time basis wherein a housing forms a cabinet for containing newspapers and like articles to be vended, a door is hinged on one side of the cabinet, a coin operated lock mechanism releasably locks the door to the cabinet, a partition is incorporated with the housing as a wall thereof situated behind the door and provides a dispensing slot behind the door for passing one article at a time, an elevator assures the delivery of newspapers successively to a location opposite the dispensing slot, a newspaper dispensing element is actuable to engage and move the newspaper partly out the opening, linkage mechanism connects the door and dispensing element to move the newspaper at least partly out of the opening when the door is moved and mechanism delays the return of the dispensing element to full dispensing position pending locking of the door.

Abstract: A coin operated vending machine delivers single newspapers and/or similar articles from the upper end of a stack of articles out a vending slot. A roller engages the article and moves it part of the way out the slot so that it can be grasped by the customer and pulled the remaining distance. An actuator, such as the access door used on vending machines currently in the field, is linked with the roller to revolve it in a dispensing direction, but the motion transmission mechanism for the roller does not transmit rotation in the opposite direction and permits the roller to revolve independently of the motion transmission mechanism.

Abstract: A single copy vending machine for newspapers, magazines or the like which employs a separation device attached to the door of a conventional appearing newspaper vendor to separate the topmost newspaper from a stack thereof subsequent to the insertion of proper coinage and the opening of the door. A sequentially selective elevator mechanism is provided to insure that the topmost newspaper of a stack on the elevator is in the path of the fully retracted separation device. A novel newspaper display chamber is provided to first, facilitate the proper adjustment of the separation device and, secondly to hold remote, from purchaser access, content of the display chamber until the elevator supply has been exhausted.

Abstract: Dispensing apparatus for individually dispensing folded newspapers, magazines, or like articles from a stack of articles, comprises a reciprocal dispensing assembly having movable fingers mounted thereon for engaging within a fold of the article to pull the article to a dispensing position from its stacked or stored position. The fingers are laterally spaced and adapted to be extended and inserted into respective lateral ends of the fold. Alternatively, the fingers can be made responsive to the opening of an acess door. In both embodiments, movement of the fingers between their extended and retracted positions is controlled by a pair of longitudinally spaced stops. An adjustment is provided for accommodating the dispensing of articles having varied thicknesses, while maintaining the fingers in the center of the fold of a particular article.

Abstract: A single copy vending machine for newspapers, magazines or the like which employs a separation device attached to the door of a conventional appearing newspaper vendor to separate the topmost newspaper from a stack thereof subsequent to the insertion of proper coinage and the opening of the door. A sequentially selective elevator mechanism is provided to insure that the topmost newspaper of the stack on the elevator is in the path of the fully retracted separation device. A novel newspaper display chamber is provided to first, facilitate the proper adjustment of the separating device and its relationship with its gauging slides and, secondly, to hold remote, from purchaser access, content of the display chamber until the elevator supply has been exhausted.

Abstract: A receptacle for receiving and sequentially dispensing individual shaped bodies from a stack of like bodies. The receptacle has a pivotal cover at the dispensing end thereof and a cap mounted on said cover. The cap has a skirt extending around the pivotal cover. This skirt has a first portion engaging the cover, a second portion adapted to engage the housing of the receptacle when the cover is pivoted toward an open position and a pair of elastically deformable portions intermediate said first and second portions. The elastically deformable portions constitute a spring for biasing the pivoted cover into its closed position. The cover also has a finger portion for pushing the uppermost shaped body and dispensing it from the receptacle when the cover is pivoted against the spring bias.

Abstract: A tablet dispenser comprises a housing and a tablet storage receptacle coaxially displaceably mounted in the housing. The storage receptacle includes a spring biased to press a stack of tablets stored in the receptacle upwards towards a dispensing end of the receptacle. An end of the housing remains in contact with an end of the receptacle in an outer end position of the receptacle in relation to the housing. The housing has a relatively shallow groove terminating short of the contacting ends of the housing and receptacle, and the receptacle has a catch arranged close to the end of the receptacle contacting the end of the housing in the outer end position. A tolerance remains between the catch and the groove, and the catch has a height corresponding to the tolerance. A sloping transition or run-up section formed by an oblique portion extends between the catch and the groove adjacent the contacting ends.

Abstract: A shipping, transporting and dispensing container for cylindrically shaped objects has a base, back wall, two side walls and is open at the front and top. A plurality of platform shelves are succeedingly spaced above the base of the rack. Each shelf is sloped downwardly from the open front of the rack toward the back wall of the rack but terminates short of the back wall by a predetermined distance. An adjustable stop device is situated in the space between the base and the shelf immediately above it to selectively prevent cylindrically shaped objects disposed near the back wall on the base from rolling toward the open front of the container. Further, the front edge of the base at the open front of the container has an upwardly projecting flange which prevents the cylindrically shaped objects, supported on the base, from inadvertently rolling off the base through the open front of the container.

Abstract: A holder for pills, capsules and similar uniformly shaped objects for dispensing said objects one by one. A hollow inner tube has an open bottom for receiving the objects and a closed top for limiting axial movement thereof. A hollow outer tube has a spring affixed to a closed bottom and receives the inner tube, the spring biasing the objects upwardly. A dispensing mechanism in a cylindrical casing is affixed to the upper end of the outer tube. The dispensing mechanism operates through diametrically opposed slots in the periphery of the inner tube to dispense the objects one by one. The unit is arranged so that with minor modification a variety of sizes and shapes of objects can be dispensed.

Abstract: A rectangular, vertically-extending tank having an upwardly-extending, spring-pressed pressure head automatically feeds sliced bread against the underside of a cover plate supported for horizontally reciprocative, forth-and-back movement over the upper end of the tank. The cover plate has a transverse sidewall portion centrally disposed along its length and operative to push uppermost slices of bread, one at a time, forwardly to slide off the upper end of the pressure plate for deposit on a receiving tray each time the cover plate is moved manually through a forth-and-back cycle of operation. Ratchet and pawl mechanism operative between the cover plate and its guide means prevents retrograde movement prior to completion of the sliding movement in one direction or the other.

Abstract: In a tablet dispensing receptacle whose housing carries a spring-biased cover designed to dispense an uppermost tablet from the housing upon pivoting, the spring bias for the cover is provided by an elastically deformable transverse ledge extending between side wall extensions of the housing in a horizontal plane and integral with the side wall extensions and a bent-over spring leaf integrally projecting from the ledge so that the ledge and leaf spring constitute a spring. The outer end of the bent-over leaf spring engages an abutment of the cover for pushing the uppermost tablet and dispensing it from the receptacle housing when the cover is pivoted about its pivoting axis against the spring bias which normally holds the cover in closed position. The pivoting axis extends below the horizontal plane defined by the ledge.