Abstract: The present invention is directed to a dispensing device for a vending apparatus which includes a shaft, having articles for dispensing, a pump, a first tube provided substantially near the bottom end of the shaft and connected to the pump for repeated inflation and deflation, and a second tube provided at a distance above the first tube and connected to the pump for repeated inflation and deflation. The distance defines a dispensing area containing an article for dispensing.

Abstract: A packet feeder system having a track extending between a packet feeder and the packet receiving end of a magazine includes a discharge end of the track that is adjustably positionable relative to the receiving end of the magazine. Appropriate sensors are provided for detecting the position of the uppermost packet within the magazine relative to the discharge end of the track and a suitable control unit is responsive to the sensing device for controlling the adjustable position of the discharge end of the track. In addition, the track is provided with sequenced gating for controlling movement of the packets along the track. The gating includes a plurality of barriers spaced along the length of the track by a distance slightly greater than the length of the packets. The control unit is effective to sequentially move the barriers into and out of a packet restraining position in a sequence whereby adjacent barriers are prevented from being out of their restraining positions simultaneously.

Abstract: An automatic cup dispensing arrangement for separating the bottommost cup from a stack of cups supported in a cup dispenser. The cup dispenser is pivotally mounted about a substantially horizontal pivot, about which the cup dispenser is cyclically pivoted to allow the cup stack to cyclically swing through a dispensing travel arc during a dispensing cycle. A pair of opposed cup separating members are mounted on opposite sides of the stack of cups in the cup dispenser along the dispensing travel arc. The opposed cup separating members are spaced a distance apart substantially equal to the width of a cup just beneath the cup rim, and each of the pair of opposed cup separating members comprises at least one cup separating wedge positioned opposite to a corresponding cup separating wedge in the oppositely positioned cup separating member. The oppositely positioned cup separating wedges cooperate to separate the bottommost cup from the cup stack as the cup dispenser is pivoted along the dispensing travel arc.