Abstract: The flashing light apparatus is an improved technique of advertising and of gaining the public's attention for the purpose of increasing the sale of newpapers. The flashing light is a single or dual light mounted on the front of a venting machine where it will easily catch the eye of the passing public. A timer push button switch is mounted on the inner partition wall, just inside the door, for easy access and activation of the light. Once the timer switch is manually activated, the light/lights will flash two and one half (21/2) hours to alert the public that the late edition of the newspaper has arrived. The source of power for operation of the flashing light apparatus is a 6 volt lattern battery and is enclosed in a metal or plastic container which is mounted on the inside left wall as depicted in FIG. 1. The electrical circuit can be installed aft of the flashing light or it may be placed in the battery container.

Abstract: A non-attended, coin-operated, postmix, cup vender using a cup holder and dropper mechanism, bag-in-box syrup packages, syrup pumps, a conventional counter electric beverage dispenser, a standard ice maker and dispenser and an electronic control to enable the customer to receive a full cup of beverage regardless of the amount of ice selected. The electronic control means also guides the customer through the operation using sequenced lighting displays and messages. The vender includes separate dispense and vend modules.

Abstract: A time of last sale recording device for a newspaper vending machine. The time recorder uses a proximity sensor to send a signal to a predetermining subtracting counter for each time the vending machine door is opened. One digit is subtracted each time the door is opened (newspaper removed). When the counter goes to zero, the hour meter stops and that is the time of last sale. The data recorded is useful in determining the number of newspapers to leave in the vending machine at future dates. Vending machine sales can be optimized when coupled with other marketing information.

Abstract: A coupon dispensing system which displays a number of images, each image representing a product to be promoted and including a product selection area to be manipulated by a consumer to select that product. A switch is associated with each selection area to register the selection. The system receives an access code unique to the consumer, records product selections made by the consumer, compares the product selected by the consumer with a preselected quota, and issues a coupon for the product selected by the consumer if the quota for that consumer is not exceeded.

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: A food vending machine having a selection station, a magazine for a plurality of refrigerated or unrefrigerated portioned food items, a heating apparatus, a serving station and a conveying apparatus between the magazine and reheating apparatus. The magazine is disposed in a supply cabinet (11) which is separable from a serving cabinet (12) containing the reheating apparatus, the serving station (21) and the conveying apparatus in order to improve the hygenic operation of the vending machine (10), while simultaneously reducing the refrigeration demand and increasing the serving speed.

Abstract: An autoteller accepts on a ramp exchangeable banknote cassettes which can only be opened at the predetermined angle of the ramp when a key assembly on the ramp is presented to a lock. The cassettes may only have the key assembly presented to the lock when not on the ramp at an angle to the horizontal, whereat opening of the doors on the cassette is prevented by a blocking bar swinging to engage a notch in the opening mechanism to prevent operation of the opening mechanism. A processor in the autoteller accepts a password from an internal keypad, enters a wide access bank service routine if a first password is provided and a restrictive access third party service routine if a second password is provided, shutting down the autoteller if no correct password is provided within a predetermined number of tries in a predetermined time.

Abstract: A machine, such as a seed drill, has a conveying member for seeds or the like defining a path along which seed or other material is conveyed in discrete units during normal operations. The machine has an indication arrangement including a distance measuring instrument comprising a proximity sensor adjacent the conveying member for monitoring the pressure of material as it is moved along the path defined by the conveying member. A display panel connected to the distance measuring instrument renders occurrences comprising the movement or lack of movement of the material as sensed by the distance measuring instrument sensorially perceptible.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for detecting the proper transfer of nails within a nailing machine. The disclosed system includes optical sensors attached to feed tubes within the nailing machine. Signals produced by the optical sensors are processed in such a manner as to alert the operator of the machine at a predetermined time when an improper transfer of nails has occurred.

Abstract: A storage bank is disclosed herein having a cylindrical body provided with an open-ended passageway for holding a plurality of message tokens or coins. A pair of discs are rotatably carried on and separated by the body and each of the discs includes an aperture or hole for sequentially registering alternately with the opposite ends of the passageway whereby a token or coin may be either introduced to the passageway for storage or collected from the passageway preparatory for dispensing. The opposite ends of the body are capped by fixed end members which encase the pair of discs while a turning knob couples to the discs for rotation about the body. Each end member includes a hole arranged in spaced apart relationship and in a non-coaxial alignment along an arc in alignment with the holes in the respective discs. A selected one of the discs carries a printed message for display via a viewing aperture in an adjacent end member.

Abstract: A monitor is provided for a field planting machine having a plurality of planting units and a plurality of seed sensors respectively associated with the planting units for producing seed signals in response to the dispensing of seeds thereby. The monitor comprises a plurality of sensor circuits coupled in series circuit, one of the sensor circuits being coupled intermediate each of the sensors and a common signal line. These sensor circuits and the associated sensors are sequentially selectable for causing a first condition on the common signal line in response to production of seed signals at or above a predetermined rate and a second condition on the common signal line in response to the non-production of seed signals at or above the predetermined rate.

Abstract: A newspaper vending machine having a vertically movable inclined platform supporting a group of newspapers, a stationary dispensing wedge having an inclined upper surface, a drive shaft operatively connected to the platform, a dispensing chute and a crank to rotate the shaft to elevate the platform and raise successive newspapers above the dispensing wedge and dispense them by gravity through a dispensing chute, in combination with a clutch between the drive shaft and the crank normally disengaging the shaft from the crank, and a coin mechanism to activate the clutch and engage the shaft with the crank to raise the platform and dispense a newspaper.

Abstract: A seed planter monitor is used with a traveling seed planter operable to periodically dispense seeds in each of a plurality of rows. The monitor scans the outputs of seed sensors which provide electrical signals as the seeds are dispensed. A detector triggers an alarm in the absence of output signals from an examined seed sensor during a predetermined time period. A visual display identifies the row being examined by the scanner.

Abstract: A seed planter monitor is used with a traveling seed planter operable to periodically dispense seeds in each of a plurality of rows. The monitor, preferably a microcomputer device, comprises individual row counters for counting the seeds planted in each row. The monitor determines the row having the highest deviation from the average number of seeds planted per row. Whenever the maximum deviation exceeds a predetermined limit, an alarm signals an error condition to the planter operator. The monitor also senses and warns the operator of any stoppage occurring in any of the rows within a relatively short stoppage distance. Planting data is displayed to the operator during planting.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for simultaneously monitoring a plurality of functions of a machine, such as a multi-row seed planting machine, includes a programmed microprocessor. A plurality of sensors detect the machine functions to be monitored, and the microprocessor receives and stores data corresponding to the monitored functions from all of the sensors simultaneously. A user accessible control and display panel cooperates with the microprocessor to produce observable indications of the machine functions being monitored in accordance with the stored data as such functions are selected for display by the user. The microprocessor is also programmed to receive and utilize data inputs from the control panel, corresponding to machine parameters of the particular machine with which the monitoring apparatus is being utilized, and data corresponding to the desired maximum and minimum values of the functions to be monitored.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for simultaneously monitoring a plurality of functions of a machine, such as a multi-row seed plating machine, includes a programmed microprocessor. A plurality of sensors detect the machine functions to be monitored, and the microprocessor receives and stores data corresponding to the monitored functions from all of the sensors simultaneously. A user accessible control and display panel cooperates with the microprocessor to produce observable indications of the machine functions being monitored in accordance with the stored data as such functions are selected for display by the user accessible control panel. The microprocessor is further programmed to receive and utilize data inputs from the control panel, corresponding to machine parameters of the particular machine with which the monitoring apparatus is being utilized, and data corresponding to the desired maximum and minimum values of the functions to be monitored.

Abstract: A monitor for use with a multiple row seed planter including a hopper for holding a supply of seeds, a plurality of conduits for carrying seeds to corresponding planting rows, a variable speed rotatable drum for receiving seeds from the hopper and delivering seeds to the conduits, a variable pressure air blower for supplying pressurized air to the hopper and drum to facilitate the seed delivery and a voltage supply source from a tractor or other vehicle pulling the planter. The monitor includes a plurality of sensors for providing a plurality of electrical signals corresponding to the above-mentioned planter functions.

Abstract: An automatically controlled seed planter apparatus is disclosed for planting seeds concurrently in a plurality of rows with controlled seed spacing, including a rotating drum for holding the seeds and transporting the seeds to a plurality of chutes. The apparatus includes transducers for detecting the rotational speed of the drum and for detecting the speed of the planter along the ground. The operator is provided with input controls for setting in signals corresponding to the desired seed spacing and to the configuration of the drum used. The above-mentioned signals are then fed to a control system which processes the signals to form an output signal which controls the rotational speed of the drum, resulting in a controlled seed spacing. A readout device is also provided for the operator to monitor the expected seed spacing produced in this manner by the apparatus, as well as warning the operator of any malfunctions in the system.