Apparatus for vending periodicals having self-compensating dispenser for decreasing supply

Claim 2

Apparatus for vending an individual periodical or the like from the top of a stack of like periodicals which rest upon a stationary support, said vending apparatus including dispensing means for successively removing individual periodicals from the top of said stack, said dispensing means being slidably connected to a vertical guide rod permitting movement of said dispensing means toward and away from said support and said dispensing means including pressure means resting on top of said periodical prior to removal of said periodical from the top of said stack and including downwardly depending flange means, said flange means extending along a side surface of said periodical, means for maintaining a constant, selected pressure between said pressure means and said periodical, and means for moving said pressure means and flange means toward the side of said periodical along which said flange means extends whereby said flange means engages said periodical and moves it a distance sufficient to remove said periodical from said stack, self-adjusting means for maintaining said pressure means in substantially full contact with said periodical, said self-adjusting means including means for permitting said pressure means to tilt alternately toward and away from the direction of movement of said pressure means with the magnitude and direction of tilt corresponding to that of said periodical with the magnitude decreasing as the height of said stack decreases during successive removal of periodicals therefrom.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pressure means is a substantially flat plate having said flange along an edge thereof.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 having an enclosure for enclosing said support and associated stack, receiving means opening to the exterior of said enclosure for receiving said periodical upon removal from said stack.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 having means for directing a periodical upon removal from said stack to said receiving means.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said receiving means comprises a chute positioned beneath said stack and having a lower, periodical-discharge end opening to said enclosure exterior.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support is inclined in the direction of movement of said periodicals upon removal thereof from said stack.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said self-adjusting means includes means for permitting said pressure means to rotate about an axis parallel to the direction of pressure means movement.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said self-adjusting means includes means for permitting limited rotation of said pressure means about an axis perpEndicular to its surface.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein means are provided for adjusting the height of said flange to correspond to changes in the thickness of said periodicals.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said pressure is selected within the range of 2.5 ounces to 2 pounds.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for moving said pressure means includes a motor mounted on said pressure means, said motor having a drive shaft drivingly connected to a continuous chain and connecting means connecting said pressure means to said chain, whereby said plate is moved during operation of said motor.

Claim 13

Apparatus for vending a single periodical or the like from the top of a substantially vertical stack of like periodicals substantially horizontally disposed, comprising a housing, a stationary support within said housing upon which said stack rests, said support being inclined upwardly in the direction of removal of periodicals from said stack, dispensing means for successively removing said periodicals from the top of said stack, said dispensing means including a substantially flat plate resting on top of said periodical prior to removal of said periodical from the top of said stack and having along an edge thereof a generally downwardly extending flange with a height not exceeding the thickness of said periodical, said flange extending along a side surface of said periodical, means for maintaining a pressure within the range of 2.5 ounces to 2 pounds between said plate and said periodical, a motor mounted on said plate and drivingly connected to said plate to move the same in a direction toward the side of said article along which said flange extends a distance sufficient to remove said periodical from said stack, said plate being slidably connected to a vertical guide rod permitting axial sliding of said plate toward and away from said stationary support a distance dependent upon the height of said stack, an adjustable bracket from which said plate is tiltably suspended, said bracket having adjusting means for permitting tilting of said plate to maintain the same substantially parallel, and in substantially full contact, with said periodical, and a chute positioned within said housing and beneath said stack for receiving said removed periodicals and having a lower periodical-discharge end opening to said housing exterior.

Claim 14

Apparatus for vending a single periodical or the like from the top of a substantially vertical stack of like periodicals substantially horizontally disposed, comprising a housing, a stationary support within said housing upon which said stack rests, said support being inclined upwardly in the direction of removal of periodicals from said stack, dispensing means for successively removing said periodicals from the top of said stack, said dispensing means including a substantially flat plate resting on top of said periodical prior to removal of said periodical from the top of said stack and having along an edge thereof a generally downwardly extending flange with a height not exceeding the thickness of said periodical, said flange extending along a side surface of said periodical, means for maintaining a pressure within the range of 2.5 ounces to 2 pounds between said plate and said periodical, a motor mounted on said plate and drivingly connected to said plate to move the same in a direction toward the side of said article along which said flange extends a distance sufficient to remove said periodical from said stack, said plate being slidably connected to a vertical guide rod permitting axial sliding of said plate toward and away from said stationary support a distance dependent upon the height of said stack, an adjustable bracket from which said plate is tiltably suspended, said bracket having adjusting means for permitting tilting of said plate to maintain the same substantially parallel, and in substantially full contact, with said periodical, and a chute positioned within said housing and beneath said stack for receiving said removed periodicals and having a lower periodical-discharge end opening to said housing exterior.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said adjustable bracket has two operably opposed guides extending through said bracket and bearing upon the upper surface of said plate to permit said plate to rotate to a selected, limited magnitude about an axis parallel to the direction of plate movement and a third guide extending through said bracket and bearing upon the upper surface of said plate to permit said plate to tilt to a selected, limited magnitude toward and away from the direction of plate movement with the magnitude and direction of said tilt corresponding to that of said periodical with said magnitude decreasing as the height of said stack decreases during successive removal of periodicals therefrom.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said bracket has means slidably connecting said bracket to a surface of a mounting plate opposite that on which said motor is mounted for permitting said bracket to slide parallel to said mounting plate surface during said movement of said plate.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said housing contains a plurality of said supports each supporting a stack of periodicals and each having an associated dispensing means, pressure maintaining means, motor, bracket and bracket-adjusting means.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein at least two of said plurality of supports, and associated dispensing means, pressure maintaining means, motor, bracket and bracket-adjusting means, are disposed vertically one above the other.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 16 having a plurality of said supports, and associated dispensing means, pressure maintaining means, motor, bRacket and bracket-adjusting means, disposed in side-by-side relation.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said housing has a door on which is mounted at least one of said supports and associated dispensing means, pressure maintaining means, motor, bracket and bracket-adjusting means.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 12 including vertical guide means for guiding said periodical upon removal from said stack along a substantially vertical plane of travel to said chute.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said vertical guide means includes at least one substantially V-shaped trough having an upper relatively wide opening therein for entry of said periodical upon removal from said stack and a relatively narrow, centrally disposed, lower opening for vertical discharge of said periodical from said trough, said lower opening having a plurality of flexible,, opposed tines extending therefrom in the direction of periodical discharge.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said flat plate has a raised, shoulder or offset portion adjacent said flange and adapted to contact said periodical.