US3749281A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Newspaper vending machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-02-08
•
Granted: 1973-07-31
•
Expires: 1991-02-08
Abstract
Abstract A vending machine for articles such as newspapers and the like. The machine includes a chamber defining a storage magazine in which newspapers are arranged in a stack supported in a generally vertical orientation with their folded edges seated upon the inclined bottom wall of the chamber. A pusher plate assembly urges the stack of newspapers forwardly toward an opening that is normally closed by a dispensing door. The door is locked in its closed position by coin-operated latch mechanism which releases the door when coil totaling the cost of a newspaper is deposited in the machine, thereby permitting the door to uncover the opening and enable the forwardmost newspaper in the stack thereof to be withdrawn. A separator connected with the door so as to move therewith is adjustably positionable in accordance with the thickness of the copies of any particular edition of the newspaper to enable it to be inserted between the forwardmost and next successive newspaper in the stack thereof whenever the dispensing door is opened. The separator forms a barrier guarding the opening to prevent all except the forwardmost paper to be withdrawn therethrough.
Inventors
- 👤 B Stovers
- 👤 R Ehnert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:32
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
276 words
A vending machine for newspapers and like articles, comprising: casing structure providing a chamber therein having a bottom wall and defining a storage magazine adapted to receive a stack of such articles and support the same in a generally upright orientation with their folded edges in engagement with said bottom wall; said casing structure being provided with a large loading opening affording access to said chamber and being equipped with a closure door selectively movable between open and closed positions to enable such articles to be stacked within said chamber; said casing structure having a dispensing opening at the front thereof adjacent said bottom wall and through which each successive leading article at an end of such stack can be withdrawn one-by-one therefrom; a dispensing door supported by said casing structure for reciprocable displacements along a generally upright axis between open and closed positions to selectively uncover and cover said dispensing opening; and a separator of greater dimension along such axis than said dispensing opening and being connected with said dispensing door so as to move therewith into an extended position intermediate any such leading article and next successive article thereto when said dispensing door is opened to provide a barrier across said dispensing opening completely covering the same in axial extent and thereby permitting only the leading article in such stack to be withdrawn therethrough and also to protect said separator from manual manipulation and into a retracted position when said dispensing door is closed to permit any such next successive article to advance and become the leading article in such stack so that it can be withdrawn therefrom in the following cycle of operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
276 words
A vending machine for newspapers and like articles, comprising: casing structure providing a chamber therein having a bottom wall and defining a storage magazine adapted to receive a stack of such articles and support the same in a generally upright orientation with their folded edges in engagement with said bottom wall; said casing structure being provided with a large loading opening affording access to said chamber and being equipped with a closure door selectively movable between open and closed positions to enable such articles to be stacked within said chamber; said casing structure having a dispensing opening at the front thereof adjacent said bottom wall and through which each successive leading article at an end of such stack can be withdrawn one-by-one therefrom; a dispensing door supported by said casing structure for reciprocable displacements along a generally upright axis between open and closed positions to selectively uncover and cover said dispensing opening; and a separator of greater dimension along such axis than said dispensing opening and being connected with said dispensing door so as to move therewith into an extended position intermediate any such leading article and next successive article thereto when said dispensing door is opened to provide a barrier across said dispensing opening completely covering the same in axial extent and thereby permitting only the leading article in such stack to be withdrawn therethrough and also to protect said separator from manual manipulation and into a retracted position when said dispensing door is closed to permit any such next successive article to advance and become the leading article in such stack so that it can be withdrawn therefrom in the following cycle of operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
The vending machine of claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of posts fixedly secured to said dispensing door and extending therefrom in the dirEction of the length of such stack, said separator being slidably mounted upon said posts, and adjustment structure connected with said separator for adjustable displacing the same along the length of said posts and such stack to enable the separator to be adjusted to the thickness of the articles forming such stack thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The vending machine of claim 1 in which said bottom wall is angularly disposed and inclines downwardly and forwardly from adjacent the rear of said chamber toward the front thereof and said dispensing opening located thereat so as to impart a gravitational force component to such stack of articles urging the same forwardly toward said dispensing opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
The vending machine of claim 3 and further comprising a pusher plate assembly continuously urging such stack of articles toward said dispensing opening in combination with the aforesaid gravitational force component provided by said inclined bottom wall, said pusher plate assembly including a pressure plate engageable with such articles, a force applicator plate connected with said pressure plate and being slidably related thereto, lever arms pivotally connected adjacent the opposite ends thereof to said force applicator plate and to said casing, and spring means operative between said pusher plate assembly and casing to resiliently bias the former toward said dispensing opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The vending machine of claim 1 in which said loading opening is generally disposed above said dispensing opening and dispensing door, said dispensing door being reciprocable between open upper and closed lower positions and said separator being reciprocable with said dispensing door so as to be in an upper extended position when said dispensing door is in its open upper position and in a lower retracted position when said dispensing door is in its lower closed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The vending machine of claim 5 in which said bottom wall is angularly disposed and inclines downwardly and forwardly from adjacent the rear of said chamber toward the front thereof and said dispensing opening located thereat so as to impart a gravitational force component to such stack of articles urging the same forwardly toward said dispensing opening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1735819A
Cited
US2027672A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-30 | 1977-01-29 | 1977-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-30 | 1981-01-29 | 1981-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-30 | 1985-01-29 | 1985-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |