Newspaper vending machine

Claim 1

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thereof adjacent said bottom wall and through which each successive leading article at an end of such stack can be withdrawn one-by-one therefrom; a dispensing door supported by said casing structure for reciprocable displacements along a generally upright axis between open and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completely covering the same in axial extent and thereby permitting only the leading article in such stack to be withdrawn therethrough and also to protect said separator from manual manipulation and into a retracted position when said dispensing door is closed to permit any such next successive article to advance and become the leading article in such stack so that it can be withdrawn therefrom in the following cycle of operation.