Newspaper vending machine

Claim 2

In a newspaper vending machine, the combination comprising a support for carrying a stack of newspapers resting edgewise thereon, a first and a second movable abutment means arranged to engage the opposite ends of said stack respectively, a separating wedge means displaceable edgewise upwardly into separating position between the one newspaper against said first movable abutment means and the remainder of said stack, an actuating mechanism operatively connected to said separating wedge means and constructed and arranged to displace the latter into said separating position, a handle connected to said actuating mechanism and arranged to actuate the latter and said separating wedge means, and link means connected to said actuating mechanism and to said first movable abutment means and arranged to increase the spacing of the latter from said separating wedge means and to release said one newspaper for access thereto and wherein said actuating mechanism includes a pair of actuating links extending along opposite sides of said stack respectively and rigidly secured to said handle for displacement therewith lengthwise of said stack, a pair of cam levers pivoted about a transverse axis relative to said stack and arranged on opposite sides of the latter respectively, to upwardly engage and displace said wedge means upon operative actuation thereof, and said actuating links are constructed and arranged to engage said cam levers and to operatively pivot the same.

Claim 3

A newspaper vending machine as defined in claim 1, further including an adjustment means connected to said link means and constructed and arranged to selectively set the latter and adjust the spacing between said first movable abutment means and said separating wedge means proportionally to the thickness of the newspaper to be dispensed by the machine.

Claim 4

A newspaper vending machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said adjustment means includes a carriage displaceably mounted for to and fro movement lengthwise of said stack, an adjustment member mounted onto said carriage and arranged for displacement relative thereto lengthwise of said stack, said link means are connected to said adjustment member and to said first movable abutment means and arranged to adjustably vary the spacing of the latter from said wedge means in response to displacement of said adjustment member relative to said carriage.

Claim 5

A newspaper vending machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said adjustment member includes an adjustable lever pivotally mounted onto said carriage alongside said stack about a pivot axis extending transversely of the latter, and angular setting means are mounted onto said carriage and constructed and arranged to angularly adjust said adjustable lever about said transverse pivot axis.

Claim 6

A newspaper vending machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said angular setting means includes an arc-shaped member secured to said carriage for displacement therewith and having a slot therethrough extending lengthwise of said stack and arranged for angular displacement of said adjustable lever therein, said adjustable lever includes a rod pivoted at one end about said pivot axis and having a free threaded end projecting through said slot of said arc-shaped member, and a nut is screwed onto said free threaded end and arranged to adjustably tighten said rod into different position along said arc-shaped member and about said pivot axis.

Claim 7

A newspaper vending machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said actuating links constitute actuating rods, a crossbar rigidly joins said actuating rods for bodily displacement thereof, and a roller is rotatably secured to each of said actuating rods and supports the corresponding cam lever to cause upward pivoting of said levers upon lengthwise displacement of said handle.

Claim 8

A newspaper vending machine as defined in claim 1, further comprising upright members secured to said support and having a pair of parallel upright slots extending therethrough, said separating wedge means constituting a blade, blocks bolted to said blade through said slots and arranged on opposite side of said upright members relative to said blade and to be engaged by said cam levers for upward sliding of said blade upon operative actuation of said cam levers.

Claim 9

A newspaper vending machine as defined in claim 6, wherein said actuating rods slidably extend through said carriage and include each a radial projection fastened thereto and arranged to engage said carriage and displace the latter towards said one newspaper jointly with said newspaper delivering rods and said first movable abutment means.

Claim 10

A newspaper vending machine as defined in claim 8, further including springs connected to said actuating rods and arranged to bias the latter into retracted position in the direction from said first towards said second movable abutment means, the latter including an upright plate resting against the other end of said stack, springs engaging said upright plate and urging the latter into engagement with said other end of said stack, hooks pivoted relative to said support adjacent said actuating rods respectively and arranged to releasably hold said carriage in retracted position towards said other end of said stack, an actuating finger secured to each of said actuating rods and arranged to operatively engage and release a corresponding one of said hooks and to thereby allow displacement of said carriage towards said one end of the stack of newspapers, a housing into which are mounted said support, said first and second movable abutment means, said blade, said actuating rods and said newspaper delivering rods, said housing having a front face extending transversely outwardly of said one end of said stack, and having an aperture and a newspaper dispensing outlet therethrough underlying said stack, said handle projecting outwardly of said housing through said aperture, and a coin-controlled unit secured to said front face and constructed and arranged to releasably hold said handle against operation until suitable coinage has been inserted into said coin-controlled unit.