VENDING MACHINE FOR PERIODICALS HAVING ARCUATE PATH EJECTION

摘要

A newspaper/magazine (periodical) vending machine which includes a feeder mechanism that rotates the item to be vended through an arc is disclosed. The feeder mechanism includes a carriage arm that is rotatably attached at one end to a fixed vertical shaft. The other end of the carriage arm supports a feeder shaft in vertical alignment. A paralleling arm parallels the carriage arm and moves therewith to prevent movement of the feeder shaft. A mechanical linkage, that includes a horizontal shaft having cranks at either end, a tension wire and a link, connects the carriage arm to an operating handle. When the operating handle is moved, the horizontal shaft rotates and causes the tension wire to move which in turn causes movement of the feeder shaft in an arcuate manner. A return spring is attached to the carriage arm to return the carriage arm to its normal position when the operating handle is released. In one embodiment of the invention, suitable for use with relatively thin magazines and newspapers, the feeder shaft has a weight attached to its upper end and a feeder foot attached to its lower end. The feeder foot has pins that project into the top newspaper/magazine of a stack of horizontally disposed newspapers/magazines. When the feeder shaft is moved by the operation of the operating handle, the top newspaper/magazine is moved and vended through a vending slot. In an alternate embodiment, a hook replaces the feeder foot and hooks the rear of the top newspaper/magazine. The alternate embodiment is suitable for use with relatively thick newspapers/magazines and includes an elevator to raise the stack each time an item is vended.