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US 5,205,437 AGranted
Single article newspaper dispensing apparatus
AssigneeUnivend, Inc.
InventorsRichard A. Elder, Norman C. Locati, R. Wayne Fields
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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AssigneeUnivend, Inc.
InventorsRichard A. Elder, Norman C. Locati, R. Wayne Fields
Estimating the term…
A single article dispensing apparatus adapted for newspaper vending captures a bundle of newspapers between opposing support plates with one movable plate being spring biased toward the stationary plate. Newspaper engaging pins extend beyond the stationary support plate and into the space between the opposing support plates to engage the back edge of a newspaper of the bundle. Upon deposit of the necessary coins and pulling of a dispensing handle, the newspaper engaging pins slide the newspaper from the bundle and out through an output door of the vending machine. When all newspapers in the bundle are dispensed and the support plates come to direct face-to-face opposition, a last copy of the newspaper held behind a display window is automatically dispensed upon the next actuation of the dispensing handle. The vending machine restricts access to the inventory of newspapers and allows a purchaser but one copy of the newspaper for payment of one copy.
A newspaper vending machine for providing newspapers to a customer of the machine, the machine comprising:
A newspaper vending machine comprising:
A newspaper vending machine for providing newspapers to a customer of the machine, the machine comprising:
A newspaper vending machine for providing newspapers to a customer of the machine, the machine comprising:
A news paper vending machine for providing newspapers to a customer of the machine, the machine comprising:
A newspaper vending machine for providing newspapers to a customer of the machine, the machine comprising:
A newspaper vending machine for providing newspapers to a customer of the machine, the machine comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
In which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other: for sheet shaped or pliable articles
Coin-freed or like apparatus
Term ended 16 Aug 2011 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
The present invention relates generally to vending machines and particularly to coin operated newspaper vending machines adapted for single article dispensing.
Newspapers are made available to the public in coin operated vending machines. The customer inserts coins to actuate a latch release mechanism and obtain a newspaper. Such newspaper vending machines typically have an enclosure for holding a stack of newspapers and a door allowing access to the stack of newspapers. The door is secured by the coin operated latch release mechanism. The coin actuated latch release mechanism is a relatively complex device having settings for dollar amounts, i.e., how much money is needed to open the door, and a latch engaging element positioned to capture a door latch and release the door latch only upon deposit of sufficient coins. Other than the latch release mechanism, however, newspaper vending machines are simple mechanical devices comprising little more than a locked box with a display window. They are easy to load by simply opening the door and depositing a stack of newspapers within the enclosure.
Conventional newspaper vending machines suffer, however, one serious disadvantage: the customer has access to all the newspapers within the enclosure upon payment for a single newspaper. While most people are happy to take a single copy of the newspaper, many are inclined to take more than one copy. As a result, newspaper concerns, especially newspaper distribution companies, suffer financial loss for each newspaper taken without payment. It is estimated that up to fifty percent of the newspapers placed in a machine may be taken without payment. For a distribution company making extensive use of street vending machines, this is a significant loss of income.
For a better understanding of the invention, and to show the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. is a perspective view of a coin operated single newspaper vending machine in accordance with a principal embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B, illustrate a portion the interior components of the vending machine of FIG. 1 as taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective a coin operated newspaper vending machine 20 according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, vending machine 20 includes an enclosure box 22 supported by a pedestal 24. Enclosure 22 should be of sufficient structural integrity to prevent unauthorized access to its interior. Pedestal 24 may be adapted for mounting to, for example, a sidewalk for preventing theft of machine 20 and its contents. Also, multiple enclosures 22 may be stacked vertically for dispensing a larger inventory of newspapers, or different newspaper publications.
Vending machine 20 dispenses one newspaper upon deposit of the necessary coins. A customer has access to and obtains only one newspaper for payment of one newspaper. A newspaper distributor using machine 20 thereby avoids losses associated with conventional newspaper vending machines providing access to the entire newspaper inventory upon payment for one copy.
Machine 20 includes a display window 26 behind which rests a display newspaper 28a, showing the front page of the current newspaper inventory held within box 22. To operate machine 20, a customer deposits coins in coin slot 30 and pulls dispensing handle 32. A conventional coin actuated latch release mechanism captures a latch of handle 32 and permits movement of handle 32 following deposit of the necessary coins. As handle 32 moves forward and toward the customer, machine 20 ejects from output door 34 a portion of newspaper 28b taken from the newspaper inventory within box 22. The customer then pulls newspaper 28b from machine 20 and output door 34 snaps shut.