US2854168A - Newspaper vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Sepi. 36, 15958 A. w. ABRAMS ET AL. 2,

NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 9, 1956 77 INVENTORS ALBERT W AER/4M5 BY EUGENE 5. WE/SS mum "4 f ATTORNEYS P 30, 1953 A. w. ABRAMS ETAL 2,854,168

' NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1956 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ALBERT W ABRAMS N BY EUGENE s. WEISS W w Z2 M,

ATTORNEYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A w. ABRAMS ET AL NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE 1N VEN TOI U fi u w u EUGENE WEISS ATTORNEYS ALBERT W AER/4M5 Sept. 30, 1958 Filed April 9, 1956 $95 goo. 57

f/GL 9 m s? m Un ted S tes aten Ciainpbell, Calif. Application April 9, 1956, Serial No. 577,036 6 Claims. (Cl. 22139) The present invention relates to a newspaper vending machine, and pertains more particularly to a machine which is capable of venting, without adjustment, newspapers of widely varying thicknesses.

' In the mechanical vending of newspapers, a serious problem is presented by the fact that newspapers vary in thickness greatly from day to day. :For example, a Sunday edition may well exceed a half inch in'thickness, while daily papers frequently may be less than one-eighth of an inch in thickness. Furthermore, although a newspaper is an item of small intrinsic value. it is amazing the extent to which people will go to defraud such a machine of one or more newspapers.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an improved and simplified newspaper vending machine.

The invention also provides a newspapervending machine capable of vending, without adjustment, newspapersof greatly varying thicknesses.

- The invention further provides a mechanism which first elevates a stack of newspapers toa' height at which the topmost paper in the stack is'above a desired height for its ejection, and which thereafter automaticallylowers the stack to a height wherein the topmost paper thereof is at a required height for proper ejection. V

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, strain-proof mechanism for automatically adjusting the height'of the topmost paper of a stack thereof mounted on an elevator within the machine.

"A further object is to provide a newspaper vending machine having an elevator whereon the papers are stacked with their folded edges directed toward the rear of the machine for engagement by a pronged ejector member.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of a machine embodying the invention as it appears when set up for operation.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, front elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. l with the front closure panel thereof opened 180, intermediate lower portions of both the machine and the door being broken away to reduce the height of the drawing, the parts being shown in their normal, non-actuated condition.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 3-3'of Fig. 2, portions being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts in their fully actuated condition and a newspaper in the state of being ejected, portions being broken away.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a portion of 'Fig. 4, showing the newspaper being grasped for manual withdrawal from the machine.

Fig.6 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view showing an end portion of the paper ejecting roller and of one of its operating links.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 3.

2,854,168 Patented Sept. 30, 1958 Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is an elevational view similar to the upper righthand portion of Fig. 2, showing the cover slide onthe inside of the front door panel raised to expose the discharge opening.

Briefly, a machine A embodying the invention comprises a rectangular housing or cabinet 20 with an elevator platform 21 (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 9) for supporting a stack 22 of newspapers suspended by a pair of cable's'23 wound on a rear shaft 24. A ratchet wheel 25 is secured co-axially to the rear shaft 24, and rotative movement of the ratchet wheel is controlled by an elevating pawl 27 and a return stop pawlZS.

Upon dropping a coin in a coin slot 29 (Fig. 1) an operating handle 30 is released by a coin control mechanism, not shown, for one filll rearward and downward operating stroke from its position in Fig. 3 to that'in Fig. 4. This action rotatively moves a main operating shaft 31 to which the handle 30 is secured. An elevating pawl actuating lever 32 (Fig. 2), a pair of ejector actuat ing arms 33, a closure slide operating arm 34, also' are secured to the main operating shaft 31. Operation of the elevating pawl actuating lever 32 swings the elevating pawl 27 engaging the ratchet wheel 25 forwardly, thereby turning the rear shaft 24 and winding theelevato'r cables 23 thereon to elevate the platforrn'21.

The return stop pawl 28 is connected to a'feeler rod 37 which raises the return stop pawl 28 clear of the ratchet wheel 25 when the stack 22 of papers is elevated to a required height to bring the topmostpaper 38 into position for proper delivery through a discharge slot 39. in the front door panel 40 of the cabinet 20.

When the stack 22 of papers is raisecl'above this req re i ht durin n pera i stroke of the. handl 30, the feeler rod 37 raises the return stop pawl-:23 clear of the ratchet wheel 25;. This permits the ratchet wheel 25 to turn in a clockwise direction to lowerthe elevator platform 21 on the return stroke of the operating handle 30 until the feeler rod 37 again lowers the return stop pawl 23 into arresting engagement with the ratchet wheel. Thus, providing the'parts are properly adjusted in a manner which will be made apparent later, herein, on each operative stroke of the handle 30 theYstack 22 will be elevated a distance greater than the thickness of the thickest newspaper to be vended by the machine, but. will be lowered on each return stroke of the handle 39 to a proper height for discharge of the next paper.

Ejection of the topmost paper 33 of the stack 22. is accomplished by ejection means including a spiked rollef 41 riding on top of the stack 22 and moved reciprocally forwardly and 'rearwardly by a pair of drag linksl42 which are pivotally connected at their forward ends to the lower ends of the depending lever arms on the main operating'shaft 31. i I

I A slide eever ss' ismounted on the inner side of a front door panel 4Q to cover theiejection opening 39 except durin'g 'tlie ejeetionof a paper, at time the slide i'sraised c e'ar ofJtlie opening byfthe arm 34, oh the.

main e itt ng shaft "31 which engages and swings. u

Wardly' the pair of "crossed arms'44 from which the cover slide 43 is suspended,

'R efe:rring to the illustrative machine A in greater de tail, the cabinet 20 is a rectangular, box-like enclosure. with the hinged front panel: 40 adapted to be se cu1 ed ..in

i i i m ranl f aUW .5.- fh d or panel preferably has a' glazed-display opening 47..

een h i.- i h. e leu a p r han be. pp r ed; by metal bands 49 attached to the inner face of the door panel to display the headline portion of the paper the cabinet 20. A collar 57 secured to the shaft 31' inwardly of the lefthand bracket 54 as shown in Fig. 2, and the elevating pawl actuating'lever 32 secured 'to the shaft 31' inwardly of the other bearing bracket prevent endwise displacement of the shaft 31.

Theelevating pawl actuating lever 32 has a plurality of holes 58 arranged at spaced intervals longitudinally thereof to provide selective mounting support for a pivot pin 59 which pivotally connects the forward end of a link 60 thereto. The pivot pin 59 (Fig. 7) has a bearing portion 62 on which the link 60 is journaled and is retained thereon by the head 63 of the pin. The pin 59 also has a threaded shank portion 64 of smaller diameter than the bearing portion 62, which shank portion is fitted into a selected hole 58 in the actuating lever-32 and is i retained firmly therein by a wing nut 65 screwed onto the shank 63.

The rear end of the link 60 is journaled on a pivot pin 67 mounted in adjusted position in a slot 68 extending longitudinally of a pawl carrying lever 69 journaled on the rear shaft 24. The rear pivot pin 67 may be similar to the forward pivot pin 59 described in the preceding paragraph.

The elevating pawl 27 is pivotally mounted on a stud 70 (Figs. 3 and 4) projecting inwardly from the pawl carrying lever arm 69. The pawl 27 comprises a forwardly extending tooth portion 27a adapted to engage the teeth 72 of the ratchet wheel 25 to rotate the latter in a counterclockwise direction as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4; and a heavier, rearwardly extending, counter-' weight portion 27 b which urges the forward tooth portion 27a upwardly into operative engagement with the ratchet wheel.

The upper ends of the elevator cables 23 are secured to the rear shaft 24 for winding the cables thereon upon rotation of the shaft. The lower ends of the cables 23, are attached to thebrackets 73 one of which is provided on each side of the elevator platform 21 medially of the fore-and-aft length of the position of a stack 22 of papers to be placed thereon.

The elevator platform 21 may consist of a generally rectangular, flat piece of suitable material, such as plywood, plastic or metal, and is provided with four openings 74 in which are slidably mounted four guide rods 75. The guide rods 75 are secured, by mounting fixtures 77, to extend vertically and in mutually parallel relation between the cabinet top and bottom panels 78 and -79 (Fig. 2).

The guide rods 75 are spaced apart laterally a suflicient' distance to permit the stack 22 of newspapers to be placed on the platform therebetween.

The feeler rod 37 for controlling the return stop pawl 28 may consist of a length of metal rod having an up right straight portion 37a mounted for slidable movement in a guide bracket 80 attached to a side panel 82 of the cabinet 20. The feeler rod 37 is pivotally connected at. its upper end to the return stop pawl 28, which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 83 attached to the cabinet top panel 78.-

A coil compression spring 84 encircles the upright feeler rod portion 37a between an upper flange 80a of the bracket 80 and a collar 85 secured to the feeler, rod 37. The collar 85 permits limited upward movement of the feeler i rod againstthe bias of the spring 84, and also limits downward movement of the feeler rod .by engagement with a lower flange 80b of the bracket 80.

A lower portion 37b of the feeler rod extends rearward- 1y (Figs. 3, 4 and 9) and then inwardly at 37b (Figs. 2 and 9) to overlie the stack 22 of papers on the elevator platform 21. A downwardly offset portion 87 is provided on the inner end of the feeler rod 37 at a height to lower the return stop pawl 28 into arresting engagement with the teeth 72 of ,the ratchet wheel 25 when the topmost paper 38 of the stack 22 is properly aligned with the discharge opening 39.

The spiked, paper discharging roller 41,,having a single row of sharp, radially projecting spikes '88 thereon, is pivotally connected, eccentrically thereof, to the rearward ends of the pair of parallel drag links 42, the forward ends of which are fixedly attached to opposite ends of a tubular member 89. The tubular member 89 is journaled on a rod 90 connecting the lower ends of the ejector actuating lever arms 33, the upper end of which are fixedly secured to the main operating shaft 31.

The eccentric pivotal connection of the ejector roller 41 to the drag links 42 is shown in detail in Fig. 6. The rear end of each drag link 42 has journal mounting on a stud 92 which projects eccentrically from each end of the roller 41, the pivot studs 92 on opposite ends of the roller being co-axial witheach other.

A pair of limit stop studs 93 and 94 are mounted on the end of the spiked roller 41 to limit rotative movement of the latter on the studs 92 between the limits shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The drag links 42 slope upwardly and forwardly from the ejector roller 41 to the tube 89 to x which their forward ends are affixed.

Upon each downward and rearward operative movement of the operating handle 30, the ejector actuating arms 33 are swung in a counterclockwise direction about the main operating shaft 31 from the position shown-in Fig. 3, thereby moving the lower ends of the arms 33 forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 4 and drawing the ejector roller 41 forwardly. Due'to the frictional drag of the bottom of the roller on the topmost paper 38 on which it rests, initial forward movement of the ejector roller causes it to roll forwardly until the upper stop stud 93 on the end of the roller (Fig. 6) engages the top of the drag link 42 and thereby arrests further rotative movement of the roller.

In this position of the ejector roller, the spikes 88 are directed angularly downwardly into spur engagement with the topmost paper 38. Thereafter, continued forward movement of the roller 41 to the position shown in Fig. 4 slidably moves the topmost paper forward and ejects its forward end through the discharge opening 39.- In

A this position the paper may be grasped manually as shown in Fig. 5 and fully withdrawn from the dispenser.

As the paper is thus withdrawn from the machine, it pulls the paper free of the spikes 88,'and the frictional engagement of the forwardly moving paper on the under H side of the spiked roller 41 urges the roller in a counterclockwise rotative direction as indicated in Fig. 5 to the' limit permitted by the lower stop stud 94, in which position the spikes 88 are clear of the paper.

A coil return spring 95 (Fig. 8) for returning the parts to their normal positions after each operative stroke of the operating. handle 39 is mounted in tension between the projecting left hand end portion 99a of the rod 90 (Figs. 2 and 9) and a bearing bracket 97 (Figs. 8 and 9) for the rear shaft 24. This spring 95 urges the main operating shaft 31 to return in a clockwise direction from its actuated position of Fig. 3 toward its normal position of Fig. 4.

The operation of the illustrated machine A is as follows:

For preparing the machine for operation, the front door panel 49 is opened and the platform 21 is lowered by reaching in with one hand and manually freeing the lower or elevating pawl 27 from the ratchet wheel 25. The platform 21 then gravitates to its lowest point in the machine. To avoid possible damage to the machine during this descent of the platform, the rear elevator shaft 24 may be grasped by the other hand to brake the speed of platform descent.

Any remaining newspapers of a previous edition may be removed from the platform 21 and a fresh stack 22 of papers placed thereon with their folded edges 22a toward the rear of the machine, and their forward edges 22b preferably in substantially vertical alignment with the front of the platform 21.

The rear edge 21a of the paper supporting area of the platform 21 preferably is located somewhat ahead of the folded rear edges 22a of the stack 22 of papers thereon. Since the folded edges 22a are somewhat thicker than the remainder of the papers, this arrangement allows the rear portions of the lower papers in the stack to droop somewhat and thus reduces the tendency of the upper papers to be higher at their rearward ends.

With the papers thus stacked on the platform 21, the

platform then may be elevated by successive operations of the handle 30 to bring the topmost paper 38 into proper position for discharging through the slot 39.

The coin control mechanism, not shown, is arranged in a well known manner, to permit its release by one having access to the interior of the cabinet. Engagement of the feeler rod 37 with the topmost paper in the stack indicates that the topmost paper 33 is in proper position for delivery, and, as explained previously herein, prevents further elevation of the stack.

To prevent operative engagement of the spikes 88 with the topmost paper during elevation of the stack into proper operating condition, the spiked roller 41 may be manually held against forward rolling movement which thus will hold the spikes clear of the paper and prevent its displacement.

With the machine thus prepared for delivery of an initial paper, the door panel 46 is closed and locked. I

Thereafter, each time the mechanism is released by the insertion of a suitable coin in the coin slot 29 for a onestroke operation of the operating handle 30, a downward and rearward stroke of the operating handle from the position shoWn in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, rotatively moves the main operating shaft 31 and swings the pawl actuating lever arm 32 forwardly. This draws the link 60 forwardly, swinging the pawl mounting lever arm 69 journaled on the rear shaft 24 forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 4. The stroke length of the link 60, and the angular movement of the pawl mounting lever arm 69, are controlled by the points at which the link 60 is connected to the lever arms 32 and to the slotted hole 68 in the pawl carrying lever arm 69. Obviously, the lower the forward end of the link 60 is mounted on the pawl actuating lever arm 32 the greater will be the forward travel of the link, and the higher the rear end of the link is mounted in the slot 68, the greater will be the angular movement of the pawl carrying lever arm 69 for a predetermined fore-and-aft movement of the link.

By selectively adjusting the positions of the forward and rearward ends of the link 60 on their respective lever arms 32 and 69, the stroke length of the elevating pawl may be varied Within a wide range.

As the pawl carrying lever 69 is swung forwardly on an operative stroke of the handle 30, the weighted elevating pawl 27 operatively engaging a tooth of the ratchet wheel 25, advances the latter in a counterclockwise direction, thereby turning the rear shaft 24 to which it is connected, and winding the elevator cables 23 thereon. This raises the elevator platform 21 with the stack 22 of papers thereon. Since in loading the machine, as explained previously herein, the topmost paper 38 was positioned to contact the feeler rod 37 on the first operative stroke of the machine, this winding of the cables 23 onthe rear shaft 24 elevates the stack of papers and raises the feeler rod, thereby compressing the spring 84 and raising the return stop pawl 28 clear of the ratchet wheel.

Also, during this rearward and downward operative stroke of the operating handle 30, the ejector actuating lever arms 33 secured to the main operating shaft 31 are swung forwardly, carrying with them the drag links 42 and the spiked discharge roller 41. Forward movement of the roller 41 initially rolls it forwardly into paper-penetrating position, and its continued forward movement carries the thus penetrated topmost paper 38 forwardly with it.

Simultaneously with the forward movement of the topmost paper 38, the closure slide 43 is elevated clear of the discharge opening 39 by engagement of the short lever arm 34 on the main operating shaft 31 with the under sides of the crossed arms 44 pivotally mounted on the forward door panel, so that as the paper reaches the discharge opening 39 it is advanced therethrough to the position shown in Fig. 4.

Upon releasing the operating handle, the return spring (Fig. 8) returns the parts, including the main operating shaft 31, the pawl actuating lever arm 32, the link 60, the pawl carrying lever arm 69, the elevating pawl 27 and the feed roller 41 to their normal condition illustrated in Fig. 3.

During this return movement of the parts to their normal condition, as long as the upper return stop pawl 28 remains elevated clear of the ratchet wheel 25, the elevating pawl 27, moving in a clockwise direction about the ratchet wheel 25, will permit the ratchet wheel, and the rear shaft 24 to which the latter is connected, to move rotatively in a clockwise direction. This movement lowers the platform 21 and the stack 22 of papers thereon until the return stop pawl 28 again engages the ratchet wheel 25, thereby arresting further downward movement of the elevator platform and leaving the stack 22 of papers with the topmost one 38 in proper position for discharge on the next operation of the mechanism.

No appreciable shock is imposed upon any of the parts of the machine by this arresting action of the stop pawl. In fact, the machine may be operated by violent movement of the operating handle for long periods of time without damage to the parts thereof. Since in actual use it has been found that newspaper vending machines are frequently subjected to considerable abuse, this is an important feature of the invention, and tends to provide a long-lived, trouble-free machine.

While we have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and one modified form thereof, it will be understood however, that other changes and modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a newspaper dispensing mechanism comprising a housing having a discharge opening therein, with an elevator mounted for vertical movement in the housing and adapted to support a stack of newspapers thereon, and having an elevator shaft mounted in the housing, with an elevating cable wound on the shaft and connected to the elevator for raising the latter upon a predetermined rotative movement of the shaft; a ratchet wheel operatively connected to the elevator shaft for rotation therewith, an actuating pawl mounted adjacent said ratchet wheel, means biasing the actuating pawl into operative engagement with the ratchet wheel, a pawl actuating lever arm operatively connected to the actuating pawl, means for operating said lever arm back and forth in a predetermined operating cycle, whereby, during an initial portion of such cycle, the lever arm moves the pawl from a starting position in a direction and through a distance to turn the elevator shaft to raise the elevator a distance greater than the thickness of a predetermined newspaper on the elevator, and during a later portion of such cycle returns the actuating pawl to its starting position, a return stop pawl pivotally mounted on a fixed, cabinet supportedelement for holding the ratchet wheel and thereby the elevator shaft against return rotation in a direction to unwind the cables and lower the elevator, feeler means connected to the return stop pawl and positioned normally opposite the discharge opening and in the path of upward movement of the topmost paper of a stack thereof on the elevator, whereby when the feeler means is raised by the topmost paper in such stack, .the feeler means raises the return stop pawl clear of the ratchet wheel and thereby permits return rotative movement of the ratchet wheel, and when the feeler means is lowered by a lowering of such stack to its normal height by such return rotative movement of the ratchet wheel it lowers the stop pawl into arresting engagement with the ratchet wheel, thereby arresting the elevator with the topmost paper thereon aligned with the discharge opening, and means for ejecting a topmost paper of a stack thereof on the elevator through the ejecting opening in the cabinet upon each operating cycle of said lever arm. V a

2. In a newspaper dispensing mechanism comprising a housing having a discharge opening therein, with an elevator mounted for vertical movement in the housing and adapted to support a stack of newspapers thereon, and having elevator actuating means operatively connected to the elevator for raising and lowering the latter upon predetermined movements of the elevator actuating means; ratchet means operatively connected to the elevator actuating means, an actuating pawl operatively engaging the ratchet means, means for swinging the actuatpositioned opposite the discharge opening and in the path of upward movement of the topmost paper of a stack thereof on the elevator, whereby when the feelerrrieans is raised by the topmost paper in such stack, the return stop pawl is raised thereby clear of the ratchet means and thereby permits return movement of the ratchet means,

and when the feeler means is lowered to said predetermined height by such return movement of the ratchet means it lowers the stop pawl into arresting engagement 8 t ered thereby into arresting engagement with the ratchet, thereby aligning atopmost paper. of a stack thereof inthe housingwith .the ejecting opening in the housing.

4. In a newspaper dispensing mechanism comprising a housing having. a discharge opening therein, with an elevator platform mounted for vertical-movement in the housingand adapted to support a stack of newspapers thereon, and having. an elevator shaft rotatably mounted in the housing and operatively connected to the ele.

vator for raising-the latter apredetennined distance upon a predetermined rotative operation of said shaft; a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft for rotation therewith, an actuating pawl mounted adjacent said ratchet wheel, means biasing the actuating pawl toward operative engagement with the ratchet wheel, a pawl actuating level arm pivotally mounted coaxially with the shaft, and operatively connectedto the actuating pawl, a second lever arm mounted in axially parallel, spaced relation to the pawl actuating lever'arm, link means adjustably connecting said lever arms, means for operating said second lever arm back and forthvin a predetermined operating cycle, return stop means normally arresting a lowering of the elevator, feeler means connected to the return stop means and positioned at a predetermined height in the path of upward movement of the topmost paper of a stack thereof on the elevator, whereby when the feeler means is raised by the topmost paper in such stack during an ele. vation of the stack, the feeler means raises the return stop means out of elevator arresting position, and when the feeler means is again lowered by a lowering of the stack to said predetermined height the return stop mean 7 with the ratchet means, thereby arresting the elevator with a topmost paper of a stack thereon aligned with the discharge opening, and means for ejecting an aligned topmost paper of a stack thereof on the elevator through the ejecting opening in the cabinet.

3. In a newspaper dispensing mechanism, having a housing with a discharge opening therein, and with means for elevating a stack of newspapers in the housing; ratchet means operatively connected to the elevating means, an actuating pawl operatively engaging the ratchet means, means for swinging the actuating pawl back and forth through a predetermined cycle, a return stop pawl biased toward the ratchet means for holding the latter against return movement in a direction to lower the elevating means, feeler means connected to the return stop pawl and positioned at a predetermined height relative to the discharge opening and in the path of upward movement of the topmost paper of a stack thereof in the housing, whereby, when the feeler means is raised by the topmost paper in such stack, the return stop pawl is raised thereby clear of the ratchet and thereby permits return movement of the ratchet, and when the feeler means is lowered to said predetermined height the return stop pawl is low- 5Q In a newspaper dispensing mechanism comprising a cabinet having a discharge opening therein, with an elevator platform mounted for vertical movement invthe housing and adapted to support a stack of newspapers each of predetermined maximum thickness thereon, and having an elevator shaft operatively connected to theelevator for raising the latter upon a predetermined opera:

tion of said elevator shaft; actuating means movable back and forth in a predetermined two stroke operating cycle, and operatively connected to the elevator platformfor raising the latter on one stroke of the cycle a distance greater than the predetermined maximum thickness of a newspaper, and for lowering the elevator platform on the other stroke of the cycle toward its position at the start of the cycle, return stop means mounted normally to arrest lowering of the elevator, and feeler means connected to the return stop means and positioned at .a pre-' determined height in the path of upward movement of the topmost paper of a stack thereof on the elevator, whereby when the feeler means is engaged and raised by the topmost paper in such stack, during an elevation of the stack, the feeler means raises the return stop means out of elevator arresting position, and when the feeler means is again lowered to said predetermined height by a lowering of the stack on said other stroke of the cycle to bring the topmost paper in the stack to said predetermined height, the return stop means is returned thereby to elevator arresting position.

6. In a newspaper dispensing mechanism comprising a cabinet having a discharge opening therein, with an elevator platform mounted for vertical movement in the housing and adapted to supports a' stack of newspapers each of predetermined maximum thickness thereon, and having two stroke cycle actuating means for raising the elevator platform on one stroke of the cycle a distance greater than the predetermined maximum thickness of a newspaper, and for lowering the elevator platform on the other stroke of the cycle toward its position at the start of the cycle, return stop means mounted normally to arrest lowering of the elevator, and feeler means connected to the return stop means and positioned at a predetermined height in the path of upward movement of the topmost paper of a stack thereof on the elevator,

9 10 whereby when the feeler means is engaged and raised by termined height upon the completion of each two stroke the topmost paper in such stack during an elevation of cycle of the actuating means. the stack upon one stroke of said cycle the feeler means raises the return stop rfneans out of elevator arresting References Cited in the file of this patent position, and when the eeler means is again lowered to 5 said predetermined height by a lowering of the stack on UNITED STATES PATENTS said other stroke of the cycle to bring the topmost paper 1,049,414 Shepherd J an. 7, 1913 in the stack to said predetermined height, the return stop 1,285,187 Hotaling Nov. 19, 1918 means is returned thereby to elevator arresting position, 1,747,387 Paulson et al. Feb. 18, 1930 thereby to position the topmost paper at such prede- 10 2,522,033 Graham Sept. 12, 1950

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