Patent ID: 6644503
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: B65H,G07F

Abstract:
A single publication vending device for vending a publication including at least two pages, a fold connecting the at least two pages, an interleaf formed between the at least two pages and a centerline lying substantially perpendicular to the fold, the single publication vending device comprising:a housing including a publication vend port; a product support platform enclosed within the housing for supporting the publication with the longitudinal axis of the fold of the publication lying substantially parallel to and substantially coplanar with the publication vend port; a carriage assembly including a first carriage member connected to and slidingly disposed within the housing and a second carriage member connected to and slidingly disposed within the housing; a forward transport assembly connected to the carriage for reciprocating movement with the carriage for advancing the publication forward through the publication vend port, the forward transport assembly including; a pivotable first advance arm connected to the first carriage member, the first advance arm including a first finger positioned laterally to a first edge of the publication positioned on the product support platform, the pivotable first advance arm also including a first roller disposed in a first advance arm track including a first parallel delivery track portion attached to and extending from a first diagonal delivery track portion, a first diagonal delivery track portion hingedley attached to the first parallel delivery track portion by a first return hinge, the first diagonal delivery track portion being biased towards a closed position by a first return gate spring and a first return track portion positioned substantially parallel to the first parallel delivery track portion, the first roller configured for reciprocating travel along the first advance arm track with travel of the first carriage member; a pivotable second advance arm connected to the second carriage member, the second advance arm including a second finger positioned laterally to a second edge of the publication positioned on the product support platform, the pivotable second advance arm also including a second roller disposed in a second advance arm track including a second parallel delivery track portion attached to and extending from a second diagonal delivery track portion, the second diagonal delivery track portion hingedley attached to the second parallel delivery track portion by a second return hinge, the second diagonal delivery track portion being biased towards a closed position by a second return gate spring and a second return track portion positioned substantially parallel to the second parallel delivery track portion, the second roller configured for reciprocating travel along the second advance arm track with the travel of the second carriage member; a the first finger attached to and extending from the pivotable first advance arm, the first finger positioned laterally to a first edge of the publication, the first finger configured for transpositional travel in a plane substantially coplanar to the plane of the interleaf and towards the centerline of the publication; and the second finger attached to and extending from the pivotable second advance arm, the second finger positioned laterally to a second edge of the publication the second finger configured for transpositional travel in a plane substantially coplanar to the plane of the interleaf and towards the centerline of the publication.