VERKAUFSAUTOMAT FÜR ZEITUNGEN UND ZEITSCHRIFTEN

The invention relates to vending machines for dispensing of a single copy of a printed publication, such as a newspaper or a magazine. The vending machine is self-contained, enclosing a power source, a driving motor and a control unit for operation of the dispensing mechanism. A stack of folded newspapers, or magazines, is placed in an upright position on a platform bearing plate and is retained in an upright orientation by a support plate which slides along the top surface of the platform bearing plate, moving the newspapers closer to a dispensing chute formed in a front part of the vending machine housing. One or more metering breaks are mounted on a top surface of the platform plate adjacent to the dispensing edge of the platform bearing plate to facilitate separation of a single copy of the newspaper prior to dispensing. A sensor mounted in the upper portion of the dispensing chute transmits a signal to the motor, deactivating operation of the motor and further advancement of the support plate along the platform bearing plate after one copy of the newspaper drops into the chute. A limit switch operationally connected to the motor prevents acceptance by the vending machine of additional payment after an entire supply of the publications in the vending machine has been dispensed.