Patent ID: 9384620
Filing Date: 2016-07-05
CPC Classification: G07F

Claim Text:
1. A vending machine, comprising: a hopper having a central platform and a dispensing opening defined therein; a container storage carousel disposed upon and extending above said central platform of said hopper and being rotatable about a first axis extending longitudinally of said carousel, said carousel having a plurality of tubular storage columns extending upright so as to define a plurality compartments containing stacks of multiple containers therein, said columns being open at least at bottoms thereof and angularly spaced apart from one another in a circular row such that the container stacks in said columns rest on said central platform of said hopper except for one of the container stacks at a time that is placed at a dispensing position overlying said dispensing opening of said hopper as said carousel is rotated relative thereto about said first axis; a dispensing mechanism disposed below said dispensing opening of said hopper, said dispensing mechanism including an actuation mechanism disposed adjacent to said rotatable dispensing head of said dispensing mechanism and including