Patent ID: 7066348
Filing Date: 2006-06-27
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. A vending machine for articles, the articles having a long dimension and a short dimension, the vending machine comprising: (a) a cabinet; (b) a low profile shelf supported in the cabinet, the shelf having a front end and an back end, a top surface and a bottom surface; (c) a discharge opening below the front end of the shelf; (d) at least two slots in the shelf between the front end and the back end and extending through the shelf from the top surface to the bottom surface, the slots having two sides; (e) a helical feeder coil resting in each of the at least two slots, the helical feeder coil being adapted to receive articles in its convolutions, with the articles slidably supported by the shelf along the long dimension; and (f) a motor rotatably driving each of the helical feeder coils; and (g) wherein one of the helical feeder coils rotates clockwise and another helical feeder coil rotates counterclockwise.