Patent ID: 6439423
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
A commodity discharge apparatus for a vending machine, comprising:fist and second sprockets spaced from each other in a horizontal direction; an endless chain engaged with said first and second sprockets and extending on a vertical plane to form an endless loop, said endless chain being adapted to circulate through said first and second sprockets and through a lower and an upper traveling path each extending between said first and second sprockets; a hook unrotatably attached to a part of said endless chain for hooking a commodity only when said part is placed at said lower traveling path; a fall preventing member extending parallel to said lower traveling path and beside said hook for preventing a fall of said commodity from said hook, said fall preventing member being movable between an operating position and a retracted position which is retracted over said operating position, said operating position having a level substantially equal to a level of a fee end of said hook; and a driving member connected to said fall preventing member for driving the movement of said fill preventing member from said operating position to said retracted position.