Patent ID: 6412654
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
A vending machine for vending articles, including:user input means for allowing a user to input information relating to purchase of one of the articles; payment receiving means for receiving payment relating to purchase of the article; a vending unit for storing the articles and for dispensing the articles to a purchaser; control means coupled to the vending unit, the user input means and the payment receiving means for receiving data from the user input means concerning the article to be purchased, determining that payment has been made and for causing the vending unit to dispense the article; and wherein the vending unit includes: a plurality of storage sections each for storing articles, the storage sections having engaging means for contacting the articles and causing the articles in each section to be stacked one above the other with a bottom portion of the article stacked above a lowermost of the articles being exposed by extending beyond the lowermost of the articles; a carriage movable relative to the storage sections; moving means for moving the carriage to align the carriage with a particular one of the articles stored in the storage section; a latch associated with each of the plurality of storage sections, each latch having an engaging portion for engaging a lowermost one of the articles stacked in each plurality of storage sections and for holding the articles, and each latch having a retaining portion so that when the latch is moved to withdraw the engaging portion from the lowermost article to release the lowermost article, the retaining portion is moved concurrently into engagement with the exposed bottom portion of the article above the lowermost article to hold the article above the lowermost article and any articles above that article so that only the lowermost article is dispensed from the respective storage section, and upon return of the latch the retaining portion disengages from the exposed bottom portion so that the articles can drop under the influence of gravity and be held by the engaging portion within the storage section.