Abstract:
A vending machine includes a dispensing head, stationary shelf, and integrated mechanism. By turning an actuation mechanism handle the dispensing head rotates through a dispensing cycle delivering a lowermost container of one of a plurality of container stacks of a rotatable carousel off the dispensing head to a temporary position on the shelf below a dispensing opening of a hopper and therefrom to a discharge location accessible at the machine exterior. The integrated mechanism is disposed on a top cover, coupled both to an assembly rod and the carousel, and operable through an oscillatory rotational motion to tighten or loosen a clamping force applied to both secure the top cover on an open top of an outer enclosure while enabling rotation of the carousel to place a selected one of the container stacks at a dispensing position overlying the dispensing opening of the hopper and the dispensing head.

Description:
This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/963,860 filed Dec. 16, 2013. The disclosure of this provisional application is hereby incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to vending machines for single serve beverage cartridge containers and, more particularly, is concerned with such type of a vending machine having mechanisms for executing locking, indexing and dispensing operations so as to facilitate efficient handling of these types of cartridge containers. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A single serve beverage market has grown up around the use of containers in pod, capsule or cartridge form that hold single serve beverage ingredients, such as for coffee, and are intended to be received in automatic machines, such as specialized coffee brewing machines, to brew and dispense a single cup of coffee in a few minutes. These cartridge containers are generally cup-shaped, with a truncated conical side wall gradually tapering outward from a bottom to a top end. The side wall at the bottom end is closed by a substantially flat bottom wall, while at the top end the side wall defines a circular access opening usually larger in diameter than the bottom wall. The side wall at the top end also usually has an annular-shaped lip protruding radially outwardly from the side wall and surrounding the access opening and a lid sealed upon the lip so as to overlie and close the access opening. These cartridge containers may enclose other features that facilitate the brewing operation in the specialized machines. Additionally, these cartridge containers may contain other types of product ingredients unrelated to single serve beverage ingredients. 
     Recently, interest has stirred in the vending machine market to develop an approach that is adapted to bulk store the cartridge containers with beverage ingredients in different flavors so as to allow users to be able to select between the different flavors and then to singly dispense a single cartridge container corresponding to the user&#39;s selection. One approach to bulk storage and selective dispensing of these cartridge containers one at a time is that of the vending machine disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0186907, published Jul. 25, 2013. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an alternative approach to bulk storage and selective dispensing of these cartridge containers one at a time. The vending machine of the present invention has mechanisms for executing locking, indexing and dispensing operations of the machine in a manner that facilitates efficient handling of these types of cartridge containers. 
     Accordingly, in one aspect the present invention provides a vending machine which includes a hopper, a container storage carousel, a dispensing mechanism, and an actuation mechanism. The hopper has a central platform and a dispensing opening defined therein. The container storage carousel is disposed upon and extends above the central platform of the hopper and is rotatable about a first axis extending longitudinally of the carousel. The carousel has a plurality of tubular storage columns extending upright so as to define a plurality compartments containing multiple containers, one on top of another, in stacks therein. The columns are open at least at bottoms thereof and angularly spaced apart from one another in a circular row such that the container stacks in the columns rest on the central platform of the hopper except for one of the container stacks at a time that is placed at a dispensing position overlying the dispensing opening of the hopper as the carousel is rotated relative thereto about the first axis. 
     The dispensing mechanism is disposed below the dispensing opening of the hopper. The dispensing mechanism includes a rotatable dispensing head and a stationary shelf. The rotatable dispensing head has spaced apart outer and inner ends and a platform extending between and being attached to peripheral portions of the outer and inner ends such that the outer and inner ends define a second axis extending transversely to the first axis of the carousel and at least an outer central portion of the platform is offset laterally of the second axis and initially located at the dispensing opening of the hopper below and supporting the one container stack placed at the dispensing position overlying the dispensing opening. The stationary shelf has a horizontal portion disposed between the outer and inner ends of the dispensing head and extends substantially parallel to the second axis and the outer central portion of the platform such that the platform revolves about the horizontal portion of the stationary shelf as the dispensing head is rotated about the second axis. The dispensing head is rotatable through a dispensing cycle to deliver a lowermost container of the container stack of the column, being located at the dispensing position upon the dispensing head, initially off the dispensing head to a temporary position on the stationary shelf located below the dispensing opening of the hopper and finally therefrom to a discharge location accessible to exterior of the housing. 
     The actuation mechanism is disposed adjacent to the rotatable dispensing head of the dispensing mechanism. The actuation mechanism includes a rotatable actuator. The rotatable actuator is rotatable about the second axis and is coupled to the outer end of the rotatable dispensing head to rotate the dispensing head about the second axis and thereby revolve the platform about the second axis and the horizontal portion of the stationary shelf. The actuation mechanism also includes a device coupled to the rotatable actuator and being rotatable through an actuation cycle to cause the rotatable actuator, and thereby the platform of the dispensing head, to revolve about the second axis and the horizontal portion of the stationary shelf through a dispensing cycle and along a circular path that delivers a lowermost container of the container stack of the column, being located at the dispensing position on the outer central portion of the platform of the rotatable dispensing head, initially onto the horizontal portion of the stationary shelf and finally therefrom to an accessible discharge location. 
     In another aspect the present invention provides a vending machine which includes an upstanding housing, a hopper, an outer enclosure, a top cover, a container storage carousel, an assembly rod, an integrated indexing and clamping mechanism, a dispensing mechanism, and an actuation mechanism. The housing defines a hollow interior chamber and has an upper peripheral portion and a lower base portion. The hopper has a perimeter and a central platform, the hopper at its perimeter being stationarily mounted on the upper peripheral portion of the housing. The central platform of the hopper extends across the interior chamber of the housing and has a central hole and a dispensing opening defined therein between the perimeter of the hopper and the central hole of its central platform. The outer enclosure has open upper and lower edge portions. The outer enclosure is mounted stationarily at its lower edge portion on the perimeter of the hopper and extends upwardly therefrom to its upper edge portion. The top cover is disposed on and overlies the open upper edge portion of the outer enclosure so as to close the outer enclosure. The top cover has a central hole therein. 
     The carousel is disposed within the outer enclosure and rotatably mounted on and extends above the central platform of the hopper so as to be rotatable about a first axis extending longitudinally of the carousel. The carousel has upper and lower plates disposed in a spaced relationship to each other and a plurality of tubular storage columns extending upright between the upper and lower plates so as to define a plurality compartments receiving stacks of multiple containers therein being open at tops and bottoms of the columns. The carousel also has a central hole and a plurality of spaced apart openings defined radially outward from the central hole in each of the upper and lower plates. The columns are aligned with the openings and together with the aligned openings are angularly spaced apart from one another in a circular row such that the container stacks in the columns rest on the central platform of the hopper except for one of the container stacks at a time that is placed at a dispensing position overlying the dispensing opening of the hopper as the carousel is rotated relative thereto about the first axis. The assembly rod extends through the interior chamber of the housing, the central hole of the hopper, the carousel, and the central holes of the respective upper and lower plates of the carousel. The assembly rod at a lower end portion is secured centrally to the lower base of the housing and at a upper end portion extends through a central opening in the top cover. 
     The integrated indexing and clamping mechanism is disposed on the top cover and is coupled to the upper end portion of the assembly rod and to the rotatable carousel. The integrated mechanism has a plurality of yieldable bearings disposed on the top cover and operable through an incremental back-and-forth rotational motion to tighten or loosen the bearings against the top cover to clamp of the outer enclosure and the housing between the base of the housing and the top cover to thereby both secure the top cover on the open top of the outer enclosure while enabling rotation of the carousel relative to the top cover, outer enclosure and hopper about the first axis in order to place a selected one of the columns at the dispensing position overlying the dispensing opening of the hopper; 
     The dispensing mechanism is disposed below the dispensing opening of the hopper and includes a rotatable dispensing head and a stationary shelf. The dispensing head is rotatable through a dispensing cycle to deliver a lowermost container of the container stack of the column, being located at the dispensing position upon the dispensing head, initially off the dispensing head to a temporary position on the stationary shelf located below the dispensing opening of the hopper and finally therefrom to a discharge location accessible to exterior of the housing. The actuation mechanism is mounted to the housing adjacent to the dispensing head and is operable by turning a handle through an actuation cycle to cause the dispensing mechanism to operate through the dispensing cycle. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of a vending machine in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the machine showing actuation and dispensing mechanisms of the machine. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of rotatable storage carousel of the machine showing in cutaway fashion a plurality of columns. 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a hopper of the machine showing a dispensing opening therein over which is aligned one at a time a selected one of the storage columns of the storage carousel. 
         FIG. 5  is a vertical sectional view of the hopper on an upper end of a housing of the machine as seen along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIGS. 6A-6C  are diagrammatic views of a bridge of a dispensing head of the machine dispensing mechanism at three sequential positions during a single actuation cycle. 
         FIGS. 7A-7C  are diagrammatic views of a spring-biased locking pin of a reciprocal locking mechanism and a peripheral cam surface on an inner end of the dispensing head of the machine dispensing mechanism at three sequential positions corresponding to those of the dispensing head in  FIGS. 6A-6C . 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged vertical foreshortened sectional view of a base of the housing of the machine and of a top cover on an upper end of an outer enclosure of the machine taken along  8 - 8  in  FIG. 1 , showing the base and top cover interconnected by an assembly rod and also an integrated indexing and clamping mechanism on the top cover that allows for executing the locking of the top cover on the upper end of the outer enclosure of the machine while still allowing for rotation of the container storage carousel relative to the top cover, outer enclosure and housing of the machine. 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the integrated mechanism as seen along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1-5 , there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of a vending machine, generally designated  10 , in accordance with the present invention. The vending machine  10  basically includes a housing  12  and a container storage and dispensing head  14  supported upon the housing  12 . The housing  12  preferably, but not necessarily, is rectangular in configuration and has an open top end  12 A, a closed bottom or base  16  and an interior chamber  18  therebetween. The vending machine  10  also includes a coin-operated actuation mechanism  20  mounted on the housing  12  at the exterior thereof and extending into the interior chamber  18  of the housing  12 , a container dispensing mechanism  22  supported in the interior chamber  18  of the housing  12  and a delivery chute  24  supported in the interior chamber  18  of the housing  12  adjacent to the container dispensing mechanism  22 . The delivery chute  24  is supported by the housing  12  to receive a container C from the dispensing mechanism  22  and deliver it to a final discharge station  26  having a pivotal access door  28  for removing the container. The vending machine  10  further includes an elongated assembly rod  30  extending vertically through the interior chamber  18  of the housing  12  for interconnecting the housing  12  and the container storage and dispensing head  14  together, and a lockable coin box  32  disposed in the interior chamber  18  of the housing  12  upon the closed bottom or base  16  thereof and, when unlocked, is removable through a side opening  34  in the housing  12 . 
     The storage and dispensing head  14  of the vending machine  10  includes an outer transparent globe or enclosure  36  preferably, but not necessarily, rectangular in overall configuration, a removable top lid or cover  38  which fits upon an open upper end  36 A of the enclosure  36  to close the same, and a top platform or hopper  40  below the outer enclosure  36  and removably supported on the open top end  12 A of the housing  12  to close the same. The hopper  40  removably seats and closes the outer enclosure  36  at its lower open end  36 B upon and within an interior peripheral ledge  41  formed in the hopper  40 . The head  14  of the vending machine  10  also includes a generally cylindrical-shaped cartridge container storage magazine or carousel  42  disposed inside of the outer transparent enclosure  36 , spaced below the removable top cover  38  and supported by the hopper  40  on a bottom wall  40 A thereof. The hopper  40  also has a dispensing opening  44  defined in the bottom wall  40 A of the hopper  40 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , the container storage carousel  42  has an overall generally cylindrical configuration and is made of a rigid material, such as a suitable plastic or metal. The carousel  42  includes upper and lower plates  46 ,  48 , a plurality of elongated tie rods  49  extending between, and at their opposite ends fastened to, the peripheries of the upper and lower plates  46 ,  48  so as to hold the upper and lower plates  46 ,  48  in a desired spaced apart relationship to each other. The carousel  42  also includes a plurality of elongated tubular storage columns  50  extending between the upper and lower plates  46 ,  48  and defining container receiving and stacking compartments  52  therein. The carousel  42  has respective pluralities of openings  46 A,  48 A defined in the upper and lower plates  46 ,  48 . The openings  46 A,  48 A of each plurality thereof are spaced apart angularly from each other in a circular arrangement adjacent to and spaced inwardly from the respective peripheries of the upper and lower plates  46 ,  48 . The tubular storage columns  50  are mounted upright in relation to, and extend between, the upper and lower plates  46 ,  48 . The tubular storage columns  50  are displaced angularly from each other in a substantially endless circular arrangement or row. The tubular storage columns  50 , and respective compartments  52 , and the openings  46 A,  48 A in the upper and lower plates  46 ,  48 , are shown as being circular in configuration, although they may have other configurations, such as rectangular, for accommodating and holding therein a stack S of the cartridge containers C containing products or items, such as sealed cartridge containers C of ground coffee or the like, being correspondingly circular or rectangular in configuration and stacked upside down. The compartments  52  of the tubular storage columns  50  are open at the tops and bottoms of the columns  50  where they are matched with the openings  46 A,  48 A in the upper and lower plates  46 ,  48 . The tubular storage columns  50  also may have elongated side slots  50 A defined in outwardly facing side portions of the columns  50 , opening into the compartments  52  and extending lengthwise between and opening at the open tops and bottoms of the column  50 . The openings  46 A of the upper plate  46  together with the open tops and side slots  50 A of the storage columns  50  facilitate, by use of one&#39;s hand, and thus manually, placing and stacking of the cartridge containers C in the storage columns  50  whereas the openings  48 A of the lower plate  48  together with the open bottom of the tubular storage columns  50  facilitate resting the stacks S of cartridge containers C at their lowermost container LC upon the bottom wall  40 A of the hopper  40  and successive discharging of such cartridge containers C one at a time from the bottom of the stack S in a selected one of the tubular storage columns  50  through the dispensing opening  44  in the hopper  40 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-5 , more particularly, the container storage carousel  42  at a central hole  48 B in its lower plate  48  receives and rotatably mounts about an adjacent portion of the assembly rod  30  and mounts upon the bottom wall  40 A of the hopper  40 . Two spring-loaded alignment devices  54  are mounted to the bottom wall  40 A of the hopper  40 , being spaced outwardly from opposite sides of a central hole  40 B in the hopper bottom wall  40 A. The container storage carousel  42  has a plurality of opposing pairs of alignment holes  56  defined in the lower plate  48 , spaced apart from one another and spaced between the openings  48 A and the central hole  48 B of the lower plate  48  of the carousel  42 . A given one at a time of the plurality of opposing pairs of alignment holes  56  are capable of receiving the two alignment devices  54  on the bottom wall  40 A of the hopper  40  so as to align a desired selected one of the tubular storage columns  50  over the dispensing opening  44  in the bottom wall  40 A of the hopper  40 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . Each of the alignment devices  54  has a rounded head  54 A which is biased by a spring  54 B to extend above the bottom wall  40 A of the hopper  40  sufficiently to fit into the given one opposing pair of alignment holes  56 . However, when the carousel  42  is manually rotated relative to the alignment devices  54  during selection of a different one of the tubular storage columns  50  to align over the dispensing opening  44 , the rounded heads  54 A of the alignment devices  54  will be pressed downward by the lower plate  48  of the carousel  42 , compressing the respective springs  54 B and retracting from the given one opposing pair of alignment holes  56  in the lower plate  48  of the carousel  42 . Then, in response to the carousel  42  being rotated to bring a different selected tubular storage column  50  thereof into alignment over the dispensing opening  44  of the hopper  40 , a biasing force is released due to extension of the compressed springs  54 B causing upward movement of the alignment devices  54  so as to return their rounded heads  54 A to their upwardly extended positions into another opposing pair of alignment holes  56  in the lower plate  48  of the carousel  42 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the coin-operated actuation mechanism  20  is mounted to, and supported on the housing  12 , by a mounting structure in the form of a plate  58  attached to the front of the housing  12  by a plurality of fasteners  59 , such as conventional screws. In such position, the actuation mechanism  20  extends both within and without the housing  12  and defines a top coin deposit slot  20 A and also include a central drive shaft  60  mounted through the mounting plate  58  for rotation about a transverse axis A extending in a generally orthogonal relation to a central longitudinal axis B defined by the elongated assembly rod  30  which is the rotational axis of the container storage carousel  42  of the storage and dispensing head  14 . The actuation mechanism  20  further includes a handle  62  attached to an outer end of the drive shaft  60  for use by a user to rotate the drive shaft  60  and a wheel  64  attached to an inner end of the drive shaft  60  that incorporates a conventional one-way ratchet gear (not shown) so as to restrict rotation of the drive shaft  60  and handle  62  to a clockwise direction as viewed in  FIG. 1 . (The drive shaft  60  and wheel  64  together constitute a rotatable actuator rotated by turning the handle  62 .) Thus, upon deposit by a user of a given coin or coins into the top coin deposit slot  20 A of the actuation mechanism  20 , the user may then turn the handle  62  clockwise thereby rotating the drive shaft  60  and wheel  64  through one revolution which is the same as one actuation cycle. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an upright support member  65  is fixedly mounted upon the base  16  of the housing  12  and is free-standing in the interior chamber  18  next to the coin box  32 . The dispensing mechanism  22  includes a container dispensing head  66  supported by and extending between an upper end portion  65 A of the upright support member  65  and a rear side of the wheel  64  of the actuation mechanism  20  for undergoing rotation with the rotatable actuator of the actuation mechanism  20  about the transverse axis A. The container dispensing head  66  of the dispensing mechanism  22  includes a pair of opposite outer and inner ends  68 ,  69  and a platform  70  having an inverted cradle shape and being rigidly attached to and extending between the outer and inner ends  68 ,  69 . The platform  70  has an outer central portion  70 A relatively flat in configuration and being disposed in a peripheral position offset laterally of and substantially parallel to the transverse axis A. The outer end  68  of the dispensing head  66  is fixedly coupled to the rotatable wheel  64  of the actuation mechanism  20  by a pair of bosses  64 A that extend from the rear side of the rotatable wheel  64  into corresponding apertures  68 A in the outer end  68  of the dispensing head  66 . 
     The dispensing mechanism  22  also includes a container support shelf  67  stationarily supported by the upper end portion  65 A of the upright support member  65 , adjacent to the inner end  69  of the container dispensing head  66 . The container support shelf  67  has a lower horizontal portion  67 A disposed within the container dispensing head  66  between the outer and inner ends  68 ,  69  thereof at a stationary position spaced below and substantially aligned with the dispensing opening  44  of the hopper  40  and offset from, but substantially parallel to, the transverse axis A. The lower horizontal portion  67 A of the stationary support shelf  67  merges, and extends in a cantilevered fashion, from a lower end of an upper vertical mounting portion  67 B of the support shelf  67 . The lower horizontal portion  67 A extends toward, but terminates short of, the outer end  68  of the dispensing head  66 . The lower horizontal portion  67 A of the support shelf  67  serves as a horizontal surface for receiving and supporting thereupon a lowermost container LC as will be described hereinafter. 
     The dispensing head  66  at its inner end  69  and the support shelf  67  at the upper vertical portion  67 B are supported by the upper end portion  65 A of the upright support member  65  in conjunction with a fastener, such as a bolt  71  and a nut  72 . The bolt  71  is installed so as to extend from the upper vertical portion  67 B of the stationary support shelf  67 , through the inner end  69  of the dispensing head  66 , to the upper end portion  65 A of the support member  65 . The nut  72  may be threaded onto a threaded portion  71 A at one end of the bolt  71  that extends from one side  65 C of the upper end portion  65 A of the upright support member  65  opposite from the inner end  69  of the dispensing head  66 . The inner end  69  of the dispensing head  66  has a smooth cylindrical bore  69 A therethrough that receives a smooth cylindrical middle portion  71 B of the bolt  71 , located next to its threaded end portion  71 A, such that the bore  69 A of the inner end  69  of the dispensing head  66  extends coaxial with the transverse axis A and enables the dispensing head  66  to rotate relative to and about the smooth cylindrical middle portion  71 B of the bolt  71  and the transverse axis A. The bolt  71  also has a polygonal shaped portion  71 C located between and adjacent to the middle portion  71 B and an enlarged head  71 D on the opposite end of the bolt  71 . The polygonal shaped portion  71 C of the fastener  71  fits within a similarly polygonal shaped opening  67 C through the upper vertical portion  67 B of the support shelf  67  which prevents rotation of the shelf  67 , with the rotation of the dispensing head  66 , relative to the upright support member  65 . Tightening the nut  72  on the threaded end portion  71 A of the bolt  71  causes an end of the middle portion  71 B of the bolt  71 , being of larger diameter than the threaded end portion  71 A, to abut against the other side  65 D of the of the upper end portion  65 A of the upright support member  65  adjacent to the inner end  69  of the dispensing head  66  in a manner which affixes the bolt  71  to the upper end portion  65 A of the upright support member  65  and retains the inner end  69  of the dispensing head  66  and the upper vertical portion  67 B of the support shelf  67  between the enlarged head  71 D of the bolt  71  and the upper end portion  65 A of the upright support member  65 . 
     Thus, when the handle  62  of the actuation mechanism  20  is turned clockwise through one revolution or actuation cycle, the dispensing head  66  undergoes clockwise rotation with the drive shaft  60  and wheel  64  (which together form the rotatable actuator) of the actuation mechanism  20 , which revolves the platform  70  of the dispensing head  66  through one dispensing cycle along a circular path between upper and lower positions respectively located adjacent or proximate to and remote from the bottom wall  40 A of the hopper  40 . In the upper position, the outer central portion  70 A of the platform  70  is substantially aligned with and spans the dispensing opening  44  in the bottom wall  40 A of the hopper  40 , as seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4  so that the stacks S of cartridge containers C in the respective tubular columns  50  of the carousel  42  may smoothly slide one at a time to and from the bottom wall  40 A of the hopper  40  across the outer central portion  70 A of the platform  70  of the dispensing head  66  as the carousel  42  is rotated relative to the hopper  40  and the transparent outer enclosure  36 . 
     Furthermore, referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , the inner end  69  of the rotatable dispensing head  66  has a peripheral cam surface  73  thereabout which includes a flat portion  73 A and a cylindrical portion  73 B which, as explained in more detail below with reference to  FIGS. 7A-7C , causes actuation of a reciprocal locking mechanism  74 , being mounted to the underside of the hopper  40  in alignment with an aperture  40 C in the bottom wall  40 A of the hopper  40  adjacent to and spaced inwardly from the hopper dispensing opening  44 . The reciprocal locking mechanism  74  has a spring-biased locking pin  75  which rides on the peripheral cam surface  73  on the inner end  69  of the rotatable dispensing head  66  and reciprocates between retracted and extended positions by its corresponding contact with the flat and cylindrical portions  73 A,  73 B of the peripheral cam surface  73 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 7A-7C , the flat portion  73 A is much shorter in circumferential extent than the cylindrical portion  73 B. Thus, the spring-biased locking pin  75  of the reciprocal locking mechanism  74  when in contact with the cylindrical portion  73 B of the cam surface  73  is extended and cooperates, one at a time, with a given one of a plurality of holes  48 C formed in the lower plate  48  of the carousel  42  in a circular arrangement disposed between the circular arrangement of alignment holes  56  and the central hole  48 B of the lower plate  48  of the carousel  42  to lock the carousel  42  in a selected stationary position, with a selected one of the tubular columns  50  aligned with the dispensing opening  44  of the hopper  40 , during the rotation of the dispensing head  66  by turning the handle  62  of the actuation mechanism  20 . The reciprocal locking mechanism  74  may be substantially similar to the one shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,182,219. This patent is by the inventor herein and its disclosure is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     Actuation of the reciprocal locking mechanism  74  prevents rotation of the container storage carousel  42  during the operation of the actuation mechanism  20  through one actuation cycle causing rotation of the dispensing head  66  through one dispensing cycle in which occurs the dropping of the one stack S of cartridge containers C placed at the dispensing position, after removal of its support on the outer central portion  70 A of the platform  70  of the dispensing head  66  by revolving of the platform  70  of the dispensing head  66  away from the upper position adjacent to the dispensing opening  44  of the hopper  40 . When the platform  70  revolves from the upper position to the lower position, the lowermost container LC of the one stack S is temporarily received on the lower horizontal portion  67 A of the stationary support shelf  67  of the dispensing mechanism  22 . When the platform  70  revolves from the lower position to the upper position, the lowermost container LC of the one stack S is tipped off the lower horizontal portion  67 A of the support shelf  67  and into the delivery chute  24  ( FIG. 1 ) by subsequent contact with the lowermost container LC by a leading edge portion  70 B of the revolving platform  70 . The delivery chute  24  routes the container to the discharge station  26  on the housing  12 , as seen in  FIG. 1 . The discharge station  26  covered by the pivotal access door  28  may then be lifted by the user to gain access to the cartridge container C of merchandise dispensed by the operation of the vending machine  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6A-6C and 7A-7C , there are illustrated three sequential positions of the dispensing head  66  of the dispensing mechanism  22  and of the spring-biased locking pin  75  of the reciprocal locking mechanism  74  during one actuation cycle, which occurs as a result of depositing coin(s) into the coin deposit slot  20 A and then turning the handle  62  through one revolution.  FIG. 6A  shows a lowermost one of the containers LC resting on the outer central portion  70 A of the platform  70  of the dispensing head  66  with the platform  70  at an initial upper position at the start of the actuation and dispensing cycles before any turning of the handle  62  has occurred. FIG.  7 A shows the locking pin  75  in a non-activated retracted position resting on the flat portion  73 A of the peripheral cam surface  73  of the inner end  69  of the dispensing head  66  and disposed within the one aperture  40 C (see also  FIGS. 2 and 4 ) in the bottom wall  40 A of the hopper  40  immediately above the locking pin  75 . The top of the locking pin  75  is thus located below the level of any one of the plurality of holes  48 C in the lower plate  48  of the carousel  42  corresponding to respective ones of the columns  50  holding the stacks S of containers C. In this non-activated position of the locking pin  75 , and before turning of the handle  62  of the actuation mechanism  20 , the carousel  42  may be rotated relative to the dispensing opening  44  of the hopper  40  until the desired one of the columns  50  holding the selected stack S of containers C is aligned over the dispensing opening  44  resting on the outer central portion  70 A of the platform  70  of the dispensing head  66 . Thereafter, the start of turning of the handle  62  in a clockwise direction, initiating the start of an actuation cycle, will cause rotation of the dispensing head  66  and thus revolving of its platform  70  away from its position underlying the hopper dispensing opening  44  toward the dashed line position in  FIG. 6A  and concurrently elevation or extension of the locking pin  75  against its spring bias into the aligned one of the holes  48 C of the lower plate  48  of the carousel  42  to the locking position shown in  FIG. 7B . The elevation of the locking pin  75  is caused by contact between the locking pin  75  and the cylindrical portion  73 B of the cam surface  73  on the inner end  69  of the dispensing head  66 , being shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C . The cylindrical portion  73 B of the peripheral cam surface  73 , due to its greater radius than the flat portion  73 A, lifts the locking pin  75  and maintains it extended into the selected one of the holes  48 C of the lower plate  48  of the carousel  42 , preventing any further rotation of the carousel.  FIG. 6B  shows the position of the container stack S and lowermost container LC after the platform  70  of the dispensing head  66  has revolved about 180° clockwise from the upper start position to an intermediate lower position, or through about half of an actuation cycle, such that the platform  70  of the dispensing head  66  is now clear of the lowermost container LC, thus permitting the stack S to drop down and only the lowermost container LC to rest on the lower horizontal portion  67 A of the stationary support shelf  67  about and with respect to which the platform  70  of the dispensing head  66  is revolving.  FIG. 6C  shows the platform  70  of the dispensing head  66  after it has revolved from the intermediate lower portion toward the upper position through about three-quarters of an actuation cycle in which a leading end portion  70 B of the platform  70  now underlies the stack S and has pushed or tipped the dispensed lowermost container LC off the stationary shelf  67  such that the container LC drops through the delivery chute  24  to the discharge station  26  (see  FIG. 1 ). As seen in  FIGS. 7B and 7C , the locking pin  75  is retained by the contact with the cylindrical portion  73 B of the peripheral cam surface  73  inserted into the one hole  48 C of the lower plate  48  of the carousel  42  until the dispensing head  66  has returned to its initial upper position, as seen in  FIG. 6A , at the completion of the actuation cycle. Upon approaching the end of the actuation cycle, the flat portion  73 A of the peripheral cam surface  73  on the inner end  69  of the dispensing head  66  is again brought under the locking pin  75 , as shown in  FIG. 7A , permitting its retraction in the direction of its spring bias. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the assembly rod  30  extends through the head  14  (and thus through respective central holes  46 B,  48 B of the upper and lower plates  46 ,  48  of the carousel  42 ) and through the central hole  40 B in the hopper  40  and is connected, such as by being threadably attached, at a lower end portion  30 A to the base  16  of the housing  12  and connectible at an upper end portion  30 B to the removable top cover  38  by operating an integrated indexing and clamping mechanism  76  (hereinafter for the sake of brevity referred to as the “integrated mechanism”) fitted to the top cover  38 . With the assembly rod  30  connected at its lower end  30 A to the base  16  of the housing  12 , by tightening a locking device  78  of the integrated mechanism  76 , using only a key  79 , against the top cover  38  via an indexing knob  80  of the integrated mechanism  76  interposed between the locking device  78  and the top cover  38 , the outer enclosure  36  and hopper  40  become clamped between the base  16  of the housing  12  and the top cover  38  so as to hold the vending machine  10  in an assembled condition, while allowing the carousel  42  to be rotated relative to the hopper  40  and the top cover  38 . The carousel  42  can be rotated by gripping and turning the indexing knob  80  of the integrated mechanism  76 , being rotatable about the upper end  30 B of the assembly rod  30 , while the locking device  78  is tightened on the upper end portion  30 B of the assembly rod  30  holding the vending machine  10  in the assembled condition. Loosening and removing only the locking device  78  permits removal of the top cover  38  from the vending machine  10  without removing the outer enclosure  36  or the carousel  42 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the upper end  30 B of the assembly rod  30  may be lockably secured against the top cover  38 , for assembling and clamping the outer enclosure  36  between the housing  12  and the top cover  38 , by actuating the locking device  78  using only the key  79 . Both the locking device  78  and key  79  per se are the same as those used heretofore. Only now, the locking device  78  and key  79  are part of the integrated mechanism  76  that permits execution of several operations which heretofore were independently and separately executed. The integrated mechanism  76  allows for executing the locking of the top cover  38  onto the outer enclosure  36  and housing  12  while still allowing rotation of the interiorly-positioned storage carousel  42  for indexing the carousel  42  to bring different ones of its storage columns  50  into alignment over the dispensing opening  44  and with the outer central portion  70 A of the platform  70  of the dispensing head  66  of the dispensing mechanism  22 . 
     More particularly, in addition to the locking device  78 , key  79  and indexing knob  80 , the integrated mechanism  76  includes a coupling member in the form of a turntable  82  disposed below the top cover  38  and fixedly mounted by screws  84  to a lower annular hub  80 A of the indexing knob  80  disposed through the central opening  38 A of the top cover  38 . The integrated mechanism  76  also includes a plurality of ball bearings  86 , such as steel balls, disposed between a lower annular surface  80 B of the indexing knob  80 , surrounding the annular hub  80 A thereof, and a top surface  38 B of the top cover  38  encompassing the central opening  38 A thereof. The plurality of ball bearings  86  are biased toward the top surface  38 B of the top cover  38  by a plurality of springs  87  seated in a corresponding plurality of cavities  88  formed in the indexing knob  80  and held therein by a plurality of set screws  89  threaded into upper portions of the cavities  88  open at an upper annular surface  80 C of the indexing knob  80 . The cavities  88  are arranged spaced apart from one another in a circular row. The turntable  82  has at least a pair of bosses  90  fixedly mounted to the lower surface of the turntable  82  which match with various opposed pairs of the holes  46 C of a plurality thereof located on opposite sides of the central hole  46 B, and between the central hole  46 B and the openings  46 A, in the upper plate  46  of the carousel  42 , which openings  46 A match with the open tops of the columns  50  of the carousel  42 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . 
     When the top cover  38  is placed onto the open upper end  36 A of the outer enclosure  36 , an incremental back-and-forth rotational motion can be applied to the indexing knob  80  so as to readily register the carousel holding bosses  90  with, and insert them into, one of the pairs of opposed holes  46 C in the upper plate  46  of the carousel  42 . Then, the locking device  78  can be inserted into a stepped central bore  92  in the indexing knob  80  and rotatably threaded onto the upper end  30 B of the assembly rod  30  by inserting the key  79  in the locking device  78  and turning the key  79  relative to the locking device  78 . This is done to also tighten the locking device  78  against the indexing knob  80  and apply clamping force downward through the indexing knob  80  onto the top cover  38  so as to clamp the cover top  38  over and against the upper end  36 A of the outer enclosure  36 . At this point, if the locking device  78  is tightened too much, the operator (and thus a user) may not be able to turn the indexing knob  80  to rotate or turn the carousel  42  in order to align a desired or selected one of the tubular columns  50  of the carousel  42  with the discharge opening  44  of the hopper  40 . So the operator must turn the key  79  in reverse so as to un-tighten (or backoff) the clamping force of the locking device  78  applied through the indexing knob  80  against the top cover  38  just enough to allow the operator is able to easily turn the indexing knob  80 . A small gap G of about 1 mm will be produced between the indexing knob  80  and top cover  38  at the point where sufficient downward force is being applied. At that point, the action of the spring biased ball bearings  86  will still impose sufficient clamping force upon the top cover  38  so as to continue to clamp it against the outer enclosure  36  so as to prevent lifting of the top cover  38  from off of the outer enclosure  36 . Thus, in such manner, the integrated mechanism  76  allows for actuating the locking of the top cover  38  onto the outer enclosure  36  and housing  12  while allowing rotation of the interiorly-positioned storage carousel  42  for indexing the carousel  42  by employing the indexing knob  80  that integrates the locking device  78  therewith so as to bring different ones of its tubular storage columns  50  into alignment over the hopper dispensing opening  44  and with the dispensing head  66  while maintaining the top cover  38  firmly clamped onto the outside enclosure  36 . 
     It is thought that the present invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore described being merely exemplary embodiments thereof.