Abstract:
A sanitized vending machine includes product and cup dispensing mechanisms and an actuation mechanism. The product dispensing mechanism, holding one or more product items, rotates through a product dispensing cycle to dispense them. The cup dispensing mechanism, holding a stack of cups, rotates through a cup dispensing cycle to dispense a cup to a predetermined position. The dispensing cycles occur in a predetermined sequence so as to enable the dispensed product items to be received in a previously dispensed cup. The dispensing mechanisms respectively include rotatable first and second driven gears drivingly interfaced to rotate during respective product and cup dispensing cycles. The actuation mechanism includes a handle and a rotatable drive gear drivingly interfaced with the first driven gear. When the handle is turned by a user through an actuation cycle the driven gears rotate the respective mechanisms through respective product and cup dispensing cycles.

Description:
[0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/575,725 filed Aug. 26, 2011 and U.S. provisional application No. 61/631,747 filed Jan. 10, 2012. The disclosures of said provisional applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention generally relates to vending machines and, more particularly, is concerned with a sanitized vending machine and method. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Most prior art bulk coin-operated vending machines dispense their product items, such as candy or gum, into a non-removable cup fixed on, and ordinarily openable by manipulation of a pivotal flap mounted on the outside of, the housing of the machine which can be contacted and thus potentially contaminated by users&#39; hands. The inventor of the subject matter disclosed herein has discerned that it is likely there are many potential users who would prefer alternative approaches for items to be dispensed from bulk vending machines so that the dispensed items cannot be contaminated through contact with parts of the vending machines which can be contacted and contaminated by users. An innovation which attempted to provide one alternative approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,066,351 by the inventor of the subject matter disclosed herein. 
         [0006]    However, it is perceived by the inventor of the subject matter disclosed herein that a need still exists for other alternative approaches to sanitized dispensing from bulk coin-operated vending machines. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a sanitized vending machine and method that are designed to overcome the above-described problem and satisfy the aforementioned need. The sanitized vending machine and its method of operation prevents all users from contaminating product items and parts of the machine that contact the product items, by only allowing the occurrence of certain actions within the machine and behind a locked external access door on the machine, and thus inaccessible to all users, which result in, first, dispensing a cup from a stack thereof, second, dispensing one or more selected product items from a supply thereof into the dispensed cup and, third, unlocking the access door to enable removal of the dispensed cup containing the product items. The dispensed cup with the product items can only be removed from the machine upon the door being unlocked due to a given user operating the machine to make a purchase through depositing the required coins into the machine and turning an external handle on the machine through a given actuating cycle. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, in one aspect the present invention provides a sanitized vending machine which includes a product dispensing mechanism, a cup dispensing mechanism and an actuation mechanism. The product dispensing mechanism is adapted to hold a plurality of product items and rotate through a product dispensing cycle during which the product dispensing mechanism dispenses one or more of the product items. The product dispensing mechanism includes a first driven gear for undergoing rotation with the product dispensing mechanism during the product dispensing cycle. The cup dispensing mechanism is adapted to hold at least one stack of cups and rotate through a cup dispensing cycle during which the cup dispensing mechanism dispenses a cup from the stack to a predetermined position. The respective product and cup dispensing cycles occur in a predetermined sequence so as to enable the dispensed product items to be received in a cup previously dispensed to the predetermined position. The cup dispensing mechanism includes a second driven gear drivingly interfaced with the first driven gear of the product dispensing mechanism for undergoing rotation with the cup dispensing mechanism during the cup dispensing cycle. The actuation mechanism includes a rotatable shaft, a drive gear and a handle. The drive gear is mounted to the shaft so as to undergo rotation with the shaft, the drive gear being drivingly interfaced with the first driven gear of the product dispensing mechanism. The handle is mounted to the shaft and adapted to be turned to rotate the shaft and the drive gear therewith through an actuation cycle such that when the handle is turned by a user through the actuation cycle the first and second driven gears respectively rotate with the mechanisms through respective product and cup dispensing cycles. 
         [0009]    In another aspect the present invention provides a sanitized vending method which includes holding a plurality of product items in a product dispensing mechanism, rotating the product dispensing mechanism through a product dispensing cycle to dispense one or more of product items, holding a stack of cups in a cup dispensing mechanism, and rotating the cup dispensing mechanism through a cup dispensing cycle to dispense a cup to a predetermined position, the respective product and cup dispensing cycles occurring in a predetermined sequence so as to enable the dispensed product to be received in a cup previously dispensed to the predetermined position. The sanitized vending method also includes turning a handle through an actuation cycle to: rotate a drive gear interconnected to the handle; rotate a first driven gear intermeshed with the drive gear; rotate the product dispensing mechanism supporting the first driven gear through a product dispensing cycle; rotate a second driven gear intermeshed with the first driven gear; and rotate the cup dispensing mechanism supporting the second driven gear through a cup dispensing cycle. 
         [0010]    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 
         [0011]    In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of a sanitized vending machine in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the machine as seen along line  2 - 2  in FIG. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the machine as seen along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged fragmentary elevational interior rear view of the front of the machine. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a well structure, a product dispensing mechanism, a cup dispensing mechanism, and outer and inner cup separator devices employed in the machine as seen in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged vertically foreshorten view of the machine, with portions in sectional form, as seen generally along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged top plan view of the outer cup separator device of  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the outer cup separator device as seen along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged top plan view of a peripheral first driven gear on the product dispensing device drivingly intermeshed with a peripheral second driven gear on the cup dispensing mechanism of the machine as seen in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 10A  is a sectional view of a separation restraint device arm taken along line  10 A- 10 A in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 10B  is a sectional view of a position restraint device rod taken along line  10 B- 10 B in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view of a cup stack depletion latching device employed in the machine taken along line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a fragmentary side elevational view of the machine with portions broken away to illustrate a cup shielding mechanism employed in the machine. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a fragmentary top plan view of the cup shielding mechanism as seen along line  13 - 13  in  FIG. 12 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the cup shielding mechanism taken along line  14 - 14  in  FIG. 13 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    Referring to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1-3 , there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of a coin-operated sanitized vending machine, generally designated  10 , in accordance with the present invention. The sanitized vending machine  10  basically includes a housing  12  and a vending unit  14 . The housing  12  includes an upright base  16  and substantially horizontal top platform  18  peripherally supported above the upright base  16  upon an upper edge thereof. The vending unit  14  includes a product vending apparatus  20  and a cup dispenser apparatus  22  interfaced and supported in a substantially tandem arrangement with one another by the top platform  18  of the housing  12  such that the cup dispenser apparatus  22  is located behind the product vending apparatus  20 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 ,  5  and  6 , the product vending apparatus  20  of the vending unit  14  includes a merchandise storage magazine  24 , a product dispensing mechanism  26 , and a coin-operated actuation mechanism  28 . The merchandise storage magazine  24  is supported upright by the top platform  18  above the housing  12  and defines a chamber  30  adapted for holding a plurality of product items P to be dispensed one or more at a time. The top platform  18  of the housing  12  has a well structure  32  affixed about and depending below an interior edge  33  of the platform  18  defining an opening  34  in the top platform  18 . 
         [0029]    The product dispensing mechanism  26  includes a product dispensing device  38  disposed through a front portion  34 A of the opening  34  and within a front cavity  36  of the well structure  32  above a front bottom wall  32 A thereof. The product dispensing device  38  is rotatably supported by a central tubular portion  38 A thereof which fits over a pedestal  32 C attached on and extending upwardly from the front bottom wall  32 A. The product dispensing device  38  underlies the chamber  30  of the storage magazine  24  to receive the predetermined number of product items from the storage magazine  24  into each compartment  38 B of the product dispensing device  38  radially extending outwardly from and circumferentially displaced about the central tubular portion  38 A thereof. Upon rotation of the product dispensing device  38  through 120° of a 360° circular path of travel during each product dispensing cycle, the product items received in a given one of the compartments  38 B are successively carried by the product dispensing device  38  under a stationary cover portion  26 A of the product dispensing mechanism  26  and across an opening  40  in the front bottom wall  32 A of the well structure  32  at which the product items then fall (in other words, are dispensed) through the opening  40 . 
         [0030]    The product dispensing device  38  also includes a first driven gear  42  defined about its lower periphery portion  38 C. The well structure  32  has an opening  32 E at a front end of the front cavity  36  facing the rear of the coin-operated actuation mechanism  28  of the product vending apparatus  20 . Front portions of the product dispensing device  38  and the first driven gear  42  project through the front end opening  32 E of the well structure  32  so that the first driven gear  42  can maintain an operative interfaced or driven relationship with the coin-operated actuation mechanism  28  as will be described hereinafter. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4  and  6 , the coin-operated actuation mechanism  28  includes a mounting plate  44 , a shaft  46 , a handle  48 , a coin carrier  50  and a drive gear  52 . The mounting plate  44  mounts the coin-operated actuation mechanism  28  to the base  16  of the housing  12  by seating into an open top slot (not shown) defined in the housing base  16  below the upper edge thereof and forwardly of the product dispensing mechanism  26 . The shaft  46  is rotatably mounted through and by the mounting plate  44  such that outer and inner end portions  46 A,  46 B of the shaft  46  extend to and are disposed at the exterior and interior of the housing base  16 . The handle  48  is attached on the outer end portion  46 A of the shaft  46  and thus disposed at the exterior of the housing  12  where the handle  48  may be gripped and turned by a user. The drive gear  52  is attached on the inner end portion  46 B of the shaft  46  and thus disposed in the interior of the housing  12 . The coin carrier  50  is attached along the shaft  46  and disposed in the interior of the housing between and spaced from the handle  48  and the drive gear  52 . A user upon turning the handle  48  concurrently causes rotation of the shaft  46 , coin carrier  50  and drive gear  52  within the housing  12 . A one-way ratchet gear  54  is formed on a rear face of a wheel  56  attached along the shaft  46  in the interior of the housing  12  between the coin carrier  50  and drive gear  52 . The ratchet gear  54  is engaged by a spring-loaded pawl  58  so that the shaft  46  can only be rotated in one direction, namely counterclockwise, as viewed in  FIG. 4 , upon turning the handle  48  clockwise, as viewed in  FIG. 1 . A peripheral edge portion  56 A of the wheel  56  extends radially outward beyond the ratchet gear  54  and is provided with a recess or notch  56 B at a six o&#39;clock position about the wheel peripheral edge portion  56 A. The purpose of the notch  56 B will be explained hereinafter. 
         [0032]    During a given actuation cycle, at least one coin is deposited by a user through a coin slot  60  along the top of the mounting plate  44 . The coin is received by the coin carrier  50  which holds the coin as the handle  48  is turned by the user and the shaft  46 , coin carrier  50  and drive gear  52  therewith are rotated through a 360° path of travel during the given actuation cycle. The rotation of the coin carrier  50  transfers the coin to and releases it at a coin storage location (not shown) in the housing base  16 . The rotation of the drive gear  52 , which underlies and drivingly meshes, interfaces or engages directly with the first driven gear  42  on the rotatable dispensing device  38 , causes rotation of the first driven gear  42  and thus the product dispensing device  38  therewith. The ratio of the sizes of the respective gears  42 ,  52  is such that the first driven gear  42  and thus the product dispensing device  38  rotate through 120° each dispensing cycle in response to rotation of the shaft  46  and drive gear  52  by the turning of the handle  48  through the entire 360° circular path of travel during the given actuation cycle. Thus, the dispensing of one or more product items occurs from a successive one of the compartments  38 B of the product dispensing device  38  through the product dispensing opening  40  in the front bottom wall  34 A of the well structure  34  during each actuation cycle of the coin-operated actuation mechanism  28  of the product vending apparatus  20  of the vending unit  14 . 
         [0033]    Referring to FIGS.  3  and  5 - 8 , the cup dispenser apparatus  22  of the vending unit  14  includes a cup dispensing mechanism  62 , outer and inner cup separator devices  64 ,  88  and a cup drop chute  66 . The cup dispensing mechanism  62  includes a cup magazine or holder device  68  disposed within a rear cavity  70  of the well structure  32  and being rotatably supported on a central pedestal  32 D affixed upright on a rear bottom wall  32 B of the well structure  32  (which rear bottom wall  32 B is at a level lower than the level of the front bottom wall  32 A). The cup holder device  68  includes a lower holder part  74  that is rotatably fitted over and supported by the central pedestal  32 D and also by an interior ledge  32 F of the well structure  32  such that the lower holder part  74  is disposed in a spaced relationship above the rear bottom wall  32 B of the well structure  32 . The cup holder device  68  also includes an upper holder part  76  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) that seats and is fastened upon internally-threaded posts  72  ( FIGS. 5 and 9 ) affixed on and extending upright from the lower holder part  74 . The upper holder part  76  is thereby carried by the lower holder part  74  along a 360° circular path of rotational travel. The upper holder part  76  extends upwardly through a rear portion  34 B of the opening  34  in the top platform  18  to above the top platform  18  of the housing  12 , as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0034]    The cup holder device  68  also includes multiple lower tubular columns  78  in the lower holder part  74  and multiple upper tubular columns  80  in the upper holder part  76  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The multiple lower and upper tubular columns  78 ,  80 , such as three in number, are vertically aligned with one another. The vertically aligned lower and upper tubular columns  78 ,  80  also are disposed side-by-side and angularly displaced 120° from one another. The lower and upper tubular columns  78 ,  80  in the lower and upper holder parts  74 ,  76  of the cup holder device  68  are open at their opposite ends so as to define passageways  82 ,  84  through the tubular columns  78 ,  80  that allow insertion of stacks of cups C through the upper open ends of the upper holder part  76  and also communicate at the lower open ends of the lower holder part  74  with the cup drop chute  66  of the apparatus  22  when successively aligned with a cup dispensing opening  86  in the rear bottom wall  32 B of the well structure  32  located below a portion of the cup holder device  68 . The lower tubular columns  78  also have vertical outer and inner slots  78 A,  78 B formed therein which extend between their opposite ends along their outer and inner sides. The inner slots  78 B extend from their upper ends and terminate a short distance above their lower ends. The vertical inner slots  78 B provide space for insertion and support of the inner cup separator device  88  upon the central pedestal  32 D by use of a fastener  90  which extends through a central bore in the lower holder part  74  and threads into the central pedestal  32 D. The inner cup separator device  88  cooperates with the outer cup separator device  64 , as will be further described hereinafter, to control separation of each lowermost cup LC from its stack as the cup holder device  68  rotatably moves through 180° of the 360° circular path of travel. 
         [0035]    The cup dispensing mechanism  62  also includes a second driven gear  92  defined about the lower periphery of the lower holder part  74  of the cup holder device  68  on the top side of a peripheral flange  74 A on the lower holder part  74  that overlies an interior ledge  32 F in the rear cavity  70  of the well structure  32 . The well structure  32  has an opening  93  at the intersection between its front and rear cavities  36 ,  70  such that as the product dispensing device first driven gear  42  rotates through the 360° circular path of travel, a rear portion thereof and a front portion of the cup dispensing mechanism gear  92  project through the opening  93  between the cavities  36 ,  70  of the well structure  32  and directly drivingly intermesh, engage or interface with one another. Such intermeshing will cause rotation of the cup holder device  68  through 120° of the 360° circular path of travel, and thus operation of the cup dispenser apparatus  22  through a cup dispensing cycle, upon rotation of the shaft  46  and drive gear  52  thereon by the turning of the handle  48  of the coin-operated actuation mechanism  28  through the 360° circular path of travel of a given actuation cycle to thereby cause the dispensing of the predetermined number of product items from one of the compartments  38 B of the dispensing device  38  through the product dispensing opening  40  in the front bottom wall  32 A of the well structure  32  and dispensing of a cup from one of the lower tubular columns  78  of the lower holder part  74  of the cup holder device  68  through the cup dispensing opening  86  in the rear bottom wall  32 B of the well structure  32  in a manner that a cup C with product P therein will be delivered to an accessible location of the vending unit  14 , as will be described hereinafter. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 5-8 , the outer cup separator device  64  of the cup dispenser apparatus  22  is incorporated on a bracket  118  described hereinafter. The bracket  118  incorporating the outer cup separator device  64  has an arcuate configuration so as to extend through about a 150° portion of the 360° circular path of travel of the cup holder device  68  such that the bracket  118  overlies as well as is disposed both upstream and downstream of the cup dispensing opening  86  whereas the outer cup separator device  64  overlies and extends a short distance inwardly beyond the outer side of the cup dispensing opening  86  beginning at the upstream end thereof. 
         [0037]    The outer cup separator device  64  and the top of the inner cup separator device  88  are disposed in a spaced relationship above the rear bottom wall  32 B of the well structure  32  at a height slightly greater than the height of one cup C and in a stationary relationship to the rotatable cup holder device  68 . The top level of the outer cup separator device  64  lies in a horizontal plane just below the bottom level of the upper holder part  76  and aligned with the upper level of the lower holder part  74 . The outer cup separator device  64  at its inner edge portion  64 A extends tangentially to and slightly inwardly across through the outer slots  78 A as their respective lower tubular columns  78  rotate past the outer cup separator device  64 . The portion of the outer cup separator device  64  that overlies the cup dispensing opening  86  has an arcuate-shaped cam segment  94  define therealong with a wedge-shaped or tapered entry end  94 A that will ensure separation of the lowermost cup C from the next cup C above it in the stack S. To prevent the remaining stack of cups above the lowermost cup LC from also falling downward through the cup dispensing opening  86 , the top of the inner cup separator device  88  has a radially outward protruding circular rim portion  88 A extending through about 180° opposite from and co-extensive with the inner edge portion  64 A of the outer cup separator device  64 , The top rim R of the next higher cup C above the lowermost cup C of the two stacks approaching and leaving the location of the cup dispensing opening  86  overlies the inner edge portion  64 A of the outer cup separator device  64  and the opposing rim portion  88 A of the inner cup separator device  88  so as to support the remaining stack of cups thereon. The rim portion  88 A of the inner cup separator device  88  is cut away for about the remaining 180° thereabout so as to withdraw support from the remaining stack of cups during travel through that portion of its circular path opposite from the location of the outer cup separator device  64 , allowing the new lowermost cup and remaining stack to drop down onto the rear bottom wall  32 B of the well structure  32  such that the top rim R of the new lowermost cup will be just below and thus pass under the inner edge portion  64 A of the outer cup separator device  64  as well as below the protruding rim portion  88 A of the inner cup separator device  88  in preparation for engaging with the wedge-shaped or tapered entry end  94 A of the depending cam segment  94  of the outer cup separator device  64 . 
         [0038]    The released cup drops downward through the funnel-shaped upper portion  66 A of the cup drop chute  66  and into a substantially vertical lower portion  66 B thereof until the top rim R of the released cup C encounters a plurality of circumferentially-spaced apart pivotal protrusions or ledges  96  inwardly biased by springs  98  and mounted on pins  100  in recesses  102  near the top of the lower portion  66 B of the chute  66 , upon which the released cup RC is temporarily seated at an intermediate position about midway down the cup pathway until the product items has dropped into the cup. The weight of the product in the cup is sufficient to overcome the bias of the springs  98  and cause the pivotal ledges  96  to pivot outwardly away from the cup C and allow the cup C with product items therein to drop to the final location behind an exterior access door  104  pivotally mounted on the front of the base  16  of the housing  12  of the vending unit  14  where cup C ( FIG. 6 ) can be removed by the user opening the access door  104 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the vending unit  14  includes an access door locking mechanism  106  to control access of a user to the location in the base  16  behind the access door  104 . The mechanism  106  maintains the access door  104  in a locked condition and thus disabled from providing access by a user until the handle  48  of the coin-operated actuation mechanism  28  is turned through the full 360° circular path of travel of a given actuation cycle such that upon reaching the end of the cycle the access door  104  is converted to an unlocked condition and may be opened by a user who then may reach in and remove the cup with the product items. The access door locking mechanism  106  includes an elongated rod  108  reciprocally mounted through a retainer member  110  secured on the inside surface  104 A of the access door  104  and encircled by a spring  112  at a location intermediate the opposite upper and lower ends  108 A,  108 B of the rod  108 . The spring  112  is disposed in a slot  110 A in the retainer member  110  in a compressed condition between a collar  108 C on the rod  108  and an end of the slot  110 A so as to bias the rod  108  upwardly to place the access door  104  in an unlocked condition. 
         [0040]    The access door locking mechanism  106  also includes a lock actuation device  114  reciprocally mounted in the base  16  of the housing  12  above and aligned with the rod  108 . An upper arm portion  114 A of the lock actuation device  114  underlies the peripheral edge portion  56 A of the wheel  56  of the coin-operated actuation mechanism  18  such that the peripheral edge portion  56 A engages the upper arm portion  114 A and depresses the lock actuation device  114  and then the rod  108  downward against the bias of the spring  112  such that the lower end  108 B is inserted into a hole  116  in the base  16  of the housing  12  below the access door  104 , locking the door against being pivoted away from the housing  12 . When the handle  48  of the mechanism  28  has been turned to the end of a complete 360° circular path of travel of a given actuation cycle, the upper arm portion  114 A of the lock actuation device  114  becomes aligned with the notch  56 B in the peripheral edge portion  56 A of the wheel  56 , allowing the upper arm portion  114 A of the lock actuation device  114  and the rod  108  to move upward due to the bias force of the spring  112  and retract the lower end  108 B from the hole  116  in the base  16  of the housing  12 . The access door  104  can then be opened and the cup with product therein removed. This arrangement will ensure that the cup cannot be removed prematurely. 
         [0041]    The flow of driving torque begins when, after a user deposits the appropriate number of coins into coin slot  60 , the user turns the handle  48  of the mechanism  28  clockwise, as viewed in  FIG. 1 . Turning of the handle  48  rotates the shaft  46  and also rotates the actuation mechanism drive gear  52  and wheel  56  with the shaft  46 , the rotation of the latter is counterclockwise as viewed in  FIG. 4  which is in a direction opposite to that in  FIG. 1 . Rotation of the actuation mechanism drive gear  52  rotates the product vending apparatus first driven gear  42  and the product dispensing device  38  therewith which, in turn, rotates the cup dispenser apparatus second driven gear  92  and the cup holder device  68  therewith. The arrangements of the product dispensing device  38  and cup holder device  68  relative to their respective dispensing openings  40 ,  86  are such that each compartment  38 B of the product dispensing device  38  travels over the product dispensing opening  40  before each passageway  82  through the lower holder part  74  of the cup holder device  68  travels over the cup dispensing opening  86 ; thus, the product items are dropped from the respective compartment  38 B into the chute  66  before the cup is dropped from the respective passageway into the chute  66  during the same actuation cycle. However, the vending unit  14  is set up such that the cup released after the product items during the previous actuation cycle, since it is empty, is retained by the pivotal protrusions or ledges  96  at the intermediate position in the chute  66  and thus will receive product items during the succeeding actuation cycle. When the product items drop into the cup their weight added to the cup&#39;s weight is sufficient to force outward retraction of the ledges  96 , against the opposed biasing force applied by the springs  98 , thereby releasing the cup (with the product therein) from the ledges  96  and allowing it to drop to the discharge location behind the access door  104 . The next cup then released subsequent to the product items during the same actuation cycle will be retained by the ledges  96 , which will have immediately extended toward one another due to the biasing force applied by springs  98 , for receiving product during the subsequent actuation cycle. 
         [0042]    Referring now to FIGS.  5  and  9 - 14 , there is illustrated five features for further enhancing the operation of the sanitized vending machine  10 . Referring first to  FIGS. 5 ,  9  and  10 A, there is shown a bracket  118  mounted upon recessed shelves along the front and a side of the rear cavity  70  of the well structure  32  in overlying relation to the opening  93  at the intersection of the front and rear cavities  36 ,  70 . Thus, the bracket  118  is spaced above the location of intermeshing of the gear  42  about the lower periphery of the dispensing device  38  with the second driven gear  92  on the lower periphery of the lower holder part  74  of the cup holder device  68 . In addition to the above-described cup separator device  64 , the bracket  118  incorporates a first of the five operation-enhancing features which is a separation restraint device in the form of an arm  120  attached to and depending from the bracket  118 . As best seen in  FIG. 10A , the arm  120  terminates just above and in a close positional relationship to an upper side of a flange  38 D on the lower periphery portion  38 C of the dispensing device  38 . On the underside of the flange  38 D is formed the first driven gear  42 . The function of the depending arm  120  is to ensure that the first and second driven gears  42 ,  92  cannot separate from their interfacing relationship with one another and thus, in other words, to maintain the driving interfacing or intermeshing engagement of the first and second driven gears  42 ,  92  with one another. 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 ,  9  and  10 B, there is shown a second of the five operation-enhancing features which is a position restraint device in the form of a rod  124  having a spring-biased retractable tip  124 A. The rod  124  is attached to and depends from the bracket  118  in a spaced relationship from the restraint arm  120  and generally parallel thereto. As best seen in  FIG. 10B , the retractable tip  124 A is spring biased to protrude downwardly into one of three depressions  126  formed at 120 degree intervals in the top of the flange  38 D, marking the end of each product dispensing cycle so as to ensure that the dispensing device  38  is maintained in proper beginning alignment for the start of the next product dispensing cycle. The tip  124 A is adapted to retract and permit rotation of the product dispensing device  38  in response to a subsequent actuation cycle. 
         [0044]    Referring again to  FIG. 9 , there is also illustrated a third of the five operation-enhancing features which is in the form of a depression  128  formed in the rear bottom wall  32 B of the well structure  32  at the upstream side of the cup dispensing opening  86  therein. The depression  128  ensures that the lowermost cup will release on time from the cup immediately above it as the one stack of cups is moved over the cup dispensing opening  86 . 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9 and 11 , there is shown a fourth of the five operation-enhancing features in the form of a latching device  130  mounted to exterior of the rear bottom wall  32 B of the well structure  32  downstream from the cup dispensing opening  86 . The latching device  130  has a link  132  biased by a spring  134  to move upwardly toward the rear bottom wall  32 B. The link  132  at an inner end has attached thereto a first pin  136  which extends through a hole  138  in the rear bottom wall  32 B in the path of the stack of cups as they are moved in a circular path upon the wall  32 B. The link  132  at an outer end has attached thereto a second pin  140  which extends through a slot  142  formed vertically through the interior ledge  32 F on the wall  32 B and underlying a peripheral flange  74 A of the lower holder part  74  of the cup holder device  68 . The second pin  140  is aligned to insert into any one of multiple (three) recesses  144  formed on the underside of the peripheral flange  74 A of the lower holder part  74  of the cup holder device  68 . The latching device  130  functions to detect depletion of any one of the stacks of cups and in response thereto to stop the ability of the cup holder device  68  to rotate and thereby prevent a user from being able to turn the handle  48  of the coin-operated actuation mechanism  28 . The weight of a single last cup of the stack thereof will be enough to depress the first pin  136  and the link  132  and thereby retract the second pin  140  away from above the wall  32 B and the recesses  144 . However, when the last cup has been used, then the spring  134  caused the first and second pins  136 ,  140  and the link  132  to elevate and the second pin  140  to protrude into a corresponding one of the recesses  144  and thereby lock the cup holder device  68  in a fixed state. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIGS. 12-14 , there is illustrated a last of the five operation-enhancing features in the form of a cup shielding mechanism  146  which extends and obstructs access, when the unlocked access door  104  is opened by a user, to the next cup that is in position to receive product on the next dispensing cycle. The shield mechanism  146  includes a bed  148  mounted to extend from a bracket  150  upstanding from the base  16  of the housing  12 , a track  154  formed on the topside of the bed  148  and a plank  152  slidably mounted in the track  154 . The shield mechanism  146  also includes an arm  156  that is fixed to and extends outwardly from the door  104  such that the arm  156  moves with the door  104 . The shield mechanism  146  further includes a first spring  157 A anchored to the housing  12  and connected to the arm  156  so as to apply a bias force to the arm  156  tending to pivot the door  104  to a closed position as seen in  FIG. 12 . The shield mechanism  146  still further includes a second spring  157 B and cable  158  connected to a rear end  156 A of the arm  156  and extending therefrom upwardly and over an elevated hook  160 , then downwardly to and through a hole  162  in the bracket  150 , then rearwardly to where it is connected the rear end of the plank  152  (or, alternatively only a right angular arrangement of springs between the rear end  156 A of the arm  156  and rear end of the plank  152  in place the second spring  157 B, cable  158 , elevated hook  160  and hole  162  in bracket  150 ), and a third spring  157 C connected between a rear end of the bed  148  and the rear end of the plank  152 . This arrangement will cause the plank  152  to slide forwardly to a position underlying the cup when the door  104  is pivoted open and then automatically retract when the door  104  is pivoted closed. This will prevent a user from being able to reach through the opening  164  in the housing  12  when the door  104  is open and contact the next cup and thereby attempt to disrupt the steps involved in filling the next cup with product and dropping it to onto the dispensing location. 
         [0047]    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.