Patent ID: 8132691

Claim:
A dispensing system for use in a vending machine, the dispensing system comprising: a vend motor assembly adapted to be regulated by a controller to operate a vend motor in a vend operation and to reverse the vend motor after completion of the vend operation, the vend motor assembly including a cam member connected to a motor shaft of the vend motor, a rotation sensor operatively connected to the controller, and a position sensor operatively connected to the controller, the controller configured to operate the vend motor through a pulse width modulated signal to provide a soft start in which a speed of the motor shaft is gradually increased upon activation of the vend motor; a cradle member adapted to be rotated by the vend motor, wherein rotation of the cradle member is regulated by the controller in response to signals received from the rotation sensor and the position sensor such that the cradle member is within a predetermined proximity to a desired vend angle during the vend operation; a load bar mounted for a pivotal movement about the cradle member; and a push arm adapted to be shifted by the vend motor to selectively move the load bar between a product support position and a product release position.