Patent ID: 8162174

Claim:
A system for retrieving product containers inside a vending machine comprising: a. a tray assembly for holding product containers comprising an elongated floor, two side walls attached to said floor and extending substantially the length of the floor, a retaining lip extending part way up from the floor at a front of said tray assembly, and at least one movable gate, said gate being pivotally attached at one end to one of said side walls at the front of said tray assembly such that said gate extends across a portion of the front of said tray assembly when at rest; and b. a gripping assembly for removing a product container from said tray comprising a base member supporting a plurality of movable fingers capable of coming to rest at different positions, said fingers being oppositely positioned along an axis for temporary secure engagement with a product container, and at least one fixed-position finger having an upper edge that is positioned no lower than an upper edge of an uppermost movable finger for moving said gate out of the way in an upward direction.