Patent ID: 8727337

Claim:
A vending machine system for stackable goods, comprising: a hopper configured to hold a stack of the stackable goods, the hopper having an aperture formed in a base of the hopper for dispensing the stackable goods from the hopper; a vacuum generator; a reciprocating arm disposed adjacent the aperture, the reciprocating arm linearly movable between a retracted position and an extended position, one of the stackable goods received by the reciprocating arm when the reciprocating arm is in the retracted position and pushed from the stack of stackable goods by the reciprocating arm when the reciprocating arm is moved to the extended position; and a pair of holding members disposed on the hopper, one of the holding members disposed adjacent a first side of the reciprocating arm and another of the holding members disposed adjacent a second side of the reciprocating arm, the first side of the reciprocating arm disposed opposite the second side of the reciprocating arm, the holding members each extending over a minor portion of the aperture formed in the base of the hopper, the holding members permitting one of the stackable goods to be linearly dispensed from the hopper and militating against a pulling of the one of the stackable goods back through the aperture as the reciprocating arm retracts, wherein the reciprocating arm includes a base plate and a pusher plate, the base plate having an uppermost major surface, the major surface having a first portion and a second portion, the pusher plate covering and abutting the second portion of the major surface, the first portion of the major surface configured to receive the one of the stackable goods when the reciprocating arm is in the retracted position, and the pusher plate configured to push the one of the stackable goods from the stack of stackable goods when the reciprocating arm is moved to the extended position, wherein the base plate has an internal conduit in communication with at least one suction hole of the base plate, the at least one suction hole formed in the base plate in only the first portion of the major surface, the pusher plate disposed above the internal conduit, and wherein the vacuum generator is in communication with the first portion of the major surface of the base plate via the internal conduit and the at least one suction hole and configured to create a vacuum at the first portion of the major surface of the base plate.