Patent ID: 7604145

Claim:
A vending machine for storing articles to be selectively dispensed comprising: a cabinet; a product storage zone arranged within the cabinet; a dispensing chamber arranged within the cabinet; at least one shelf mounted, at a downwardly and forwardly extending shelf angle, in the product storage zone for supporting product containers prior to a vending operation, said at least one shelf supporting a plurality of product containers; at least two dividers extending along the at least one shelf and establishing a product queue, each of said at least two dividers having a front end; first and second release mechanisms mounted at the front end of respective ones of the at least two dividers each of said first and second release mechanisms including a drive member; and a drive system mounted to the at least one product shelf, said drive system including a drive mechanism operatively connected to each of the first and second release mechanisms through the drive member wherein, upon selection of a product, said drive mechanism is activated to apply a linear force to the drive member, wherein the drive member is operable to shift the first and second release mechanisms from product retention to product release positions to release the product.