Patent ID: 8646650

Claim:
A dispensing system comprising a track, a pusher in sliding engagement with the track, at least one pusher spring that urges the pusher toward a front of the track, at least one brake, a dispensing ram, at least one dispensing ram spring, a resistance mechanism, an access mechanism coupled to the dispensing ram, and a blocker mechanism coupled to the access mechanism, wherein the dispensing system is capable of moving between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein, when the dispensing system is in the first configuration: (a) the at least one brake is in a first orientation that does not limit the forward movement of the pusher; (b) the dispensing ram is in an original position toward a rear of the track and does not engage the at least one brake; (c) the access mechanism is in a closed position that restricts access to product stored within the dispensing system, and (d) the blocker mechanism is in a first orientation that does not restrict access to the track, and wherein, when the dispensing system is in the second configuration: (a) the at least one brake is in a second orientation and is engaged with the pusher to stop forward movement of the pusher; (b) the dispensing ram is in a forward position toward a front of the track and engages the at least one brake to urge the at least one brake into its second orientation; (c) the access mechanism is in a vending position that allows access to at least some of the product stored within the dispensing system; and (d) the blocker mechanism is in a second orientation that restricts access to the track, and wherein, as the system moves from the second configuration to the first configuration, the at least one dispensing ram spring urges the dispensing ram from its forward position to its original position and the resistance mechanism slows the speed at which the dispensing ram moves from its forward position to its original position.