Patent ID: 7077288

Claim:
A vending machine, comprising: a housing having a discharge opening therein; a storage area within said housing, said storage area having an inclined surface upon which a plurality of articles may be stacked, said storage area in dispensing communication with said discharge opening; a gate disposed adjacent said storage area, said gate movable bi-directionally with respect to said storage area; a bi-directional drive device drivingly coupled to said gate; whereby when said drive device is initially operable to move said gate in a first direction an article may pass said gate from said storage area toward said discharge opening, and when said drive device is subsequently operable to move said gate in a second direction opposite said first direction additional articles may not pass said gate; and a drive device reverse actuation switch associated with said gate, said switch responsive to an article passing said gate; whereby when said switch is actuated by a passing article, said drive device is caused to move said gate in said second direction.