Patent ID: 7789213

Claim:
An article-dispensing machine comprising a structure supporting a container for articles to be dispensed, a dispensing mechanism arranged in the base of said container, said dispensing mechanism being actuated by an actuation shaft to perform actuation cycles, a coin or token selector having a drive shaft coupled to said actuation shaft by means of a coupling to make the actuation shaft rotate together with said drive shaft, the drive shaft being enabled to rotate by the introduction of one or more coins or tokens in said coin or token selector to dispense a predetermined number of said articles from the container through a delivery outlet in each actuation cycle of the dispensing mechanism, characterized in that said coupling is mounted on said actuation shaft such that said mounting can slide along but cannot rotate about the actuation shaft, said coupling being axially movable on the actuation shaft between a coupled position, in which said coupling is coupled to the drive shaft to transmit a turning torque from the drive shaft to the actuation shaft, and an uncoupled position, in which the coupling is completely removed from the drive shaft to enable the coin or token selector to be withdrawn or installed, elastic means being arranged on the actuation shaft to push the coupling towards said coupled position.