Patent ID: 7823936

Claim:
A vending machine configured to retain objects for distribution, the vending machine comprising a cabinet defining an interior region sized to receive the objects for distribution, a door coupled to the cabinet to move between an opened position permitting access to the interior region of the cabinet and a closed position blocking access to the interior region of the cabinet, at least one of the cabinet and door having an opening sized to permit distribution of the objects while the door is in the closed position, and a lock configured to move between a locked position blocking movement of the door from the closed position and an unlocked position permitting movement of the door from the closed position, the lock including a housing, a lock member supported by the housing, a motor configured to power movement of the lock member, and a ratchet mechanism positioned between the lock member and the motor to transfer force from the motor to the lock member, wherein the ratchet mechanism includes a first ratchet member operatively coupled to the lock member and a second ratchet member operably coupled to the motor, the first and second ratchet members rotating relative to one another about an axis of rotation during at least a portion of the movement of the lock to the locked position, the first and second ratchet members each includes a plurality of teeth that engage each other to transfer force in a first direction about the axis of rotation during at least a portion of the movement of the lock toward the unlocked position and slip over each other in an opposite second direction about the axis of rotation during at least a portion of the movement of the lock toward the locked position.