Abstract: When a commodity package fed out from a commodity column accommodating a plurality of commodity packages has been accommodated in a package holder of a transporter, the transporter is moved along a guide to transport the commodity package to a position above a heater and is allowed to fall into a receptacle of the heater by the operation of a dropping mechanism. When the commodity in the package has been heated by the heater, the commodity package in the receptacle is fed out up to an opening of the discharging chute and allowed to fall.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for use in an automatic vending machine includes a heating room having an upper opening, a magnetron disposed within the heating room for generating high-frequency waves, a support shaft penetrating the bottom wall of the heating room, a receptacle connected to the upper end of the support shaft for receiving a commodity package, and a raising/lowering mechanism connected to the lower end of the support shaft for rotating and vertically moving the support shaft. The support shaft is raised by the raising/lowering and rotating mechanism to project the receptacle out of the heating room from the upper opening. Upon receipt of a commodity package, the receptacle is lowered into the heating room, and then the package is irradiated with high-frequency waves to cook the commodity therein. Upon completion of the cooking, the receptacle is again raised, and the commodity package is discharged out of the heater apparatus.