Abstract: The present invention provides a coin chute for use with a coin changer in a vending machine. There is a coin entry path defined by a ramp mounted adjacent a main plate and a backplate. Upon activation of a coin reject lever accessible by a user, the one plate swings away from the other allowing an object jammed in the coin entry path to fall off of the coin entry path into a coin return chute. A kicker urges objects off of the ramp as the plates swing apart. The ramp is also tilted to allow fluid to drain off of the ramp through a gap between the ramp and a plate.

Abstract: An improved crane type vending machine is disclosed. It provides the customer the opportunity to position a vacuum suction inlet over a selected product item and initiate the descent of the suction inlet so as to pick up the product. The machine deposits the item in a dispensing chute. The suction device may be a vacuum motor housed in a flying saucer. A telescoping structure prevents the motor from twisting the electrical lead. A limit switch disconnects the suction motor from electrical power when it is over the product outlet and reconnects the power when it moves away. The product items may be encased in plastic bags.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coin rejector for accepting multiple coins. Upon sequential insertion of two coins of the desired size, a customer can rotate a handle to operate a vending machine. The device employs a rotatable wheel which accepts the disks, positions them adjacently edge-to-edge such that the outer edge of the second disk disables a blocking member which otherwise prevents vending, and deposits the disks into a collection chamber.

Abstract: A multi-chamber vending machine having an outer housing and upper and lower chambers inside the housing. The upper chamber has a bottom wall and a plurality of vertically extending walls. The lower chamber surrounds a portion of the bottom wall of the upper chamber and a portion of a vertically extending wall of the upper chamber. The machine includes a door connected to the housing, whereby both chambers may be filled by access through the door.

Abstract: A vending machine having a merchandise chamber for a flowable body of merchandise items of a selected normal depth is disclosed. The chamber is defined by a bottom wall, a top wall, a vertical front wall that is at least partially transparent, and vertical side walls. A mechanized dispenser near the bottom of the chamber dispenses the merchandise to the exterior of the chamber, and a display is positioned behind the front wall and above the normal merchandise depth. In one preferred embodiment, there is a vertical hopper partition extending between the side walls behind the display to divide the merchandise chamber into a front display chamber and a rear hopper that extends above the normal merchandise depth. The front display chamber is suitable for storing a plurality of such merchandise items. The bottom of the partition is spaced above the bottom wall a distance corresponding to the normal merchandise depth so as to allow the front display chamber to be kept at a stable level.