Abstract: A product vending machine having a locking device, wherein a column of rollers, fitted along a guide with sufficient play to roll along the guide, is selectively engaged by one of a number of wedge members to eliminate the play and move the rollers into a compact configuration preventing insertion of the other wedge members; each wedge member being movable with a relative movable part, e.g. a tray or a door, of the machine.

Abstract: A product vending machine having a locking device, wherein a column of rollers, fitted along a guide with sufficient play to roll along the guide, is selectively engaged by one of a number of wedge members to eliminate the play and move the rollers into a compact configuration preventing insertion of the other wedge members; each wedge member being movable with a relative movable part, e.g. a tray or a door, of the machine.

Abstract: An assembly for dispensing stir-sticks and sugar in a beverage vending machine, the assembly having a fixed storage device defined by two stores, each for housing a respective stack of stir-sticks; an extracting device associated with the storage device and having, for each store, a respective extractor associated with the relative store and for extracting individual stir-sticks from the relative store; a sugar dispensing device; and an actuating device common to the two extractors, and which operates either one of the extractors at each operating cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) is provided for feeding capsules (4), preferably single-use capsules for the preparation of beverages, infusions and the like, for beverage vending machines. The apparatus includes a storage chamber (2, 22) for storing capsules (4) in a random arrangement, pick-up means (10, 210) for picking up the capsules (4), a capsule transfer device (13, 213) provided with one or more compartments (14, 214) for the capsules (4), at least an unloading conveyor (19, 219) for unloading the capsules (4). The apparatus is characterized in that, between the storage chamber (2, 22) and the at least an unloading conveyor (19, 219), the apparatus (1) comprises a first orientating device (8, 28), which is adapted to orientate the capsules (4) according to at least a substantially horizontal-axis position, and a second orientating device (20, 220) which is adapted to arrange the capsules (4) according to a same vertical-axis position.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an apparatus (1) for feeding capsules (4), preferably single-use capsules for the preparation of beverages, infusions and the like, for beverage vending machines. The apparatus of the invention comprises a storage chamber (2, 22) for storing capsules (4) in a random arrangement, pick-up means (10, 210) for picking up said capsules (4), a capsule transfer device (13, 213) provided with one or more compartments (14, 214) for said capsules (4), at least an unloading conveyor (19, 219) for unloading said capsules (4). The apparatus of the invention is characterized in that, between the storage chamber (2, 22) and said at least an unloading conveyor (19, 219), the apparatus (1) comprises a first orientating device (8, 28), which is adapted to orientate the capsules (4) according to at least a substantially horizontal-axis position, and a second orientating device (20, 220) which is adapted to arrange the capsules (4) according to a same vertical-axis position.