Abstract: In a method of operating a vending machine, a glass container is dispensed with its vertical axis tilted in the vending machine in response to the selective generation of a preselected vending signal. The vertical axis is predeterminately altered into a generally vertically extending position in the vending machine, and the glass container is dropped base portion first in a generally vertical free fall path of the vending machine with the vertical axis of the glass container disposed in its vertical extending position. A vending machine is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating a vending machine in response to the selection generation of a preselected vending signal. The vending machine includes at least one supporting means for slidably receiving a plurality of vended articles disposed in row formation thereon with adjacent vended articles being engaged. In the practice of this method, the vended articles are contained in the row formation against slidable displacement on the supporting means toward an open end thereof, and one of the vended articles disposed in the row formation at least adjacent the open end of the supporting means is slidably displaced therefrom upon the generation of the preselected vending signal. The remaining vended articles in the row formation are retained against slidable displacement on the supporting means toward the open end thereof during the slidable displacement of the one vended article from the open end of the supporting means.