Abstract: A releasable locking mechanism for maintaining the door of a merchandising machine in an open position for loading or servicing. Respective link arms pivotally interconnected at one end are pivotally coupled at their other ends to the door and to the cabinet for movement to an aligned position limiting further movement of the door away from the cabinet. A spring biases one of the arms from its aligned position against a stop to provide an automatic locking action, while an extension of the link arm coupled to the door permits ready kick release of the arms from their locking position.

Abstract: An improved delivery system for a merchandising machine of the first-in first-out type in which each section comprises a spring clutch adapted to be actuated to couple a gear train to a common drive shaft to rotate an escrow member and to step a chain of merchandise-carrying paddles to cause a surface of the escrow member and one of the paddles, which together support the article next to be dispensed in a viewing position, to open in the manner of a trap door to deliver that article to a tray which is accessible to the customer.