Abstract: A vending machine with a frame in which there are numerous pivoting shelves, each shelf having a tang which extends through a hole in the frame, each tang having a tab positioned to frictionally interact with a side of the hole to keep the shelf in a generally horizontal position until the tab is forced out of the frictional interaction by a ratchet slide which travels vertically up a ratchet column disposed next to the frame. The ratchet column causes the slide to ratchet upward by moving a face of the column up and down vertically, causing grooves on the column to lift the slide. Each movement of the face up and back down causes the slide to ratchet to a position one hole higher, forcing the tang out of frictional interaction with the hole wall which causes the shelf to pivot and drop its contents into an accessible receptacle at the bottom of the machine.