Abstract: An automatic ice cream cone dispensing machine includes an automatic delivery apparatus for taking individual cones one at a time from an upright nested stack, moving the cone translationally to a fill position lateral of the stack, and finally moving the filled cone back to a pick up station. Escapement and cone receiving mechanisms operate to remove successive cones from the stack. The escapement mechanism is operated to open, in response to appropriate positioning of the receiving mechanism, allowing the stack of cones to fall freely toward the receiving mechanism. The receiving mechanism catches and supports the falling stack by the bottom cone. The escapement then closes to support the remainder of the stack above the bottom container as the receiving mechanism is lowered to move the bottom cone free of the stack. The container and receiving mechanism is then moved by a transfer mechanism to the fill and pick up stations.