Abstract: There is disclosed a sold-out detecting device for a vending machine for dispensing articles from a vertical stack in which there is a detecting plate pivotally supported and biased for movement against the stack, and a switch adapted to be closed by the detecting plate. The detecting plate extends along and is in contact with all of stacked articles to guide the same downwardly as articles are dispensed and to distribute contact pressure along the individual articles in the stack.

Abstract: A control device for a dispense mechanism is provided for eliminating failure of the dispense mechanism due to goods becoming stuck therein. In a dispense mechanism of the type wherein a rotating control plate is provided for restricting the motion of dispensing flappers, a control device is provided for controlling the operation of a motor which rotates the control plate. The control device provides a forward rotation signal to rotate the control plate and dispense goods in response to a dispense request. The control device further determines whether an article has become stuck by determining whether the flappers return to their original position while the control plate is being rotated. If an article is struck, the control device rotates the motor in the reverse direction such that the stuck article may be freed. Thereafter, the control device is rotated in a forward direction and again the determination is made whether the flappers have moved to their original position.

Abstract: An article dispenser for dispensing articles from a vending machine is disclosed. The article dispenser includes an article storage area which has a bottom opening through which articles are dispensed and an article dispensing mechanism which dispenses the lowermost articles stacked in the storage area through the bottom opening. The dispensing mechanism includes a rotating shaft which controls the opening and closing of the bottom opening of the storage area and is driven by a motor. The motor is controlled by a control device which starts the motor after receiving a start signal and which temporarily stops the motor after receiving a motor stop signal.

Abstract: An article dispenser for dispensing articles from a vending machine is disclosed. The article dispenser includes an article storage area which has a bottom opening through which articles are dispensed and an article dispensing mechanism which dispenses the lowermost articles stacked in the storage area through the bottom opening. The dispensing mechanism includes a rotating shaft which controls the opening and closing of the bottom opening of the storage area and is driven by a motor. The motor is controlled by a control device which rotates the motor in a first direction as determined by selection switches and reverses the direction of the motor after it has rotated 90.degree. and returns the motor to its initial starting position.

Abstract: An article dispenser for a vending machine includes an article storage area having a front opening and a bottom opening with a dispensing mechanism having an article holding device disposed in the lower portion of the storage area. The storage area is defined by two side plates, a back plate and an upper plate, and the front opening of the storage area formed for loading the articles is partly covered by a pivotably supported stopper plate. A U-cross section shaped element is fixed on each side plate at a position to oppose the holding device of the dispensing mechenism and a free end of the U-shaped element extends into a rectangular hole formed through the stopper plate to effect engagement therebetween whereby partial deformation of the side plates is prevented by engagement between the U-shaped element and the stopper plate.

Abstract: An article dispenser for dispensing articles from a vending machine includes an article storage area which has a bottom opening through which articles are dispensed and a front opening through which articles are loaded in a manner to form two vertically adjacent stacks. An article dispensing mechanism successively dispenses the lowermost articles stacked in the storage area through such bottom opening by the mechanism including a rotatable shaft which vertically extends within the storage area to divide the storage area into the two vertical stacks or columns. A control plate is fixed to the lower end of the rotatable shaft to control the operation of a pair of pivotally mounted doors positioned below the two vertical stacks of articles, respectively. As these doors open and close upon rotation of the rotatable shaft, the lowermost articles in the storage area are successively dispensed.

Abstract: An article dispenser for vending machines is disclosed. The article dispenser includes an article storage area which has a bottom opening through which the articles are dispensed and a front opening through which the articles are loaded to form two vertical rows. A rotatable shaft extends vertically in the storage area to divide the storage area into the two vertical rows. A pair of pivotable doors are disposed at the bottom opening to block the passage of articles therethrough. The doors are pivotably supported by two axially spaced shafts which extend along the same axis. A control plate is fixed on the lower end portion of the rotatable shaft and contacts the lower surface of the pivotable doors to control the pivotal movement of the door between open and closed positions. A holder member is fixed on the rotatable shaft to prevent the articles disposed above the lowermost article from falling when the lowermost article is discharged from the bottom opening.

Abstract: An article dispenser for dispensing articles from a vending machine is disclosed. The article dispenser includes an article storage area which has a bottom opening through which articles are dispensed and a front opening through which the articles are loaded to form two vertically adjacent rows. An article dispensing mechanism dispenses the lowermost articles stacked in the storage area through the bottom opening. This article dispensing mechanism includes a rotatable shaft which vertically extends within the storage area to divide the storage area into the two vertical rows or columns. A control plate is fixed to the lower end of the rotatable shaft to control the operation of a pair of flappers positioned below the two vertical rows of articles. As these flappers open and close upon rotation of the rotatable shaft, the lowermost articles in the storage area are dispensed.