Abstract: A versatile merchandising machine for dispensing a variety of goods including bagged snacks and the like in which each of a plurality of delivery units of one of a number of vertically spaced shelves includes a pair of horizontally aligned oppositely wound helices which receive articles between aligned pairs of turns of the helices and in which selectively energisable individual detent motors respectively drive the helices of the pairs in opposite directions to advance the leading article of the unit into engagement with an article control element hanging down in front of the unit to guide the article to control its movement over the edge of the shelf and downwardly to a delivery area. The shelves can be slid outwardly and swung downwardly through a limited arc to facilitate loading.

Abstract: A merchandising machine cabinet and shelf structure in which a pair of channel-shaped rails mounted on the inner sides of the cabinet structure at corresponding heights and extending from front to back of the cabinet with the channels opening inwardly receive respective pairs of spaced wheels mounted on the sides of the shelf to permit the shelf to be moved rectilinearly out of a fully housed home position to an intermediate position at which an element on the shelf engages a pivot adjacent to the front of the cabinet and at which one roller of each pair registers with a slot in the upper wall of the corresponding channel to permit the shelf to be pivoted downwardly to a limit position at which the merchandising units are readily accessible for loading. Interengageable means on the cabinet door and on the front of the shelf ensures that the shelf is moved fully into its home position as the door is closed.

Abstract: A manually disassemblable push-button and switch unit assembly for a merchandising machine in which an elongated frame is formed with a plurality of spaced recesses open at the top and at the side of the frame and with a plurality of openings extending through the frame from the top to the bottom and disposed between the respective recesses to permit respective switch units to be inserted into the recesses through the side openings thereof with their actuating elements accessible through the top openings of the recess and with the switch units held in position by laterally extending spring fingers on the frame. Resilient fingers on a push-button extend through the frame openings at the sides of the recess so as to mount the push-buttons over the top openings of the recesses and for limited movement toward and away from the switch units to operate the actuating elements thereof.

Abstract: A candy bar delivery unit for a helical feed merchandising machine in which an article-advancing helix, having an article-delivery cam formed at the front end thereof, is supported above the bottom of the delivery shelf between an elongated boss extending from front to back of one side wall of the unit and the other side wall of the unit so that the turns of the helix make substantially point contact with the boss and with the other side wall and in which drive means is energized on each operation of the unit to rotate the helix through a single revolution to cause the turns of the helix to advance articles supported on end on the shelf between the turns of the helix and to cause the helix cam to deliver the leading article over the front edge of the shelf. Each side wall is provided with an inwardly directed retainer tab for holding the helix in position.

Abstract: A gum and mint delivery unit for a merchandising machine of the helical feed type in which a product separator extends axially through a helix mounted for rotary unit between the unit walls extending from front to back of a shelf of the machine to permit packets of gum or mints or the like to be arranged vertically between the turns of the helix on opposite sides of the separator and in which a motor rotates the helix through one half of a revolution on each operation of the unit to cause a cam formed on the front of the helix to deliver an article over the front edge of the shelf so that articles are alternately delivered from one side of the separator and the other side thereof on successive operations of the unit.