Abstract: In a vending machine having an article passage which is defined by a pair of side plates (3b) and extends in a vertical direction, a spacing member having a first and a second spacer (10, 20) is movably attached to one of the side plates to restrict an effective width of a lower portion of the article passage in a horizontal direction. Cooperated with the spacing member, an article discharge device having a delivery piece (6) discharges a lowermost one of the articles from the lower portion of the article passage. An automatically adjusting arrangement is coupled to the spacing member and makes the spacing member be automatically displaced In accordance with article sizes (R1, R2, R3) of the articles (A, B, C) to adjust the effective width.

Abstract: In a vending machine including an article storage space (3a) for stacking articles (A) therein in a vertical direction, a movable spacer (10) is provided for adjusting a size of the article storage space. The spacer is placed in the article storage space movably in a horizontal direction. An urging arrangement (20) urges the spacer towards one end of the article storage space in the horizontal direction. In cooperation with a given one of the articles, a locking arrangement (30) locks the spacer in the first horizontal direction at an optional position determined in accordance with the articles.

Abstract: An apparatus for vending work objects having a main frame; a vend mechanism; a subframe, composed of a plurality of modules defining at least one work object storage area, mounted on the main frame; a mount releasably mounting the vend mechanism in vending relation to work objects received in the work object storage area; and a control system for operating the vend mechanism selectively to vend the work objects from the work object storage area.

Abstract: A dispensing mechanism for an automatic vending machine includes a conveying mechanism to move merchandise toward a discharge passage, and a discharge control mechanism. The discharge control mechanism holds the merchandise and prevents the merchandise from falling into the discharge passage when the dispensing mechanism is off. The discharge control mechanism includes a control plate which is biased to contact and hold the merchandise, and a locking element which prevents the rotation of the control plate when the dispensing mechanism is off. The engagement between control plate and locking element is controlled by a solenoid which permits the rotation of the control plate during the dispensing operation.