Vending Apparatus

Abstract

A vending machine for vending articles comprises a rotatable dispensing drum with a wall comprising at least one recess sized to receive an article, and a mechanism for rotating the dispensing drum about a rotational cycle. A plurality of magazines are provided for containing the articles in a stack, each magazine being in communication with the dispensing drum such that a proximate article in the magazine contacts the dispensing drum. The wall of the dispensing drum blocking the delivery of an article until an empty recess comes into alignment with the article during rotation of the dispensing drum. The article in the recess is dispensed from the recess as the dispensing drum is rotated further along its rotational cycle.

1 . A vending machine for vending articles, comprising
 a rotatable dispensing drum comprising a wall comprising at least one recess sized to receive a single article,   a mechanism for rotating the dispensing drum about a rotational cycle,   a plurality of magazines, each magazine for containing articles in a stack, each magazine being in communication with the dispensing drum and disposed such that a proximate article in the magazine contacts the dispensing drum, the wall of the dispensing drum blocking the delivery of the proximate article from the magazine until an empty recess comes into alignment with the proximate article during rotation of the dispensing drum and the proximate article is forced into the recess, the proximate article in the recess blocking the delivery of any other proximate article into the recess, and   a dispensing portion into which the proximate article in the recess is dispensed from the recess as the dispensing drum is rotated further along its rotational cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The vending machine of  claim 1  wherein the proximate article is forced into the recess under the influence of gravity. 
     
     
         3 . The vending machine of  claim 1  for vending tubular articles, wherein each magazine is configured to contain the articles in the stack in a predetermined orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The vending machine of  claim 1  wherein the mechanism for rotating the dispensing drum comprises a coin mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The vending machine of  claim 1  wherein the recess is configured with a rounded leading edge. 
     
     
         6 . The vending machine of  claim 1  wherein the magazines are oriented in side-by-side relation. 
     
     
         7 . A vending machine for vending articles, comprising
 a rotatable dispensing drum comprising a wall comprising at least one recess sized to receive at least one article,   a mechanism for rotating the dispensing drum about a rotational cycle,   a plurality of magazines, each magazine for containing articles in a stack, each magazine being in communication with the dispensing drum and disposed such that at least one proximate article in the magazine contacts the dispensing drum, the wall of the dispensing drum blocking the delivery of the at least one proximate article from the magazine until an empty recess comes into alignment with the at least one proximate article during rotation of the dispensing drum and the at least one proximate article is forced into the recess, the at least one proximate article in the recess blocking the delivery of any other proximate article into the recess, and   a dispensing portion into which the at least one proximate article in the recess is dispensed from the recess as the dispensing drum is rotated further along its rotational cycle.   
     
     
         8 . The vending machine of  claim 7  wherein the at least one proximate article is forced into the recess under the influence of gravity. 
     
     
         9 . The vending machine of  claim 7  for vending tubular articles, wherein each magazine is configured to contain the articles in the stack in a predetermined orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The vending machine of  claim 7  wherein the mechanism for rotating the dispensing drum comprises a coin mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The vending machine of  claim 7  wherein the recess is configured with a rounded leading edge. 
     
     
         12 . The vending machine of  claim 11  wherein the magazines are oriented in side-by-side relation.