DE2223960A1 - Vending machine with a sloping shelf - Google Patents

Description

PATENT ADVOCATE

DiPL-INO. May 8, 1972

HELMUT GDRTZ Gzh / st

6 Frankfurt am Main 70 Sdm »<* enhofifr. 27-Tel. Ά 7079

THE VENDO COMP., 7AOO EAST 12th STREET, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, UNITED STATES.

Vending machine with a sloping shelf

The invention relates to article distributing or vending machines of the slanted board type and in particular improvements in article retention -and release device and the responsive to the sold-out state control device of such machines.

Known slanting board type article dispensing machines have characteristically had certain problems in providing an article retention and release device of the desired simplicity, reliability, and resistance to theft. These problems have been exacerbated by the fact that the articles to be dispensed normally advance to a position where, under the influence of gravity, due to their own weight or perhaps a relatively weak internal bias to aid gravity, they will carry the articles towards the lower dispensing end of the article. To move the slanted board arrangement, are released. To solve this problem, known machines typically use some type of stop often attached to the bottom of the inclined shelf, along with a mechanism for lifting or tapping the bottom article over that stop for delivery from the shelf, if desired. Such mechanisms have often proven to be unreliable and sensitive to theft in use. In addition, there were conventional articles, restraint and

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-Release mechanisms that were used in this machine class, ill-suited to items of various sizes and configurations to handle without adjusting or even replacing certain parts of the mechanism associated with each section of each board depending on the size and configuration of the items to be handled.

In this class of machine, it is common to provide an arrangement for sensing the presence or absence of an article in sales position at each of the various sections of each board, which cooperates with the article retention and -release means as well as the normally provided article selection means to help users in the case to warn of a Ausverkeiuft state that would prevent dispensing of articles from a particular board before this board is selected. However, the sold-out devices which have heretofore been used for this purpose have had disadvantages. Some of these devices provide a sold out warning only when there is no item in a dispensing position on any of the various sections of a given board, resulting in a dispensing cycle that is prematurely aborted on a dispensing-only machine or customer fraud on a vending machine that uses a coin assembly is equipped to bring the machine to the dispensing mode. Other sell-out mechanisms for such machines gave a sell-out warning for any given board after the absence of an item in the dispensing position was sensed by any of the various sections of that board, resulting in such board being at least prematurely stopped while it was being used There are still other sections of such a board from which articles could be dispensed in the normal order of successive dispensing before arriving at a section of such a board that is actually defective.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to be article dispensing machines of the scraper type, the improved input

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directions to address the above and other problems , and to overcome disadvantages that were previously used Constructions of such machines have emerged.

It is another important object of this invention to improve it To deliver inclined board dispensing machines in which the article that is part of the article retention and release mechanism forms, next to the lower end of each Artikelauf receiving section of the boards is pivotally attached, and in which this member moves from a normal article blocking position to an article release position during the dispensing operation is displaceable to thereby enable the lowermost article of the section under the influence of gravity to move over the displaced link to an article access station output to / be able to ground.

It is another important object of the invention to do such To create machines that have facilities to move the Article blocking member in its normal article retention position hold sufficiently until an internal device in the machine has been activated to avoid attempted theft by exerting external forces on the movable link, to swing it into its article release position without to prevent this from happening through the normal operation of the machine.

It is another important object of the invention to provide such a machine in which the device for the sliding Blocking member has an element that serves the dual function of pressing the lowermost article on the member when this is moved, and at the same time to represent a stop that engages with the next higher article to all articles also hold back the bottom of the board during the Operation to issue the lowest article.

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It is another important object of this invention to provide such a machine in which each article receiving section of each board is provided with independently operating sensing means for sensing the presence or absence of an article in the lowermost position of that section, together with means which usually have a feeler out-of-the-air
operation? associated with all sections of the boards except for a particular single section of each board from which an article is to be dispensed next, during the normal order of article dispensing sequentially from different sections of each board.

It is another important object of the invention to do so To create machine in which the facilities for controlling the functionality or non-functionality of the sold-out state sensing sensors are operatively connected, are driven by the same forces and are automatically synchronized with the means to control the dispensing of articles one by one from the different sections of each board are provided

Further advantages and possible applications of the present invention emerge from the accompanying illustration of FIG Embodiments and from the following description.

It shows:

1 is a front elevational view of the exterior of a typical slant board article dispenser. or vending machine;

Fig. 2 is a partial front view, inside the machine, of one Part of various of the inclined article support boards and the drive and control equipment associated therewith corresponding to line 2-2 of Figure 4;

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Fig. 3 is a partial side view, inside the machine, of various the article support boards and their associated control and operating devices;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in side elevation and partly in cross-section, taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a partial plan view of part of one of the boards; Figure 6 is a partial bottom view of part of one of the boards;

7 is an enlarged partial cross-section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2 showing the sold out sensing mechanism in FIG shows the inoperative position;

8 is an enlarged partial cross-section along the line 8-8 Figure 2 shows the sold-out sensing mechanism in operative position;

9 is an enlarged partial cross-section of the article retention and release means that maintains the slidable retention and release member in its article blocking position shows and the associated operating device in its idle state;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 with the exception of the article release member and its associated operating device in the actuated state for dispensing an article;

11 is an enlarged partial perspective view of part of the common drive according to Figure 3, shown from the opposite side; and

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Figure 12 is an enlarged exploded perspective Partial view showing the feeler and cam parts of one of the Sold out sensing mechanism shows.

In Fig. 1 is an improved slant board type vending machine, which represents a preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated 20 and v / eis a space 22 with article access openings 24, a plurality of article selection buttons 26, each of which has a built-in sold-out indicator, a plurality of section identification windows 28 and a coin acceptor mechanism 30 if desired.

As shown in Fig. 3, the space 22 is internally provided with back brackets 32 and front brackets 34 to removably hold a plurality of article support boards e.g. against the lowest ends of the corresponding boards. It will be understood that there is an item selection and sold out indicator 26 and selection identification window 28 provided for and coupled to each of the boards 36, 38, 40 and 42, and so can the items 44, 46, 48 and 50, which are shown on the different boards 36, 38 ,. 40 and 42 will be of different sizes and shapes and also have contents of different natures and tastes.

As best seen in Figures 5 and 6, each of the article support boards 36, etc. are provided with an erect divider 52 and 54 which make the board available in a variety of Side-by-side article receiving sections 56, 58 and 60, each of which preferably with raised Piand-

Is

parts, such as shown at 62 and 64, add * "to the friction to reduce between the board 36, etc. and the rows of articles 44, etc., which are slidable in a row on each of the down

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SAO ORIGINAL

cuts 56 »etc. can be picked up and worn.

3, the machine 20 is equipped with an upright actuating rod assembly 66 which is reciprocally mounted in the housing or space 22 by means of suitable means such as pins 68 and slots 70. It is provided that the rod assembly 66 is moved downward upon actuation of any of the selection buttons 26 to initiate a dispensing cycle by means of a motor 72 suitably coupled to the rod 66, such as an arm driven by an eccentric cam 74 driven by the motor 72 76, which rests on the cam disc 74 and scans the cam, and a linkage 78 which connects the arm 76 to the rod 66 .. The rod 66 is provided with a series of cutouts 80, one for each of the boards 36, etc ., the upper and lower laterally extending tabs 82 and 84 represent ₅ as best seen in Fig. 11 can be seen.

In particular with regard to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 it can be seen that each of the boards 36, etc. provided with an operating toggle 86 _f which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 88 and has a laterally extending collar 90, Each of the Toggle lever 86 is coupled to the associated shaft 88 by means of a ratchet mechanism 92 including a spring 94 which presses a toothed part 96 of the knee 86 against a toothed wheel 98 which is firmly seated on the shaft 88. Each board 36, etc. is also provided with a solenoid 100 actuatable by an associated selection button 26 and having an arm 102 with an end flange 104 adapted to engage the associated knee 86 and remove it from its normal position Position to swing a limited arc to a position whereby the collar 90 is spaced apart from the associated tabs 82 and 84 of the rod 66 to thereby engage the rod 66 as the rod 66 moves

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will. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the solenoid 100 is conventionally connected to the selection buttons 26 by means of electrical Circuits, which are indicated generally at 106, is connected so that, upon actuation of a selection button 26 and after suitable coin deposit in the mechanism 30 of a vending machine the solenoid 100 for the particular board 36, etc., whose product has been selected, is energized to the collar 90 of the associated To bring the knee 86 into position in engagement with the upper flap 82 of the rod 66 when the latter means the action of the cam disc 74 on the motor 72 downwards is drawn, which is also excited by the initiation of a dispensing cycle corresponding to the actuation of a selection button 26 will. The downward movement of the rod 66 will move the knee 86 of the selected board 36, etc., around the pawl to release and the associated shaft 88 to a specific To rotate arc angles. The ratchet or ratchet mechanism 92 is arranged for any actuation of the knee 86 to occur Shaft 88 at an angle of substantially 360 ° divided by the number of sections 56, etc. included in each board 36, etc. are provided rotates.

Each shaft 88 carries a separate cam 108 for each section 56, etc. of the associated board that engages with it Rotary Each cam disk 108 has a raised contour area 110 for controlling the article retention and release structure as described below, it being noted that the Raised .Konturteile 110 different cam disks 108 one given shaft 88 are angularly offset from one another, 'around an angle substantially equal to the incremental rotation of the shaft 88 during a pawl release by means of the associated knee 86, and the displacement of these edge areas is preferably provided between each successive adjacent cam plates 108 of each shaft 88 to a successive Dispensing articles from the successive adjacent sections 56, etc. of a given board 36, etc.

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to effect, the angular displacement being of the type that the
Section 56 on one side of a board 36, etc. is automatically returned for the next dispensing action after an article has been dispensed from the section of the same board on the opposite side of the latter. In this manner, the offset cams 108 control the sequence of sales by the article retention and release assembly in one
Manner that sequential dispensing of the bottommost article from each section 56, etc. of a given board is enabled in sequence, then rotated backward by the
to deliver the next lowest item of each of these sections of that board in sequence until all of the items from all of the sections of a board have been dispensed as a result of repeated selection of that board for operation.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10, for each section 56, etc. of each board 36, a gate structure 112 is provided and is pivotable, as at 114, on the article support board adjacent the lower end
an associated section mounted. Each gate structure 112 includes a normally upright blocking member 116 which extends up and forward from the pivot 114 and associated board to a normal article blocking position where it is positioned to contact a lowermost article 44 of the row of articles which is slidable on the associated section 56, etc. of the particular board 36 'etc. to restrain such articles 44 from further movement due to gravity downward out of the lower part of this section. The article retention and release member 112 also includes a control portion 118 extending below the level of the pivot 114 and having an inner cam surface 120 with a normally rearward facing
Facing face 122, one at the rear
Surface part 124 and a raised contour part 126 is provided therebetween.

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An actuator assembly 128 is provided for each of the article retention devices. and release mechanisms 112 and includes a pair of spaced apart side walls 130 which are lifted and stop element 1.32 are interconnected and rotatably mounted on the corresponding board 36, as at 134. Each actuator assembly 128 is normally resiliently held in the rest position, illustrated in FIG. 9 by the spring 136 will. Each actuator assembly 128 is provided with a downwardly extending cam follower finger 138, which cooperates with the corresponding cam 108 and comes into engagement with the raised edge portion 110 of the latter.

When the shaft 88 connected to a given board 36 etc. is rotated piece by piece to allow successive output operations from the different sections of this To effect board, the raised edge portion 110 of the cam plate 108 for that portion with the cam follower finger 138 occurs of the associated actuating mechanism 128 in engagement around the latter about the axis of rotation 134 from that shown in FIG. 9 To swing rest position in the working position shown in Fig. 10 and to raise. On at least one side wall 130 Each operating mechanism 128 is attached to a side pin 140 that engages in the inner cam surface 120 of the associated article retention and release gate mechanism 112 extends. When the operator mechanism 128 is in its normal rest position, as shown in Fig. 9, is dor Pin 140 below the plane through the corresponding parallel Axes of rotation 114 and 134 of the gate 112 and the operating mechanism 128 and normally directly engaged with the rear surface 122 of the inner cam surface 120 to prevent gate 112 from rotating clockwise as shown in FIG. As long as the operating arrangement 128 is in their Remains in the rest position, the raised edge portion 126 of the cam disk surface 120 is arranged behind the pin 140 in order to continue to prevent that gate 112 is out of its arcicle blocking position

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is displaced by applying external forces to the blocking member 116, during an attempted theft. If the Operating arrangement 128 is moved into its working position, as shown in FIG. 10, by means of the associated cam disk 108, the pin 140 moves on the surface 122 and around the rear surface 124 of the cam surface 120 and thereby certainly raises the control portion 118 of the gate 112, around its blocking member 116 around the axis of rotation 114 in an article · swing release position that extends forward and down from the lower end of the associated portion of the board.

When the operator assembly 128 begins to rise, come the lift and stop member 132 is engaged with the lower surface of the lowermost article 44 as shown in FIG tilt and push it onto the upper surface of the displaced member 116 from which it is dispensed for movement due to the force of gravity along a chute space 142 (see Fig. 3), which leads to product access opening 24 in room 22 * As best As shown in FIG. 10, the lifting and stopping element 132 moves during the operation of the arrangement 128 also in a raised Position to match the front of the next item A4 'in To come into engagement for a further downward movement of the latter and subsequent articles to the lowest end of the board section to prevent further incremental rotation of shaft 88 in the course of a successive dispensing operation of the same board has brought the cam part 110 out of engagement with the follower finger 138, whereupon the operating arrangement 128 returns to its normal rest position by means of the spring 136. If the operating arrangement 128 returns to its normal resting position, The pin 140 slides over the rim portion 126 of the cam surface 120 and returns into engagement with the cam surface 122

return to re-gating the gating mechanism 112 in its item safe
Blocking position V to be closed until the next operation of an arrangement 128 by means of its associated cam disk 108 takes place.

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With particular reference to Figures 4, 7, 8 and 12 in which As the improved sell-out mechanism of the invention is very clearly illustrated, it should be noted that the shaft 88 for each of the boards 36 etc. having a plurality of sold out indication cam disks 150 is provided, which are mounted on the shaft and rotatable with her, wherein a cam disk 150 is provided for each section 56 etc. of each board. Every Cam disk 150 has a main ring surface 152 and a concave secondary edge area 154. The various cam disks 150 on of shaft 88 are angular for a given board 36, etc. displaced in a manner similar to displacing the operating cams 108 described above, except that; the control cam disks 150 are arranged so that their concave edge regions154 come into the operating position, as in FIG. 8 for the section 56 etc. is shown from which the next article dispensing operation this board is carried out, and daij it in such Operational position is before an output operation of this section begins, rather than moving into its operational position move during the dispensing cycle of that portion, as with the raised edge portions 110 of the operating cams 103 happens. An article sensing finger 156 is provided for each section 56 etc. of each board 36 etc. and includes ears 158, which hold the finger 156 rotatably on a shaft 160. A spring 162 urges each finger 156 into the sensing position shown in FIG.

themselves
position in which the finger extension 164 extends upward by the height that would be assumed by a lowermost article to be ^{dispensed from the corresponding section 1 of} the board. As indicated in connection with the middle board, shown in FIG. 4, a lowermost article 48 'is in a position in which it is in engagement with the blocking member 116 and is ready for dispensing. This article 48 'is on this. ■ V / eise with the arm 164 of the associated finger 156 in engagement to swing the latter about the axis of rotation 160 in a position that the presence of the article 48 'in a ready position. tion suggests. Each finger 156 has one facing up

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2223360

Pole part 166 provided, which is arranged to be on the Surface of the corresponding cam 150 to slide.

While the follower portion 166 of any feeler finger 156 slides on the surface 152 of the associated cam 150, the feeler 156 is held in an inoperative position, as illustrated in FIG. 7, regardless of whether there is an article is in the lowest position ready for output from the associated section or not. During the output operation of however, a preceding section will be the cam disc 150 connected to the next section of the same board rotated to a position in which the concave edge region 154 this cam disk 150. with the raised follower part 166 of the associated probe 156 is aligned as shown in FIG. This allows the finger extension 164 of such a probe 156 to either to the raised position shown in Fig. 8 and in connection with the 'top board in Fig. 4 to move or be held in its lowermost position by an article ready to be dispensed, such as in connection with the Center board shown in Fig. 4. Therefore, the cam disks 150 are used to automatically make the sensors 156 functional or inoperable to make, with only the sensor 156, which is connected to the Section 56 etc. from which an article is to be dispensed next, at any given time each of the boards 36 etc. is made functional.

To record a malfunction as a result of a sold-out condition and indicate when the absence of a suitably positioned Article is picked up by a functional feeler 126, each board 36 etc. is provided with an elongated member 168, which is common to all sections of a given board 36 etc. and is also pivotable on the associated shaft 160 (see Fig. 6). Link 168 ^ is at one end with a Arm 170 is provided with the actuating lever 172 of an Ausver- ' buys switch 174 can engage all sections

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this board is common and by means of an electrical circuit as shown generally at 106 with a sold out indicator light is coupled to the selection buttons 126 for this board is connected. The link 168 for each board 36 etc. is resilient by means of a spring 178 (Fig. 6) against a nose portion 176 on each of the feelers 156 associated with that board are pressed. Therefore, the members 168 are forced to rotate clockwise about the axes of the shafts 160, as in FIG 4 and 7, and counterclockwise as shown in FIG. Fig. 7 illustrates the relationship of the parts in connection with one of the sections 56 etc. that is not the next section of his board from which an article is next is to be issued, and assuming that no article is in dispensing-ready position, from the next section, of the board from which an output operation is to be carried out. Also, in Fig. 7, there is no article at the lowest part of the section shown therein, and the cam disk 150 of this section keeps the associated "sensor 156 from to swing his finger 164 into the lowest article position on this board. Such a sensor 156 is therefore inoperable Condition in which no article removal has been carried out will. Suppose there is no article in the lowest part of the section of the board from which an article is next should be carried out, then the operational one would have to be Feeler 156 of the last-mentioned section in the in Fig. 8 and in connection with the top board in B * ig. 4 position shown swing, and when he did so his nose will I76 with it engage member 168 and rotate it about the axis of shaft 16O. This rotation of the link I68 actuates the Sold out switch 174 via arm 170, which is connected to link 168 is connected, but the member 168 must also be in a position out of contact with the nose portion 176 of the inoperative feeler 156 associated with the board, as in FIG. 7 illustrated.

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Thus, only the nose portion 176 of the particular probe 156 that is currently operable can be engaged with the member 168 step and move it to register a sold-out condition. The center board - shown in Fig. 4 shows the other situation in which the operable probe 156 is through the Presence of an article 48 'in a position of readiness for Output is held by the associated section in a pushed-back position. In this situation are the nasal parts 1? 6 of all of the sensors 156 connected to this board in longitudinal orientation, and limb I68 is in place in its normal position in which it is urged against it by means of the spring 178, it being noted that the nose parts 176 of all inoperative sensors 156 on a given board held in alignment by the action of the associated followers 166 on the surface 152 of the associated cams 150 while the nose portion 176 of the operative feeler 156 is either through the presence of a lowermost article in a dispensing position is held in that orientation or will swing out of that orientation to the member 158 To move 'and to actuate the detection of the sold-out state as shown in FIG. 8 and in connection with the lowest board in FIG.

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SAD ORIGINAL

Claims (2)

Claims Article dispensing machine characterized by article carriers having elongated, longitudinally inclined sections for receiving a plurality of articles arranged in a line along the section and for slidably supporting those articles for movement towards the lower end of the section and for successive dispensing of this, by sliding gates adjacent the lower end of the section between a blocking position for receiving and preventing further movement of the lowermost of the articles from the lower end of the section and an article release position for dispensing the lowest article are movable from the lowermost end of the section, by sliding actuating devices next to the gates, which are movable between a normal rest position and an actuated position, by locking and operating devices that connect the actuating devices with the gate devices couple to lock the gate devices in their blocking position when the operating devices are in their resting place.lon, and to move the gate devices in their article release position when the operating devices are moved into their actuated position, and by control .means coupled to the actuators for moving the actuators to their actuated position when it is desired to dispense a lowermost article from the lower end of the section. · <"■ - 209 84 9/01 1 7 machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the gate means comprise a member rotatably mounted on the support means for swinging about a fixed axis between a normal article blocking position and to an actuated article release position, the member including a portion for engaging the article and a control portion extending generally opposite from the axis. The machine of claim 2, characterized in that the axis is horizontal and the Part of the member that engages the article normally extends upwardly from the lower end of the section * when in its article blocking position but is swingable when in its article release -Position at a downward sloping arrangement from the lower end of the section to the lowest article of the section by the way over the limb the Au s gift to enable. A machine according to claim 3 »characterized in that the link, when in its lower configuration, is inclined downwardly at an angle sufficient to permit sliding movement of the lowermost article over and away from the link by gravity. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking and operating device comprises an element connected to the actuating device and coupled to the control part of the link, the element being normally arranged in a first position for holding the link in its article. Blocking position when the actuating device is in its rest position, 209 8 4 9/0117 6. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the element is displaceable by the actuating device into a second position in order to free the member into its article ^ ebo · - position to swing when the actuator. has been moved to its actuated position. 7. Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the element is movable by means of the actuating device about a second axis at a distance from the axis of rotation of the member. Ö. Machine according to Claim 7, characterized in that the axes are parallel and that the element moves through the plane of these ashes while moving from the first to the second position. 9. Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the control part of the member has an inner cam surface which is in engagement with the element. 10. A machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the cam surface is contoured to retain the element in its first position until the actuator has been removed from its rest position to prevent movement of the member into its article release position as a result possible external forces applied to this limb. 11. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that a displaceable arrangement is provided which is normally arranged next to the lowermost of the articles and is coupled to the actuating device, this arrangement being moved by the actuating device into an articulate, "top position to stop on dos sv / eit-lowermost Arr.iikeXs to stop the movement of the latter to the lower end of the sections 209849/0117 IAD OAKiMIA !. when the actuator moves into its actuated position. 1. 2. Machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the arrangement during its movement from the normal in the Article stop position with the lowest article in engagement to push the latter towards the bottom of the section. 13. Machine according to claim 1, characterized _r that the carrier means is verschen with a plurality of article-Recordin-ne-sections, which are arranged side by side, that of each gate means, operating means and locking and engaging means one for ^ Eden section is provided and connected to these, and that the control device is coupled to each actuating device for the actuation of the latter in a predetermined sequential order " 14. Machine according to claim 13, characterized in that the Steuereinr rect i having a rotatable shaft which all sections in common and separate actuating cam scheiban comprises for each portion, which can contact with the respective actuating devices for the latter into engagement with each of the actuating cam disks has an active edge part for moving the associated actuating device from its rest to an actuated position and a passive edge part for retaining the actuating device in its rest position, "the active edge parts of the actuating cam disks being angularly offset from one another for a successive displacement of the actuating devices in the said order. 209849/0117 15. Machine according to claim 13 »characterized in that a Item sensing device next to the bottom of each Section is intended to sense the presence or absence a bottom article in an issue position, -,, r, - ·, - ,,. · Pine decor -,,. . and dai3 cue Steuereinrichtungvaufweist to make selectively only one of the Abfuhleinrichtungen operable, the actuating means is operated next in the order that is associated with the particular section, and make the üb] "strength sensing devices inoperable zv, 16. Machine according to claim 15, characterized in that each Article sensing device has a displaceable sensor, which with the lowermost article in the output position in Intervention should occur and by him in a JM'normal position is held, but moved to a position to indicate a fault condition v / ird in the absence of a lowest Article, and · that the control device has a rotatable shaft which is common to the sections and a separate control cam disk for fault display for each corresponding section on v / eist, the one with the associated Sensor can engage, each control cam having a first edge portion to it to the associated To enable the sensor to be moved into its malfunction indicator position, and a second edge part around the sensor to hold against a shift in its normal position, regardless of whether a bottom article is in the dispensing position? is present or not, the first edge parts of the control cam disks being angularly offset from one another, in order to enable each sensing device to be switched on one after the other only when its associated Actuator next in line is to be actuated. 209849/0117 17. Machine according to claim 16, characterized in that a disturbance recording device is provided jointly for all sensors and is coupled to them in such a way that a displacement movement of one of the sensors from its normal to the fault display position is captured. 18. Machine according to 'claim 13, characterized in that a A plurality of carrier devices is provided one above the other, each lying with a plurality of side by side Sections are provided, and that each carrier device with a gate device, an actuating deviceUinf- ·: and a locking and. Activation device and a control device is provided that a device is provided is to selectively actuate any of the carrier devices to dispense articles therefrom and that these Device has a displaceable arrangement common to the carrier devices, a device for displacement this arrangement and a plurality of coupling devices for selectively coupling the control device a selected carrier device with this arrangement. 19. Machine according to claim 18, characterized in that a device for sensing a fault condition in the form of Absence of a bottom item in the issue position of the section from which an item will be sold next is provided
and that a device is provided which is responsive to each of the sensing devices to switch off the coupling devices for the associated carrier devices whenever a fault condition has been detected. 20. Machine according to claim 19, characterized in that each carrier device with an individual visual display device is provided with the malfunction detection device the associated carrier device is coupled to the user prior to the selection of an article for output of 209849/01 17 to warn the carrier in question only if not is the lowest article in the output position of the next to be actuated portion of the carrier device, independent a possible absence of a lowermost article in the dispensing position of other sections of this carrier device. ÄAD ORfGINAL 209849/0117 Blank page