CA2000496A1 - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure A vending machine in which articles are stored dispenses articles one by one by through respective feeding paths from an outlet. A main lane supports a carton containing a plurality of articles therein which can be loaded directly into a main feeding lane. At least one auxiliary lane adjacent to the main lane supports a plurality of articles which can be loaded individually into the machine. The carton supported on the main lane is designed with a portion which can be opened, and a stopper is designed so as to retain articles within the carton unless no articles are located in the auxiliary lane. For vending, the auxiliary lane is depleted first, whereafter articles stored in the carton are vended.

Description

D--8031 ~n~?~ ?9~h AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE

Background of the Invention This invention relates to an automatic vending machine of a type in which desired articles, such as cans or bottles containing drinks, can be dispensed one by one through an article outlet, and more particularly, to improvement in the system for loading and storage of such articles into the machine.

Automatic vending machines are well known in which various types of articles, such as cans and bottles containing various kinds of drinks, are stored in groups within respective storage areas. Articles of the desired kind are dispensed one by one to the dispensing outlet by putting coins or paper money into a receiving means and pushing the push-button corresponding to the desired kind of article.

Various types of storage arrangements for automatic i 20 vending machines are known. Examples include the vertical-column type, in which the articles are accumulated in the form of vertical columns; the sloping-shelf type, in which the articles are arranged ' in rows in inclined direction~; the serpentine type, in which the articles are arranged along serpentine guiding members; the heaped-up type, in which the articles are heaped in random order; and the suspending type, in which the articles are suspended and supported by guide rails.

In the various storage arrangements described above for known automatic vending machines, the articles are separately stored one by one. Thus, the loading of the articles into the storage area comprises a first step of taking out the articles one 4~t~

by one from a carton containing a number of the articles and a second step of putting the articles one by one into the storage area in the upper portion of the vending machine. Such a loading operation requires a repetition of the same action, which is tedious labor in the summer season when the demand for drinks is increased considerably resulting in more frequent loading of articles and more intensive labor.

~urthermore, since known storage arrangements other than the heaped-up system described above are adapted to arranging the articles in rows, the capacity of the vending machine is small in comparison with its total volume, resulting in inefficient utilization of storage space.

summary of the Invention The present invention helps to eliminate the above-described disadvantages by loading and storing full cartons of the articles resulting in loading of the articles as well as more efficient utilization of the storage space.

These objectives are achieved by a vending machine of a type in which articles stored in article storage means are dispenses one by one by means of respective feeding paths from an outlet, characterized in that the storage means is constructed of a main lane which supports a carton containing a plurality of articles therein which can be loaded into respective feeding paths and at least one auxiliary lane adjacent to the main lane which supports a plurality of articles which can be loaded into respective feeding paths. The cartons supported on the main lanes are designed with a portion which can be opened, and a stopper is , ' . . ' . ' ' . '.' .' . " " '.'' '' '"' " '' ~ ' '"' ~ '' ' 4.~'fi designed so as to retain artic:Les within the carton unless no articles are located in the respective auxiliary lanes.

In accordance with one aspect of the automatic vending machine described above, the stopper is introduced into a position in the auxiliary lane whereby the opening in the carton supported on the main lane is covered.

In accordance with another aspect of the vending machine, a direction switching means is provided in the article feeding path for selectively feeding an article coming from either the main or the auxiliary lane into the article feeding path.

In accordance with another aspect of the vending machine, means is provided to connect the main and auxiliary lanes, which connecting means is blocked in the event a carton is in place in the main lane but is uncovered as the carton is withdrawn for loading of a new carton. Thus, any articles remaining within the old carton move out of the carton opening, through the connecting means and into the auxiliary lane. This empties the carton and reduces or eliminates the need to load the auxiliary lane.

Alternatively, articles remaining in partially used cartons move out of the cartons as they are withdrawn, through the corresponding connecting means and into the respective auxiliary lane.

In the operation of the vending machine described above, a plurality of articles taken out of cartons are first loaded into the respective auxiliary lanes. The entire cartons containing articles and having openings formed therein are loaded onto the respective main lanes. The articles located in the respective .. . ~ . :

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~f)~ 6 auxiliary lanes cause the respective stoppers to retain articles contained within the opened cartons.

Under these conditions, articles of the desired kind are selected by putting a pre-determined amount of currency into the receiving means and pushing the push-button corresponding to the desired kind of article so that one of the articles contained in the corresponding auxiliary lane is thereby dispensed by means of the feeding path to the dispensing outlet.

The articles contained in the respective auxiliary lanes are successively fed out as described above. When an auxiliary lane has been cleared of articles, the stopper moves into a position uncovering the opening formed in the carton supported on the corresponding main lane so that the articles contained within the carton flow out of the carton through the opening into the article feeding path. Thereafter, when articles of the desired kind are selected, one of the articles stored in the carton in the main lane is thereby dispensed to the dispensing outlet by means of the feeding path.

It will be recognized from the above that in this ; invention at least a portion of the articles can be loaded into the storage means of the vending machine by means of a carton of articles as such, resulting in a very easy loading procedure.
Furthermore, since articles packed in cartons in a vertically- and laterally-arranged condition are stored in the machine, the available storage space of the machine can be more efficiently ; utilized. Since articles are loaded first into the auxiliary lanes and then cartons are loaded into the respective main lanes, the articles located on the auxiliary lanes are dispensed first in a "first-loaded, first-fed" system, the risk of leaving older . ,..., ....,..

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~(!n~41~fi articles is eliminated. Likewise, any articles remaining in cartons to be replaced are automatically moved upon carton removal into the auxiliary lanes, which will be dispensed first upon further machine operation.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the stoppers are adapted so as to be normally introduced into the auxiliary lanes so as to uncover the opening of the carton and to cover the opening of the carton whenever any articles are located in the auxiliary lane, thereby insuring reliability of operation and preventing the formation of bridges and consequent jamming due to the flow of articles from both sides.

According to the second aspect of the invention, direction switching members restrict the feeding of articles coming from either the main or the auxiliary lane, thereby further insuring reliability of operation and preventing jamming.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the connecting means directs older articles from cartons to the auxiliary lanes during carton removed, thereby eliminating the need to handle the articles and insuring that such articles will be dispensed next.

Brief Description of the Drawinqs Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are side diagrammatic views of a vending machine in accordance with the invention, showing each step of the operation for loading the machine with articles such as cans; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the main lane of the vending machine.

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Description of the Preferred Embodiment As illustrated in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, a vertical 5feeding path 2 is located at the rear portion of the vertical box-like body 1 of the vending machine, and the bottom portion of the feeding path 2 communicates with an article outlet (not shown) positioned on the front side of the body 1.

10Can storage areas 3 are formed vertically with dimensions contained within the body 1. Each can storage area 3 comprises a main lane 4 inclined downward to the rear side of the body 1, and auxiliary lane 5A located below and with the same inclination as the main lane 4, and another auxiliary lane 5B located below and 15with the same inclination as the auxiliary lane 5A. The lowermost auxiliary lane 5B is extended forward more than the upper auxiliary lane 5A so as to receive cans C dropping from the respective main lane 4.

20The main lanes 4 are each adapted for mounting thereon cartons 6 containing cans C therein, and the rear portion of the main lanes 4 is provided with a pair of laterally-spaced guide rails 7A and 7B, as shown in Fig. 4. These guide rails 7A and 7B
are of a size to support at both ends the cans C rolling thereon.
25The length of guide rails 7A and 7B is on the order of about 2/5 of the length of the main lane 4, and a opening 8 is formed forward of the front ends of the guide rails 7A and 7B so that cans C can drop through the opening 8 onto the lower auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B respectively.
A carton mount 9, capable of being drawn forward, is positioned on the front portion of the main lane 4 covering the ,,~,, :. ,, . . ~

opening 8. The carton mount 9 has two parallel plates lOA and lOB
so constructed that their forward ends are downwardly inclined.
An L-type stopper 11 is pivotally attached by its base portion at the front end of the carton mount 9, adapted for an opening and closing movement immediately in front of the forward end of the guide rails 7A and 7B. The stopper 11 comprises a pair of plates 12 of the same L-form connected together by connector plates 13 at a lateral distance. The plates 12 are each provided with vertical portions 12A opposing the rear end of the carton mount 9 located in front of the forward ends of the guide rails 7A and 7B.

The stopper 11 is adapted to be supported rotated by means of a surface cam or the like (not shown) so that when the carton support 9 is moved into the machine, the stopper drops downwardly into position in the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B. If any number of cans C are stored in the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B, the stopper cannot be moved. When the carton mount 11 is drawn to its fully extended position, the stopper 11 cannot be rotated.

A guide pla~e 14 is provided above the guide rails 7A and 7B so as to control cans C released from the respective cartons 6 preventing the jamming of these cans C at the lower ends of the guide rails 7A and 7B. For this purpose, the inclination of the guide plate 14 is greater than that of the guide rails 7A and 7B.
The guide plate 14 is supported by a partition plate 15 mounted inside and parallel to the rear wall lA of the body 1 of the machine.

An auxiliary feeding path 18 is formed between the rear ends of the guide rails 7A and 7B and the partition plate 15. The auxiliary feeding path 18 is defined upwards by the respective guide plate 14 and extends downwards in front of the rear ends of - - ~, ~ : . :

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the auxiliary lanes sA and 5B and is of such a size that a line of cans C is formed therein.

A direction switching lever 17 is pivotally mounted at the lower end of the guide rails 7A and 7B in front of the auxiliary feed path 18. The direction switching lever 17 opens selectively the lower end of the auxiliary lane 5A or the lower end of the guide rails 7A and 7B, thereby feeding either a can C
located in the auxiliary lane 5A or a can C located on the guide lo rails 7A and 7B. The direction switching lever 17 is adapted to be rotated by means of a driving source (not shown~ between the positions illustrated in Fig. 1 by a solid line and a dotted line, respectively. The direction switching lever 17 can alternatively be urged by a spring (not shown) to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 by a dotted line and rotated by the weight of a can C fed from the main line 4.

The rear end of the lower auxiliary lane 5B is positioned short of that of the corresponding upper auxiliary lane 5A, and a guide projection 18 of triangular cross-section is formed in the portion of the partition plate 15 located approximately at the extension of the lower auxiliary lane 5B. The guide projection 18 comprises an inclined deflector plate 18A for deflecting cans C
forward and another inclined guide plate 18B having approximately the same inclination as that of guide plate 14.

A guide plate 19 is connected to the lower end of the lower auxiliary lane 5B so as to coordinate with the respective upper guide plate 18B in guiding cans C into the main feeding path 2. The main portion of the guide plate 19 has the same inclination as that of the guide plate 18B. The auxiliary feeding path 16 joining the main feeding path 2 consequently has a serpentine form.

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D - 8~31 9 A guide projection 20 is provided on the under surface of the lower end portion of the auxiliary lane 5A to assist cans c to drop smoothly through the auxiliary feeding path 18.

Stoppers 21A, 21B and 21C are positioned respectively at the forward end of the deflector plate 18A, at the lower end of the lower auxiliary lane 5B, and at the lower portion of the guide plate 19. These stoppers 21A, 21B and 21C are retractably ; 10 operated by a driving source such as a solenoid (not shown) to restrain the rolling of cans c positioned above them. Detectors such as photosensors 22A and 22B are located in the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B near the switching lever 17 and the stopper 2 lB, respectively, to detect the presence of cans in the said auxiliary lanes. Detectors such as photosensors 23A and 23B are located also in the auxiliary path 16 near the respective stoppers 21A and 21C
to detect the presence of cans restrained by these stoppers in the auxiliary path.

A control means (not shown) is provided for generating control signals to the respective driving sources for the switching lever 17, and stoppers 21A, 21B and 21C. The control means is adapted to generate control signals corresponding to the signals detected by the detectors 22A and 22B, the amount in currency inserted into the machine and the flavor selection. Such control means, and the driving sources controlled thereby, are conventional and known to those skilled in the art.

Operation of stopper 11 may be performed by a driving means connected thereto, controlled by the driving means. In such a case, the stopper 11 is rotated downward to uncover the opening of the carton 6 when the absence of cans C in both auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B has been detected, and cans C are loaded into the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B when the opening of the carton 6 has thus been uncovered. Then, when either or both of the detectors 22A and 22B has registered the presence of cans C in the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B, the stopper 11 is not rotated into its down position immediately, but only after the carton mount 9 has been pulled outward to its fully-extended position.

Once the carton mount 9 has been pushed completely onto the main lane 4 until the rear ends thereof abut against the forward ends of the guide rails 7A and 7B and the detectors 22A and 22B have registered the absence of cans C in the respective auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B, the stopper 11 will be rotated to its downward position.
For this purpose, detectors such as limit switches (not shown) are provided to register both ends of the stroke of the carton mount 9, and the signals from the respective position detectors are input into the control system.
The operation of the mechanism embodying the invention as described above is described herein below.

When no cans C are located in the main lane 4 or in the respective auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B, a number of cans C may initially be loaded one by one into the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B.
During this step, the direction switching lever 17 is turned to the position illustrated by the dotted line in Fig. 1 so as not to inhibit the flow of cans C from the auxiliary lane 5A. The first can C loaded into the auxiliary lane 5A flows from the lower end of the auxiliary lane 5A into the auxiliary feeding path 16, passes over the retracted stopper 2 lA and abuts against the stopper 2lC

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at the lower end of the auxiliary feeding path 16, there to be retained. When the detector 23A corresponding to the stopper 2lA
registers the passing of the first can C, the stopper 2lA returns to its projecting position so that the first successive can C abuts against this stopper 21C, there to be retained.

When both auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B have been fully loaded with cans C, the carton mount 9 is drawn outward from the body 1 of the machine to the extended position illustrated in Fig.
1. In this step, the vertical portion 12A of the stopper 11 is in the position covering the open end of the carton mount 9.

A carton 6 having an opening (not shown) formed in the lower portion of its end wall 6A is mounted onto the carton mount 9, and the carton mount 9 is then pushed forward completely onto the main lane 4 so that the respective end wall 6A abuts against the vertical portion 12A of the stopper 11, as illustrated in Fig. 2. In the situation illustrated in Fig. 2, if the detectors 22A and 22B detect cans C located in the respective auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B, as shown by the middle storage area 3, the vertical portion 12A of the stopper 11 remains upward to cover the opening of the carton 6 and prevent the flow of cans C through the opening.

Should there be no can C in contact with the stopper 21C
in the lower portion of the auxiliary feeding path 16, the corresponding detector 23B will register the absence of a can C and output an absence signal to the control means (not shown), which in turn will output a control signal to the driving source for one of the stoppers 2lA and 2lB. As a result, the respective stopper 21A or 21B will immediately be retracted by the corresponding drive . :,: .: . - . . . . . . . . .. . . .

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source, thereby allowing one can C to flow out and abut against the lower stopper 21C, there to be retained.

In these circumstances, when a user inserts coins into the coin slot and selects a can C, the can C retained by the stopper 21C is the first to be dispensed through the main feeding path 2 by retracting the stopper 21C . One or the other of the stoppers 21A and 21B in the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B is retracted simultaneously with the retraction of the stopper 21C, thereby releasing the can C restrained by that stopper to be fed into the auxiliary feeding path 16, there to abut the once again projecting stopper 2 lC and be retained.

In this case, when can C commences its movement toward the stopper 21C, the next can C located in the respective auxiliary lane 5A or 5B rolls by its own weight down to abut the respective stopper 21A or 21B, there to be restrained.

While both the detector 23A corresponding to the stopper 21A and the detector 22B corresponding to the stopper 21B register respectively the presence of cans C, the stoppers 21A and 21B may be interconnected alternatively with the stopper 21C; and when only one of the two detectors 23A and 22B registers the presence of cans C, only that stopper which corresponds to the detector will be continuously interconnected with the stopper 21C. Similarly, when either the stopper 2 lA or the stopper 2 lB is first interconnected continuously with the stopper 21C and then the corresponding detector 23A or 22B registers the absence of cans C, the other respective stopper 21A or 21B may be continuously interconnected with the stopper 2 lC .

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When both detectors 22A and 22B in the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B detect the absence of cans C, a control signal is output from the control unit (not shown) to the driving source (not shown) for the stopper 11 whereby the said stopper 11 is rotated downward into the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B so as to uncover the opening (not shown) of the respective carton 6 as illustrated in Fig. 2.
In the embodiment wherein stopper 11 is not driven but moves by gravity, withdrawal of the cans from beneath stopper 11 will result in its moving into the downward position.
Cans C contained within the carton 6 flow by gravity through the opening in the carton and roll onto the main lane 4 until the first can C reaches the direction switching lever 17 covering the auxiliary feeding path 16 and is stopped.
While the cans C continue flowing as described above and the detector 23A corresponding to the upper stopper 21A in the auxiliary feeding path 16 registers the absence of a can C, the control unit generates a control signal to the driving source whereby the switching lever 17 is rotated to permit the flow of cans C out of main lane 4, as illustrated in the upper portion of Fig. 2. The can C immediately retained by the switching lever 17, followed successively by cans C in the main lane 4, drop along the main feeding path 16 until retained by the stopper 21A.
The selection action of a user thereafter causes the stoppers 2lA and 21C to be retracted instantaneously and simultaneously, so that cans C can thus be dispensed one by one from the article outlet.
Furthermore, if the total volume of the upper stream between the guide rails 7A and 7B, the guide plate 14 and the upper - . . :- : . . - .

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4~96 stopper 21A in the auxiliary feeding path 16 is greater than the volume of cans C in the carton 6, then when cans C are ~ed from the carton 6 directly into the auxiliary feeding path 16 as described above, all of the cans C contained in the carton 6 will flow therefrom and empty the carton. In such a case, additional cans C can be loaded easily by replacing the empty carton 6 on the carton mount 9 with a new carton 6.

To effect the exchange of cartons 6, the carton mount 9 is first drawn outward to its fully extended position, as illustrated in Fig. 1. At this time the stopper 11 is rotated upward by means of a signal from the position detector.
Alternatively, stopper 11 is moved upwardly by a camming action during withdrawal of carton mount 9. In either case, when a new carton 6 is mounted onto the carton mount 9, the vertical portion 12A of the stopper ll covers the opening formed in the new carton 6. When the carton mount 9 has been pushed forward completely into position abutting the guide rails 7A and 7B, and if auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B are empty of cans, the stopper ll will be rotated downward into a position whereby the opening in the carton 6 is uncovered.

In this situation, when the stopper 11 leaves the opening of the carton 6 uncovered, the stopper ~1 is positioned in the auxiliary lanes SA and 5B so that the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B
cannot be directly charged.

If any cans C remain in the old carton 6, the carton mount 9 may first be drawn partially outward, allowing cans C
remaining therein to drop down through the opening 8 in the main lane 4 onto the upper auxiliary lane 5A, as illustrated in the upper portion of Fig. 3. When the carton mount 9 is drawn further - - ~ . . :: . . .
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~nn~ 6 outward, cans C still remaining in the carton 6 can drop down onto the lower auxiliary lane 5B, since the forward end of the lower auxiliary lane is projected forward more than that of the upper auxiliary lane 5A, thus allowing both auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B to be loaded with cans C.

When no cans C remain in the carton, the carton mount 9 is again drawn outward to its fully extended position and the empty carton is replaced with a new carton. If desired, additional cans C may thereafter be placed by hand one by one in the respective auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B before pushing the carton mount 9 into its completely forward position.
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Particularly where stopper 11 is driven for movement, while even one can C remains in either of the auxiliary lanes 5A
and 5B, the stopper 11 remains in position covering the opening of ; the carton 6. Thus, either the direct loading of cans C into the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B or the replacement of the empty carton 6 can be carried out first as desired.
In the embodiments described above, it is noted that when no cans C are located in the main lane 4 or in the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B, a plurality of cans C may be charged one by one into the respective auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B. In this case, however, if the stopper 11 is rotated by any means to its down position in the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B, and the main lane 4 is loaded with cans C first, a greater number of cans C can be loaded into the respective lanes.

It should be recognized that since the cartons can be loaded as is, the loading of cans into the storage areas can be - - . . . : . .

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~nn~ 6 carried out easily, with the additional advantage of more efficient utilization of the available space.

Furthermore, not only can cans C be loaded into the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B by hand, but also cans C contained in cartons 6 can be fed into the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B
automatically by drawing out the carton mount 9 and then mounting a new full carton 6 thereon. As a result, the loading of cans C
into the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B can be carried out more easily.

When cans C are loaded first into the auxiliary lanes 5A
and 5B and then a carton 6 containing cans C is mounted onto the carton mount g on the main lane 4, the cans C located in the auxiliary lanes 5A and ss are fed first. This constitutes a "first loaded, first fed" system which eliminates the risk of leaving older articles.

Furthermore, the provision of a direction switching lever 17 at the juncture of the auxiliary feeding path 16 where cans C
2Q flow in two directions, and the selective retraction of the upperstoppers 21A and 21B allow for the flow of cans C only in one direction in any part of the auxiliary feeding path 16. This eliminates the risk of possible bridging and jamming of cans C.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, as various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention if required. For example, the articles to be stored in the carton 6 are not limited to cans C as described in the foregoing, as any articles which can drop and move by gravity are also applicable in the present invention. Each storage area of a single vending machine need not be constructed with main and auxiliary lanes as described above, since a portion of the : i': : - : ,, -, , ~ :: , .

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storage areas can be of conventional type where the articles dispensed are loaded one by one.

It will be noticed from the above that according to the invention, loading of articles can be carried out more easily, and the articles can be stored in the machine with more efficient utilization of storage space.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, by positioning the stopper 11 in such a way that it penetrates into the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B when uncovering the opening of the carton 6, the stopper cannot be introduced into the auxiliary lanes while any articles are stored therein, so that the reliability of operation is increased and space otherwise needed for the retraction of the stopper can be omitted.

The provision of the direction switching member insures the feeding of articles from either the main or auxiliary lanes selectively, thereby eliminating bridging and the consequent jamming of articles.

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Claims (8)

1. In a vending machine having storage means for storing a plurality of articles, outlet dispenser means for presenting an article for removal from the machine, conduit means for directing an article from said storage means to said outlet dispenser means, article metering means disposed within said conduit means for permitting movement of articles through said conduit means, and control means for causing said metering means to permit movement of one article through said conduit means in response to actuation of the machine, the improvement comprising:

means within said storage means for supporting a carton of articles having an opening in a first end thereof allowing said articles to exit therethrough, said supporting means supporting said carton within a main lane in an inclined position with said first end lowermost;
auxiliary lane means within said storage means adjacent to said main lane for supporting a plurality of individual articles within an auxiliary lane in an inclined position;
said conduit means including means for receiving the articles from said main lane and said auxiliary lane and directing the articles into said conduit means.

2. A vending machine as defined in claim 1, further comprising stopper means having an upstanding plate portion disposed at the lowermost portion of said carton support means, and means for moving said plate portion into blocking relationship with respect to said opening of a carton placed on said carton support means.

3. A vending machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said plate portion includes drive means connected to said stopper means.

4. A vending machine as defined in claim 1, further comprising slidable mounting means for mounting said supporting means for sliding movement in the direction of inclination of said supporting means, whereby said supporting means may be slid outwardly with respect to the machine for placing of a carton thereon, and wherein said means for moving said plate portion includes cam means for moving said plate portion into blocking relationship with respect to said opening of a carton placed on said support means during sliding movement thereof in an outward direction with respect to the machine, and for moving said plate portion out of blocking relationship with respect to said opening during sliding movement of said support means in an inward direction.

5. A vending machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said auxiliary lane is disposed beneath said main lane, and further comprising means for receiving said stopper means into said auxiliary lane upon movement thereof away from said carton opening, thereby to block said auxiliary lane.

6. A vending machine as defined in claim 5, further comprising means for preventing movement of said stopper means into said auxiliary lane unless said auxiliary lane is empty of said articles.

7. A vending machine as defined in claim 5, further comprising means connecting said main and auxiliary lanes, which connecting means is blocked whenever a carton is fully positioned inwardly on said main lane, and which connecting means is uncovered at least when a carton is partially withdrawn from said main lane, whereby articles may move from a carton supported on said main lane into said auxiliary lane.

8. A vending machine as defined in claim 1, further comprising a direction switching member provided in said article feeding path to selectively feed articles coming from either said main lane or said auxiliary lane into said article feeding path.