GB1559306A - Vending apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO VENDING APPARATUS (71) We, GENERAL FOODS LIMI TBD, a British Company, of Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 7QU, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to vending apparatus.

According to the present invention there is provided vending apparatus for vending containers including a delivery system for containers comprising means for holding a stack of containers extending generally vertically, means for releasing, in use, containers from the lower end of the stack one by one, means movable into and out of the path of travel of a released container for receiving a container falling from the stack to support, temporarily, to receive a charge of material and subsequently release the container, and dispensing means, located to one side of the means for holding the stack, for dispensing a charge of material into the temporarily supported container and means for guiding the container from the receiving means to a discharge point after it has been released by the container receiving means.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided vending apparatus for vending containers including a delivery system for containers comprising means for holding a stack of containers extending generally vertically, means for releasing containers, in use, from the lower end of the stack one by one, means movable into and out of the path of travel of a released container for receiving a container falling from the stack to temporarily tilt the container at an angle, to its path of travel, to receive a charge of material, a dispensing means located to the side of the means for holding a stack towards which the container is angled, for dispensing a charge of material into the angled container and means for guiding the container from the receiving means to a discharge point after it has been released by the container receiving means.

Preferably the means for receiving a container comprise a blade reciprocably movable across the path of travel of a released container, the blade being profiled in a sense to tilt the container.

The delivery system may include more than one dispenser arranged around the stack, in which case the receiving means may be arranged to successively orientate the container towards each dispenser.

The means to hold a stack of containers may comprise a rotatable turret.

The turret may include a plurality of axially spaced plates having vertically aligned recesses formed therein, each column of recess being arranged to receive a column of containers. Preferably the recesses are dimensioned to restrict transverse movement of the container in all directions.

The apparatus may further include discharge means for discharging containers, at the discharge point, from the inside of the body of the vending apparatus and comprising a member, means for rotatably mounting the member in an aperture formed in the body of the vending apparatus about an axis of rotation, the member having two elements spaced apart around the axis of rotation and being rotatable, in use, between a first position in which one element closes the aperture and the other element lies inside the body and a second position in which the other element closes the aperture, the other element being formed with container retaining means for receiving a container in the first position and for rendering the container accessible to a customer in the second position.

The vending apparatus may be coin operated or it may be set for free vend.

The vending apparatus may further comprise means for instructing a vend operation, and means for instructing a vend operation and dispensing material into the container.

Means may be provided for detecting a predetermined total value of coins. The coin detecting means may include means for generating a signal, the period of which is proportonal to the value of the coin inserted. Means may be provided for summing the 'coin value' signals and for providing an output signal when a predetermined total value has been reached.

Means may be provided for instructing the vending of a container.

Means for operating the means to release containers and the means for receiving a container in response to the receipt of a total value signal and an instruction to vend may be provided.

Preferably means for resetting the operating means when the receiving means has released a container are provided.

Preferably the containers are cups prefilled with dry ingredients such as instant coffee and instant milk. The material in the dis penser may be sugar.

The apparatus may further include a water supply apparatus comprising a reservoir for water, two or more outlet nozzles, means for pumping water from the reservoir to each nozzle, valve means for each nozzle for opening and closing the nozzle, and means for varying the rate of pumping in accordance with the number of valve means which are open.

The or each valve means may be electric- ally operable, in which case at least some of the valve means may be operated by an electrical switch having its operating element disposed adjacent the outlet end of its respective nozzle in a recess formed in the body, such that the switch can be operated, in use, by pressure transmitted through a container being filled.

Preferably the pump is electrically operated in which case the means for varying the pump rate may comprise means for varying the magnitude of the electrical power supplied to the pump.

In the case where there are two nozzles the means for varying the magnitude of the electrical power supplied to the pump may comprise a pair of back to back diodes together connected in series with the pump motor and a power input and each being connected in series with a respective switch.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cup and ingredient vending apparatus with its door open; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a water supply apparatus with its door open; Figure 2a is a front view of a detail of the water supply apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the vending apparatus of Figure 1 with its door closed; Figure 4 is a front view of a material dispenser of the vending apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a view of one side of the dispenser of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a view of the other side of the dispenser of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a partial sectional view of Figure 4 along the line I-I with a valve element in its closed position;; Figure 8 is a partial sectional view along the line IIII in Figure 6; Figure 9 is a sectional view of Figure 4 generally along line I-I with the valve element in its 'material delivered' position; Figure 10 is a side view of an interrupting blade and its associated drive of the vending apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 11 is a schematic view from below of the interrupting blade and its associated drive; Figure 12 is a view from below of the interrupting blade; and Figure 13 is a circuit diagram of the control circuitry of the vending apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the water and electric circuits of the water supply apparatus.

Figures 1 and 3 show a vending apparatus generally indicated at 10 which comprises a rotatable turret 11 arranged to retain five columns of cups generally indicated at 12, a conventional cup dispensing unit 13 disposed below a cup-delivery position of the turret 11 and operable to deliver the individual cups sequentially from a column of cups in the delivery position, a generally cylindrical guide 14 disposed coaxially with and beneath the cup dispensing mechanism 13 to guide dispensed cups 15, a sloping interrupting blade 16 for temporarily retaining each dispensed cup 15 within the guide 14 and for orientating the mouth of each cup 15 towards an ingredient delivery chute 17, a dry material or ingredient dispenser 18 (the top of which is shown in Figure 1) having an outlet in communication with the delivery chute 17, a guide chute 19 for defining the path of travel of a cup 20 which has been discharged by the interrupting blade 16 and a hinged cup retaining unit 21 which in a first position (shown in solid line) receives a cup 20 from the guide chute 19 whilst preventing customer access to the chute 19 and which in a second position (shown in broken line) makes the cup 20 available to the customer whilst continuing to prevent customer access to the guide chute 19. Each of the above components is mounted within a lockable cupboard comprising a hinged door 22 and body 23.

The cup dispensing mechanism 13 is preferably of the type (known per se) which comprises a plurality of pinions arranged around a circular aperture 13a through which the cups pass, each of which engages a respec tive rack portion formed on the inside of a ring which is mounted coaxially with the aperture for oscillatory motion about the com mon axis, each of the pinions being formed with a pair of axially spaced and circumferen tially staggered detents which are arranged such that the dispensing mechanism releases a single cup for each cycle of motion of the ring. The ring is oscillated by means of a lever. However, any appropriate dispensing mechanism may be used.

The vending apparatus 10 further com prises a first motor 24 arranged to rotatably drive the turret 11 by means of drive shaft 25 and a second motor 26 (see Figure 10), one end of the drive shaft 27 of which can be seen in Figure 3, which drives the inter rupting blade 16 by means of a linkage 28 and the rotatable ring of the cup dispensing mechanism 13 by means of linkage 29, and a control cam 30 as described hereinafter.

The turret 11 comprises a vertical column 31 fixedly mounted on a rotatable shaft 32.

which is itself rotatably mounted on chassis 33, which is releasably secured in the body 23. The vertical column 31 carries three axially spaced coaxial plates 34 having ver tical aligned radially outwardly facing recesses 35 (see Figure 1) for transversely retaining columns of cups 12, the mouth of each recess 35 being dimensioned to allow the fingers of a person loading the cups 12 into the recesses 35, whilst retaining the cups 12.

The chassis 33 is formed with an upper surface 36, which extends beneath the lower most plate 34 adjacent all but one of the columns of vertically aligned recess 35 to support any cups therein. The chassis 33 is formed with a vertically extending aperture 37, adjacent the remaining column of recesses 35 and coaxially with the aperture 13a, through which the cups in the remaining column may pass to be releasably retained by the cup dispensing mechanism 13.

Referring to Figures 10 to 12, the interrupting blade 16 is sickle shaped and is mounted on a shaft 38, which is itself rotatably mounted on the chassis 33 and which is connected to the drive shaft of motor 26 via linkage 28 and eccentric 39. Linkage 29 is connected to the operating lever (not shown) of the cup dispensing mechanism 13.

Referring to Figures 4 to 9, the particulate dry material dispenser 18 comprises a reservoir 40 having a triangular cross-section elongate portion 41, a hopper portion 42 with an outlet 43, which faces at 450 to the axis of the elongate portion 41, and a valve mechanism 44 disposed adjacent the outlet 43 and being arranged to dispense a predetermined amount of the particulate dry ingredient.

The valve mechanism 44 has a body 45 de fining a flow channel or passageway 46. A generally L-shaped valve member 47 is rotatably mounted on the body 45 about the intersection of its arms by means of a shaft 48, which extends transversely to the flow path defined by channel 46. The upstream arm 49 of the valve member is itself generally Lshaped with its short arm 50 extending from its free edges. The inwardly facing faces 51 and 52 of its upstream arm 49 and its downstream arm 53 together define a V-shaped space. The body 45 is formed with a projection 45a which extends around the internal periphery of the channel 46 to define valve seats 55 and 56 for arms 51 and 53 respectively. The valve seats 55 and 56 are in back to back relationship and spaced along the flow path defined by channel 46.

The shaft 48 is connected to an actuating mechanism 54 comprising a magnetic core 58 and an electromagnetic coil 59, by means of a linkage 60. A spring 61 acts on the body 45 and the linkage 60 to bias the linkage 60 into the position shown in Figure 6 and hence maintains face 52 of the downstream arm 53 against its valve seat 56 to obturate the flow channel 46. Energisation of the coil 59 causes the core 58 to be moved in the direction of the arrow A (see Figure 6), which moves the linkage 60 against the action of spring 61 causing the valve member 47 to rotate in the direction of the arrow B (see Figure 5), opening the flow channel or passageway 46 and allowing the dry particulate material to flow out of the channel 46 to the chute 17.As the valve member 47 continues to rotate the face 51 of the upstream arm 49 engages valve seat 55 interrupting the flow of dry particulate material (see Figure 9). When the coil 59 is deenergised the spring 61 returns the valve member 47 to the position shown in Figure 5. During the return of the valve member 47, arm 50 tends to sweep sugar away from the body 45a. The spring 61 is arranged such that the face 52 of arm 53 engages valve seat 56 before the flow of dry particulate material has reached the valve seat 56 and thus avoids particulate material becoming trapped between face 52 and valve seat 56.

As the angle of settlement of any given dry particulate material is a constant for any given slope of support and dimension of outlet 43 and as the time taken for the arm 51 to engage the valve seat 55 is a constant for any given dry particulate material, the charge of material or ingredient dispensed per activation of the valve 44 is a constant The size of this charge can be adjusted by varying the size of the outlet 43 by means of a plate 62, which is slidably mounted on the outlet face 42a of hopper portion 42. The plate 62 is formed with a V-shaped notch (not shown) at its outlet end 62a, and is mounted on a screw 63, which is held against axial movement by a plate 64 mounted on body 45. Rotation of the screw 63 moves the plate 62 such that it increases or decreases the effective size of the outlet 43, in accordance with the direction of rotation of the screw 63.

The vending apparatus 10 is most suitable for use with cups 12 of the type which are pre-packed with dry particulate ingredients such as instant coffee or instant coffee and instant milk. The dry material dispenser 18 is then filled with sugar, as a customer option.

However the vending apparatus may also be used with empty cups and single ingredient beverages such as orange or lemon tea. In addition it is envisaged that further dispensers 18 could be provided so that a number of ingredients may be introduced into a cup in resDonse to a customer request.

For the purposes of clarity the operation of the vending apparatus 10 will be described in conjunction with cups pre-filled with instant coffee or instant coffee and instant milk and a sugar option.

In operation the customer introduces a coin or coins, into a slot or slots (not shown) of the vending apparatus and then pushes a respective button (not shown) on the door 22 of the apparatus 10 requesting either coffee or coffee with sugar. The sequential combination of these actions cause a control circuit (as described hereinafter) to make power available for supplying motors 24 and 26.

Motor 26 is directly in circuit with the power supply, however inhibit means are provided for preventing the supply of power to motor 24. A microswitch (not shown) is provided in circuit with the motor 24 and its power supply (not shown). The microswitch (not shown) is arranged to open whenever the level of the column of cups 12 in aperture 37 falls below a predetermined level, say the level of surface 36. When the microswitch is closed the inhibit means (not shown) inhibits the supply of power to the motor 24. When the microswitch is open the inhibit means are cancelled and the motor 24 is actuated causing the turret 11 to rotate, until a further column of cups enters the aperture 37. A further microswitch detects when the column of cups 12 in aperture 37 fall below a second level.

When this further microswitch opens due to an absence of cups 12 at the second level the power supply to the motor 24 and 26 are disabled until further cups 12 are loaded into the machine. When the apparatus 10 is in this condition, it indicates that it is sold out, by means (not shown).

When power is supplied to motor 26 in response to the customers' coins and item request the drive shaft 27 rotates, moving linkage 29, and hence activating cup dispensing mechanism 13 to dispense one cup 15 into guide 14. The cup 15 is caught by inter rupting blade 16, which is being moved steadily outwardly in response to movement of link age 28 by drive shaft 27. The angle of the upper face of and the movement of the inter rupting blade 16 cause the cup 15 to tilt with its mouth facing chute 17. If the custo mer has requested sugar the coil 59 is activ ated and a charge of sugar flows down the chute 17 into the cup 15.

As the sugar is being dispensed the inter rupting blade 16 is being moved outwardly and the bottom of the cup 15 slides down the blade 16 until it is released, where upon it falls into guide chute 19 which guides the released cup 20 into a recess 65 formed by a retaining wall 66 formed on one arm 67 of the-Lshaped cup retaining or cup dis charge unit 21, which is in its solid line posi tion (see Figure 3). In this position the other arm 68 of the unit 21 closes the aperture 69 in the door 22 through which the cup must pass to become available to the custo mer. The customer then hinges the unit 21 into its broken line position (see Figure 3) in which the customer can remove the cup 20. In the broken line position the retaining wall 66 closes the aperture 69.Thus at no time can a customer gain access to the inside of the apparatus via the dispensing aperture 69, it is thus difficult to pilfer from the vend ing apparatus 10.

As the shaft 27 rotates it also rotates a cam 30. Rotation of the cam 30 occurs in the direction shown in Figure 10. A microswitch 70 is disposed in the path of the cam 30, such that a predetermined time after activation of the motor 26 the microswitch 70 is closed.

Closure of the microswitch 70 allows current to be supplied to the coil 59 provided the control circuitry (described below) has made power available across the coil 59 in response to the customer pushing the 'sugar' button.

Thus when the rnicroswitch 70 is closed and power is available to the coil 59, sugar is supplied to the dispenser cup 15.

A second microswitch 71 is disposed in the path of the cam 30 such that at the end of one complete revolution of the cam 30.

the microswitch 71, is closed. Closure of the microswitch 71 cuts off motors 24 and 26 from the power supply (not shown). The vending apparatus 10 is therefore deactivated until the next purchase.

It will be noted that as a result of this cut off mechanism, the turret 11 will only rotate while cup 12 is being dispensed, thus when the turret 11 becomes totally empty it will only rotate during the dispensing of those cups 12 necessary for the level of cups 12 in the aperture 37 to drop to the second level.

Figure 13 shows a part of the control circuitry of the vending apparatus 10. The vending apparatus 10 has three coin slots. When a coin is placed in its respective slot a signal is developed which is fed to a respective signal generating circuit Thus a 1p coin signal is fed to circuit 72, a 2p coin signal is fed to circuit 73 and a 5p coin signal is fed to circuit 74.

Circuits 72 to 74 are identical except for their respective capacitor 75, each of which determines the time constant of the respective circuit, and hence the period of its output signal. The value of the capacitor 75 in circuit 72 is approximately one half of that of circuit 73 and a fifth of that of circuit 74, and thus the period of the signals generated by the respective circuits are proportional to the value of the coin which has been fed into the vending apparatus.

The output signals from circuits 72 to 74 are fed via AND gates 76 and 78 to a counter 82 which outputs whenever a predetermined sum has been reached. For example, if it is set to output when a 5p signal has been received, it will also output after five 1p signals, or two 2p and one ip signals have been received. If it is then desired to reduce the price to 1p the predetermined sum set on the counter is adjusted. Preferably a rotary switch is provided such that each switching position sets the counter to a particular predeter- mined sum, hence provided an easily accessible range of prices, which may include 'free vend'.

The 'price paid' output signal of counter 82 is fed along line 83 to enable integrated circuit 84 into which are fed the 'vend' input and 'sugar' input signals from the selection buttons (not shown) via circuits 85 and 86 respectively. Circuit 86 is connected to circuit 85 by line 87, such that a 'sugar' input signal also generates a 'vend' signal.

Upon receipt of a vend signal on pin 2 the integrated circuit 84 'switches on' transistor 88 and hence thyristor 89. When thyristor 80 conducts power is supplied to motor 24 and 26.

Upon receipt of a sugar signal on pin 7 the integrated circuit 84 turns on transistor 90, which causes a current pulse to be fed to the coil 59.

When the microswitch 71 is closed by cam 30 a disable or reset signal is generated by circuit 91, which disables integrated circuit 84 switching off transistor 88 and 90. The circuit is then ready for the next sale.

Electromagnetical mechanical block outs may be provided to block the coin slots when the right number of coins have been inserted, when the apparatus 10 is in a 'sold out' state and on the event of an electrical fault. An appropriate control circuit is shown at 92.

When the customer has obtained a cup with the appropriate dry ingredients in, he places it under a nozzle 121 (see Figures 2 and 2a) of water supply apparatus 122. Each nozzle 121 has a valve 123 which is controlled by a respective switch 124 (see Figure 14), the operating element 125 of which is sited in a recess 126 and is operated by the customer pressing the rim of the cup 20 against the operating element 125 of the switch 124. Preferably the water supply apparatus is separate from the vending apparatus 10. However, if desired, it can be housed within the same body.

Preferably water is fed to the nozzles from a reservoir 127 via a pipe 128 by an electrically operated pump 129. In order to maintain a constant flow through each nozzle 121, whether or not the other nozzle is operated, each switch 124 is connected in series with a respective diode 130, the diodes being connected in parallel in back to back relationship, and the complete diode circuit being connected in series between an input 131 and the pump's motor. When one only switch 124 is closed the supply to the motor is half-wave rectified and when both switches are closed the supply is whole wave rectified. Thus the pump 129, is run at twice the speed when two nozzles 121 are being used as compared with when one is being used. In this way the flow rate through the nozzles is maintained constant.It is desirable to maintain a constant flow rate as only a certain range of flow rates will satisfactorily dissolve the dried ingredient(s) or material in the cup.

It will be appreciated that the upper face of the interrupting blade 16 may be horizontal such that the dispensed cup 15 is supported in an upright position, in which case the sugar from the dispenser 18 passes over the rim of the cup 15 in the manner of a waterfall.

The above description forms a part of the specification of United Kingdom Patent Application No. 50171/76 (Serial No. 1,559,305) and a part of the above description forms a part of the specification of United Kingdom Patent Application No. 48082/77 (Serial No.

1,559,307).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Vending apparatus for vending containers including a delivery system for containers comprising means for holding a stack of containers extending generally vertically, means for releasing containers, in use, from the lower end of the stack one by one, means movable into and out of the path of travel of a released container for receiving a container falling from the stack to temporarily tilt the container at an angle, to its path of travel, to receive a charge of material, a dispensing means located to the side of the means for holding a stack towards which the container is angled for dispensing a charge of material into the angled container and means for guiding the container from the receiving means to a discharge point after it has been released by the container receiving means.

2. Vending apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are plurality of dispensing means for dispensing a charge of material into an angled container.

3. Vending apparatus as claimed in claim

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (16)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Circuits 72 to 74 are identical except for their respective capacitor 75, each of which determines the time constant of the respective circuit, and hence the period of its output signal. The value of the capacitor 75 in circuit 72 is approximately one half of that of circuit 73 and a fifth of that of circuit 74, and thus the period of the signals generated by the respective circuits are proportional to the value of the coin which has been fed into the vending apparatus. The output signals from circuits 72 to 74 are fed via AND gates 76 and 78 to a counter 82 which outputs whenever a predetermined sum has been reached. For example, if it is set to output when a 5p signal has been received, it will also output after five 1p signals, or two 2p and one ip signals have been received. If it is then desired to reduce the price to 1p the predetermined sum set on the counter is adjusted. Preferably a rotary switch is provided such that each switching position sets the counter to a particular predeter- mined sum, hence provided an easily accessible range of prices, which may include 'free vend'. The 'price paid' output signal of counter 82 is fed along line 83 to enable integrated circuit 84 into which are fed the 'vend' input and 'sugar' input signals from the selection buttons (not shown) via circuits 85 and 86 respectively. Circuit 86 is connected to circuit 85 by line 87, such that a 'sugar' input signal also generates a 'vend' signal. Upon receipt of a vend signal on pin 2 the integrated circuit 84 'switches on' transistor 88 and hence thyristor 89. When thyristor 80 conducts power is supplied to motor 24 and 26. Upon receipt of a sugar signal on pin 7 the integrated circuit 84 turns on transistor 90, which causes a current pulse to be fed to the coil 59. When the microswitch 71 is closed by cam 30 a disable or reset signal is generated by circuit 91, which disables integrated circuit 84 switching off transistor 88 and 90. The circuit is then ready for the next sale. Electromagnetical mechanical block outs may be provided to block the coin slots when the right number of coins have been inserted, when the apparatus 10 is in a 'sold out' state and on the event of an electrical fault. An appropriate control circuit is shown at 92. When the customer has obtained a cup with the appropriate dry ingredients in, he places it under a nozzle 121 (see Figures 2 and 2a) of water supply apparatus 122. Each nozzle 121 has a valve 123 which is controlled by a respective switch 124 (see Figure 14), the operating element 125 of which is sited in a recess 126 and is operated by the customer pressing the rim of the cup 20 against the operating element 125 of the switch 124. Preferably the water supply apparatus is separate from the vending apparatus 10. However, if desired, it can be housed within the same body. Preferably water is fed to the nozzles from a reservoir 127 via a pipe 128 by an electrically operated pump 129. In order to maintain a constant flow through each nozzle 121, whether or not the other nozzle is operated, each switch 124 is connected in series with a respective diode 130, the diodes being connected in parallel in back to back relationship, and the complete diode circuit being connected in series between an input 131 and the pump's motor. When one only switch 124 is closed the supply to the motor is half-wave rectified and when both switches are closed the supply is whole wave rectified. Thus the pump 129, is run at twice the speed when two nozzles 121 are being used as compared with when one is being used. In this way the flow rate through the nozzles is maintained constant.It is desirable to maintain a constant flow rate as only a certain range of flow rates will satisfactorily dissolve the dried ingredient(s) or material in the cup. It will be appreciated that the upper face of the interrupting blade 16 may be horizontal such that the dispensed cup 15 is supported in an upright position, in which case the sugar from the dispenser 18 passes over the rim of the cup 15 in the manner of a waterfall. The above description forms a part of the specification of United Kingdom Patent Application No. 50171/76 (Serial No. 1,559,305) and a part of the above description forms a part of the specification of United Kingdom Patent Application No. 48082/77 (Serial No. 1,559,307). WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Vending apparatus for vending containers including a delivery system for containers comprising means for holding a stack of containers extending generally vertically, means for releasing containers, in use, from the lower end of the stack one by one, means movable into and out of the path of travel of a released container for receiving a container falling from the stack to temporarily tilt the container at an angle, to its path of travel, to receive a charge of material, a dispensing means located to the side of the means for holding a stack towards which the container is angled for dispensing a charge of material into the angled container and means for guiding the container from the receiving means to a discharge point after it has been released by the container receiving means.

2. Vending apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are plurality of dispensing means for dispensing a charge of material into an angled container.

3. Vending apparatus as claimed in claim

2 wherein the receiving means is arranged to successively orientate the container towards each dispensing means.

4. Vending apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the receiving means include a blade reciprocally movable across the path of travel of a released container, the blade being profiled in a sense to tilt the container.

5. Vending apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including discharge means for discharging containers, at the discharge point, from the inside of the body of the vending apparatus and comprising a member, means for rotatably mounting the member in an aperture formed in the body of the vending apparatus about an axis of rotation, the member having two elements spaced apart around the axis of rotation and being rotatable, in use, between a first position in which one element closes the aperture and the other element lies inside the body and a second position in which the other element closes the aperture, the other element being formed with a container retaining means for receiving a container in the first position and for rendering the container accessible to a customer in the second position.

6. Vending apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the apparatus is coin operated.

7. Vending apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 further including means for instructing a container vend operation and/or the dispensing of material into the container.

8. Vending apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 further including a water supply apparatus comprising a reservoir for water, two or more outlet nozzles means for pumping water from the reservoir to each nozzle, valve means for each nozzle for opening and closing the nozzle, and means for varying the rate of pumping in accordance with the number of valve means which are open.

9. Vending apparatus as claimed in claim 8 where the or each valve means is operable by an electrical switch having an operating element, each operating element being disposed adjacent the outlet end of its respective nozzle in a recess formed in the body of the apparatus such that the switch can be operated, in use, by pressure transmitted through a container being filled.

10. Vending apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the means for pumping is electrically operated and wherein the means for varying the rate of pumping comprises means for varying the magnitude of the electrical power supplied to the means for pumping.

11. Vending apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein there are two nozzles and wherein the magnitude of the electrical power supplied to the means for pumping comprises a pair of back to back diodes together connected in series with the means for pumping and a power input and each being connected in series with a respective one of the switches.

12. Vending apparatus for vending containers including a delivery system for containers comprising means for holding a stack of containers extending generally vertically: means for holding the stack, for dispensing a the lower end of the stack one by one, means movable into and out of the path of travel of a released container for receiving a container falling from the stack to support, tem porarily, to receive a charge of material and subsequently release the container, and dispensing means, located to one side of the means for holding the stack, for dispensing a charge of material into the temporarily supported container and means for guiding the container from the receiving means to a discharge point after it has been released by the container receiving means.

13. Vending apparatus as claimed in claim 12 having the features of claims 5, 6 or 7, or the features of two or more of claims 5, 6 and 7.

14. Vending apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, having the features of claim 8.

15. Vending apparatus as claimed in claim 14 having the features of claim 9 and/or claim 10.

16. Vending apparatus as dependent on claim 15 when including the features of claim 10 further including the features of claim 11.