GB2183226A

GB2183226A - Vending machine; auxiliary magazine arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2183226A
Application number: GB08528509A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Bradwell
Original assignee: BRADWELL A Ltd
Current assignee: BRADWELL A Ltd
Priority date: 1985-11-20
Filing date: 1985-11-20
Publication date: 1987-06-03
Also published as: GB8528509D0; GB2183226B

Abstract

A vending machine (10) has first and second upstanding primary magazines (12, 13) disposed side-by- side laterally of the machine (10), the second magazine (13) being less tall than the first magazine (12) and having disposed above it an auxiliary magazine (14) pivotally mounted so as to be movable from an upright storage position to an inclined operating position in which the lower end of the auxiliary magazine (14) extends into the first magazine (12) to provide a path for articles (11) from the auxiliary magazine (14) into the lower part of the first magazine (12). A photoelectric sensor detects the absence of articles in the first magazine (14) to release a latch mechanism retaining the auxiliary magazine (14) in the storage position against a spring operative to move it to the operating position. Faster selling articles (11) can be stored in the first and auxiliary magazines (12,14) whilst slower selling articles (11) are stored only in the smaller second magazine (13). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vending machine This invention relates to vending machines, and in particular to coin-operated machines for vending articles such as packets of cigarettes.

Such machines are well known, and may have auxiliary magazines located at the rear of a primary magazine so that pockets can be withdrawn from the auxiliary magazine after the primary magazine has been emptied. By this means the frequency of filling the magazine is reduced. It is also known, for example from British Patent No. 1457988 to have an auxiliary magazine located at one side of the primary magazine so that two stacks of small articles can be accommodated in a magazine which, when the auxiliary magazine is removed, accommodates a single stack of articles of twice the width of the small articles.

Such an arrangement also has the advantage in that the single magazine or the primary and auxiliary magazines can be loaded from the front instead of loading the auxiliary magazine through the primary magazine as in the previously referred to arrangement.

However, both of the aforementioned arrangements relate simply to the provision of an auxiliary magazine in which the same type of article is stored as is stored in the primary magazine to provide greater continuity of supply, In a machine which dispenses several types of product, i.e. several brands of cigarettes, each primary and associated auxiliary magazine will have a particular brand stored therein. In practice however some brands will sell more quickly than other brands, and the frequency of re-stocking of the machine must therefore be dependent upon the rate of sale of the fastest selling brand. This problem can be alleviated by having two or more primary magazines, and their respective auxiliary magazines, filled with the fastest selling brand.

However this reduces the range of brands which can be accommodated in a single machine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine in which the abovementioned problems are avoided or substantially alleviated. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine in which articles of differing lengths can be readily accommodated and guided to be correctly positioned above a draw-out tray. A further object of the invention is to provide a vending machine in which operation of the aforementioned pull-out tray can occur only when the correct coinage has been inserted in the machine, whilst at the same time allowing for final selection of the product to be purchased to be made after insertion of the coins. A further object of the invention is to provide a vending machine in which the emptying of the coin-receiving container is more easily achieved than is the case with known vending machines.

The invention provides a vending machine having first and second upwardly extending primary magazines, said second magazine being disposed at one side of said first magazine laterally of said machine and being of lesser vertical extent than said first magazine, an auxiliary magazine located above said second magazine and to said side of said first magazine, said auxiliary magazine being pivotally mounted in said machine so as to be movable between a storage position in which it extends upwardly above said second magazine and an operating position in which a lower end of said auxiliary magazine is located within said first magazine and provides a path for articles contained in said auxiliary magazine to move downwardly into a lower part of said first magazine.

The machine may comprise releasable retaining means operable to retain said auxiliary magazine in said storage position, and means operable to release said retaining means whereby said auxiliary magazine may move to said operating position. Biassing means may be provided, being operable to bias said auxiliary magazine towards said operating position. The machine may also comprise sensing means adapted to detect the presence of an article in said first magazine and operable in the absence of said article to effect release of said retaining means. Said sensing means may include means operable to delay release of said retaining means for a predetermined time after said sensing means detects the absence of said article.

Said first, second and auxiliary magazines may be open at the front thereof and said machine may comprise guide means operable to locate a front of an article contained in any one of said magazines adjacent said open front. Said guide means may comprise at least one elongate rod extending upwardly of said open front. Said rod may be pivotally mounted so as to be movable away from said open front and may be resiliently biassed towards a position adjacent said open front. One such rod may extend upwardly of said first magazine and a second such rod may extend upwardly of said second and said auxiliary magazines. A further rod may extend upwardly of the rear of each of said first and second magazines, the position of the lower end of each further rod being adjustable forwardly and rearwardly of the bottom of said first or second magazine.

The machine may also comprise a hopper adapted to receive coins therein, said hopper having two sides each disposed above a respective guide means for coins passing from said hopper, a first side of said hopper being disposed above first guide means communicating with a coin receiving container and a second side of said hopper being disposed above second guide means communicating with a coin retrieval tray, said first side of said hopper being coupled with a pull-out drawer locafted beneath a primary magazine whereby operation of said drawer causes movement of said first side of said hopper to release coins therein into said first guide means and said coin receiving container.Preferably said machine comprises a pivotal flap disposed above said drawer so as to be movable by means of an article located in said drawer when said drawer is pulled forwardly of said machine, said flap being coupled to said first side of said hopper whereby movement of said flap causes movement of said first side. A reject operating means may be coupled to said second side of said hopper and operable to effect movement thereof to release coins in said hopper into said second guide means and said coin retrieval tray. Preferably said flap is coupled to coupling means between said reject operating means and said second side of said hopper whereby movement of said second side is prevented upon movement of said flap.

The machine may comprise a plurality of first and second primary magazines, each with a respective pull-out drawer disposed therebeneath. Each drawer may have a respective releasable locking means operable to prevent movement of said drawer forwardly of said machine. The machine may comprise a single coin validating mechanism and scanning means operable, upon receipt of a signal from said coin validating mechanism indicating receipt of coins therein, to send a signal sequentially to each locking means to sequentially release each locking means. Each locking means may be operable, on movement of the respective drawer forwardly of said machine, to prevent said scanning means from sending a signal to another locking means.

Said coin retrieving container may comprise a front lower portion which is pivotal between an upstanding, container-closing position to a downwardly extending coin-release position.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of part of a vending machine showing first and second primary magazines and an auxiliary magazine, Figure 2 is a rear elevation to an enlarged scale of the part of the machine of Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a front elevation of the part of the machine of Fig. 1 showing first article guide means, Figure 4 is a plan view of the machine part and guide means of Fig. 3, Figure 5 is a view from the front of the rear of a primary magazine, Figure 6 is a side elevation of a primary magazine, Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a hopper and primary magazine, Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a drawer retaining and releasing arrangement, and Figure 9 is a side elevation of a coin receiving container.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a vending machine 10 for vending packets of cigarettes 11. The machine 10 comprises first and second upwardly extending primary magazines 12,13 in which the stacks of packets 11 are stored. The primary magazines 12,13 are in side-by-side disposition laterally of the machine 10 and the first primary magazine 12 is of greater vertical extent than the second primary magazine 13.

Beneath each primary magazine 12,13 is a pull-out drawer 30. Located above the second primary magazine 13 and to the same side of the first primary magazine 12 is an auxiliary magazine 14 which is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 15 in the structure forming the primary magazines 12,13. The auxiliary magazine 14 is pivotal between a storage position, shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and an operating position, shown in dashed lines in Fig. 1.

Pivotally attached to the rear of the structure forming the primary magazines 12,13, is a latch plate 16 having a stepped upper surface 17. The auxiliary magazine 14 is biassed towards the operating position by a spring 18 which is secured to a boss 19 provided on the rear of the structure 12,13. However such movement is ordinarily prevented by means of a latch 20 engaging a step 21 in the surface 17 preventing pivoting of latch plate 16., and a pin 58 attached to the auxiliary magazine 14 being engaged in a slot 59 formed in the lower end of latch plate 16. A battery operated photoelectric sensing device 22 is located at the back of the first primary magazine 12 so as to detect whether there is a cigarette packet 11 in that magazine in alignment with the sensing device 22.If the stack of packets 11 in magazine 12 has been diminished by removal of packets 11 from the bottom of the stack so that the uppermost packet 11 is below the level of the sensor 22, a signal is transmitted from the sensor 22 to a timing device 23. After a predetermined time interval a further signal is transmitted to a solenoid 24 which when energised retracts the latch 20. By this means the latch 20 is disengaged from the step 21 and the latch plate 16 can pivot so as to release pin 58 from slot 59 and allow the spring 18 to cause the auxiliary magazine 14 to pivot from its storage position to its operating position. In addition a micro switch 60 is disengaged to switch off the power to the sensor 22 and conserve battery power. With the auxiliary magazine in the operating position packets 11 stored therein can move downwardly into the lower part of the first primary magazine 12 and onto the top of the stack of packets 11 remaining therein.

If it is assumed that there are no, or only a few, packets 11 in the primary magazines 12,13 when refilling of the machine is to be effected, the auxiliary magazine 14 will be in the operating position as shown in dashed lines in Fig. 1. The auxiliary magazine 14 is returned manually to the storage position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and this causes the pin 58 to move along slot 61 and engage the slot 59 in the latch plate 16, so that the latter pivots to the position shown in Fig. 2 in which it is retained by the latch 20. As the latch plate 16 pivots to this position it engages the micro switch 60 which activates the sensor 22 and the timing mechanism 23.

The time interval referred to above, for example 90 seconds, is adequate for a full stack of packets 11 to be placed in first primary magazine 12 so that the sensor 22 now detects the presence of a packet 11 in alignment with it and deactivates the timimg mechanism 23 which returns to a zero time setting. A stack of packets 11 of the same type of product as is contained in the first primary magazine 12 is placed in the auxiliary magazine 14 and a stack of packets 11 of a different product is placed in the second primary magazine 13, the product in the first primary and auxiliary magazines 12,14 being the faster selling product and that in the second primary magazine 13 being the slower selling product.In this way considerably more packets of a faster selling product and fewer of a slower selling product can be stored in a machine within the space which in prior art machines would contain either solely the faster selling product thus denying the customer a choice of products, or equal quantities of the faster and slower selling products, thereby necessitating more frequent replenishment of stock as the faster selling product stack became exhausted.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 6 there are shown guides 25,26. Guides 25 are located adjacent the open fronts of the magazines 12 and 13,14, and each guide 25 comprises an elongate retaining rod extending upwardly of the respective magazine or magazines. The rods 25 are cranked at their ends and are pivotally mounted on the structure forming the magazines 12,13. For each guide rod 25 there is provided a coil spring 27 operable to bias the rod 25 towards a position adjacent the open front of the magazines 12 or 13,14. To load the machine 10, each guide rod 25 is, in turn, pivoted forwardly and laterally of the machine 10 so that the packets 11 can be inserted into the magazine 12 or magazines 13,14 from the front.When the magazines are filled the spring 27 is allowed to return the guide rod 25 to its position adjacent the front of the magazines 12 or 13,14 thereby to retain the front of the packets 11 adjacent thereto. At the rear of the primary magazines 12,13 are second guides 26 each mounted in a slot 28 in the back wall 29 of the respective magazine 12,13. The bottom end of each guide 26 is positionally adjustable fore and aft of the magazine 12,13 by insertion in one of a set of holes 31 in a sidewall 32 of the magazine 12,13, so that packets 11 of differing lengths may be stored in the magazines and be guided, at least at the lower ends of the magazines, to a position contacting or adjacent the guides 25 located at the front of the magazine. This correct positioning of the lowermost packet 11 in a magazine ensures correct operation of the machine security mechanisms described below.

Referring now to Fig. 7 there is shown a hopper 33 which receives coins from a coin validator 34. The hopper 33 has two sides 35,36 each of which is pivotally mounted so as to close the hopper 33 and retain coins therein, or to open the hopper 33 and allow the coins to pass into a respective one of two guide channels or ducts 37,38. If hopper side 35 is opened any coins in the hopper 33 will pass into guide 37 and into a coin receiving container 39. If hopper side 36 is opened any coins in the hopper 33 will pass into the guide 38 and into a retrieval tray 40.

The hopper side 35 is connected by a linkage 41 to a flap 42 pivotally mounted above a drawer 30. The flap 42 is biassed by a spring 43 so as to bear against the lowermost packet 11 in a primary magazine 12,13.

When the drawer 30 is pulled forwardly of the machine 10 the lowermost packet 11 causes pivoting of the flap 42. The first part of such pivoting movement is transmitted via linkage 41 to the hopper side 35, thereby causing pivoting movement thereof and opening of the hopper 33 to release the coins therein to the coin receiving container 39. A spring 44 is provided in the linkage 41 so as to allow further pivoting of the flap 42 upwardly to allow the packet 11 to pass thereunder and be withdrawn from the drawer 30 by the purchaser. The initial movement of the hopper side 35 cuts off any connection to the other hopper side 36 to prevent any movement thereof so that the coins cannot enter the guide 38 and proceed to the coin retrieval tray 40. Alternatively the initial movement of hopper side 35 can cause a stop (not shown) to engage the other hopper side 36 and prevent movement thereof.

As a further alternative the flap 42 may be coupled electricaliy to the hopper sides 35 and 36, whereby the initial movement of the flap 42 as the lowermost packet 11 is withdrawn energises a solenoid to cause pivotal movement of hopper side 35, and cuts off power to a solenoid at the hopper side 36 to prevent any pivotal movement thereof.

Referring now to Fig. 8 there is shown a drawer 30 retained in the retracted position beneath a primary magazine 12,13 by means of a pin 45 of a locking means 46. When a sufficient number of coins of suitable value has been received by the coin validator 34 a signal is transmitted therefrom to a scanning device 47. The scanning device 47 transmits a pulsed signal sequentially to each of the locking means 46 which can be allowed to be withdrawn having regard to the amount of money received by the coin validator 34. At each of the locking means 46 receiving such a signal from the scanning device 47 a solenoid withdraws the pin 45 from a slot 48 in the rear of the drawer 30, thereby enabling the drawer 30 to be withdrawn.As soon as the withdrawal of a drawer 30 commences the scanning device 47 ceases to send its pulsed signal to the other locking means 46 so that two or more drawers 30 can not be withdrawn at the same time.

As mentioned above the initial movement of a drawer 30 causes the lowermost packet 11 to pivot the flap 42 which in turn causes the hopper side 35 to pivot and the coins in the hopper 33 to drop into a coin receiving container 39. Referring now to Fig. 9 there is shown a coin receiving container 39. With prior art machines it has been the practice to remove the coin receiving container at certain intervals and empty the coins therein into a bag for transportation to a bank. However the full coin receiving containers tend to be heavy and difficulty is experienced in emptying the coins into a bag. The coin receiving container 39 shown in Fig. 9 has a forwardly sloping floor 61 to direct coins to the front of the container 39. The container 39 comprises, at its front lower portion, a channel shaped chute 49 which is pivotally attached by hinge 50 to the body of the container 39.A releasable catch 51 normally retains the chute 49 in an upwardly extending, container closing position as shown in full lines in Fig. 9. However, when it is desired to empty the container 39 the catch 51 is released, allowing the chute 49 to pivot to the emptying position shown in dashed lines in Fig. 9. A- bag 52 can be placed over the free end of the chute 49 before the emptying position is reached so that the coins in the container 39 are received in the bag 52. Pins 53 on either side of the body of the container 39 are received in guide slots 54 in the sides of the chute 49 to guide and support the chute 49 to and in the emptying position. After emptying the chute 49 is returned manually to the container closing position.

If a drawer 30 is empty because the stack of packets 11 in that primary magazine 12, 13 become exhausted, or if the purchaser decides not to purchase, flap 42 will not be moved by a packet 11 and the coins in hopper 33 will not drop into the coin receiving container 39. In such cases a reject button 55 can be pressed so as to open side 36 of the hopper 33 to allow the coins to drop via guide channel 38 into the coin retrieval tray 40 (see Fig. 7). The reject button 55 may be connected mechanically to the hopper side 36 or electrically by means of a solenoid 56 as shown. In the former case movement of hopper side 35 can move a stop (not shown) so as to prevent operation of the reject button 55 or in the latter case a micro-switch 57 adjacent the hopper side 35, the linkage 41 or the flap 42 can be operative to cut off the power to the solenoid 56 as previously mentioned.

Claims

1. A vending machine having first and second upwardly extending primary magazines, said second magazine being disposed at one side of said fist magazine laterally of said machine and being of lesser vertical extent than said first magazine, an auxiliary magazine located above said second magazine and to said one side of said first magazine, said auxiliary magazine being pivotally inounted in said machine so as to be movable between a storage position in which it extends upwardly above said second magazine and an operating position in which a lower end of said auxiliary magazine is located within said first magazine and provides a path for articles contained in said auxiliary magazine to move downwardly into a lower part of said first magazine.

2. A vending machine according to claim 1 comprising releasable retaining means operable to retain said auxiliary magazine in said storage position.

3. A vending machine according to claim 2 comprising release means operable to release said retaining means whereby said auxiliary magazine may move to said operating position.

4. A vending machine according to claim 3 comprising biassing means operable to bias said auxiliary magazine towards said operating position.

5. A vending machine according to claim 4 comprising sensing means operable to detect the presence of an article at a predetermined location in said first magazine.

6. A vending machine according to claim 5 wherein said sensing means comprises photoelectric sensing means.

7. A vending machine according to claim 5 or claim 6 comprising switch means operable on movement of said auxiliary magazine into said storage position to energise said sensing means.

8. A vending machine according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein said sensing means is operable in the absence of an article at said predermined location to effect operation of said release means.

9. A vending machine according to claim 8 comprising timing means operable to delay operation of said release means for a predetermined time after said sensing means detects the absence of an article at said predetermined location.

10. A vending machine according to any one of claims 3 to 9 wherein said retaining means comprises a latch plate having a slot therein engageable with a pin secured to said auxiliary magazine.

11. A vending machine according to claim 10 wherein said latch plate is pivotally mounted and has a stepped periphery, said release means comprising a latch engageable with said stepped periphery.

12. A vending machine according to claim 11 wherein said release means comprises a solenoid operable on energising thereof to retract said latch from engagement with said stepped periphery.

13. A vending machine having at least one upwardly extending magazine, the or each magazine being open at the front thereof, said machine comprising guide means operable to locate a front of an article contained in the or each magazine adjacent said open front thereof.

14. A vending machine according to claim 13 wherein said guide means comprises an elongate rod.

15. A vending machine according to claim 14 wherein said elongate rod extends upwardly of said open front.

16. A vending machine according to claim 15 wherein said rod is pivotally mounted so as to be movable away from said open front.

17. A vending machine according to claim 16 wherein said rod is resiliently biassed towards a position adjacent said open front.

18. A vending machine according to claim 14 wherein said elongate rod extends upwardly of the rear of the or each magazine.

19. A vending machine according to claim 18 wherein the position of the lower end of said rod is adjustable forwardly and rearwardly of the bottom of said magazine.

20. A vending machine according to claim 19 wherein the upper end of said rod is pivotally mounted on a rear wall of said magazine and a free lower end of said rod is positionable in any one of a plurality of holes provided in a side of said magazine.

21. A vending machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, or Figs. 1 and 2 together with Figs. 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawihgs.

21. A vending machine according to claim 13 wherein said guide means comprises an elongate rod which extends upwardly of said open front and is pivotally mounted so as to be movable away from said open front, and a second elongate rod which extends upwardly of the rear of said magazine, the lower end of said second rod being adjustable forwardly and rearwardly of the bottom of said magazine.

22. A vending machine having at least one upwardly extending magazine, and a hopper adapted to receive coins therein, said hopper having two sides each disposed above a respective guide means for coins passing from said hopper, a first side of said hopper being disposed above first guide means communicating with a coin receiving container and a second side of said hopper being disposed above second guide means communicating with a coin retrieval tray, wherein said first side of said hopper is coupled with a pull-out tray located beneath said magazine, whereby movement of said drawer forwardly of said machine causes movement of said first side of said hopper to release coins therein into said first guide means amd said coin receiving container.

23. A vending machine according to claim 22 comprising a flap pivotally mounted in said machine above said drawer so as to be movable by an article located in said drawer when said drawer is moved forwardly of said machine.

24. A vending machine according to claim 23 is resiliently biassed towards an article located in said drawer.

25. A vending machine according to claim 24 wherein said flap is coupled to said first side of said hopper by a linkage.

26. A vending machine according to claim 25 wherein said linkage comprises a spring, whereby an initial movement of said flap causes movement of said first side of said hopper to release coins therefrom and further movement of said flap causes extension of said spring.

27. A vending machine according to claim 26 wherein said initial movement is operable to prevent movement of said second side of said hopper.

28. A vending machine according to claim 27 comprising reject operating means coupled with said second side of said hopper and operable to cause movement of said second side of said hopper to release coins therein into said second guide means and said coin retrieval tray.

29. A vending machine according to claim 28 wherein said initial movement is operable to disengage said reject operating means from said second side.

30. A vending machine according to claim 29 wherein said reject operating means is operable to connect an electrical power supply to a solenoid, the energising of which causes movement of said second side of said hopper, and said initial movement is operable to disconnect said power supply from said solenoid.

31. A vending machine having a plurality of upwardly extending magazines, each having a respective drawer disposed therebeneath, and each drawer having releasable locking means operable to prevent movement of said drawer forwardly of said machine.

32. A vending machine according to claim 31 comprising a single coin validating device, and scanning means operable, on receipt of a signal from said coin validating device indicating receipt of coins therein, to send a signal sequentially to each of said locking means to sequentially release each locking means.

33. A vending machine according to claim 32 wherein each locking means is operable, on movement of the respective drawer forwardly of said machine, to prevent said scanning means from sending a signal to another locking means.

34. A vending machine comprising a coin receiving container, said container having an aperture at the bottom of the front thereof, and comprising a front lower portion which is pivotal between an upstanding, aperture closing position to a downwardly extending aperture opening coin-release position.

35. A vending machine according to claim 34 wherein said container has a floor which is downwardly inclined towards said aperture.

36. A vending machine according to claim 34 or claim 35 wherein said pivotal front portion comprises a channel-shaped chute.

37. A vending machine according to claim 36 comprising a releasable catch operable to retain said chute in said aperture closing position.

38. A vending machine according to claim 36 or claim 37, wherein said container has a pin on a side thereof, said pin being slidably received in a slot provided in a side of said chute.

39. A vending machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 3 to 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8 or Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings.

CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claims 1-39 above have been deleted New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:- New claims 1-21

1. A vending machine having first and second upwardly extending primary magazines, said second magazine being disposed at one side of said first magazine laterally of said machine and being of lesser vertical extent than said first magazine, an auxiliary magazine located above said second magazine and to said one side of said first magazine, said auxiliary magazine being pivotally mounted in said machine so as to be movable between a storage position in which it extends upwardly above said second magazine and an operating position in which a lower end of said auxiliary magazine is located within said first magazine and provides a path for articles contained in said auxiliary magazine to move downwardly into a lower part of said first magazine, means for moving said auxiliary magazine from said storage position to said operating position and sensing means operable to detect the presence of an article at a predetermined location in said first magazine, wherein said sensing means is operable in the absence of an article of said predetermined location to cause said moving means to effect said movement of said auxiliary magazine.

4. A vending machine according to claim 3, wherein said sensing means is operable in the absence of an article at said predetermined location to effect operation of said release means.

5. A vending machine according to claim 4, wherein said moving means comprises biassing means operable to bias said auxiliary magazine towards said operating position.

7. A vending machine according to any one of claims 4 to 6 comprising switch means operable on - movement of said auxiliary magazine into said storage position to energise said sensing means.

8. A vending machine according to any one of claims 4 to 7 comprising timing means operable to delay operation of said release means for a predetermined time after said sensing means detects the absence of an article at said predetermined location.

9. A vending machine according to any one of claims 4 to 8 wherein said retaining means comprises a latch plate having a slot therein engageable with a pin secured to said auxiliary magazine.

10. A vending machine according to claim 9 wherein said latch plate is pivotally mounted and has a stepped periphery, said release means comprising a latch engageable with said stepped periphery.

11. A vending machine according to claim 10 wherein said release means comprises a solenoid operable on energising thereof to retract said latch from engagement with said stepped periphery.

12. A vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein each magazine is open at the front thereof, said machine comprising guide means operable to locate a front of an article contained in the or each magazine adjacent said open front thereof.

13. A vending machine according to claim 12 wherein said guide means comprises an elongate rod.

14. A vending machine according to claim 13 wherein said elongate rod extends upwardly of said open front.

15. A vending machine according to claim 14 wherein said rod is pivotally mounted so as to be movable away from said open front.

16. A vending machine according to claim 15 wherein said rod is resiliently biassed to wards a position adjacent said open front.

17. A vending machine according to claim 13 wherein said elongage rod extends upwardly of the rear of the or each magazine.

18. A vending machine according to claim 17 wherein the position of the lower end of said rod is adjustable forwardly and rearwardly of the bottom of said magazine.

19. A vending machine according to claim 18 wherein the upper end of said rod is pivotally mounted on a rear wall of said magazine and a free lower end of said rod is positionable in any one of a plurality of holes provided in a side of said magazine.

20. A vending machine according to claim 12 wherein said guide means comprises a first elongate rod which extends upwardly of said open front and is pivotally mounted so as to be movable away from said open front, and a second elongate rod which extends upwardly of the rear of said magazine, the lower end of said second rod being adjustable forwardly and rearwardly of the bottom of said magazine.