Machine for selectively vending platters or the like

Claim 1

IN A VENDING MACHINE: A PLURALITY OF SUPPORTS, EACH FOR RECEIVING A PRODUCT TO BE VENDED; CONVEYOR MEANS OPERABLY ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID SUPPORTS RESPECTIVELY AND INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF PRODUCT-BEARING SHELF STRUCTURES, EACH OF WHICH IS FOR SLIDABLY RECEIVING THEREON A PRODUCT TO BE SUBSEQUENTLY VENDED FROM A CORRESPONDING SUPPORT, EACH CONVEYOR MEANS BEING SHIFTABLE IN INCREMENTS TO SEQUENTIALLY DISPOSED INDIVIDUAL, LOADED SHELF STRUCTURES THEREOF ADJACENT TO AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CORRESPONDING SUPPORT TO POSITION THE PRODUCT CARRIED BY THE ALIGNED STRUCTURE FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT ONTO THE CORRESPONDING SUPPORT; MECHANISM COMMON TO SAID SUPPORTS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF INTERCOUPLED, RECIPROCABLE PUSHER MEMBERS OPERABLY ASSOCIATED WITH CORRESPONDING SUPPORTS FOR MOVEMENT IN UNISON TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE SUPPORTS ALONG PATHS OF TRAVEL WHICH BRING THE MEMBERS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH ANY PRODUCTS ON THE ALIGNED STRUCTURES TO MOVE EACH ENGAGED PRODUCT ONTO THE CORRESPONDING SUPPORT; AND CONTROL MEANS OPERABLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CONVEYOR MEAND AND SAID MECHANISM AND RESPONSIVE TO REMOVAL OF A PRODUCT FROM ANY OF SAID SUPPORTS FOR ACTUATING ONLY THE CONVEYOR MEANS CORRESPONDING TO THE EMPTY SUPPORT TO SHIFT THE SAME ONE OF SAID INCREMENTS TO ALIGN ONE OF THE LOADED STRUCTURES THEREOF WITH THE EMPTY SUPPORT, AND FOR THEREAFTER ACTUATING THE MECHANISM TO SLIDE THE PRODUCT OFF SAID ONE STRUCTURE AND ONTO THE EMPTY SUPPORT, SAID CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING MEANS OPERABLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SUPPORTS FOR SENSING SAID REMOVAL, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID SENSING MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE CONVEYOR MEANS CORRESPONDING TO THE EMPTY SUPPORT, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO COMPLETION OF INCREMENTAL SHIFTING OF THE LAST MENTIONED CONVEYOR MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID MECHANISM.