Release mechanism for vending machines

Claim 1

IN A CAN VENDING MACHINE, THE COMBINATION OF A SLANT SHELF FOR SUPPORTING A SERIES OF CANS AND HAVING A LOWER DISCHARGE END OVER WHICH CANS CAN ROLL BY GRAVITY, A PAIR OF PIVOTAL GATE MEMBERS POSITIONED AT SAID DISCHARGE END OF SAID SHELF WITH FIRST DISTAL PORTIONS NORMALLY EXTENDING ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE SHELF TO INTERCEPT A FIRST CAN, THE PIVOT AXES FOR SAID GATE MEMBERS LOCATED BELOW SAID DISCHARGE END, OPERATING MEANS OPERABLE INTERMITTENTLY TO PIVOTALLY DISPLACE SAID GATE MEMBERS IN OPPOSED DIRECTIONS WHEREBY TO MOVE SAID FIRST DISTAL PORTIONS FROM THE PATH OF SAID CAN RELEASE POSITION AND BACK TO THE CAN INTERCEPT POSITION, STOP MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID OPERATING MEANS AND OPERABLE TO ENGAGE AND HOLD THE CAN BEHIND SAID FIRST CAN WHEN SAID GATE MEMBERS ARE PIVOTED TO SAID RELEASE POSITION AND TO DISENGAGE THEREFROM UPON RETURN OF SAID GATE MEMBERS TO THE CAN INTERCEPT POSITION.