Double depth article release mechanism for vending machine

Claim 1

IN A DISPENSING MACHINE: A DISPENSING STATION FOR RECEIVING AN ARTICLE TO BE DISPENSED, AND HAVING MEANS PRESENTING AN OPENING FOR MANUAL REMOVAL OF SAID ARTICLES THERETHROUGH SAID STATION BEING PROVIDED WITH MEANS DEFINING AN ENTRANCE FOR PASSAGE OF ARTICLES THEREINTO; A PRIMARY ARTICLE-SUPPORTING AND DELIVERY STRUCTURE ADJACENT SAID STATION FOR SUCCESSIVELY FEEDING ARTICLES SUPPORTED THEREBY TO SAID STATION THROUGH SAID ENTRANCE; A SECONDARY, SHIFTABLE ARTICLE-SUPPORTING AND DELIVERY STRUCTURE FOR SUCCESSIVELY FEEDING ARTICLES SUPPORTED THEREBY TO SAID STATION AFTER EXHAUSTION OF SAID FIRST STRUCTURE; MEANS MOUNTING SAID SECONDARY STRUCTURE FOR MOVEMENT FROM A NORMAL, ARTICLE-STORING POSITION CLEARING THE ARTICLES SUPPORTING BY SAID FIRST STRUCTURE TO AN ARTICLE-FEEDING POSITION WHERE THE SECONDARY STRUCTURE IS DISPOSED TO DIRECT ARTICLES THEREFROM TOWARD SAID ENTRANCE; MEANS COUPLED WITH SAID SECONDARY STRUCTURE AND OPERABLE AFTER EXHAUSTION OF THE FIRST STRUCTURE FOR SHIFTING THE SECONDARY STRUCTURE FORM SAID NORMAL POSITION TO SAID ARTICLE-FEEDING POSITION; A SHIFTABLE MEMBER MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT ALONG A PATH OF TRAVEL TOWARD AND AWAY FROM A DISPOSITION IN BLOCKING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID ENTRANCE; AND CONSUMER ACTUATED MEANS COUPLED WITH SAID MEMBER FOR SHIFTING THE LATTER TO SAID DISPOSITION DURING DISPENSING OF AN ARTICLE FROM SAID STATION, SAID SECONDARY STRUCTURE SHIFTING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS BIASING THE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TOWARD SAID ARTICLEFEEDING POSITION, AND A DEVICE FOR RELEASABLY MAINTAINING SAID SECONDARY STRUCTURE IN SAID NORMAL POSITION AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID BIASING MEANS, SAID DEVICE HAVING AN ARTICLE SENSOR FOR DETECTING DELIVERY TO SAID STATION OF THE LAST TO BE DELIVERED ARTICLE FROM SAID PRIMARY STRUCTURE, A SHIFTABLE COMPONENT MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT INTO SAID PATH IN RESPONSE TO SAID DETECTION OF DELIVERY OF THE LAST TO BE DELIVERED ARTICLE FROM SAID PRIMARY STRUCTURE, WHEREBY SUBSEQUENT DISPENSING OF THE LAST-MENTIONED ARTICLE CAUSES ENGAGEMENT OF SAID MEMBER AND SAID COMPONENT, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID ENGAGEMENT FOR RELEASING SAID SECONDARY STRUCTURE FOR MOVEMENT TO SAID ARTICLEFEEDING POSITION UNDER THE ACTION OF SAID BIASING MEANS.