A dispensing apparatus for dispensing items from a plurality of dispensers in one or more vending or amusement machines includes a plurality of elongate support members each having a rotatably mounted support plate at one end. Items are releasably supported by the support member so that one item is dispensed from the free end of the support member for each complete revolution. A single drive gear motor operates all of the support members and is connected to each support plate via a series of driven rollers or pulleys and a continuous belt or chain extending around the rollers. Each driven roller is drivably connected to a respective one of the support plates via a clutch. A releasable stop mechanism is associated with each support plate for releasably engaging the plate to prevent it from rotating. An actuator controls release of the respective support plates for rotation through one revolution, and one or more selected plates may be released at any one time.
