摘要 |
This invention involves a vending machine having helix discharge units in which the rearmost convolution of the helix is retained by a clip and held off the floor of the unit to reduce friction and prevent excessive side-to-side movement of the rear of the helix. The units are used to store and dispense packaged objects such as chip products, candy, mints, chewing gum, candy bars, cigarettes, cigars, etc. The unit preferably utilizes a rotatable helix dispensing spindle having a central divider within the convolutions of the helix which can be adjusted by rotation from horizontal to vertical and which divides the helix into separate side-by-side compartments which can be varied in any size to accommodate different size packages. The size of the compartments is determined by the position of the center divider, the two compartments being largest when the divider is vertical and smallest when it is horizontal.
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