Vending machine having a spacer which is displaceable to adjust an effective width of an article passage

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(11)

EP 0 926 639 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	01.09.1999 Bulletin 1999/35

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	30.06.1999 Bulletin 1999/26

(21)	Application number: 98310499.3

(22)	Date of filing: 21.12.1998

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁶: G07F 11/04

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

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Priority:

25.12.1997 JP 35818597
08.04.1998 JP 9552798

(71)	Applicant: Sanden Corporation
	Isesaki-shi, Gunma 372-8502 (JP)

(72)	Inventor:
	Sakaguchi, Haruki, Sanden Corporation Isesaki-shi, Gunma 372 (JP)

(74)	Representative: Jackson, Peter Arthur
	GILL JENNINGS & EVERY Broadgate House 7 Eldon Street London EC2M 7LH London EC2M 7LH (GB)

(54)	Vending machine having a spacer which is displaceable to adjust an effective width of an article passage

(57) In a vending machine for use in vending articles which are vertically piled up in an article passage defined by an article storage column (A), it is possible to adjust an effective width of the article passage in a lower portion of the article storage column. A spacer (11, 12) is attached to the lower portion of the article storage column to restrict the effective width. For adjusting the effective width, the spacer is displaceable relative to the article storage column. An article discharge device (200) is attached to the lower portion of the article storage column and cooperated with the spacer to discharge a lowermost one of the articles from the article storage column.

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