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A vending machine having a plurality of helically-wound dispensing coils with merchandise items disposed between adjacent coil convolutions is provided with a coil operating system movable along X-Y axes. A first drive motor rotates a vertically-oriented shaft to reciprocate a traveler movable there

A vending machine having a plurality of helically-wound dispensing coils with merchandise items disposed between adjacent coil convolutions is provided with a coil operating system movable along X-Y axes. A first drive motor rotates a vertically-oriented shaft to reciprocate a traveler movable thereon and supporting a horizontally-disposed member. A second drive motor and a counter-balancing weight, mounted adjacent to the ends of the member, are interconnected by a second shaft rotatably secured to the second motor and the weight. A horizontally-movable traveler carrying a dispensing coil actuator reciprocates along the second shaft. A control unit responds to signals from a coin-operated merchandise selector to move both travelers, vertically and horizontally, respectively, to position the actuator adjacent to the dispensing coil for the selected item. Operation of the actuator motor rotates the coil to dispense the item.

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1. In combination with a vending machine having a plurality of article dispensing devices arranged in an array, an operating system movable along X-Y axes to operate a selected dispensing device comprising: an actuator positionable relative to and adapted to operate a selected one of said dispens

1. In combination with a vending machine having a plurality of article dispensing devices arranged in an array, an operating system movable along X-Y axes to operate a selected dispensing device comprising: an actuator positionable relative to and adapted to operate a selected one of said dispensing devices in the array; a carriage supporting the actuator for movement along substantially X-Y axes to position said actuator in operative relation to the dispensing device; first motive means for moving said carriage in a first, Y direction, including first drive means, a first member operatively coupled to said first drive means and a first element reciprocally movable along said first member; second motive means for moving said carriage in a second, X direction, including second drive means, a second member operatively coupled to said second drive means, and a second element reciprocally movable along said second member; and control means for controlling the operation of the first and second motive means and the actuator. 2. The combination of claim 1, further including means for coupling said second motive means to said first motive means. 3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said coupling means includes a third member supported by said first element for reciprocal movement with said first element, said second motive means being supported by said third member. 4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said first motive means comprises a first motor, a first shaft rotatably coupled to said first motor, and a first traveler adapted for reciprocal movement along said first shaft upon rotation of said shaft by said motor, and said second motive means comprises a second motor, a second shaft rotatably coupled to said second motor, and a second traveler adapted for reciprocal movement along said second shaft upon rotation of said second shaft by said second motor. 5. The combination of claim 4, further including a support member attached to said first traveler, said second motive means being supported on said support member such that said second traveler is adapted to reciprocate along said second shaft independently of the reciprocal movement of said first traveler. 6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said actuator for operating a dispensing device includes means adapted for rectilinear motion and means adapted for rotational motion. 7. The combination of claim 5, further comprising an array of sensors oriented along said first and said second directions, each of said sensors operative to provide a signal indicative of the location of said first and second travelers along said first and second directions. 8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the pattern of the array of sensors corresponds substantially to the pattern of the array of the article dispensing devices. 9. A vending machine having a plurality of article dispensing devices arranged in an array, an operating system controllably movable along a first, Y direction and a second, X direction to operate a selected dispensing device, and a coin-actuated means including a merchandise article selector for controlling the operating system, said oeprating system comprising: an actuator positionable relative to and adapted to operate a selected article dispensing device; first motive means including a first driving means operatively coupled to a first member and a first element reciprocally movable along said first member by operation of said first drive means; second motive means including a second drive means operatively coupled to a second member and a second element reciprocally movable along said member by operation of said second drive means, said actuator being movable with said second element; means for coupling said first motive means and said second motive means while permitting independent operation of each of said motive means; and control means responsive to said coin-actuated means for controlling the operation of the first and second motive means and the actuator. 10. The vending machine of claim 9, wherein said coupling means includes a third member supported by said first element for reciprocal movement with said first element, said second motive means being supported by said third member. 11. The vending machine of claim 10, wherein each of said article dispensing devices includes a helical coil receiving an article of merchandise between adjacent convolutions of the coil, said coil rotatable to dispense the articles, and said actuator comprising means operable to rotate said coil. 12. The vending machine of claim 11, wherein said article dispensing device includes an element on said coil engageable by said actuator. 13. The vending machine of claim 12, wherein said actuator includes rotating means extendably supported to make driving contact with the engageable element on said coil. 14. The vending machine of claim 13, wherein: said first motive means includes a first motor coupled to rotate a first shaft, and a first traveler reciprocally movable along said first shaft upon operation of said first motor; said second motive means includes a second motor coupled to rotate a second shaft, and a second traveler reciprocally movable along said second shaft upon operation of said second motor; and said coupling means includes a support member secured to said first traveler, said second motive means being supported on said support member such that said second traveler is adapted to reciprocate along said second shaft independently of the reciprocal movement of said first traveler. 15. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising an array of sensors oriented along said first and said second directions, the pattern of said array of sensors corresponding substantially to the pattern of the array of the article dispensing devices, each of said sensors operative to provide a signal indicative of the location of said first and second travelers along said first and second directions, said signal being utilized by the control means to control the operation of said first and said second motors. 16. The vending machine of claim 15, further comprising brake means operatively associated with said first shaft and said second shaft to stop substantially instantaneously rotation of each of said shafts upon stopping of said first and said second motors. 17. An operating system adapted to actuate one of a plurality of article dispensing devices arranged in an array, each of said devices operable to dispense separately articles of merchandise disposed thereon, said operating system cotnrollably movable along a first, Y direction and a second, X direction and comprising: an actuator positionable relative to and adapted to operate a selected one of the article dispensing devices; first motive means including a first drive means operatively coupled to a first member and a first element reciprocally movable along said first member by operation of said first drive means; second motive means including a second drive means operatively coupled to a second member and a second element reciprocally movable along said second member by operation of said second drive means, said actuator being movable with said second element; means for coupling said first motive means and said second motive means while permitting independent operation of each of said motive means; and control means for controlling the operation of the first and second motive means and the actuator. 18. The operating system of claim 17, wherein said coupling means includes a third member supported by said first element for reciprocal movement with said first element, said second motive means being supported by said third member. 19. The operating system of claim 18, wherein said actuator for operating a dispensing device includes means adapted for linear motion and means adapted for rotational motion. 20. The operating system of claim 18, further comprising an array of sensors oriented along said first and said second directions, each of said sensors operative to provide a signal indicative of the location of said first and second elements along said first and second directions. 21. The operating system of claim 20, wherein the pattern of the array of sensors corresponds substantially to the pattern of the array of the article dispensing devices. 22. The operating system of claim 20, wherein the signal provided by each of said sensors is utilized by the control means to control operation of said first and said second drive means. 23. The operating system of claim 18, wherein: said first motive means includes a first motor coupled to rotate a first shaft, and a first traveler reciprocally movable along said first shaft upon operation of said first motor; said second motive means includes a second motor coupled to rotate a second shaft, and a second traveler reciprocally movable along said second shaft upon operation of said second motor; and said coupling means includes a support member secured to said first traveler, said second motive means being supported on said support member such that said second traveler is adapted to reciprocate along said second shaft independently of the reciprocal movement of said first traveler. 24. The operating system of claim 23, further comprising brake means operatively associated with said first shaft and said second shaft to stop substantially instantaneously rotation of each of said shafts upon stopping of said first and said second motors. 25. The operating system of claim 24, wherein said brake means includes friction means controllably forced against said shafts upon stopping of said motors, and means to displace said friction means from said shafts when said motors are energized. 26. The operating system of claim 23, wherein each of the article dispensing devices includes rotatable means for dispensing separate, individual articles and said actuator for operating the dispensing device includes: means for operative engagement with said rotatable means of said dispensing device; a solenoid for controllably extending said engagement means into contact with said dispensing device; and a third motor for rotating said engagement means. 27. The operating system of claim 26, wherein said engagement means comprises a clutch element adapted for driving engagement with a second clutch element disposed on said dispensing device.