A cup dispenser for a beverage vending machine

A cup dispenser for a beverage vending machine, the cup dispenser comprising:

• a magazine rotatably mounted about a rotation axis and provided with a plurality of columns arranged around the rotation axis, each of the plurality of columns is adapted to store a respective stack of cups and is provided with a respective release device operable to dispense individual ones of the cups;
• a first actuator operable to rotate the magazine about the rotation axis and selectively bring the plurality of columns in a fixed cup dispensing station;
• a second actuator operable to operate the release device of a respective one of the plurality of columns in the fixed cup dispensing station;
• a power takeoff powered by the second actuator;
• and
• a third actuator operable to selectively move the power takeoff to and from an engagement position, in which the power takeoff is kinematically coupled with a power input of the respective release device in the fixed cup dispensing station.