Article storage/dispensing device for vending machine

An article storage/dispensing device for a vending machine, comprising:

• a plurality of article racks each for storing a plurality of articles, each of said plurality of article racks having an article passage formed therein for storing said plurality of articles in a horizontal row, and a dispensing opening formed at one end of said article passage for dispensing said articles therefrom;
• a plurality of article-dispensing mechanisms each provided for one of said plurality of article racks corresponding thereto in a manner movable between a dispensing position for dispensing said articles from said dispensing opening and a holding position for holding said articles within said article passage;
• a single drive source for causing said plurality of article-dispensing mechanisms to move between said dispensing position and said holding position;
• a plurality of linkages each capable of connecting said drive source to one of said plurality of article-dispensing mechanisms corresponding thereto and disconnecting said drive source from said one of said plurality of article-dispensing mechanisms, for causing said one of said plurality of article-dispensing mechanisms to move from said holding position to said dispensing position when said drive source is connected to said one of said plurality of article-dispensing mechanisms;
• and
• driving means for selectively actuating one of said plurality of linkages which corresponds to an article selected by a purchaser, thereby connecting said drive source to one of said plurality of article-dispensing mechanisms which corresponds to said article selected by said purchaser, for vending said article selected by said purchaser.