Cigarette vending machine

A cigarette vending machine, comprising:

• a housing (12) having a front side and a rear side,
• multiple cigarette shafts (16) having a longitudinal axis, a front side and a back side, wherein the multiple cigarette shafts are provided within the housing (12) for receiving a shaft comprised of cigarette packs (18), each cigarette packs having a broad side and a narrow side, wherein the cigarette packs are arranged standing up in rows, wherein each row includes a first cigarette pack and a last cigarette pack, wherein the broad side of each cigarette pack is positioned against the broad side of the adjacent cigarette pack on the row, and an exit opening located at the front side of each shaft (16),
• a selectively controllable drive mechanism (36, 38, 40) associated with each shaft (16), wherein the controllable drive mechanism includes a push piece (42) acting on the last cigarette pack urging the row of cigarette packs towards the front side of the shaft, and
• a clamping mechanism (30) provided in the front side of each shaft (16) wherein the clamping mechanism acts as a restraint to the first cigarette pack;
• wherein shafts (16) situated on a common plane form a shaft level (14), which is provided slidably in the housing (12) in the manner of drawers to facilitate restocking with cigarette packs (18);
• and
• wherein each shaft level (14) includes on its sides two capture hooks (60) projecting beyond the front of the shaft level (14), adapted for receiving a refilling member (58) which covers the shaft front during restocking of the shaft (16).