Vending machine

A vending machine comprising:

• a housing, said housing being generally rectangular in shape;
• an internal storage compartment, said internal storage compartment including four walls, said internal storage compartment storage compartment further including a plurality of dividers, said plurality of dividers forming a plurality of container columns, said four walls further including a plurality of layers;
• a cooling apparatus, said cooling apparatus further including a condenser, said cooling apparatus having a network of coolant tubes, at least a portion of said network of coolant tubes being disposed within said plurality of dividers, said cooling apparatus operable to control the temperature of said plurality of dividers;
• a control panel, said control panel being mounted on the exterior of said housing, said control panel having the necessary electronics to store, receive, manipulate and transmit data, said control panel further including a plurality of currency acceptance devices, said plurality of currency acceptance devices including a credit card acceptance device, said credit card acceptance device having a receiving slot, said credit card acceptance device being mounted in an angular manner on said control panel, said credit card acceptance device being mounted at an angle such that said credit card acceptance device is approximately forty-five degrees with respect to said control panel;
• and
• wherein said plurality of dividers further include a first wall and a second wall, said plurality of dividers having a void intermediate said first wall and said second wall, at least a portion of said network of coolant tubes being disposed within said void.

A vending machine operable to accept credit cards as payment for a sales transaction wherein the vending machine utilizes thermal transfer to maintain the temperature of the items stored therein available for purchase comprising:

• a housing;
• an internal storage compartment, said internal storage compartment being disposed within said housing, said internal storage compartment having four walls, said four walls having a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, a fourth layer, a fifth layer and a sixth layer, said internal storage compartment including a plurality of dividers, said plurality of dividers operable to form container columns, said plurality of dividers having a first wall and a second wall, said plurality of dividers further including a void intermediate said first wall and said second wall, said container columns operable to receive a beverage container;
• a condenser;
• a network of coolant tubes, said network of coolant tubes having at least a portion thereof disposed within said void of said plurality of dividers, said network of coolant tubes operably coupled to said condenser, said network of coolant tubes operable to control the temperature of said plurality of dividers;
• a control panel, said control panel having the necessary electronics to store, receive, manipulate and transmit data, said control panel further including a screen, said control panel further including an input keypad;
• a credit card input apparatus, said credit card input apparatus integrated with said control panel, said credit card input apparatus operable to facilitate the acceptance of credit cards for a purchase transaction, said credit card input apparatus having a receiving slot, said receiving slot of said credit card input apparatus mounted in an angular manner, said receiving slot operable to receive a credit card in a lateral sliding manner.