Horizontal product discharge system for a vending machine

1. A vending machine for storing and selectively dispensing products, the vending machine comprising:

a delivery cup assembly having:

a movable delivery cup sleeve and configured to receive a selected product, and

a pivotable tip plate configured to shift the delivery cup sleeve when moved; and

a product transport system configured to move the delivery cup assembly with the selected product toward a dispensing chamber of the vending machine,

wherein the delivery cup sleeve is configured to pivot to release the selected product from the delivery cup assembly into the dispensing chamber in response to contact of a portion of the tip plate with an activation structure as a result of horizontal-only translation of the delivery cup assembly by the product transport system.

2. A vending machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the activation structure is fixed near the dispensing chamber and wherein the delivery cup sleeve is configured to pivot to release the selected product as a result of the horizontal-only translation of the delivery cup assembly relative to the activation structure.

3. A vending machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the dispensing chamber is configured to receive the released selected product through a delivery port.

4. A vending machine in accordance with claim 3 , wherein a delivery port door blocking the delivery port is configured to be engaged and moved by a portion of the delivery cup sleeve to allow access to the dispensing chamber through the delivery port.

5. A vending machine in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the delivery cup sleeve is configured to be pivoted by the tip plate having a portion extending adjacent to a surface of the delivery cup sleeve opposite the delivery port.

6. A product delivery system for use in a vending machine, the product delivery system comprising:

a transport mechanism; and

a product delivery cup assembly coupled to and selectively movable by the transport mechanism and configured to receive a selected product, the product delivery cup assembly including

a movable delivery cup sleeve, and

a tip plate for moving the delivery cup sleeve from a first non-dispensing position to a second dispensing position during horizontal-only translation of the product delivery cup assembly by the transport mechanism, bringing a portion of the tip plate into contact with an activation structure and moving the tip plate as a result of the contact.

7. The product delivery system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the tip plate is configured to move the delivery cup sleeve to the second dispensing position by pivoting the delivery cup sleeve.

8. The product delivery system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the tip plate is configured to move the delivery cup sleeve to the second dispensing position in response to the product delivery cup contacting the activation structure.

9. The product delivery system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the tip plate is configured to move the delivery cup sleeve to the second dispensing position in response to the horizontal-only translation of the product delivery cup assembly subsequent to contact of the portion of the tip plate with the activation structure.

10. A product delivery system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein in response to the horizontal-only translation of the product delivery cup assembly relative to the activation structure, a tip plate link causes a portion of the tip plate extending adjacent to a surface of the delivery cup sleeve opposite a delivery port to pivot the delivery cup sleeve to the second dispensing position.

11. A product delivery system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the product delivery cup assembly is configured to release the selected product into a dispensing chamber through a delivery port when the delivery cup sleeve is moved to the second dispensing position.

12. A method of dispensing a selected product from a vending machine, the method comprising:

receiving the selected product in a delivery cup assembly having a delivery cup sleeve;

moving the delivery cup toward a dispensing chamber of the vending machine with a product transport system;

moving the delivery cup sleeve from a first non-dispensing position to a second dispensing position during horizontal-only translation of the delivery cup assembly by the product transport system; and

releasing the selected product from the delivery cup sleeve to the dispensing chamber in response to movement of the delivery cup sleeve from the first non-dispensing position to a second dispensing position.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the delivery cup sleeve pivots from the first non-dispensing position to the second dispensing position.

14. The method in accordance with claim 12 , wherein a tip plate pivots the delivery cup sleeve from the first non-dispensing position to the second dispensing position.

15. The method in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the horizontal-only translation of the product delivery cup assembly causes a portion of the tip plate to contact an activation structure.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the horizontal-only translation of the product delivery cup assembly by the product transport system subsequent to contact of the portion of the tip plate with the activation structure causes rotation of the tip plate.

17. The method in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the selected product is released from the delivery cup assembly into the dispensing chamber through a delivery port.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein a delivery port door blocking the delivery port is engaged and moved by a portion of the delivery cup sleeve to allow access to the dispensing chamber through the delivery port to allow access to the dispensing chamber through the delivery port.