Drop out coin mechanism for vending machine

1. Field of the Invention A vending machine includes a partitioned front panel section including a drop out coin slot assembly. The partitioned front section includes an intermediary bracket that is carried on a cabinet of the vending machine. The intermediary bracket has one or more depending blades. A coin slot assembly includes one or more coin receiving mechanisms attached thereto. A backside of a major bracket of the coin slot assembly defines one or more gaps to capture each of the depending blades of the intermediary bracket. The coin slot assembly is placed in an opening of the vending machine front panel and moved so that the blades of the intermediary bracket are engaged by and received in the gaps of the coin slot assembly. A front cover panel has a locking mechanism and is secured over a remaining open portion of the front panel. The front panel cover includes one edge that engages a portion of the cabinet and is then pivoted into place and secured by a three point locking mechanism. Interior stacks of a dispensing hopper assembly of the vending machine include stack weights having a hook thereon that can be gripped to remove the stack weights when refilling the stacks and which can be hooked to a portion of the vending machine while preforming a refill repair service.