Patent GB-1167681-A (GB)
Title: Vending Machines
Inventor: PTACEK JAMES FRANCIS
IPC: G07F5/22
Filed: 1968-01-19
Abstract: 1,167,681. Vending machine. VENDO CO. 19 Jan., 1968, No. 3116/68. Heading G4V. A coin-operated vending machine having means for sensing the deposit of coins of a predetermined denomination, a solid-state totalizer having a bi-stable SCR corresponding to every integral multiple of said denomination up to a predetermined multiple, each SCR having a control element for changing the state of the respective SCR from a stand-by state to an operative state upon receipt of a command signal from a coin sensor, successive command signals being directed to successively higher SCR's, a vend cycle being initiated by the change of state of an SCR corresponding to a preset multiple of said denomination. Totalizer; coin operation.-An A.C. voltage supply applied to terminals 10, 12 is full-wave rectified and applied across six SCR's 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, and 70, which are normally non- conducting. A silicon controlled totalizerstarting rectifier 120 is also initially non- conducting, so that the cathode of a diode gate 94 is initially held at the reverse-bias potential of a common line 24 whereas the cathodes of diode gates 98, 102, 106, 110, and 114, are held at the higher reverse-bias potential of a common lead 72. Coin switches 26, 28, and 30, are thrown by the passage of a 5-cent, 10-cent and 25-cent piece, respectively. A 5-cent coin inserted in the apparatus causes switch 26 to open and reclose, thereby allowing a capacitor 32 to charge up and then discharge through switches 26 and 28 to line 24. This pulse can pass control diode 94, but not the diodes 98, 102, 106, 110, and 114, and hence the pulse arrives at the gate of SCR 60 through a capacitor 96, causing the SCR 60 to assume a conducting state. The resultant reduced potential at the anode of SCR 60 causes a similar reduction through a resistor 134 of the potential of the cathode of diode gate 98. The firing of SCR 60 causes SCR 120 to conduct, thereby raising the reverse-bias potential of diode gate 94 so that only diode gate 98 will be able to admit the next pulse, caused by the insertion of a further nickel. SCR 62 then becomes conducting, and with the price-setting switch 154 set as shown, for 10-cent operation, current flows through a switch-pole 158 to a solenoid 204, initiating a vend cycle. Alternatively, when SCR 62 fires, SCR 60 is turned off by the action of a negative transient. The insertion of a 10-cent coin produces two command pulses by throwing switch 28 leftwards to discharge a capacitor 44, and then rightwards to discharge the capacitor 32. The insertion of a 25-cent coin causes a switch 30 to open, thereby allowing a capacitor 50 to charge up, and then to reclose, discharging capacitor 50 through a lead 250 and the gate of the 25-cent SCR 68. Price-setting switch.-A price-setting switch 154 has a longitudinally slidable element 156 with five poles 158, 160, 162, 164, and 166, the upper wipers of which are in permanent contact with their respective contact strips 168, 170, 172, 174, and 176. The element 156 also has a pole 186 which bridges one of four sets of contacts to illuminate a price lamp 178, 180, 182, or 184, corresponding to 10, 15, 20 and 25 cents, respectively, according to the position of the switch. If 20-cents is the selected price, contact strip 168 will connect through pole 158 to contact 148, strip 170 will connect through pole 160 to contact 150, and strip 172 will connect through pole 162 to contact 152. Contacts 144 and 146 are therefore open, and the firing of SCR's 62 and 64 will not actuate a vend cycle. Vending arrangements.-The vend pulse passes through pole 158 of switch 154 to a relay coil 204 causing relay switches 206 and 208 to contact upwards. A change payout motor 210 is thereby actuated through switch 208, its shaft 212 rotating to throw coin switches 214 and 216. Switch 14 acts as a holding switch and switch 216 causes current to flow through a lead 248 and switch 206 to activate a motor-operated article dispenser 209. The current is then cut off by the opening of switch 206, caused by the removal of the power from the SCR's by switch 216. Relay 204 is of the slow-to-release type. Change giving and coin return.-When coins of a total value in excess of the set price are inserted, change is given by a 5-cent payout solenoid 218 and a 10-cent payout solenoid 220. An electromagnet 232 which is normally energized is de-energized by a coin-tube switch 236 to permit the return of 25-cent coins when the supply of 10-cent or 5-cent coins is exhausted. Switch 236 may then contact a lead 244 to energize a "CORRECT CHANGE ONLY" sign. A solenoid 234 controls the return of 10-cent and 5-cent coins. If the total value of the entered coins is 5-cents more than the set price, the pulse from the respective SCR will pass through pole 160 of switch 154 and hence actuate the nickel payout solenoid 218. Similarly, if the entered coins are 10-cents more than the set price the vend pulse will pass through pole 162 and hence actuate the 10-cent payout solenoid 220. Finally, if the entered coins are three nickels more than the set price the vend pulse will pass through pole 164 and hence actuate both the 5-cent and 10-cent payout solenoids. The payout mechanism may be of the type in which there is a coin discharge slide associated with each coin supply tube, biased toward the discharge position and restrained by a solenoidoperated latch. A cam-operated mechanism driven by shaft 212 returns the slides to the latched position after a coin discharge.