Patent GB-1261802-A (GB)
Title: Coin-operated apparatus for controlling vending and change-making in an article vending machine
IPC: G07F5/24
Filed: 1969-04-15
Abstract: 1,261,802. Coin-freed vending apparatus. VENDO CO. 15 April, 1969 [2 Aug., 1968], No. 19213/69 Heading G4V. Coin-freed vending apparatus for vending articles at a preselected price has two coin sensing means; the first, for coins of values less than said price, actuates a totalizer which issues a vend command when totalled deposits equal said price and initiates change-making when the sum of the deposits exceeds said price; the second, for coins of greater value than said price, issues vend and change-making commands directly. The apparatus described vends articles at one of two prices, 15c or 20c and receives 5c, 10c and 25c coins. General arrangement.-Coins are tested and sorted into denominations by an acceptor before passing to the change-making section, Fig. 1, in which there are three coin channels (42), (44) and (46) for 5c, 10c and 25c coins respectively (Fig. 2, not shown). The 5c coins operate switch (30), 10c coins operate switches (30) and 64, and 25c coins operate switches 34, 58 and 64. Some of the 5c coins may then be directed to change tubes 48 and 50 beneath which is situated a slide plate oscillated by rotation of shaft 72 driven by payout motor 70. The slide plate discharges coins alternately from tubes 48 and 50, one full revolution of shaft 72 corresponding to two coins change. Shaft 72 also drives cam-shaft 112 through 3 : 2 reduction gearing 114; cams 124 and 120 operate switches 118 and 122 respectively and cam 110 co-operates with a projection 116 on a latch 98 (see Fig. 3, not reproduced). Price-setting.-The price is set by the ganged switches 174, 176 and 178, Fig. 5, shown in their 15c positions. Single coin operation.-A 25c coin first operates switch 34 closing the circuit to relay coil 140, a holding circuit being established through now closed switch 142 and switch 144 closing the circuit to vend motor 136 through switch 172 when switch 34 returns to its normal condition; as shown. As the vend motor 136 commences operation carrier switch 138 is actuated, directly connecting leads 182 and 190 and breaking the holding circuit to relay coil 140. The vend motor is therefore controlled only by switch 138 and is de-energized after one cycle. The coin then operates switch 58 and a projection 62a of the switch arm rides to the top of latch segment 106 and the latch is rotated by counterweight 104 to the full-line position in Fig. 1 thus maintaining switch 58 in the operated condition. Operation of switch 58 closes the circuit to payout relay 154, a holding circuit being established by the closing of switch 156 and switch 158 closing the circuit to payout motor 70. As the vend price is 15c change of 10c is required, corresponding to 360 degrees of revolution of shaft 72. The arrangement of the cams on cam shaft 112 is such that latch 98 is returned to its normal position, releasing switch 58, after the first but before the second operation of switch 122 i.e. the holding circuit through switch 122 maintains the payout motor in operation for one cycle (see Fig. 7, not reproduced). As previously mentioned switch 64 is also operated by a 25c coin but the previous operation of switch 58 effectively isolates switch 64 from the circuit. At the 20c vend price switch 178 is in contact with its lower pole and the holding circuit through switch 122 is disabled and the motor 70 therefore stops after one coin has been given in change., Multiple coin operation.-The totalizer described is a unidirectional, continual rotation stepper with twelve steps representing 5c increments i.e. four three-increment programs for the 15c vend price and three four-increment programs at the 20c vend price. Fig. 6 shows the condition of the stepper switches 51-54 at each step of the cycle, a shaded area representing a closed switch. Steps 1, 4, 7 and 10 are the standby positions at the 15c vend price. All 5c coins inserted operate switch 30 delivering one pulse to the stepper coil which first actuates vend switch 172 and then indexes the switches S1- S4 to the next step. With the stepper at a standby position a 10c coin first operates switch 30, causing the stepper foil to close switch 52 and then operates switch 64 which delivers a second pulse through S2 to the stepper coil. When the total deposited is 10c the switch S3 is closed and the operation of switch 172 on the deposit of a further 5c or 10c coin now completes the circuit to relay 140, initiating the vend cycle, switches S1-S4 being indexed to the fourth step. If a 10c coin was inserted the pulse from switch 64 is passed through switch S1, since switch S2 is now open, to the payout relay 154 and as switch 58 is in its normal position payout is terminated after one half-cycle of motor 70 i.e. 5c change is given. At the 20c vend price switches 174, 176 and 178 are in contact with their lower poles i.e. payout relay coil 154 is disconnected from the totalizer since there is no combination of deposits that will require change, all pulses from switch 64 are passed to the stepper coil through S1 and switch 176 or switch S2, and a vend command will only be issued when switch S4 is closed i.e. the standby positions of the steppers are 1, 5, and 9. Coin return and "correct change only".-The 5c and 10c and 25c coin return electromagnets 128 and 130 respectively are both de-energized, blocking further deposits, by switches 118 or 158 during change payout. Coin feelers 86, Fig. 1, are arranged to operate switch 80 when the level of coins in either coin tube 48 or 50 falls below the level of the bottom sections 92 of the feelers.: Switch 80 de-energizes the 25c coin return electromagnet and lights a "correct change only" lamp 132.