Patent GB-1161405-A (GB)
Title: Coin Operated Machines
Inventor: MAXWELL STEWART ALFRED
IPC: G07F5/22
Filed: 1965-09-15
Abstract: 1,161,405. Coin-operated vending machine; counting-apparatus. FISHOLOW PRODUCTS Ltd. 27 Oct., 1966 [15 Sept., 1965], No. 39309/65. Headings G4D and G4V. A coin.operated vending machine includes a binary counter for totalizing the inserted coins, said counter having a plurality of binary stages driven by time-delay circuits in the inputs of said binary stages, said time-delay circuits being operated by the inserted coins and being arranged to prevent the simultaneous reception by any one of said binary stages of both an input and a carry pulse. The binary counter consists of four stages, each including a pair of transistors T7 to T14. Each pair of transistors is arranged to act as a switch adapted to transmit a carry pulse to the next stage as it changes from its " off " to " on " position and switch said next stage from one position to the other. In addition, the first three stages are driven by time-delay circuits in their inputs including pairs of transistors T1 to T6. As described, the machine is adapted to receive penny, threepenny or sixpenny pieces, the insertion of which closes an associated switch and energizes line 10, 12 or 15, respectively. Insertion of a penny energizes line 10 to charge capacitance C1 and change over the transistor switch T1/T2. When the line 10 is de-energized, the capacitance C1 discharges through R2. After discharge the switch T1/T2 returns to its original condition to provide an input pulse on line 11 for the first binary stage. A threepenny piece energizes the first two time-delay circuits (T1/T2 and T3/T4) and a sixpenny piece the last two (T3/T4 and T5/T6). The values R2, R3 and R5 are adjusted whereby the timedelay afforded by the first circuit is greater than that afforded by the second circuit which, in turn, is greater than that afforded by the third circuit. This ensures that a binary stage does not receive an input pulse and a carry pulse from the preceding stage at the same instant. The binary counter is adapted to record a maximum count of 15. If coins having a value more than 15 are inserted, a bi-stable circuit consisting of transistors T15/T16 is operated on the sixteenth pulse to lock the four stages in their " on " position. The four stages and bi-stable circuit are reset when a transistor 17 is pulsed on operation of a resetting switch. When a binary stage is in its " on " position an output may be obtained at the points 1A, 2A; 1B, 2B; 1C, 2C and 1D, 2D. The values stored by the binary stages are decoded by transistors T18- T21 which become conducting when the appropriate points 1A, 1B and 1C are energized to provide outputs E-H. Three selector switches 19-21 are provided for setting the prices of the commodities to be dispensed. The selector switches are connected to the outputs 2A, 2B, 2C, E, F, G and H in such a fashion that a commodity is dispensed when the value of inserted coins equals or exceeds the pre-set price. A relay 25, 26 or 27 to be set up before the appropriate commodity may be dispensed is in series with a transistor T22, T23 or T24. Current can only pass to the relay when a further pair of transistors T25, T26; T27, T28 or T29, T30 is conducting. With a selector switch set to the position one as shown, current will flow along lines 28, 29, so that transistors T25-T30 become conducting when any of the binary stages is " on." The selector switches 19-21 are associated with switches 22-24 respectively. Each switch 22-24 closes automatically when the associated selector switch is moved to a position of nine or more to short-circuit the supply to the corresponding transistors T25-T30. Now the transistors T25-T30 only become conducting when the fourth stage is " on " to supply current along the lines 30, 31 and the appropriate earlier stages are " on" to supply current via the switches 19, 20 or 21. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 1,088,850.