Patent GB-1258341-A (GB)
IPC: G06F7/62
Filed: 1969-02-12
Abstract: 1,258,341. Vending machine. H.R. ELECTRONICS CO. 12 Feb., 1969 [26 Feb., 1968], No. 7720/69. Heading G4V. The values of coins of various denominations inserted at 11 are totalled at 12, which comprises a plurality of sequentially linked bistable counters. When the value of the article is reached or exceeded vend flip-flop 30 is activated to dispense the article and reset the totalizer 12, the value of change due being stored in counter 24 and decremented stepwise to zero as the change is paid out by motor 44. The price of the vended article may be adjusted by means of the mechanically linked switches 28, 40. Coin action.-As shown, switch 14 in coin receiver 11 is actuated by each 5, 10 or 25 cent coin inserted, switch 16 by 10 and 25 cent coins and switch 18 by 25 cent coins only. Filter circuits e.g. resistance 52, capacitors 54, 56 increase the duration of the negative pulse produced by the switch, so that the repeated pulses produced by " coin bounce " are merged and not counted separately. Totalizer.-The pulses from switch 14 activate counter 12, comprising linked flip-flops 48, 50, which are reset after each vend so that transistors 76, 108 conduct. The first pulse received switches 76 off (makes it non-conducting) which switches 74 on; the second switches 74 off, which switches 76 on, which in turn switches 108 off, via line 105, and switches 106 on. Price setting switch.-The negative pulse produced at the collector of 76 when it is switched on passes to the 10 cents contact 28a of price setting switch 28 and if the switch has been set for a 10 cents sale the pulse actuates the vend flip-flop 30. For 15 and 20 cent articles switch 28 is set to 28b and 28c respectively, the linked switches 28, 40 being set by the same control. Vending arrangements.-The negative vend pulse switches transistor 114 off, thereby applying a positive pulse to the base of transistors 112 and 128 which therefore conduct; the latter in turn causes transistor 134 to conduct, thereby actuating the vend relay 34, which is connected in parallel to diode 135 to protect transistor 134 from transients in relay 34. The normally non- conducting state of transistor 112 results in both the upper plate of capacitor 144 and the base of transistor 146 being positive; when transistor 112 is switched on by a vend pulse the potential of its collector drops but the base of transistor 146 is maintained positive whilst capacitor 144 discharges. The transistor 146 then switches off, its collector becomes positive and thereby resets vend flip-flop 30, after an interval set by the time constant of the circuit. Resetting totalizer.-When flip-flop 30 is in the non-vend state, the positive potential on the collector of transistor 112 causes capacitors 154, 156 to become charged. When the vend pulse lowers the collector potential the charge on the plates adjacent to diodes 162, 164 discharges to earth and as a negative pulse through the diodes to reset both flip-flops 48, 50 of counter 12. Change giving.-The second pulse produced by insertion of a 10 cent coin from switch 16 is normally accumulated in counter 12. If however the first pulse from switch 14 brings the total in counter 12 to the vend price, the article is vended and 12 is reset, hence the collectors of both transistors 74 and 106 are positive, so that capacitor 68 is positive and acts as a closed gate to direct the pulse from switch 16 to the pay-back counter 24. A 25 cent coin causes switches 14, 16 to increment counter 12 by two pulses (which produces a vend if the price is 10 cents) then causes switch 18 to send a pulse to switch 40. In the case of 10 cent article, counter 24 is actuated in such a way that three pulses, each produced by the closure of switch 46 on activation of 5 cent dispenser motor 44, are required to decrement it to zero. Connections are made from the 15 and 20 cent contacts of switch 40 such that the vend flip-flop is actuated and counter 24 requires two pulses and one pulse respectively to decrement to zero.