Patent ID: 7516829

Claim:
A capsuled article vending machine having a capsule container and a capsule dispensing unit for dispensing a capsule out of the capsule container through the capsule dispensing unit each time a handle is rotated by one rotation, said capsuled article vending machine, comprising: a bill identifying unit for receiving and identifying paper currency and providing a signal when paper currency received by the bill identifying unit is determined to be valid and of a predetermined value; a rotation control unit, responsive to said signal provided by the bill-identifying unit, for enabling one rotation of the handle after said signal is provided by the bill identifying unit; a mechanism for preventing reverse rotation of the handle said reverse rotation preventing mechanism comprising ratchet teeth that rotate in synchronization with the handle and a pawl engaged with the ratchet teeth for preventing reverse rotation of the handle, said ratchet teeth being of sufficient size that impact of the pawl with the ratchet teeth as the handle is rotated can be both heard and felt by an individual rotating the handle; a handle locking mechanism comprising a cam plate having a recess and a solenoid having an armature that can be moved into and out of the recess of the cam plate for locking the handle in a locking position; wherein said rotation control unit causes the armature of the solenoid to move out of the recess in order to permit forward rotation of the handle when the bill identifying unit has provided a validation signal; a first sensor for detecting a start of the handle rotation upon detecting arrival of the recess into proximity with the first sensor, and a second sensor for detecting completion of the handle rotation upon detecting arrival of the recess into proximity with the second sensor, and wherein the control unit is responsive to said sensors to cause the armature of the solenoid to lock the handle against rotation when the second sensor detects arrival of the recess into proximity with the second sensor after the first sensor has detected the arrival of the recess into proximity with the first sensor; and wherein an angle θ 1 subtended by the recess of the cam plate is greater than an angle θ 2 subtended by a portion of the cam plate extending from a rear end of the recess when the cam plate is locked by said armature to the position at which the second sensor detects the recess, and wherein the angle θ 2 , subtended by a portion of the cam plate extending from a rear end of the recess when the cam plate is locked by said armature to the position at which the second sensor detects the recess, is greater than the play angle θ 3 of the reverse rotation preventing mechanism.