Abstract: A vending machine includes a plurality of selection switches corresponding to a plurality of items to be sold respectively, and in response to insertion of coins and the subsequent operation of any of selection switches, the item corresponding to the selection switch is vended. A RAM is installed associatedly with a microcomputer, and this RAM contains memory areas for storing the sales quantity and the sales amount on item basis, and these data are renewed at every vending. The RAM further contains a price memory area for storing the sales price of each item. When any of selection switches is operated in ready state of the machine, the price of the item corresponding to that selection switch is read from the RAM and is displayed on the inserted-amount display. Furthermore, when a selection switch is depressed in the state when the management mode is set up, the price of the item corresponding to that switch is displayed likewise.

Abstract: A vending machine includes a plurality of selection switches corresponding to a plurality of items to be sold respectively, and in response to insertion of coins and the subsequent operation of any of selection switches, the item corresponding to the selection switch is vended. A RAM is installed associatedly with a microcomputer, and this RAM contains memory areas for storing the sales quantity and the sales amount on item basis, and these data are renewed at every vending. The RAM further contains a price memory area for storing the sales price of each item. When any of selection switches is operated in ready state of the machine, the price of the item corresponding to that selection switch is read from the RAM and is displayed on the inserted-amount display. Furthermore, when a selection switch is depressed in the state when the management mode is set up, the price of the item corresponding to that switch is displayed likewise.

Abstract: A check system for a control board having a microcomputer includes a checker which is actuated by a check program provided with the microcomputer. At each time line shift signals are generated, all input signal levels of the respective input connectors of the control board, except for the given connector, are detected to output at check output connectors signal levels corresponding to the input signal levels in the input line check. The respective output connectors of the control board, except for the certain connector, are rendered in active states, in sequence, in an output line check. The system thus detects an abnormal state disposed between the terminals of the microcomputer and the connectors of the control board.

Abstract: An input unit adapted to input operation orders and set informations, necessary to automatic sales operations, into an automatic vending machine. The input unit is capable of easily coping with the changes in and the addition to the input contents, of easily and positively inputting the selling prices as the set information, of remarkably reducing the signal harness for input use into an automatic vending machine.

Abstract: At least two microcomputers are provided for the controlling operation of an automatic vending machine, which are connected by signal wires of a number selected from one to four with respect to each other. One of the microcomputers is a main microcomputer, while the other thereof is a submicrocomputer. The submicrocomputer performs the controlling operation on the restricted block functions of the automatic vending machine, while the main microcomputer transmits control codes to the submicrocomputer through the signal wire to control the operation thereof, and controls the automatic vending operation while serially transmitting or receiving the necessary data.