Abstract: A drive system for a vending or other dispensing machine includes an electronic switch and an electric motor configured to actuate dispensing coils or other dispensing technologies to dispense instances of products. The drive system minimizes the risk of sparking and igniting propane or other volatile refrigerants or other volatile chemicals or materials used in or near the machine. The electronic switch may be a Hall effect switch, and the electric motor may be a brushless DC electric motor. A homing circuit is connected to the drive system to control/monitor actuation of the dispensing mechanism. A wiring harness connects the electronic switch to the electric motor, and may include a connector which can be set to allow the electric motor to operate in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise direction.

Abstract: This invention is a coin operated switch which may be incorporated into coin operated machines such as video games to reduce cheating of the credit granting feature of the machines. This invention incorporates two electromechanical switches and circuitry which further use the existing machine circuitry to time the travel of a coin between the switches and to grant a credit on the machine only if each switch is tripped and released in the proper order and within the predetermined elapsed time.