Abstract: An automatic purge control for a banknote dispensing system including an operator panel having a keyboard for initiating transaction requests, a dispensing chamber adjacent to the panel for receiving banknotes dispensed in response to an operator request, a lockable access door to enable the operator to gain access to the chamber to remove dispensed notes, and a tiltable platform positioned within the chamber for discharging dispensed notes from the chamber under predetermined purge conditions detected by a microprocessor within the system. The microprocessor calls for a purge operation when it has been determined that the operator has either failed to remove dispensed notes or has left notes within the chamber. A purge operation may also be performed as a result of a system failure, such as a power outage or a counting error occurring during a dispense cycle; or when a foreign object is detected in the dispensing chamber as a result of vandalism.

Abstract: A seed planter monitor is used with a traveling seed planter operable to periodically dispense seeds in each of a plurality of rows. The monitor, preferably a microcomputer device, comprises individual row counters for counting the seeds planted in each row. The monitor determines the row having the highest deviation from the average number of seeds planted per row. Whenever the maximum deviation exceeds a predetermined limit, an alarm signals an error condition to the planter operator. The monitor also senses and warns the operator of any stoppage occurring in any of the rows within a relatively short stoppage distance. Planting data is displayed to the operator during planting.

Abstract: Paper currencies taken out from a cash storing box removably loaded in an automatic cash issue machine by means of a cash take-out mechanism are temporarily accumulated in a temporary cash collecting section. The accumulated currencies are transported toward a cash discharge port by means of a drive endless belt. In this case, the endless belt presses down a bundle of currencies and cooperates with the drive belt to nip and transport the currencies bundled until these are partially exposed to exterior. At this time, a customer may easily take out the currencies bundled.

Abstract: A torque-limiting clutch and switch assembly for a vending control system including a motor cam for driving a load, a shaft driven by the motor, a motor cam connected to the shaft and having a cross-sectional rotative end bearing portion extending coaxially of the shaft, a load cam having a recess for rotatively receiving the rotative end bearing portion of the motor cam and providing the only rotative bearing support for the motor cam and the shaft on the load cam, and a clutch spring carried by and engaging the motor cam for turning the load cam with the motor cam. The motor cam includes an axially raised portion for actuating the switch assembly, and an intermediate portion between the raised portion and rotative end bearing portion carrying the clutch spring. The load cam includes a cup-shaped section having an end wall in which the recess is located, the recess communicates with the cup-shaped section of the load cam overfitting the motor cam without physical engagement.

Abstract: Bank notes are accurately delivered to a customer in a preselected amount at an exit throat from a storage bin. Delivery of the bank notes from the storage bin is on an individual basis to an escrow station where the number of bills of currency representing the preselected amount is collected for delivery to the customer at the exit throat. In the transport path from the storage bin to the escrow station multiple bank notes and trailing bank notes are detected to control the operation of the banking machine to deliver the notes at the escrow station either to the customer or divert a miscount of the bank notes to a divert bin. Initially, the process for transporting bills from the storage bin to the escrow station actuates a main drive motor of a transport system. Bank notes are fed from the storage bin to the transport system and if more than one bill is fed to the transport system all but one are returned to the storage bin.

Abstract: Currency dispensing apparatus is disclosed in which vertically stacked bills located in a removable container positioned in the dispenser are fed one-by-one from the top of the stack through an opening in the container ceiling by a proximately located overlying rotary suction head. The head advances the bills to the nip of a pair of superimposed bill transport belts overlying the stack from which point they are then transported by the belts back over the top of the stack to a diverter whereat the bills are either diverted to an underlying reject bin located adjacent the stack or to a delivery chute for manual removal by a customer. A multiple, or overlapped, bill sensor is located along the bill transport path between the suction pickup head and the diverter which, in cooperation with suitable control circuitry responsive to the sensor, controls the diverter for diverting multiple, or overlapped, bills into the underlying reject bin while allowing single bills to be transported to the customer delivery chute.

Abstract: A novel device is described for unloading and orienting articles, such as cartons, stacked in tiers on a pallet. The device includes a tiltable pallet receiver which receives a loaded pallet in horizontal position and then tilts the pallet and tiered articles thereon onto their sides with the article tiers forming a series of substantially vertical, adjacent stacks. A means is provided for intermittently advancing the pallet and tiers horizontally in a direction away from the receiver when in a tilted position towards a single tier receiver which receives a single vertical stack of tiered articles from the pallet. The tier receiver is horizontally movable for moving the received stack laterally away from the next adjacent stack and support devices are provided for securely holding the stack in the tier receiver and the next adjacent stack in the pallet during this movement of the tier receiver.

Abstract: An electrically operated control circuit for a multiple selection vending machine with lockout circuits to isolate mal-functioning sections, thereby enabling continued vending machine operations via the remaining functional sections. The lockout circuitry is particularly directed toward sensing and compensating for jammed conditions in the product dispensing mechanisms using a minimal amount of additional circuit elements over non-protected counterpart machines. The malfunction lockout circuitry includes a motor-cam driven embodiment, and a unique thermally sensitive motor thermostat actuated embodiment.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a machine for dispensing a predetermined number of banknotes in bundle form with the banknotes being removed from a stack in sequence and there being counting apparatus for counting banknotes passing along a flow-path and a double note detector for detecting the simultaneous passage of plural banknotes along the same flow-path. The banknotes, as they are dispensed, are collected in a collecting compartment and if the proper number is dispensed without double notes being detected, the collected banknotes are delivered to a customer. However, if double banknotes are detected or there is an error in counting, the dispensing of notes from the stack ceases and all notes in the collecting department are diverted into a storage compartment and the machine is recycled.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing filter rod sections from a magazine in a filter cigarette making machine. The magazine has an outlet which receives a portion of a fluted drum so that, when the drum rotates, its flutes remove filter rod sections from the magazine. A yieldably mounted refuser roller is disposed between the drum and the magazine at the downstream side of the outlet to normally prevent the drum from removing sections which are not received in the flutes. If a section adheres to a section in a flute and displaces the refuser roller against the opposition of a spring, the roller or a lever for the roller actuates a switch which disengages a clutch serving to transmit torque to the drum and to other moving parts of the machine.

Abstract: The vending control system has first and second motor- and dispensing- assemblies, each assembly including a motor for driving a load and dispensing a product, a motor cam switch connected to the motor, a load cam switch connected to the motor, a motor cam drivingly connected to the motor and operatively actuating the motor cam switch, a load cam operatively actuating the load cam switch, and a torque-limiting clutch interconnecting the cams for driving the load cam and for permitting relative rotational movement of the cams at predetermined torque value. The assemblies are connected in parallel, with the motor and load cam switch of each assembly connected across the power source. The motor cam switch of the first assembly is connected to the power source and to the motor cam switch of the second assembly.