Abstract: A coin sizing circuit and method of operation therefor for use with a coin-operated vending system for distinguishing between various deposited coins as they travel along a predefined path, comprising first and second spaced sensors positioned to detect the movement of a deposited coin thereby, the sensors being responsive to movement of the deposited coin to produce an initial sensing status signal and two further sensing status signals as the coin moves along the predefined path by the sensors and reaches particular positions relative thereto, a memory having predetermined coin sizing data stored therein, and processing circuitry, preferably a programmed microprocessor, operatively connected to the sensors to receive the sensing status signals produced thereby and also operatively connected to the memory to permit the retrieval therefrom of the data stored therein.

Abstract: A system for scanning and dispensing postage stamps from a roll of stamps, including a scanning circuit for optically scanning each individual stamp on a stamp roll as the stamp passes thereby in order to detect the degree of opacity of such stamp and to produce a scanning output signal representative of the degree of opacity, an examination circuit including a first circuit portion operable to determine if an individual stamp boundary has been encountered and to produce a boundary detection signal in such event, and a second circuit portion responsive to such scanning output signal to determine if the degree of opacity detected identifies a non-blank stamp and to produce a non-blank status detection signal in such event, and a dispensing control circuit responsive to an externally generated dispense request signal and to the production of one or more boundary detection signals and non-blank status detection signals to control the operation of stamp movement and detaching devices.

Abstract: This support bracket and cabinet assembly includes a bracket having a wall-attached single bar member provided with vertically spaced outstanding lug members and a cabinet having a rear wall provided with corresponding vertically spaced openings receiving the lug members. The cabinet rear wall includes a channel-shaped recess receiving the bar member and having a second set of openings receiving the heads of the fasteners attaching the bracket to the wall. Each lug member includes an inclined portion providing a bearing for an upper support margin of the lug receiving openings tending to draw the cabinet into engagement with the wall.

Abstract: An encoding keyboard construction comprising a common input lead, a plurality N of output leads, and a plurality Y of key locations, each of which key locations has associated therewith aligned first and second contact sites defining a contact site pair, which contact sites are biased apart but can be moved into engagement with one another to establish contact therebetween. Each contact side pair includes three electrodes, one of which electrodes is connected to the common input lead, and each contact site includes at most two electrodes, each of which electrodes is connected to a respective single output lead.

Abstract: This dispensing machine rack assembly is formed from a pair of complementary, individually molded rack portions interconnected in face-to-face relation to define a plurality of generally vertical container-receiving compartments. Each rack portion includes a plurality of vertically spaced ramps extending beyond the connection face of the racks and disposed in staggered, overlapping relation to the ramps of the other rack portion to provide a serpentine path for the containers. A container entry opening is provided at the upper end of the rack assembly and a container dispensing opening is provided at the lower end of the rack assembly. Each lower end opening is provided with a door having a container-receiving bin and a control means associated with the door to control movement of a container from the lower ramp into the bin.

Abstract: An article-dispensing assembly including a door movably mounted on a plate for opening and closing an opening provided in the plate, the door including a shelf extending inwardly of the opening and providing a bin for holding an article to be dispensed. A control mechanism is movable to a first position to allow transfer of an article from a feed mechanism to the bin, and movable to a second position to block transfer of an article from the feed unit to the bin. An operating unit interconnects the control unit and door to allow loading of the bin when the door is in its closed position and to preclude loading of the bin when the door is moved from the closed position. A slide bar is slidably mounted and extends transversely of the bin. An interlock unit is movably mounted at one side of the opening to a first position that blocks sliding movement of the slide bar, and to a second position allowing sliding movement of the slide bar to an extended position.

Abstract: An article-dispensing assembly including a door movably mounted on a plate for selectively opening and closing an opening provided in the plate, the door including a shelf extending inwardly of the opening and providing a bin for holding an article to be dispensed. A control mechanism is movable to a first position to allow transfer of an article from a feed mechanism to the bin, and movable to a second position to block transfer of an article from the feed unit to the bin. An operating unit selectively interconnects the control unit and door to allow loading of the bin when the door is in its closed position and to preclude loading of the bin when the door is moved from the closed position.

Abstract: A coin-handling assembly including a coin escrow station for receiving coins of one denomination, and an escrow-actuator selectively retaining the coins in the escrow station, and selectively releasing the coins individually from the escrow station. The escrow actuator includes first and second fingers selectively movable into and out of the path of the coins in the escrow station, and an actuator selectively moving the first finger into engagement with a lowermost coin, and the second finger out of engagement with the coins for holding the coins in the escrow station. The actuator selectively moves the first finger out of engagement with the lowermost coin for releasing the lowermost coin for delivery to the coin-diverter, and selectively moves the second finger into engagement with a next adjacent coin for holding the remaining coins in the escrow station while the first finger releases the lowermost coin.

Abstract: A coin payout assembly in which a plurality of actuating arms are operatively connected to a plurality of coin-handling members that are movable to a first position for receiving a coin and to a second position for discharging the coin, and in which a drive mechanism is selectively connected to any one of a plurality of actuating arms by a coin-selecting mechanism for moving the selected actuating arm and its associated coin-handling member. A plurality of guide slots each receive the guide pin of one of the actuating arms. The drive mechanism includes a drive link selectively alignable with any one of the actuating arms by the coin-selecting mechanism whereby the drive link is moved into engagement with the selected actuating arm for moving the associated coin-handling member.

Abstract: A string detector for a coin-selecting device in which a switch is conditioned to a first state by a string attached to a coin inserted into the device, and conditioned to a second state by the absence of a string, and a coin validator normally conditioned to a first state, and conditioned to a second state by a valid coin. The switch and coin validator are operatively interconnected for determining the handling of the coin depending upon the states of the switch and the coin validator. More particularly, a start-reset timer is provided having a predetermined time interval in which the timer must be started by a coin conditioning the switch to the said first state and subsequently reset by conditioning the switch to the second state, the timer providing an output when the predetermined time interval is exceeded without having the timer reset as is caused by maintaining the switch in the said first state by the presence of a string attached to the coin.

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: A coin separator assembly for a coin-selecting device in which a separator member is hingedly mounted to a gate for swinging movement relative to a coin chute defined by the gate and a main plate. The main plate includes vertically spaced abutments, and the separator member includes a coin spaced from the hinge axis and a rail disposed below the cam. The separator member is biased from a position, in which a coin of predetermined diameter is held against sideways movement by the action of the cam and the spaced abutments and against downward movement by the rail, to a position in which a diametrically undersized coin is tilted by the cam and the rail is moved out of the path of the coin to permit continued downward movement thereof. The rail is of a width such that engagement of the cam by an underthick coin moves the separator member into a position in which the rail is out of the path of the coin to permit continued downward movement thereof.

Abstract: The selector assembly includes a support plate and a rail that directs a coin into a coin serration detector assembly. The serration detector assembly includes a body pivotally mounted to the support plate, and a coil spring having one end attached to the body, the opposite end being provided by a coil disposed transverse to and engageable with the edge of a coin moving in a predetermined trajectory from the rail. The end coil engages the serrations of a serrated coin to rotate the spring into the path of the serrated coin to change the trajectory and direct the serrated coin in one direction, and engages a substantially non-serrated coin to rotate the spring away from the trajectory and permit movement of the non-serrated coin in another direction.

Abstract: A coin-sensing assembly having a tube for holding a supply of coins, and a coin-sensing lever pivotally mounted on a bracket attached to the housing adjacent the tube, the lever including a coin-engaging portion extending into the tube for engagement with the coins held in the tube. A switch is mounted on the bracket and includes a resiliently actuated switch member engageable with the lever and resiliently urging the lever toward a first position upon disengagement of the coin-sensing portion with the coins in the tube for conditioning the switch for one operation. The lever is pivotally movable to a second position upon engagement of the coin-engaging portion with the coins in the tube for actuating the switch member and conditioning the switch for another operation.

Abstract: The selector assembly includes a support plate and a rail that directs a coin into a coin serration detector assembly. The serration detector assembly includes a body pivotally mounted to the support plate, and a wire feeler attached to the body and providing a wire portion disposed with its side transverse to and engageable with the edge of a coin moving in a predetermined trajectory from the rail. The wire portion side engages the serrations of a serrated coin to rotate the wire feeler into the path of the serrated coin to change the trajectory and direct the serrated coin in one direction, and engages a substantially nonserrated coin to rotate the wire feeler away from the trajectory and permit movement of the nonserrated coin in another direction.

Abstract: A gate assembly for a coin selecting and separating device in which a first gate is hingedly connected to a main plate and is movable selectively between an open position away from the main plate and a closed position adjacent to the main plate, and in which a second gate is hingedly connected to the main plate and is located between the first gate and the main plate, the second gate being movable selectively between an open position away from the main plate and a closed position adjacent the main plate. A spring disposed between the gates tends to urge the gates apart. A latch on the main plate selectively holds the first gate in its closed position, while the spring holds the second gate in its closed position. A release mechanism engages and moves the second gate selectively away from the main plate and toward the first gate against the loading of the spring to release a coin trapped in a coin passage provided between the second gate and main plate.

Abstract: A coin testing apparatus having a cradle pivotally mounted on a frame about a pivot axis, the cradle including an arm at one side of the pivot axis. A shoulder is fixed to the frame and is spaced from the cradle arm for carrying a true value coin on and between the cradle arm and shoulder when the cradle arm is in an initial position. The shoulder is spaced from the cradle arm for passing the true value coin between the cradle arm and shoulder and to the coin passageway when the cradle is moved to a delivery position. A counterweight is adjustably mounted on the cradle at the other side of the pivot axis for varying the location of the counterweight selectively from the pivot axis to counterbalance the weight of the true value coin so that the true value coin will be moved by the cradle from the initial position to the delivery position at a predetermined momentum, but a coin of different weight carried on and between the cardle arm and shoulder will be moved at a different momentum.

Abstract: An adjustable oversize coin detector assembly having a coin cradle and a lever pivotally mounted on a frame, the lever having a shoulder disposed for contact with the edge of a coin carried in the cradle arms for pivoting the lever and increasing the distance between the lever shoulder and one cradle arm. A stop engages the lever to limit pivotal movement of the lever and determine the maximum distance between the lever shoulder and the said one cradle arm for allowing a coin of acceptable size to pass between the lever shoulder and said one cradle arm to the passageway, and for precluding passage of an oversize coin between the lever shoulder and the said one cradle arm. The stop is adjustably mounted for selectively varying the predetermined distance between the lever shoulder and said one cradle arm, and thereby selectively determining the size of the coin that will pass between the lever shoulder and the said one cradle arm to the passageway.

Abstract: A gate assembly for a coin selecting and separating device in which a first gate has a pin inserted into a first hinge socket on a main plate and another pin aligned with but operatively disconnected from the first hinge socket in an open position of the gate relative to the main plate. A key on the first gate precludes angular movement of the first gate from the open position. A second gate includes a pin disposed in a second hinge socket on the first gate. The first and second gates are shiftable as a unit to operatively disengage the key and to insert the aligned pin of the first gate into the first hinge socket for hingedly connecting the first gate for angular movement of the gates to a closed position relative to the main plate. A stop member on the second gate precludes angular movement of the second gate from an open position relative to the main plate until the first gate is hingedly connected.