Abstract: An error correction coding and decoding circuit for digitally coded information in which a majority difference set cyclic code is used to apply error correction coding and decoding to a data signal having data bits suitably assigned to information bits and parity bits, characterized in that a clock signal (CLKC) for the internal operation of the circuit, a data load clock signal for loading data onto the circuit, and a data read clock signal for reading data from the circuit are delivered from an external circuit provided separately from the error correction coding and decoding circuit.

Abstract: Deposited coins are stored in a coin storing device and change is paid out of coins storred in this storing device. For detecting an amount of coins going in and out of the coin storing device, a going-in-and-out detector is provided. For setting an initial amount P of stored coins in the coin storing device, an initial stored coin amount setter is provided. In an operation device, an operation for obtaining difference N between a current amount S of stored coins and the initial amount P in accordance with the output of the going-in-and-out detector and the initial amount P. When the amount of stored coins in the coin storing device is to coincide with the initial amount P (e.g., when an inventory operation is to be performed), a command device commands this. In response to this command, a payout control device performs, if the current amount S is larger than the initial amount P, control for paying out the number of coins corresponding to the difference N.

Abstract: A bill validator including a vertically extending main body having a bill insertion slit, bill conveying passage, and a bill discrimination device provided along the bill conveying passage, and a bill accumulating box detachably mounted on the main body. The main body can be turned upside down, along with the bill insertion slit, bill conveying passage and bill discrimination device configured therein. The bill accumulating box is selectably mounted on the main body in a normal state or in an upside down state such that the vertical position of the bill accumulating box will not be changed when the main body is turned upside down. Thus, the same bill validator may be used as a type with the bill insertion slit provided at the upper portion or at the lower portion thereof, respectively, as desired for use with different vending machine configurations.

Abstract: This vending machine system comprises a single master vendor including a coin mechanism and a vend possible judgement circuit and a plurality of slave vendors controlled by this master vendor. The master vendor comprises a master control unit for controlling the operation of the respective slave vendors. Each of the slave vendors comprises a subcontrol unit which performs transmission and receiving of information relative to the master control unit and controls the article vending operation in response to the information provided from the master control unit. The transmission and receiving of the information between the subcontrol units and the master control unit is exclusively performed in accordance with a request issued from the side of the master control unit.

Abstract: This bill validator accumulates bills between a pair of spaced parallel stationary members forming an entrance of a bill accumlating box and a bill compressing plate provided in the bill accumulating box. A push member is disposed in the vicinity of the entrance of the accumulating box. This push member is actuated by a reciprocating mechanism to push a bill positioned at the entrance into the accumulating box and thereby add this bill to a stack of accumulated bills. Constant springs are provided in association with the bill compressing plate. These constant springs enclose a bill accumulating space in the accumulating box with their winding shafts being pivotably connected on the accumulating box and their taken out ends being fixedly secured to the bill compressing plate. The constant springs urge the bill compressing plate to the entrance of the accumulating box with a constant pressing force.

Abstract: This gift certificate has information recorded thereon for identifying a total face value vendible by the gift certificate and a predetermined base amount equal to or smaller than the total face value. The information recorded on a deposited gift certificate is read by a reading device. A validation device validates the total face value and the base amount of the deposited gift certificate in response to the read information. A vending permission judgement device prohibits, in reponse to an output of the validation device, at least vending of an article to which a vend price below the base amount has been assigned. By virtue of this arrangement, a purchaser of an article from a vending machine by using a gift certificate is not forced to make purchase of the entire total face value but has only to make purchase above the base amount in which case a change preferably is paid out.

Abstract: A card read/write device of the type comprising an inlet sensor disposed at a card insertion inlet, a shutter which opens in response to the detection signal from the inlet sensor, a transportation mechanism driving sensor disposed backwardly of the shutter, a card transportation mechanism disposed backwardly of the second-mentioned sensor for transporting the inserted card backwardly and a card information read/write means disposed within the card transportation mechanism, characterized in that when the trailing end of the card passes past the transportation mechanism sensor in the case of returning the card, the card transporting mechanism is deactivated and when the transportation mechanism driving sensor is turned on again under these conditions, the card transportation mechanism is activated again to transport the card backwardly so that the read/write operation of the card is accomplished.

Abstract: This bill device is constituted of a relatively elongated casing. A bill insertion slit is formed substantially in the center of this casing in its longitudinal direction. A first U-shaped bill conveying passage communicating with the bill insertion slit is provided in one half of the casing and a second U-shaped bill conveying passage communicating with this first U-shaped bill conveying passage is provided in another half of the casing. A bill discrimination section is disposed in the former half of the first U-shaped bill conveying passage and a bill accumulating device is disposed in the latter half of the second bill conveying passage such that a plurality of bills after discrimination are retained in the two U-shaped bill conveying passages.

Abstract: A bill accepting device judges whether a deposited bill is a true bill or not and produces a true bill signal if it is a true bill. A device such as a vending machine utilizing this bill accepting device receives this true bill signal, counts the number of the deposited bill and, upon confirming that the counting has been properly made, produces a true bill confirmation signal. The bill accepting device receives the true bill confirmation signal and thereby confirms that the true bill signal has been properly used. Thereupon, the bill accepting device stores the deposited bill. If this confirmation has not been made, the deposited bill is automatically returned notwithstanding that it is a true bill.

Abstract: In an optical memory card reading device of the type comprising a card feeding means for feeding a card inserted into an insertion inlet into the device, an optical reader means for illuminating the memory surface of the optical memory card thus fed in and receiving the reflected light rays from the memory surface and a circuit for converting the information read out by the optical reader means into an electric signal which in turn is analyzed to detect the contents in the memory, an optical memory card reading device characterized by the provision of a card cleaning means which is disposed adjacent to the card insertion inlet for cleaning the memory of the inserted card.

Abstract: Sending and receiving of information between a coinmech control section performing controls relating to receiving and paying out of coins and a vendor control section performing controls relating to selection and vending of an article are made under the leadership of the vendor control section. Multiple kinds of information to be sent and received are previously classified into a plurality of modes and a mode including necessary information to be sent and received is designated on the side of the vendor control section by a mode selection code. Responsive to contents of the mode selection code, one of the coinmech control section and the vendor control section is brought into an information sending state and the other into an information receiving state whereby a group of information for this mode is sent and received.