Abstract: A price-setting control device for a vending machine can be used to set prices for a number of products and to store those prices in a memory. A decimal-type visual display selectively, but simultaneously, displays a "line" number which is assigned to a given product plus the price set for that product. A line-selecting switch, rather than the customer-operated switches of the vending machine, is used to select the desired line number when the price, for the product corresponding to that line number, is to be set. Mode-controlling data for the operation of the vending machine can be stored in selected locations within the memory; and the line-selecting switch plus a price-setting switch can be used to change that data.

Abstract: A detecting magnetic coil is mounted adjacent the authenticity-determining magnetic coil of an electronic slug rejector to distinguish between authentic coins and any copper slugs which might cause the authenticity-determining coil to produce an output which closely simulates the output which that authenticity-determining coil produces in response to authentic coins. The signal from that detecting coil is used to control the accept/reject gate of that electronic slug rejector; and it will effect movement of that gate to "accept" position in the event it detects a non-cupreous object but it will not effect such movement of that gate in the event it detects a copper slug.

Abstract: A coin separating device has a movable coin director which is mounted intermediate an inlet for coins of different predetermined diameters and a plurality of outlets that are generally in register with each other but that are located in separate planes. That coin director responds to the reception thereby of a coin of one of those predetermined diameters to be in a position to direct that coin to one of those outlets; and that coin director responds to the reception thereby of a further coin of another of those predetermined diameters to be in a different position to direct that further coin to another of those outlets.

Abstract: A coin-handling device responds to coins of at least three different values to establish corresponding credits on a movable credit-establishing element. A switch is closed in response to the insertion of each of those coins; and that switch energizes an electromechanical actuator to effect advancement of that credit-establishing element. Only that switch, that actuator, and the mechanical elements associated therewith are needed to effect the establishing of those corresponding credits.

Abstract: A circuit responds to a level-sensing device, adjacent a coin-holding tube, to cause an electric motor to rotate a coin-receiving drum until sufficient coins issue from that coin-receiving drum to fill that coin-holding tube. Ordinarily, coins will issue from that coin-receiving drum in such rapid succession that the motor need not be energized very long. However if, because some coins within that coin-receiving drum interact to form a "bridge" which retards or prevents the issuance of other coins from that coin-receiving drum, or if for any other reason coins do not issue from that coin-receiving drum, the circuit will keep that motor energized for a finite length of time, will de-energize that motor, and will energize that motor for a second finite length of time.

Abstract: A coin-moving member adjacent a coin-holding tube has a surface which can engage one part of the periphery of the end-most coin. Each endmost coin defines a plane perpendicular to the axis of the coinholding tube; and a connection between a coin-moving member and a source of motive power is intermediate that plane and the opposite end of the coin-holding tube. As the source of motive power moves the coin-moving member to dispense a coin, an axially-directed component of force will develop between the coin-engaging surface of the coin-moving member and the periphery of that coin; and that axially-directed component of force will be directed toward the opposite end of the coin-holding tube, and it will hold that coin-engaging surface in tight engagement with the periphery of that coin.