Abstract: Apparatus for making a selection from between a plurality of different options such as different products vended from a vending machine including a housing structure having an elongated passageway therein, a wall at one end of the passageway, a device for introducing an acoustic pulse in the passageway at the one end and sensors means at the one end for responding to pulses introduced into the passageway and reflected back along the passageway, and a plurality of spaced selection members mounted on the housing each having a wall portion movable between positions extending into the passageway thereat and position not extending into the passageway. The invention may also be used in association with a microprocessor capable of determining the round trip travel time of a pulse introduced into the passageway including the round trip travel time when the pulse is reflected by a fixed opposite end of the passageway for calibration purposes.

Abstract: A vend space allocation apparatus and method for use with a vending system capable of vending from among a plurality of classes of selectable vendable products a product from a selected product class, which vending system has a plurality of product storage areas and an established vend space allocation configuration allocating the product storage areas to the classes of selectable vendable products, the vend space allocation apparatus including a vend selection monitoring portion for monitoring over a period of time the historical demand for the various classes of selectable vendable products, a determining portion for determining, based at least in part upon said historical demand, space allocation information indicative of a preferred vend space allocation configuration for the vending system, and a display for communicating to authorized personnel such space allocation information.

Abstract: This coin divertor assembly (12) includes a body (14), defining a coin-entry path (20) and first and second coin exit paths (24, 26). A divertor member 30 is mounted to the body and is actuated by a pulsed solenoid for movement between first and second positions to divert coins C to one or other of said coin-exit paths. A biased latch member (50) is pivotally mounted to the body. The latch member is held against rotation by engagement with the divertor member when the divertor member is in the first position and engages the divertor member to hold the divertor member against rotation to the first position when the divertor member is in the second position. The divertor member is held until the latch member is rotated from the support position and the latch member may include an arm (56) extending into a coin-exit path, which can be coin-impacted to rotate the latch member out of engagement with the divertor member to permit the divertor member to return to its first position.

Abstract: A vend space allocation monitor apparatus and method for use with a vending system capable of vending from among a plurality of classes of selectable vendable products of product from a selected product class, which vending system has a plurality of product storage areas and an established vend space allocation configuration allocating the product storage areas to the classes of selectable vendable products, the vend space allocation monitor apparatus including a vend selection monitoring portion for monitoring over a period of time the historical demand for the various classes of selectable vendable products, a determining portion for determining, based at least in part upon said historical demand, whether such established vend space allocation configuration is consistent with selection demand norms, and a display communciating to authorized personnel such determination, whereby such authorized personnel may, if they so desire, undertake a re-configuration of vend space allocation for such vending system.

Abstract: This vending machine includes a housing frame (12) subdivided into vertical columns (1-8) adapted to receive cylindrical articles (C). Elongate, rotatable support members (60) are provided below each column for supporting the column of articles, which tend to rotate under the weight of the articles. A ratchet wheel (70) and pawl member (80) assembly provided at one end of each support member provided a release mechanism controlling rotation of the support member incident to dispensing an article. The release mechanism associated with a selected column is actuated by one of a set of angularly related indexing members (101-108) carried by a drive shaft (100), each indexing member being disposed adjacent an associated pawl member. The drive shaft is driven by an electric motor (M) and the indexing members are rotated so that one of them is positioned to move an associated pawl member into and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel to dispense an article in response to customer selection.

Abstract: This vending machine includes a housing frame (12) subdivided into vertical columns (1-8) adapted to receive cylindrical articles (C). Elongate, rotatable support members (60) are provided below each column for supporting the column of articles, which tend to rotate under the weight of the articles. A ratchet wheel (70) and pawl member (80) assembly provided at one end of each support member provides a release mechanism controlling rotation of the support member incident to dispensing an article. The release mechanism associated with a selected column is actuated by an indexing member (94) carried by an endless loop (100) driven by an electric motor (M). The indexing member is positioned adjacent one of the pawl members to dispense an article by moving an associated pawl member into and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel in response to customer selection.

Abstract: This coin divertor assembly includes a body providing a coin entry path and two coin exit paths. A gate member is mounted to the body at the end of the coin-entry path for selectively diverting a coin into one of the coin-exit paths. A holder maintains the gate in each of the gate positions in a stable equilibrium condition and an actuator provides an impulse force for moving the gate from one position of stable equilibrium to the other position of stable equilibrium.

Abstract: The payout mechanism is for use with a relatively large number of coin changer storage tubes of the type having a reciprocating payout slide for dispensing coins from the tube. The payout mechanism includes a plurality of connection members each connected between an associated payout slide and a rotatable drive shaft. In one embodiment the connection members include first latch portions which are longitudinally spaced relative to the drive shaft and angularly spaced relative to each other and second latch portions which are engageable with the payout slides and are selectively connectible to associated first latch portions. A reversible electric motor is used to rotate the first latch portions on the drive shaft into alignment with the second latch portion and to oscillate the drive shaft and thereby reciprocate the payout slide when the selected latch portions are moved into connected engagmeent by a solenoid.

Abstract: A coin acceptance construction and method for use with a predefined price vending system which includes coin analysis apparatus capable of producing coin analysis data for determining coin validity, a controllable mechanism operable to effect the acceptance or return of deposited coins, coin availability status monitors for determining coins available for payback, such monitors producing coin availability status data indicative of the status of coins available for payback, and vend control circuitry for controlling a vend operation, which vend control circuitry is operable to accumulate credit and to effect a vend when the amount of accumulated credit at least equals the vend price. The coin acceptance construction, which may be either separate from the vend control circuitry, e.g., separate decoding circuitry, or form a part of the vend control circuitry, e.g.

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: 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: A device for monitoring the coins in one or more coin tubes on a vending machine to maintain a running total of the coins therein that are available to pay back excess deposits and to make refunds. The device may include one or more coin tubes for containing a supply of coins of respective denominations, the coin tubes being included in a coin unit for receiving coins deposited in the vending machine and for directing the coins to the respective coin tubes. The coin unit includes an accumulator associated with each coin tube for counting each coin that enters therein and for subtracting therefrom the number of coins paid out, each of the accumulators including a mechanism for establishing a minimum and a maximum number of coins that can be maintained in the coin tube.

Abstract: A vend control circuit for a multi-channel vendor, including a credit entry circuit, a plurality of selection switches actuatable for selecting different vend selections, a plurality of vend motors, each vend selection having a vend motor associated therewith, a plurality of vend channels each of which may have a different, pre-established vend price associated therewith, a master control circuit for accumulating total credit entered, which master control circuit sequentially compares the total credit entered against the vend prices of each of the vend channels and produces for each such comparison a vend channel authorization signal if the total credit deposited at least equals the vend price, a delivery control circuit for effecting energization of a particular vend motor when a vend selection switch with which such particular vend motor is associated is actuated during the time that a vend channel authorization signal is being produced for the vend channel to which the actuated switch belongs, and a monito

Abstract: A housing has an input hopper for receiving municipal trash items, particularly aluminum cans, which drop onto a conveyor and are carried to a crusher. The crushed items drop onto a second conveyor which carries the items past a magnetic separator station which recognizes and separates out any ferrous materials. The remaining material, including aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic cartons, paper and other items, are carried to an identification station which recognizes the aluminum items and signals a pusher mechanism to push the aluminum items off the conveyor. The pushed-off aluminum items drop into one of the pockets of a rotatable collector-and-wiper device.

Abstract: A vend control system for vending machines which accept credit, have an established vend price, include customer actuatable selection capability, apparatus for producing a selected vend, and an empty product device operable to prevent energizing of the associated vend producing apparatus when the supply of articles to be vended thereby is exhausted, the improvement including a circuit for establishing a power connection when an amount deposited at least equals the established vend price, circuit elements constructed to respond to the power connection to establish a credit condition and to enable selecting a product for vending including generating a vend signal in response thereto, a circuit responsive to the generation of a vend signal to enable energizing of selected vend producing apparatus, and a switch device under control of each respective vend producing apparatus to establish a circuit condition in association with the respective empty product device to assure that an energized vend producing apparatu

Abstract: A conditioning time control and method of operation thereof for controlling the pre-vend conditioning of products in a multi-selection vendor having credit entry circuitry, vend selection switches, each vend selection having a pre-established vend price associated therewith, product conditioning circuitry, and vend producing circuitry responsive to actuation of a vend selection switch for effecting delivery of a selected product to the customer when the credit entered is at least equal to the vend price for the selected product, the conditioning time control including circuitry to inhibit vending of the product associated with a particular vend selection for a period of time to permit preconditioning of such product, conditioning selection switches operable by authorized personnel for individually establishing the particular selections to be inhibited, and a reset switch operable by authorized personnel, the inhibiting circuitry being responsive to actuations of the conditioning selection switches and to oper

Abstract: An improved vending control system for controlling events and sequences of events involved in vending and paying out or refunding of amounts deposited, the system including product delivery sensing apparatus to monitor the delivery of products and to indicate when a product dispensing cycle has been successfully completed, the sensing apparatus including a sensor device located to sense the dispensing of all products, circuits connecting the sensor device to produce outputs whenever a product being delivered is sensed, a timing device for establishing a predetermined time interval whenever a product delivery operation is initiated, and a comparator circuit to compare the time of occurrence of an output of the sensing apparatus to the predetermined time interval to control terminating a vend cycle and the subtracting of the price of a vend from an amount of credit entered by the customer.

Abstract: A pricing device for use in coin controlled and related devices such as coin changers and other vending control circuits including an electronic memory device for entering and storing price information, and programming controls for the memory device including information entry controls, memory addressing controls including controls for selecting a particular vend at a particular vend price, controls for addressing and storing in the memory device and for reading out therefrom selected vend price information, controls for disabling the memory entry controls during readout, and vend selection input and readout controls for the memory device.

Abstract: A vend control system capable of vending products or services as selected comprising a plurality of vend producing devices each capable when actuated of producing a vend, circuits connecting the vend producing devices in a matrix circuit wherein the devices are arranged in first and second groupings, each of the devices having a first and a second input connection, the first input connections of each of the first selected groupings of the devices being connected in common, the second input connections of each of the second selected groupings being connected in common, a first drive circuit having a plurality of input and output connections, the output connections of which are connected respectively to the first input connections of the devices of the first groupings, a second drive circuit having a plurality of input and output connections, the output connections of which are connected respectively to the second input connections of the devices of the second groupings, a control circuit having a first set of

Abstract: A control circuit for vending and other coin controlled devices including a first accumulator for accumulating the price of each vend, said accumulator having a first input where signals that represent each vend price are entered, a second input where signals for initiating a vend operation are entered, a third accumulator input, and an accumulator output, a pulse generator having an input connected to the third accumulator output, said pulse generator having an output operatively connected to the third accumulator input, said pulse generator producing outputs to enter into the accumulator whenever a vend operation is initiated and until the amount entered into the first accumulator equals the vend price also entered therein, a second accumulator having an input operatively connected to the output of the pulse generator and including means to accumulate the total of all vend prices entered in the first accumulator, and a readout device associated with the second accumulator where the running total being accum