Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for selection of vendible products provides designated product reference areas at a refrigerated double glass front vending machine for making viewable product selections thereon by applying a light tap at its outer glass pane and sensing the tap location by three or more spaced apart resilient members each having its first portion attached at the inner glass pane. The resilient member's second portion suspends an inertia mass that reciprocates at a predetermined rate due to the inertia mass weight and the resiliency of the suspending member. A sensor senses the reciprocating movement in response to the light tap. The location of the tap is determined by measuring the arrival time of each predetermined signal produced by the first resonating alternation of its attached resiliently suspended inertia mass during the first rearward movement of the inner glass pane.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for selection of vendible products provides designated product reference areas at a refrigerated double glass front vending machine for making viewable product selections thereon by applying a light tap at its outer glass pane and sensing the tap location by three or more spaced apart resilient members each having its first portion attached at the inner glass pane. The resilient member's second portion suspends an inertia mass that reciprocates at a predetermined rate due to the inertia mass weight and the resiliency of the suspending member. A sensor senses the reciprocating movement in response to the light tap. The predetermined reciprocating rate is designed to be less than the natural rear to front movement of the inner glass pane but greater than most of the other vibration times that occur due to the tap.

Abstract: A cassette having a plurality of coin stores for storing and dispensing coins in a coin changer, the coin stores arranged in a plurality of rows of coin stores, and a coin reject path for transporting coins that have been rejected by the coin changer, the coin reject path being disposed between rows of the coin stores.

Abstract: A method for displaying coin store operating levels in a coin changer comprising the steps of activating a visual display to show recommended coin denominations and coin operating levels for a plurality of coin stores and manually positioning level indicators attached to each of said plurality of coin stores to a position indicated by the visual display, the coin store having a plurality of marked positions. An apparatus for employing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method of delivering products from a vending machine having a number of selectable product storage locations comprising actively moving products using a product delivery mechanism associated with each of said selected product storage locations, driving an endless element having at least one engagement finger that is moved in a first direction by an actuator to engage one of a number of rotatable drive elements each connected to said product delivery mechanism, driving said endless element with said engagement finger in a second direction by reversing said actuator and going past said rotatable drive elements without engagement to provide for the selection of other products.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the “fill” status of a coin tube in a coin handling device, including directing periodic incident waves of variable frequencies into the air space above the coins in the coin tube in an incremental fashion, under control of a processor, such as by use of a small speaker preferably positioned at or near the top of the coin tube, such that, for each incident wave, the periodic incident wave will be reflected by the closed bottom end of the coin tube and/or the coins therein, and the reflected wave will interact with the continuing incident wave to effect a resultant waveform in the open space above the coins.

Abstract: A two port high speed integrated circuit memory device that includes a bus transceiver, a memory array and a decoder. The present invention provides a processor high speed access to the internal memory array via very low capacitive load address and data buses. The present invention also buffers a secondary bus to provide access to slower-speed local devices. The bus transceiver transfers address, data and control signals between the primary and secondary port and also couples signals to the internal memory array. The bus transceiver includes an input data bus, an output data bus, and an address and control bus. Each of these separate buses include a buffer at the primary and secondary port to minimize capacitive loading. The decoder in the two port memory device decodes memory chip select signals and control signals that define the operational mode of the device.