Abstract: A vending having a vending machine controller for calculating credit acceptance, calculating credit return, signaling product dispensing, displaying information on a display, monitoring environmental conditions, and controlling lighting. Coin and bill acceptors are also included that receive and validate coins and bills and, optionally, pay coins and bills back as change. A product dispenser vends product in response to a signal from the vending machine controller. A cashless payment device reads a customer's cashless payment device and transmits the cashless payment information to the vending machine controller. Finally, the vending machine controller includes a network interface controller for communicating information about the customer's cashless payment device across a network and for receiving information about whether the cashless payment device is valid for making a purchase from the vending machine.

Abstract: A dispensed product detection system and method for use in a vending machine where the products are hold on shelves and utilizing an optical light beam crossing the path through which a dispensed product travels.

Abstract: A device for sensing predetermined characteristics of an object such as a coin or a token in order to determine its validity or genuineness and in some cases its denomination, the device including a combination of optical and electromagnetic sensors which operate together along a coin path and capable to analyze the coin or token in different positions so that if there are multiple holes or rings of transparent material they can be sensed and used to determine the coin or token's validity and denomination.

Abstract: A device for sensing predetermined characteristics of an object such as a coin or a token in order to determine its validity or genuineness and in some cases its denomination, the device including a combination of optical and electromagnetic sensors which operate together along a coin path and capable to analyze the coin or token in different positions so that if there are multiple holes or rings of transparent material they can be sensed and used to determine the coin or token's validity and denomination.

Abstract: A vending machine and a method of use having a solid front. The solid front has an inner and outer surface. The solid front defined a plurality of product selection areas, each of the product selection areas associated with a product vendable by said vending machine. A plurality of sense electrodes are placed on the inner surface of the solid front of the vending machine, each of said electrodes associated with one of the product selection areas. The sense electrodes are physically isolated from the outer surface of the solid front by the solid front. A circuit electrically connects to the sense electrodes and determined whether a customer has contacted the outer surface in one of the product selection areas. The circuit communicates information indicating that a product selection area has been touched to a vending machine controller, and the vending machine vends the product.

Abstract: A method of moving an elevator to a product location in a vending machine to receive product from the product location, including the steps of: providing an indicator associated with each product location; providing a sensor associated with the elevator; moving the sensor first to a position near an expected position of one of the indicators; and searching for an actual position of the indicator. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A loyalty automatic merchandiser system comprises a vending machine capable of vending product, the vending machine having an input device for receiving identification information of a customer purchasing product from the vending machine, and a transaction controller for storing and transmitting information concerning identification information and product purchased, and a loyalty tracking system for registering a customer and assigning identification information for a customer, for receiving identification information and product purchased from the transaction controller, and for awarding points based on product purchased.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling change payout from a plurality of coin tubes of a vending machine, each of which plurality of coin tubes has a particular coin type stored therein, including a processor for processing data and controlling vend operations, and coin level sensors for indicating the level of coins stored in each of the plurality of coin tubes, the processor programmed to determine the amount of change payback and whether one or more predetermined conditions are satisfied, including whether a first payout routine has been disabled, and if the first payout routine has been disabled, to execute a global payout routine which includes steps to effect an attempt to payout one coin only from a full coin tube, and steps to effect, if a coin is not paid out from a full coin tube, an attempt to payout one coin from a coin tube storing a coin denomination which cannot be evenly divided into the next highest coin denomination stored in one of the plurality of coin tubes.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling change payout from a plurality of coin tubes of a vending machine, each of which plurality of coin tubes has a particular coin type stored therein, including a processor for processing data and controlling vend operations and counters for maintaining a count of the coins in each of the plurality of coin tubes, the processor programmed to determine the amount of change payback and whether a particular coin type available for payout is desired to be saved and the identity of such coin type, and further programmed to generate a payout array in which the number of coins of the coin type desired to be saved has been reduced from the number that would otherwise be specified and the number of coins of other coin types are adjusted accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in one form thereof, to making a coin payout from a vending machine having a processor for processing data and a plurality of coin tubes for storing coins, each coin tube having one coin denomination type stored therein. The machine further includes coin counter, coupled to the coin tubes and to the processor, for determining when a coin is deposited in each coin tube and when a coin is removed from each coin tube. In one form of the present invention, the processor is programmed to determine whether certain conditions are satisfied for a particular vend and, if such conditions are satisfied, paying out at least one coin selected on the basis of predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A coin validation circuit and method of operation thereof, including a memory having stored therein a data entry for each acceptable denomination, a validation control circuit, preferably including a microprocessor, operatively connected to the memory, an analysis circuit, preferably a ringing circuit, operatively connected to the validation control circuit and operable to produce output signals, and a monitor circuit operatively connected to the analysis circuit to respond to a particular predetermined output signal characteristic, the validation control circuit operable during a coin validation operation with respect to any one of the acceptable denominations to retrieve from the memory a predetermined data entry, to produce a conditioning signal corresponding to the retrieved predetermined data entry to effect a pre-conditioning of the analysis circuit in accordance therewith, and to thereafter produce a coin analysis initiation signal, the analysis circuit responsive to such initiation signal to produce a

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 coin validation circuit and method of operation thereof, including a memory having stored therein a data entry for each acceptable denomination, a validation control circuit, preferably including a microprocessor, operatively connected to the memory, a ringing circuit operatively connected to the validation control circuit and operable to produce damped wave output signals, and a monitor circuit operatively connected to the ringing circuit to respond to a particular predetermined damped wave output signal characteristic, the validation control circuit operable during a coin validation operation with respect to any one of the acceptable denominations to retrieve from the memory a predetermined data entry, to produce a conditioning signal corresponding to the retrieved predetermined data entry to effect a pre-conditioning of the ringing circuit in accordance therewith, and to thereafter produce a ring initiation signal, the ringing circuit responsive to such ring initiation signal to produce during a ringing