GB1235651A - Coin or token operated equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

1,235,651. Counting apparatus. BELLFRUIT MFG. CO. Ltd. 13 Jan., 1970 [4 Jan., 1969], No. 686/69. Heading G4V. Apparatus for controlling the amount of credit available in coin or token operated equipment 1 comprises an electronic counter 5, addition means 7 which is activated by coins or tokens that are fed into the equipment and which responds accordingly to cause the counter to count up the number of credit units corresponding to the value of the said coins or tokens, subtraction means 8 which is activated by operation of the equipment and which corresponds accordingly to cause the counter to count down a corresponding number of credit units, and a switch 4 to prevent further operation of the equipment when the counter is in its zero state. A fruit or vending machine 1 has slots to receive coins of 1, 3 and 6 units of value. Each coin insertion momentarily closes the appropriate coin switch 6 and so connects the power supply 2 to the appropriate addition unit 7. Activation of the + 1 addition unit, which comprises a pulse diode, supplies a single pulse to the first unit of the six bi-stable multivibrator circuit unit counter 5, thus increasing the count by 1. Activation of the + 3 addition unit supplies a pulse to both the first and second binary circuits, so that the count is increased by 3 units, the pulses being out of phase with each other. The total value of a series of inserted coins is thus recorded in counter 5. Each bi-stable counter circuit is connected to the base of the power transistor 4, so that switch 4 is held open provided one or more circuit is in its unity state i.e. provided counter 5 records a value greater than zero. Machine 1 is thus permitted to operate. Operation of the machine momentarily closes switch 9. The pulse thus produced is squared by a suitable circuit (not shown) and applied to subtraction means 8 comprising monostable multivibrator circuits labelled inverter and + 1. Both circuits are simultaneously triggered to their unstable states by the leading edge of the input pulse so that an output pulse is sent to change the state of each bi-stable counter circuit 5. The + 1 circuit then resets to its normal state, thereby sending an output pulse to the first bi-stable circuit 5 to change its state. The longer time constant inverter circuit then resets to its normal state, thereby producing output pulses which change the state of each bi-stable counter circuit 5. The net result is the subtraction of one unit from the credit stored in the counter. The subtraction for each use of the machine can be increased by directing the pulse from the plus circuit to e.g. the second bistable circuit. Alternatively the inverter may comprise a flip-flop circuit which is triggered by both the leading and trailing edge of the square input pulse, the short time constant plus circuit being triggered to its unstable state by the initial flip-flop circuit pulse. A reset circuit 10 sends pulses to the bi-stable circuits 5 to set them all to the zero state when the power is restored following interruption by opening of the switch 3 or by any other means.