US2333665A - Multiple-coin control device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 9, 1943. B. E. MILLS MULTIPLE-G01N CONTROL lDEVICE:

Filed Aug. 31, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nqv. 9, 1943. B. E. MILLS MULTIPLE-COIN CONTROL DEVICEv Filed-Aug. s1, 1958 4 Sheng-sheet 2' Nov, 9, 1943. B E MILLS 2,333,665

MULTIPLE-COIN CONTROL DEVICE A Filed Aug. 31, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 MULTIPLE-com CONTROL DEVI'CE Filed Aug. 3l, 1938 4 SheebS-Sheen'4 esistita Nev. s, iets PAT n Industries, Incorporated,

a corporation of Mliffipplicaton August 31, 1938, Serial No. 227,813

(Cl. 19d- 10) il laims.

This invention relates to control devices for coin-operated vending machines and has as its primary object to provide a, multiple-coin control device operable by a combination of two or more coins of different denominations, such, for example, as a nickel and a penny,fto initiate and control the operation of an electrically operated machine adapted for the vending of such goods as bottled beverages. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a control device of this type in which each of the two or more species of coins required for operating the device may be inserted in the same receiving opening.

Another object is to provide an improved coinoperated electric control of the momentary-contact type-i. e., a device in which the coin contacts a switch arm only momentarily as it passes by. In certain prior devices operated in this manner, a. mechanical latching device has been em` ployed for holding the switch closed after the coin has passed by. The present invention aims to eliminate this mechanical latching mechanism, so as to avoid certain disadvantages characteristic of this type of mechanism.

The invention provides a multiple-coin control device in which each of the dierent species of coins operates its own individual momentary- CFI until the vending operation of the machine has been completed, and so as to deliver such coins back to the customer.

Other objects of the invention will become ap-.

parent from the following detailed description of the invention and from the accompanying drawy ings, in which:

Fig. 1v is a front elevation of a control device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is, a similar view with portions of the apparatus removed and certainV parts shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a vertical front-to-back sectional view of the same, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

and

Fig. i is an electrical diagram of the control mechanism as embodied, for example, in the bot'- tle vending machine disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,189,740, issued February 6, 1940. The above identied application is referred to for a description of a vending machine in which the present invention may be embodied. As described in detail in said application, said vending machine has an endless carrier type of bottle storage and delivery mechanism, including a chain i!) (Fig. i) traveling over a sprocket il mounted on a shaft l2 driven, as shown, by an electric motor i3. Between said chain it and contact trigger switch, and in which Aall of such a control of this type which will be actuated by two or more diierent coins irrespective of which of the coins is inserted first and irrespective of how long an interval elapses between the insern tion of the different coins.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control mechanism for a'vending machine, incorporating an electric signal device for indicating when the available supply of articles in the machine has been exhausted, together with means for locking the control mechanism against further operation when such point Iof exhaustion has been reached, the arrangement being such that a subsequently inserted coin -wlll lock up the mechanism and cause the Empty indicator to remain energized until the mechanism is reset by the operator, as by refilling.

Another object of the invention is to provide,

by -the locking mechanism will be temporarily actuated during each operation of the control a second similar chain, not shown, are suspended cradles it in which the bottles B are carried around in the direction indicated by the arrow l5 to a position wherein they are delivered upon an inclined rollway l@ and allowed to roll into a delivery chute il. In the control 4mechanism described in my earlier application, above identified, the coin is one of which is closed constantly during sucneeding operations of the machine and which 5gserves, by being opened when the point of exhaustion has been reached, to prevent further in combination with the foregoing, means where- `mechaniswlgfi so as to prevent the delivery of subseoperation of the machine, and the other of which is normally opened'and is closed at the point of exhaustion to energize the Empty signal.

In the present invention, the last-mentioned two switches are combined in a single two-way mercury switch indicated generally in Fig. 4 by the character S', and a single mercury switch S, corresponding to the rst of the above-described switches, is also employed and serves a similar function of resetting the control mechanism for further actuation at the end of each cycle of operation.

Switch S in the present arrangement, however, instead of releasing a coin which has been held at the contact station, serves to release certain portions of the control mechanism which have been locked up by the momentary closing of the trigger switches, as will later appear.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, as Well a to Fig. 4, most of the control mechanism is mounted on a, plate I8, on one side of which is a delivery chute I9 for delivering a nickel to a. contact arm 2U of a 5cent triggerv switch indicated generally at T, and on the other side of which is a second delivery chute 2I (indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 and shown in section in Fig. 3) which delivers pennies to a contact arm 22 of a l-cent trigger switch indicated generally at T.

oth nickels and pennies are inserted through an opening 23 in a receiving chute 24, the latter being formed on an upward extension 21 atv one corner of the plate I8 and including rear and l front spring plates and 26, respectively, and side bars (Figs. 2 and 3), the latter being securedto the front plate 26. Said spring plates 25 and 26 are together secured to the 4upward extension 21 of the plate I8, by means of a clamp plate 28 and screws 28', and are spaced apart by a spacer 29 (Fig. 3). They are preformed so as to tend to move away from the plate I8 and are normally restrained from such movement by cams 3| (see Fig. 3) on a cam shaft 32, which is mounted in ears 33 formed' on the extension 21. The cam shaft 32 is adapted to be operated by a crank lever 34 secured to one end thereof, movement of said lever in the direction indicated by the arrow 35 in Fig, 3 causing rotary movement of the cam members 3| in relation to the spring plate 26 of the receiving chute and permitting the plates 25 and 26, which are spaced apart by the bars 30, to swing outwardly, to thereby perform a scavenging operation.

The lower end of the receiving chute is extended laterally to form a separating chute, indicated by the reference numeral 36. The bottom of this chute is formed by a block 31 (Fig. 2) secured to the plate I8, the upper edge of said block being inclined so that coins delivered to it from the receiving chute will roll downwardly.

The separating chute 36 serves to separate the nickels from the pennies. To this end, the plate 26 is provided with a slot 38 bounded at the top by a strip 38 ofthe plate 26, said strip being spaced above the upper edge of the block 31 such a distance that pennies will clear 4the strip and Will be pushed outwardly in the Slot 38 by a spring finger 39 while nickels extend upwardly on the inside of said strip 38' above the slot 38 and therefore are constrained to travel on through the separating chute 36 to the end thereof. The slot 38 'extends laterally to a point near the end of the plate 26 where it turns downwardly as indicated at 40, and a tongue 4I Aof the material of the spring plate 26 below the vlaterally extending portion of said slot is bent outwardly `so as to allow the pennies to be 'pushed by the spring finger 39 into a position leaning out of the plane of the chute 36 (see Fig'. 2).

Opposite the discharge end of the chute 36 two chutes are provided, one for receiving the nickels and the other for receiving the pennies.

'I'he nickel receiving chute, identified by the nu-A meral 42, is secured to the plate I8 in the plane of the separating chute 36 so as to receive the nickels from the end of the. chute and cause them to continue to travel in said plane along the trajectory indicated by the broken line 43. The nickels are identified by the reference letter N.

The penny receiving chute, identified by the numeral 44 (,Figs. 2 and 3), has a receiving portion disposed forwardly fromthe plane of the chutes 36 and 42, and is inclined downwardly and rearwardly through an opening 45 inl the plate IB., Thus the penny, marked P, when pushed outwardly beyond the plane of the chutes 36 and 42, rolls against a vertical wall 46 on the chute 44 and is caused thereby to slide through the opening 45 and into the penny receiving chute 2l on-.the other side of the plate I8, said chute 2l being provided with a widened mouth portion 2|. The nickel, when rolling down the top of the block 31, will strike a projection I28 on the lower end of said block, so as to jump past th lower'part of the inclined chute 44.

The space forwardly of the plane of the chutes 36 andl 42 is partially enclosed by a scavenger chute 41, extending the full length of the chute 36 and past the chute 44 and thence downwardly as indicated at 48 (Fig. 3) in front of the chute 42. The members forming chutes 42 and 41, 48 are secured to the plate I8 by means of ears 49 and screws 49' (Fig. 2).

f in the plane of said chute 42 (Fig. 2) and a pair of spaced horseshoe magnets 5I (Figs. 1-3) located, respectively, on the opposite sides of said block 56. This part of the mechanism may correspond to that illustrated in my prior Patent No. 2,250,047, issued July 22, 1941, and need not be described in detail here, except to say that said magnets serve to provide an eddy current which retards slugs and spurious coins to a greater extent than genuine nickels, thereby directing them into a different trajectory. The lower portion of said chute 42 provides a discard passage for coins rejected by the testing mechanism, the upper and lower portions being separated by a bar'52 (Fig. 2) upon which the nickels drop after being delivered from the chute 36, said bar being attached by a screw 52' to the plate I8 and serving to guide the nickels for delivery onto the block 50, being of such width as'to prevent coins from dropping past the same in said chute. Ac-l cepted nickels will bounce from the block 50 along the trajectory 43 into the nickel receiving chute I9. Rejected counterfeit nickels, marked O, or slugs will roll in the opposite direction from the inclined face' of the block 50 below the discharge end of the bar` '52, following the trajectory 43",r`

' chine is completed, such nickel, obstructed from entering the chute I9, will roll back across the block 58 and into the lower end of the chute 42 and will thence be, returned to the operator. The mechanism for thus obstructing the nickel passage comprises a nger 53, adapted-to extendthrough a slot 54 in the plate I8 across the pathA of the nickel from the block 58 to the chute I9. The finger 53 is formed on the lower end of a lever 55 (Figs. 1 and 3) extending upwardly, then 5 laterally as shown at 56 (Fig.'1), and then again upwardly, as shown at 51, said lever being pivoted upon a stud 58 mounted in an ear 59 formed on a bracket 68 (Fig. 1) secured to the plate I8 by I screws 6I and spaced 'from said plate forwardly 10 of the scavenger chute 41, by means of spacer sleeves (not shown). Said bracket includes a portion 62 which supports a socket 62' of an Empty signal lamp 63, and another portion having an outwardly bent arm 62a, shown in 15 dotted lines in Fig. 1, on which is supported the relay mechanism, which will now be described.

Secured to the arm 62 of the bracket-68 by welding, or in other suitable manner, is an-L shaped pole piece 63B of an electromagnet 64. 20 An armature 65 is pivoted at :6-6 to the upper end of the pole piece 63a. Secured to thearmature 65 by means of riveted ears 65' is an arm 61 having a downwardly extending portion 68 terminating in` an inclined heel 69. When the 25 armature 65 is attracted by the electromagnet 64, the heel 69 willengage a nger 18'formed on the arm 51 of the coin passage obstructing member 53, and will cause said member to move from the full-line position shown in Fig. 3 to a posi- 30 tion obstructing the coin passage, as indicated dotted lines in that iigure.

lAttached to the arm 61 isv a crossbar 1| of insulating material, which is adapted to engage extended ends of upper arms 12 of relay switches R 35 and R' (Fig. 3) of the 5cent relay, The armature 65 is normally urged upwardly by a spring 13, one end of which is attachedto an ear 13 on the armature65 and the other end of which is attached to a hook.14 formed on the bracket member J623. The upper arms 1 2 and correspending lower arms 15 of the switches R and R' are mounted between insulating blocks 16secured upon a bracket 11 Vformed integrally `with the bracket memberl-H, and are'spaced apart by an 45 intermediate insulating block ,118". l i

Y The relay switches 1R' and 'Rf are positioned side by side, as indicated in' Fig. 3, and both are normally held open by'thebar 1|, being adapted to spring to. closed pofsition when the bar 1| is *59 retracted byfthe'ifdownward movement of the @armature 65l inresponse to the pull of the elec'. v

tromagnet 6I. v

A second set of relay switches R.' and Rm (Fig. 4) are associated with a relay 4magnet 18 4and are adapted to be simultaneously. attracted thereto in the same manner as inthe nickel relay. `The switches ,'R" and Rf" vand the inagnet 18 comprise the penny relay.- In` the em.

bodiment shown, this relay happens to be mount- 60 ved apartirom tle plate` |8 because of lack of available space. The physical position of this particular relay is, however, of no particular iin-l f portance, since it does riot incorporate any coinblocking mechanism such as that which is combined with the nickel relay. I

The` trigger switches T andT are of conveny tional construction, including the contact arms. 20, 22, pivoted at 19, 88, respectively(1iigs.'1 and A 2), weighted at 8|, 82, respectively, so as to be normally positionedhat their upper limits of move- 1 ment; having laterally projecting ngers 83 extending through slots 84,85 in their. respective chutes I9, 2|, arrangedV to be moved downwardly under the weight of the respective coins which contact them, to their lower limits of movement, at which lower limits the 'respective c oins are allowed to pass beyond them, and having laterally projecting pins 86 adapted to engage spring arnis 81 of the respective switches and to move the sa'me into contact with the opposed spring arms 88 of said switches. ' I'he arms 81 and 88 are mounted in spaced relation in insulating blocks 89, which-in turn are mounted on brackets 98, 9|. The bracket 98 is secured to the rear side of the plate I8 at the lower right-hand corner thereof by imeansof a screw 98', and the bracket 9| is formed integrally with the l-cent receiving chute 2|. y

Referring now to Fig. 4, the arrangement of the various elements of the electrical system will be described.

The relay switches R and R", which constitute the motor control switches, are in series with each other and with the motor I3 and the source .of electrical energy E so thatin order for the motor I3 to be energized, both of the switches R and R" must be closed. J,

In order that the relay switches R and R" may be held closed, the magnet control switches R and R'" are provided. The switches R' and R" are connected, in parallel with the trigger switches Tand T', respectively, in the relay magnet circuits, so that once a trigger switch has been closed to energize its respective relay magnet,

the magnet control switch, being closed by such i momentary energization, will maintain the mag-M net circuit closed after the trigger switch has opened.

- .To accomplish this result, the arm 12 of the switch .Ris connected to the arm 15 of the switch v switch S and wire 91 tor one side of the source of energy E, and the arm 15 of the switch R is connected by means of a wire 98 to a feed wire 99 leading from the other side of .the source of energy E. The arms 12 of the relays R' and R" are connected, respectively, by means .of the wire\ 98 and a wire 98' to feed wire"99, and the arms 15 of the relay switches R .and R'" are connected .by means of wires 88 and |88' to the magnets 64 and 18, respectively. Likewise, the arms 81 of the trigger switches T and T', respectively, are connected bywires I8| and I8I to the feed wire 99, and the arms 88 of said trigger switches T and T are connected by means of wires |82 and |82' to the wires |88 and |88' and thereby to the magnets 64 and 18, respectively.

The wires 96 and 91 of the feed circuit are connected, respectively, to contacts |83 and |84 of thevrelease switch S. Likewise the wires 94 -and 95 are connected, respectively, yto contacts |85 and |86 of the lock-up switch,S. The magnet 64 is connected by means o-a wire I |81 toflthe wire 98 of the feedcircliit, and the magnet 18 is connected by means of`a`wire |88 to the wire-94.'

A third contact los off the lock-up Switchs-1s connected by means of a wire ||8 to the Empty signal-lamp, 63, .the other side of which isLconnected by a wire I I2 to thel feed wire 99.

Referring again Yto th-cam shaft 32.*(1igs.`

1-3) movement of thi' shaft back to its normal 'position after it has beev actuated by turning the A crank 34 is accomplished by a spring |28 stretched between Va bracket |2| on the extension21 and a lever |22 secured on the shaft 32..

The curved'arm |23, appearing in Figs. land 2, is a scavenger arm, adapted to be moved between the magnets 5| during each cycle of operation of the machine. It is mounted on a pivot screw |24 and has a lever arm |25 'which is connected through the medium of a pull wire |26 and spring |21, to the crank 34 so as to be operated each time the latter is actuated.

In the operation of the device, the trigger switches T and T' are closed, respectively, by a nickel and a penny deposited in the opening 29. The nickel, after having gone through the testing mechanism, as hereinbefore described, will engage the contact arm 20 of the nickel trigger switch T and close the switch momentarily. This will close a circuit through the feed wire 91, the release switch S, the wire 96, the wire |01, the magnet 64, the wire |00, the wire |02, the trigger switch T, the wire and the feed wire 99. The magnet 64 being thus energized, will attract the armature |55, allowing both switches Rand R to close.

The switch R' will then complete a second circuit, in parallel with the switch T,"causing the magnet 64 to remain energized and keeping the switch R closed until the magnet circuit is opened by theopening of the release switch S.

In this connection, it will be noted that the switch S is normally maintained by gravity in the position shown in Fig.' 4, tilted downwardly toward the left so as to close the circuit between the wires 96 and 91 through the contact |03, the mercury |03 in the switch S and the contact |04. As the bottle B is delivered by the vending mechanism in the latter part of the vending cycle, in rolling onto the discharge trough |1 it engages an arm ||3 whichis pivoted ltothe frame of the machine at H4, and, through the medium of a pivoted link ||5 extending between the arm ||3 and a tiitable bracket ||6 on which the switch S is mounted,- will cause the switch S to be moved upwardly to open position,` thus breaking the cir.. cuit between the wires 96 and 91 and, consequently, the circuit through Vthe magnet 64. The bracket ||6 is pivoted at I6 to the frame of the machine and is formed with a recess |26 in which will be maintained until it is broken between the wires 96 and 91 by the upward tilting of the release switch S. I

It will be evident that additional magnetsv in parallel-with the magnet 18 might be providedv with similar controlling mechanismito adapt the device for operation by coins of three or more different species if this should be desired.

The lock-up switch S' is normally maintained in closed position as shown in Fig. 4, by gravity, its bracket ||1 being tilted to one side of its pivot 6, thus maintaining the circuit between wires 94 and 95 closed at all times until the point of exhaustion ofthe contents of the machine has been reached. At this point, a registering mechanism, described in my priorapplication, Serial No. 56,367, above mentioned, but not shown in the drawings of the present application, will engage the bracket ||1 and cause it to tilt to a position in which the circuit between contact |05, the mercury |05 in the switch S', and the contact |06 will be broken and a circuit established between contacts |06 and |09, the tilting action being limited bya stop pin |30 located in aacutout |3| in said bracket 1.

Empty signal lamp 63, the wire ||0, switch S',

y the wire 95, the wire 96, the switch S, and the feed wire 91. The vending operation, during 1which this changeover of the lock-up switch of this circuit through the switch S', the machine a stop -pin |29 is disposedfto limit the tilting action e of the switch. As soon as the bottle B has passed on down the discharge chute |1, the switch S willreturn by gravity to closed position and thereby reestablish the circuit between the wires 96 S, the wire 96, and wire 95, the contacts |06 and |06 of the lock-up switch S', the wire 94, the wire |06, themagnet 16, the wire |02', theswitch T', the wire |0|', and the feed wire 99. This will cause the armature of the penny relay to be attracted to the magnet 16, and the holding circuit through the switch R'", in' parallel with the circuit through the switchV T','will be established,

thus maintaining the magnet 16 energized until its circuit is opened by the tilting of the rel-ease switch Sbreaking the circuit between the wires 96 and 91.

The magnet16', being energized, the switch R will remain inoperative and will reject all subsequently deposited nickels owing to the fact that the nickel obstructing finger 53 will be held in obstructing position as long as the magnet 64 remains energized. Upon refilling the machine the switch S' will be tilted back to normal position, thus restoring the' device to condition for further vending operations.

The foregoing detailed description hasv been given for clearness of understanding only andv no unnecessary limitations should be understood y therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as 4broadly as permissible in view of the prior art. ,Y

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a vending machine and a motor for operating the same: a multiple-coin co/ntrol device, means/for receiving coins of different denominations and directing them into separatedelivery chutes, a plurality of control switches in series with each other adapted only when all a-re closed to initiate la cycle of operation of the machine, said switches being arranged to be actuated each by a coin of'diierent denomination in its separate delivery chute, and means operable in connection with one of said switches' for causing rejection, while said switch remains closed, of coin's of the denomination adapted to normally operate such switch.

2. Incombination with a vending machine and The circuit thus established includes wire 99the wire- ||2, the

aunotor for operating the same: a coin-operated electric control including, a trigger switch arranged to be momentarily closed by passage of a coin, a relay including an electromagnet, an armature opposed thereto and a pair of'relay switches adapted fto be simultaneously closed by attraction of saidarmature tothe electromagnet,

'a starting circuit including said trigger switch and the electromagnet for initially energizing said electromagnet, a magnet circuit ,including one ofsaid. relay switches and said electromagw net, in parallel with the starting circuit, for continuing the energization of said .magnet after the trigger switch has opened, and a control circuit including' the other relay switch and said vending machine motor. ,Y

3. In combination with a vending machine and i a motor for operating the same, a coin-operated ,electric control including a trigger switch, ar-

ranged to be momentarily closed by passage of a coin, a relay includingit an electromagnet, anV

for continuing the energization of said magnetv after the trigger switch has opened, a control circuit including the other relay switch fand said vending machine motor, and means for breaking the magnet circuit at the end of an operation of thepmachine.

4. In combination/with a vending machine including an electric motor for operating the same: a multiple-coin control device comprising a coin receiver provided with separate passages for coins of different denominations, a plurality of coinoperated trigger switches, one in each of said coin passages, a plurality of electromagnetic devices arranged to be connected with a source of electrical energy by said trigger switches, respectively, relay switches connected in series and arranged to be operated each by a separate one of said electromagnetic devices, said operating motor vfor the vending machine being connected lin series Awith said relay switches, each of saidv switches thus requiring to be closed by operation of the respective trigger switches controlling the same in order to energize said motor,means for f maintaining the circuit through said'electromagnetic devices and said motor during an operation of the vending machine, a release switch for breaking said circuit, and means for automatically opening said release switch upon completion of such vending-operation.

5. In combinationwith a vending machine in-v cluding an electric motor for operating the same: as'multiple-coin control device comprising a coin receiver provided with separate passages for coins of different denominations, a plurality of coin-operated trigger switches, one,.in each of said coin passages, a plurality of, electromagnetic devices'arran'ged to be connected with a-source of electricalenergy by said trigger switches, respectivelyfrelay switches connected ,in series and arranged to be operated each by a separateoneB of said electromagnetic devicesLsaid operating motion forth'e vending machine being connected in series with said relay switches," each of saidswitches thus-requiring tobe closed by operation of the respective trigger switches controlling the same in .'order to energizel said motor,lmeans for maintaining the circuit through said electromagnetic devices and said motor during -an operation e of the vending machine, a releaseswitch for breaking said circuit, and means for automatically opening said release switchupon completion of` such vending operation, said release switch being arranged to be closed automatically after, being so opened to thus put the control device in condition for another operation by insertion lo of the proper combination of coins.

6. In combination witha vending machine including an electric motor for operating the same:

vices arranged to be connected with a source or,

electrical energy by said trigger switches,respec o tively, relay switches connected in `series and arranged to be operated each by a separate one of said electromagnetic devices, said operating motor for the vending machine being connected in series with said relay switches, each of said switchesl thusl requiring to b e closed by operationv of therespective trigger switches controlling the same in order to energize said motor, means for maintaining the circuit through said electromagnetic devices and said motor during an operation 300i the vending machine, a release switch for breaking said circuit, means for automatically opening said release switch upon completion of such vending 'operatiomsaid release switch being arranged to be closed automatically after being so opened'to thus put the control device in condition for another operation by insertion of the proper combination of coins, and meansior rejecting and returning to the customer any coins inserted during operation lof the vending machine motor.

7.. In combination with a vending machinein cluding an electric motor for operating the same:

a multiple-coin control device comprising a coin receiver provided with separatepaths for coins 4,-,-of different denomination, a plurality of trigger switches, one intersecting each of said paths,

has been closed-said electromagnetic means being arranged Jto be initiallyenergized by closing" of the associated trigger switch and said controlV switches causing the same to rem'ain energizedV v after the trigger switch has opened until the circuitin whichsaid electromagneticmeans are in-L eluded is brokenelsewhere, means for automatically breaking said circuit at the completion of each vending operation to thereby deenergize said electromagnetic means, and means for thereupon '65 restoringA said. control device to condition permitting' a further operation thereof and 0f the vending machine upon the insertionjin the device of additional proper coins. Y 8. In combination with avending machine including an electric motor for operatingv the same:

- Ya, multiple-coin control device including a plurality of trigger switches adapted, respectively, to be momentarily closed by coins of diierent denominations, a plurality of relays, each including a. l control switch and electromagnetic means for a multiple-coin controldevice comprising a coin tially energized by closing of the associated trigger switch and said control switches causing the same to remain energized after the trigger switch has opened until the circuit in which said electromagnetic means are included is broken elsewhere, means for automatically breaking said circuit at the completion of each vending operation to thereby deenergize said electromagnetic means, and means for thereupon restoring said control device to condition permitting a further operation thereof and of the vending machine upon insertion in the device of additional proper coins.

9. In combination With a vendingmachine including an electric motor for operating the same:

a multiple-coin control device including a plurality of trigger switches adapted, respectively, to be momentarily closed by coins of diierent denominations, a source of electrical energy for said motor, a plurality of relays electrically connected with said trigger switches and said source of energy, each said relay including an electromagnet initially energized by closing of the associated trigger switch, a magnet control switch in parallel with the trigger switch for continuing the energization of said electromagnet afterthe trigger switch has opened, a motor control switch, an armature controlled by said magnet for'controlling both said magnet control switch and said motor control switch, both said switches being arranged to stay in closed position so long as said magnet remains energized, means for automatically opening the circuits of said electromagnets at the completion of each vending operation, and means for thereupon restoring said control 'device to condition permitting a further operation thereof and of said vending machine upon insertion in the device of additional proper coins, said motor control switches being in series with said motor and the circuit to the motor therefore being closed ,to cause operation of the vending machine only when each of said switches has beenclosed.

10. In. combination with a vending machine including an electric motor for operating the same: a multiple-coin control device including a plurality of triggerswitches adapted, respective- 1y, to be momentarily closed by coins of diierent denominations, a source of electrical energy for said motor, a plurality of relays, each including a control switch and electromagnetic meansfor maintaining said switch closed, said control switches being arranged in series with each other 5 and with said motor, said electromagnetic means being arranged to be initially energized by closing of the associated trigger switch and said control switches causing the same to remain energized after the trigger switch has opened untill the circuitin which. said means is included is broken elsewhere, means for automatically opening the circuit of each of said electromagnetic means at the completion of each vending operation, and means for thereupon restoring said control device to condition permitting a further operation thereof and of said vending machine upon insertion in the device of additional proper coins.

1l. In combinationwith a vending machine including an electric motor for operating the same:

rality'of trigger switches adapted, respectively, to be momentarily closed by coins of different denominations, a source of electrical energy for saidmotor, a plurality of relays electrically connected with said trigger switches and said source of energy, each including an electromagnet initially energized by closing of the associated trigger switch, a magnet control switch in parallel with the trigger switch for continuing the energization of said electromagnet after the trigger switch has opened, a motor control switch,- an armaturecontrolled by said magnet for controlling both said magnet control switch and said motor control switch to cause them to belmaintained in closed position so long as said magnet remains energized, means for automatically opening the circuits of said electromagnets at the completion of each vending operation,' means for thereupon normally restoring said control device to condi- 40 tion permitting repetition of the operation thereof and of the Vending machine upon insertion in the device of additional proper coins, said motor control switches being in series with said motor and the circuit to the motor being therefore closed to cause operation of the vending machine only when each of said switches has been closed, and means adapted to be operated by mechanism associated with the vending machine at or near the point of exhaustion of the contents of said machine for opening the circuit through the electromagnetic means of one of said relays, and thereby rendering said relay inoperative until said last-mentioned circuit opening means has been reset upon reiilling of the machine.

viarmxr E. mus.

a, multiple-coin control device including a plu-

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