US2526512A - Vending system - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 17, 1950 w, SNELL, ETAL 2,526,512

VENDING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 22, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fi m, Ms 1mm ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1950 w. a SNELL- EI'AL VENDING SYSTEII 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1945 Ymk Patented Oct. 17, 1950 William E. Snell, Vineland, and Howard a. mu, Jr., and Frank A. Bignutt, Millvllle, N. 1.; said Frantz and said Hignutt asaignors to said Snell Application sumzz, 1945, Serial No. 612,080 a Claims. (01. 194-10) This invention relates to apparatus controlled by means of tokens and utilized for vending merchandise, selling tickets, and other similar purposes. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a novel vending and registering system, which includes one or more vending machines and a registering apparatus common to all the machines. Each of the vending machines of the system is constructed to receive tokens, to

inspect the tokens, and to deliver articles selected by the depositors of the tokens. The registering mechanism responds to the deposit of a genuine token in a vending machine by registering the receipt of the token and is thereupon effective to cause the delivering means of the machine, in which such a token was deposited, to deliver the selected article. The new system is electrically operated and the registering mechanism is ordinarily at a central station and the vendin mach nes disposed at different locations remote from the station. The new system, may accordingly, be used to advantage for such purposes as vending admission tickets at different entrances to a large enclosure, for example, a sports stadium, or for selling articles at different places throughout a large park.

is such a pay-off window for each ticket sellin window and, at a track of average size in this country, there may be three hundred ticket booths and three hundred pay-off booths.

At present pari-mutuel installations a large number of ticket sellers must be provided because of the limited time available for placing bets on a race, and a large number of cashiers, messengers, supervisors, and other employees are also required to operate the plant. As a result, the

labor costs are high. In addition, the use of the facilities by those desiringto place bets necessitates their walking to and from the ticket selling and pay-off windows and, also, usually standing in line at the windows.

The present invention is directed to the provision of a novel vending and registering system which is capable of use for a wide variety of purposes and is especially adapted for carrying on certain of the transactions involved in pari-mutuel betting. When used for betting purposes, the

The system of the invention may also proflt- Y ably be employed for providing facilities for parim-vtuel betting on horse races at race tracks in accordance with practices approved by the laws of various States. While the utility of the invention is not limited to that specific use, the

full possibilities of the invention are realized in a system for selling pari-mutuel betting tickets, and such a system will, accordingly, be illustrated and described in detail for purposes of explanation.

Atpresent, pari-mutuel betting, as now carried on at race tracks, involves the purchase by the bettor of a ticket, which represents a bet placed on a particular horse to finish in a chosen position in a specific race. As the tickets representing bets on horses in a particular race may be bought only immediately prior to that race and after the preceeding race has ended, and tickets representing bets of difierent denominations are sold at different ticket booths, a large number of ticket booths are required for the sale of tickets. The ticket booths are scattered about the race track grounds, and a, person desiring to place bets on horses in several races must make a trip to a ticketwindow before each race. Then, whenever such a. bettor holds a winning ticket, he must present it at one of a group of pay-off windows in order to cash it. Ordinarily, there system includes vending machines for printing and delivering betting tickets and registering mechanism which registers the bets represented by the tickets purchased. The vending machines may be distributed about the grand stand and track grounds, wherever they will be most convenient to bettors, and, whenever a person wishes to place a bet, he seeks out a machine vending tickets of the desired denomination and repre senting bets that the horse bet on will finish in a particular place in the race. The vending machine is provided with a plurality of buttons,

one for each horse, and the bettor selects a horse by pushing the corresponding button. This operation opens an orifice in the machine cabinet and also results in the functioning of means for setting the type by which the ticket will ultlmately be printed.

After having selected the horse, the bettor deposits in the orifice of the machine a token,

of which he has previously purchased a supply, V and the token enters a chamber where it is automatically examined. If the token is found to be genuine, the inspection means causes an electrical impulse of a high frequency, determined by the operation of the selected button, to be sent to receiving means at a central station. The impulse actuates the receiving means to register receipt of the token and to send back an acknowledgment impulse to the vending machine. The acknowledgment impulse causes the token to be diverted from the chamber into a receptacle within the machine and also starts a printing mechanism which prints and delivers the ticket purchased. The registering mechanism forms part of an adding apparatus by which the total amounts bet on the respective horses in a race are registered and indicated and the totals at the end of the betting period are employed in the usual way as the basis for computing the odds.

Since, by the use of the new system, the betting tickets are sold by the vending machines, which are the equivalent of ticket booths, and only a few maintenance men are required to keep a large number of machines in working order, it will be apparent that labor costs for the system are much less than in present pari-mutuel installations. The costs of operation are further decreased by the reduction of losses from theft or errors committed by ticket sellers. In addition, the bettors may use the system with much greater convenience, because of the wide distribution of the vending machines, and this results in increased use of the betting facilities and greater profit to the race track and to the State.

The system of the invention will be better understood from an examination of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of the cabinet of a vending machine forming part of the system;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the pathway.

through the vending machine, along which a token travels;

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram showing part of the wiring of the system;

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a simple form of the new system; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the selector button locking means.

The system, part of one unit of which is illustrated in Figs. 1-3, inclusive, of the drawings, includes a plurality of ticket vending machines, for example, ten, and each machine sells tickets representing bets in a particular amount that a horse selected by the bettor will finish in a particular position in a race. Thus, the vending machines of the system may sell $2 tickets for straight bets, that is, bets that the horse will come in first in the race. In a complete installation at a race track, a number of systems will be employed for selling $2 tickets for bets on the second and place bets, and also tickets of other amounts, such as $5 and $10, for straight, place, and show bets. The vending machines function when tokens purchased in advance are inserted therein, and the tokens employed are preferably those disclosed in our copending application Serial No. 545,852, filed July 20, 1944, now Patent No. 2,410,845, dated November 12, 1946.

Each vending machine in the system includes a cabinet I having an opening I I, in which is displayed a sign indicating the value of the tickets that the machine sells and also the kind of bet, that is, whether it is a straight, place, or show bet. Below the opening II, the cabinet is provided with another opening i2 closed by a sign which can be illuminated to show that the machine is out of operation, as, for example, during a race or in the event that any part of the mechanism becomes inoperative. Below opening l2 there is an orifice l3 into which a token may be inserted, the orifice being normally closed by a gate or slide. Push buttons l4 protruding from the cabinet are arranged in two rows below orifice l3, and each button -is numbered to correspond to the number of an entry in a race. By reference to the racing .the horses in the diflerent races are listed, the

bettor can determine which button to operate to place a bet on a particular horse. The buttons are provided with locking means to be later described so that, after the bettor has pushed in a button, the button will be latched in position and will be released at the time the ticket is delivered to him. Below the rows of push buttons, there is a cup i5, into which tokens, that have been rejected, are delivered, so that they can be recovered by the bettor, and at one side of the cup I is a slot 16, through which the machine delivers the ticket I! purchased.

A passageway I8 within the cabinet leads from the token orifice I: through a detector mechanism, generally the same as that disclosed in our co-pending application Serial No. 555,254, filed September 22, 1944 but including additional features. The passageway I8 includes a vertical section 19, which leads to an inclined section 20, which has a lengthwise openin in its bottom normally closed by a slide 2l. The inclined section leads to a vertical section 22, which, in turn, leads to an inclined section 23,

'the lower end of which is open and above cup [5. The slide 2! is provided with a slot 24 of the size and shape of the opening in the bottom of section 20 and the slide is connected to the core 25 of solenoid 26. When the solenoid is energized, slide 2i is moved to bring the slot 24 into alignment with the opening in the bottom of section 20 of the passageway, so that a token rolling through section 20 may fall through the opening 24 in slide 2i and enter a chute 21, which discharges the token into a receptacle. When the solenoid 26 is de-energized, slide 2| is returned by a spring 28 to its initial position, in which it closes'the bottom of section 20.

A pin 29 is attached to the core of a solenoid 30 mounted on a bracket 3| secured to the side wall of section 20 of the token passageway, and, when the solenoid is energized, the pin is moved through an opening in the side wall to a position in which it arrests a token moving down the passageway by gravity. When the solenoid is de-energized, the pin 29 is moved to inoperative position by a spring 32 acting on the solenoid core.

The side walls of section 20 of the passageway are formed with openings 33, opposite which are detector oscillator coils 34, 35, which are supplied with high frequency energy, and within each of which is a. photocell. The tokens 36 used in the machine are or the type shown in our copending application Serial No. 545,852, and each token is of disc form and includes a closed chamber 36a of transparent material which contains a noble gas, such as neon, and may be peripherally encircled by a metallic rim 31. When such a token is inserted through orifice l3 and enters the token passageway [8, it is subjected to the action of high frequency fields produced by coils 34, 35. If the token is genuine, its gas content will be activated and glow, and the light so emitted by the token will be picked up by the photocells within the coils 34, 35. The photocell current then operates, through mechanism to be described, to cause an electrical impulse to be sent to the registering means where the impulse causes the receipt of the token to be registered and a second electrical impulse to be returned to the vending machine. This second impulse starts the operation'of ticket printing and delivering mechanism, and also causes solenoid 26 to be energized be discharged into cup i5. Also, since the falsetoken will not result in the production of photocell current, neither the registering mechanism nor the ticket printing and delivering means will function.

. 6 machine cabinet, and the bar is provided with bridge contact members which close three sets of contacts a, lib, 0. Upon closure of contacts a, a circuit is established through contacts llb of a relay 41 and a tuning condenser 55 is thereby placed in parallel with a radio frequency oscillator generally designated 49, which is supplied with current from one side of a vacuum tube 55. The other side of tube 59 supplies the detector oscillator coils ll, 35. Relay 41 is energized, as will be later explained, at all times that the machine is in operative condition, and'the button l4 corresponding to an energized relay" repre- The wiring diagram (Fig. 8) illustrates the cir- .cuits controlled by a single push button of a vending machine, and portions of the circuits are duplicated for each button of the machine, as will be later explained.

All the vending machines throughout'the entire betting installation are out of operation during the running of a race and-are put back into operation from the judges stand 0 by means of a switch in the stand which isclosed to cause current to be supplied through a line 99 to relays 39, one in each vending machine. The current returns from relay :9 through a common conductor designated 0. Relay 39 is provided with three sets of contacts, of which contacts 39o are closed when the relay is not energized, and establish a circuit from a power line 49 through a lamp 4| located in the vending machine andilluminating the Closed sign in opening l2 of the machine. When relay 39 is energized, contacts 39a are opened and lamp ll is extinguished. Contacts 99b of relay 39 are closed when the relay is energized, and they establish a circuit through the normally closed contacts 42b of relay 42, and a lamp 43, which illuminates the denomination sign in the opening ll of the vending machine. Contacts 990 of relay 39 are closed when the relay is energized, and they establish a circuit from power line 40 to one winding of a transformer generally designated 44, which supplies power to the various operating elements of the machine. Line 40 receives power from a source H.

The leads to the primary of transformer 44 are designated H1 and H2 and the transformer has a number of secondary windings for supplying alternating current at different voltages. Current from the transformer is rectified by dry plate rectifier a and also by vacuum tube b, to provide direct current at 24 volts and other potentials. The line 40 carries alternating current at 115 volts and a supply of that current at that voltage is indicated throughout the diagram by the numeral 40. One winding of the transformer supplies filament current, and Fl, F2 indicate sources of filament potential. Sources of plate potential of different values are indicated by PI and P2, and XI is the positive terminal of rectifier 44a and is a source of 24-volt rectified D. 0. current. At the central station CS of the system, a transformer, etc. (not shown) provide similar power sources and also a source of 24 volt A. C. designated X2. Wire C is the neutral wire common to all circuits, either A. C. or D. C., and regardless of voltage.

The selection of the horse on which abet is to be placed is effected by pushing in the proper button l4 on the cabinet and this action accomplishes several different things. Each button ll is attached to a bar 45 lying within the vending sents a horse that is running in the race for which betting tickets are being sold.

Upon closing of the second set of contacts b, a circuit is established from a source of power XI through contacts "0 of relay". This circuit supervises the operation of the vending machine, and it includes a solenoid 5i, which is mounted within the vending machine cabinet and has a core attached .to a slide 52 mounted in openings in opposite side walls of section l9 of the token passageway. The slide is formed with an opening 53 of the shape and size of aperture l3, and, when solenoid 5i is de-energized, the slide is held by a spring 54 in position to shut off access to the token passageway Hi. When the solenoid is energized, the slide is moved to bring the opening 53 into alignment with aperture l3, so that a token may be introduced through the aperture into the token passageway. A line "cl connects the lower contacts 410 of the relays 41 for all the buttons ll in the vending machine in parallel to solenoid 5|, so that the solenoid may be energized by the pushing in of any button on the mechanism.

The supervision circuit leads from solenoid 5i through contacts 550 of relay 55, contacts 56a of relay 56, contacts 51a of relay 51, and contacts 58d of relay 58 to the neutral wire C. Contacts 550, 51a, and 58d are closed, so long as their respective relays are not energized, while contacts 56a are closed by its relay, when the latter is energized. Relay 56 is connected in a circuit from power source Pl to the plate of that part of tube 50 which supplies the detector oscillator 34, 35 and relay is, therefore, energized, whenever the vending machine is operating and the tube is in operative condition.

Closing of contacts 460 by the pushing in of button l4 closes a circuit through contacts 59a of a cam-operated switch, generally designated 59, and a relay Bil to the neutral wire C. Switch 59 includes a set of contacts for each button on the vending machine and the twelve sets, designated 59a, 59b, etc. to 591, are controlled by respective buttons. The sets of contacts are opened successively by cams on a shaft 5| driven by motor 62 and a gear 63 on the shaft drives a type setting device 64. On closure of the circuit through contacts 460 by the pushing in of button l4, current is supplied through contacts 59a of switch 59 to relay 60, and the closure of the contacts of that relay causes current to be supplied from 40 to motor 52. As the motor shaft 6| rotates, the cams thereon successively open the contacts of switch 59, and, when contacts 59a are opened, relay 69 is de-energized, and motor 62 stops. At that time, shaft 6| will have been turned through such an angle that the type-setting mechanism will have placed the type corresponding to the selected horse in operative position in the ticket printing device.

' In order that the ticket printing mechanism may be tested before the system is made availassume able to the public, each vending machine is provided with a test button 65, which can be operated by an attendant to print a test ticket, so that he can determine whether the machine is printing correctly, the ink supply is in proper order, the date and other symbols are correct, and the ticket is being cut cleanly from the paper supply. Button 65 is connected to a bar 66, which carries bridge members for closing two pairs of contacts 61a and 61b, and, after having been pushed by the attendant, the button is restored to its normal position by a slow acting trip solenoid 68. When button 65 is in, the closure of contacts 611) establishes a circuit from the source of power Xi to a contact 59m in switch 59. Contact 59m lies between contacts 581: and 59p and normally engages contact 5971, but it can be moved by a cam on shaft 6i to engage contact 59p. When contacts 61b are closed, current from source X l is supplied through contacts 59m and 591i to relay 60, which, in turn, closes a circuit Operating the type setting motor 62. At the appropriate time during the revolution of shaft 6|, a cam on the shaft causes contacts 59m and 5911 to separate and the motor 62 comes to rest. At the same time, contact 59111. is caused to engage contact 59p, and this causes a circuit to be established from source of power Xi through contacts 611), contacts 59m, 59p, and contacts 61a, through trip coil 68, to the neutral wire C.

Closing of contacts 59m and 59p also establishes a circuit from power source XI to normally closed contacts 69b controlled by a re-set push button 69 and another circuit through relay 55 to a neutral wire C. Operation of relay 55 closes contacts 55a, which establishes a circuit from power line 40 through the motor 10, the

shaft H of which is connected to drive a ticket printing and delivering device 12. A branch of the circuit leads through contact I3, actuated by a cam 14 on shaft H, to the trip coil 55 of relay 55. One revolution of shaft H is sufficient to cause the printing devic to print and deliver a single ticket, and once per revolution of the shaft, cam 14 closes contact 13, and this completes the circuit through trip coil 55', opens relay 55, and stops the printing motor. The motor may drive a counting device if desired, to show the total number of tickets sold by the machine.

Relay 55 controls a motor driven timing device, which limits the operation of the vending machine, as follows. The closing of contacts 551), Of relay 55 establishes a circuit from power source XI through the clutch magnet 16 of the device. Energization of the clutch magnet closes contacts 16a of the timer, so that its motor is supplied with current from XI through a branch of the circuit to the magnet. The motor operates through a single time cycle and then stops automatically and, ordinarily, the vending machine will have functioned to print and deliver a ticket before the time cycle is completed. Accordingly, relay 55 will ordinarily have been released by its trip coil 55' and the circuit, through which the magnet is energized, will have been broken, before the completion of a cycle. Upon de-energization of the clutch magnet I6 before completion of a cycle, the motor will return to its original condition and contacts 16a will be opened. However, if the magnet continues energized, because of a failure in the machine, until the time cycle has been completed, the motor will stop automatically at the 8 end of the cycle and will then cause contacts 16b to be closed and contacts 16c to be opened.

The closing of contacts 16b connects relay 42 to power source XI and this causes contacts 42a to be closed and contacts 42b to be opened. The closin of contacts 42a causes lamp 4| t0 be illuminated and the lamp, in turn, illuminates the "CloSed sign in the machine. Opening of the contacts 42b of relay 42 opens the circuit through and extinguishes lamp 43, which illuminates the denomination sign in the vending machine. The opening of contacts 160 at the end 01' the cycle of the timer cuts of! the supply of plate current from sources PI and P2 to various vacuum tubes of the machine containing the timer, and shuts that machine down.

When the bettor has selected his horse by pushing in the proper button I4 and has thereby opened the token passageway, he inserts a token through aperture I3, and the token drops down through section i9 of the passageway and begins to roll through section 20. If the token is genuine, it will begin to emit light when it passes through the fields generated by the coils 34, 35 supplied with current from tube 50. The light em=tted is picked up by photocell Ti, and the photocell current is amplified in tube 79, and the amplified current operates a relay B0 to close the contacts a thereof. Closure of these contacts establishes a circuit from power source XI through the closing coil of relay 58 and causes that relay to close.

Relay 58 has six pairs of contacts and, when it is energized, its contacts 58f are closed and this establishes a circuit from power source Pl, contacts 58), normally closed contacts tier of relay 8| to the junction point Bic, at which the circuit branches with one branch leading through the closing coil of relay 8| to the common wire C. Relay 8i is of the slow acting latching type with mechanical reset and, in normal operation, current from source PI does not flow through its coil long enough to cause the relay to close. From junction 8|c, another branch of the circuit leads through the closing coil of rela 82 to the plate of the tube 83 of a receiver 84, referred to as a sequence receiver. When receiver 84 thereafter receives an impulse from a source to be described, current flows through the branch circuit and relay 82 is energized with the result that its contacts 82a and 82b are closed.

Energization of relay 58 closes its contacts 58e, and a partial circuit is thereby established, which includes a plate of tube 50, contacts 58c, the closing coil of relay 85, contacts 82a of relay 62, and power source P I.

Energization of relay 53 causes contacts 58d to open, and this opens the supervision circuit throu h contacts 51a of relay 51, contacts 56a of relay 56, contacts 550 of relay 55, solenoid 5| which is employed to move the token passageway slide 52 to open position, contacts 41c of relay 41, contacts 46b controlled by push button l4, and power source Xi. When solenoid 5| is de-energized by the opening of the supervision circuit, shutter 52 is moved by its spring 54 to close the entrance to the token passageway and thus prevent insertion of another token therein.

Operation of relay 58 also opens contacts 580 and thereby opens a circuit from power source XI through the reset coil 86' of relay 86, and thence to the neutral wire C. Opening of the circuit described releases relay 66 for later operation.

tablishes a circuit from powersource XI through the clutch coil 19 of the timer motor M, starting that motor, and another circuit through supervision lamp 9!, which is mounted within the vending machine and, it continuously illuminated, indicates that the machine is out of order and needs attention.

Energization of relay opens its contacts to, and this opens a circuit from 1-"! through the closing coil of relay 91, supervisory photocell I8, and a plate of its amplifier tube 99.

with the operation of the relay 59, the machine is set up ready to print and deliver a ticket upon energization of relay 9!. That relay is actuated under the control of a timing device, as will prezently be explained.

In one form of the system, the closing of relay 58 by current from a photocell causes impulse oscillator 49 to send out oscillations at a frequency determined by tuning condenser 48 that was placed in parallel with the oscillator upon operation of a push button l4. The oscillations at the selected frequency then travel over a shielded cable 94 to a central station at which the high frequency current is received by an impulse receiver lfll tuned to the same fre-' quency as oscillator 49. Receipt of the-impulse by the impulse receiver causes actuation of a registering mechanism I92 which registers the receipt of the token and then causes plate potential to be supplied to an acknowledgment oscillator III, which sends out high frequency current at a predetermined frequency- The current travels back through the shielded cable 94 to an acknowledgment receiver 99 in' the vending machine tuned to the frequency of the impulse from the acknowledgment oscillator. Upon receipt of the acknowledgment impulse, the acknowledgment receiver 99 supplies current to the trip coil 59' of relay 59. The operation of the trip coil not only resets relay 59, but also establishes a circuit which energizes relay 55 and starts the printing motor 19 in operation.

In such a system it is necessary to provide an impulse receiver,'a registering unit, and an acknowledgment oscillator for each button on the machine, since bets on the different horses in a race must be separately registered. The form of system described is satisfactory, if it contains only a single vending machine, but, if a number of vending machines are employed, it is necessary to provide a complete set of registering equipment consisting of an impulse receiver, a registering unit, and an acknowledgment oscillator for each button on each machine. If this were not done, and an attempt wertgnade to use a single set of the registering equip ent described for the same button on all the machines in the system, simultaneous purchases at diil'erent machines of tickets on the same horse would cause the registering unit for that horse to register only one sale.

In the system represented by the wiring di-.

agram of Fig. 3, the necessity of providing additional registering equipment for each additional.

' although a number of vending machinu, such, as ten or twenty, may be employed in the same.

system, it is necessary to provide only one set of registering equipment for each horse represented by a button on'each machine. For this pure pose, there is provided at the central station '08 a plurality'of oscillators-99, one for each ,vend ing machine in the system. These oscillators, which may be referred to as sequence oscillators. are tuned to operate at the different frequencies, for which the sequence receivers 84 of the machines are tuned, and the sequence oscillators operate under the control of a sequence switch 9|, provided with pairs of contacts, one pair for each sequence oscillator. The contacts are normally open, and they are closed successively by cams on a shaft 92 of a continuously driven motor 93. In a system containing ten vending machines, the ten cams on shaft 92 are arranged to close the sets of contacts successively and hold them closed for periods of 1% of a second, so that, during each rotation of the motor shaft, each set of contacts is held closed for the interval stated.

Upon the closing of a set of contacts of the sequence switch 9|, plate current is supplied from source Pi to the plate of the vacuum tube of the sequence oscillator controlled by that pair of contacts, and the oscillator sends out its oscillations over a shielded cable 94, which extends to all of the vending machines and is connected to the sequence receiver 94 of each machine. If. at the time that the sequence oscillator for a particular vending machine sends out an impulse, the relay 58 of that machine has been closed by current from photocell ll of the machine, receipt of the impulse by the sequence receiver 94 .of the machine will cause plate current to flow 7 from source Pl, contacts 59] of relay I8, contacts Ila of relay 9|, junction point He, closing coil of relay 82, and the plate of tube 83. Relay II will thereupon be closed and source Pl will be connected through contacts 82a of relay 9!, closing coil of relay 8i, and contacts We of relay II to the plate of tube III associated with impulse oscillator 49. That oscillator thereupon begins to send out a radio frequency impulse over the shielded cable 94, to which the oscillator is connected.

Energization of relay 92 closes contacts 92b thereof, and this establishes a partial circuit from power source P2 through trip coil 49' of relay 59, contacts 82b of relay 92, and a pair of contacts 95 of a ticket paper supervision device, to one plate .of tube 99 forming part of an acknowledgment receiver 99.

The ticket paper supervision device includes a contact 95a, which rests upon the strip of paper 91 passing from the supply to the printing mechanism. Contact 95a is carried on a leaf spring 99 and rests upon the strip of paper where it passes over a cavity 99. If the paper strip breaks or is exhausted, contact 95a drops into the cavity and contacts 95 are opened to break the circuit to the acknowledgment receiver.

When oscillator 49 functions, the impulse which it sends out through the shielded cable 94, travels to a receiver Iill in the central station. This receiver, referred to as an impulse receiver, is tuned to the frequency of oscillator 49, as modified by tuning condenser 48, and when the impulse reaches receiver llii, current flows from source P2 through the coil of relay I02 to the plate of ll cuit is established from power source X2 through solenoid I03.

The core of solenoid I03 carries a pawl I04, which operates a ratchet wheel I05 on a shaft I08 of the registering unit. This unit is similar to a conventional adding machine, and includes number wheels mounted on shaft I06, so that each time, the solenoid I03 is energized, shaft I06 is advanced by one step and an additional number is registered by the wheels. The unit registers the tickets purchased on the same horse on all the vending machines in the system, and one such unit may be used for the same horse on all the machines, because an impulse from the impulse oscillator 49 of only one machine at a time can be sent to'the impulse receiver I I. This sequential operation of the machines is brought about by the use of the sequence oscillators 90. sequence switch 9I, and sequence receivers 84.

When solenoid I03 is energized and its core is moved inward to advance ratchet wheel I one step, contacts I01 are closed by a bridge member carried on one end of the solenoid core. The closure of contacts I0'I connects power source PI to an acknowledgment oscillator I08, and this oscillator sends out a radio frequency impulse of a predeterm ned frequency through the shielded cable 94. The impulse travels to acknowledg ment receiver 96 in the vending machine, and this causes current to flow through a circuit from power source P2 through trip coil 58' of relay 58, contacts 82b of relay 82, and contacts 95 of the ticket paper supervision device, to the plate of the vacuum tube 89 forming part of the receiver. The trip coil 58' is thereupon energized and both releases relay 58 and closes contacts 58;). Closing of contacts 58g establishes a circuit from the power source XI through relay 55, and the closing of contacts 55a of relay 55 connects power line 40 to the ticket motor to start the motor operating to print and deliver a ticket II through orifice I8 of the vending machine. Closure of contacts 55b of relay 55 establishes a circuit from power source XI to the clutch magnet I8 of the timer and a so through supervision lamp 88.

Contacts 550 of relay 55 are in the supervision circuit through solenoid 5I, which controls the token slot shutter 52 and. upon energizat on of relay 55 to start the print ng-motor, contacts 550 are opened and this opens the supervisory circuit, de-energizing solenoid 5I and permitting the token slide shutter 52 to be moved to closed position by spring 54. This prevents the ticket purchaser from inserting another token, until after a ticket has been printed and delivered in response to the deposit of the first token.

When trip col 58' of relay 58 is actuated and closes contacts 580, a circuit is established from power source XI through the trip coil 51' of relay 51, which is of the slow acting type, and the power source XI is also connected to relay I09. Contacts I09a of relay I09 are thereupon closed to connect power source XI to solenoid 26. Energization of solenoid 26 causes the token trip slide 2i to be moved to bring its opening 24 beneath token passageway sect on 20, and the token in the passageway then falls through opening 24 into chute 21, which directs it into a receptacle in the vending machine. Relay I09 is of the slow releasing type, and after a suitable interval, its contacts I09a are opened to de-energize solenoid 26 and move the token trip slide 2| to a position closing the bottom of passageway section 20.

The functions of the other relays referred to above are as follows. Relay 56 is connected in the plate circuit of that part of tube 50 associated with the detector coils 84, 35, and is energized, so that its contacts 58a are closed and its contacts 56b are open, whenever the vending machine is operating. Contacts 56a are in the supervision circuit, including the token passageway shutter solenoid 5|. When relay 56 is not energized, as, for example. because of a failure of tube 50, contacts 58a open to break the supervision circuit to close the token passageway and contacts 58b close to connect power source XI to the circuit that is closed through contacts 5817 upon closing of relay 58. The circuit referred to has branches through solenoid 30 operating token stop pin 29, clutch coil I8 of the timer motor M. and lamp 88.

Slow acting relay 51 receives amplified current from photocell I9 through normally closed contacts 58a of relay 58, in the event that relay 58 is not energized by current from photocell 'I'I. Relay 51 has two sets of contacts, of which con tacts 51a are in the supervision circuit through solenoid 5| and are closed when the relay is not energized. Contacts 51b, which are closed when the relay is energized, connect power source XI to relay 42, so that relay is energized and the "Closed" sign lamp 4I in the vending machine is illuminated and the denomination sign lamp 43 is extinguished.

Relay is in circuit from power source PI through contacts 82a of relay 82 (when that relay is energized), contacts 58c of relay 58, and the plate of that part of tube 50 associated with the impulse oscillator 49. Upon energization, relay 85 closes its contacts and establishes a, circuit from power source XI through the closing coil of relay 85 to the common wire C.

Relay 86 has three sets of contacts and, when it is energized, contacts 88a close to establish a circuit from power source XI through lamp I09 in the vending machine. Contnued illumination of this lamp indicates that the machine is out of order and that the trouble is in the acknowledgment circuit. Closing of contacts 86b, upon energization of relay 88, establishes a partial circuit from power source XI, contacts 58g controlled by trlp coil 58 of relay 58, junction point 581, contacts 88b, and trip coil 82' of relay 82. When trip coil 58' is energized,'its contacts 580 close to complete the partial circuit and thus energize trip coil 82' to open relay 82. Contacts 860 of relay 86 are closed when the relay is not energized and are in a circuit from power source XI through contacts 8Ib of relay 8|, contacts 860, and relay 8'I. Relay 8I only closes after ample time for normal operation of the machine has elapsed, and, when the relay closes, its contacts 8Ib are closed and current is supplied to relay 81 from XI through the circuit described and the latter operates to open the supply circuit to the token stop pin solenoid 30. De-energization of solenoid 30 renders the pin inoperative and permits a token intercepted by the pin to return to the depositor.

In a system of the type described, it is important that a person depositing a token in the machine shall either receive a ticket, or else have the token returned to him. The system, accordingly, includes means for insuring the occurrence of one or the other of these events, so far as possible. Thus, if the machine is in working order and a good token is deposited, the token traveling through the passageway in the machine will be energized by the detector oscillator coils 34, 35 to emit light, which will be picked up by photol3 cell 11. Ampliiled current from the photocell will cause relay 88 to close and current fromlsource XI will be supplied to relay 58 to close that relay. Closing of relay 58 will. among other things, open the supervision circuit at contacts 58d, and solenoid 5| will be de-energized. The token passageway shutter 52 will then be moved by its sprin 54 to its closed position. Closing of relay 58 will also set up circuits previously explained, so that, when the sequence oscillator 88 of the particular. vending machine sends an impulse to the sequence receiver 84 of the machine, an impulse will be sent out by the impulse oscillator 48 to impulse receiver "II at the central station and, in due course, solenoid I88 will be energized and the registering mechanism will function. When the registration of the bet has been made, an impulse will be sent out by acknowledgment oscillator I88 to the acknowledgment receiver 86 in the vending machine and this will cause current to be supplied to the ticket motor to cause the printing mechanism to print and deliver a ticket.

If the token inserted by the bettor is not a good one, it will not emit light when it passes through the field of the detector oscillator 54. 85. Photocell 'I'l will then not produce current and relays 88 and 58 will not close. Since relay 58 will not be energized, the token stop pin solenoid 80 will not be energized and the token will not be intercepted by pin 28 but will roll through the passageway and be discharged into cup l5.

If a bettor inserts a good token in the. vending machine at a time when photocell 11 is inoperative, no current will be supplied to the closing coil of relay 58 by the action of the photocell and relay 58 will not close. Light from the token will be picked up, however, by photocell l8 and, as a result, current will flow in the circuit from source P2, closing coil of relay 51, normally closed contacts 58a of relay 58, and tube 88. Upon the closing of relay 51, its contacts 51:: will open and its contacts 51b will close. Opening of contacts 51a will open the supervision circuit, de-energizing solenoid 5|. so that the token passageway shutter will close. Closing of contacts 51b will cause relay 42 to be energized with the results that Closed" lamp 4| will go on and denomination sign lamp 43 will go out. As relay 58 has not been closed, the token stop pin solenoid38 will not be energized and the token will roll through the passageway and be discharged into cup l5.

If, at a time when a good token has been deposited in the machine, the sequence oscillator 88, sequence switch 8|, or sequence receiver 84 is out of order, relay 58 will have been closed and this will have established a circuit from source Pl through contacts 581 of relay 58 and relay 8| to tlie common wire C. After a period sufficient for normal operation of the machine, relay 8| will close and this will establish a circuit from source XI, contacts 8|b contacts 860 of relay 88, and relay 81. The energization of relay 81 will open the circuit through the stop pin solenoid 38 and the stop pin 28 will release the token, which will then be returned to the bettor.

14 ation oi the mahine has elapsed, relay 8| will close. Current will then now from source xi through contacts 8|b of relay 8|, contacts 88c of relay 88, and relay 81 to the common wire C. Energization of relay 81 will open the circuit through the stop pin solenoid 88 and the pin will release the token and permit it to return to the customer.

If a bettor inserts a good token at a time when the acknowledgment oscillator I88 or the acknowledgment receiver 88 is out of order, then it is necessary to providehfor delivery of a ticket to the bettor, since the deposit of. the token will have been registeredi This is taken care of as follows.- The action of the sequence oscillator 88 and sequence receiver 84 will have caused current to flow from PI, contacts 58!, contacts 8|a, junction point He, closing coil of relay 82, and tube 88, and, upon closing of relay 58, current will also have started to flow from Pl, contacts 58!, contacts Bio, and Junction point 8|c to the coil of. slow acting relay 8|. Current will have flowed from source PI through contacts 82a of relay 82, relay 85, and contacts 58c of relay 58 to the plate of tube 58. Energization of relay 85 will cause current to be supplied from source XI to the closing coil of relay 88 and its contacts 88b will be closed. After an interval, relay 8| will close and current will flow from XI through closed contacts 8|b, contacts 88b, normally closed contacts 881) of manual reset button 68, and relay 55 to the common wire C. Energization of relay 55 will close its contacts 55a and current will be supplied to the motor 18 of the mechanism for printing and delivering tickets.

If a good token inserted by a bettor is returned to him because of a failure of some part oi. the vending machines or he receives a ticket at a time whenthe acknowledgment oscillator or the acknowledgment receiver is out of order, as above described, the vending machine will be automatically shut down. This result occurs, because the trip coil 58 of relay 58 functions only when an impulse received by the acknowledgment receiver 88 produces a flow of current from P2, trip coil 55', contacts 82b'oi relay 82, the ticket paper detector switch 85, and the tube 88 of the acknowledgment receiver. Such a flow of current causes relay 58 to be reset, so that it is ready for the next operation. I! relay 58 is not thus reset, its contacts'58d remain open and its contacts 5812 remain closed. Opening of contacts 58d has opened the supervision circuit, de-energizing solenoid 5|,

so that the token passageway shutter 52 is closed by its spring, while the closing of contacts 58?) has caused lamp 88 to be illuminated and the timer motor M to be started. After lapse of the time interval, timer contacts 18b have been closed to energize relay 42 with the result that lamp 4| has been illuminated behind the Closed" sign on the machine and the denomination lamp 48 has been extinguished. Also, opening of timer contacts has cut or! the current suppies PI and P2, thus putting all the tubes of the vending machine out of action.

The feeler 85a oi! the ticket paper detector switch 85 in the circuit from the acknowledgment receiver 88 to the trip coil 58' of relay 58 is located far enough from the place where the paper enters the printing mechanism to permit one more ticket to be printed after failure of the paper supply has permitted the feeler to open switch 85. Accordingly, whenthe paper runs out and switch 85 opens, on the nextpurchase of 'a ticket, the receipt of the acknowledgment impulse by the acknowledgment receiver 96 cannot cause trip coil 58' to be energized and current to flow from XI through contacts 589 to the ticket motor relay 55. However, when relay 8| operates after its time interval to close its contacts 8Ib, current will flow from XI through contacts Bib, contacts 86b, and contacts 6% to relay 55 and the ticket motor will be energized to print and deliver a ticket. Thereafter, the machine remains shut down, since relay 58 will not be reset and its contacts 58d will remain open, while its contacts 581) remain closed. Opening of contacts 581! opened the supervision circuit through the token passageway shutter solenoid permitting the shutter to close, while closing of contacts 58b started the timer motor M. Continued energization of the timer clutch magnet will cause the timer motor to complete its cycle, at the end 01' which contacts 160 are opened and sources PI and P2 cut oil from all the tubes.

Relays 51 and 58 are reset automatically by a flow of current in the acknowledgment circuit, which includes the tube 89 of the acknowledgment receiver 96, paper supervision device 95, contacts 82b of relay 82, and trip coil 58' of relay 59. Closing of contacts 58g by trip coil 58' results in a flow of current from XI through contacts 58g, junction 58 and trip coil 51' of relay 51. However, if the acknowledgment circuit does not function, because the ticket paper has run out or because of trouble in the acknowledgment receiver, for example, then, after the paper has been replenished or the repairs made, relays 51 and 58 may be reset by depressing pushbutton switch 69. When this is done, a circuit is established from P2 through the trio coil 58 of relay 58 and contacts 69a of switch 69 to the common wire C. Upon energization of trip coil 58' and the closing of its contacts 589, trip coil 51' is energized to reset relay 51, as previously explained.

Since the vending machines are to be in action for the sale of tickets only in the periods up to the start of the first race or between the end of one race and the start of the next, relay 39, operable from the judges stand, is provided so that the supply of current to transformer 44 may be cut oil, when the machines are to go out of operation. However, it may happen that a bettor will have deposited a token in a machine and the printing motor will have started the printing mechanism in operation, just as the betting period ends and relay 39 is de-energized to open contacts 390 and cut oil the current to the transformer. The occurrence of those events will not interfere with the printing of the ticket, however, since the printing motor is supplied with current directly from line Ill and not from the transformer.

It frequent y happens that, after a program for a day's races have been prepared, certain horses are withdrawn or scratched, or that less horses are entered in a particular race than there are selector buttons on a vending machine. In such cases, it is necessary to indicate to the bettor that he may not use certain selector buttons on the vending machines and that is accomplished as follows. At the central station CS, there are provided a plurality of scratch oscillators I09, one for each button in a set on a machine. The oscillators are connected to the shielded cable 84 and they all oscillate at different frequencies. The oscillators may be put into operation by respective switches III]. In each vending machine, there is a set of scratch receivers III, one for each button on the machine, and the receivers are tuned to different frequencies, so that one such receiver in each machine is in tune with one of the oscillators Ill.

When a particular horse is to run in a race, the oscillator Ill corresponding to the selector button for that horse will be operating by reason of its switch III having been set to supply plate current from PI through contact I I to to the oscillator IN. The scratch receivers I I I in tune with the oscillator that is functioning will then receive high frequency current and plate current will flow from P2 through relays 41 to the receivers in the several vending machines. The flow of current through each relay 4'! will maintain its contacts closed, as is required for normal operation of the corresponding buttons on the vending machines. Of those contacts. those designated 41b are in the tuning circuit through tuning condenser 48 and impulse oscillator 49, so that, so long as relay 4'! is energized, this circuit may function, when the selector button is pushed in. Contacts "c are in the supervision circuit through the token passageway shutter solenoid 5I and, when contacts 470 are closed, the solenoid may be energized to open the shut ter, when the button I4 is pushed in. Contacts 410 are in a circuit from XI through a lamp I I2, which is mounted within the selector button and is illuminated at all times that the button may be properly used.

If a particular horse is scratched from a race after the program has been printed or there are less horses in a race than there are buttons on the machine, then the buttons not to be used on all the machines are put out of action by means of the switches Ill controlling the scratch oscillators II! corresponding to the buttons. For this purpose, each switch is shifted from contact IIOa, through which it connects source PI to its oscillator, to contact lb. The oscillator thereupon stops supplying current to its receiver III and the flow of current to the corresponding relays is cut oil. The relays drop open and the corresponding buttons are rendered ineffective and their lamps II! extinguished. At the same time, shifting of switch III to contact IIOb connects source PI to lamp II3, which gives a visual indication at the central station that the horse has been scratched.

The scratch receivers III perform another useful function in the vending machines, as follows. The supply of current to the receivers from P2 is controlled by contacts 180 operated by the timer M, which opens contacts lie, when it has operated through its time cycle. When contacts controlled by the timer in a machine are opened, source PI for that machine expires and all the scratch receivers of the machine cease functioning. All relays 47 of the machine then open and all the selector buttons of the machine are inoperative.

As previously explained, the type setting device 54 is operated by motor 52 under the control of the selector buttons I 4 to set up type, so that the ticket printing and delivering device 12 will print upon each ticket appropriate symbols showing the horse on which the bet was placed by the purchase of the ticket. It is also necessary that the ticket indicate the race in which the horse bet on is running and this is accomplished by a. ticket numbering device I I 4 associated with the type setting mechanism but separately controlled. The numbering device is operated by a ratchet wheel III on the shaft Illa of the device and the different frequencies.

17 wheel is advanced stepwise by a pawl lla operated by solenoid II8 supplied with power from source 40. Source 40 is controlled by contacts 390 of relay 39 operable from the Judges stand and each time the relay is closed at the beginning of a betting period, solenoid H8 is energized and the numbering device advanced by one digit. -Thereafter,,each ticket printed during that period carries a number indicating the race for which the ticket was purchased.

In Fig. 4, there is illustrated diagrammatically a vending system of the invention which includes two vending machines II'I, although it is to be understood that, in practice, such a system may comprise .a greater number of machines, for example, ten or twenty. Each machine shown is provided with twelve selector buttons I4, although a greater or less number may be employed as desired. Within each machine, there is a unit II8 for each button, which contains the equipment surrounded by the dotted line on Fig. 3. This equipment includes a scratch receiver III, a scratch relay 41, and a tuning circuit including a condenser 48. Each machine also contains a unit II9 containing all the equipment within the dot-and-dash line on Fig. 3.

This equipment includes an impulse oscillator 49, an acknowledgment receiver 98, a sequence receiver 84, a transformer 44, a type-setting device 64, a ticket printing and delivering device I2, a switch 59, and a set of the relays previously described. The tuning circuits controlled by all the buttons through contacts 48a are connected in parallel to the impulse oscillator 49, and contacts 46b closed by all the buttons are connected in parallel with the supervision circuit through solenoid 5I of the machine. There is a pair of contacts in switch 59 for each button in its machine and one contact of each pair in the switch is connected to a contact 450 controlled. by a different button.

The various elements of units II9 of each machine are connected to the same shielded cable 94 which runs to the central station CS, where there are twelve scratch oscillators I09, one for each button on a machine. Each oscillator I09 is controlled by its own switch (not shown) and all the scratch oscillators are tuned to different frequencies and connected to cable 94. The scratch receivers III in the machines are properly tuned, so that when one scratch oscillator is deenergized, all like buttons in all the machines are put out of action. The central station includes a sequenceoscillator 90 for each machine and the sequence oscillators are tuned to The sequence receivers in the machines are tuned so that, whenever a sequence oscillator is connected to cable 94 by the action of the sequence switch 92, the impulse sent out over the cable will be picked up by the Each impulse receiver controls a registering mechanism I20, including a relay I02, solenoid I03, pawl I04, and ratchet wheel I05, and the 18 I contacts I0'I controlled by the solenoids of the several registering mechanisms are connected in parallel between source PI and thesingle knowledgment oscillator I08 at the central station. This oscillator and the acknowledgment receivers 96 of all the vending machines are tuned to the same frequency, but, whenthe oscillator I08 sends out an impulse, that impulse will have no effect except in the machine whose sequence receiver 84 has immediately previously received v an impulse from its sequence oscillator 90.

As previously explained, each selector button of a vending machine is locked in place after it has been pushed in by a bettor, and the button is then released by means of a solenoid I2I for each row of buttons in a machine. The solenoids are connected to the power line 40 in parallel with the motor I0 for the printing device, and, whenever relay 55 is closed and the printing motor is operated, the solenoids are energized and the button, that has been pushed in, moves out to its original position.

The locking device for a row of buttons comprises a bar I22 mounted in the cabinet I0 and extending through slots I23 in the stems I4a of the buttons in the row. The bar I22 is connected at one end to the core of a solenoid I2I, and it extends through a partition I24 within the cabinet and is acted on by a spring I25, which urges the bar in one direction. The bar is provided with a plurality of latches I26, one for the stem I4a of each button, and each stem has a second slot I2I forward of slot I23. Each latch has a sloping surface in position to be engaged by the solid portion I28 lying between slots I23 and I2! of the associated button stem. A spring I29 encircles each button stem and bears at one end against each face of the button and at the other end against a partition I30 in the cabinet I0.

Whenever a button is pushed in, its solid portion I28 acts on the sloping surface of the associated latch I25 and causes the bar I22 to be moved against the action of its spring I25. When the solid portion I28 of the stem rides over the end of the latch, it lies opposite a notch I3I in the latch and the end of the sloping surface of the latch may then enter slot I21 in the button. At the same time, the latches of all the other buttons lie opposite slots I23 therein, so that bar I22 is free to be moved by its spring I25. The engagement of the latch in slot I21 in the button, that has been pushed in, holds that button in its inward position, until after the printing motor has been operated. At that time, solenoid I2I is energized and the bar I22 is moved endwise by the solenoid to release the button.

When the system in the form described is ready 'for operation, a switch at the judges stand 0 is closed to cause current to be supplied to relay 39 and, upon energization of that relay, the Closed sign on each vending machine is extinguished, the denomination sign in the machine is lighted, and power is supplied from line 40 to the primary of transformer 44. The machines in the system may then be operated.

When a bettor desires to place a bet, he pushes in the proper button I4 on one of the machines and this closes contacts, which establish circuits causing the shutter 52 to open the token passage in the machine. Through the circuits, current is also supplied to the type setting mechanism. The bettor next inserts a token in the token passage and the token rolls into the fields generated by coils 34, 35. If the token is agood one, it will be activated by the fields and begin to emit ma am l9 light,'which is picked up by photocell I1 and amplified. The amplified photocell current then causes relay Bl to be energized and thereby circuits are established or broken with the result that pin 2| moves into the passage to arrest the token and the shutter is moved to close the entrance to the passage. Energization oi relay II also sets up a partial circuit through the impulse oscillator 49 of the vending machine and, when the sequence oscillator 90 for the selected button sends out an impulse from the central station over the shielded cable 94, the impulse goes to the sequence receiver ll of the machine and this completes the circuit through the impulse oscillator 40. The impulse oscillator then sends an impulse over the cable to the impulse receiver III at the central station, and the solenoid I03 of the registering mechanism, which is controlled by the impulse receiver, is energized and causes the sale of the ticket to be registered. When the registration has been completed, the acknowledgment oscillator I" at the central station sends an impulse to the acknowledgment receiver 98 of the machine. The receipt of the impulse by the acknowledgment receiver establishes circuits, which cause the ticket printing motor to be started in operation to print and deliver a ticket and also to cause the token to be diverted from the passage through the opening in slide 2|. After a period of time, the pin is moved out oi the token passage and the machine is then ready for sale of the next ticket.

The constructional details of the ticket printing and delivering device and the type setting mechanism employed therein have not been disclosed in the foregoing, since devices of various conventional constructions are suitable for the purpose. Similarly, the details of the registering mechanisms have been omitted, because they are well known and difierent kinds may be used, depending on how the totalisation is to be effected.

The new vending and registering system has been illustrated and described in a form to be used in the selling, registering, printing, and delivering of tickets, but it will be apparent that the utility of the invention is not limited to ticket vending and that it may be advantageously employed in the selling of various articles, of which supplies are maintained in each vending machine.

Similarly, thesystem in the form shown is of the automatic type and is operated by tokens. However, various parts of the system and combinations of features thereof may be profitably employed in systems, such as are now used. in which each vending machine is supervised and operated by an attendant, who causes the machine to function when cash or tokens are paid to him. In such embodiments of the invention for hand operation, the token inspection means and various supervisory features of the token-operated system are not required, and their functions are performed by the attendant. In all forms of the new system, the use of high frequency currents and of the timing means greatly simplifies and reduces the cost of installation.

The claims are:

1. In a vending and registering system adapted to be operated by tokens capable, upon being activated, of emitting light, said system including means for delivering articles of difl'erent kinds, and manually operable means for adjusting the delivering means for delivery of a selected article, the combination of a passage, into which a token may be inserted, means for activating the token in the passage to cause it to emit light, a photocell receiving light emitted by the token and generating current in response thereto, means ior blocking the passage to arrest the token therein, said blocking means including an element movable into the passage and biased to inoperative tivated, of emitting light, said system including means for delivering articles of diflferent kinds, and manually operable means for adjusting the delivering means for delivery of a selected article, the combination of a passage, into which a token may be inserted, a shutter operable to close the entrance to the passage, means for activating the token in the passage to cause it to emit light, a photocell receiving light from the token and generating current in response thereto, means controlled by photocell current for causing the shutter to close the entrance to the passage, a registering mechanism, means controlled by the photocell current for actuating the registering mechanism, and means operated by the registering mechanism, upon actuation thereof, to divert the token from the passage and start the delivering means in operation.

3. In a vending and registering system adapted to be operated by tokens capable, upon being activated, oi emitting light, said system including means for delivering articles of different kinds, and manually operable means for adjusting the delivering means for delivery of a selected article, the combination of a passage, into which a token may be inserted, a shutter biased to close the passage, means for moving the shutter to open the passage, means for activating the token in the passage to cause it to emit light, a phdtocell receiving light from the token and generating current in response thereto, means operated by photocell current to render the shutter movin means ineffective, a registering mechanism, means controlled by the photocell current for actuating the registering mechanism, and means operated by the registering mechanism, upon actuation thereof, to divert the token from the passage and start the delivering means in operation.

4. In a vending and registering system adapted to be operated by tokens capable, upon being activated, of emitting light, said system including means for delivering articles of diiferent kinds, and manually operable means for adjusting the delivering means for delivery of a selected article, the combination of a passage having an inlet for insertion of a token and an outlet for discharge of the token, the token traveling through the passage by gravity, if unimpeded, means for activating the token in the passage to cause it to emit light, a photocell receiving light from the token generating current in response thereto, means operated by photocell current for arrest ing the token in the passage, means for diverting the token from the passage, a registering mechanism, means controlled by the photocell current for actuating the registering mechanism, and means operated by the registering mechanism, upon actuation thereof, to operate the diverting means. start the delivering means in operation,

and render thetoken arresting means ineflective.

5. In a vending and registering system adapted to be operated by tokens capable, upon being activated, of emitting light, said system including means for delivering articles of different kinds, and manually operable means for adjusting the delivering means for delivery 01 a selected article, the combination of a passage into which a token may be inserted, a shutter movable to open and close the entrance to the passage, means for operating the shutter, means for activating the token in the passage to cause it to emit light, a. photocell receiving light from the token and generating current in response thereto, a registering mechanism, means controlled by the photocell current for actuating the registering mechanism, means operated by the registering mechanism, upon actuation thereof, to divert the token from the passage and start the delivering means in operation, a second photocell receiving light emitted by the activated token and generating current in response thereto, and slow acting means rendered inoperative by current from the first photocell but operating in response to current from the second photocell, when the first photocell is out of order, .to cause the shutter' operating means to move the shutter to close the passage.

6. In a vending and registering system adapted to be operating by tokens capable, upon being activated, of emitting light, said system including means for delivering articles of different kinds, and manually operable means for adjusting the delivering means for delivery of a selected article, the combination of a passage having an inlet, into which a token may be inserted, and an outlet, from which the token may be discharged, the token traveling through the passage by gravity, means for activating the token in the passage to cause it to emit light, a photocell receiving light emitted by the token and generating current in response thereto, means activated by photocell current for arresting the token in the passage, a registering mechanism. means controlled by the photocell current for actuating the registering mechanism, means operated by the registering mechanism, upon actuation thereof, to divert the taken from the passage and start the delivering means in operation, and slow acting means activated by photocell current for rendering the arresting means inefiective after an interval suflicient for normal operation of the registering mechanism and delivery means.

WILLIAM E. SNELL.

HOWARD E. FRAN'IZ, Ja.

FRANK A. HIGNU'I'I.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile 01' this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,786,805 Wensley Dec. 30, 1930 1,933,996 Paris Nov. 7, 1933 2,100,977 Pettersson Nov. 30, 1937 2,155,655 Handley Apr. 25, 1939 2,182,875 Levy Dec. 12, 1939 2,332,756 Robinson Oct. 26, 1943 2,381,920 Miller Aug. 14, 1945 2,410,845 Snell Nov. 12, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 307,551 Great Britain Mar. 14, 1929 308,326 Great Britain Mar. 22, 1929 368,825 Great Britain Mar. 10. 1932 376,759 Great Britain July 4, 1932 557,027 Great Britain Nov. 2, 1943

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