US2941644A - Variable stamp vending and money changing machine - Google Patents

Description

June 21, 1960 K- C. ZEIGLE ETAL VARIABLE STAMP VENDING AND MONEY CHANGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30,4 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 of/ f2 53 9 Cf@ 45 COIN om. STAMPS QQ QUANGE l @.M @Q5/@20 June 21, 1960 K. c. zElGLE ET A1. 2,941,644

VARIABLE STAMP VENDING AND MONEY CHANGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 :IW a I ///--f- ,Zr/venin June 21, 1960 K. c. ZEIGLE ET AL VARIABLE STAMP VENDING AND MONEY CHANGING MACHINE Filed Dec. so, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 bv .QQ

June 21, 1960 K. c. ZEIGLE ETAL 2,941,644

VARIABLE STAMP VENDING AND MONEY CHANGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 /f/ci. 54

June 2l, 1960 K. c. zElGLE ETAL 2,941,644

VARIABLE STMP VENDING AND MONEY CHANGING MACHINE Filed De. so, 1957 5 sheetsfsneet 5 VARIABLE STAMP VENDING AND MONEY CHANGING MACHINE Kenneth C. .Zeigle and Adrian A. Wersal, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors toElectrlc Vendors, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Fired Dec. 30, 1957, ser. No. 106,004

19v claims. (c1. 194-10) This invention relates to vending machines and more specifically relates to such machines of the type for receiving coins of various denominations and for dispensing a variety of articles at different prices.

An object of our invention is to provide in a vending machine of the class described, new and improved means for indicating credit existing for purchase of credit, for quickly and positively subtracting credit in amounts equal to the articles dispensed and simultaneously with the dispensing of articles, and for preventing any additional articles from Ibeing dispensed when insuicient credit exists to allow the purchase of an article.

Another object of our invention is to provide yin a vending machine of the class described, a customer-operated dialing mechanism which is operated to indicate the number ofarticles such as stamps to be purchased, and which only triggers the dispensing of each stamp and then loses control so that abnormal operation of the dial ortampering with the dial during its normal operation will be ineffective to vary the maximum rate at which the stamp dispensers are required to operate and also be ineffective to vary the number of stamps which are dispensed.

A further object of our invention is the provision in a vending machine of the Vclass described, of a single impulse producing and timing circuit to control the rate at which stamps are dispensed and to control the corresponding subtractionof credit, ,along with a plurality of customer operated dialing mechanisms which permit the customer to purchase any of a pre-selected denomination of stamps and which, when operated, cause dispensing of a certain denomination of stamp and'cause the value of the stamp to be subtracted from the existing credit.

A still further object of our invention is the provision inI a vending machine of the class described, of a changedispensing mechanism havnga number of coin storage tubes and coin dispensers which are controlled in such a manner as to alternate in successive dispensing operations, the dispensers which may be individually operated so that when only a few coins are dispensed, as is frequently the case, the coins will be drawn, in successive operations, from different dispensers and coin tubes so that the supply of coins remaining in the several tubes, remain substantially equal to each other.

In the specilication and claims, continuing reference is made to stamps of various denominations, but it should be understood that the present invention might as well be utilized for dispensing a wide range of articles, and the terminology stamps should be given the broadest interpretation to include articles of all types which are of such a nature as to be handled and dispensed by a vending machine. Furthermore, certain denominations of coins are specifically mentioned, and the particular denominations are mentioned in connection with the disclosed exemplary form of the invention, but the mention of these particular denominations should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention.

y These and other objects and advantages of our inven- Unite States Patent O ICC tion will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like 'reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. l is a front view of the machine comprising the present invention and showing in particular the control panel thereof;

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the machine showing the arrangement of the operating mechanism and showing the manner of mounting these mechanisms;

Fig. 3 is a section view, partly broken away, taken on a vertical plane as indicated at 3-3 in Fig. 2 and showing in particular the construction of one of the stam dispensing or vending mechanisms; i

Fig. 4 is a detail diagrammatic perspective of the coin receiving sorting and rejecting mechanisms which is shown in part in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the rear side of one of the dials and particularly showing the switching arrangement thereof;

Fig. 6 is a detail section view taken on a vertical plane as indicated at 6-6 in Fig. 2 and showing in particular the change dispensing mechanism;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are schematic diagrams of the electrical circuit, which are to be arranged in the pattern shown in Fig. 1l; and

Fig. 10 is a block diagram of the various portions of the electrical circuit.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown in the figures. It should be pointed out that for the most part the electrical conductors and most of the electrical apparatus such as relays have not been shown 1n the mechanical drawings and it should be understood that the relays can be mounted in any suitable fashion on racks in a separate housing.` It should also be noted that although the present invention is constructed to receive and handle nickels, dimes and quarters and is adapted to dispense stamps, several denominations of which have been mentioned,-and these examples of the coins and stamps are only cited as exemplaryof one form of the invention and that within the scope of the invention other coins and denominations of stamps may be handled and dispensed.

As best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the invention includes a housing 40 having a front frame plate 42, to whichV the control panel 43 is aiixed. The control panel 43 mounts the control and indicating apparatus and allows the dispensing of change and stamps therethrough. A faulty or bent coin return button 41, a change return button 44, a coin slot 45 and a plurality of manually controllable dials 46, 47 and 48 are all carried by the control panel 43. The control panel 43 also mounts a number of indicator lights, such as indicator 50 which shes after insertion of a coin to indicate that stamps may be purchased, the indicator 49 which flashes to 'show that change has run 4out and to warn a prospective customer that stamps may not be purchased, and indicators 51, 52 and 53 which individually ash when a supply of stamps of a certain denomination is exhausted. The control panel 43 also has a coin return slot and receptacle 59 through which change is dispensed at the end of a transaction and the control panel 43'also has a number of slots I118, 119 and 120 through which stamps of various denominations are dispensed.

The coin receiving mechanism has a coin chute 54 for receiving coins from the slot 45 and for carrying the coins to the sorting mechanism 55 of a conventional type, lwhich causes the coins to pass downwardly through one of the chutes S6, 57 and 58 wherein the coins will either fall through the lower ends of the chutes and will operate one of the switches SW104, SW or SW106, or will be returned to the coin return slot and receptacle 59 through the chute '68. 1f a coin has been previously inserted to commence a transaction, subsequent coins falling into the chutes 56, 57 and 58 are deflected into the return chute 68 by oneot' the coin blocking fingers 60, 61 and 62 which are mounted on a control'arm, 63, which is rigid .with the armature 64 of the. control: solenoid SOL101. As will be. described hereinafter, solenoid SOLltll, is deenergized during a. transaction and the fingers are pulled by spring 64a; into the apertures 65,. 6,6. and 67 in the coin chutes so as to deiiect any subsequent coins into the chute 6.8...

Stamp dispensing mechanism The Vending machine is provided with a plurality of stamp dispensing or vending; mechanisms which are indicated in general by the numerals 111, 112 and 113 and which are identical in construction so that an understanding of one of these mechanisms, 111, shown in Fig. 3, will suflice for anA understanding of each of the mechanisms. The stamp vending mechanisms are. mounted in a housing 114 which is supported on a bracket. 115. Each of the stamp dispensing mechanisms i-s individually removable from the housing 114 byV sliding the housing 114 rearwardly on the mounting tracks 116 and then 'swinging th-e housing 114 downwardly to permit the dispensers to be. lifted out. The dispensers 111, 112 and 113 are aligned with the slots 120, 119 and 1118 respectivelyy in the frontl panel,

Dispenser 111 is provided with a roll mounting bracket 121 having arspindle 122 upon which is mounted a roll v'of stampsl 1.23'. A rotary stamp guide 2124 guides the stamps to the metering and ejection mechanism 125, whch'is not shown in minute detail' but'which is substantially identical to that shown in application for U.S. Letters Patent Serial No. 447,766, tiled August .4, 1954 by- Kenneth C. Zeigle, Paul C. Nieland and James C. Vance, and now Patent No. 2,878,014, dated March 17, V1959. The mechanism 125 includes a drive wheel 126 which is operated by the dispensing solenoid SOL112 and is vconnected to the armature thereof by a control arm 127 to` which is connected a spring 127a for shifting the arm`127 and solenoid armature back toI their normal positions.' The solenoid SOL112 is energized and deenergized for each stamp that is vended and a plurality of stamps i's dispensed by applying a plurality of current impulses to the solenoid. It should be noted that the otherl dispensers have similar solenoids SOL110 and SOL111, which are shown in Fig. 8. The dispenser 111 has meansv for detecting presence or absence of stamps and in the form shown a microswitch SW117 has a feeler 129 which engages the stamps 123 when they overlie the groove 128 in the wheel .126. When the last stamp is dispensedthe feeler will shift into the groove and operate the switch. It should be noted that the other dispensers 113I and 112 have similar stamp detecting switches SW115 and .SW116 shown in Fig. 9.

Change mechanism Changemaking mechanism is provided for returning change to the customer at the end of a transaction in order to give full value for the coin inserted. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 6 the change making mechanism includes a plurality of coin tubes 166-173, each of which has one side portion cut away to facilitate ready and easy placement of coins in the tubes. The coin tubes 166-169 are dimensioned to receive and retain pennies and the other tubes 170-173 receive and retain nickels. The four penny tubes and the four nickel tubes are formed integrally with base plates 174 and 175 respectively which are bolted to the bracket plate 182 which is supported 'on the upper edge of the coin-receiving hopper or chute 18.4. The hopper or chute 184 is affixed to the housing 4,0 and directs the coins to the return slot and receptacl'e 59.`

.Each Qi the; coin; ejectingmechanisms is identical and a description of one will suffice for an understanding of all of the mechanisms. The nickel dispensing mechanism shown in Fig. 6 includes a chin ejecting solenoid SOL106 which is mounted on the bracket plate 182 and has the armature 185 connected by a yoke 186, and by means of a resilient drive element-187 extending between the arms thereof to an upstanding connecting arm or postV 188' which is formed integrally with the stripper plate 189. Post 187 extends through an elongated slot 1190 in bracket plate 182 and is thereby shiftable toward and away from coin tube4 170. Stripper plate 189 i-s supported by guide plate 191 and is secured to; the bracket mounting plate 182 as by screws and bolts 192. A guide element 193 is slidable in an elongated opening 194 in guide plate 191 and is axedto the stripper plate 189. Stripper plate 189 has a semi-circular recess 195 in the forward end thereof which normally communicates with the lower end of tube 170 through the opening 182:1 in the bracket plate 182.` The guide plate 191 normally holds a coin in the stripper plate and precludes it from falling through. The end of stripper plate 139 is shiftable to the rightrunti'l the recess 195 is disposed outwardly of the end of guide plate 191 `whereupon-the coin carried by the stripper plate is dropped downwardly into the hopper or chute 218.4. A return springy 197 is aixed at one end by lug 198v and set screw 19.2 to the guide plate 191 and is secured at the. otherY end tor a depending arm.

199 which is formed integrally of the inner end of stripper plate 189.

It should be understood that: a solenoid is associated with each of` thev cointubes for eiecting coins one at a time therefrom. The solenoidsl (Fig. 9) SOL102-SOL109 are respectively associated with coin tubes, 166473 for ejecting coins therefrom.

Means are provided for detecting lack of coins Vin the coin tubes and in Fig. 6,4 it will be seenthat a microswitch SW111 has a feeler finger 201 which extends into the lower portion of the coin tube 17o-through a slot 202 in the rear side of coin tube-170. The switch SW111 -is mounted on rods 196V which are supported by bracket plates 196:1 at the ends of the base plates 174 and 175. It will be seen that the coins in the tube hold the feeler linger in the slot, 202,` but when the. number of coins is decreased'to the point, where no coin will engage the feeler, Vthe feeler` willswing inwardly` into the tube to operate the switch SW111.

It will bey noted that a coin detecting; deviceis provided for. each of the coinv tubes and switches SW107-SW114 (Fig.` 8) are respectively associated with coin tubes 166-173.

The change mechanisms are operated either manually by pressing change button-.44011 the controlpanel or automatically, depending upon the extent of credit remaining in the machine as will hereinafter be more fully described.

It will be seen that before change may be had, it is required that a stamp bepurchased.

Electric control system The major components of the electric control circuit of the vending machine are shown in Fig. l0. Brietly, the electrical circuitry includes a credit means responsive to the coin detecting circuits for establishing credit. When credit is established, the dial energizing circuits permit the dialing circuits to operate. Depending upon which dial is. operated, the. dialing circuits operate the selector circuit so as, to prepare for the dispensing of' the proper denomination of stamp. and prepare for the subtraction of the proper amount of credit. The dialing circuits also trigger the production, ofv impulsesV which are applied bythe control means to the dispensers, and the credit means. The impulse is first applied to the register credit Acircuit for subtracting credit which prepares the hold circuits for proper operation and then the impulse is applied to the hold circuits so that the credit registered thereby is` the samefas inthe register credit circuit after the subtraction.V

If suicient credit remains, the dial energizing circuits maintain the dialing circuits in condition for operation. The credit means also will control the number of coins which may be returned as change. The coin ejecting circuit is also controlled by the dialing circuits which will not permit the coin ejecting circuits to operate unless at least one stamp has been purchased. When the coins are ejected for making change, the reset circuits are energized for resetting the credit means.

In the schematic circuit diagrams various devices are indicated by numerals with uniform letter prefixes. Power buses are' designated with the preiix B; even numbered buses being connected or connectible to one side of the power source and odd numbered buses being connected or connectible to the other side of the power source; relays are designated with the prex K, certain of the relays are two coil latching type relays and the coils of these relays are designated with the suiiixes L (latching) and UL (unlatching or releasing); the contacts of the relays are designated by the relay designation followed by Ia hyphen and the number of the contact and on the circuit diagram the contacts are designated by the relay number and the contact number, one above the other; switches are designated by the prefix SW in most cases, with the exception that certain switches directly associated with the dials are designated with the preiix D; electric solenoids are designated by the preiix SOL; resistors are designated with the prefix R and condensers are designated with the prefix C.

Fig. 7 contains the circuitry for the credit means or mechanism. The hold circuits and relays are positioned in the upper left hand corner of Fig. 7 and are designated K44 to KS2. The remainder of the circuit and relays at the upper right hand corner and across the bottom of Fig. 7 are the register credit relays and circuit, and these relays are designated by the numerals K55 to K59 and K63 to K67.

In Fig. 8, power is supplied at the upper left hand corner and adjacent the upper right hand corner is the coin detecting circuits which include relays K02 to K04 and K06, and coin detecting switches SW104 to SW106; at the lower right hand corner of Fig. 8 are the dial energizing circuits including relays K29 to K31; and the stamp dispensers are at the extreme lower left of Fig. 8 and .include the solenoids `SOL110 to SOL112. Immedi-ately to the right of the stamp dispensers is the selector circuits including relays K23 to KZS.

' At the lower right hand portion of Fig. 9 are the dialing mechanisms including the interrupter switches D1, D2 and D3 (respectively associated with dials 46, 47 and 48) and the relays K36 to K38; at the upper right hand portion of Fig. 9 are the coin ejecting solenoids SOL102 to SOL109 and their associated control circuits, and the remainder of the coin ejecting circuit is to the left of the dial circuits and includes relay K34 and the manual switch SW103 controlled by the change button `44; the impulse producing and timing circuit is in two portions,

one being to the left of the coin ejector mechanism and including relays K19 to K21 and the remainder of the circuit is at the lower left corner of Fig. 9 and includes relays KS2 and K33.

Power is supplied to the buses B1 and B2 at 203. The buses B1 and B2 include the main power switch SW101. Buses B1 and B3 are connected for simultaneous energization. Buses B2, B4, B6, B8 and B10 are all interconnected for simultaneous energiz'ation.

The coin detecting circuits which sense the insertion of a coin into the machine and cause credit to be set up and prepare other circuits for operation include relays K02, K03 and K04, and relay X05. Relay K04 is connected to bus B2 through contacts K17-1 and K17-2 and is connectible to bus B1 through switch SW106 (located at the bottom of coin tube A58) When operated, contacts K67-.1 and K67-2 when operated, contacts K60-1 and K600-2, through one or more of contacts K40-1, 1440-2, K41-1,

K41-2, K421 or K42-2 and through contacts K22-1 and K22-2. After relayrK04 is energized, connection to bus B1 is maintained through holding contact K04-1. Relay K03 is similarly connected to bus B2 and is connectible to bus B1 through switch SW105 when operated, switch 106, contacts K67-1, KZZ-l; the connection to bus B1 is maintained after relay .KUS is operated through contacts K03-1 and K04-1. Relay K02 is similarly connected to bus B2 and is similarly connectible to bus B1 through switches SW104 when operated, SW105, SW106, K221; the connection to bus B1 is maintained after relay K02 is operated through the holding contacts K02-1, KOS-1 and K04-1.

Coin return solenoid SOL101 is normally energized to allow coins of any denomination to set 'up the credit in the machine and is connected to bus B2 through contact K06-3 and contacts K17-1 and K17-2, and is connected to bus B1 through switches SW104, SW10S, SW106, contacts K67-1, K22-1. A discharging resistor R201 shunts the solenoid coil SOL101.

Bus B15 is connectible to bus B21 for energizing a number of relays R06 to K09 through one or more of the contacts Kill-2, K03-2 or K04-2 and switches SW104, K22-1. The operating or latching coil K06L of relay K06 is connected to bus B2 and is connectible to bus B15 through contact K081. Twenty-tive cent credit relay coil K07L is connected to bus B2 and is connectible -to bus B15 through contact K04-3. Latching coil K08L is connected directly to buses B2 and B15.

Relay coil K09 is also connected directly to buses B2 and B15. RelayK09 is of diierent design as compared to most of the other relays and is provided with two contacts K09-1 and K09-2 which are cam operated wherein the cams for the contacts are out of phase with each other. The contact-operating cams move one step each time the relay is operated and have an eight-step cycle of operation, the first four and last four steps of the cycle being identical with each other. In the successive eight steps of operation of the relay, contact K09-1 will be closed, closed, open, open, closed, closed, open, open; and contact K09-2 will be closed, open, open, closed, closed, open, open, closed. t t

In Fig. 9 bus B13 is connectible to bus B1 through contacts K06f4 and K06-5 to prepare for the operation of the coin ejecting solenoids SOL102 to SOL109 and `to prepare or operate relays K10, K11 and K12 which alternate the combinations of said solenoids which may operate, and to prepare for operation of relays K14 to K17 which provide for sequential operation of the penny ejecting solenoids SOL102 to SOL105 and then the nickel solenoids SOL106 to SOL109, and bus B13 also supplies power to the timing section of the impulse-producing circuit which includes relays K19 to KZl.

. Bus B13a is connectible to bus B13 through one of the contacts K02-3, KBS-3, K04-4 or KS4-1, or bus`B13a is connectible to bus B1 through contact K05-2. Bus B13b is connectible with bus B13a through contacts K13-1 and K13-2 when operated.

The connections of the control relays for the coin dispensing solenoids are as follows. Relay K10 and relays K11 and K12 are connected to bus B2 and are connectible to bus B13 through contact K09-1 and K09-'2 respectively. Relay K13 is connected to bus B2 through the resistor R03 and rectiiier CR01(6), and is connected to bus B13a. A charging condenser C05 is connected in shunt with respect to relay coil K13 to provide a time delay of approximately milliseconds between the time power is applied to the relay coil K13 and the operation of the contacts thereof. Penny dispensing control relay K14 is connected to bus B2 and is connected to bus B13a through contacts K13-1 and K13-2. Relay KIS is connected to bus B13b and is connected to bus B2 through resistance R04 and rectiler CR01(5). Condenser C06 is connected in shunt with respect to relay .K15 for provid-` ing a time delay of approximately 100 milliseconds from aune the energization thereofv to the operation of the contacts. Nickel dispensing control `relay K16 is connected to bus B2 and isV connected to bus B13b through contacts KIS-1 and KIS-2. Resetting relay K17 is connected to bus B2 and is connectible to bus B13b through contacts K15-1 21nd KIS-2 when operated. Relay K17 is also connectible to bus B13a through contact. K18-1 when operated. Relay KIS. is connected` to buses B13a and B2, and is a time delay relay providing approximately a live second lag between energization of bus B13a and the operation ofthe contacts. Relay K18 is also connectible to bus B1 through Contact KOS-2.

The penny dispensing solenoids SOL102 to SOL105 are connected to bus B6 and are connectible to bus B13 through the contacts K11-1 to K11-4 and K10-1 to K-4 which cumulatively control the operation of the solenoids: in successive transactions, and through contacts K531, KS4-1, KS3-4 'which indicate the credit remaining and therefore indicate the number of penny dispensing solenoids which will, be permitted to operate, and also through contacts K14-1, K14-2, K34-2 and KS4-3, when operated.

A solenoid discharging resistor R208 is connectible through a number of the contacts in shunt with respect to the penny dispensing solenoids.

The nickel ejecting solenoids SOL106 to SOL109 are connected to bus B6 and are.v connected to bus B13 through contacts K12-1 to K12-4 which control the sequence of the solenoid operation in successive transactions, and through contacts KSSA, K56-1, K55-4 whichindicate the credit existing and therefore the number of nickel solenoids to be operated, and through contacts K16.-1, K16-2, KS4-2 and KS4-3 when operated.

The ejection of change or coins is initiated by operation of the relay KS4 which is energized from buses B4 and B5.l Bus B5 is energized from bus B1 through contacts K06-2, K02-1, K03-1 and K04-1. Relay KS4 is connectible to bus B4 through contacts KGS-2, K39-2 and K39-3, K21-1 and K21-2, and K19-2 when operated; and relay K34 is connectible to bus B5 through contacts. K282, K26-2, K24.-2, K24-3 and through contact K31-3 or switch SW103 which is manually controlled by button 44. After relay KS4 is operated connection to. ybus B5 is maintained through hold contact K34-4.

In connection with the dialing circuits, reference is rst made to Fig. 5 which shows the switching arrangement of onev of the dials 46 which is identical to the switching arrangements of the other dials. Switch contacts Dla are normallyI open and are held in this condition by a cam 133y which is mounted on the rotary spindle 132 of the dial and normally engages the post 137 which holds the contacts Dla in operation. When the dial 46 is revolved in the direction of arrow X switch contacts Dla are closed and will remain closed until the dial returns to rest condition. Closing or` the. contact Dia causes the other dials toy be locked out of operation and causes operation of the selector circuit previously mentioned.

The interrupter switch D1 vis operated `by a rotary cam 139 which is connected in a conventional manner (not shown) to Vbe revolved when the'dal is released from the finger-of the customer andis allowed to return to its rest posit-ion so as to close the interruptor switch D1 a number of times equal to the number selected and dialed by the customer. If the customerk dials a certain number, the interrupter switch D1 will produce a like number of current impulses therethrough.

Bus Ba is connected to bus B5 through contact KS4-4. A dial. slave relay K39 is provided .for following the operation of any one of the dial interrupter switches and is connected to bus B4 and is connectible to bus BSa through one of the contacts IMS-4, X66-4 or lholding contact K39-4, and through contact X36-3, interrupter switch D1 (of dial 46) and contact K314. The latching au.'` operating coil K36L is connected to bus. B6 through 8 stamp' run-out switch SW115 and. is connectible to bus B5 through. contacts.v K384i, K37-4, the dial oily-normal switch Dla and contact K314.

The dial slave relay R39 may, alternatively,v be; connected to lbus B541 through contacts KSO-3, interrupter switch D2 (or dial 47) and contact K37-3. The latching coil K37L is connected -to bus B6 through stamp runfout detector switch SW116 and is connectible to bus Ba through contacts K38-5, X36-4, switch D2a and contact BBG-3.

T he dial slave relay B139 is similarly connectible to bus B501 through contacts 1(29-3, interrupter switch D3 (of dial 48) and contact K383. Latching coil K38L isconnected to bus B6 through stamp run-out switch SW117 and is connectible to bus BSa through contactsl K37-5, {G6-5, oil normal switch Dav and contact K29-3.

The stamp run-out relays KM), K41 and K42 are connected to bus B3 and are connectible to bus B6 through switches SW115, SW116 and SW117 respectively when stamps are exhausted.

The impulse producing and timing circuit is triggered by operation of relay R39 and includes relays KS2y and KIS), K2@ and R21. The lrectiiers CR01(1), CR01(2), CR01(3) and CR01(4) connect the buses B13 and B2 to the direct current buses DCI and DC2. Relays K19 and K2() are connected through resistor R23 to the direct current 'ous DCI, and are alternately connected to the direct current bus DC2 through the contacts K31-1 and K31-2 respectively. Charging condensers C207 and C208 `are connected in shunting relation with respect to relays K19 and K2() respectively for producing a time delay between the time that power is applied to the relay coils and the time at which the contacts thereof are Operated. Discharging resistors R205 and R206 are respectively connectible in shunting relation with relays K19 and KZi) through'the contacts KZ-Il and K32-2. Relay R21 is connected to direct current bus DCI through. resistor R24 and is also connectible to the directcurrent bus DCZ through Contact K39-1. Charging condenser C209 is'connected in shunting relation withrrespectl to relay K21 and discharging resistor R207 is connectible in shunting relation with respect to relay X21 through the contact K39*1. The time delays between energizationv and operation of the relays K`i9, K2() and K21 are of'approximately 50 milliseconds, but may be varied slightly by adjusting the resistors R23 and R24.V

Relay R32 is connec-ted totV bus B5 'and is connectible to bus B4 through contacts R20-1, K20-2 and K39-2 and K39-3 when operated, K21-1, K21-2, and K19-2 when operated. Connection to bus B4 is maintained through cont-acts K32-3 and K32-4 after relay K32 is operated.

The timed impulses of current produced operate the means for controlling the s-tamp dispensers and the credit mechanism which inthe present invention comprises relay K33 which is connected in. shunting relation with respect to relay K32. A discharging resistor R217 is also connected in shunt relation with respect to relay KS3.

In Fig. 8 the dial energizing circuit which allows operation of the several dials in response to predetermined existing credit, includes relays R29, K3() and K31, all of which are connected to bus B4. Denomination limity relay Y KZ9 is corrected to bus B5 through any one or more. of contacts K07-1, KW7-2, K55-S, K56-4, K57-3, K44-1, 1445-41 `or R464, all. of which are credit relay contacts and indicate the presence of ten cents or more credit in the machine. Relay R29 determines whether or' not dial 4S may operate and in View of the fact that six cent stamps are controlled by dial 48', the dial should be permitted to operate after there is Iat least six cents credit in the machine. Relay K29 may also be connected to bus B5 through any one of contacts K64-1, K63-1, K49-1 or K48-1 and through contacts K47-1 and K58'-1. Relay K29'may also be connected to bus B5 through con.-V tacts. KSU-1 Ke, and. selector switch SW220-1,. and' auen contacts K47-1 and KSB-2. The selector switch SW220 is a multi-bank multiple position switch which is adjusted in relation to the denomination of stamps contained in the dispenser 11,1. The switch SW220 has three switching positions which respectively provide for six cent, seven cent or eight cent stamps to be handled. Relay K29 may also be connected to bus B5 through contacts KSl-l and K66-2 and selector switch SW220-2 and contacts KfW-ll and K53-2.

' Relay KSO, which controls energization of the dialing mechanism `47, is connectible to bus B through any one or more of contacts K29-1, K29-2, K47-2 or KSS-B; and is also connectible to bus B5 through multi-position selector switch SW219-1 and contacts K48-2 and K632; and is also connectible to bus BS through switch SW2192 and contacts K49-2 and `K64-2. By adjustment of the multi-position switch SW219, the dispenser 112 may handle either three, vfour or ve cent stamps.

.Relay K31 which controls theenergization of the dial 46, is connectibleto bus B5` through -any one or more of contacts K07-3, K300-1, K30-2, 1448-3, K49-3, K633 or K64-3; and is also connectible to -bus B5 through multi-position selector switch SW218-1 and contacts KSU-2 `and KGS-.4; land is also connectible to bus B5 through switch SW218-2 and contacts KSl-Z and K66-3. By adjusting the multi-position switch SWZlS the dispenser 113 may handle stamps in the denomination of one cent, two cents or three cents. Y

The selector circuit forcausing the proper dispenser to operate with a corresponding dial and for causing subtraction of the proper credit value, includes the relays K23`and K24 which are connected to bus B4 and connectible to bus B5 through contact K36-1; relays K25 and K26 which are connected to bus B4 and connectible to bus B5 through contact K37-1; yand relays K27 and K28 `which are connected -to bus B4 and connectible to bus B5 `through contact KSB-1. Discharging resistors R213,` R214 and R215 shunt the relays K23, K25 and K27 respectively.

`Thecontrol means for transmitting the timed impulses to the `dispensers and the credit mechanism includes the relay KS3, previously mentioned, and relay KGS which is connected to bus B4 and connectible to Lbus B5 through contact K33-1 and which is shunted by discharging resistor R216.

The solenoids SOL110, SOL111 and SOL1212 of the stamp dispensers are connected to the bus B6 and are connectible through contacts 1424-1, K26-1, K28-1 respectively, and contacts K35-1, and K35-2 to bus B5. Discharging resistors R110, R111 and R112 shunt the stamp dispensing solenoids.

The coin run-out detector switches SW^7 to SW114 are in shunt relation with respect to each other for connecting the out-of-change relay K60 to bus B2; Operation of this relay prevents insertion of any additional coins in the machine for setting up credit.

A motor M for driving a cam A is connected to bus B2 and is connectible to bus B1 through any one of con-4 one side of the transformer secondary and are connect' ible to the other side of the transformer secondary by contacts K06-1, K60-3 K40-4.

The unlatching coils K36UL and K37UL and K38UL` of relays K36, and K38 respectively are connected to bus B4 and are connectible to 'bus B5 through contacts K36-2, K372 and K38-2 respectively and contact KS3-1;

In Fig. 9 the resetting circuit which prepares thec'ircuits,` at'the end'of a transaction for a subsequent trans- 10 action, inciudes the relay coil K06UL of relay K06 which is `connected to bus B5 and which is connectible to bus B4 through contacts K17-3 and K17-4 when operated, KUS-2, K39-2 and K39-3, K21-1 and K2'1-2, and K192 when operated, or release coil K06UL is alternately con nected to bus B4 through contact K622. Relay K22` (Fig. 8) which initiates the automatic resetting is connected to bus B4 and is connectible to bus B3 through contacts K19-1 when operated, and K06'-6. The resetting relays K61 and K62 are connected to bus B4 and are connectible to bus B3 through either of contacts KOS-3 or K22-3. Manually initiated resetting is initiated Eby closing of manual switch SW1l02 (-Fig. V8) to connect relaytKS to bus B2. Relay KOS is also connected to bus B1; and when relay KOS is operated, the connection to bus B2 is maintained through contact X05-1 and K175i and K1'l-2.

B8 and B10 which are continuously energized and B7 which isnorrnally energized by bus B3 through contact K06-6 but which may also be energized through contact K62-1. A condenser C204 shunts the contacts K06-6 and K62-1.

Bus B8 is connected to all of the hold relay latching and release coils K44L and K44UL to KSZL and K52UL and relays KS3 and KS4. `Bus B8 is also connected to all of the five cent or nickel register credit relay latching andrelease coils KSSL and KSSUL to KSSL and KSSUL and relay K59; and bus B10 is connected to all of the one cent or penny register credit relay latching or release coils K63L and K63UL to K67L and K67UL.

Substantially all of the register credit and holding relays are latching type relays and the moving of the contacts of any register credit or, hold relay is indicative of a predeterminedvalue of credit existing. Each of the hold relays K44 to K47 and each of the register credit relays K55 to KSS have `been assigned .credit values which differ from each other in five cent increments. For instance, relay K44 is indicative of twenty cents credit, and relay K4S is indicative of fteen cents` credit; andsimilarly register credit frelay K55 is indicative of twenty cents credit and relay` K56 is indicative of fteen cents credit. Similarly the remainderrof the holdtand register credit relays are indicative of values which differ from each other by five and one cent increments. Relay K07-serves as the twenty-five cent relay.

Total credit existing is determined Aby adding the `credit indications of the relays which have been operated. IFor instance, if ten cents credit exists, relays K46 (ten cents) and KS2 (zero pennies) will have been operated to shift the contacts thereof; and likewise register credit relays K5? (ten cents) and K67 (zero pen nies) will have been operated. As another example,

if seven cents-credit exists and is indicated, the contacts will have been shifted-of hold relays K47 (tive cents) andgK50 (two cents) and register credit relays KS3 (five cents) and KGS (two cents).

'Ilhe operation of the credit mechanism substantially centers around the operation of contact KS3-2 which sequentially energizes bus. B9 and then bus B11. W-hen any amount of credit exists, both the hold relays and the register Vcredit relays indicate that amount of credit. Contact KS3-2' is operated substantially simultaneously with the dispensing of` a stamp and bus B9 is thereby energized to cause a quantity of credit, equal to the value 'of the stamp dispensed, to be subtracted from the registercredit relays. Operation of these register credit relays prepares for the subsequent operation of the corresponding hold relays which operate when contact KGS-2 returns `to its normal position` and energizes bus B11.

The'hold relays operate to prepare the registercredit;

relays for a subsequent subtraction.

11 contact K08-4.- Release coil; KQSLIL. is .connectible to bus B9 through contact K083e3. The twentyv cent hold relay latchingn and releasing coils. K44L. and K44UL are alternately connectible to. bus B11 through Contactl K55- 6;, `lifteen cent hold` relay latching and releasing coils K45L. andi K45UL, are alternately connectible to bus B111 through contact. K56-5. Similarly, latching and releasev coils K46L and K46ULv (tenv cents), and K47L and K47UL (dive cents), K48L and K48ULV (four-cents), K49L and K49UL (three cents), KSULv and KSUUL (two cents), KSIL and KSlULi (fone cent), and K52L and KSZUL. (Azero: cents) are alternately connectible to bus K65.-6, X66-5, K67-3 respectively; Relays,v KS3 and KS4 are connected in shunting relation with latchingcoilsY K48L. and. K49L respectively; and discharging.y resistors R220 and R221 are also' connected. in shunt relation with respect to relays KS3Y and KS4. Discharging resistor R219 is connected between buses B11 and B8 and condenser C201 is connected between buses; B11 and'BfZ.

Bus B27 isconnectible to bus B9 under several diierent conditions so as to cause the subtraction of a ve cent increment of credit. The busk B27' is connectible to bus B9 through either of contacts K38-6A when ope-r-V ated, (which. indicates that dial 48y is being operated to dispense six, seven or eight cent stamp), or contact KS2-3 (whichindicates no onecent increments of. credit existing). Bus B27 is alsoconnectible to bus' B9' through Contact K37-6 and through multi-position selector switch SW2`19-5, or through switch SW219-4 and contact K49- 5, or switch SW219-3 and contacts KSU-4 or KSL-4.

The bus B27 is thereby energized when dial 47' is op erated. (for three cent stamps) and' when two or one centl creditexists. Bus B27 isy also connectible to bus- B9' through contactv KSG-6 and multi-position selector Switch` SW218-3 and. contact K51-5', or switch SW-218-4, andcontactKSU- Y r[the register credit. relays which indicate credit in. live cent increments areconnectibleto bus B27. Latching coil KSSL (twenty cents) is connecti-ble to bus B27` through'. contact` K43-1 and contact K07-4 when operated. Latchiug coil K56L. (-fteen cents) isr` connecti-V K46-2 when. operated, or contacts- K43-3` and K45-2' when operated; and latchingl coil KSSL is also connectible to. husY B7 through contact K02-4 when operated. -Relay B159V (zero nickels) isiconnectible to bus B271 through either contact K473 when: operated or through contacts K43-4 and K46.-2 when. operated; and`relay K59 is also connectible to bus.B7 through contact`K62-4.

Thenickel register credit relay release coilsv KSSUL,

KSGUL, K57ULandY KSSUL aretconnectiblefto` bus B7" through contacts: K59.-1`, K59.2, K59l-31 and K59-4 re'- spectvely when operated; andi said release coils arel also connectible4 to busB27` through-1 said` contacts in their normal, positions and: through contactsA K44-2, K452 and K46-2 respectivelyv when operated.

The means.- for; subtracting adouble'tive cent incre#- ment of credit\,.orrten cents,includes relay K43' which is` connected to busr B8 and is'fconnectible to bus B7' when such credit exists-that a: six, seven or eight` centstamp reduces the credit through two nickelincrernents (such as whentwen-ty cents credit exists, purchase of a six cent stampreduces the nickel credit incrementsiby'twoj stepsto ten cents, and? course four cents are also indicated tol produce a remainder of; fourteen-2 cents credit). Relay' E43. is connectible to bus B7 through contact: 1GB-3 and Contact KS2-2, or switch SW220f-3, andv contact K'Sl-I, or switch SW220-4 and K50L-3. t

The buses B17, B19, B21, B23A and B25 are connectible to bus B9 through contacts KS2-4, K51-6, K50-6, K49=6 and. K48-5 respectively and, either of contact K26-3 or multi-position. selector switch SW219-6. Releasing coils K63UL to K67UL of the registerY credit relays are connected, directly to buses B25, B23, B21, B19 andi B17 respectively. Release coils K63UL to K66UL are also connectible to bus B7 through contacts K61-1' to- K6144 respectively. Y The, register credit relay laiching coilsy K63L to K67L, which, when operated produce credit indications inY one cent increments arel energized through buses B29, B31, B33, B35 and B37 respectively. The buses' B29 to B37 are connectible to the buses B17 to B25 in various; ar'- rangernents by meansof the contacts K27-1 K28-4 and selector switches SW220-5. SW220i-9,` or 'through contacts K25-1 K2 6-4 and switch SW219-7, SVS/21941 or through contacts K231-1 K24-4. andi switch SW21S-5 SW218-9. -Only one of the' buses B17 to B25 will be;v energized at lany one-.time toy indicatev a predetermined one. cent: increment of'creditiin existence, and only one. series of4 thev three series of contacts` K271;. KZSg-4, or K25-1.. .K26-4, or. K23`-1.. K24-4 will be operated or; closed at: any onetime, toz identify the-dispenser which is operated and therefore indicate the amount of credit which is to hey subtracted. For instance, if seven cents creditA exists, bus B21 is: connected through contact KSG-6 to bus` B9' to indicate a two cent credit, increment existing, andif. the diali 47` is operated to dispense a three cent stamp, selector: relays K25 and K26 are operated; to close' the contacts# K25-1 K26.4, so as. to connect bus B29 and latching coil' K63L to bus B21` and busl B9. Subtraction of: three cents creditj(for the stamp) from. the pre-existing seven cents credit must necessitate an indication' of` four cents credit remaining` and the relay K63 producesY this indication. Of course if. four cent stamps-weretcontained'- inv dispenser 112 thenv theA selector switchv SW219`Wouldfv be readjust'ed so that bus` B31 and coil rK64L. wouldtbe` connected to bus B9'so that a four cent incrementwould be subtracted.

Operation The description of the operation will he started. withf the assumption that the machine; contains the necessary.` stampsk and theY necessary coins, and furthermore it is assumed that the machine has previously been operated so'that the circuits are reset to facilitate; the reception of. another coin. In this condition, the. switch. SW1011 is closed'and the busesBI, B3, B2, B4,, B6, B8 VandBl()l are. energized. circuit, the contactsof latching, relaysK67 and. K521i. are, latched in shifted condition. In.. addition', whenthe circuit is vin the assumed reset condition, the coin Vreturni solenoid SOL101 is energized from bus. B2;v and busV B1. to allow coins4 to passthrough the chutesA 56, 57 and58.

The machine is thenin condition to` receive acoin andv to dispense stamps in return for the coin. As. herein.- before. pointed out the machine is, adapted, to receiveI a quarter, a dime orz'a nickel, and. in the conditionoflhe machine.v shown in the circuit, stamps inthe denomina@ tions. of, two, cents, three cents and six. centsf are: avail.-` able. in general, they circuitl records the. amount of-` money inserted 'oy operation of combinations? of certain: relays,- and as stamps are dispensedthese relays are oper,-

In the assumed reset condition of the:

ated1 again so. as to revise the amount of credit. existing.. inthe circuit. When a coin is. inserted, certain oi the:y register credit relays, K55 to K58 and K63to. K67 are.

operated and then corresponding hold relays KM` to- K52 are operated. When, stamps are dispensed, the hold' relaysA momentarily' retain their positions. corresponding,

.statines tothe existing credit. and the Vmeistery Credit relays are operated to assume a new condition, indicating the credit remaining after dispensing of the stamp, then the hold relays are operated so as to record credit identical tothe credit indicated by the register credit relays. To draw an analogy, the process is siinilar to the solving oi a sirnple subtraction problem. The hold relays record the minuend, and the pulse deliveredwith dispensing of a stamp might be considered as the-subtrahend, ,andy then the remainder is indicated at; theA register credit relays. Then the hold relays immediately assume the condition of the register credit relays so as to establish a new rninuend for a subsequent simple subtraction.

Establishment of )ve cents credit Assuming that a nickel islinsersted into the coinl slot, tive cents credit is set up in the` following manner. The iinal result after the circuit is operated, is Vthat .the contacts of the five cent hold and register credit relays K47 and 4KS3 are, shifted andlatched, the contacts of the zero cent holdancl register credit relays KS2 and KGT re- (nain latched. In addition, the` dials 46 and 47 and their circuits are armed so that either of these Amay` be subsequently operated to dispense a stamp. In addition, a circuit is operated to require the purchase of a stamp before change may oe had from` the, coin tubes. e i

When a nickel is deposited, switch Syl/104 is` momentarilyV shifted and is returned by its spring tonormal position. When switch SWIM is shifted, the.. coin relay LCG2 is `irnrnediately`energized from bus B2l and from `bus B1 through switches Swlll, SWlilS, SWIG@ contacts KAST-2 andV K224i. 'fue` contacts of relay Kill and Contact Kliff-.1 provides e holding Circuit for relay Kili. Contact KMA closes to prepare the tive cent register credit relay coil KSSL for operation as soon as bus B7 is energized. `Contact Kin-3 closes to prepare relays K14 andK-. for operation as soon as hnsBl is energized. Contact K022 closes to` energize bus. B15@ and inmediately relays KSL, and K09 are operated.` The'` rotary cani` or relay K0? is revolved through one step and the contacts KGS-1 and K09-2 will be opened or closed depending upon the position of the cams so as to cause or prevent subsequent operation of relays K10, K11 and K12. y

When relay KSL is energized, the contacts thereof are shifted, T he most important contact is K08-2 `which opens. to prevent operationV of relayy `K-'l for dispensing of coins until relayKDS is subsequently released. Con,- tact Kr prepares the release coil K08UL for openatioii. when bus. B9 is energized., after which. change may be had. Contact K08-1 closes to, energize relay coil KQGL andthe contacts of relay: Kilo are shifted.l

Contact Kilda-1 prepares indicator light 5,0 for subsef quent operation. Contact Kilo-2 closes to energize bus B which prepares the dialsand pulsingcircuits foroperation. Contact K06-f3 opens to deenergize solenoid SVOL101 which allows the lingersl 60, 6,1 Yand 6,2 to divert all subsequent coins from chutes 56, 5,7 and 58. Contacts K06-4` andA Kytl6-.5 close to4 energize bus B13, which energizes bus B13a through contact Kill-3, and relay K19 which operates when condenser C207 ischarged, Contact X19-2 closes to prepare relays KS2 and KS3 ter Operation 1311s. B13a.e;1egizes releve, K13 and 1.4;14 and time delay relay. K13, which, it it remains energized for more than tive` seconds?, isloperated to energize .relay lK17. Normally relay` K IS will not operate. Relayl K14 is immediately operated withl no present effect, and relay K13 operates When-condenser C05 is charged. When relay K13 is operated,V relay K14 is deenergizecll and, the contacts thereof return to normal, and bus B13b is energized through contacts K13-1 and K13-2 which causes energization of relay Klt which operates with no eect, and relay KIS which operates when condenser C06 is charged to energize relay K17.v Contacts K17-1 and K.17-2 open te deenersize relayv K02- Howeven before relay- K.1.7 operates.l thejshorttime delay provided bv the delays in operation of K13 and'then KIS, allows credit to be established in the hold relays X44 to KS2 and register credit relays K55 to KSS and K63 to K6?. Contact K06-6 closes to energize buses B7 and B11. When busl B7 is energized,`the tive cent register credit relay KSSL is energized through Contact 1(02-4. Contact KS3-4 closes to prepare tive cent hold relay K47L for subsequent operation. Contact KSS-S closes to energize relay K3() from` bus B5'.

When relay X17 deenergizes relay K02, the contacts thereof return to normal to deenergize buses B15 and Bla` and to deenergize relay coil KSSL, but the contacts oi relay K SS remain in shifted condition. The contacts 0f relays KQ@ and KGS remainy latched in shifted condition.

When contacts K021` return to normal, the relay coil KZ is disconnected from bus B1, and bus B5 is energized from bus B1.V When bus B5 is energized, relay R30 iS energized through contact KSS-S.

Operation of relay K3()` has two effects, the first being energization of relay K31 through contacts' K3041 and KSG-f2; and the second being the supplying of power to the dial interrupter switch D2 of dial 47 through contact'KO- and K34,4'. Because theV dial 47 will dispense three cent stamps, the tvecent credit is sulicient to put dial 47 into condition for operation. When relay K31 operates, contact K31-4 closes to supply power to the dial intcrtllpter switch D1 of dial 46 (for two cent stamps) through contacts KS4-4; contact KSL-3 opens in the automatic change circuit to prevent relay KM` from Vautomatically operating until the level of credit in the machine has decreased lto below the two cent limit; and contact KSL-1 closes to energize rnotor M and light 50 which flashes on and off. It should be pointed out that because only ve cents credit exists in the machine, the

relay K29 has not operated and therefore the vdial 4 (sin` cent stamps) may not, operate.

The machine` is now in condition for dispensing of stamps by operation of the dials 46 or 47. Inkreview, it will bev noted that the live cent credit is recorded in the machine by the contacts of relays K47 and KSS which remain latched; and the contacts of relays KS2 and K67 .which remain shifted in latched condition (which show that no odd pennies are presently recordedin the credit circuit), The change circuit and particularly relay KS4 is precluded, from, operating; until at least one stamp has been, purchased and this is so because the contacts of rela-y KOS remain in shifted and latched condition. The contacts of relay R06-, most of which control power buses, remain in latched and shifted condition until the entire transaction is complete, that is, until stamps have been purchased and change has been returned and until the machine resets` itself in preparation for another transaction. In addition,l relay K19 remains energized which is subsequently operative to assist in controlling the length of pulses. from the dials.

Establishment of ten cents credit The establishment of ten cents credit in the machine as a result of, insertion of a` dime is quite similar to the establishment of five cents credit as previously described. The primary difference is that the. register credit relay c oil K57L is operated instead of relay 'coil KSSL, and the ten cent holdV relay coil K46L is operated instead of relay coil K471i. In addition, relay R29 is operated through contact K57-3, and contacts K29-1 and K29-2 energize relay KSU, and contact K29-3 closes to supply' power to dial interruptor switch D3. All of the interrupter` switches are supplied with power to permit any of the. dials to be operated.

Establishment of twenty-five cents credit O f.: the. insertion .0i a quarter into the` machine is: similar in most respects to the establishment`of five centsicredit,

with, of course, the exception that relay K04 instead of relay K02 is energized, through the coin detector switch SW106. When bus B15 is energized through contact R04-2, relays K06, K08 and X09 are energized as previously described, and in addition, relay K07 is energized through contact K04-3. It should be pointed out that it has not been necessary to provide a hold relay or register credit relay for the twenty-five cent credit, and as a result only the contacts of relay K07 remain latched in shifted condition along with the contacts of zero cents hold relay KS2 and the zero cents register credit relay K67. As described in connection with the establishment of ten cents credit all of the relays K29, K30 and K31 are energized so as to prepare all of the dials 46, 47 and 48 for operation. i 7

' Purchase of stamps It will be assumed that a dime has beenA inserted into the machine and therefore ten cents credit exists. Stamps of any denomination may be purchased. Assuming that it is desired to purchase a three cent stamp, dial 47 will be operated. The customer, ofcourse, places his finger in the number one hole of the dial 47 and rotatesthe dial until his finger engages the stop, and will then remove his finger so vas to allow the dial to return by its own power to the rest condition.` When the dial is manually turned in a clockwise direction, several' circuits areoperated to prepare for dispensing stamps `and subtracting of credit. Another-important function is accomplished when the dial is manually turned and this is to preclude any possibility of the other dials 46 and 48fro'm operating to dispense stamps. When the dial 47 is released to rotate counter-clockwise, the counter-clockwise rotation causes the dispensing of stamps, andY further;

more, if the dial operation is the rst'after insertion of a coin, the change dispensing Vmechanisms are prepared for operation, and of course the amount of credit remaining in the machine is changed in accordance withthe denomination of the stamp'dispensed. l

When the dial 47 is moved from its rest position, the switch D2a of the dial mechanism is closed and will remain closed until the dial again returns to rest condition. Closing of switch D241 causes energization of re lay K37L through contacts K36-4 and K38-5. lContact K37-4 and K37-5 open to preclude energization -of relay coils K36L, and KSSL respectively. As a result, the rel-ays K24 and K28, which control the two, cent and siX cent stamp dispensing solenoids SOL110 and 'SOL112 respectively, are precluded from operating.v Contact K37-3 closes to prepare relay K39 lfor Vsubsequent operation. Contact K37-2 closes to prepare release coil K37UL for subsequent operation. Contact K37-6 closes to connect bus B27 to bus B9. Contact K37 -1 closes to energize relays K25 and K26 and contact'K26-1 closes to pre` pare the three cent stamp dispensingA solenoid SOL111v for operation. Contact K26-2 opens to prevent operation of the change relay KS4 until the dial 47L is returned to rest condition. Contacts K25-1, K26-4 `are closed to connect theregister credit relay -coilsv K63L, K67L to buses B21, B19,*B17, B25 and B23 respectively through the sections or banks of switch SW219.

It will be seen that as a result of the manual-clockwise turning of dial 47, the other dials are prevented from operating, the three centy stamp dispensing solenoid SOL111 is prepared for operation, and the ve cent register credit relay KSS is prepared for operation through contacts K43-4, K46-2 (closed), bus B27 and contact KS2-3 as soon as bus B9 is energized by operation of Contact KS3-2. Furthermore,A the release coil K57UL is prepared for operation along with KSSL through contact K593, K46-2 and bus B27.. It will further be noted that the 'two cent register credit relay coil K65L is connected forV operation upon Aenergization .of bus B9, through contact K25-3, .switch SW219-9, bus B17, contact KS2-4,

and switch SW219-6; an'd the release coil K67UL is also prepared for operation along with K65L through bus B17. A

Whenrthe dial 47 is released, the interrupter switch D2 is momentarily closed and then reopened. Because only one stamp was dialed, the interrupter switch D2 will close only once and will reopen and remain open as the dial goes to rest condition. It should be understood that if more stamps had been dialed the dial interrupter switch D2 would close once vfor each stamp dialed. When the dial interrupter switch D2 closes, slave relay K39 is energized andthe contacts of relay K39 follow the operation of the dial interrupter switch D2. Contact K39-4 closeshto maintain relay K39 energized as long as the interrupter switch D2 is closed, and to avoid any shortening 'of the operation of relay K39 due to the possi,- ble reopening vof contact KS2-1. Contacts K39-'2 and 1*(39-3 operate in parallel to trigger operation of the impulse'producing circuits and particularly relay KS2.

The operation of the pulsing circuits will be temporarily bypassed, and it will be assumed that relay KS3 is energized for a predetermined length of time and is then de-energized. If more than one stamp had been dialed, relay`K-33 would have been periodically energized for predetermined durations and would have been de-ener; gized during predetermined intervals. When relay'K33 is Yenergizedpthe contacts KS3-1 which are shifted to connect relay K35 to -bus B5. The contacts K3S-1 and K35-2 close to energize the three cent stamp dispensing solenoid SOL111, for dispensing one three cent stamp. When contact K33-11eturns to normal, relay K35 is deenergized and solenoid SOL111 is also de-energized;

When relayv KS3 is operated, the other contactvK33-2 is also shifted to energize bus B9, and as a result the register credit lrelay coil previously prepared for operation, K58L, K57UL, K65L and K67UL. Operation 'of K57UL causes the contacts of the ten cent register credit relay K57 to return to normal positions, and the operation of iive cent register credit relay K58L causes shifting of the contacts thereof. IOperation of relay K67UL causes the contacts of K67 to return to normal, and of course the contacts of the two cent register creditl relay K65 are shifted and latched. Therefore, by virtue ofthe momentary operation of yrelay KS3, the register credit ,relays now register seven cents credit (five cents plus two cents). Relay K29, which had previously been energized through contact K57-3, remains energized throughY contact K58-2, switch 220-1 and K65-2i.V As a result, all of the dials 46, 47 and 48 remain in operative condition.

Contact K5 8-1 closes -to shunt contact K57-1 which opens in the nickel dispensing solenoid circuit. Contact K57-2 opens in' the five-cent coin dispensing solenoid circuit to prevent subsequent dispensing of more than one nickel. Contact K57-4 returns to normalA to connectrelease coilv K46UL to bus B11;` and contact KSB-4. shifts to connect the tive cent hold relay coil K47Lv to bus B11 so as to subsequently establish five cents credit in the liold relays. Contact K67-3 returnsto normal'to connect coil KSZUL to bus B11, and contact KGS-6 shifts to connect the two cent hold relay KSGL to bus B11. so as to also establish two cents credit in the hold relays.

In addition, when bus B9 is energized, the release coil K08UL is energized through the contact K08-3. The contacts of relays K08 are then returned to normal and the primary result is the closing of contact KUS-2 which prepares the change circuit and specifically relay KS4 fory subsequent operation when either switch SW103 or contact K31-3 is closed. Contact KUS-3 is immediately reopened to de-energize coil K08UL.

. When the relay W33 is de-energized, the contact KS3-2 returns to normal and again connects bus B11 to bus B7, whereupon release coil K46UL, relay coil K47L, relay coil KStH., Vand release coil KSZUL are energized from the, b us B11 te shift and release the contacts thereof.

Whe-n thcnpntacts of relay K46 return to normal, and

the contacts offrelays K217i and' K-S shift; latch. Contact Kdo-1 is opened, but is immediately shuntedf through contacts H474., K584i?, switch SWZZ-l and contacts KSG-l and KdS- to maintain relay K2@ energized. The other contact K46-2` reopens to Cle-energize coil KSSL and release coil K57UL. Contact KS2-3 opens, but isl shunted by contact` KEW-4; switch Syl/2194; and Contact K37`6 to maintain bus B27 in connection with busA B9. Contact KStcloses to connect bus B2i to bus B9 through switch SWZl9-6- The contacts of relay KS return to normal, and contact KSZ-4 rcopens to disconnect bus` B175 from bus B9. When the contact of relay K65, contact K65--3` closes to shunt contact'K-S-l in maintaining relay K29 energized and Contact Kofi-5' closes to maintain a circuit to the relay K39;

It will be noted-that` afterthere'lay KS3 has operated,` and returned to normal, the hold relays and register credit relays continueV toerecord-V the information that seven cents credit remains in the machine; Duringthe time that relay KES has been operating tocause dispensing of a stamp and to operate the hold 'and-.register credit relaysto: change` the amount of credit remaining: inthe machine, the.` dial` 47 has been returning touitstrest position. The momentary closure of interruptor switch D2 hasfterminated` and due to the opening of switch D2, the relay K3? has de'- energized. When the dial 47 has reached its rest position, the off normal' switch DZalis reopened and as a result, the relay coil K37L is cle-energized to allow the release coil K3'7'UL to return the contacts to" normal position; The reclosingv of contacts H374 and 1437- remove the V lockout previously applied to dials.` 45 and i3 so that if these. dials are subsequently operated, their associated circuits will function. Reopening of contact` K -Z cle-energizes: the release coil K37UL. Reopening; of contact KST-l cle-energize's the relays K25 and K25.

Now that the'. dial 47 is in its rest position, and seven: cents credit remains yin-'the machine, the customer has the choice to do one-of several things: he may takeseven cents cha-nge -roru'the machine; or he may purchase. one stamp of any denomination or may purchase several two or three cent stamps;

Assume that the. customer of the machinexelects `toipurchase as many two cent stamps as 'ne can, which will he three in quantity. We will place his hoger inthe No; 3 hole of. dial 46, move the dial until his tinger engages the stop and then release the dial, Vtentation of thepdial in a clockwise. direction will close switcir S'WDla to opcrate relay coil K376i.. and cause the contacts thereof to shift the other dials d'7 and i8 to be locked outf thatis, will cause their circuits to be rendered inoperativcr;-` Such movement or the dial will also prepare the circuitsof the register credit relays for operation, and the stamp` dis pensing solenoid SOLlti will be prepared foroperation.

When the dial lois released and allowed to` return to rest position, thc dial interrupter switch Dl will periodically close and reopen to provide three regularly spacedpulses of current ow, each of which triggersoperation of the pulsing circuit and causes periodic operatiomof relay KS3, and in the. presentV case thefrelay B233? will operate three times. As previously mentioned, open ation of relay Kihas the effect of, the first, simultane; ously dispensing of a stampand subtractingcredit from the register credit relay circuit, and second, to revise the credit recorded in the hold relay circuit which` in turnprepares the register creditalwaysfor another subtraction, and then as relay KS3 is` subsequently operated again, these functions reoccur and will reoccur again when the third stamp is dispensed. lt should be noted" that each time the quantity o' credit recorded by` the register credit always is` revised, the combination of closed contacts-in the circuits for the change dispensing solenoidsSOL102. to SGLitt are` changed sothatthe; coin vdispensers could not possibly be operated to return more change thanthe: credit. remaining in themachine at any instant.. (and` in reality the coin dispensers cannot be operated/whileronef, or.` more ofthe dials is not in rest position). In addi.` tion, as the'- registercredit and hold relays are i. operated; when the credit in the machine is revised, theconta'ctsjmaintaining the denomination limit` relays KZ-g, KtlandJ Kitt in operation are. continuously changed-iso that when credit no longerexists in the machinetopermit thepurf chase of a stamp of rpredetermined denomination', this information is effectively transmitted to the pulsing circuits. of the dials so as to preclude any further operation of` the relay K39 which effects triggering-of the pulse-'cir-V cuits.

1 More specilically, it will be recalled that the contactsl of register credit relays K6S and KBS and of hold relays- K47 and K5() are inshifted` condition, and K31 are ener-4 gized and their contacts are in shifted condition. Power.l isitherefore available in bus BSa through contact KS4-fl,

for each of the dial .interrupter switches Dl, DZ-.and D3;

through the closed contacts K31-4, KSO-3 andV K-ZSl-S respectively. We thereby set that at least one-,stamp of any denomination may be. purchased. The relay YKit-9` is.A connected through contactKS-Sto the contact K36`-3 which will be closed as soon as-,the dial t6 is moved oif its rest position and thereby be prepared for operation.-

When the dial 46 is moved from itsrest position the-` relay K39` is prepared for operation, contact K366 is` closed, but; no connection is effected between buses B9- and B27 because contacts KSL-5 and Kti-5 remain open, and because no operation of the register credit;- relays K55 to KS3V is necessary to eieet thetwo cent. subtraction of credit during the purchase of thetirst two-` cent stamp. Contact 1(36-2 is` closed to energizetherelease-coil K36UL which willbefinefective as long-as the relay coil K36L remains energized, relays K23 andi KM` are energized through contact KEG-L- Contact K24-l closes to prepare the two cent` stamp dispensing; solenoid SOLlltl for operation, and the.` contacts4 K244i and `K24-3 open to preclude any possibility ofoperationv of` the change relay KS4 whileT the dial 46 is away from` its` rest position. Contacts KZS- K244 close-to; connect the relay coils K63L K67L, throughY banks'` 5 .p9 of switch SW218 to thebuses B19, B17', B25;r` B22` and` B21 respectively. It should be4 noted here'` that only bus B21. is connected through contact KSG-6; and contact K26-3 to bus; B9 and therefore` it will bei seen that only relay K67L of the register credit relays` will beoperated when bus B9 `is energized. In addition, release coil K65UL will be energized' with bus-B9..

When the dial 46 is released, and allowedtorevolve.-

counterclockwise, the dial interrupter switch D1 momentarily closes and then reopens. The momentary closure; of switch D1 causes energization of` relay K39` which;-` operates and the Contact` K39-4 effectsa shunt aroundcontact K65-5 to maintain relay K39 energized as long; as switch D1 is closed. As indicated previously the; relay K39 causes triggering of the pulse circuit, the opera-` tion of which is temporarily bypassed-and will be assumedthat relay KS3 substantially follows the closure andr reopening of interrupter switch D1. During the return:` of dial 46 to rest position, relay KS3 is energized three times and is de-energized three times in substantial acf cordance with the periodic closure and opening of in-` terrupter switch D1 and the subsequent operation oft. relay K39.

Each time the relay KS3 operates, a two cent stamp: is dispensed and substantially simultaneously two cents credit is subtracted from the register credit relay circuits` and the holdcircuits. When relay K33 is operated, the.; contact KS3-1 shifts to energize relay KSS, andV thfef contacts K351 and KSS-Z close to operate the two cent' stamp dispensing solenoid SOLllt)` to `dispense atwo cent stamp.

Simultaneously with the operation of contact K33'-1`- andthe dispensingr ofa stamp, contact K33-2` shiftstoy energize buses B9; Whenv the bus: B21 is energized, the

19 release" coil K65UL and relay coil K67L are energized. It will therefore be seen that the two cent register credit relay K65 is dropped out and the zero cent credit relay K67 is picked up to effectively subtract two cents credit in the register credit relays.

This result is then transmitted to the hold relay circuit, the change ydispensing solenoids circuits and the denomination limit relay circuits. Contact K65-6 returns to normal to prepare the release coil KSUL for energization and Contact K67-3 shifts to prepare relay coil KSZL for energization with bus B11.

When the relay KS3 is deenergized, the contact KS3-1 returns to normal to energize release coil K36UL and also deenergizes relay KBS, the contacts of -which open to deenergize solenoid SOLllll. Deenergization of relay K33 also returns contact KS3-2 to normal which deenergizes bus B9 and energizes bus B11 and causes energization of release coil KSGUL through contact K65-6 and energization of relay coil K52L through contact K67-3. The contacts of relayKS are thereby returned to normal andthe contacts of relay KS2 are shifted.

After relay KS3 has deenergized, the denomination limit relay K29 is deenergized due to the opening of contacts K6S3 and KSB-1. Although at this instant, because dial y46 is away from its rest position, it would be impossible to operate dial 48 to cause dispensing of a six cent stamp, the circuit for dial 48 is deenergized due to the opening of contact K293 to prevent any future operation' vof dial 48 because the credit level in the' machine has now receded to a level below the six cent credit necessary to allow purchase of a six cent stamp. For the remainder of the transaction dial 48 is locked out of the circuit to preclude any operation thereof. Y

Denomination limitl relay K3() remains energized through contact K58-3, and the denomination limit relay K31 remains energized through contacts KStl-l and K30-'2 to thereby maintain the circuits of dials 46 and 47 in operative condition. When contact KS3-2 returns to normal, bus B9 is deenergized, but is connected to bus B27 through contact KSZ-3, and also to relay 1(59 through contact K47-3, to prepare the relay K59'for subsequent operation. In addition bus B21 is disconnected from bus B9 by reopening of contact KSO-6 and bus B17 is connected to bus B9 through contact KS2-4. Register credit relay K64L which is connected to bus B17 through contact K23-2 and switch SW218-6, is prepared for operation along with release coil K67UL which is also connected to bus B17.

^ As the dial 46 proceeds toward its rest position, the second momentary closureV of interrupter switch D1 results in momentary energization of relay KS3, and in a fashion similar to that previously described, contact K33-1 shifts to energize relay KSS from bus B5 to operate the two cent stamp dispensing solenoid SOLlltl. Contact KS3-2 shifts to energize bus B9 which energizes relay K59, bus B17, register credit relay K64L, and releases coil K67UL, which were previously prepared for energization.

' Operation of relay K59 which always releases all or any of the nickel register credit relays, closes contact K59-4 to energize the release coil AKSBUL which causes the contacts of relay KSB to return to normal. It should bevnoted that -although only relay K58 is released in this instance, the operation of relay K59 will electenergization of all of the release coils KSSUL, K56UL and K57UL through the contacts K59-1, 1459-2 and K59-3. This function is particularly useful in resetting the machine.

When the contacts of relay K67 return to normal, release coil K52UL is connected to bus B11 by contact K67-f3. Shifting `of the contacts of relay K64 causes contact K64-4 to connect the relay coil K49L and relay KS4 to bus B11. Return of the contacts of Yrelay KSS 2O to normal Acauses release coil K47UL to be connected to bus B11 through contact K58-4.

When relay KS3 is again deenergized, contact KS3-l returns to normal to again energize release coil K3'6UL,

. and to deenergize relay K which resultsin deenergization of solenoid SOL110. Returnof contact KS3-2 to normal causes deenergization of Vabus B9 and corresponding de-energizatiion of relay K59, and the contacts thereof return to normal. Contact KS3-2 also energizes bus B11 which energizes the release coil KSZUL, relay coil K49L, and relay KS4. After the contact KS3-2 has returned to normal, denomination limit relay K3@ remains energized through contacts K49-2, K64-2, switch SW219- 2. Denomination lim-it relay K31 remains energized through contacts K30-1 and K30-2. The circuits of dials 46 and 47 yremain in operable condition except that dial 47 is locked out because contact KSG-4 remains open.

Opening of contact KS2-4 has disconnected bus B17 from bus B9. Closing of contact K49-6 has connected bus B23 to bus G9 through contact K26-3. Register creditrelay K66L, which is connected to bus B23 through contact K23-4 4and switch SW218-8, and release coil K64UL which is also connected torbus B23, areboth prepared for oper-ation with subsequent energization of bus B9.

It should be remembered that after having dialed for three two cent stamps on dial 46, the dial has Ybeen returning to rest position and at present the dial interrupter switch D1 has closed twice and relay KS3 has operated twice to deliver two two cent stamps and to cause two two cent subtractions from the credit circuits. Three cents credit remains in the machine as is recorded by the register credit relay K64 and hold relay K49, the contacts of both of which are in shifted condition.

The dial 46 :is still progressing toward its rest position and during the last pulse it Awilllbe recognized that a third two cent stamp is dispensed and credit is reduced Y by another two cent quantity to the one cent level. Because with the adjustment of the machine as is shown, it is impossible to make a purchase with one cent credit, the existence of only a one cent credit in the machine causes the remainder of the dial circuits to be rendered inoperative. When the dials `are rendered inoperative, the change mechanism commences operation to deliver the remaining one cent credit to the operator of the machine, in other words, a penny is dispensed.

Substantially simultaneously with the third momentary closure of interrupter switch D1, relay KS3 is operated again. Contact KS3-1 again etects operation of relay K35 which operates the two cent stamp dispensing solenoid SOL110. Operation of contact KEG-2 energizes bus B23 through bus B9, and release coil K64UL and relay coil K66L are thereby energized. The contacts of relay K64 return to normal, and the contacts of relay K66 are shifted. When contact K64-4 returns to normal release coil K49UL Kis connected to bus B11. When contact K66-5 is shifted, relay coil KSlL is connected to bus B11.

When the relay KS3 is deenergized, the contacts thereof return to normal and contact KS3-1 again causes energization of release coil K36UL and causes deenergization of coil 35, the contacts of which reopen to disconnect solenoid SOL from bus B5. When the contact KS3-2 returns to normal bus B11 is energized and the release coil K49UL is energized to cause the contacts of relay K49 to return to normal; and relay coil K51L is energized through contacts K66-5, to shift the contacts of relay K51.

Bus B23 is disconnected from bus B9 when contact K49-6 reopens, and bus B19 is connected to bus B9 when contact K51-'6 closes; and release coil K66UL is thereby prepared for subsequent operation when bus B9 is energized.

After contact KS3-2 has returned to normal, the decentena 21 nomination limit relay K3@V is` deenergizedbyopening of contacts K49-2 and K64-2; and denomination limit re.- lay K31 is substantially simultaneously deenergized by` reopening of contacts R30-1, KSG-2, K49-3 and K64-3. When denomination limit relays KSO and K31 are deenergized, contacts Kt-S and K3ll-4 reopen to disconnect the dial interrupter switches D1 and D2 respectively from bus B5 to preclude any further operation of these dials.

It should be noted that the penny dispensing solenoid SOL102 is now prepared for operation through contacts K11-1, K10-ll and K66-1 when contacts K14-1 and K14-2 and KS4-2 and KS4-3 are subsequently shifted.

Automatic dispensing of change Contact KSL-3 recloses to prepare for'energization' of the change relay KS4. It should be understood that when relay K31 is deenergized the dial `46 is returning to rest position. When dial 46 returns to rest position, the switch Dla reopens to deenergize relay coil K36L. The release coil K36UL which has been energized since contact KS3-l returned to normal, now assumes controll of the contacts of relay K36 and returns the same to normal. Contacts K36-4 and K36-5 recloseto prepare re lay coils K37L and K38L for subsequent energization when the remainder of the circuits of the corresponding,7

`dials 47 and 43 `are rendered operative. Contacts KSG-2 reopens to deenergize the release coil K36UL. Contact K36-1 reopens to deenergize selector relays K23 and KZ4, the contacts of which reopen to isolate solenoid SOLllll and to disconnect relay coils K63L to KoL from buses B17, B19, B21, BZSand B25.

Contacts K24-2 and K24-3 reclose to Yenergize the change relay KM. Relay KS4 is thereby connected to bus B5, 4and is connected to bus B4 through contacts KUS-2, K39-2 and K39-3, KZI-l and K212 and K19-2. When the change relay K34 is energized, the hold circuit is provided for relay KS4 through contact KS4-4, which also deenergizes bus BSa. The contacts of` relay KS4 also cause operation of the coin dispensing solenoids and set off a short time delay to restrict the nickel solenoids from operating until after the penny sole noids have finished operating to prevent too heavy a load on the relay contacts.

Contacts K34-2 and KS4-3 close and KS4-1 closes to energize bus B13a. Relay K14 operates immediately to energize penny dispensing solenoid SOL102 which causes a penny to be ejected. After condenser CGS charges, relay K13 operates and contacts K13-1 Iand K13-2 shift to deenergize relay K14 and to energize bus B13b. Relay Klo operates immediately in an attempt to cause ejection of a nickel, but all of the contacts K55-1 K55-4 are open. After condenser CO6 charges, relay K15 operates to deenergize relay KM and energize relay K17. l

After the short time delay eected by relay K13 and condenser CO5, andthe short time delay effected by relay KIS and the condenser CO6, which are to make sure that the coin dispensing solenoids have had `suliicient time in which to operate, the relay K17 initiates shutting down and resetting of the entire mechanism. This operation will be temporarily bypassed.

Another typical example of a transaction Will be explained to bring out the function and mode of operation of other portions of the circuit. It Will` be assumed that twenty-five cents credit exists in the machine. The means by which twenty-ve cents credit is established has already been discussed, and it will be recalled that after twentylive cents credit has been established, the contacts of relays Kll6, KG?, KGS, KS2 and K6'7, remain latched in shifted condition. In addition, relays Kl9, K29, KBB and K31 remain energized and the contacts thereof remain in shifted condition.

It will be assumed that thepurchaser desires to receive -one stamp of each denomination and that he will purchase a two centstamp; a three cent. stamp and4 a sia centi` stamp in that` order; Whenthe; dial 46,` is" moved from rest posi tion in; dialing for one stamp, the. circuits for the other dials;` 4,7` and` 48.* are rendered inoperative and these dials may be saidf to be locked out. In addition, the two cent stamp.` dispensing` solenoid is prepared for operation; andi the register credit. relays are also prepared for operation. When the dial46 is released a two` cent stamp is dispensed, and twenty-three cents credit isV established in the registerY credit relays and subsequently twenty-three cents credit is established inthe hold relays. ln addition, the change circuit is put into condition so that it may be subsequently operated and the coin dispensing solenoids are put into condition to dispense four nickels andthree pennies if subsequently operated.

At this time credit of twenty-three cents remains in the machine. as is indicated bythe contacts of `relays KM, K49, K64 and' K55 which remain in shifted' condition; The option now exists as to whether to take the change or purchase additional stamps.

If a three centstamp is purchased three cents credit is subtractedand aremainder of twenty cents credit remains. In this condition, the contacts of relays K44, K55, K'., and K6? remainin latched and shifted condition;

AtA this time the customeragainst has a choice as to whether-tortake his change or purchase additional stamps. We will assume that a` six cent stamp is to be purchased. At present `there is twenty cents credit remaining in the machine." When six cents is subtracted; fourteen cents credit will remain.' Whereas normally in subtraction of credit, the nickel register credit relays will normally operate in step-by-step sequence so as to progressively subtract ve cent units of credit, but in the present instance (and in several other instances in subtracting credit) the nickel register credit relays must make a double jump or must operate out of sequence. It will be recognized that Whereas at present the contacts of relay K are in shifted condition, the contacts of relay K57 Will be in shifted condition after the purchase of a six cent stamp and the corresponding subtraction of six cents credit. Operation of the intermediate fifteen cent register credit relay Kilo is omitted. This ten cent jump in the nickel register credit relays is accomplished by relay K43 in the manner to be described. Of course, when the six cent purchase has been made, the contacts of register credit relay Ke?, will also be in shifted position to record the other four cents of the fourteen cents credit remaining.

When the dial 48 is moved from its rest position, the

- switch D3a is closed to energize relay coil KSL. The

contacts KBS-4 and K38-5 open `to preclude operation of the circuits of dials 46 and 47. Contact KS-Z closes to energize release coil KSSUL; contact K384i closes to energize relays K27 and KZS; and contact K38-6 closes to connect bus B27 with bus B9. When relays K27 and KZS operate the contacts thereof shift and contact KZtS-l closes to prepare the six cent stamp dispensing solenoid SOLHZ for subsequent operation. Contacts K27-l K23-4 close to connect the penny register credit relays is also prepared for subsequent operation through contact K59-L KLM-2 and bus B27.

When the dial 48 is released, the counter-clockwise rotation thereof produces momentary closure of interrupter switch D3 which results in the momentary energization of relay K39, which triggers the operation of relay KS3. When relay K33 operates, the contact KS3-1 shifts to energize relay K35, and the contacts of which close to energize the six cent stamp dispensing solenoid SOL112.

When contact KS3-2 shifts, bus B9 is energized, and bus B27 isenergized through contact KBS-6, which causes energization of relay coil. K57L through contacts K44-2 and K43-2. Bus B27 also energizes release coil KSSUL through contacts K44-2 and K59-1.. Bus A.B9 also energizes bus B17, register creditrelay coil K63L through contact K27-1 and switch SW220-5, and release coil K67UL is energized to return the contacts of relay K6? to normal.

In the hold relayv circuits,V contact K55-6 connects release coil K44UL to bus B11; contact K57-4 connects relay coil K46L to bus B11; contact K63-4 connects relay coil K48L and relay KS3 to bus B11; and contact K673 connects release coil KSZUL to bus B11.

When relay-K33 is deenergized and the contacts thereof returned to normal, contact'K33-1 energizes release coil KSSUL through contact K38-2; and contact KS3-1 also deenergizes relay KBS todeenergizethe solenoid SOL112. Whencontact K33-2 returns to normal 'bus B9 is deenergized and bus B11 is energized to cause energization of release coils K44UL and KSZUL respectively to permit the contacts ofk the vcorresponding relays to return to normal. Energization of bus B11 also causes relay coils K46L and K48L and relay KS3 to be energized so as lto shift the contacts of these relays.

In the denomination limit relay K29 circuit, the contacts K55-5 and K44-1 will have opened, but will have been shunted by closing of contacts K461 and K57-3 to hold the relay K29 in closed condition.

As the dial 4S returns to rest position, the switch D3a will be opened to deenergize the relay coil KSSL. The release coil K38UL which has been energized will cause the contacts of relay KS3 to return to normal. Contacts Kita-4- and K38-S reclose to put the circuits for dials 46 and 47 back into operative condition; contact K38-2 re opens to deenergize release coil KSSUL; and contact K38-1 reopens to deenergize relays K27 and KZS. When the contacts of relays K27 and KZS return to normal, the solenoid SOL112 and the register credit relay coils K63L to K67L are all isolated. Reopening of contact KES-2 recloses the circuit for change relay KS4 and prepares the same for subsequent operation if the change button is pressed to close switch SW103. Contact KZS-S reopens to deenergize relay 1443 and the contacts thereof return to normal.

At this time theoperator of the machine again has the option to purchase additional stamps because fourteen cents remains in the machine, or he may take his change. lt will be assumed that at this time the operator of the machine will push the change button to receive the fourteen cents change in coins.

Change dispensing When the change button is operated, switch SW103 closes at least momentarily. The relay KS4 is energized through contacts KZS-Z, K26-2, KZll-Z, K243 and switch Sift/1113. The relay KS4 is connected to bus B4 through contacts KUS-Z, K39-2, K394i, K21-1, KZl-Z, and 1(19-2. As soon as relay KS4 is operated the contacts thereof shift.

lt should be pointed out that, with fourteen cents credit existing, certain of the coin dispensing solenoids SOLNZ to SOL199 are prepared `for operation. Solenoid SOLlilZ is prepared for operation through contacts K11-1, K10-1 and K534i; solenoid SOMMES is prepared for operative through contacts K11-2, Kid-2 and KS3-2; solenoid SOLa is prepared for operation through contacts K11v3, K10-4 and KS3-4; Vand solenoid SG1/195 is prepared for operation through contacts K114, K10-3 and KS3-3. Nickelejecting solenoid SObit? is prepared for operation through contacts K12-2 and K57-2; and solenoid SOL19 is prepared for operation through contacts K12-1 and. K57-1. jlt will'Atherefore be seen that'th'e several penny and nickel solenoids will operate sequentially when the contactsofrelay KS4 are operated and the contacts of relays K14 and K16 are sequentially oper# ated.

Contact K34--4 shifts to provide a hold circuit for relay K and to remove power from all of the dial circuits. Contact K34-1 closes to energize bus B13a which causes relays K13 to K17 to operate as previously described. While contacts KS4-2 and K34-3 remain closed, the contacts of relays K14 and K16 operate in sequence to energize the penny ejecting solenoids and the nickel ejecting solenoids in sequence.

When relay'Kr1'7 is energized, the contacts K17-3 and K17-4 close to connect release coil K06UL to bus B4 through contacts KGS-2, K39-2, K39-3, K21-1, KZl-Z and K13-'2 so as to return the contacts of relay KM to normal and commence resetting of the machine 'for a subsequent complete transaction.

It should be noted that frequency, when the change is dispensed, only one penny is returned, as in the situation where the change mechanism is automatically put into operation by the deenergization of relay K31 and the closing of contacts K31-3. lf, in successive transactions the penny change were to be continuously drawn from the same penny storage tube, that particular penny storage tube would become exhausted of pennies quite rapidly. K10 and K11 provide for alternating the operation of the penny coin-dispensing solenoids so that a substantially equal number of pennies is drawn from each tube. Assume that at the ends of a number of stamp purchasing transactions, one cent credit remains in the machine. It will be remembered that in four successive transactions, the contact K09-1 will be closed during the rst transaction, also closed during the second transaction, and will be .opened in the third and fourth transactions. In the same four transactions, contact Kii9-2 will be closed in the rst transaction, opened in the second and third transactions and closed in the fourth transaction. Of course according to the condition of contacts Kw4 and K09-Z relays Klil, K11 and K12 will be energized from bus B13 or deenergized and the contacts thereof will be in the appropriate positions. In the firstV transaction previously mentioned, relays K10 and K11 areboth deenergized and after the change button has been operated, power may be supplied through contacts KS4-2 and KS4-3, K14-1, Klrfl-Z,v Koo-1, 14111-1, K11-1 and to solenoid 5011102. During the second transaction when relay K10 remains deenergized, but relay K11 is energized and operated, power may be supplied to solenoid SOLltlS through 4contact K11-1. During the third transaction, whenrelays K10 and K11 are both energized, power may be supplied to solenoid SOLltii through contacts K10-1 and K11-2, to solenoid SOL104; During the fourth transaction, when relay K10? is energized and relay K11 is deenergized, power may be supplied tosole# noid SOL103 ,through contacts 'KN-1 andVK11-2. It will therefore be seen that in successive transactions, differentV penny, dispensing solenoids will be operated in each transaction.

i Similarly, if two cents credit remained in the machine, in said lfour transactions, the penny dispensing solenoids would also operate in diierent combinations. In the first transaction when neither relay K11?` or K11 is energized, power may be supplied to solenoids SOI/102 and 301103. During the next transaction, wherein relay K11 is energized, power may be supplied to solenoids SOL105 and SOL104. lt will be seen that during the first transaction, two of the penny dispensing solenoids are operated and during the next transaction, another pair o f penny dispensing solenoids are operated. l

The nickel dispensing solenoids are also operated in sequence with respect to each other during successive transactions. If five cents credit were to be returned in each of the. aforesaid four transactions, wherein relay In. the present. machine the relays Kil? andy F25 JKIZL is energized 'duringgthe secohdandlthirdtransactions and-is deenergizedlduring the iirst ,and fourth transactions,

so1eno'idSOL1ll9. is energized., in`the` tirst transaction `through contacts KES-1 Vand VK12- 1, solenoidlSOLlUt .,is., energized lthroughcontacts KSS-l anddK12+L during Impulse producing 'andv timing tIt has .beenexplainedthatthedials,after havingbeen "momentarilymanipulated,"will'return to their rest position and"will cause periodic momentary closure of the .dial interrupter switches, which produces periodic. momen- `tarygenergization and operation of relay K332i, .and it has been assumed thatthis results in a substantially similar periodic momentary energize-tion andoperation of relay KS3 which controls thedispensing of stamps and` thesubtraction of credit.

The pulsing circuit, which includes relays 'K19, R20, "K21 andK32 and their .associatedcircuita accomplishes several functions. First, the period .of time is controlled l.during which relay l-.."t.lV is energized; secondlyLthe period .of time is controlled during which relay X33 is' deener- .gized; and thirdly thefpulsing circuit requires. that the op- Y.erations of relay KS3 be .triggeredby successive .momentary closures of a` dial interrupter switch. IThis results in the .operation of the contactsof ,relay KS3` at apredeter- .mined. rate; secondly, operationofthe stamp dispensing and .credit circuits is. not .materiallyaffected by racing of` the dial by manual manipulation .baclcto its. yrest position; `and thirdly, the operationofthe stailnprdispensing iand.credit=circuitsl:is not materiaIlyelTectedlif a dialtis stoppedzor moved extremely slowly ...back` to. its rest .position.

It will ;.be.remembered that bus B13. is energized during .tthef.,entireftransactionof purchasing stamps and return- :ing changenntil resetting commences. .It will itherefore .be seen thattnormally relay. KH is energizedifrom buses ..DC1, kDCZ, .throughcontact KS2-fl. @The 4.contacts .of

relay K19 are therefore normally in shifted position, 4and contact K19-2 is. normally/.closed to preparerelaysKSZ .iandVKSS for .subsequentenergization. "Whenoneof the dial interrupter switches. is closed, .the relay l39..is..opaerated. `.Contact K39-1` shifts..to.-.apply .power -to relay K21 "and condenser.C2ii9 from bus. .DC2. Condenser .S2M-commences. chargingtoprovide a time delay before .,relayrKZl operates. `.In normal operationcf the dials, the .relay K21 is deenergized` before it operates.

.Contacts 1459-2, and K39-3 shift to. energize relays ,R32 tandKSSfrom bus B4 through contact .Kw-f2. When relayK32 operates, the` contacts shift and contacts KS2-l andtK32-4 close to provide. a` holding-.circuit for relays 4KS2 andKSS: from bus B4. .Simultaneously with `the opfjerationrof relay KS2, relay. KS3` operates to effect stamp =.d,isp`ensing.and operation of the.` credit relays. It willbe `:Spcintedout that,-althoughcperationof relay..K33 is :triggered by relay K39, relay. K33ais` deenergized aftera L predetermined .time ,by relay K20.

@Shiftingof contact KS2-1 causes `decnergization of frelayKlandthe contact=K192 opens,"but is shunted '1-by;\c0ntact.,K32-3. ,Contact KS2-'2 shifts `to1apply power fitoxrelayK20 and condenser C208. After 'charging of -condenserCtli` `to `allen/.one .tot the stamp dispensing fsolenoidsfto operateV andi dispense atstarn relay K2!) `foperatcs1to1shift thelcontacts thereoiand contacts KZll-l .and'KZZ open to .deenergizez relays KS2 and KS3. rWhenrelay 'TK33 ris. deenergized, 4the stamp dispensing solenoids'willbefdeenergized andthe holdsrelays will be operated and if the creditin the machine has fallen below predetermined levels the denomination limit relays K29,

"13K30 andKIiI' 'may rdeenei'gizetso as A.to prevent relayi K39- regenten;

from operating again even though` one of thedialginter 0should-be noted that the dial 4interrupter switchpwhich closed .to trigger-.operation of the pulsing circuit, will open again .just before relay/(KEG operates, and of course the relayKil is deenergized'v and contact KSQ-i returns tov normal to deenergize, relay '14121. JContacts K39`2 Itwill ltherefore be seemthat the time during which relai/T3133 is energized is controlled by the charging time of condenserCZilti; and thetime during which relay KS3 is deenergized is A.controlled bythe charging time of condenserCZiW. The `charging .times of .these condensers, may be varied by adjusting the center tap of` resistor R23.

The time` delay provided by thercharging ofcoirdenser `C239 must be suicient to assure .that relay KS2 will operate.before relay X21 opera-tes `so that the holding circuit .provided `by contacts KS2-3 .and K32-4 is `established i before relay: K21 operates to open contacts KZl-l and K2i-2; and the charging time of condenser C2l9..must be short enough to` assure that. relay KZl operates be fore relay K19 operates again or before the expiration fof theA sequential Y time delays provided by condensers 55 C208 and C2il7. Thus dispensing of more: than onestamp "For'instancefif one ofu the dials were being operated and it was'stopped to maintain the; dial interrupter switch for each closureof the-'dial interrupter switch is prevented.

inV closedV condition, relay Kw Vwould" remain energized andthe contacts K39-2 and K3-3 remain in shifted condition so as to'maintain the circuit for relaysiZ and L'K33 in condition for operationi when contact K19-L2 is `closed again.

But because contactsKZl-Il and'IZl-Z open before'contact K19-*lis closed again, relays K3?, `and KS3 will not operate. The relay Kmust be deenergized to` return the contact K39-1 bach to normal ccndition in .order to 4deenergize relay'KZIl and allow the contacts `KZI-ll and IKM-2 to reclose, `before `relays KS2 and KS3 may be operated again. ilt will be seen therefore that-eventhough theidial is operatedslowly or actually stopped, the 'dispensers which are controlled by relay K33 will only dispense one stamp for each timethe dial interrupter switch is closed.

`When the dial is allowedto returnvtoward rest position by itself, the.interrupterswitchwill be reclosed for the second pulse ,shortly -aftenrelay "K19 hastbeen operated, so that the contacts of relayfK39 will again lshift to initiate another cycle of operation of4 the. pulsing circuit. RelayKSZ willoperate substantially simultaneously with relay K39, at which time relayfKSS also operates,.and after a shortrtime delay: relay R20 operates Ato cause dcenergization of relays KES and KS2. A'fter another short time delay relay K19 will `operate to permit a further operation of relayK39 to trigger the pulse circuit again.

`Occasionally one of Athe dials will bemanually rotated in -a counterclockwise .direction to materially accelerate the rate4 at which `the dial interrupter siwitclrcloses and reopens. The` operation of relay KS3 is not materially affected by such racing of the dial. The first closure Thelength of time thatrelay K33L'is energized is controlled by relay K20 and the Vassociated'condenser C263,

andafterreIay K33 hasbeeninitially energized,the

contacts `of relay K39` lose control. Thelength'of time `during Whicht-'relay K33- 'is'lsubsequently*deenergized' controlled by relay K19 land its associ-ated condenser i C207. If the dial interrupter switch is reclosed to cause operation of relay K39 and shifting of the contacts thereof before relay K19 operates, relays KS2 and KS3 will not be operated to start the pulsing circuit because contact K19-2 is still open. If relay K19 operates to close theV contact K192 during the time when the dial interrupter switch is closed and the relay KS9 is correspondingly operated, a second cycle of the pulsing circuit is immediately triggered. However, if the dial is raced so fast that after the first momentary closure of the dial interruptor switch, the dial interrupter switch closes for the second time and then again reopens before the pulsing circuit has completed its first cycle of operation, then the second momentary closure of the dial interruptor switch is ineffective to affect operation of the pulsing cir cuit, and the pulsing circuits, and specifically relays KS2 and KS3 will not again be energized until the relay H39 operates and shifts its contacts K39-2 and KS9-3 in response to the third momentary closure of the dial im terrupter switch.

It should be noted however, that even though the operator of the machine may race the dial so fast that three momentary closures of the ldial interrupter switch only causes two stamps to be dispensed, the credit will remain in the machine for the stamp that he did not lreceive and he will be able to dial for that stamp again. Credit is subtracted only in relation to the stamps actually dispensed because dispensing of stamps and subtraction of credit are :affected by operation of the contacts of relay KS3.

Circuit resetting It has been previously pointed out that after change has been dispensed, either automatically, due to the dencre gization of denomination limit relay K31 and the closing of contact KSL-S, or as a result of manual operation of the change button to close switch SVV/103, the relay K17 is ultimately' operated to close the contacts K17-S and K17-4 which cause energization of the release coil K06UL which initiates resetting due to the return of the contacts of relay K06 to normal position. Initiation of this automatic resetting may also be brought about by exhausting the credit in the machine due to the purchase of stamps. For instance if two cents credit in the machine existed and a two cent stamp is purchased, the credit is reduced to zero cents and in this case, the denomination limit relay KS1 would also be deenergize@ by the opening of contacts K50-2 and K65-4. Relay KS4 would operate in response tothe reclosing of the contact K31-S as previously described. When relay KS4 operates, energization and operation of relays K13, K14, KIS, K16 and K17 is effective. Of course the contacts of relays K14 and K16 close, but none of the penny dispensing or nickel dispensing solenoids SOL102 to SOL109 are operated because none of the contacts KS3-4, KS4-1, etc. in their circuits, is closed.

When the contacts of relay K06 return to normal, the entire circuit will be reset to such condition that another transaction may be commenced by the insertion of another coin into the machine so that credit may be set up and stamps may be purchased. Reopening of contact K06-2 deenergizes bus B5 which causes deenergization of the release coil K06UL and also causes deenergization of relay KS4. Deenergization of bus B also causes dcenergization off rany of the Vdenomination limit relays K29, K30 and KSL which remain in energized condition, due to the existence of a substantial amount of credit inthe machine at the time the change button was pressed. Contacts Kilo-4 and Kilo-5 reopen to deenergize bus B13. Deenergization of bus B13 deenergizes relay K19 but it should be understood that the contacts of relay K19 do not instantaneously return to normal position because the condenser YC207 will discharge through the relay coil and during this Ashort time interval, the contacts of relay K19 remain in shifted condition, and particularly contact K19-1. Contact` K06-3 recloses toV connect the coin refora short length of time and then reopens to deenergize relay K22 again.

Contact K22-S closes to energize reset relays K61 and K62 from bus BS. Contact K62-1 closes to hold bus B7 energized, and contacts K61-1, K61-4 close to energize release coils K63UL, K66UL which cause the contacts of the corresponding register credit relays to g shift to normal positions. Contact K62-3 closes to energize the relay coil K67L and to thereby cause the con- 'tacts' of relay K67 to be shifted and latched.` Contact K624 closes to energize relay K59 from bus B7, and the contacts K591, K59-4 shift to connect the release coils KSSUL, KSSULV to bus B7 to thereby cause the contacts of the corresponding relays to return to normal. f

Ths bus B11 will remain energized with bus B7 and the release coils K44UL to KSIUL and relay coil KSZL are energized from bus B11.

After the condenser C207 has discharged through relay K19, the contacts of relay K19 will return to normal and contact K19-1 opens to deenergize relay K22. Contact K22-3 reopens to deenergize relays K61 and K62, and contact K62-1 reopens to deenergize buses B7 and B11, which causes de-energization of all of the register credit relays and relay coils, andthe holding relay, re lease and relay coils. The reclosing of contacts K221 and K22-2 connects bus B1 to the coin return solenoidy SOL101 through contacts K40-1, K60-1, K67-1, switches SW106, SW and SW104, and the solenoid SOL101 is connected to bus B2 through contacts K06-3 and K17-1.

Therefore it will be seen that when the circuits arc entirely reset to permit the initiation of another stamp purchasing transaction, the contacts of relays KS2 and K67 remain latched in shifted condition, and coin return solenoid SOL101 remains energized so as to permit the reception of a coin.

Although resetting is ordinarily automatically initiated at the end of a stamp purchasing and change-receiving transaction, the resetting of the machine may be manually initiated to'put the circuit into condition for a stamp purchasing transaction after certain portions of the'circuits have been individually operated during testing procedures. When the circuits are to be manually reset, the manual switch SW102 is closed and relay KOS is energized between buses B1 Vand B2. Contact K05-,1 closes to provide a holding circuit for relay K05 through contact K17-1 to bus B2; contact K05-2 closes to energize relays K13 and.K14, the operation of which results in the energization of relays K15, K16 and K17, after" a short time delay. Contact K05-S closes to energize relays K61 and K62 from bus BS. As previously described, the contacts of relays K61 and K62 reset the register credit relays and hold relays in such conditionv that only the contacts of relays K67 and KS2 remain latched in shifted Y condition. After the short time delays provided by relays K13 and K15 and their associated condensers C05 and C06, the relay K17 will operate and the contacts K17-1 and K17-'2 open to deenergize relay K05. The contacts of relay KOS return to normal and contact KOS-2 deenergizes relays K13, KIS, K16, K17 and K18; contact K05-3 opens to deenergize relays K61 and K62 to deenergize the buses B7 and B11. When relay K17 is again deenergized, the contacts K17-1 and K17-2 reclose to again energize coin return solenoid SOL101 from'bus B2.

Operation of auxiliary circuits Y It is pointed out that during any one transaction, only one coin will be taken from any coinr tube and' after the.

coins in any tube are exhausted the stamp purchasing transaction may not be initiated. If the supply of coins inany one tube iseexhausted one ofthe switches SWltlV to.S`W114` will close to energizethe out-of-change relay' K6() between buses B1 and B2. Contacts. Kll-l and K60-2-shift to. connect theilashermotor M and transformer. T201- to fbus Bl. Contacts KdG-3 and` K60-4 closeto connect the light 49 to the secondary of the transformer T201. When the motoroperates the cam will periodically operate switch SWZZE-` to flash the light 49 onfandoff. It will also be noted that contacts K60'-1' and K60-2 also disconnectrelays Ktl2, K03 and K04 and'A coinwreturnsolenoid $01.101` from bus B1. The fingers connected with the coin` return` solenoidV will cause any coins inserted to be returned.

When the supply ofone type of stamps is exhausted,

one' of.V the` switches SW115, SW116, SW117' will bez shifterlgto.V energize the-corresponding relay K40, K41 or K42k between busesBS and B6. If the supplyV of` two cent-stamps is exhaustedthe relay K40. will` operate to,

shift` itsA contacts Kell-1V and K402 which connectthe flashermotor and-transformer T201 with bus B1 lthrough contacts K221 and K22-2. In addition, contacts K40-3 and KLM-4 close to energize the light 51. from its transformer secondary.-` The ilashing light will tell.` the cus-` tomer that thissupply of this particular denominationof. stampsis exhausted, but` he may insert a cdin` and-purchasestamps of other denominations.

I-fall of the supplies of stamps are exhausted, all of.,

Change of'starp denominations:

As. the circuit is adjusted inthe form shown, stamps in the denominations two cent,... three cent and six cent are dispensed, and when stamps are dispensed anamount of-credit corresponding to the denomination. ofa stamp issubtracted from the credit remaining: in the machine. I't is1to be noted that by adjusting switch SWZIS, stamps inthe-denomination oflone cent or three cents' might be t dispensed in place ofthe two cent denomination. By

adjusting switch SW219, stamps in the denominationof four` cents or live cents might be dispensed in` place `of the three cent stamps. By adjustment `of the switch SWZZO, stamps in the denominations seven centsfor eight cents may be dispensed instead of six cents.

4As an` example of this adjustability, assume that stamps of-four cent denomination are to be dispensed in placefof .the three cent-stamps. The switch SW219 will beadjusted so that all of the rotorsin each bank would engage the number four terminal.

A credit of twelve cents will be assumed to exist in the machine. Under this condition, buses B1,.B2, B3,.B5,

B4, B6, B7, B11 and B8 are energized. The contacts of re1aysK46, KSG, K57 and K65 are in shifted condition. In this condition bus B21 is connected to bus B9. The denomination limit relay K29 is energized from bus B5 through contacts K46-1 andV K57-3; and the other denomination limit relaysKStl and K31 are also energized.

It will be assumed that the purchase of one four Vcent stamp is to be made. Dial 47 is manually turned from itsrest position and the relay coil K37L is energized when sv/itch1D2a is closed. When the interrupter switch D2 is closed, the operation of relay K33 is triggered, and a stampisdispensed by operation of solenoid SOL111, and when the bus B9 is nenergized,.bus B27 is energized through switch SW219-3 so as to energize relay coil medicali" KSSI and" release co'ilK'57UI. credit relay'v coil 1464i.' isA energized throught switch' SW2ll9-8,. and release coil KGSUL .is energizedi' When' busBllis subsequently energized, relay coilsK47L and Klii.. and relay K54' are energized and" release coilsi ideUL and KSGUL are'a'lso' energized. Itwill be seen thatfrom the twelve cents credit initiallyexistingggfour cents` credit has been subtracted to allow eight" cents' credit to remain.

It will be seen thatwe have: provided in a dispensing machine ofthe class described, creditmechanism producing indications ofcredit existing, by operation off relays which cooperate` with each other in. such a: manner that the hold relays retain a credit indication comparable with the minuend in a simple subtraction' prob-` lem, and indications. from the hold relays' alongwitlr aA control indication originating' from thedialing mecha? nisms cooperate to supply the subtrahend of -theproblern and the` remainder is immediately indicated" bythe credit relays which instantly transmit this information to" the hold relays for establishing` a new minu'end credit' indication, and then the credit `indication' is utilized' to; immediately prevent additional stamps of certain denomiiV nations to be dispensed if the credit remaining is insuf-, cient to allow purchase of such a stamp and the credit indication is also utilized to prepare the change-dispeusing mechanism for dispensingcoins equaling the value' of credit remaining.`

It will alsol be seen that we have provided ina vende` ing machine of Ythe class described,` stampfdispensin'g mechanism andl credit mechanism which are time con'- trolled in theiroperations, by electric impulses originata ing Withthe dialing mechanisms and which are time con'- trolled `intheir operations so as to eliminate the effectA or. effects of tamperingwith or otherwise abnormallyop` erating the dilingmechanisms so that the stampin'gfdis'- vpensing mechanisms andall of the mechanisms respon-4 sive to operation of` the` credit mechanism may completely operate so as to maintain accurate control over. all portions ofthe vendingV machine regardless oftampering with` the dialing mechanisms.

It Will alsobe apparent from the foregoing description that we have provided in the vending machinef. a credit mechanism which is adjustable..wherebythe stepby-step subtractions of credit,jcorresponding to the value of. the stampswhich may be dispensed, :may be` readily and easily adjusted so as to` permit` dispensing of a variety of. stamps, and in thel particular form of theV machine disf closed, stamps` inany of the denominations one throughA eight cents may-be` dispensed.`

ltwill, of course,-be understood that various changes maybe made in the form,` detail, arrangement andproportion ofthe parts without departing from the scope of my inventionwhich consists ofthe matter described herein and set forth in the appended claims;

What is claimed is:`

l. ln a vending' machinefor dispensing stampsofvarious denominations, theV combination of a plurality of stamp dispensing mechanisms for stamps of Various de nominationsl a coin-detecting and receiving mechanismv operating` to indicate` the denomination of coin received, a creditmeehanism establishing credit in response-to op# eration of. said coin detecting mechanism and including' a plurality of hold relays` and credit relays individually-V representative of various predetermined credit values and selectively operated whenA predetermined credit exists for producing indications of existing credit, said. credit re lays operating to prepare hold relays of corresponding credit` values for subsequent operation, said hold relaysL operatingto prepare credit relays representative of rela tively less credit values for subsequent operation to efffect subtraction of credit, a plurality of manually con-g trolled dialing mechanisms each2 whenoperated, prepar ing a respective. dispensing mechanism-for operation and preparing certain of the credit relays for operation for In" addition, register

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