US3113656A

US3113656A - Snack vendor

Info

Publication number: US3113656A
Application number: US59754A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth C Zeigle; Adrian A Wersal
Original assignee: MICRO PRODUCTS Inc
Current assignee: MICRO PRODUCTS Inc
Priority date: 1960-09-30
Filing date: 1960-09-30
Publication date: 1963-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-10

Description

1963 K. c. Z EIGLE ETAL 3,

SNACK VENDOR v Filed Sept. 50. 1960 (Sheets-Sheet 1 F425. J- INVENTORS.

KENNETH 6'. ZFTLE By ADRIANA. mm

Ema; ya/mm ATTORNEY 1963 K. c. ZEIGLE ETAL 3,113,656

' SNACK VENDOR Filed Sept. 30, 1960 4 Sheets$heet 2 INVENTORS. mm CZEIGLE BYMRIANA 1211172542 v wggmum ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS.

Dec. 10, 1963 K. c. ZEIGLE E'l Al.

SNACK VENDOR Filed Sept. so, 1960 M275 at 2.21am; BYAZZRLGNAWRSAL gm, 5? w 5 vm Tm G ATTO RNE Y IHHH .8 mik 4 90m, Mm. m9 vow i In 0% mm ww w m 6Q N5 W k E m BJ mm mm United States Patent This invention relates to coin operated vending machines and more particularly to such machines vending different articles of the same price and without provisions for making change for the purchase.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an improvement in the apparatus for dispensing the articles only after certain conditions have been met.

It is another object of the present invention to provide novel and improved means for checking the supply of the article to be vended before collecting the coins for payment and vending the article.

it is still another object of the invention to provide novel apparatus for accepting the coins for payment before the article dispensing device is actuated.

it is yet another object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus to prevent an article from being dispensed and having the coins returned which were deposited for payment.

It is still further an object of this invention to provide improved apparatus to prevent the vending machine from dispensing more than one article should any part of the apparatus malfunction.

it is another object of the present invention to provide novel apparatus for rejecting all coins deposited in the vending machine while an article is being vended.

These and other features of our invention will become more apparent from a detailed study of the specification and the drawings attached hereto and made a part of in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the machine showing the various operator controlled devices and the opening in the machine where the articles are vended;

FIG. 2 is an inside view of the vending machine with the front cover removed showing the dispensing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the circuits common to each of the articles to be selected and a circuit associated with an article; and

PEG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the remaining circuits ssociated with each type of article to be vended.

A vending machine 19 is shown in FIG. 1 having a discharge chute 11 located near the bottom of its cabinet. Four display windows, 12, 13, 1 and 15' are located in a removable cover 15 showing pretzels 12, peanuts 13, potato chips 14, and popcorn 15 respectively. These products represent the articles to be vended by the machine and it is anticipated that the articles may take on various shapes and forms, but for this invention will all be sold for the same price. A coin chute 17 is provided in the upper left hand corner of the machine 1% and all the coins are deposited in this chute through the slot in the cabinet. Adjacent to the coin chute 17 is a coin return switch 2t) which is generally known as a scavenge switch. A coin return chute 21 is located below the coin chute 17 and returns all coins not accepted by the machine. Situated adjacent to each of the display windows, are four

selector switches

22, 23, 2d, and 25 corresponding to the articles of pretzels, peanuts, potato chips, and popcorn respectively, and they each select an article to be dispensed and energize a circuit associated therewith which will be more fully described later. Below the coin chute 17 and above the coin return chute 21 is a lamp 26 which indicates when a particular article is no longer in supply after one of the selector switches is depressed.

FIG. 2 shows the

different articles

12, 14, and 15 in 3,ll3,656 Patented Dec. 10, 1963 separate containers supported in racks 27 and an empty rack is shown where article 13 should be. Several holes 3%, in the bottom of racks admit heat from a heater 28 where the articles to be vended will sell better in a warm condition. At the lowermost part of rack 27 is a dispensing apparatus having a metal drawer 31 with no top or bottom. Below drawer 31 is a bottom plate 32 which forms a base for drawer 31 to slide on and move across, and holes 3% are situated herein.

Situated in bottom plate 32 is an elongated slot 33 which extends from the forward part of the plate to the back part. Situated in slot 33 is a pin (not shown) which slides therein so that metal drawer 31 is guided forward when in motion. At the rear edge and part of drawer 31, is a shelf 34- attached at the uppermost edge so that when drawer 31 is moved forward, shelf 34 slides under the articles to be vended such as 12, 13, etc. Thus one article is moved forward in drawer 31 and eventually is dropped down discharge chute 11 while shelf 34 slides under the article which is above the one being vended so that only one is discharged. Upon return of drawer 31 to its rest position, the article supported by shelf 34 drops into drawer 31 and is ready to be vended.

A link 35 is attached to drawer 31 and is moved by a crank arm as (both of which are partially shown) through a pivotal pin 37. Located in the bottom of the cabinet of vending machine 11? are four small openings designated as ill, all of which are alike to admit four

contact arms

41, 42, 43, and 44 of switches 45, 4'6, 47, and 48 respectively which are called the run-out switches. Their operation will be explained more fully later in the specification.

Turning now to FIG. 3, the description of the coin operated apparatus will be set forth. A power source 50 is connected to a ground terminal 51 and to a terminal 52 of a power switch 53. For this particular embodiment, power source 56) is an alternating voltage source of volts but for certain applications other voltages may opcrate more satisfactorily. Another terminal 54 of switch 5'3 is connected to an electric lamp 55 and to one terminal of heater 28 with the remaining terminals of lamp 55 and heater 2% being connected to ground 51. Lamp 55 supplies illumination to

articles

12, 13, 14, and 15 displayed in

windows

12, 13, 14', and 15' respectively.

Coins are dropped into coin chute 1'7 and pass to a coin tester 55. Coin tester 56 may be of the type shown and described in the Haverstick Patent No. 2,744,603 but since it does not form a part of the invention per se, the details of its construction will not be set forth. It will be sufiicient to say that it is adapted to receive coins of three denominations, namely, five cents, ten cents, and twentyfive cents, and has provisions for accepting or rejecting the coins. If the coins are accepted, they pass through an accept chute 57 where they are deposited for collection and if they are rejected for some reason they pass through coin return chute 21 and may be retrieved.

In the first instance, let it be determined that the vending price is 20 cents per article and that two five cent coins are deposited and one ten cent coin is deposited, and in this order to actuate a plurality of engagable connecting means in the form of switches. The five cent coin will actuate a spring arm 69 which extends into coin tester 56 and which is connected to a switch arm 61 of five cent switch 62. Switch 62 has a pair of contacts 63 and 64 where contact 63 is normally in contact with switch arm 61, and when the five cent coin actuates switch arm 61, it and contact 6- are momentarily connected. The ten cent coin actuates a spring arm 65 which extends into coin tester 56. Spring arm 65 is connected to a switch arm as of ten cent switch 67 and is designed to engage switch arm 61 through another spring arm 68. Switch 67 has a pair of contacts '70 and 71 and in the normal condition 7i and as are in contact. When the ten cent coin actuates switch arm 66, it and contact 71 are momentarily connected, as well as momentarily connecting switch arm 61 with contact 6 because of spring arm 68.

It will be seen that a twenty-five cent switch '72; has a switch arm 73 and a pair of contacts 74 and 75. In the normal mode of operation switch arm F3 and contact '74 are engaged. Switch terminal 54 is connected to switch arm through a lead 76 and contact '74 is connected to switch arm 66 through a lead '77. Switch contact 70 is connected to switch arm Gil through a lead Through these connections it may be seen that power is applied to switch contact 71 through switch arm 66 whenever a ten cent coin is put in coin chute i7, and a moment later to contact 64 through switch arm er. The latter operation is also the result when a five cent coin is deposited.

Contacts 71 and 64- are connected to a switch arm 81 of a switch 82 through a pair of

leads

83 and 84 respectively. Switch arm 31 is connected to ground 51 through a coil 85 of a stepper relay or motor 86. Relay as also includes an armature S7 and a stepping vheel 9% which has a movable stop peg 1. Stop peg 91 generally rests against a stop block 92 that is fixed so that the amount of rotation of stepping wheel may be controlled as will be described subsequently. A series of holes 93 are arranged around stepping wheel 99 so that stop peg 9. 1 may be adjusted as requi ed. A reset relay M has a coil 95 and a solenoid plunger arm X which is spring loaded under compression by a spring 97.

Stepping wheel 99 is supported for rotation by a shaft 1% that passes through a bearing tar and has a cam 1&2 attached to its other end. Cam 1&2 has a notch position 163 which cooperates with a switch arm Hi l of a vend switch ifiii. Also fastened to shaft 1% is a return spring 1% that is fixedly fastened at 7. Vend switch 16:5 has a pair of contacts lid and ill where contact lfrtl is normally in contact with switch arm it'll-*2- and where contact ill is normally open and only makes contact with switch arm 164- when it drops into notch position 103 of cam 1932.

Returning to the above example, as the live cent coin is deposited and power is applied momentarily to contact 64- through switch arm 61, coil 55 is energized and attracts armature 37 which moves into contact with stepping Wheel 90, which has teeth on its outer edge, to cause it to move one tooth. As the stepping wheel is moved one tooth, the solenoid plunger 96 follows the tooth periphery and maintains the wheel 9% in its advanced position after coil 35 becomes deenergized and armature 87 returns to its normal position. It will be seen that return spring 1% is placed under further tension and that stop peg 91 is moved one tooth away from stop block $2, as well as rotating cam 1% through the same angle as stepping wheel 9%. The same operation will be followed when the second five cent coin is deposited.

When the ten cent coin is deposited, switch arm 66 engages contact 72 which also energizes stepping coil 85 and the above steps are repeated, but a moment later switch arm 61 engages contact 64 thereby causing stepping wheel to be advanced another tooth. Thus it will be seen that a ten cent coin will advance stepping wheel 99 two teeth while a five cent coin advances it only one tooth. Assuming that stop peg 551 is set so that notch 1% of cam 1&2; allows switch arm 1% to engage contact 111, vending circuits may be actuated since the twenty cents has been deposited in the vending machine and credited by the stepping wheel 99.

If the price of the article to be vended is twenty-five cents then another circuit is provided for coins of twentylive cent value. Switch arm '73 of twenty-five cent switch 72 is actuated by a coin of this value through a spring arm 11?... As switch arm 73 is moved to engage contact '75, a permanent magnet 113 holds switch arm '73 in this position and a motor lid is energized through a lead 115.

The motor circuit is completed by connecting motor 114 to ground 51. A gear train 116 is connected to motor 114 through a shaft 117 and gear train 116 is further connected to a five lobe cam 12% through a shaft 121. Cam 112i) also has a stud 122 which rotates unitarily with cam 12% and after the fifth lobe has been engaged by switch arm til, stud 12?. engages a spring arm 123 that trips switch arm 73 back to its normal position and away from magnet 1123. Switch 32 has a contact 124 that is connected to switch arm '73 through a lead 125, thus supplying power to coil of stepping relay S6 at five different moments and advancing stepping wheel 96 through an angle of five teeth. Once switch arm '73 is returned to its normal position, motor 114 no longer is supplied with power and stops rotating.

the price of the article to be vended is to be increased or decreased, it is only necessary to move stop peg 91 to the appropriate hole 93 and simultaneously change the sequence of when s 'itch arm til-4 of vend switch 195 engages contact ill.

Before switch arm 19d reaches notch position 193, it is seen that contact 119 is connected to a contact arm of an engagable connecting means such as an armature 126 or" a vend relay 127 associated with article 12, through a lead Switch arm Ltd is connected to switch contact as through a lead 131 so that power is applied to relay armature 126. As lon as all the vend relays remain unenergized, another armature 132 of a vend relay 153 associated with article 13, is connected to a contact 134 engaged with armature 1126, through a connecting lead 155. Similarly, a contact 136 normally engaged with armature 132. is connected to a relay armature 137 of a vend relay 140 associated with article id, through a connecting lead ill-1i. in like manner, a relay armature 142 is connected to a contact 143 normally engaged with armature 137 through a lead I144. Relay armature 142 is part of a vend relay led associated with article 15'. Armature lid-2 is normally engaged by a contact 145 which is connected to a coil l t-'7 of a reject relay through a lead 151. Coil 14-? has a plunger arm 152 that is spring loaded under tension by a spring 153 and has a projecting link 1354 which extends into coin tester 56 so that coins will be accepted only one at a time and those not being proper coins will be rejected and returned at coin return slot 21. A resistor is connected across coil M7 and the unconnected end is connected to ground 51. It will be seen later that reject relay 25% serves another function, also.

When switch arm ltl l falls into notch 1%, it engages contact 11-1 which is connected to a terminal 156 of selector switch 22, through a connecting lead 157. An armature 1-66 of relay 127 normally engages a contact 161 which is also connected to lead 157. As long as the article relays remain deenergized, armature lot is connected to a contact 162 of article relay 133 through a connecting lead 163. A terminal 164 of selector switch 23 is connected to contact 162 through a lead 165. An armature 166 of relay 133 which is normally engaged by contact 166 is connected to a contact 167 of vend relay 144) through a connecting lead 176. Contact 167 is connected to a terminal 171 of selector switch 24 through a lead 172. An armature 17-3 normally engaged by contact 167 is connected to a terminal 174 of selector switch 25 through a lead 178. Since power is applied to connecting lead 157, it may be seen that power exists at a terminal of each selector switch.

Power is also obtained through a holding circuit where a lead W5 is connected to terminal $4 of power switch 53 and acts as one of the power lines. A11 armature 176 of relay 127 [is connected to power line through a lead 177 that also connects an armature 189 of relay 127. A lead 181 connects armature 1% to an armature 182 of relay 133, to an armature 183 of relay 149, and to an armature 184- of relay 14S. Associated with armature 186 is a contact 135 which is normally not engaged and this is connected to a coil 1236 of article relay 127 through a connecting lead 187. In like manner, a contact 199, is associated with armature 182 (normally not engaged) and is connected to a coil 191 by a connecting lead 192. Also, associated with armature 183 is a contact 193 which is normally not engaged and this is connected to a coil 194 of relay 1451 through a connecting lead 195. Relay 145 has a contact 1% associated with armature 184 which is not normally engaged that is connected to a coil 127 of the relay by a lead 260. The other end of coil 186 is connected to a contact 201 of relay 133- through a lead 202. An armature 293 normally connected to contact 291 is connected to the yet unconnected end of coil 191 through a lead 204. Armature 293 is also connected to a contact 205 of relay 146 through a lead 2136. An armature 2117 normally engaged by contact 2:75 is connected to the unconnected end of coil 1% through a lead 210. Armature 2137 is also connected to a contact 211 of relay 14-5 through a lead 21 2. Associated with contact 211 is an armature 213 which is normally engaged and it is connected to the unconnected end of coil 197 by a lead 214.

Four dispensing

motors

215, 2 16, 217, and 218 are associated with

articles

12, 13, 14, and 15 respectively. A gear train 220 is driven by motor 215 through a shaft 221 and another gear train 2221s driven by motor 216 through a shaft 223. In like manner, a gear train 224' is driven by motor 217 through a shaft 225 and another gear train 226 is driven by motor 21S through a shaft 227.

Gear train 226 has an output shaft 231) which drives crank arm 36 (see FIG. 2) and after a complete rotation, disengages an armature 23 1 of a limit switch 232 from a contact 233 and causes it to momentarily engage a contact 234. The inertia of the motor allows armature 23 1 to again engage contact 233. Gear train 224 has an output shaft 235 which also drives its crank arm 36 and after a complete rotation, disengages an armature 236 of a limit switch 237 from a contact 2413 and causes it to momentarily engage a contact 24-1. Similarly, gear train 222 has an output shaft 242 which also drives its crank arm 36 and after a complete rotation, disengages an armature 243 of a limit switch 244 from a contact 245 and causes it to momentarily engage a contact 246. Also, gear train 220 has an output shaft 247 which drives its crank arm 36 and after a complete rotation, disengages an armature 2513 of a limit switch 251 from a contact 252 and causes it to momentarily engage a contact 253.

Going back to armature 213 of relay 145, a lead 254 connects it to contact 233 of switch 232. A lead 255 connects armature 231 to contact 241) and another lead 256 connects armature 236 to contact 245. Armature 25s is connected to ground '51 and the circuit is completed by having a lead 257 connect armature 243 to contact 252. It is understood that these dispensing circuits are alike and operated alike, therefore they will not be explained further at this time.

Switch contacts 253, 246, 241, and 234 are all connected to a common lead 260 to a counter 261 whose function is to count each article dispensed. Counter 251 is further connected to power line 175 by a lead 262. Each dispensing motor is connected to ground 51 and motor 215 is connected to a contact 263 associated with armature 126 normally not engaged, by a connecting lead 264. A contact 265 associated with armature 132 and normally not engaged, is connected to motor 216 by a lead 256. Also, a contact 267 associated with armature 13 7 but normally not engaged, is connected to motor 217 by a lead 270. In like manner, a contact 2711 associated with armature 142 but normally not engaged, is connected to motor 218 by a lead 272.

Returning to selector switch 22, another terminal 273 is connected to switch arm 41 by a lead 274 and this switch arm is engaged by a contact 275 when article 12 is in supply. Contact 275 is also connected to lead 187. Otherwise, switch arm 41 engages another contact 276 which is connected to a common lead 277, and it is connected to empty lamp 26 which has its circuit completed to ground 51. Thus if there are no articles in any of the racks 27, the lamp 26 will so indicate, as will be seen from the connection of the other run-out switches. Switch 46 has armature 42 connected to another terminal 286 of selector switch 23 through a lead 28 1. Likewise, armature 43 of switch 47 is connected to another terminal 22 of selector switch 24 through a lead 283. Also, armature 44 of switch 43 is connected to another terminal 284 of selector switch 25 through a lead 2235. Switch contacts 286, 237, and 288 associated with

armatures

42, 43, and 44 respectively, all of which are normally open, are all connected to common lead 277. A contact 2% engaged by armature 42 is connected to lead 192 and a contact 291 engaged by armature 43 is connected to lead 195, and another contact 292 engaged by armature 44 is connected to lead 213%).

Since power is applied to armature 176 of relay 127, it is applied to a contact 293 engaged thereby normally and is applied to an armature 294 of relay 133 through a lead 295. Armature 294 engages a contact 298 normally and power is applied to an armature 29 6 of relay 149 through a lead 2%. Armature 2'96 engages a contact 300 normally and power is applied to an armature 3121 of relay 145 through a lead 3&2. Armature 3:1 1 engages a contact 303 normally and power is applied to a terminal 3% of scavenge switch 21?, through a lead 305. Another terminal 3&6 of scavenge switch 29 is connected to one end of a coil 3117 of a return solenoid relay 3113 through a connecting lead 31:1. The other end of coil 3127 is con nected to ground 51. The function of this relay will be explained later.

A contact 312 associated with armature 176, another contact 313 associated with armature 2%, another contact 314 associated with armature 2%, and a contact 315 associated with armature 3191, are all normally not engaged, but are all connected to a common lead 316 that is connected to one end of coil of reset relay 92. Thus it will be evident that when the contacts are engaged with their associated armatures, scavenger switch 21) may not be energized and thereby return the coins deposited by actuating return relay 31th. The other end of coil 95 is connected to ground 51. Another lead 317, connects an armature 32d of relay 311) to lead 31%. A pair of contacts $21 and 322 associated with armature 321 are connected respectively to a coil 323 of an accept solenoid relay 324 through a lead 325 and to power line 175, through a lead 326. Solenoid 324 has a plunger arm 327 that is spring loaded under tension by a spring 330 and has a link 331 which projects into coin tester 56 to deflect all acceptable coins for payment.

As was pointed out earlier, power exists at each selector switch and the operation of the selector circuits in combination with the coin operated switches will now be described.

Operation Since the operation of the twenty-live cent circuits have been fully explained, an example will be given where article 14 is to be purchased by depositing the two five cent coins and one ten cent coin for a total cost per article of twenty cents. After the coins are dropped into coin chute 17, stepping relay as is driven to a predetermined point of rotation where switch arm 111 of vend switch falls into notch 1113 of cam 192. Since switch arm 194 is normaly engaged by contact 119, if at any time previous to pressing one of the selector switches, it is desired to obtain the money placed in the machine, and Which is in the coin tester 56, it is only necessary to press scavenge switch 2% to apply power to return solenoid 314 and cause power to flow from contact 322 to reset relay 94 through lead 316. This action will return stepping wheel 21) to its initial position because of spring return 106. It should be noted that the coins are returned because the accept solenoid 324 has not been energized 7 through lead 3-25 because the power has not been connected. With switch arm 1%4 and contact 111 engaged, the next step is to press selector switch 24 associated with article 14, because power is then present at terminal 171. When terminals 171 and 232 are connected by the switch, current flows to coil 3% if there is a supply of article 14 present, otherwise empty lamp Z6 is energized and another choice may be made or the money returned as described previously. Once relay 140 is actuated,

armatures

295, 137, 117?, 133, and M57 are attracted towards coil 194. A holding circuit is formed by applying power from line 175 through lead 17'7", through lead 131, to armature 183 so that when selector switch 24 is released the vend relay Mil remains energized. The moment armature 2%! discngages contact 2&5 the ground circuit for vend relays 127 and 133 is broken disabling them and preventing a double dispensing of

article

14 and 12 or 13 or both. Since a current path to vend relay 145 must be broken in order to prevent article 15 from being dispensed, this is accomplished by disengaging armature 173 from contact 167 and cutting the current path to article switch 25. At this point, armature 296 which has power applied, is engaged with contact Sid and reset solenoid 94- is energized through lead 316 to release stepping wheel 9% and allow switch arm Hi l to again engage contact 115). Substantially simultaneously, power is applied through

lead

317 and 325 to the accept relay 324 to accept the coins being held in escrow in coin tester 56 and they are dropped down accept chute 57 to be deposited by the machine. After switch arm 143 i and contact 118 are engaged, power is applied to motor 217 through armature 137 and lead 2'79. Motor 217 drives crank arm 36 and link 35 (see FlGURE 2) to cause drawer 31 to move forward and vend article l t. As the output shaft 235 completes one revolution, it moves armature 236 away from contact 24% thereby breaking the ground connection to coil 1% causing it to be tie-energized and return to its normal position as shown. The inertia of motor 217 is great enough how ever, to cause armature 236 to engage contact 24- thereby completing the ground connection to counter 261 which has power applied through lead 262 and cause the counter to count the article being dispensed. Due to the circuits for returning the coins and dispensing the articles being controlled by the same relay it is impossible for the machine to dispense an article and return the money for it it select switch 2% and scavenge switch 25 are pressed simultaneously. In fact, there is a certain delay in the return of stepping wheel 90 to its normal position so the money is collected before the dispensing motor is energized. It may also be observed that while one of the dispensing motors is running it is impossible to put coins into escrow in the coin tester 56 because the reject relay lfitl is energized as long as the vend relay 140 is energized.

It should be unnecessary to explain the operation of the other circuits associated with

articles

12, 13, and 15 since they work in the same manner as that just described.

lt is obvious that certain changes and modifications may be made in the construction of our vending machine without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention and it is our intention to cover all such modifications and departures in the claims which are appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. Vending machine apparatus for vending articles comprising: racks for supporting a plurality of articles to be vended; a coin tester to receive coins for payment of an article to be selected and to hold said coins in escrow; a power source for operating the vending machine; a coin accept solenoid cooperating with said coin tester so that said coins held in escrow will be accepted upon said coin accept solenoid being energized; a plurality of coin switches connected to said power source and each having an extended spring arm projecting into said coin tester and being actuated upon receipt of a coin of predetermined value; a credit wheel; a stepping motor connected to said credit Wheel and connected to said plurality of coin switches and upon being energized, advancing said credit wheel through a given angle of rotation from a predetermined reference; a cam operably connected to said credit wheel through a shaft to rotate unitarily therewith; a reset solenoid cooperating with said stepping motor to hold said credit wheel in a fixed rotational position after being advanced through said given angle of rotation; a spring return fixedly connected to said cam and said credit wheel to return said credit wheel to said predetermined reference upon said reset solenoid being energized; a vend switch actuated by said cam upon said cam turning through a predetermined angle; a plurality of article selection witches, each of which is responsive to actuation for selecting one of said articles to be vended; connecting means connecting said vend switch to said plurality of coin switches and to said plurality of article selection switches; a vend relay having a plurality of contacts and engageable armatures; a holding circuit for keeping said vend relay energized; a dispenser including motor means and having circuit means associated therewith for dispensing said articles associated with one of said plurality of article selection switches upon said circuit means being ene gized; a limit switch adapted to be actuated by said dispenser for controlling the energization of said article sel ction switch, said vend relay connected to said article selection switch and said limit switch and responding to energization of said article selection switch, said vend relay connecting said reset solenoid to said power source so that said credit wheel is free to rotate, further interconnecting said holding circuit between said power source and said vend relay, also interconnecting said vend switch to said vend relay through said dispenser so that said dispenser is energized, and connecting said coin accept solenoid to said power source so that said coins being held in escrow by said coin tester are accepted by the vending machine; and a counter connected to said power source and said limit switch, so that said limit switch deenergizes said vend relay and said holding circuit after said article is dispensed thereby deenergizing said dispenser and momentarily energizing said counter to count the number of said articles dispensed.

2. A vending machine as set forth in claim 1 including a reject solenoid mechanically adapted to cooperate with said coin tester so that all coins will be rejected by said coin tester if deposited while said dispencr is operating; and means connecting said reject solenoid to said vend switch through said vend relay.

3. A vending machine as set forth in claim 2 including a pair of circuits having a common switch actuated to a first position by the presence of an article to be vended and actuated to a second position by the absence of said article; an indicator for indicating the absence of an article to be dispensed; and means connecting said switch to said indicator.

4. A vending machine as set forth in claim 2 including a scavenge switch to be actuated by an operator for recovering coins in said coin tester; a return solenoid having con-tact means connected between said accept solenoid and said reset solenoid; means connecting said scavenge switch to said return solenoid so that said coins will be rejected from said vending machine at any time prior to excitation of said vend relay.

5. In a vending machine for vending articles, apparatus comprising; switch means having a common energized input switch arm and first and second contacts alternately interconnected by said switch arm; coin operable means including motor means responsive to coins deposited in a vending machine for actuating said switch arm to said second contact position after driving a predetermined amount; selecting means connected to said second contact of said switch means for selecting one of a plurality of articles to be vended from said vending machine and substantially simultaneously eliminating all other articles of said plurality from being selected; means actuated by said selecting means and connected to said switch means and to said coin operable means for actuating said switch arm to said first contact and accepting for payment of said article selected, said coins deposited in said vending machine; and dispensing means connected to said first contact of said switch means for dispensing said article selected and breaking the connection to said first contact.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim including article zero quantity indicating means responsive to said selecting means for indicatim zero quantity of said article selected where none exists; and coin return means connected to said coin operable means for actuating said switch arm to said first contact and returning said coins deposited for payment of said article selected when said article is non-existent.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said dispensing means includes a crank arm and a link connected to a drawer with continuous side portions slightly larger in dimension than said article to be dispensed so that said article is nestled in said drawer; a plate overlying said crank arm and link adjacent said drawer at its ippermost side; a rack for supporting said articles so that the bottom article lies in said drawer; and motor means connected to said crank arm to move said crank arm and link beyond said rack so that said articles are supported by said plate but said article in said drawer is dispensed from said vending machine.

8. Vending machine apparatus for vending articles comprising: a coin tester to receive coins for payment of an article to be selected and to hold said coins in escrow; a power source for operating the vending machine; coin accepting means cooperating with said coin tester so that said coins held in escrow will be accepted upon said coin accepting means being energized; a plurality of first switch means connected to said power source and each having means cooperating with said coin tester and being actuated upon receipt of a coin of predetermined value; a second switch means; motor means connected to said plurality of first switch means and upon being energized, advancing a given amount from a predetermined reference to actuate said second switch means upon reaching a predetermined condition; stop means cooperating with said motor means to maintain said motor means in a fixed position after being advanced said given amount; means connected to said motor means for reversing said motor means and driving it to said predetermined reference upon said stop means being energized; third switch means; means connecting said second switch means to said plurality of said first switch means and to said third switch means; a holding circuit for supplying power through an alternate circuit; dispensing means for dispensing said articles including deenergizing means for deenergizing said dispensing means and said holding circuit after dispensing said article; and relay means connected to said third switch means and said dispensing means to respond to energization by actuation of said third switch means,

said third switch means connecting said stop means to said power source so that said stop means is energized, further interconnecting said holding circuit between said power source and said stop means, also interconnecting said second switch means to said relay means through said dispensing means, and connecting said coin accepting means to said power source so that said coins being held in escrow by said coin tester are accepted by the vending machine.

9. A vending machine as set forth in claim 8 including means for disabling certain dispensing means after said third switch means has been actuated, said means being connected to said third switch means and being a part of said relay means.

10. Vending machine apparatus for vending articles comprising: electrical supply means for operating the vending machine; coin testing means for retaining coins after being deposited but not accepting said coins until a predetermined condition is reached; coin actuated switch means connected to said electrical supply means and cooperating with said coin testing means to provide intermittent electrical power output signals; vending switch means connected to said coin actuated switch means having first and second contact means for energizing one of a first and second electrical circuit a motor means connected to said vending switch means and including means responsive to said output signals from said coin actuated switch means for actuating said vending switch means to one of said first and second contact means; vending selection means including a plurality of relay means responsive to electrical signals from said second electrical circuit of said vending switch means for selecting one article only of a plurality of articles to be dispensed and providing an output signal to said motor means so that said motor means is returned to an initial condition thereby causing said vending switch means to engage said first electrical circuit; means including coin accept relay means for connecting said vending selection means to said coin testing means and being responsive to electrical signals from said second electrical circuit of said vending switch means so that said coins are accepted; and dispensing means connected to said vending switch means and responsive to electrical signals from said first electrical circuit of said vending switch means for dispensing said article selected including a plurality of dispensing motor means each energizable by one of said plurality of relay means included in said vending selection means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,663,398 Skillman Dec. 22, 1953 2,777,603 Baum .Tan. 15, 1957 2,876,883 Baker et al. Mar. 10, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Pa tent N0. 3 113 656 December 10 1963 Kenneth C; Zeigle o a15 It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1O Lin 25 for circuit a motor" read circuit;

motor Signed and sealed *m s 5th day of May 1964;

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents