US3628643A

US3628643A - Selector mechanism for coin-controlled article dispensers

Info

Publication number: US3628643A
Application number: US874915A
Authority: US
Inventors: Floyd V Bookout
Original assignee: Rock Ola Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Rock Ola Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 1969-11-07
Filing date: 1969-11-07
Publication date: 1971-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-21
Also published as: DE2051971B2; DE2051971C3; DE2051971A1

Abstract

Selector mechanism for automatic coin-operated vending machines incorporating item display means and an actuator for operating electrical switch means for activating the selector mechanism; the latter including an item display platform and being operationally conditioned by electromechanical interlock means responsive to the availability of items for vending and which activates a mechanical signal system for positively informing the customer of item availability for selection.

Description

ilnited States Patent Floyd V. Bookout Long Grove, 111.

Nov. 7, 1969 Dec. 21, 1971 RocbOla Manufacturing Corporation Chicago, Ill.

[72} lnventor [21] Appi. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee [54] SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR COIN- CONTROLLED ARTICLE DISPENSERS 9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] 1.1.8. C1 194/10, 221/14 [51] lnt.Cl ..G0711l/00 [50] Field ofSearc-h 194/1, 10, 2;221/2, 6, 9,14,17,18, 97,151,155

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,593,102 4/1952 Caruso 221/93 2,825,487 3/1958 Ericson 221/2 X 2,853,585 9/1958 Danziger et aL... 194/2 3,085,711 4/1963 Holstein et al. 194/2 3,172,519 3/1965 Albright et al.... 194/2 3,205,994 9/1965 Zibbell et a1 194/10 3,278,079 10/1966 Guard 194/10 X Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Attorney-Davis, Lucas, Brewer & Brugman ABSTRACT: Selector mechanism for automatic coinoperated vending machines incorporating item display means and an actuator for operating electrical switch means for activating the selector mechanism; the: latter including an item display platform and being operationally conditioned by electromechanical interlock means responsive to the availability of items for vending and which activates a mechanical signal system for positively informing the customer of item availability for selection.

PATENTEU BEEN I911 SHEET 2 OF 2 SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR COIN-CONTROLLED ARTICLE DISPENSERS This invention relates generally to automatic vending machines andparticularly to improvements in means for customer selection of items to be vended, including means for visually displaying such items and informing the purchaser of their availability.

Automatic vending machines capable of delivering various commodities in response to customer deposit of coins and initiation of a vend cycle upon selection of an item to be purchased, are a familiar part of the American scene. In the art of machine vending, item identification, inspection and customer confidence that a selected item will be delivered, are highly significant factors to economic success.

Previous efforts to promote customer identification of items have resorted to signs, labels or facsimile models describing or showing the type of item to be delivered. In some instances, as in vending fresh food for example, it has been possible to display the specific item selected by the purchaser. While this has not been the general practice, yet from the customer's standpoint it is preferable that the actual item to be vended or a sample thereof be available for visual examination prior to making a selection.

Additionally, in vending machines capable of storing and delivering a variety of items, such as various mixed drinks, canned beverages and the like it is usual practice to associate a given selector means with a particular class or variety of items. If the customer deposits coins to purchase a selected item and the supply thereof is exhausted, however, even the return of the coins is not wholly satisfactory. Past efforts to alleviate this particular problem have resorted to the use of electrically illuminated signs or signals to indicate whether or not the supply of a particular item is exhausted or available for purchase. Generally, illumination of the sign signifies that the item is available. If it is exhausted, it is normal practice to so advise the customer, by requesting him to select some other item. Experience has shown that the use of such artificially illuminated signals or signs is not very satisfactory since the problem of maintenance of the lighting system is time consuming, and expensive. More importantly, a burned-out sign not only creates customer confusion, but may produce loss of sales. Also, it is particularly difficult to perceive an electrically illuminated sign or signal in a brightly lighted area, such as bright sunlight. Thus, the customer cannot always determine under such present systems if a selected item is available or if the vending mechanism will deliver upon selection of an item.

This invention is directed to improved selector means which alleviate the above and related problems in the vending machine art. Briefly, this invention embodies a mechanically operated means for controlling an electrical selector switch in response to actuating movements of a selector panel, formed as a transparent member overcovering a display duplicate of the item to be vended to the customer, thus avoiding confusion in identifying the item selected. A suitable electromagnetic interlock system is associated with the selector switch; the interlock system being related to the item storage and vending system of the machine in such a fashion as to condition the selector mechanism for operation or nonoperation according to the presence or absence of items available for delivery to the customer. Combined with the foregoing is a novel mechanical signal system responsively associated with and operated by the interlock system to visually infonn the customer of the operational status of the mechanism and the availability of an item for selection.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved selector mechanism for coin-operated vending machines.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an improved selector mechanism as aforesaid having means for visually displaying items to be vended.

A further important object of this invention is to provide an improved selector mechanism for vending machines embodying a mechanical signal means for visually indicating the operational capability of the vending machine to deliver items upon selection.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved electromechanical selector mechanism for automatic coinoperated vending machines combined with an electromagnetic interlock system responsive to the supply of items to be vended and capable of preconditioning the selector mechanism for operation depending on the availability of an item for delivery to the customer in the drawings:

FIG. I is a partial frontal perspective view of a typical vending machine equipped with selector mechanism according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial rear perspective view of the vending machine as shown in FIG. 11; illustrating its assembled relation with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view in front elevation of selector mechanism of this invention;

FIG. 4i is a view in side elevation thereof taken along

vantage line

4,4 of FIG. l, and looking in the direction of the arrows thereon;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing various elements embodied in the selector mechanism of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective showing of the signal system according to thisinvention; and

FIGS. 7-8 are perspective showings of the signal system, interlock system and operating sequence of the selector switch means associated therewith.

Turningnow to the particulars of the preferred embodiment of this invention illustrated in the drawings, reference is initially made to FIGS. l and 2 wherein a typical machine for vending canned beverages is illustrated in partial perspective; the same including an upright cabinet 10 having a hingedly mounted front door 11 provided with a mounting panel 12 adjacent its upper end which carries plural selector mechanisms according to this invention indicated generally at 13.

As shown best in FIG. 1 the several selector mechanisms are arrayed in side-by-side fashion generally horizontally across the frontal portions of the panel 112, while a coin receiving slot and return means 14 is provided adjacent one end of the selector array. From the front of the door and mounting panel the only portions of the several mechanism 13 outwardly visable to the customer are the individual transparent selector panels 15, behind each of which is displayed a sample canned beverage 16 to be delivered to the customer in response to actuation of the respectively related selectors 13. As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the several selector mechanisms I3 comprise individual modular units, removably held in a mounting rack means 17 disposed generally horizontally across the rear side of panel 12 to dispose each of such mechanisms 13 opposite an actuator opening 18 (see FIG. 4) in panel 12. Rack means 17 in addition to supporting the several selector mechanisms 13, also supports a plurality of vertically disposed and removably mounted partition members 19 which serve to separate adjacent display cubicles for the canned items 116, visable to the customer through transparent actuator panels 15.

With reference now to FIG. 4 in particular, it will be appreciated that the door I1 is formed with a generally rectangular opening 25 which is receptive of the mounting panel I2. An inwardly turned flange portion 26 extends inwardly of the upper and side margins of opening 25 and is adapted to overlie a corresponding flange portion 27 bordering the top and end edges of the panel 112. Screw means 28 interconnect the flange portions 26,27 for the purpose of securing the panel 12 firmly over opening 25.

The several openings 18 are formed in spaced side-by-side relationship in the mounting panel 112 and each is of a size and shape receptive of an actuator display panel I5 of the selector mechanism. Each selector panel 15 is formed as a hollow open backed tray of generally trapezoidal cross section (see FIG. 4) having an inwardly turned lip wall 29 at its upper end which is adapted to be under-engaged by a generally Z-shaped bracket 30 to effect pivotal support for the panel 15. Each bracket 30 is held to the underside of flange 27 by the screw means 28 and cooperates with an opposing marginal portion 31 of panel 12, immediately adjacent the upper end of an opening 18, in pivotally supporting an associated selector panel 15.

As best shown from FIGS. 1, 4 and 8 of the drawings, each selector panel comprises a unitary moulding of transparent plastic", or the like, formed as an open-backed tray with the lip wall 29 being at the upper end of the interior tray cavity. The tray formation of panel 15 comprises a planar front wall 33 (FIG. 4) having the wall 29 turned inwardly at one end thereof and formed integrally with a bottom wall 34 at the opposite or lower end thereof. Two

sidewalls

35,35, of trapezoidal formation in side elevation, extend inwardly of the side margins of front wall 33 and join with the lip wall 29 and the bottom wall 34 thereof to define the traylike interior. At the extreme lower end of the selector panel is formed a reentrantly curved flange portion 36 which depends from the inner edge of the bottom wall 34 to comprise a contact portion normally disposed behind the lower margin of the mounting panel 12 and adapted to engage a pivotal actuator lever means 37 of the selector mechanism, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Before describing the detail organization of the selector mechanism 13 of this invention, particular reference is first made to FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings wherein the mounting rack means 17 is shown. As illustrated best in FIG. 4, rack means 17 comprises an elongated stamped sheet metal frame having a horizontally disposed upper planer platform portion 40 flanked at its forward and rear margins, as shown in that figure, by a depending front wall portion 41 and a depending rear mounting wall portion 42. Platform portion 40 is provided with pairs of spaced ears 43,43 (see FIG. 3) struck upwardly from the plane thereof and at the corner junction of such platform portion with the depending frontwall portion 41. Each pair of spaced ears comprises a stop or barrier means for engaging the bottom rim of a canned commodity 16 mounted upright on the platform behind the transparent combination display and actuator panel 15. In a similar fashion the rearward margin of the platform portion 40 is equipped with additional pairs of spaced ear portions 44,44 (see FIG. 3) adapted to support a tension spring 45 therebetween which firmly holds the canned item 16 in display position against ears 43,43.

Support of the rack means 17 is accomplished by means of an elongated mounting flange portion 46 formed dependingly along the lower edge of a step wall portion 47 projecting transversely from front wall 41 of the rack means. Flange portion 46 is adapted to registeringly abut with a mounting bracket 48 fixed to the mounting panel member 12. Specifically, sheet metal screws or similar fasteners 49 connect between the flange portion and mounting bracket, as shown in FIG. 4, to hold rack means 17 in place. Additional mounting screws also are employed between the right-hand end of rack means 17 and door 11 as viewed in FIG. 2, to complete the mounting assembly of the rack means.

Before leaving the description of the mounting rack means 17 it is well to note that the front wall portion 41 thereof is distinguished by a plurality of T-shaped openings 50, the lower stem or tail of which accommodates the passage of the actuator lever 37 and the crossbar portion of which parallels the mounting platform portion 40 to provide visable access to signal means 51 associated with the selector mechanism as will be described hereinafter (see FIGS. 3 and 4). It is further to be noted that there is one such T-shaped opening formed in wall portion 41 opposite each of the selector mechanisms 13.

Turning now to the particulars of the selector mechanism 13 according to this invention, special reference is made to the exploded perspective view in FIG. 5 of the drawings wherein the operating means thereof, with the exception of the selector panel 15 previously described, are shown. From that figure, it will be recognized that a unitary modular housing 60 accommodates the assembly of the actuator lever 37 responsive to the pivotal activity of panel 15, selector switch means 61, the signal means 51 and electrical solenoid means 62 for activating the signal means 51 and an associated interlock system for preconditioning control of the selection function.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawings, the modular housing 60 preferably is formed of sheet metal having a planar rear wall 65, a bottom wall' 66 extending transversely outwardly of the lower margin of the rear wall and a pair of parallel spaced sidewalls, extending at right angles from the lateral margins of the rear wall 65; the same being indicated as a left sidewall 67 and a right sidewall 68 in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The top and front sides of housing 60 are open.

The two sidewalls are substantially identical in formation and each is particularly distinguished by a stepped profile providing an upstanding detent ear 70 along the forward edge thereof. The detent ears so provided are adapted to be insertedly received in slots (not shown) formed in the horizontal step portion 47 of the rack means, to positively locate the modular housing 60 opposite a selector station. Fastener means comprising a manually engageable wing bolt 73 is used to hold each modular housing 60 to the rear wall portion 42 of the rack means 17 (see FIG. 4). Tightening of the wing bolt secures the housing in position directly beneath the display platform portion 40 of the rack means and opposite a selector station of the mounting panel 12. Specifically the wing bolt 73 passes freely through an opening in the wall portion 42 of the rack means and threads into a reinforcing weld nut 74 fixed to the inside face of the rear housing wall 65, as particularly shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

Mounted within the protective interior of housing 60, and fastened to the rear wall 65 thereof, is the selector switch means 61 comprising an insulating shield 78 and a microswitch assembly 79 having an elongated pivotal actuator arm 80 (see FIG. 3) extending beyond the main body of switch 79 to overlie a stop 81 projecting inwardly of the housings rear wall 65. In accordance with normal operating practice the actuator arm 80 is spring biased and pivots about one end toward and away from the stop 81. In the particular switching arrangement illustrated, arm 80 is spring biased to move upwardly or away from stop 81, conditioning the switch to on or circuit making position. Switch means 79 is coupled to appropriate circuitry of the vending machine by suitable conductors leading from the switch to an insert type of connector block 84, having multiple pin connectors for reception of a female connector plug (not shown). As shown, the connector block is insertedly mounted through the bottom wall 66 of the housing means. Circuit protective fuse means 85, comprising an insulated housing 86, is also mounted through bottom wall 66 of the housing and is coupled in circuit with the switch 79 and connector block 84.

The electrically actuated solenoid means 62 also is mounted within the confines of housing means 60 and more specifically is fastened to the left-hand sidewall 67 by fastening screw means 87 in the illustrated embodiment. Solenoid means 62 comprises a generally cubelike bracket housing 88 which is fastened to wall 67 and carries the usual electromagnetic coil 89 having a movable core member 90 adapted to retract axially within the open core of the coil 89 upon energization of the latter. Suitable conductors join coil 89 with a source of energy at the connector block 84.

Mounted above the solenoid means 62 and extending between the sidewalls 67 and 68 of the housing means is a cylindrical shaft 92 (see FIG. 5) having radially reduced shoulder portions at its opposite .ends to provide smaller coaxially aligned

trunnions

93,93 adapted to extend through suitable openings formed for that purpose in the

sidewalls

67 and 68 of the housing. Locking rings 94 are employed to axially lock the shaft 92 in position. Mounted on shaft 92 for rotational movement thereabout are the actuator lever means 37 and the signal means 51 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the actuator lever means 37 comprises an elongated hub portion 95, coaxially receptive of the shaft 92, and integrally formed transversely of a compound lever portion 96 essentially comprising a bellcrank system.

With reference to FIG. 4 in particular, it will be understood that lever portion 96 operationally depends beneath hub por- 15, toward the actuating lever means 37, serves to pivot the i latter in a counterclockwise sense (as viewed in FIG. d) about the axis of shaft means 92. This raises finger portion 97 away from the switch actuator arm 80, permitting the latter to move upwardly under normal spring bias. Returning pivotal move- 'ment of the lever means 37 in an opposite rotational sense (clockwise) is brought about by means of a tension spring 100 which extends between a connecting lug 101, formed substantially at the junction of the base of finger portion 97 and the hub portion 95, and a hook 102 projecting from rear wall 65 of the housing (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Action of spring means 100 serves to bias finger portion 97 downwardly to press the switch actuator arm against stop 01.

Also mounted on shaft 92, radially outwardly of the hub portion 95 associated with the lever means 37, is signal means 51. As best shown in FIG. 5, signal means 51 comprises a unitary body 1041, preferably molded of plastic and having a pair of parallel spaced end walls 105,106, comprising mounting arms from each of which extends a substantially cylindrical mounting hub 107. The two hubs so provided receive the shaft 92 therethrough for free rotation of the signal means about shaft 92. The main body 104 further includes an intersecting ly related pair of planar signal display surfaces 100 and 109 comprising outside faces thereof which extend between the

opposite end walls

105 and 106. Each of the

surfaces

100 and 109 is adapted to mount a desired signal card, afiixed thereto as by glue or the like. In the particular instance illustrated in FIGS. 6-0 a first card or label Push" is mounted over surface 108 and a second signal Make Another Selection" is mounted over surface 109.

The left-hand end wall portion 106 of the signal means is provided with an opening 110 receptive of the hooked outer end portion 111 of a signal actuator rod 1 12 which is pivotally connected at its lower end, by pin means 113, to the upper end of the movable core of the solenoid means 62. With this arrangement, electrical energization of the solenoid means serves to move the actuator rod 112 downwardly with core 90, rocking the signal means 51 about shaft 92 to make the signal over surface 100 thereof visable through the crossbar portion of the T-shaped slotted opening 50 formed in the front wall portion 11 of the rack means (see FIG. 4). On the other hand, when solenoid means 62 is deenergized, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6 for instance, the secondary display surface 109 is visable through opening 50. It will be immediately recognized that the signal system is positively responsive to the actuation of the solenoid means and thus positively reflects the latters controlled condition.

It will be noted from FIG. in particular, that the right-hand end wall 105 of the signal means 51 is formed with an outwardly extending latch portion 115 which projects rearwardly past the mounting shaft 92 to overhang and engage the switch actuator arm 00 (see FIG. 7). Inasmuch as the latch portion 115 is formed integrally with the body 104 of the signal means, it moves responsively therewith in accordance with the energization and deenergization of the solenoid means s2. In order to properly position the signal means and particularly the latch portion 115 axially along the shaft 92, a cylindrical spacer member 116 is mounted between the end wall 105 and the hub 95 for the actuator lever 37. Suitable spring means 110 is tensioned between a hook member 119 struck outwardly of the backwall 65 of the housing means and an opening 120 in the latch portion 115 radially outwardly of the shaft 92. Thus, in a normal at rest condition, the latch 115 is biased to engage the switch actuator arm 90, pressing the same against the stop 81 associated therewith and preventing upward swinging movement of the actuator arm 00, even though the lever means 37 be operated by pushing inwardly on the selector panel 15 to raise the finger portion 97 off the actuator arm. Thus, the latchportion constitutes an interlock between the switch means 01 and the solenoid means 52, requiring electrical energization of the solenoid means to raise latch portion 115 as a prerequisite to circuit energizing operation of the switch means by the upward swinging movement of operation arm 00.

l-laving described the elemental portions and means involved in the selector mechanism of this invention, its operation will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 6-0 of the drawings.

Preliminary to an understanding of the integrated relationship of mechanism 13 with a vending machine 10 of the order described and illustrated herein, it is to be noted that the solenoid means 02 of mechanism 13 is in operative circuit relationship with a Sold Out" switch (not shown) located in or adjacent to the item storage and delivery system. In the particular example of machine 10, such a switch is located in the can delivery chute system and operatively responds to the presence or absence of canned items in a position for customer delivery upon selection.

When the magazine is empty and no cans are in delivery position, for example, the Sold Out switch is open," responsive to the Sold Out condition. The open condition of the Sold Out switch deenergizes the enabling circuit for solenoid means 62 and as a consequence the Make Another Selection signal of meansSl is in viewing position to the customer through panel 15. This state of events is illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings. This effectively advises the customer that operation of that particular selector will not effect delivery of the selected item. In this condition, signal means 51 remains in its FIG. 6 position and theinterlock latch means 115 is held against the selector switch actuator arm 00 by spring 1110, holding the same against stop means 01 and thereby preventing circuit energizing operation of the selector switch 79. I

On the other hand if items to be vended are present in the vending column associated with a given selector mechanism, the Sold Out switch will be in closed" circuit condition, enabling the energizing circuit to solenoid means 62. When energized, the solenoid means 62 draws the core member thereof downwardly, rocking the signal means 51 to its in FIG. 7 position whereat the signal Push is visable to the customer. At the same time, the latch means associated with the signal means and comprising an interlock between the selector switch and solenoid means is lifted off of switch actuator arm 00. This conditions or unlocks the arm 00 for upward swinging movement to operate switch means 79.

However, switch means 79 also is in circuit with the vend circuitry of the vending machine and more particularly with a credit accumulator which is responsive to the deposit of a predetermined coin value. Until the customer has deposited the necessary coin value for a selected item the circuit to the related selector switch 79 is not established. Consequently, even though the interlock latch 115 is raised from operator arm 00, unless the selector switch 79 is enabled by prior deposit of the necessary coin value, pushing on the selector panel 15 to actuate selector lever means 37 and raise the latter from the switch operating arm, will not result in selection and initiation of a vend cycle. This enabled condition is illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings showing the interlock means 115 raised from the arm 50.

Once the customers proper coin deposit has been accepted by the credit accumulator of the vending machine, circuit is established to the selector switch 79. if solenoid s2 is energized and the customer pushes selector" panel 15 inwardly to raise the selector lever means 37 from switch operator arm 00, the latter will move upwardly, initiating the on, or circuit-making, condition for switch 79 and thereby initiating a selected 1 vend cycle. Specifically, the selector switch means 79 is in circuit controlling condition with the vendling mechanism which operatively controls the release of a canned item from storage when actuated. Thus, with switch 79 established in the vend circuitry, pushing on a selector panel as directed by the Push signal visable therethrough (see FIG. 8), initiates the desired. vend cycle to deliver a selected item to the customer.

From the foregoing it is believed that those familiar with the art will readily understand and appreciate the novel advancements presented by the present invention, and while the same has been described in association with a particular preferred and illustrated embodiment thereof set out in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood the same is nevertheless susceptible to wide variation, modification and substitution of equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

lclaim:

1. For use in automatic, coin-operated vending machines having electrically operated delivery mechanism for releasing items selected by the customer in response to customer deposit of predetermined coin values, improved selector mechanism for initiating a vend cycle comprising: electrical selector switch means operatively enabled by the deposit of a predetermined coin value and, upon actuation, serving to enable the delivery mechanism for operation; actuator means operably movable to and between switch actuating and nonactuatingpositions and normally biased to said switch actuating position, lever means engaged with said actuator means and normally positioned to retain the latter in said nonactuating position, manually operable selector panel means, accessible to the customer, and selectively operable to move said lever means appropriately .to permit movement of said actuator means to said switch-actuating position; electrical solenoid means operatively responsive to the presence and absence of items in delivery position, and mechanical interlock means controlled by said solenoid means and operable to precondition actuation of said switch means on the presence of items in delivery position.

2. The combination of claim 1, including unitary housing means for said selector mechanism, means supporting said housing means beneath a display platform portion, and means for holding a sample item in display position on top of said platform portion.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said selector panel means comprises a transparent barrier mounted protectively between said display platform portion and a customer, whereby an item displayed on said platform portion is inaccessibly visable to the customer through said panel.

4. The combination of claim 3 and mounting panel means mounted adjacent said selector mechanism having an opening receptive of said selector panel means, and means supporting said selector panel means on said mounting panel means for pivotal movement about one end.

5. The combination of claim 2, wherein said selector mechanism, except for said selector panel means, comprises a unitary module, and means detachably mounting a plurality of such modules in side-by-side array within the interior of the vending machine, each opposite a said selector panel means, with each being independently operable and removable.

6. The combination of claim 1 including signal means having plural signal display surfaces thereon, and means operatively interconnecting said signal means and solenoid means to present different signal display surfaces in position for observation by a customer in accordance with the energized and nonenergized conditions of said solenoid means.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said interlock and signal means are conjointly operable and independently of said lever means.

8. The combination of claim 1, wherein said interlock means is operably independent of the operation of said lever means.

9. The combination of claim 1 and spring means normally biasing said interlock means and said lever means to maintain said switch means in nonactuated condition.

a r s

Claims

1. For use in automatic, coin-operated vending machines having electrically operated delivery mechanism for releasing items selected by the customer in response to customer deposit of predetermined coin values, improved selector mechanism for initiating a vend cycle comprising: electrical selector switch means operatively enabled by the deposit of a predeTermined coin value and, upon actuation, serving to enable the delivery mechanism for operation; actuator means operably movable to and between switch actuating and nonactuating positions and normally biased to said switch actuating position, lever means engaged with said actuator means and normally positioned to retain the latter in said nonactuating position, manually operable selector panel means, accessible to the customer, and selectively operable to move said lever means appropriately to permit movement of said actuator means to said switch-actuating position; electrical solenoid means operatively responsive to the presence and absence of items in delivery position, and mechanical interlock means controlled by said solenoid means and operable to precondition actuation of said switch means on the presence of items in delivery position.