US3828904A - Automatic vending machine including a plurality of customer units interconnected with a single processing and dispensing unit - Google Patents

Automatic vending machine including a plurality of customer units interconnected with a single processing and dispensing unit Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3828904A
US3828904A US00325577A US32557773A US3828904A US 3828904 A US3828904 A US 3828904A US 00325577 A US00325577 A US 00325577A US 32557773 A US32557773 A US 32557773A US 3828904 A US3828904 A US 3828904A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
customer
change
unit
vending machine
automatic vending
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00325577A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
N Naitou
K Baba
S Huziwara
T Yamanaka
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Omron Corp
Original Assignee
Omron Tateisi Electronics Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Omron Tateisi Electronics Co filed Critical Omron Tateisi Electronics Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3828904A publication Critical patent/US3828904A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F5/00—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks
    • G07F5/18—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/42—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for ticket printing or like apparatus, e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F5/00—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks
    • G07F5/24—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks with change-giving
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
    • G07F9/002—Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Definitions

  • An automatic vending machine which comprises at least two customer serving units which are individually used by customers to input purchase data into the ma- 'chine and a single processing unit commonly serving the customer serving units so that in accordance with the input data the processing unit causes an article to be dispensed through the outlet of that customer serving unit through which the purchase data have-been entered.
  • vending machines of the above-mentioned types comprise a single box or housing which have provided at the front panel thereof a customer serving unit by which the customer operates the machine and inputs thereinto purchase information or data such as the kind or price of the article he or she wishes to purchase from the machine.
  • a customer serving unit by which the customer operates the machine and inputs thereinto purchase information or data such as the kind or price of the article he or she wishes to purchase from the machine.
  • means for handling the money introduced means for processing the input purchase data, means for dispensing an article in accordance with the money and data, and so forth. All these interior means may be referred to comprehensively as the processing unit, and the customer serving unit will be referred to as the customer unit.
  • the processing unit inside the housing is not continuously operating all the time. In other words, some component means of the processing unit remain idle after they have completed their operations tillnew purchase data are entered in the next purchasing operation.
  • the length of the time the processing unit operates is considerably shorter, and the various devices constituting such a processing unit are expensive. Therefore, if their working efficiency is low, it certainly is uneconomical.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic vending machine which is provided with a plurality of customer units and a single processing unit com monly serving the customer units, thereby improving the working efficiency of the processing unit.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an auto matic vending machine which is provided with a plural ity of customer units and a single change dispensing device commonly serving the customer units, thereby improving the working efficiency of the change dispensing device.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic vending machine which is provided with a plurality of customer units and a single article dispensing device commonly serving the customer units, thereby improving the working efficiency of the article dispensing device.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide an automatic vending machine which comprises a single housing or box having at least two customer units and a single processing unit commonly serving the customer units, so that the machine substantially equals a plurality of prior art machines in function and ability and can be manufactured at a far lower cost.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a circuit for controlling the change calculating and dispensing device and the ticket issuing device used in the machine of the invention
  • FIG.4 is a side view of one form of the change directing device used in the machine of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 6.
  • an automatic ticket vending machine generally designated at and adapted to be installed adjacent the ticket gates of a railway station.
  • the unit 11 is provided at its front panel with a coin inlet 15, a plurality of push buttons 17a and an outlet tray 19.
  • the other unit 12 has a coin inlet 16, a plurality of push buttons 18a and an outlet tray 20.
  • a panel 21 on which the whole stations of the railway line are indicated with the fares to the respective stations, so that the passenger is able to know the fare to his destination.
  • the push buttons 17a and 18a are arranged in four rows, each of which is designated generally by 17 and 18. On the surface of each push button 170 there is indicated a monetary value successively different by a unit value from that on the next push button. Suppose that coins of yen l0, yen 50 and yen 100 are acceptable to the machine. If the push button at the left-hand end in the uppermost row has an indication of yen 10, the next one to the right has an indication yen 20 and the third from the left end has an indication of yen and so on. The same is true with the other group of push buttons 18a.
  • Each of the push buttons enclose a lamp so that the lamp of the push button which corresponds to the value of the coins introduced by the customer as well as all the other lower value push buttons are turned on.
  • coins of yen 30 have been put into the slot 15.
  • the lamps of the three left-hand push buttons 17a are turned on.
  • the button to be pushed must of course be the one whose the lamp is on at that time. If the customer pushes a button whose lamp is not turned on, no ticket is dispensed. The ticket comes out through the outlet 19 or 20 with or without change.
  • outlets 19 and 20 project outwardly from the front panel of the units 11 and 12 to make it easier for the customer to pick up the ticket and change and at the same time are depressed in the upper surface of a counter 22 provided at the foot of the units 1 and 12 thereby to prevent the ticket or change from jumping out onto the ground.
  • the coins introduced through the inlet 15 or 16 are detected by a coin detector 31 or 32, which detects the kinds of the coins and counts their number and applies a corresponding signal to a calculating and memorizing device 33 or 34.
  • the device calculates and memorizes the amount of value of the coins introduced, and at the same time applies a signal to the group of push buttons 17 or 18 to turn on the lamps of those push buttons up to the value of the introduced coins.
  • a'pressed-button memorizing device or 36 memorizes that push button that has been pressed and provides a corresponding signal.
  • the signal from the calculating and memorizing device 33 or 34 which corresponds to the value of the introduced coils and the signal from the pressed-button memorizing device 35 or 36 are applied to a change calculating and dispensing device 37 through gates 38 and 39 or 40 and 41, respectively.
  • a change directing device 42 directs the coins dispensed out of the change calculating and dispensing device 37 to the outlet 19 or of that unit 11 or 12 that has been operated by the purchaser.
  • a ticket issuing device 44 receives from the pressed-button memorizing device 35 or 36 the signal corresponding to the value indicated on that one of the-push buttons that has been pressed by the purchaser and prints the value on a ticket and then sends the ticket to a ticket directing device 45, which operates to direct the ticket to the outlet 19 or 20 of that unit 11 or 12 that has been operated by the purchaser.
  • the various devices per se included in and utilized by the system of the invention are well known.
  • the invention markedly differs from the prior art arrangements in that the two customer units 11 and 12 including the coin detectors 31 and 32, the calculating and memorizing devices 33 and 34 and the pressedbutton memorizing devices 35 and 36 share the single change calculating and dispensing device 37 and the single ticket issuing device 44 with the help of the change directing device 42 and the ticket directing device 45.
  • the width of the pulses is made equal to their interval, the times during which the two AND elements receive an input become equal.
  • a signal A is produced to be applied as the other input to the AND element 52.
  • a signal B is produced to be applied as the other input to the AND element 54.
  • the AND elements 52 and 54 receive the two inputs, they produce an output.
  • both AND elements do not produce an output at the same time since the AND elements do not simultaneously receive an input caused by the pulses from the generator 51.
  • the outputs of the AND elements 52 and 54 are applied as a set input to flip-flops 55 and 56, respectively, the set outputs of which are applied as one input to AND elements 57 and 58, respectively.
  • Signals RA and RB are applied as a reset input to the flip-flops 55 and 56, respectively.
  • the reset output of the flip-flop 55 is applied as the other input to the AND element 58 while the reset output of the flip-flop 56 is applied as the other input to the AND element 57.
  • the outputs of the AND elements 56 and 57 are applied to differentiators 59 and 60, respectively, which produce output pulses C and D, respectively, corresponding to the rising edges of the outputs of the AND elements 57 and 58.
  • An AND element 65 receives the reset outputs of the flip-flops 61 and 62 and produces an output to be applied to a differentiator 66, which produces an output pulse RA corresponding to the rising edge of the output of the AND element 65.
  • an AND element 67 receives the reset outputs of the flip-flops 63 and 64 to produce an output to be applied to a differentiator 68, which produces an output pulse RB corresponding to the rising edge of the output of the AND element 67.
  • the signals RA and RB are used as a reset input to the flip-flops 55 and 56, the calculating and memorizing devices 33 and 34, and the pressed-button memorizing devices 35 and 36.
  • the set outputs of the flip-flops 63 and 64 are designated by H and I, respectively, while there is no set output from the flip-flops 61 and 62.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of the ticket directing device 45.
  • the ticket 81 issued by the issuing device 44 is dropped into an inlet 82 which is connected to two passages 83 and 84.
  • a plate 85 is pivotable about a pin 86 by means of a solenoid 87 having a rod 88 connected to the plate 85.
  • the solenoid 87 is energized by the signal I to pull in the rod 88, the plate 55 is moved to close the passage 83 as shown in FIG. 6.
  • the solenoid 87 is deenergized, the plate 85 is pulled by a spring or otherwise moved to close the other passage 84.
  • the signal B is applied as one input to the AND element 54 (FIG. 3). Since the cycle of the pulses from the generator 51 is set far shorter than the time from the pressing to the releasing of the push button, the AND element 54 produces an output to set the flip-flop 56, the set output of which causes the differentiator 60 to produce the signal D. At this time, no reset output is produced by the flip-flop 56, so that the AND element 57 produces no output even if the signal A is applied to the AND element 52 to set the flip-flop 55. Therefore, when the signal D is produced, the signal C is not produced.
  • the signal D sets the flip-flops 63 and 64.
  • the set output H of the flip-flop 63 is applied to the solenoid 77 to move the coin directing plate to the real line position in FIG. 5 to communicate the opening 70 with the passage 74.
  • the set output I of the flip-flop 64 is applied to the solenoid 87 to move the ticket directing plate to the real line position in FIG. 6 to connect the inlet 82 to the passage 84.
  • the signal D is also applied to the gates 40 and 41 to open the gates.
  • the gate 40 When the gate 40 is opened, the value of yen 150 as stored in the calculating and memorizing device 34 is applied to the change calculating and dispensing device 37.
  • the gate 41 When the gate 41 is opened, the value of yen 120 as stored in the pressedbutton memorizing device 36 is applied to the change calculating and dispensing device 37 and the ticket issuing device 44.
  • the device 37 subtracts the fare of yen 120 from the value of yen I50 and produces a signal corresponding to the difference of yen 30, in response to which the coin dispenser in the device 37 memorizes the value of yen 30 and dispenses three yen 10 coins.
  • the ticket detector (corresponding to 97) detects it to produce the signal FB, which is applied through the OR element 98 to the NOT element 99, so that when the signal FB disappears, the differentiator 100 produces the output F to reset the flip-flop 64.
  • the flip-flop 63 is reset by the signal E to produce a reset output, the
  • the unit 12 alone is used.
  • the flip-flop 55 is set so that the differentiator 59 produces the signal C to set the flip-flops 61 and 62.
  • the flip-flop 61 is reset by the signal E and the flip-flop 62, by the signal F.
  • the AND element 65 produces an output to cause the differentiator 66 to produce the signal RA.
  • This signal RA resets the calculating and memorizing device 33 and the pressedbutton memorizing device 35. Since the flip-flops 63 and 64 are not set, they do not produce the set outputs H and 1.
  • the solenoids 77 and 87 are not energized and the plates 75 and 85 are at the dashed line position to communicate the inlets 70 and 82 with the passages 73 and 83, respectively, so that the change and the ticket are directed to the outlet 19.
  • An automatic vending machine comprising:
  • each one of said plurality of customer units includes means for detecting coins entered through said coin inlet, means responsive to said detecting means for calculating and storing the value of coins so entered, and means responsive to said customeroperated means for storing purchase data entered through said customer-operated means.
  • An automatic vending machine as recited in claim 4, wherein said processing unit includes means storing change for purchases from said machine, and change dispensing means responsive to said change calculating means to dispense change from said change storing means through the outlet of said one customer unit.
  • said change dispensing means includes a plurality of passages connecting said change storing means to said outlets of said customer units, a change directing means including plate means for opening that one of said plurality of passages connecting said change storing means to said one customer unit, and means inhibiting said plate means from opening any of the remaining ones of said plurality of passages until said processing unit has completed the dispensing of change through said outlet of said one customer unit.
  • An automatic vending machine as recited in claim 8, wherein the purchase data entered into any one of said plurality of customer units is the monetary value of a fare for a railway trip.
  • Patent No- 3,828,904 Dated Auguet 13, 1974 Inventmfls) Naitqu et al It is certified t ha t error appears in the above identified oatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
  • Ticket-Dispensing Machines (AREA)
US00325577A 1972-01-27 1973-01-22 Automatic vending machine including a plurality of customer units interconnected with a single processing and dispensing unit Expired - Lifetime US3828904A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1972011567U JPS4888799U (de) 1972-01-27 1972-01-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3828904A true US3828904A (en) 1974-08-13

Family

ID=11781498

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00325577A Expired - Lifetime US3828904A (en) 1972-01-27 1973-01-22 Automatic vending machine including a plurality of customer units interconnected with a single processing and dispensing unit

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3828904A (de)
JP (1) JPS4888799U (de)
CA (1) CA972852A (de)
DE (2) DE2302903A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2169254A1 (de)
GB (1) GB1411334A (de)
IT (1) IT977068B (de)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5332076A (en) * 1991-09-21 1994-07-26 Bally Wulff Automaten Gmbh Money handling apparatus and method for use with gaming machines
WO1996001460A1 (de) * 1994-07-02 1996-01-18 Th. Bergmann Gmbh & Co. Kartenverkaufsautomat
US5513116A (en) * 1988-12-08 1996-04-30 Hallmark Cards Incorporated Computer controlled machine for vending personalized products or the like
US5546316A (en) * 1990-10-22 1996-08-13 Hallmark Cards, Incorporated Computer controlled system for vending personalized products
US5550746A (en) * 1994-12-05 1996-08-27 American Greetings Corporation Method and apparatus for storing and selectively retrieving product data by correlating customer selection criteria with optimum product designs based on embedded expert judgments
US5559714A (en) * 1990-10-22 1996-09-24 Hallmark Cards, Incorporated Method and apparatus for display sequencing personalized social occasion products
US5561604A (en) * 1988-12-08 1996-10-01 Hallmark Cards, Incorporated Computer controlled system for vending personalized products
US5726898A (en) * 1994-09-01 1998-03-10 American Greetings Corporation Method and apparatus for storing and selectively retrieving and delivering product data based on embedded expert judgements
US5768142A (en) * 1995-05-31 1998-06-16 American Greetings Corporation Method and apparatus for storing and selectively retrieving product data based on embedded expert suitability ratings
US5875110A (en) * 1995-06-07 1999-02-23 American Greetings Corporation Method and system for vending products
US5993048A (en) * 1988-12-08 1999-11-30 Hallmark Cards, Incorporated Personalized greeting card system
US6505774B1 (en) * 1998-12-09 2003-01-14 Miti Manufacturing Company Automated fee collection and parking ticket dispensing machine
EP2387008A1 (de) * 2010-05-14 2011-11-16 Asahi Seiko Co. Ltd. Münzwechselautomat

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4245730A (en) * 1979-06-12 1981-01-20 The Coca-Cola Company Display panel for a vending machine
GB8923514D0 (en) * 1989-10-18 1989-12-06 Crystal Leisure Ltd Improvements relating to amusement or vending machines
DE29805966U1 (de) * 1998-04-01 1998-05-28 Nat Rejectors Gmbh Schaltungsanordnung für Verkaufsautomaten mit paralleler Schnittstelle

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5993048A (en) * 1988-12-08 1999-11-30 Hallmark Cards, Incorporated Personalized greeting card system
US5513116A (en) * 1988-12-08 1996-04-30 Hallmark Cards Incorporated Computer controlled machine for vending personalized products or the like
US5561604A (en) * 1988-12-08 1996-10-01 Hallmark Cards, Incorporated Computer controlled system for vending personalized products
US5546316A (en) * 1990-10-22 1996-08-13 Hallmark Cards, Incorporated Computer controlled system for vending personalized products
US5559714A (en) * 1990-10-22 1996-09-24 Hallmark Cards, Incorporated Method and apparatus for display sequencing personalized social occasion products
US5332076A (en) * 1991-09-21 1994-07-26 Bally Wulff Automaten Gmbh Money handling apparatus and method for use with gaming machines
WO1996001460A1 (de) * 1994-07-02 1996-01-18 Th. Bergmann Gmbh & Co. Kartenverkaufsautomat
US5726898A (en) * 1994-09-01 1998-03-10 American Greetings Corporation Method and apparatus for storing and selectively retrieving and delivering product data based on embedded expert judgements
US5550746A (en) * 1994-12-05 1996-08-27 American Greetings Corporation Method and apparatus for storing and selectively retrieving product data by correlating customer selection criteria with optimum product designs based on embedded expert judgments
US5768142A (en) * 1995-05-31 1998-06-16 American Greetings Corporation Method and apparatus for storing and selectively retrieving product data based on embedded expert suitability ratings
US5875110A (en) * 1995-06-07 1999-02-23 American Greetings Corporation Method and system for vending products
US6505774B1 (en) * 1998-12-09 2003-01-14 Miti Manufacturing Company Automated fee collection and parking ticket dispensing machine
US6715673B2 (en) 1998-12-09 2004-04-06 Miti Manufacturing Company Automated fee collection and parking ticket dispensing machine
US20040226993A1 (en) * 1998-12-09 2004-11-18 Fulcher Robert A. Automated fee collection and parking ticket dispensing machine
US6929179B2 (en) 1998-12-09 2005-08-16 Miti Manufacturing Company Automated fee collection and parking ticket dispensing machine
EP2387008A1 (de) * 2010-05-14 2011-11-16 Asahi Seiko Co. Ltd. Münzwechselautomat
CN102243784A (zh) * 2010-05-14 2011-11-16 旭精工株式会社 再利用式硬币找零机
CN102243784B (zh) * 2010-05-14 2013-07-10 旭精工株式会社 再利用式硬币找零机

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT977068B (it) 1974-09-10
DE2302903A1 (de) 1973-08-02
FR2169254A1 (de) 1973-09-07
CA972852A (en) 1975-08-12
DE7302228U (de) 1975-01-30
GB1411334A (en) 1975-10-22
JPS4888799U (de) 1973-10-26

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3828904A (en) Automatic vending machine including a plurality of customer units interconnected with a single processing and dispensing unit
US2708996A (en) Coin-operated vending machine
US3798603A (en) Business transaction apparatus
US3958103A (en) Automatic ticket vending system
EP1782392B1 (de) Vorrichtung und verfahren zur selbstbedienungs-bargeldauszahlung
US20100017017A1 (en) Machine and Method for Self-Service Cash Redemption and Cash Recycling
GB1351937A (en) Cash dispensing apparatus
JPS6225227B2 (de)
US3072237A (en) Currency exchange apparatus
US3204741A (en) Consumable key vending system
DE102004004700A1 (de) Selbstbedienungskassensystem
JPS6024519B2 (ja) カ−ド発行精算装置
US3362515A (en) Card controlled apparatus
JPH08161557A (ja) 自動料金収受装置
WO1997038399A1 (en) Dispensing apparatus
US3451517A (en) Postal vending machine
JP2589162B2 (ja) 袋自動発売機
AU2012201551B2 (en) Self-service cash redemption machine and method
JPH07200926A (ja) 自動券売機
JP2505764Y2 (ja) 硬貨処理装置
JPS5922274B2 (ja) 自動販売機
JPH03296186A (ja) 自動販売機
JPH0463438B2 (de)
JPH0644447A (ja) 自動販売機
JPH08287300A (ja) 自動販売機