WO1987002526A1 - Appareil de commande de commutation de dispositifs a courant alternatif dans des machines a pre-paiement - Google Patents

Appareil de commande de commutation de dispositifs a courant alternatif dans des machines a pre-paiement Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1987002526A1
WO1987002526A1 PCT/US1986/002095 US8602095W WO8702526A1 WO 1987002526 A1 WO1987002526 A1 WO 1987002526A1 US 8602095 W US8602095 W US 8602095W WO 8702526 A1 WO8702526 A1 WO 8702526A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
power
vend
switching
dispensing devices
power switching
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1986/002095
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Thomas E. Shuren
Original Assignee
Mars Incorporated
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 Mars Incorporated filed Critical Mars Incorporated
Priority to JP61505609A priority Critical patent/JPH0797299B2/ja
Publication of WO1987002526A1 publication Critical patent/WO1987002526A1/fr

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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
    • 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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02P—CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS
    • H02P1/00—Arrangements for starting electric motors or dynamo-electric converters
    • H02P1/16—Arrangements for starting electric motors or dynamo-electric converters for starting dynamo-electric motors or dynamo-electric converters
    • H02P1/54—Arrangements for starting electric motors or dynamo-electric converters for starting dynamo-electric motors or dynamo-electric converters for starting two or more dynamo-electric motors

Definitions

  • This invention relates to improved switching control apparatus for reducing the number of alternating current (AC) power switching elements for controlling the activation of AC devices in vending machines, and particularly to a reduction in the number of such control elements, e.g., the relays used where a diode matrix arrangement is not practical.
  • AC alternating current
  • One example of such an arrangement in a vending machine is where a plurality of either AC motors or solenoids are employed as vending mechanisms for the delivery of products.
  • vending machines typically include a selection mechanism which the user uses to communicate a selection or selections to the vending machine, one or more money recognition devices, such as a coin validator or a currency validator for recognizing whether inserted money is acceptable or not, a plurality of vend delivery devices or vend mechanisms for delivering a selected item to the vending machine user if adequate credit has been established and other vend conditions have been satisfied, and finally a control system for determining whether all vend conditions have been satisfied and for producing a vend signal if they .5 have been satisfied.
  • money recognition devices such as a coin validator or a currency validator for recognizing whether inserted money is acceptable or not
  • a plurality of vend delivery devices or vend mechanisms for delivering a selected item to the vending machine user if adequate credit has been established and other vend conditions have been satisfied
  • a control system for determining whether all vend conditions have been satisfied and for producing a vend signal if they .5 have been satisfied.
  • each vend delivery motor had an associated selector switch which was used to complete the electrical circuit to one side of its associated vend motor, and 5 the money recognition system via a vend relay authorized the vend by completing the circuit to the other side of the motor under the appropriate conditions. See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,220,235.
  • a separate 0 power control device is included in the control system for each vend delivery device. See, U.S. Patent No. 3,841,456.
  • control systems which include matrix addressing arrangements 0 for addressing a plurality of vend delivery devices and reducing the number of control elements employed for the purpose of activating the delivery devices. See, U.S. Patent No. 4,458,187 assigned to the assignee of the present invention and U.S. Patent :5 Nos. 4,354,613 and 4,284,206. These arrangements may be described as n x m matrix arrangements where n is the number of rows in the matrix, m is the number of columns in the matrix, and n x m is the number of vend delivery devices in the apparatus. In these machines, the number of control elements is reduced to n + m or, in other words, one control element for each of the rows and columns in the vending machine.
  • the present invention is an improved switching control apparatus which does not require a one-to-one correspondence between AC power switching elements and AC devices, and which is suitable for use with a plurality of delivery devices such as AC motors and solenoids. Consequently, the present invention addresses the problem of reducing the number of components required to control a plurality of delivery devices in a vending machine, and avoids the problems of undesired activation which occur if AC motors or solenoids are connected in known vending delivery device matrix arrays.
  • the invention is generally applicable to the problem of switching any AC devices in vending machines which must be switched on and off with any frequency.
  • improved switching control apparatus uses a reduced number of AC power switching elements, such as relays, by dividing the AC devices to be activated into two groups and using one switching element to select which of the two groups is to be selected, and using an additional number of AC power switching elements each of which is connected to one of the AC devices in each of the two groups to select which one of the AC devices is to be activated.
  • This arrangement reduces the number of AC power switching elements from the 2N required to switch 2N AC devices where there is a one-to-one correspondence, to N + 1. For example, in a prior art one-to-one arrangement for activating six AC devices, six switching elements are required.
  • the arrangement of the present invention employs only four AC power switching elements, such as relays, to activate six AC devices such as AC vend motors.
  • the six vend motors would be divided into two groups of three in which each group of three motors shares one terminal in common.
  • Each one of three of the relays is connected to AC neutral as well as to the other terminal of one motor, in each group so that the position of the wiper blade of each of these three relays determines which of the two associated motors has its non-common terminal connected to AC neutral.
  • the fourth relay is connected to an AC hot line or AC power, and both the common terminals of the two groups of motors so that the position of its wiper determines whether AC power is connected to one group or the other group.
  • This arrangement in conjunction with suitable control means for controlling the switching of the relays can be used to simply and inexpensively activate any one of the six motors.
  • a further AC power switching element is used to control the flow of power to the group determining, AC power switching element so that switching transients can be minimized.
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram illustrating switching control apparatus according to the present invention in a rest state in which none of the vend mechanisms shown in the figure has been selected;
  • FIG. 2 is a second simplified schematic diagram illustrating switching control apparatus according to the present invention in an active state in which one of the dispensing devices has been selected.
  • FIGS. 3A and 3B are a detailed circuit diagram of a control circuit for use in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and in which the relationship of the control means of the switching control apparatus to an overall control system for a vending machine is illustrated.
  • Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the working of a switching control apparatus 1 having a plurality of AC power switching elements 10 and vend mechanisms or delivery devices 20 which are connected as described below.
  • Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the connection of AC power switching elements 10 and vend mechanisms 20 according to the present invention; however, they do not show control means for controlling the switching of the elements 10 and detailed discussion of suitable control means is postponed until the detailed discussion of Figs. 3A and 3B below.
  • the plurality of control elements 10 include seven relays K1-K7, and a power switching device Ql which is shown as a triac, but could be some other suitable power switching device such as an additional relay.
  • the plurality of vend mechanisms 20 includes two columns of six delivery devices VMA1-VMA6 and VMB1-VMB6 which are designated column "A" devices and column "B” devices.
  • a 115VAC line is connected to an input 11 of triac Ql.
  • a second input 12 of the triac Ql is connected to a means for producing a control signal which is not shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
  • Each of the relays K1-K6 also has three contacts A, B and C and a wiper blade W.
  • Each of the contacts K1B-K6B is connected to an associated one of the delivery devices VMA1-VMA6 respectively.
  • contact K1B is connected to delivery device VMA1.
  • each of the contacts K1C-K6C is connected to an associated one of the delivery devices VMB1-VMB6.
  • contact K1C is connected to delivery device VMB1.
  • K1A-K6A are connected to a 115 VAC return line.
  • control means which are not shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are provided for controlling the current in each of the coils of the relays K1-K6. This control means determines which of the vend mechanisms are connected to the 115 VAC return path.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates a situation in which none of the vend mechanisms 20 is activated. In this state, the triac Ql is preferably off. In connection with Fig. 2, the activation of delivery device VMA2 and operation of the present invention will be illustrated.
  • wiper blade K7W connects contacts K7A and K7C
  • wiper blades K1W, and K3W-K6W connect contacts KIA, and K3A-K6A to contacts KIA, and K3C-K6C respectively.
  • wiper blade K2W connects contacts K2A and K2B.
  • triac Ql is turned on by a control signal at its input 12 and power flows through delivery device VMA2 thereby activating it and causing a vend to occur so long as the delivery device VMA2 is in proper working order. After vending is completed, triac Ql is turned off and power is removed.
  • Figs. 3A and 3B illustrate a control circuit 100 for controlling the operation of a vending machine (not shown) having a coin mechanism (not shown) , a display (not shown) , twelve selection switches (not shown) , twelve vend motors (not shown) , twelve sold out switches (not shown) , a cash counter (not shown) and several machine function switches 170. While the typical components of a vending machine are not shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, their proper connection to control circuit 100 is readily apparent from these figures.
  • a vending machine with control circuit 100 may have either one of two different coin mechanisms and may optionally include a dollar bill validator.
  • Control circuit 100 includes a dual coin mechanism interface 110 and a dollar bill validator interface 150 for this purpose.
  • Control circuit 100 also includes the necessary drive circuitry 120 to drive the triac Ql and the relays K1-K7 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as well as Figs. 3A and 3B.
  • a programmed microprocessor 130 which may suitably be an Intel 8049 chip.
  • the dual coin mechanism interface 110 Connected to microprocessor 130 are the dual coin mechanism interface 110, a display interface 140, the dollar bill validator interface 150, a cash counter interface 160, the plurality of machine function switches 170, a soldout switch interface 180, a selection switch interface 190, a vend complete switch interface 200, the triac Ql and the relays K1-K7.
  • Each of the interfaces listed above includes the appropriate circuitry necessary for connecting its associated element, for example, a coin me ' chanism, to the microprocessor 130.
  • the particular display interface 140 is for a three digit alphanumeric LED display which is used to display information such as the customer credit.
  • the machine function switches 170 preferably include a door switch for monitoring the opening and closing of the vending machine, a free vend switch, coin dispense switches, and motor or solenoid selection switches.
  • the dollar bill validator interface 150 shown in Fig. 3A is suitable for connection with a dollar bill validator sold by Mars Electronics.
  • the cash counter interface 160 is suitable for connection with a 24 volt electromechanical cash counter.
  • FIG. 3A has interfaces 180, 190 and 200 for connection with 12 selection switches, 12 vend complete switches and 12 sold out switches whose function and connection are well known.
  • the operation of the above elements and control circuit 100 with the exception of how they operate in conjunction to the control switching of the triac Ql and relays K1-K7 in order to activate the appropriate vend motor selected when a customer makes a selection using one of the selection switches is well known and does not constitute the subject of present invention.
  • Figs. 3A and 3B show one particular control circuit 100 for a particular vending machine with various features and options, other variations could be made and other options could readily be provided.
  • the dual coin mechanism interface 110 could be redesigned for other coin mechanisms, or for a single coin mechanism and microprocessor 130 could be readily reprogrammed.
  • Other machine function switches than the switches 170 shown could be employed, and greater or lesser numbers of vend motors and consequently different numbers of selection, sold out and vend complete switches might be employed. Turning to the details of the microprocessor
  • microprocessor 130 has an output pin P24 which controls the gate current applied to the triac Ql through the connection of a buffer-driver U9 and optical-isolator U8 as well as connecting resistors and capacitors shown within the triac drive circuit block 120 in Fig. 3A.
  • P24 controls the gate current applied to the triac Ql through the connection of a buffer-driver U9 and optical-isolator U8 as well as connecting resistors and capacitors shown within the triac drive circuit block 120 in Fig. 3A.
  • the notation [F] is used for convenience in drawing Figs. 3A and 3B and indicates a common point in the two figures. This correlation is also true for notations [A] , [B] , [C] , [D] and any other common notations.
  • microprocessor 130 Prior to turning on triac Ql, the microprocessor 130 must determine that a vend selection has been made by a customer, that vending conditions have been satisfied, and it must set up the relays K1-K7 properly so that the appropriate vend motor will vend when power is turned on. Initially, microprocessor 130 monitors the states of all the switches connected to the interfaces 180, 190 and 200. It does this by cyclically outputting scan pulses via pins P20-22, a serial in/parallel out shift register U10 such as a National Semiconductor 4094 chip and a 4-to-16 decoder U13 such as a National Semiconductor 74LS154 chip.
  • microprocessor 130 When a switch is closed, the microprocessor 130 receives a return signal on the return lines 135 connected to pins Tl, Pl-0, and Pl-1 of microprocessor 130.
  • switch scanning is accomplished as follows.
  • the low output 0 of decoder U13 is connected through diodes Dl, D13 and D25 to the first of the sold out, selection and vend complete switches respectively which are connected to interfaces 180, 190 and 200. These switches it will be recalled are located off the circuit board which contains the control circuit 100. The low signal will be returned to the circuit board, if one of said switches is closed, via the sold out switch input (SO-Input) , the selection switch input (SEL-Input) or the vend complete switch input (VC-Input) respectively. These three inputs are connected via appropriate circuitry including the three inverters, 132-134, and the return lines 135 to pins Tl, Pl-0 and Pl-1 of microprocessor 130.
  • the microprocessor 130 interprets this high at its Tl input as an indication that the first sold out switch is closed. If the first sold out switch is not closed, input pin 1 of inverter 132 is high or approximately 5 volts as a result of its connection through the resistor network 136 to +5V DC. Consequently, its output pin 2 is low, and microprocessor 130 interprets the low at its Tl input as an indication that the first sold out switch is not closed, or, in other words, that it is open and has not been operated. The detection of whether the first selection switch and the first vend complete switch are closed or open occurs in a similar manner.
  • Decode circuit 210 includes a 3-to-8 decoder U7, four NAND gates U18, 2 inverters U14, and six
  • Exclusive-Or gates U16 and U17 which are connected to control the activation of relays K1-K7.
  • an enable line ENABLE is provided. During scanning, the enable line ENABLE is kept high and the vend mechanism decode circuit 210 is disabled thereby preventing activation of the drive relays K1-K7.
  • microprocessor 130 causes enable line ENABLE to go low enabling the decoder 210. With the enable line low, the vend mechanism decoder 210 will decode the code 02 to select the proper relay switch configuration to activate the vend mechanism corresponding to the closed third selection switch.
  • Control circuit 100 as explained above is used with a vending machine having 12 vend mechanisms. These 12 vend mechanisms can be divided into two groups of six which may be considered as being in first and second columns VEND MOTORS FRONT and VEND MOTORS REAR respectively.
  • the four NAND gates U18 are connected so that if the scan code is less than six a low output at pin 8 is produced. If the scan code is greater than or equal to 06, the NAND gates U18 produce a high output at pin 8. Since for the third selection switch, the scan code is 02 which is less than 06, the output at pin 8 will be low, the input to the inverter U14 connected to pin 8 will be low, the output of inverter U14 will be high, the relay driver U9 connected to U14 will prevent current from flowing through the coi,l of column select relay K7 and the wiper of relay K7 will connect contact K7A to contact K7B of relay K7 as shown in Fig. 3B.
  • the 3-to-8 decoder U7 is connected as a 3-to-6 decoder.
  • outputs at lines Y0-Y5 are produced and relays K1-K6 are respectively selected.
  • the rear vend mechanisms are thereby selected.
  • Codes greater than or equal to 06 select the front mechanisms.
  • Code 06 produces an output at Y6 which is diode ORed back to the output Y4 so that only relay K5 is not activated as discussed further below.
  • Code 07 produces an output at Y7 which is similarly diode ORed back to the output Y5 so that only relay K6 is not activated.
  • Codes 08-11 result in outputs at Y0-Y3 so that relays K1-K4 are respectively not activated.
  • the microprocessor 130 activates triac Ql and power is applied to the third motor.
  • the vend complete switch is monitored by the microprocessor 130 to see that the vend mechanism completes a normal cycle.
  • power is removed by first turning off the triac Ql and then removing the enable signal from the enable line ENABLE. After the removal of power, the microprocessor 130 resumes scanning.
  • vend mechanisms connected to the interface VEND MOTORS FRONT in other words, the activation of those vend mechanisms having a code greater than 06 is similar to that explained above, but with the differences noted below.
  • the output of pin 8 of NAND gates U18 is high and as a consequence, current flows in the coil of relay K7, K7's wiper connects its contacts K7A and K7C, and the front column of vend mechanisms are connected to point F.
  • the high output at pin 8 is connected to one input of the Exclusive-Or gates U16 and U17 and it causes those gates to complement whatever signal occurs at their other inputs.

Abstract

Appareil amélioré (1) de commande de commutation d'un certains nombre de dispositifs (20) à courant alternatif (AC), tels que des moteurs à courant alternatif pour machines à pré-paiement, utilisant un nombre réduit d'éléments de commutation (10) de courant alternatif tels que des relais en divisant les dispositifs à courant alternatif en deux groupes et en utilisant un élément de commutation (K7) pour sélectionner le groupe désiré, et utilisant un nombre supplémentaire d'éléments de commutation (K1-K6) de courant alternatif dont chacun est relié à l'un des dispositifs à courant alternatif dans chacun des deux groupes pour déterminer lequel des dispositifs à courant alternatif doit être activé. De préférence, on utilise un élément supplémentaire (Q1) de commutation de courant alternatif pour réguler le courant s'écoulant vers l'élément de commutation de courant alternatif déterminant le groupe de manière à réduire au minimum les transitoires de commutation.
PCT/US1986/002095 1985-10-09 1986-10-03 Appareil de commande de commutation de dispositifs a courant alternatif dans des machines a pre-paiement WO1987002526A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP61505609A JPH0797299B2 (ja) 1985-10-09 1986-10-03 自動販売機交流電流装置切替の切替制御装置

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US78584685A 1985-10-09 1985-10-09
US785,846 1985-10-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1987002526A1 true WO1987002526A1 (fr) 1987-04-23

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1986/002095 WO1987002526A1 (fr) 1985-10-09 1986-10-03 Appareil de commande de commutation de dispositifs a courant alternatif dans des machines a pre-paiement

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0241534A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH0797299B2 (fr)
AU (1) AU6479586A (fr)
CA (1) CA1254635A (fr)
WO (1) WO1987002526A1 (fr)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3841456A (en) * 1973-07-23 1974-10-15 H R Electronics Co Control circuit for vending and other coin controlled devices
US4220235A (en) * 1979-02-16 1980-09-02 Cavalier Corporation Vending machine control circuit including credit release relay
US4288726A (en) * 1980-03-31 1981-09-08 General Motors Corporation Permanent magnet motor control system
US4354613A (en) * 1980-05-15 1982-10-19 Trafalgar Industries, Inc. Microprocessor based vending apparatus
US4458187A (en) * 1981-04-02 1984-07-03 Mars, Inc. Vending machine control and diagnostic apparatus
US4512453A (en) * 1982-09-24 1985-04-23 Umc Industries, Inc. Vendor accountability system

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3841456A (en) * 1973-07-23 1974-10-15 H R Electronics Co Control circuit for vending and other coin controlled devices
US4220235A (en) * 1979-02-16 1980-09-02 Cavalier Corporation Vending machine control circuit including credit release relay
US4288726A (en) * 1980-03-31 1981-09-08 General Motors Corporation Permanent magnet motor control system
US4354613A (en) * 1980-05-15 1982-10-19 Trafalgar Industries, Inc. Microprocessor based vending apparatus
US4458187A (en) * 1981-04-02 1984-07-03 Mars, Inc. Vending machine control and diagnostic apparatus
US4512453A (en) * 1982-09-24 1985-04-23 Umc Industries, Inc. Vendor accountability system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6479586A (en) 1987-05-05
CA1254635A (fr) 1989-05-23
JPS63501540A (ja) 1988-06-09
EP0241534A1 (fr) 1987-10-21
JPH0797299B2 (ja) 1995-10-18

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