US3692211A - Vending machine with carriage drive selector - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved vending machine for dispensing a large number of items and which includes improved article supporting and delivering features and incorporates a photocell detecting circuit for detecting when an article has been dispensed by the machine, and also provides an escrow structure which has a pair of opposed doors so as to direct money placed in the machine after the article has been dispensed or to return the money to the operator if a return button is pressed.

Description

n51 3,692,21 1 [451 Sept. 19, 1972 3,512,679 6/1970 Stoltz.... ....22l/l29 Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson [57] ABSTRACT An improved vending machine for dispensing a large number of items and which includes improved article supporting and delivering features and incorporates a photocell detecting circuit for detecting when an arti- 11/64 cle has been dispensed by the machine, and also pro- 194/10; 221/125 126 vides an escrow structure which has a pair of opposed doors so as to direct money placed in the machine Rama: Cited after the article has been dispensed or to return the UNITED STATES PATENTS money to the operator if a return button is pressed.

1/1957 16 China, 9 Drawing Figures Charles H. Flubacker, 524 South Harvard Avenue, Arlington Heights, 111.60005 May 17, 1971 Baum... ...........221/126 x DRIVE SELECTOR [72] Inventor:

[51] Int.

United States Patent Flubacker [54] VENDING MACHINE WITH CARRIAGE 22] Filed:

[21] Appi. No.: 143,924

[58] FieldofSearch..

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Gem/ems H UBACKER gfi ATTORNEYS VENDING MACHINE WITH CARRIAGE DRIVE SELECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates in general to automatic dispensing machines and in particular to an improved dispensing machine.

2. Description of the Prior Art Automatic vending machines such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,219,234 dispense selected articles based on depressing push buttons on the machine for selecting a particular article which is dispensed after money is inserted into the machine for the article.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises an improved vending machine which in certain embodiments includes a bill accumulator for receiving and accumulating and indicating to the operator the amount of money which has been placed into the machine. An attractive multiple selector panel: allows the user to select articles to be dispensed upon the depression of push buttons. An amount equal to the cost of the items to be dispensed must be deposited into the machine before the machine operates and in the event an error is made by depositing too large an amount of money in the machine, this will be indicated to the operator and he may depress a return button which will return the money to him so that he may again deposit the correct amount in the machine. After the correct amount of money has been deposited into the machine a machine carriage motor is energized to drive a carriage over a plurality of trays to the selected tray and to the particular article to be dispensed from the tray. A switch on the tray energizes the particular release mechanism associated with the selected article and the carriage release mechanism will engage and actuate the particular release mechanism for the selected article so that it drops to the delivery chute. A photocell and light are placed on opposite sides of the carriage so as to detect when the selected article drops into the delivery chute and when this is detected the machine resets to the home position and drops the money from the escrow into the machine.

The machine is also provided with mechanical and electrical innerlocks to prevent tampering with the machine such as by releasing articles from the article support trays by inserting a wire or other apparatus up through the delivery chute. The delivery chute is covered by a safety door which when moved turns off the machine.

The machine is also provided with means that make it possible for the same article to be dispensed from two or more racks so that a large number of the same kind of articles can be dispensed and so that the machine will automatically select articles from the second rack if the first rack is empty.

The machine is also provided with improved articlesupporting and aligning trays that allow a large number of articles to be dispensed from the machine.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure, and in which:

2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the vending machine of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating the dispensing trays of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the carriage of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of an improved tray of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an article hanger of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the vending machine of the invention;

FIGS. 7a and 7b' are electrical schematics of the machine of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is an electrical schematic of the photo-relay of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates the vending machine of this invention which comprises a cabinet 10 which has an upper display panel 11 attached to its upper portion and includes a plurality of pivoted selector panels 16 and 17 which are mounted samples of the merchandise to be vended by the machine and which are suitably identified with a code that allows the selected element to be identified. A money receiving slot 18 receives and validates money placed in the slot and an accumulator indicator 20 indicates the credit which has been established by the user in the machine. The prices of the merchandise displayed on the panels 16 and 17 are given so that the operator knows how much he must deposit in the slot 18 before the desired merchandise will be dispensed. A select light 102 and an empty light 103 also are mounted on the machine 10. Selector buttons l9 and 21 are pushed to identify the particular merchandise desired by the operator. When the proper amount of money has been placed in the slot 18 and the buttons 19 and 21 have been depressed to select the merchandise to be dispensed, the vending machine 10 will automatically dispense the selected merchandise and drop it into a receiving slot 12. An anti-theft door 13 is pivotally connected to the dispensing machine 10 and if moved while the machine is in the dispensing mode will disable the machine thus preventing vandals from tripping merchandise which has not been paid for as the machine operates.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate in greater detail the mechanism for dispensing a selected item.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the vending machine 10 with the top cover removed and illustrates the end walls 41 and 42 of the dispenser l0 and the front and back frame members 24 and 26 which slidably support a plurality of dispensing shelves 43a43h. Position of trayindicating microswitches 44a-44h are mounted adjacent each of the shelves 43a-43h. A reversing switch 111 is mounted at one end adjacent the end 41 and a stop switch 112 is mounted adjacent the end 42. A carriage 27 is supported on rollers 29 and 32 as shown in FIG. 3 and runs on rails 28 and 31, respectively, over the dispensing shelves 43a-43h. The carriage 27 has a driving motor 34 that carries an output gear 38 that meshes with a rack 37. The rack 37 is mounted on a frame member 36 which is attached to the end walls 41 and 42 of the dispensing unit as shown. An arm 47 is carried on the carriage 27 and is engageable with the switches 44a-44h as the carriage moves over them.

The carriage 27 carries a plurality of dispensing arms 46a-46 which may be selectively energized to move to a lower position relative to that shown in FIG. 3 so as to trip selected dispensing units on the trays 43.

The trays 43 are supported in the vending machine on suitable slidable guides and when the front cover of the vending machine 10 is opened the trays 43 may be slid forwardly out of the vending machine and reloaded with merchandise. For example, merchandise such as tape cartridges, cassettes, stockings, greeting cards, or any other merchandise, may be mounted in a suitable package and hung on dispensing racks supported on each of the dispensing trays 43. Each item to be dispensed includes a metering and releasing cam for selectively dropping a single merchandise item from the tray as the releasing latch is energized by the carriage actuating arms 46. The trays and dispensing arms may be similar to those shown in'Wichman US. Pat. No. 3,219,234 in which the merchandise is mounted-in a package and supported by a hook carried on a tilted shaft so that they slide toward the dispensing arm such that when 'the dispensing arm is moved, a single merchandise item falls from the tray and is dispensed by the machine.

' FIG. 4 illustrates a dispensing arm 51 for dispensing merchandise 58 from improved trays 43. The dispensing arm 51 is supported on a shaft 52 for pivotal motion relative -to the tray 43 shown and has a downwardly extending portion 56 which serves as a stop to prevent merchandise supported from support channel 114 from discharging. Upwardly extending arm 53 of the dispensing arm 51 allows the dispensing arm to be rotated against a biasing spring 90 to allow a single merchandise item 58 to fall from the supporting channel and be discharged from the machine. A laterally offset and tilted stop portion 54 is attached to the dispensing arm 51. As the dispensing arm is rotated on the shaft 52 to drop an item, stop portion 54 serves to stop the other items on the dispensing unit from passing down the channel and being dropped. The face 54 is tilted so that it lies substantially in the vertical plane in the dispensing machine even though the'tray 43 is tilted as shown.

Prior dispensing arms such as illustrated in Wichman US. Pat. No. 3,219,234 utilize stops 54 which were generally parallel to the member 56 and thus did not engage the next merchandise supporting hook at the same angle as that of the present invention. By tilting the stop 54 so that it lies approximately in the vertical plane results in more efficient and positive control of merchandise thus preventing accidental discharge.

An improved hook 66 and support structure for supporting merchandise such as tape cartridges is shown. A tape cartridge 58 is mounted in a rectangular pressed-board support 59 which is formed with an opening 60 through which the improved hook 66 of this invention extends. The hook 66 may be made of polyethylene or other suitable material and includes a transverse portion 62 which is formed with downwardlyextending ends 63 which engage the sides of the merchandise 58. The hook portion extends up through the opening 60 of the cardboard holder 59.:The hook portion has an arcuate offset extension 67 attached to one side of the hook portion 68. A portion 55 of the hook 66 is wider than the transverse member 62 and is mounted under the opening so as to stabilize the hook on the merchandise.

FIG. 4 illustrates a supporting rack or tray for supporting large quantities of merchandise. The modified supporting tray illustrated in FIG. 4 is designed where a large number of individual elements are to be stored for each dispensing unit and the number of dispensing units for each tray are relatively small. For example, the tray 43 might have only two dispensing members 51, one at one end and one in the middle but a large number of items 58 might be dispensed from each of the dispensing units due to length of the support and storage. The tray 43 has a shaft 52 which pivotally supports the dispensing unit 51 adjacent one end thereof and at the middle. The middle unit is not shown. A support 113 extends down from a tray channel 46 and has a guide lip 114 which supports the merchandise 58 and their associated hooks 66. The tray may be loaded by placing the hooks over the supporting lip 114 at the end away from the dispensing arm 51 and since the tray 43 is tilted, the merchandise 58 slides down toward the dispensing arm 51. To facilitate smooth movement of the hooks 66 on the lip 1 14, the lip may be coated with a suitable plastic as, for example, Teflon or other suitable material.

A downwardly extending arm extends downwardly at substantially right angles from the tray 43 and carries a roller 111 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 112. The roller 111 engages the first merchandise item 58 which is in position for next discharge against the dispensing arm 51 and holds it substantially vertical relative to the dispensing machine. The remaining articles behind the first one hang vertically due to the transverse support applied by the roller 111 to the first article of merchandise 58. Thus, all of the merchandise will lie substantially parallel to each other rather than fanning out as would occur if the transverse force applied by the roller 111 were not present. This assures that the mechanism operates uniformly since each of the packages 58 has the same orientation when they engage the dispenser 51. Thus, each time the actuating arm 53 is moved to pivot member 51 a single article of merchandise 58 will be dispensed.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the control circuitry of the vending machine. The control panel processes information from a number of sources and controls operation of the dispensing machine. Power is supplied from a power supply 121 to the control 120. A bill validator 122 has a slot 18 in which bills are placed and it checks them and energizes the H and R accumulator 123 if the bills are authentic. The bill validator122 and the accumulator 123 are standard commercial items available on the open market. I J

The accumulator 123 supplies a signal to panel lamps 100 which indicate on the panel of the machine the amount of credit that has been established by the customer. A price selector 124 establishes the price of the merchandise to be dispensed and furnishes this information to the control 120 and the control 120 receives information from the accumulator 123 as well as from the price selector 124 for determining when sufficient credit has been established to pay for a particular item selected by a customer.

An escrow box 126 receives a signal from the control 120 and supplies an input to the bill validator 122. Money placed in the validator 122 and the accumulator 123 is held in an escrow box until the merchandise has been dispensed. If the customer changes his mind and decides that he does not wish to make a purchase after placing the money in the slot 18, he may have it returned to him and his credit cancelled by pushing a Money Return button on the panel of the machine. Also, if the selected merchandise is Empty this will be indicated to him by the machine and he may then have his money returned from the escrow box. The escrow box has a pair of pivoted doors 301 and 302 which are normally closed to hold the money placed into the validator 122. Door actuators 303 and 304 may be energized to actuate the doors 301 and 302. Door 301 returns money to the customer when the Money Return button is pressed and door 302 drops money into a cash box when the merchandise has been delivered.

A photocell merchandise delivery circuit 129 detects when the merchandise has been dispensed from the machine and cancels the credit in the machine and also keys the escrow box to open door 302 so that the money drops into the cash box of the machine and is no longer available from the escrow box.

Selector switches 127 allow the selection of merchandise to be received by the user and are connected to the control 120. Command switches such as Money Return, Stop, and Empty are represented by block 128 and provide inputs to the control panel 120.

FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate the control 120 in electrical schematic form.

Terminals 150 and 151 are connected to a suitable power source as, for example, 110 volts A.C. The primary of a transformer T1 is connected across the terminals 150 and 151 and has a secondary which reduces the A.C. voltage to a suitable lower voltage as, for example, 24 volts A.C. on leads 155 and 156. A fuse 152 is connected in line 155. Lead 155 is connected to first sides of relays K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, K6, and K7. D1, D2, D3, and D4 are in series between the relays K5, K6, K1 and K7, and lead 155. Lead 155 is also connected to relays FRI-PR4. The relays K1-K7 and FRI-PR4 control switches 81-828. The tray selector switches Tl-Tll are closed by the customer with the tray selector buttons 19 on the panel. Switches T1T11 are connected in circuit with the tray switches 44a-44k. These are the tray indicating switches shown in FIG. 2. The schematic of FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate connections for 11 trays whereas FIG. 2 only shows eight trays but it is to be realized that any number of trays may be utilized. The number of trays depend on the length of the vending machine.

The second group of selector buttons 21 close one of a plurality of carriage solenoid selector switches so as to energize a particular solenoid to operate one of the operator arms 46 illustrated in FIG. 3 such that the arm moves down to discharge merchandise at a particular position when the selected tray has been reached. The carriage solenoid selector switches are operated by buttons 21 and are represented by switches 829-845.

These switches control vend solenoids SPl-SP17. It is to be realized that any number of carriage solenoids may be used depending upon the number of energizing arms required for the trays.

The carriage solenoids are indicated by SP1-SP17 and all are not shown but it is to be realized that any number required will be provided.

In operation, the customer places bills in the slot 18 of the bill validator 122 which validates the money and supplies signals to accumulator 123 until the proper price has been accumulated. The amount of money accumulated is indicated to the customer on the register of lights on the front panel of the vending machine.

The four separate pricing relays FRI-PR4 correspond to four separate prices that may be established for articles in the vending machine. The customer notes the price of the selected article and places that amount in the validator 122. Then he pushes a button 19 to close one of the switches Tl-Tll and a button 21 to close one of the switches S29S45.

The switches Tl-Tll are connected to a price board 400 which forms a matrix with the pricing relays PR 1-PR4 and their related switches 81-38. The pricing board has conductors 401-411 which extend horizontally relative to the schematic and are connected to switches T1-T11. It also has vertical (relative to the figure) conductors 412-415. Plugs 416 are insertable to connect one of the conductors 412-415 with one of the conductors 401-411 and this establishes the price for the article associated with the switches Tl-TII. In other words, with four pricing relays FRI-PR4, four different prices can be utilized.

Switches S29-S45 complete the circuit to the high side of the carriage motor 34 and tray switches TI-Tl I complete the grounded side.

Relay K5, the master price relay, is energized and simultaneously a pulse will be set to relay Kl which is the reverse motor circuit relay to cause the carriage motor 34 to return the carriage 27 to its home position if it is away from home position. Mechanical innerlocks are provided with the selector buttons so that only one of the tray selector buttons and one of the carriage selector buttons can be pushed at a single time.

The selected switches close the circuit to carriage forward relay K4 and this causes the motor 34 to be energized and move in the forward direction because the forward motor winding 162 will be energized through pins 1 and 3 of terminal P1.

The motor 34 moves the carriage forward or to the left relative to FIG. 2 until it is over a particular tray 43 which has been selected by the tray panel selector switches TI-Tll. When a particular tray is reached by the carriage one of the tray microswitches 44a-44k will be closed by the carriage and one of the release arms 46 will be energized depending upon which of the carriage vend switches SP1-SP17 have been closed. When the arm 46 moves down due to energization of the associated carriage solenoid, it engages one of the actuators 53 of the dispenser elements 51 thus pivoting it so as to allow a selected product 58 to drop to the delivery pocket 12 of the vending machine. As shown in FIG. 3, as the merchandise drops it passes between a light source carried on an arm 171 by the carriage 27 and a photocell 172 carried on an arm 173 on the other side of the carriage 27.

nected to pin 8 'o'fftermin invention, the

ously and the forward relay K4 is de-energized. Relay K7 opens the door 302of the escrow box which drops theffl qney from thel'escrow into the money box.

. The delivery vend relay K2 also provides a reset pulse which passesinto the accumulator 123 to cancel out'all product deliveries.

Upon reversal of the motor 34 the carriage will return to the stop position to the right in FIG. 2 and will -close'as'topswitchS60 connected to terminal P3.

SwitchS60 is normally closed and the movable contact R1 l K R7 4.7 K R2 27 K R8 2.2 MEG resistor values R3 680 R9 IS K are in Ohms R4 100 R10 l0 K K- I000 R5 27K R11 2.2K R6 27 K R12 2.2 K

the capacitors had the following values:

of switchS60-movesto-engage the reset line 171 con- 7 sold out and'is'empty, merchandise will not drop and the light to'the photocell will not be broken and the and engage micro-switches S61 and S62 which energize relay K1 causing the motor to'rev'erse. K4, the forward crow box-by -inserting wire or othertools to rob the machine, will be closed thus dropping the money in the money box! K I m i I m m P3. This breaks circuit to reverse-relay K1 and, resets the machine.

r {lune merchandise in the selected tray has'been I carriage 34 will travel clear to the'left relative to FIG. 2 e

v The safety door 13 cannot be jimmied" and if 40 something'is inserted'in the receiving channel 12 it will 'causea switch S65 to be closed thus dropping the money from the escrow box into the money box and the credit will belost. Simultaneously the motor 34 will be stopped when-this switch S65 is closed by moving the door 13. I FIG. 8 is an electrical schematic of the photocell merchandising-detecting circuitry. Power such as 24 that the photocell responds to the light from the source 170 and not from other sources. The photocell 172 is in the control circuit of a'transistor 01 which in turn conw trols a transistor 02 which is in series with the delivery relay K8. The control circuit also has a transistor 03 i which is connected to the gate of the SCR and which is biased by the photocell through the diode D9. The cir- 'cuit responds as the intensity of the light 170 varies and positively energizes the relay K8 when the product being delivered intercepts the light passing between the light 170 and the photocell 172.

In a particular circuit constructed according to this values:

resistors in thecircuit had the following.

' cl 0.47 F C2 2 F cs I00 s When the product has b-en delivered,'power is applied to tape machine 450 through contacts 3 and 4 of terminal P6 and asuitable message such asvThank you for your purchas'eis given to thecustomer.

The relays Kl-K8'and FRI-PR4 control theswitches 81-828 andvS'and provide the timingand sequential,

operation inresponse to the credit established by the customer and the selection of the merchandise based on the switches T1-Tl1 and 829-845 closed by the customer. Such contingencies as the selected merchandise beingout are provided so that another selection may be made of an alternate item or the money can be returned.

Also, it is possible to provide for more than a single address for articles in high'demand such that articles parallel connection has been made. This is illustratedby lead 500 in FIG. 7a which connects switches T7-T8.

Thus, it is seen this invention provides. many irriproved features includingan improved hoolt for hanging the merchandise such that it is positively locked on to the dispenser and provides an improved release mechanism.

The price for merchandise u may be changed by changing pins 416 in the price board 400. Thus, by inserting pins to make electrical connections between the leads to the relays PR1--PR4 and switches Tl-Tl 1, various prices may be established in a simple and convenient manner. The tape recorder 450 gives messages to the customer such as Pleasemake selection" and after the merchandise has been dispensed states Thank you."

The switches S71-S74 are in the escrow box primarily to prevent theft from the machine. Switches S71 and S74 are on the bill return side of the escrow box 126.

Switches S72 and S73 are on the collect side of the eseither of the escrow box doors 301 or 302 is open, the

validator 122 will not accept money. i

The bill validator and accumulator respond to fluctuations in the A.C. power supply and it is possible by interrupting the power at terminals 150 and 151 to cause transients which energize the accumulator 123 so that a credit can be falsely produced in the machine.

The present invention provides an interrupter circuit 350 for preventing such false credit.

A power plug 351 has one lead connected to terminal 150. The other lead of plug 351 is connected to terminal 151 through switch S80 and this switch is closed when the power to plug 351 is not being pulsed by some one attempting to falsely obtain credit in the machine.

A relay K9 controls switches S80 and S81. When pulses of non-normal frequency occur at the power plug, the relay K9 opens S80 thus preventing such pulses from passing to the accumulator to establish a false credit.

Capacitors C104-C106 and resistors are connected across the windings of motor 34 to suppress transients.

Series resistors and capacitors C107 and C108 are connected across terminals 5 and 7, and 6 and 7, of terminal API to suppress transients.

The machine allows the right amount of credit to be established and then the selector buttons for the particular merchandise is selected. In the event someone had pressed the selector buttons before the customer had come to the machine, the accumulator resets all the push buttons to zero so that the wrong selection will not be discharged. As the product is vended it breaks a light beam to a photocell and resets the various circuits and drops the money from the escrow bin into the money box. If the product selected is empty and nothing discharges, the carriage returns to home after traveling completely to the end and the tape machine says Make another selection. It is seen that this invention provides a substantial improvement over prior machines and although it has been described with respect to preferred embodiments it is not to be so limited as changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of this invention and as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vending machine comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of article supporting trays supported by said frame, with said articles movable in a first direction;

article dispensing means mounted on each of said trays;

a carriage supported by said frame and movable relative to said trays in a direction normal to said first direction;

a plurality of tray selecting switches mounted on said frame;

a plurality of carriage position selection switches mounted on said frame;

a plurality of tray locating switches connected to said tray selecting switches and mounted such that said carriage engages them as it passes the associated tray;

a carriage drive means connected to said tray selecting switches;

a plurality of release actuators mounted on said carriage and connected in circuit to said carriage position selection switches, said tray selecting switches and said tray locating switches and movable to engage one of said article dispensing means to dispense an article; a plurality of credit established switches; an accumulator connected to said credit established switches; price-establishing matrix with a first plurality of electrical leads respectively connected to said plurality of credit established switches and a second plurality of electrical leads mounted so as to insulatingly cross said first leads and connected to said tray selecting and locating switches; and, A a plurality of jumper connectors for electrically connecting ones of said first and second plurality of electrical leads.

, 2. A vending machine according to claim 1 wherein said price establishing matrix is formed with an insulating support with said first plurality of leads extending in a first direction in a common plane on said support and said second plurality of leads mounted on said support in a second plane, a plurality of openings formed in said insulating support with each formed at the crossing points of said first and second plurality of leads and said jumper connectors receivable in said openings to electrically connect said first and second plurality of leads.

3. A vending machine according to claim 2 wherein said jumper connectors comprise electrically conducting pegs.

4. A vending machine according to claim 1 comprising parallel conductor means for electrically connecting selected ones of said tray selecting and locating switches so that articles will be dispensed from a second one of said article supporting trays in the event the selected tray dispensing means is empty.

5. A vending machine according to claim 1 comprising an article discharge area formed in said vending machine, an anti-theft door attached to said vending machine over said discharge area, and an anti-theft switch connected to said anti-theft door and to said accumulator to cancel an established'credit and to said carriage drive means when said anti-theft door is opened.

6. A vending machine according to claim 1 comprising an escrow box with money for return and money drop doors into which money is-received to establish credit in said accumulator, an escrow anti-theft switch to said escrow box and connected to said money drop door to open it when said escrow anti-theft switch is energized so that money in the escrow box cannot be stolen.

7. A vending machine according to claim 6 including an article dispensed detecting means mounted on said carriage and connected to said accumulator and said money drop door of said escrow box to cancel established credit in the accumulator and to open said money drop door when an article is dispensed by said vending machine.

8. A vending machine according to claim 7 wherein said article dispensed detecting means comprises an electric eye detector including a light source mounted on one side of said carriage and a photocell mounted on the other side of said carriage such that light from said light source to said photo cell is interrupted when an article is dispensed from said vending machine.

11 9. A vending machine according to claim 8 wherein article dispensed detecting means includes a transistorized switching circuit connected to said photocell, a relay connected to said transistorized switching circuit, and a switch controlled by said relay and connected in circuit with said accumulator and said money drop door of said escrow box.

10. A vending machine according to claim 1 com-- prising an anti-pulsing circuit connected between the input power supply and said vending machine and including pulse detecting means so as to disconnect wherein said guide lip of said channel is coated with a power to said vending machine when pulses occur which could cause false credit to be established in said accumulator.

11. A vending machine according to claim 10 v wherein said anti-pulsing circuit comprises a first i switch in the power supply of said vending machine, a

relay connected to said first switch and with its energizing coil connected across said power supply source, a capacitor connected in parallel with said energizing coil such that pulses in said power supply source will result in a low impedance across said coil and cause the relay to be de-energized, thus opening said first switch.

suitable lubricant.

14. A vending machine according to claim 13 wherein said guide lip is coated with Teflon.

15. A vending machine according to claim 12 comprising an article engaging arm attached to the main body portion and engageable with articles supported from said guide lip such that said articles are in a vertical plane.

16. A vending machine according to claim 15 wherein said article engaging arm carries a rotatably supported roller engageable with said articles.

Claims (16)

1. A vending machine comprising: a frame; a plurality of article supporting trays supported by said frame, with said articles movable in a first direction; article dispensing means mounted on each of said trays; a carriage supported by said frame and movable relative to said trays in a direction normal to said first direction; a plurality of tray selecting switches mounted on said frame; a plurality of carriage position selection switches mounted on said frame; a plurality of tray locating switches connected to said tray selecting switches and mounted such that said carriage engages them as it passes the associated tray; a carriage drive means connected to said tray selecting switches; a plurality of release actuators mounted on said carriage and connected in circuit to said carriage position selection switches, said tray selecting switches and said tray locating switches and movable to engage one of said article dispensing means to dispense an article; a plurality of credit established switches; an accumulator connected to said credit established switches; a price-establishing matrix with a first plurality of electrical leads respectively connected to said plurality of credit established switches and a second plurality of electrical leads mounted so as to insulatingly cross said first leads and connected to said tray selecting and locating switches; and, a plurality of jumper connectors for electrically connecting ones of said first and second plurality of electrical leads.

2. A vending machine according to claim 1 wherein said price establishing matrix is formed with an insulating support with said first plurality of leads extending in a first direction in a common plane on said support and said second plurality of leads mounted on said support in a second plane, a plurality of openings formed in said insulating support with each formed at the crossing points of said first and second plurality of leads and said jumPer connectors receivable in said openings to electrically connect said first and second plurality of leads.

3. A vending machine according to claim 2 wherein said jumper connectors comprise electrically conducting pegs.

4. A vending machine according to claim 1 comprising parallel conductor means for electrically connecting selected ones of said tray selecting and locating switches so that articles will be dispensed from a second one of said article supporting trays in the event the selected tray dispensing means is empty.

5. A vending machine according to claim 1 comprising an article discharge area formed in said vending machine, an anti-theft door attached to said vending machine over said discharge area, and an anti-theft switch connected to said anti-theft door and to said accumulator to cancel an established credit and to said carriage drive means when said anti-theft door is opened.

6. A vending machine according to claim 1 comprising an escrow box with money for return and money drop doors into which money is received to establish credit in said accumulator, an escrow anti-theft switch to said escrow box and connected to said money drop door to open it when said escrow anti-theft switch is energized so that money in the escrow box cannot be stolen.

7. A vending machine according to claim 6 including an article dispensed detecting means mounted on said carriage and connected to said accumulator and said money drop door of said escrow box to cancel established credit in the accumulator and to open said money drop door when an article is dispensed by said vending machine.

8. A vending machine according to claim 7 wherein said article dispensed detecting means comprises an electric eye detector including a light source mounted on one side of said carriage and a photocell mounted on the other side of said carriage such that light from said light source to said photo cell is interrupted when an article is dispensed from said vending machine.

9. A vending machine according to claim 8 wherein article dispensed detecting means includes a transistorized switching circuit connected to said photocell, a relay connected to said transistorized switching circuit, and a switch controlled by said relay and connected in circuit with said accumulator and said money drop door of said escrow box.

10. A vending machine according to claim 1 comprising an anti-pulsing circuit connected between the input power supply and said vending machine and including pulse detecting means so as to disconnect power to said vending machine when pulses occur which could cause false credit to be established in said accumulator.

11. A vending machine according to claim 10 wherein said anti-pulsing circuit comprises a first switch in the power supply of said vending machine, a relay connected to said first switch and with its energizing coil connected across said power supply source, a capacitor connected in parallel with said energizing coil such that pulses in said power supply source will result in a low impedance across said coil and cause the relay to be de-energized, thus opening said first switch.

12. A vending machine according to claim 1 wherein article supporting trays are mounted on an angle such that articles travel by gravity in said first direction and include a main body portion which extends transversely of said frame, a downwardly extending channel attached to said main body portion and formed with a guide lip upon which said articles are supported, and said dispensing means mounted on said main body portion at the end of said channel.

13. A vending machine according to claim 12 wherein said guide lip of said channel is coated with a suitable lubricant.

14. A vending machine according to claim 13 wherein said guide lip is coated with Teflon.

15. A vending machine according to claim 12 comprising an article engaging arm attached to the main body portion and engageable with articles supported from said guide lip such that said articles are in a vertical plane.

16. A vending machine according to claim 15 wherein said article engaging arm carries a rotatably supported roller engageable with said articles.

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