Circuit for multi-column vending machines having columns arranged for conjoint operation

Claim 2

In a control circuit for a coin operated vending machine having a plurality of columns of articles to be selectively dispensed by operation of a corresonding dispensing actuator in response to actuation of a corresponding selector switch, the improvement comprising a relay for controlling alternate energization of the dispensing actuators for at least two cooperating columns of said plurality of columns, said relay having a plurality of positions each corresponding to one of said cooperating columns, said relay being movable alernately between said plurality of positions in response to each vending of articles from said cooperating columns, said relay in each of said plurality of positions being connected to the dispensing actuator for a corresponding one of said cooperating columns, the dispensing actuators of said cooperating columns being electrically connected to a single one of said selector switches, whereby alternate dispensing of articles from one of said cooperating columns is effected in response to each actuation of said single selector switch.

Claim 3

The control circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said relay comprises an alternator relay movable alternately between a first position and a second position in response to each vending of articles in a pair of cooperating columns, whereby alternate dispensing of articles from one of said pair of cooperating columns is effected in response to each actuation of said single selector switch.

Claim 4

The control circuit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said alternator relay includes two sets of contacts, each comprising a movable contact and a fixed contact, one of said movable contacts being electrically connected to the dispensing actuator for one column of said pair of cooperating columns, the other of said movable contacts being electrically connected to the dispensing actuator for the other column of said pair of cooperating columns, said dispensing actuators of said pair of cooperating columns being electrically connected to said single selector switch, said selector switch being electrically connected to one of a pair of power lines, said fixed contacts being electrically connected together to the other of said power lines.

Claim 5

The control circuit as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a soldout switch provided for each of said pair of cooperating columns, each of said soldout switches being electrically connected in series with the dispensing actuator for an associated one of said pair of cooperating columns, said soldout switches being adapted to break the energizing circuit for their associated dispensing actuators in response to depletion of articles in their associated columns.

Claim 6

The control circuit as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a soldout switch connected in series with the dispensing actuator for one of said pair of cooperating columns, said soldout switch being adapted to bypass said alternator relay and connect said dispensing actuator across a pair of power lines in response to depletion of articles in the other column of said pair of cooperating columns, whereby article dispensing from only the one column of said pair of cooperating columns begins and continues in reponse to each actuation of said single selector switch after depletion of articles in the other column.

Claim 7

The control circuit as set forth in claim 5, wherein said soldout switch includes a pair of fixed contacts and a movable contact, one of said fixed contacts being electrically connected to one movable contact of said alternator relay, the other of said fixed contacts being electrically connected to the fixed contacts of said alternator relay, said movaBle contact of said auxiliary soldout switch being electrically connected to the dispensing actuator for the one of said pair of cooperating columns.

Claim 8

A control circuit for a coin operated vending machine comprising a plurality of dispensing actuators, a plurality of selector switches, a plurality of columns of articles to be selectively dispensed upon operation of a corresponding dispensing actuator in response to actuation of an associated selector switch, at least one on said selector switches being connected for energizing, alternately, two of said dispensing actuators, the other of said selector switches being individually connected for energization of a single dispensing actuator, an alternator relay having a first position and a second position, said alternator relay being movable alternately between said first and second positions in response to each alternate vending of an article from the two interconnected columns, said alternator relay in its first position being electrically connected to the dispensing actuator for one column of said two interconnected columns and in its second position being electrically connected to the dispensing actuator for the other column of said two interconnected columns whereby alternate dispensing of articles from one of said two interconnected columns is effected in response to each actuation of said single selector switch.

Claim 9

A control circuit for a coin operated vending machine comprising a plurality of dispensing actuators, a plurality of selector switches, a plurality of columns of articles to be selectively dispensed upon operation of a corresponding dispensing actuator in response to actuation of an associated selector switch, at least one on said selector switches being connected for energizing, alternately, two of said dispensing actuators, the other of said selector switches being individually connected for energization of a single dispensing actuator, an alternator relay having a first position and a second position, said alternator relay being movable alternately between said first and second positions in response to each alternate vending of an article from the two interconnected columns, said alternator relay in its first position being electrically connected to the dispensing actuator for one column of said two interconnected columns and in its second position being electrically connected to the dispensing actuator for the other column of said two interconnected columns whereby alternate dispensing of articles from one of said two interconnected columns is effected in response to each actuation of said single selector switch.

Claim 10

The control circuit as set forth in claim 7, wherein said alternator relay includes two sets of contacts, each comprising a movable contact and a fixed contact, one of said movable contacts being electrically connected to the dispensing actuator for one column of said pair of cooperating columns, the other of said movable contacts being electrically connected to the dispensing actuator for the other column of said two interconnected columns, said dispensing actuators of said two interconnected columns being electrically connected to said single selector switch, said selector switch being electrically connected to one of a pair of power lines, said fixed contacts being electrically connected together to the other of said power lines.

Claim 11

The control circuit as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a soldout switch provided for each of said two interconnected columns, each of said soldout switches being electrically connected in series with the dispensing actuator for an associated one of said two interconnected columns, said soldout switches being adapted to break the energizing circuit for their associated dispensing actuators in response to depletion of articles in their associated columns.

Claim 12

The control circuit as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a soldout switch connected in series with the dispensing actuator for one column of said two interconnecting columns, said auxiliary soldout switch being provided for the other column of said interconnected columns to bypass said alternator relay and connect said dispensing actuator of the one column across a pair of power lines in response to depletion of articles in the other column, whereby article dispensing from only the one column of said pair of cooperating columns begins and continues in response to each actuation of said single selector switch after depletion of articles in the other column, irrespective of the position of said alternator relay.

Claim 13

The control circuit as set forth in claim 10, wherein said soldout switch includes a pair of fixed contacts and a movable contact, one of said fixed contacts being electrically connected to one movable contact of said alternator relay, the other of said fixed contacts being electrically connected to the fixed contacts of said alternator relay, said movable contact of said auxiliary soldout switch being electrically connected to the dispensing actuator for the one column of said two interconnected columns.

Claim 14

In a control circuit for a coin operated vending machine having a plurality of columns of articles to be selectively dispensed by operation of a corresponding dispensing actuaTor, each said actuator adapted to be energized in response to actuation of an associated selector switch, the improvement comprising switching means for controlling alternate energization of the dispensing actuators for at least two columns of said plurality of columns, said switching means having at least a first and a second position, said first position establishing an energizing circuit for an actuator associated with one of said two columns, said second position establishing an energizing circuit for an actuator associated with the other of said two columns, said switching means being movable alternately between said first and second positions in response to each vend of an article in one of said columns, said means in each of said first and second positions being electrically connected to the dispensing actuator for a corresponding one of said cooperating columns, the dispensing actuators of said two columns being electrically connected to a single one of said selector switches, whereby alternate dispensing of articles from one of said cooperating columns is effected in response to each actuation of said single selector switch.

Claim 15

In a control circuit for a coin operated vending machine having a plurality of columns of articles to be selectively dispensed by operation of a corresponding dispensing actuaTor, each said actuator adapted to be energized in response to actuation of an associated selector switch, the improvement comprising switching means for controlling alternate energization of the dispensing actuators for at least two columns of said plurality of columns, said switching means having at least a first and a second position, said first position establishing an energizing circuit for an actuator associated with one of said two columns, said second position establishing an energizing circuit for an actuator associated with the other of said two columns, said switching means being movable alternately between said first and second positions in response to each vend of an article in one of said columns, said means in each of said first and second positions being electrically connected to the dispensing actuator for a corresponding one of said cooperating columns, the dispensing actuators of said two columns being electrically connected to a single one of said selector switches, whereby alternate dispensing of articles from one of said cooperating columns is effected in response to each actuation of said single selector switch.

Claim 16

In a control circuit for a coin operated vending machine having a plurality of columns each adapted to receive articles to be selectively dispensed, a plurality of selector switches each associated with at least one column of said plurality of columns, a coin operated vend switch, a vend relay adapted to be momentarily energized upon operation of said vend switch, means for establishing a holding circuit for said vend relay upon energization thereof, means for maintaining said vend relay energized a predetermined time upon actuation of one of said selector switches, and a plurality of dispensing actuators each adapted to be energized upon energization of said vend relay and actuation of one of said selector switches to dispense a single article from one of the columns, the improvement comprising an alternator relay movable alternately between a first position and a second position upon de-energization of said vend relay, said alternator relay in its first position being electrically connected to the dispensing actuator for one of a pair of associated columns and in its second position being electrically connected to the dispensing actuator for the other of said pair of associated columns, said dispensing actuators of said pair of associated columns being electrically connected to a single one of said selector switches, whereby alternate dispensing of articles from one of said pair of columns is effected in response to each actuation of said single selector switch.

Claim 17

In a control circuit for a coin operated vending machine having a plurality of columns each adapted to receive articles to be selectively dispensed, a plurality of selector switches each associated with at least one column of said plurality of columns, a coin operated vend switch, a vend relay adapted to be momentarily energized upon operation of said vend switch, means for establishing a holding circuit for said vend relay upon energization thereof, means for maintaining said vend relay energized a predetermined time upon actuation of one of said selector switches, and a plurality of dispensing actuators each adapted to be energized upon energization of said vend relay and actuation of one of said selector switches to dispense a single article from one of the columns, the improvement comprising an alternator relay movable alternately between a first position and a second position upon de-energization of said vend relay, said alternator relay in its first position being electrically connected to the dispensing actuator for one of a pair of associated columns and in its second position being electrically connected to the dispensing actuator for the other of said pair of associated columns, said dispensing actuators of said pair of associated columns being electrically connected to a single one of said selector switches, whereby alternate dispensing of articles from one of said pair of columns is effected in response to each actuation of said single selector switch.

Claim 18

The control circuit as set forth in claim 13, wherein said alternator relay includes an operating coil, said vend relay having a set of contacts adapted to close upon energization of said vend relay, said operating coil of said alternator relay being electrically connected to one of said set of contacts such that said alternator relay is de-energized upon de-energization of said vend relay.