Control means for a vending machine

Claim 2

A control system for a vending machine comprising: means for producing a credit signal after a predetermined legal tender is accepted by the machine; a credit means having an off-condition and a credit-condition, said credit means being switched to the credit-condition after said credit signal is generated, said credit means preventing acceptance of said legal tender when in the credit-condition; product select switch means having an off-position and a select-position; product release means having an activated state and a de-activated state, the switching of the product select switch from the off to the select-position when the credit means is in the credit-condition causing said product release to switch to said activated state from the de-activated state for releasing the product during a vend cycle; and a vend switch having a credit-position and a vend-position, said vend switch in the credit-position providing an electrical path for electrical power to the credit means when the credit means is in the credit-condition, said vend switch severing said electrical path to the credit means when switched to the vend-position, said vend switch in the vend-position providing an electrical path for electrical power to the product release means.

Claim 3

The control system of claim 1 including a CREM means having a coin accept-condition and a coin reject-condition, said vend switch enabling said CREM means to be in the coin accept-condition when the credit means is in the off-condition and the vend switch is in the credit-position.

Claim 4

The control system of claim 1, wherein said credit means provides electrical power for the product release means when in the credit-condition and after the product select switch is switched into the select-position.

Claim 5

The control system of claim 1, wherein said vend switch provides electrical power to said product release means after said credit means is switched from the credit-condition to the off-condition.

Claim 6

The control system of claim 1, wherein said product release means includes motor means and a cam means, said cam means causing said vend switch to switch from the credit-position to the vend-position.

Claim 7

The control system of claim 1, wherein said vend switch is switched to the vend-position when said product release means is switched to the activated state.

Claim 8

The control system of claim 6, wherein said product release means includes a motor means and means driven by said motor means for releasing the selected product during the vend cycle, said motor means causing said vend switch to switch from the credit to the vend-position when the motor means rotates during the vend cycle and said motor means causes the vend switch to switch from the vend-position to the credit-position when the vend cycle is completed.

Claim 9

The control system of claim 1, wherein said credit means includes a thyristor and said credit signal causing said thyristor to be switched from an off-state to an on-state.

Claim 10

The control system of claim 8, wherein said credit means includes means for providing a turn-on voltage for said thyristor after said credit signal is generated.

Claim 11

The control system of claim 9, wherein said means for providing said turn-on voltage includes capacitive means coupled to said thyristor for providing said turn-on voltage.

Claim 12

The control system of claim 10 including a coin return electromagnetic (CREM) means, having a first-state to permit acceptance of said legal teder, and a second-state to prevent acceptance of said legal tender, said CREM means being in said second-state when the credit means is in said credit condition, said CREM means being switched to said first-state when said product release means is switched back to the de-activated state.

Claim 13

The control system of claim 1 including timer means for switching the product release means from the activated state to the de-activated state after a predetermined period of time.

Claim 14

The control system of claim 12, wherein said timer means includes means for providing an electrical path for causing said product release means to switch from the de-activated state to the activated state after said product select switch is switched to the select-position.

Claim 15

The control system of claim 13 wherein said product release means includes solenoid means.

Claim 16

A control system for producing a credit signal after a predetermined legal tender is accepted by the machine; a credit means having an off-condition and a credit-condition, said credit means being switched to the credit-condition after said credit signal is generated, said credit means preventing acceptance of said legal tender when in the credit-condition; product select switch means having an off-position and a select-position; a vend switch having a credit-position and a vend-position, said vend switch in the credit-position providing an electrical path for electrical power to the credit means when the credit means is in the credit-condition, said vend switch severing said electrical path to the credit means when switched to the vend-position; and a solenoid means having an activated state and a de-activated state and means driven by the solenoid means for releasing the selected product during the vend cycle, the energizing of said solenoid to said activated state causing said vend-switch to switch from the credit-position to the vend-position.

Claim 17

A control system for producing a credit signal after a predetermined legal tender is accepted by the machine; a credit means having an off-condition and a credit-condition, said credit means being switched to the credit-condition after said credit signal is generated, said credit means preventing acceptance of said legal tender when in the credit-condition; product select switch means having an off-position and a select-position; a vend switch having a credit-position and a vend-position, said vend switch in the credit-position providing an electrical path for electrical power to the credit means when the credit means is in the credit-condition, said vend switch severing said electrical path to the credit means when switched to the vend-position; and a solenoid means having an activated state and a de-activated state and means driven by the solenoid means for releasing the selected product during the vend cycle, the energizing of said solenoid to said activated state causing said vend-switch to switch from the credit-position to the vend-position.

Claim 18

The control system of claim 15, including timer means for causing said solenoid means to de-energize after the corresponding product has been released.

Claim 19

A control system for a vending machine comprising: means for producing a credit signal after a predetermined legal tender is accepted by the machine; a credit thyristor having an on-state and an off-state, said credit signal causing said thyristor to switch from the off to the on-state; an alternating current (AC) power source; a diode bridge means associated with said thyristor and said alternating current power source, for providing direct current power through said thyristor when the thyristor is in the on-state; product select switch having an off-position and a select-position; product release means having an activated state and a de-activated state, the switching of the product select switch from the off to the select-position when the credit means is in the on-state causing said product release to switch to said activated-state from the de-activated state for releasing the product during a vend cycle; and means responsive to said product release means to cause said credit means to switch from the on-state to the off-state after the product release means is switched to the activated state, and further responsive to said product release means to enable the machine to accept said legal tender after said product release means is switched back to the de-activated state.

Claim 20

A control system for a vending machine comprising: means for producing a credit signal after a predetermined legal tender is accepted by the machine; a credit thyristor having an on-state and an off-state, said credit signal causing said thyristor to switch from the off to the on-state; an alternating current (AC) power source; a diode bridge means associated with said thyristor and said alternating current power source, for providing direct current power through said thyristor when the thyristor is in the on-state; product select switch having an off-position and a select-position; product release means having an activated state and a de-activated state, the switching of the product select switch from the off to the select-position when the credit means is in the on-state causing said product release to switch to said activated-state from the de-activated state for releasing the product during a vend cycle; and means responsive to said product release means to cause said credit means to switch from the on-state to the off-state after the product release means is switched to the activated state, and further responsive to said product release means to enable the machine to accept said legal tender after said product release means is switched back to the de-activated state.

Claim 21

The control system of claim 17, wherein said credit-thyristor is associated with the product select switch for providing electrical power to said product release means, when the product select switch is in the select-position and said credit-thyristor is in the on-state.

Claim 22

The control system of claim 17, including current limiting means associated with the diode bridge, for controlling the amount of current flow.

Claim 23

A control system for a vending machine comprising: means for producing a credit signal after a predetermined legal tender is accepted by the machine; a credit means having an off-condition and a credit-condition, said credit means being switched to the credit-condition after said credit signal is generated, said credit means preventing acceptance of said legal tender when in the credit-condition; product select switch means having an off-position and a select-position; product release means having an activated state and a de-activated state, the switching of the product select switch from the off to the select-position when the credit means is in the credit-condition causing said product release to switch to said activated state from the de-activated state for releasing the product during a vend cycle, said product release means including solenoid means; and timer means including a thyristor means, for switching the product release means from the activated state to the de-activated state after a predetermined period of time, said thyristor including an on-condition for providing an electrical path for causing said product release means to switch from the de-activated state to the activated state after said product select switch is switched to the select-position.

Claim 24

A control system for a vending machine comprising: means for producing a credit signal after a predetermined legal tender is accepted by the machine; a credit means having an off-condition and a credit-condition, said credit means being switched to the credit-condition after said credit signal is generated, said credit means preventing acceptance of said legal tender when in the credit-condition; product select switch means having an off-position and a select-position; product release means having an activated state and a de-activated state, the switching of the product select switch from the off to the select-position when the credit means is in the credit-condition causing said product release to switch to said activated state from the de-activated state for releasing the product during a vend cycle, said product release means including solenoid means; and timer means including a thyristor means, for switching the product release means from the activated state to the de-activated state after a predetermined period of time, said thyristor including an on-condition for providing an electrical path for causing said product release means to switch from the de-activated state to the activated state after said product select switch is switched to the select-position.

Claim 25

The control system of claim 20, wherein said timer means includes a capacitive means, said thyristor switching to the off-condition for severing said electrical path after said capacitive means charges to a predetermined voltage level.

Claim 26

The control system of claim 20 wherein said control system includes a diode bridge to provide pulsating direct current (DC) current through said thyristor.

Claim 27

The control system of claim 20, wherein said timer means includes means for preventing said thyristor from triggering on after said predetermined time period.

Claim 28

The control system of claim 23, wherein the timer includes a capacitive means and a switch means having an on and off-condition, said switch means of the timer being transferred to the on-condition when the capacitive means reaches said predetermined level, said thyristor being switched off when said timer is in the on-condition.

Claim 29

A control system for a vending machine comprising: means for producing a credit signal after a predetermined legal tender is accepted by the machine; a credit means having an off-condition and a credit-condition, said credit means being switched to the credit-condition after said credit signal is generated, said credit means preventing acceptance of said legal tender when in the credit-condition; product release means having an actuated state and a de-actuated state for releasing the product during the vend cycle; a vend switch having a vend-position to prevent acceptance of said legal tender when the machine is in the vend cycle and an off-position to enable acceptance of said legal tender; and timer means having an operational-condition for causing said vend switch to switch into the vend-position, and an off-condition for switching the vend switch to the off-position.

Claim 30

A control system for a vending machine comprising: means for producing a credit signal after a predetermined legal tender is accepted by the machine; a credit means having an off-condition and a credit-condition, said credit means being switched to the credit-condition after said credit signal is generated, said credit means preventing acceptance of said legal tender when in the credit-condition; product release means having an actuated state and a de-actuated state for releasing the product during the vend cycle; a vend switch having a vend-position to prevent acceptance of said legal tender when the machine is in the vend cycle and an off-position to enable acceptance of said legal tender; and timer means having an operational-condition for causing said vend switch to switch into the vend-position, and an off-condition for switching the vend switch to the off-position.

Claim 31

The control system of claim 25 wherein said product release means includes motor means and said timer means includes cam means driven by the motor means.

Claim 32

A control system for a vending machine comprising: means for producing a credit signal after a predetermined legal tender is accepted by the machine; a credit means having an off-condition and a credit-condition, said credit means being switched to the credit-condition after said credit signal is generated, said credit means preventing acceptance of said legal tender when in the credit-condition; product select switch means having an off-position and a select-position; a vend switch having a credit-position and a vend-position, said vend switch in the credit-position providing an electrical path for electrical power to the credit means when the credit means is in the credit-condition, said vend switch severing said electrical path to the credit means when switched to the vend-position; and a solenoid means having an activated state and a de-activated state and means driven by the solenoid means for releasing the selected product during the vend cycle, said solenoid means causing said vend switch to switch from the credit-position to the vend-position during the vend cycle and the solenoid means causing the vend switch to switch from the vend-position to the credit-position when the vend cycle is completed, said vend switch in the vend-position providing an electrical path for electrical power to the solenoid means.

Claim 33

A control system for a vending machine comprising: means for producing a credit signal after a predetermined legal tender is accepted by the machine; a credit means having an off-condition and a credit-condition, said credit means being switched to the credit-condition after said credit signal is generated, said credit means preventing acceptance of said legal tender when in the credit-condition; product select switch means having an off-position and a select-position; a vend switch having a credit-position and a vend-position, said vend switch in the credit-position providing an electrical path for electrical power to the credit means when the credit means is in the credit-condition, said vend switch severing said electrical path to the credit means when switched to the vend-position; and a solenoid means having an activated state and a de-activated state and means driven by the solenoid means for releasing the selected product during the vend cycle, said solenoid means causing said vend switch to switch from the credit-position to the vend-position during the vend cycle and the solenoid means causing the vend switch to switch from the vend-position to the credit-position when the vend cycle is completed, said vend switch in the vend-position providing an electrical path for electrical power to the solenoid means.

Claim 34

A control system for a vending machine comprising: means for producing a credit signal after a predetermined legal tender is accepted by the machine; a credit means including a thyristor and said credit signal causing said thyristor to switch from an off-state to an on-state, said credit means preventing acceptance of said legal tender when in the on-state; product select switch having an off-position and a select-position; alternating current (AC) power means; capacitive means for charging when electrical current flows through the thyristor and discharging through said thyristor when the AC current from the AC power means approaches a substantially zero current magnitude; product release means having an activated state and a de-activated state, the switching of the product select switch from the off to the select-position when the credit means is in the on-state causing said product release to switch to said activated state from the de-activated state for releasing the product during a vend cycle; and means responsive to said product release means to cause said credit means to switch from the on-state to the off-state after the product release means is switched to the activated state, and further responsive to said product release means to enable the machine to accept said legal tender after said product release means is switched back to the de-activated state.

Claim 35

A control system for a vending machine comprising: means for producing a credit signal after a predetermined legal tender is accepted by the machine; a credit means including a thyristor and said credit signal causing said thyristor to switch from an off-state to an on-state, said credit means preventing acceptance of said legal tender when in the on-state; product select switch having an off-position and a select-position; alternating current (AC) power means; capacitive means for charging when electrical current flows through the thyristor and discharging through said thyristor when the AC current from the AC power means approaches a substantially zero current magnitude; product release means having an activated state and a de-activated state, the switching of the product select switch from the off to the select-position when the credit means is in the on-state causing said product release to switch to said activated state from the de-activated state for releasing the product during a vend cycle; and means responsive to said product release means to cause said credit means to switch from the on-state to the off-state after the product release means is switched to the activated state, and further responsive to said product release means to enable the machine to accept said legal tender after said product release means is switched back to the de-activated state.

Claim 36

The control system for a vending machine comprising: means for producing a credit signal after a predetermined legal tender is accepted by the machine; a credit means having an off-condition and a credit-condition, said credit means being switched to the credit-condition after said credit signal is generated, said credit means preventing acceptance of said legal tender when in the credit-condition; product release means having an actuated-state and a de-actuated state for releasing the product during a vend cycle; a vend switch having a vend-position to prevent acceptance of said legal tender when the machine is in the vend cycle and an off-position to enable acceptance of said legal tender; and timer means having an on-condition to enable said product release means to transfer into said actuated-state and said vend switch to switch into said vend-position, and an off-condition to cause said product means to switch back to the de-actuated state and said vend switch to transfer back to the off-position, said timer switching from the on to the off-condition after a preset time interval.

Claim 37

The control system for a vending machine comprising: means for producing a credit signal after a predetermined legal tender is accepted by the machine; a credit means having an off-condition and a credit-condition, said credit means being switched to the credit-condition after said credit signal is generated, said credit means preventing acceptance of said legal tender when in the credit-condition; product release means having an actuated-state and a de-actuated state for releasing the product during a vend cycle; a vend switch having a vend-position to prevent acceptance of said legal tender when the machine is in the vend cycle and an off-position to enable acceptance of said legal tender; and timer means having an on-condition to enable said product release means to transfer into said actuated-state and said vend switch to switch into said vend-position, and an off-condition to cause said product means to switch back to the de-actuated state and said vend switch to transfer back to the off-position, said timer switching from the on to the off-condition after a preset time interval.