US3486601A - Vending cycle lockout circuit - Google Patents

Description

1386- 0, 1969 R. D. BOWMAN VENDING CYCLE LOCKOUT CIRCUIT Filed July 1, 1968 n s m M mm m w wm M B m 0 a D m w W M J t m: mmm Q. UN: F: GE 9 m mmmw u h L J K M 3. ll l| m l J j N @L MI L 3w I: 26 rl 0mm ||I W QQN Q2 V m5 Q2 9 T E I Q9 Q9 09 United States Patent Ofiice 3,486,601 Patented Dec. 30, 1969 U.S. Cl. 194-10 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lockout circuit for the vend cycle of a multiselection, coin operated vending machine is provided wherein dispensing from a plurality of columns is controlled by a vend motor for each column. Each vend motor, when erergized, drives an associated timer switch arranged to break the initial power circuit to the vending motor and ground the energizing coil of a credit release relay through the motor windings of vending motor. Energization of the credit release relay in this manner causes established credit to be removed from the circuit by deenergization of a coin operated vend relay. In turn, a coin reject mechanism prevents insertion of additional coins until power circuit to the vend motor is reestablished and the credit release relay operates. The vending motor is energized during the latter portion of its cycle through its timer switch and continues to run until the cycle is complete.

The present invention relates generally to a coin operated vending machine for selectively dispensing articles, one at a time, from a plurality of sources and, more particularly, to a novel lockout circuit for a coin operated vending machine having a multiplicity of stacks or colurnns each of which is adapted to receive a plurality of articles to be selectively dispensed. A multi-motor arrangement is adapted to be selectively energized for dispensing the articles, one at a time, from one of the stacks in response to a selection by a customer. The lockout circuit of the present invention removes established credit at the proper time so as to insure delivery of only one article per established credit and allows alternate selection of articles when one selection is stalled or jammed.

Coin operated vending machines for selectively dispensing articles, one at a time, from a plurality of sources are well known. Such vending machines generally comprise a plurality of stacks of articles which may be arranged in columns in side by side relationship. Upon deposit of a suitable coin, credit is established and a dispensing cycle is initiated according to a selection by the customer which causes a vend motor to be cycled and a single article to be dispensed from the selected stack.

While various mechanical and electrical arrangements are known in the prior art to prevent delivery of more than one article at a time from a stack and to prevent jackpotting of the machine, the vending industry has not been completely successful in developing a satisfactory electrical circuit which solves the problem of removing established credit at the proper time to insure delivery of only one article per established credit. Preferably, such circuits should be characterized by minimum requirements of power of operation and minimum interferences of elements, thereby, allowing a flexibility in construction and operation which reduces cost of manufacture, operation and maintenance.

In one known type of electrical lockout circuit, a timer switch is provided which is actuated by a cam driven by a vend motor. Upon establishment of proper credit, the vend motor is energized for one cycle and actuates the timer switch to remove the established credit. Although such an arrangement allows delivery of only one article per credit, if the vend motor should stall and thus fail to make a complete cycle, the timer switch is not returned to its initial position and the entire vending machine is put out of order. Thus the machine is removed as a source of revenue even though several other possible selections are available and requires the attendance of maintenance personnel.

Another type of electrical lockout circuit is described in U.S. Patent No. 3,349,881 issued to Vernon D. Camp and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. In Patent 3,349,881, a separate lockout motor is provided which drives the cam operating element of a switch connected in series with a coin reject electromagnet. In this arrangement, should the lockout motor stall, the coin reject electromagnet is maintained deenergized and the entire machine is put out of order.

These and other disadvantages of known prior art arrangements are overcome by the present invention which provides a novel vending cycle lockout circuit with a credit release relay which removes established credit at the proper time to insure delivery of only one article per established credit and which, in the event of a vend motor stall, allows operation of the remaining selections.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved vending cycle lockout circuit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved vending cycle lockout circuit which prevents jack-potting of the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide and improved vending cycle lockout circuit which prevents additional loss of credit on a stalled selection.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved vending cycle lockout circuit which will prevent placing the entire vending machine out of order in the event of a stalled selection and which will allow operation of the vending machine with any number of selections stalled so long as there is at least one selection that is not stalled.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use with a coin operated vending machine having a multiplicity of stacks or columns each of which may be provided with articles of difierent characteristics such as, for example, bottled beverages of diiferent flavors and having a multimotor arrangement for selectively dispensing articles one at a time according to the choice of the customer. To this end, dispensing from each column is controlled by a vend motor which is arranged to be energized during the latter portion of its vend cycle through a corresponding cam operated timer switch. The cam is driven by the associated vend motor and the timer switch is operably connected to break the initial energizing power circuit to vending motor and connect the energizing winding of a credit release relay is series with the motor windings of the motor of the selection being vended. The credit release relay is thus energized by grounding through the motor winding. The credit release relay includes a set of normally closed contacts in series with the hold circuit of the vend relay and upon energization of the credit release relay, these contacts are opened and vend relay deenergized, thus removing established credit. Deenergization of the vend relay in turn reestablishes the power circuit to the vend motor and causes the credit release relay to be deenergized.

Other objects and the attendant advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. Although one specific form of invention is illustrated, it is to be expressly understood that this drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended to represent the full scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing, the figure is a schematic diagram of the improved vending cycle lockout circuit of the present invention.

Since the inventive concept of this invention resides in an improved lockout circuit and is independent of the cabinet in which it is located or the means for delivery of the article that is dispensed, the invention will be hereinafter described with reference only to the schematic of the control circuit, its method of operation and control. However, reference may be made to US. Patents 2,835,409, Rankin, Jr.; 3,175,728; Lindsey et al.; and 3,349,961, Nathan et al., for a general description of known forms of dispensing apparatus with which the lockout circuit may be used.

Referring to the figure, there is illustrated schematically the vending cycle lockout circuit of the present invention for a coin operated vending machine which includes a plurality of stacks or columns of articles arranged to be selectively dispensed, one at a time, according to the choice of a customer.

For convenience, the lockout circuit is illustrated in connection with a coin operated vending machine having four (4) columns or stacks A-D of articles; however, it will be apparent that more or less than 4 columns may be utilized and the operating sequence for dispensing an article from each column is the same. Accordingly, the operating sequence of only one column will be described. Further, each component in the operating circuit of one column corresponding to a like component in the operating circuit of other columns is designated with a like numerical reference character which is followed by an alphabetical character designation the particular column with which the component is associated.

' For illustration purposes, the circuit is illustrated in a condition in which column D is sold out, column C is jammed and credit has been established by operation of the coin switch. The vending machine coin mechanism cannot accept coins to operate the coin switch unless the coin reject the electromagnet is energized, Momentary actuation of the coin switch establishes credit and upon return of the coin switch to its initial position, an enabling circuit is established to the customer selection switches. Upon actuation of a selector switch, a vend cycle is initiated to cause delivery of an article from a selected column; however, the vending motor actuates a timer switch which breaks the initial power circuit to the vending motor insuring delivery of only one article per established credit.

Each column, has associated therewith a vend motor 10,"a timer switch 11, a pair of sold out switches 12 and 13, -'fa sold out indicator light 14, a selector switch 15 and a selector relay 16. Those components designated with a numerical character followed by the character A are disposed for operation with respect to column A to effect selection of an article therefrom according to the choice of a customer. In addition to the components associated with a particular column, a number of common control components are provided including coin operated vend switch 17, vend relay 18, coin reject electromagnet 19, select indicator or established credit light 20 and credit release relay 21.

" Power to the circuit is applied across a pair of supply conductors 24 and 25 which may be connected to a conventional supply source (not shown). The positive terminal of line 24 designate the hot line, while the negative' terminal connected to line 25 designates the ground return line.

When the machine is in normal working order, credit is established by energization of vend relay 18 upon insertion of a proper coin into a coin mechanism (not shown) and actuation of the associated vend switch 17 having a normally closed pair of contacts and a normally open pair of contacts. The coin mechanism including vend switch 17 may he a conventignal coin operated device a ap d to r ive c n o greater alue h n he 9 s o an article to be selected and dispense change accordingly, while momentarily closing the normally open pair of contacts when the proper amount of coins is received and thence returning the contacts to the original position.

To this end, switch 17 includes a pair of fixed contacts 26 and 27 and a movable contact arm 28 adapted to be momentarily displaced from a first position to a second position and returned to its first position when the proper amount of coins have been received. Movable contact arm 28 is connected to supply conductor 24 and, upon displacement of the arm from its first to its second position, establishes an energizing circuit to vend relay 18 through contacts 27, 28 and conductor 29 connected to one end of energizing coil 30. The other end of the energizing coil 30 is connected to supply conductor 25. Conductor 25 forms a common return or ground line for each of the vend motors 10A-10D, sold out indicator lights 14A- 14D, selector relay 16A-16D, reject electromagnet 19 and select indicator light 20.

Coin reject electromagnet 19 provides a conventional coin blocking function through operation of its armature (not shown). In its normally energized condition, the armature is actuated so as to permit a coin to be inserted for establishing credit; however, once the coin operated vend switch 17 is closed and vend relay 18 energized, the coin reject electromagnet is deenergized to prevent the insertion of another coin. Light 20 is connected across the energizing coil 30 of vend relay 18 to provide a suitable indication, when lit, that credit to the machine has been established and that the machine is ready for a selection to be made.

Credit is established upon energization of coil 30 of vend relay 18 having a first set of contacts including fixed contacts 31, 32 and an associated movable contact arm 33, and a second set of contacts including contacts 34, 35 and an associated movable contact arm 36. Contact arm 33 is connected to power line 24 through conductor 37 and normally closed contacts 26, 28 of coin switch 17.

Vend relay 18, prior to insertion of the proper coinage in the machine, is deenergized and input power through contacts 26, 28 and conductor 37 terminates at contact 31 which is dead-ended. When coin switch 17 is momentarily actuated, power is applied to conductor 29 and coil 30 is energized causing movable contacts 33 and 36 to switch to the energized condition position establishing connection with contacts 32 and 35, respectively. A holding circuit for coil 30 is established through fixed contact 35 and contact arm 36 which is returned to power line 24 through conductor 38, one or more of the normally closed contacts of sold out switches ISA-13D, conductor 40, the normally closed contacts of credit release relay 21 and conductor 41.

Switching of contact 33 to its second position establishes an enabling circuit for the selector relays. The enabling circuit may be traced from input lead 24, contacts 26, 28, conductor 37 and contact arm 33, through contact 32, conductor 39, the normally closed, serially connected contacts of selector relays 16A-16D to an actuated selector switch 15. Closure of a switch 15 completes the energizing circuit through the associated sold out switch 12v and timer switch 11 to the windings of the associated selector relay through conductor 42.

Power to contact 32 is applied through coin switch 17 when it is returned to its original position. In this manner, coin switch 17 provides an anti-jackpot feature since the enabling circuit of the selector relay cannot be established until the vend relay is energized and the coin switch returns to its normally closed position. If the coin switch should be stuck in its open position, due to a bent coin or for some other reason, actuation of a selector switch does not cause the associated selector relay to be operated.

Each selector relay includes an energizing coil 43 and upper and lower sets of contacts 44 and 45, respectively, s. viewed i t e d a g ach s t of ontacts 44 and 45,

includes its own movable contact arm 46 and 47 forming a common terminal between a pair of corresponding fixed contacts 48, 49 and 50, 51.

The lower set of contacts 45, as viewed in the drawing, is arranged to ground energizing winding 52 of credit release relay 21 through the corresponding vending motor when it is deenergized. To this end, winding 52 has one end returned through conductor 53 to input conductor 24 and its other end connected to contact 50 in each of the selector relays through conductor 54.

Credit release relay 21 includes a single set of contacts adapted to provide an initial energizing circuit for coin reject electromagnet 19 through contacts 34, 36 of vend relay 30 and a hold circuit for vend relay 30 when contact arm 36 is switched to its second position. To this end, movable contact arm 55 of relay 21 is connected through conductor 41 to input conductor 24. Fixed contact 56 is connected through conductor 40, one or more normally closed sold out switches 13A-13D and conductor 38 to the movable contact arm 36 of vend relay 18.

As hereinbefore described, the energizing circuit for the coin reject electromagnet is established through the normally closed parallel connected sold out switches 13. Each sold out switch 13 is disposed at a corresponding column for monitoring the supply of articles and is actuated in a conventional manner from a first to a second position upon depletion of the supply of articles in that column. When actuated to its second position, switch 13 establishes the energizing circuit for a corresponding sold out indicator light 14. It should be noted that the circuit to the movable contact 36 from the credit release relay contacts is not broken through the sold out switches unless all switches 13A-13D are open.

A second group of sold out switches 12A-12D are provided in the energizing circuit of the vend motors to break the energizing circuit for a corresponding vend motor upon depletion of the supply of articles in a column. Sold out switches 12 may be operated independently of sold out switches 13 or they may be ganged thereto, as shown, for simultaneous operation.

Each vend motor has associated therewith a corresponding timer switch 11 comprising a movable contact arm 64 and a pair of fixed contacts 65 and 66. The contact arm of each switch 11 is adapted to be cam actuated from a first position, in which the corresponding vend motor 10 is at the start position of a cycle, to a second position. Energization of the motor windings is efiected through conductors 67, 68, sold out switch 12, conductor 69 and an actuated selector switch 15.

The second position of each switch 11 after energization of the corresponding vend motor, establishes a bypass energizing circuit for the vend motor through conductor 42 and the hold circuit of an associated selector relay. Advantageously, each timer switch 11 may be a microswitch having its movable contact biased in the first position and adapted to be released to its second position by a timer cam 70 driven from the shaft of a corresponding vend motor.

Upon energization of the appropriate vend motor, the corresponding timer cam 70 is driven so as to allow the corresponding timer switch to snap to its second position whereupon contacts 64, 66 are closed.

Each selector switch 15 has its movable contact 72 adapted to be serially connected to one fixed contact 71 of the selector switch for the next succeeding column through a jumper lead 73. The fixed contact 71A of the first selector switch is dead-ended, while the movable contact arm 72D of the last column selector switch is connected to fixed contact 49D of selector relay 16D. Fixed contact 75 of each switch is connected to an associated conductor 69 forming the initial energizing circuit for the vend motor, as hereinbefore described, through a corresponding sold out switch 12 and conductors 67 and 68.

Energization of a selector relay is effected upon actuation of the corresponding selector switch powered through the normally closed pairs of contacts 46, 49. Each movable contact arm 46 of a selector relay is connected by jumper 76 to a fixed contact 49 of a selector relay for the adjacent, succeeding column. The movable contact arm 46D for the last column is connected to contact 32 of vend relay 18 through conductor 39, while the fixed contact 49 of relay 16D is connected to movable contact arm 72D through conductor 74.

Thus, a circuit may be traced from hot line 24, through contacts 28, 26 of coin switch 17, contacts 32, 33 of vend relay 18, when energized, conductor 39, series connected contacts 46, 49 of each of the selector relays, conductor 74 to series connected contacts 71, 72 of each selector switches. Assuming switch 15A has been actuated, contacts 72 and 75 are closed and the circuit to coil windings 43D of relay 16D is completed through conductor 69, the normally closed contacts of switch 12A, conductor 68, contacts 64, 65 of switch 11A and conductor 42 connected to one side of the coil. The other side of coil 43A is returned directly to the ground return line 25. Upon energization of coil windings 43D, contact arm 46D engages the fixed contact 48 to establish a holding circuit for the selector relay 16D.

Upon energization of a selector relay, the credit release relay windings 52 are connected across the power source. T 0 this end, each of the fixed contacts 50 are connected in common to conductor 54 which is in turn connected to one side of winding 52. Movable contact arm 47 of each selector relay is connected to the fixed contact 66 of an associated motor timer switch 11 through an associated conductor 77. Fixed contacts 51 of each of the selector relays are connected in common to hot line 24 through conductor 78.

7 Upon actuation of a switch 11 and energization of the corresponding selector relay, the credit release relay 21 will be energized to cause its contact arm 55 to move away from its fixed contact 56 and thus remove power from the contact arm 36 of vend relay 18. The coil windings 30 of the vend relay which receive power through movable contact arm 36 are thus deenergized. As the vend relay contact arm 36 returns to its normally closed position, the open circuit at contact 55 and 56 also prevents energization of the coin rejector electromagnet 19.

Operation of the circuit is believed to be readily apparent from the drawing taken in connection with the foregoing description. For convenience, however, a typical sequence of operation .of the vending cycle lockout circuit is set forth as follows.

Upon insertion of proper coinage into the vending machine, coin operated vend switch 17 is caused to be actuated and vend relay 18 energized. Light 20 is lit to indicate that credit has been established. Energization of vend relay 18 establishes a holding circuit for its windings through contacts 35 and 36, one more of the sold out switches 13A--13D and normally closed contacts 55, 56 of credit release relay 21. Also, an enabling circuit for the selector relays is established through contacts 32 and 33 and the normally closed contacts of the selector relay. Energization of vend relay 18 also breaks the energizing circuit for the coin reject electromagnet 19 initially maintained through contacts 34 and 36.

The dispensing machine is now ready for a particular selection to be made by a customer, which selection is effected upon operation of a selector switch. For example, assuming that selector switch 15A corresponding to column A is actuated by a customer, a circuit is established for energization of vend motor 10A and selector relay 16D. Selector relay 16D is held in upon closure of its contacts 46, 48, while closure of its contacts 47 and 50 connect the energizing winding of credit release relay 21 in series with the winding of vend motor 10A through the now closed, but normally open contacts 64, 66 of motor timer switch 11A.

It should be noted that motor 10A, which was initially energized through the selector switch 15A, is energized through conductor 42 and the holding circuit of relay 16D established with the normal open contacts 46 and 48. Operation of motor 10A drives its associated timer cam 70A causing the responding contact arm 64A to be actuated so as to remove power to the motor from line 42. Selector relay is held in, however, by its holding circuit and the motor windings are connected in series with the energizing winding of the credit release relay through the normally open, now closed contacts 47, of the energized selector relay 16D.

When the credit release relay energizes, its contacts 55, 56 are switched to the open position breaking the vending relay holding circuit, and thus removing established credit from the machine. As the vend relay is deenergized, the holding circuit for the selector relay 16A is in turn opened, deenergizing the selector relay. This returns contact arm 47 to its normally closed position, again completing the power circuit to the vend motor A through contact 51 and conductor 77, causing motor 10A to drive cam 70A and return contact arm 64 to its initial position. Opening of contacts 47, 50 removed, in the meantime, power from the windings 52 of the credit release relay. The vend motor has now completed the latter part of its cycle by the connection re-established through the timer switch.

It should be apparent, that the credit release relay operatively functions with the circuit for each column and removes credit at the proper time, even though one or more of the selections of other columns are stalled or jammed in the run position. The circuit will operate properly when any number of selection stalls, so long as there is at least one selection that does not stall. While the lockout circuit of the present invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, changes or modifications to the illustrated embodiment may now be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the present inventive concept.

I claim:

1. In a coin operated vending machine having a plurality of columns of articles adapted to be selectively dispensed and a plurality of vend motors, each of which corresponds to a separate column and is arranged to be selectively energized to dispense articles from the corresponding column, one at a time, according to the choice of a customer, a selector switch for each motor adapted upon selective actuation by a customer to energize a corresponding vend motor for dispensing of an article from a selected column, a selector relay for each motor having an operating winding adapted to be selectively energized upon actuation of a selector switch, a vend relay having an operating winding arranged to be energized from a pair of line conductors, a coin operated vend switch, said coin operated vend switch being electrically connected in series with one of said line conductors and adapted to be momentarily actuated from a first to a second position upon insertion of a coin for energization of said vend relay operating winding, means for establishing a holding circuit for said selector relay upon energization thereof, means for establishing a holding circuit for said vend relay upon energization thereof, a cam operated timer switch for each motor arranged to be actuated by its associated motor between a first and a second position, means for connecting said timer switch when in its first postion in a series circuit between said vend motor and the holding circuit of said selector relay, the improvement comprising a lockout circuit for said vending machine including a credit release relay having an operating winding and at least a first pair of contacts, means for electrically connecting said operating winding to the line conductors through the coil Winding of a vend motor corresponding to the column for which a selection has been made and means for connecting said contacts of said credit release relay in series with the holding circuit for said vend relay to effect deenergization thereof upon energization of said credit release relay operating winding.

2. In a coin operated vending machine as set forth in claim 1 further including a coin reject electromagnet having an operating coil adapted to be energized from the line conductors, said vend relay including a first and a second pair of contacts, each having a common contact arm adapted to be positioned in a first position upon energization of the vend relay and in a second position upon deenergization of the vend relay, said common contact arm and one of said second pair of contacts being in the holding circuit for said vend relay when said contact arm is in the second position, means for electrically connecting the other of said second pair of contacts in series with the electromagnet operating coil and means connecting at least one of said contacts of said credit release relay pair of contacts to said common contact arm of said second pair whereby energization of the operating winding of said credit release relay prevents energization of the coin reject electromagnet coil upon deenergization of the vend relay.

3. In a coin operated vending machine as set forth in claim 2 further including a plurality of sold out switches, at least one for each column, said plurality of sold out switches being connected electrically in parallel, said parallel connection being further connected in series with the common contact arm of said second pair, each of said sold out switches being in a normally closed position and adapted to be selectively actuated to an electri cally open position when the supply of articles in a column is depleted whereby energization of the holding circuit of said vend relay is prevented when the supply of all the articles in all the columns is depleted.

4. In a coin operated vending machine comprising a plurality of columns of articles adapted to be selectively dispensed and a plurality of vend motors, each of which corresponds to a separate column and is arranged to be selectively energized to dispense articles from the corresponding column, one at a time, according to the choice of a customer, a selector switch for each motor adapted upon selective actuation by a customer to energize a corresponding vend motor for dispensing of an article from a selected column, a selector relay for each motor having an operating winding and a first and a second set of contacts, a vend relay having an operating Winding arranged to be energized from a pair of line conductors and a first and a second set of contacts, a coin operated vend switch, said coin operated vend switch being electrically connected in series with one of said line conductors and adapted to be momentarily actuated from a first to a second position upon insertion of a coin for energization of said vend relay operating winding, means for connecting said first set of contacts of said vend relay to said first set of contacts of said selector relay for establishing a holding circuit for said selector relay upon energization thereof, means for establishing a holding circuit for said vend relay through said second set of contacts of said vend relay, a cam operated timer switch for each motor arranged to be actuated by its associated motor between a first and a second position, means for connecting said timer switch when in its first position in a series circuit between said vend motor and the holding circuit of said selector relay, a lockout circuit including a credit release relay having an operating winding and at least a first pair of contacts, means for electrically connecting said operating winding to the line conductors through the coil winding of a deenergized vend motor corresponding to the column for which a selection has been made and means for connecting said contacts of said credit release relay in series with the holding circuit for said vend relay to effect deenergization thereof upon energization of said credit release relay operating winding.

5. In a coin operated vending machine as set forth in claim 4 further including a coin reject electromagnet having an operating coil adapted to be energized from the line conductors, said second sets of contacts of said vend relay including a first and a second pair of contacts having a common contact arm, said second pair of contacts being arranged in the holding circuit for said vend relay, means for electrically connecting said first pair of contacts in series with the electromagnet operating coil and means connecting at least one of said contacts of said credit release relay pair of contacts to the common contact arm of said second set whereby energization of said credit release relay prevents energization of the coin reject electromagnet coil upon deenergization of the vend relay.

6. In a coin operated vending machine as set forth in claim 5 further including a plurality of sold out switches, at least one for each column, said plurality of sold out switches being connected in parallel, said parallel connection being further connected in series with the common contact arm of said second set, each of said sold out switches being arranged in a normally closed position and adapted to be selectively actuated to an electrically open position when the supply of articles in a column is depleted whereby energization of the holding circuit of said vend relay is prevented when the supply of all the articles in all the columns is depleted.

7. In a coin operated vending machine having a plurality of columns of articles adapted to be selectively dispensed and a plurality of vend motors, each of which corresponds to a separate column and each of which is arranged to be selectively energized to dispense articles from the corresponding column, one at a time, according to the choice of a customer, the improvement comprising a vending cycle lockout circuit having a pair of line conductors adapted to be connected to a power source, circuit means including a vend relay having an operating winding arranged to be energized from the line conductors, a coin operated vend switch, said coin operated vend switch being electrically connected in series with one of said line conductors and adapted to be momentarily actuated from a first to a second position upon insertion of a coin, the second position of said vend switch establishing an energizing circuit for the operating winding of said vend relay, said vend relay including means for establishing a holding circuit for said operating winding upon initial energization thereof and an enabling circuit through said vend switch upon return of said vend switch to its first position, a plurality of individual motor energizing circuits connected across said line conductors for selectively energizing said vend motors, each of said energizing circuits including a manually operable selector switch having a first and a second position, means for electrically connecting all of said selector switches in their first position in series with the enabling circuit, means for individually connecting said switches in their second position in series with the motor windings of a corresponding motor to thereby establish the energizing circuit for said motor, a timer switch for each column, means for actuating said timer switch in response to energization of a motor associated with that column between a first and a second position, a selector relay for each column, means for connecting each selector relay to be initially energized through a corresponding timer switch in its first position, each selector relay including means for establishing a holding circuit for its operating winding upon energization thereof, means for connecting a selected vend motor to the corresponding selector relay holding circuit through the associated timer switches thereby establishing a separate energizing circuit for that vend motor, a credit release relay including an operating winding adapted to be energized from the line conductors, said timer switches in their second position being electrically connected in series with the corresponding vend motor and the energizing winding of said credit release relay to establish the energizing circuit for said credit release relay after said selector relay has been energized, said credit release relay including a pair of normally closed contacts, and means for connecting said normally closed contacts in series with the holding circuit of said vend relay, whereby upon energization of said credit release relay the holding circuit to said vend relay is electrically open.

8. A coin operated vending machine as set forth in claim 1 further including a coin reject electromagnet adapted when energized to permit reception of coins by the vending machine for actuation of the coin switch and means for electrically connecting the coin reject electromagnet across said line conductors and in series with the normally closed contacts of said credit release relay.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner

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