U.S. patent number 3,789,968 [Application Number 05/289,275] was granted by the patent office on 1974-02-05 for control system of a coin-operated locker.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Glory Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Mitsuhiro Akamatsu, Komei Inoue, Kazumi Yorisue.
United States Patent |
3,789,968 |
Inoue , et al. |
February 5, 1974 |
CONTROL SYSTEM OF A COIN-OPERATED LOCKER
Abstract
A control system of a coin-operated locker or a rental locker
which comprises coin detector detecting the insertion of coins into
a coin inlet slot of the locker, a first counter for counting the
number of coins detected by the coin detector, a second counter
operating stepwise in correspondence to the completion of one
operation of the locker, that is, from locking to unlocking of the
locker and to the lapse of time, and a key-operation locking device
enabling the locker to be locked or unlocked only when output
signals from the first and second counter correspond to each other,
whereby unlike conventional rental lockers, it is not necessary to
reset all of the control circuits thereof to their original or
initial condition whenever the door of the locker is opened to take
a piece of baggage or the like out of the locker.
Inventors: |
Inoue; Komei (Himeji,
JA), Yorisue; Kazumi (Himeji, JA),
Akamatsu; Mitsuhiro (Himeji, JA) |
Assignee: |
Glory Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
(Himeji-Shi, Hyogo-Ken, JA)
|
Family
ID: |
23110824 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/289,275 |
Filed: |
September 15, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
194/221 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
17/12 (20130101); G07F 9/08 (20130101); G07F
5/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
9/08 (20060101); G07F 5/12 (20060101); G07F
5/00 (20060101); G07F 17/12 (20060101); G07F
17/10 (20060101); G07f 017/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;194/1N,9T,51,59,65,1M |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Tollberg; Stanley H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: John C. Holman et al.
Claims
1. A control system of a coin-operated locker, said system
comprising:
coin detector means for detecting the insertion of coins into a
coin inlet slot of the coin-operated locker;
first counter means for counting the number of coins detected by
said coin
2. A control system of a coin-operated locker as claimed in claim 1
which further comprises:
a plurality of AND gates receiving counting output signals of said
first counter means and counting output signals of said second
counter means and operated by the logical sums of the counting
output signals of the first counter means and the counting output
signals of the second counter means thereby to produce output
signals therefrom; and
an OR gate operated by the logical sum of the output signals from
the AND gates thereby to produce output signals permitting the key
of the coin-operated locker to be turned for locking and unlocking
the
3. A control system of a coin-operated locker as claimed in claim 1
in which
said first and second counter means comprise rotary switches,
respectively, count terminals of the rotary type switches being
connected correspondingly to one another, and the combination of
the first and second counter means are connected in series to an
electromagnetic means which enables the key of the coin-operated
locker to be turned for locking
4. A control system of a coin-operated locker as claimed in claim 1
which further comprises
detecting means for detecting the completion of one operation of
the coin-operated locker from locking the coin-operated locker to
unlocking the same, said detecting means comprises:
a first gate means for producing a setting signal by receiving both
a signal of detection of a key-turning operation for locking the
coin-operated locker and a signal of detection of a key-removing
operation after locking of the coin-operated locker;
a seond gate means for producing a resetting signal by receiving
both a signal of detection of a key-inserting operation and a
signal of detection of a key-turning operation for unlocking the
coin-operated locker;
a bistable memory which flip-flops by receiving each of the setting
and resetting signals, and a pulse generating device which
generates pulses when the bistable memory is changed from its
setting conditions to its
5. A control system of a coin-operated locker as claimed in claim
1, wherein said locking and unlocking detector means comprises a
switch for detecting a key-turning operation and a switch for
detecting the insertion and removal of the key.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to coin-operated lockers
and more particularly to a control circuit of the coin-operated
lockers.
In a coin-operated locker of well-known type, whenever the door is
opened to take a piece of baggage or the like out of the locker,
all of the control means of the conventional coin-operated locker
are reset back to their original or initial states so that the
locker is ready for the next piece of baggage to be placed
therein.
However, in the conventional coin-operated locker having such a
resetting system as described above, its mechanism and circuits are
so intricate as to cause erroneous operation and also trouble in
use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide
a new control system of a coin-operated locker in which the
above-described drawbacks accompanying the conventional
coin-operated locker are eliminated.
A second object of the invention is to provide a novel control
system of a coin-operated locker in which the locker is not only
locked but also set for a next piece of baggage to be put therein
according to the inserting, removing and turning operations of the
key.
A third object of the invention is to provide a control system of a
coin-operated locker in which the locker is made ready for a next
use without setting the control system back to its initial
state.
A fourth object of the invention is to provide a coin-operated
locker which is relatively simple in construction, therefore of low
cost, and troubleless in operation.
A fifth object of the invention is to provide a control system of a
coin-operated locker in which only when a counting output from a
first counter counting the number of coins inserted into a coin
inlet slot corresponds to that of a second counter which is
operated in correspondence to the completion of one operation of
the locker, that is, from locking the locker to unlocking the same,
and to a time lapse signal, a key operation locking device enables
the locker to be locked or unlocked.
A sixth object of the invention is to provide a control system of a
coin-operated locker in which the key is rendered turnable by an
output signal of an OR gate which is operated by the logical sum of
the output signals from a number of AND gates, which are also
operated by the logical sums of counting output signals from a
first counter and a second counter.
A seventh object of the invention is to provide a control system of
a coin-operated locker in which rotary type switches are employed
as counters which store the number of coins put in a coin inlet
slot and the lapse of time, and an electromagnet is connected in
series with the combination of the counters thereby to enable the
key to be turned for locking or unlocking the locker.
An eighth object of the present invention is to provide a control
system of a coin-operated locker in which a key-operation-locking
device is provided with detecting means adapted to detect the
insertion and removal of the key whereby an electrical magnet is
energized only when the key inserted in its key hole is turned for
locking or unlocking the locker.
A ninth object of the present invention is to provide a control
system of a coin-operated locker which comprises a bistable memory
which changes its state in accordance with a setting signal
produced by signals due to detection of the turning of the key for
locking the locker and the removal of the key and a resetting
signal produced by signals due to detection of the insertion of the
key and the turning of the key for unlocking the locker and a pulse
generating circuit producing a pulse when the bistable memory is
changed from its setting conditions to its resetting
conditions.
The foregoing object and other objects of the present invention
will be better understood from the following detailed description
when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is an electrical circuit diagram of one embodiment of the
present invention in which counters are composed of rotary type
switches;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of the
present invention in which gate circuits are employed; and
FIG. 3 is an electrical circuit diagram showing the control system
of FIG. 2 in greater and more specific detail.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In one example of a control system according to this invention as
shown in FIG. 1, direct current power source terminals 1 and 2 are
connected respectively to the positive and negative terminals of a
d.c. power source. A counting switch 3 serving to change over its
connection whenever a coin is inserted into a coin inlet slot,
contact means 5 of a relay 4, and a coil 7 of a rotary switch 6
used to set an amount of money are connected in series between the
terminals 1 and 2. The movable contact or wiper 6.sub.0 of the
rotary switch 6 is connected to the terminal 1. Contacts 6.sub.1,
6.sub.3 and 6.sub.5 of the rotary switch 6 are connected together
at one point, which is in turn connected to one end of a coil 9
which serves to actuate a counting rotary switch 8. The other end
of the coil 9 is connected through the normally open switch 11 of a
relay 10 to the power source terminal 2.
One end of the coil 10 is connected to contacts 6.sub.2, 6.sub.4
and 6.sub.6 of the rotary switch 6, while the other end thereof is
connected to the terminal 2. The coil 10 is shunted by the series
circuit of a resistor 12 and a capacitor 13.
The contacts 8.sub.1, 8.sub.2, 8.sub.3, 8.sub.4, 8.sub.5 and
8.sub.6 of the rotary switch 8 are directly connected to the
contacts 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, 14.sub.3, 14.sub.4, 14.sub.5 and
14.sub.6 of another rotary type switch 14, respectively. The rotary
switch 14 is operated so as to perform a day-shifting operation or
an hour-shifting operation. In other words, the wiper of the rotary
switch 14 is stepwisely moved from one contact to the next contact
whenever a day or a predetermined hours pass. The wiper 8.sub.0 of
the rotary switch 8 is connected to the terminal 1, while the wiper
14.sub.0 of the rotary switch 14 is connected to the terminal 2
through a resistor 15, a magnetic coil 16 and a switch 17. The
magnetic coil 16 allows the key of the locker to be turned when the
magnetic coil 16 is energized. The switch 17 is opened and closed
by the insertion or removal of the key of the locker.
In addition, the series circuit of the resistor 15 and the magnetic
coil 16 is shunted by another series circuit of a resistor 18 and
the relay 4.
Furthermore, the terminals 1 and 2 are connected by the series
circuit of a resistor 19, a switch 20 and a capacitor 21. The
switch 20 is interlocked with the switch 17 and is also switched by
the insertion or removal of the key. In addition, another series
circuit of a switch 22 which is actuated by a day-shifting timer
(not shown), a switch 23 which is actuated by the turning of the
key, and a coil 24 which serves to stepwise move the wiper of the
rotary switch 14, is connected between the terminals 1 and 2. In
this connection, a closed loop circuit is formed by the switch 20,
the capacitor 21, the coil 24 and the switch 23.
With reference to the switches 3, 17, 20, 22 and 23, the switching
contacts indicated by black dots are normally-closed-contacts (NC),
while the switching contacts indicated by white dots or small
circles are normally-open-contacts (NO). The pole of the switch 3
is normally on its contact NC. The pole of the switch 3 is tripped
to its contact NO when a coin is inserted into the coin slot. The
poles of the switches 17 and 20 are tripped to their contacts NO by
the insertion of the key. The pole of the switch 22 is tripped to
its contact NO by a day-shifting timer or an hour-shifting timer at
every specific interval of time. The pole of the switch 23 is
tripped over to its contact NO by the turning of the key of the
coin locker.
The control system of the coin-operated locker described above
operates as follows. In this connection, it will be assumed that
the rental charge for the use of the locker is two coins, for
instance, two quarters (50 cents) for one predetermined period.
When the first coin (25 cents) is inserted into the coin slot, the
pole of the counting switch 3 is tripped to its contact NO, as a
result of which a circuit is formed by the terminal 1, the coil 7,
the contact means 5, the contact NO of the counting switch 3 and
the terminal 2, and the wiper of the rotary switch 6 is therefore
moved stepwise to be in contact with the contact 6.sub.2 due to the
energization of the coil 7. At the same time, the relay coil 10 is
energized thereby to close the contact means 11 which is a
normally-open-contact of the relay 10 as described above.
When the second coin 25 cents is inserted into the coin slot, the
pole of the counting switch 3 is again thrown over to its contact
NO and the wiper 6.sub.0 of the rotary switch 6 is therefore moved
stepwise to the contact 6.sub.3 from the contact 6.sub.2. At the
same time, the current flowing to the relay 10 is interrupted, but
the relay 10 maintains its energized condition for a while because
a discharge circuit formed by the capacitor 13 and the resistor 12
shunts the relay 10.
As a result, an electric current flows through the coil 9, and the
wiper 8.sub.0 of the rotary switch 8 is therefore moved stepwise to
the contact 8.sub.2. Then since the wiper 14.sub.0 of the rotary
switch 14 is kept connected to the contact 14.sub.2, the rotary
switches 8 and 14 are short-circuited through their wipers.
When the coin-operated locker is not used, the key of the locker
remains inserted in its key hole. Therefore, the poles of the
switches 17 and 20 are switched over to their contacts NO. In
addition, since the rotary switches 8 and 14 are short-circuited as
described above, a current flows through the magnetic coil 16. As a
result of which, it becomes possible to turn the key and a current
flows through the relay 4 thereby to open the contact means 5.
Consequently, additional insertion of a coin into the coin slot is
prevented.
Next, the door of the coin locker is opened, a piece of baggage is
put in the locker, and the door is closed. Under this condition,
when the key is turned to lock the locker, the pole of the switch
23 is thrown to the contact NC, and when the key is removed from
the key hole, the poles of the switches 17 and 20 are moved over to
their contacts NC, as a result of which the capacitor 21 is charged
because a circuit of the resistor 19, the switch 20, and the
capacitor 21 is formed between the terminals 1 and 2.
In the case where the baggage is to be taken out of the locker on
the same day the baggage was placed therein, the insertion of the
key into the key hole causes the poles of the switches 17 and 20 to
be thrown over to their contacts NO, whereby the magnetic coil 16
is energized, and as a result, it becomes possible to turn the key
inserted in the key hole.
The door of the coin-operated locker can now be opened by turning
the key and the baggage can be taken out of the locker. At this
time, by turning the key, the pole of the switch 23 is thrown over
to its contact NO thereby to form the discharge circuit of the
capacitor 21. Due to the discharge of the capacitor 21, the coil 24
is energized, whereby the wiper 14.sub.0 of the rotary switch 14 is
moved stepwise to the contact 14.sub.3. Thus, the first use of the
locker is completed.
If one day has passed without the baggage being taken out of the
locker on the same day the baggage was put therein, the pole of the
switch 22, which is driven by the day-shifting timer, is thrown
over to its contact NO thereby to energize the coil 24, and as a
result, the wiper 14.sub.0 of the rotary switch 14 is moved
stepwise to the contact 14.sub.3. Similarly, when another day has
passed, the wiper 14.sub.0 advances to the contact 14.sub.4.
In the case where the baggage is to be taken out of the locker two
days later, when the key is inserted into the key hole, the poles
of the switches 17 and 20 are thrown over to their respective
contacts NO. Under these conditions, when four coins, that is, the
fee for a two-day use are inserted into the coin slot, the wiper
6.sub.0 is moved by four steps to the contact 6.sub.1 through the
contacts 6.sub.4, 6.sub.5 and 6.sub.6. Accordingly, the wiper
8.sub.0 of the rotary switch 8 is moved by two steps to the contact
8.sub.4 thereby to provide the connection of the rotary switches 8
and 14. As a result, the magnetic coil 16 is energized, thereby
enabling the key to be turned.
Under this condition, by turning the key the door of the
coin-operated locker is opened to take the baggage out of the
locker, and the capacitor 21 is discharged thereby to energize the
coil 24. As a result, the wiper 14.sub.0 of the rotary switch 14 is
moved stepwise to the contact 14.sub.5, and the locker thus becomes
ready for the next user to put his baggage therein.
During a period when the coin-operated locker is not used, the pole
of the switch 22 is thrown over to its contact NO due to the
operation of the day-shifting timer. However, since the key is
maintained turned, thereby throwing the pole of the switch 23 to
the contact NO, the wiper 14.sub.0 of the rotary switch 14 cannot
be moved.
In the example of the coin locker shown in FIG. 1, the rental
charge for one day is two coins. For this purpose, the contacts
6.sub.1, 6.sub.3 and 6.sub.5 of the rotary switch 6 are connected
together, and the contacts thus connected are further connected to
the coil 9, while the contacts 6.sub.2, 6.sub.4 and 6.sub.6 thereof
are also connected together and the contacts thus connected are
further connected to the relay 10.
However, the number of coins is not limited to two. For instance,
in the case where the charge per one day for the use of the
coin-operated locker is three coins, the contacts 6.sub.1 and
6.sub.4 are connected together, and then the contacts thus
connected are connected to the coil 9, while the contacts 6.sub.2,
6.sub.3, 6.sub.5 and 6.sub.6 thereof are connected together and
thus connected further to the relay 10. In the same manner, various
connections of the contacts of the rotary switch 6 can be arranged
for various rental charges of the coin-operated locker.
With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown another
embodiment of the coin locker according to the present
invention.
The control system shown in FIG. 2 comprises: a coin detector D; a
first counter C.sub.1 connected through a signal line l.sub.1 to
the coin detector D; a key-operation-locking device K connected to
the first counter through signal lines l.sub.2, l.sub.3 and l.sub.4
; a second counter C.sub.2 connected to the key-operation-locking
device; a time lapse detector T connected to the second counter
C.sub.2 through an OR gate; and a one-operation completion detector
E (or a detector detecting the completion of one-operation of from
locking to unlocking the locker) connected to the time lapse
detector T through a signal line l.sub.9 and to the OR gate through
a signal line l.sub.8.
The coin detector D serves to detect the insertion of coins into
the coin slot thereby to produce detecting signals. The detecting
signals thus produced are applied through the signal line l.sub.1
to the first counter C.sub.1 which serves to count the number of
coins thus inserted into coin slot. The resulting counting output
signals of the counter C.sub.1 are introduced through the signal
lines l.sub.1, l.sub.2 and l.sub.3 to the key-operation-locking
device, while counting output signals from the second counter
C.sub.2 are applied through the signal lines l.sub.5, l.sub.6 and
l.sub.7 to the key-operation-locking device K. This key-operation
locking device K is adapted to decide whether or not the output
signals of the first and the second counter are applied
correspondingly or coincidently thereto, and to enable the key to
be turned for locking or unlocking the coin-operated locker only
when the signals are coincidently available at the input of the
key-operation-locking device. The one-operation completion detector
E is a detector which detects the fact that one operation of the
locker, that is, from locking to unlocking thereof has been
completed, thereby to produce a detecting signal. This detecting
signal is applied to the second counter through the line l.sub.8 so
that the second counter carries out a step-by-step operation.
signal
The time lapse detector T is adapted to produce time lapse signals
which are applied to the second counter C.sub.2 so that the
step-by-step operation is carried out therein during a period when
the coin locker is locked by the key. As is described above, the
second counter C.sub.2 receives the signals from both the
one-operation completion detector E and the time lapse detector T
so that the step-by-step operation is carried out in the second
counter C.sub.2, while counting output signals from the counter
C.sub.2 are applied to the key-operation locking device through the
signals lines l.sub.5, l.sub.6 and l.sub.7.
With reference now to FIG. 3, a concrete example of the circuit
shown in FIG. 2 will be described.
When the power source Vcc of the coin locker is turned on, all of
the control circuits thereof are reset by signals through resetting
signal lines. In FIG. 3, a detecting switch SW.sub.1 is operated by
coins inserted the coin slot thereby to detect the insertion of the
coins in the coin slot and to produce detecting signals. The
detecting signals are introduced through signal lines l.sub.(1) and
l.sub.(2) to a waveform shaping circuit W which comprises two AND
gates Gw.sub.1 and Gw.sub.2 and an inverter I.sub.1. An input of
the AND gate Gw.sub.1 is connected to the output of the AND gate
Gw.sub.2, while an input of the AND gate Gw.sub.2 is connected to
the output of the AND gate Gw.sub.1, and, furthermore, the output
of the AND gate Gw.sub.1 is connected to the inverter I.sub.1. An
output of the waveform shaping circuit is applied through a signal
line l.sub.(3) to a first counter C.sub.1 which is a quinary
counter whose unit is 25 cents.
Counting signals from the first counter are applied through a first
decoder D.sub.1 and signal lines L.sub.1 through L.sub.5 to a group
of AND gates G.sub.1 through G.sub.5. The AND gates G.sub.1 through
G.sub.5 are connected through signal lines L.sub.6 and L.sub.10 and
a second decoder D.sub.2 to a second counter C.sub.2 that is the
same in construction as the first counter. In other words, each of
the AND gates G.sub.1 through G.sub.5 receives counting signals
from the first and second counters C.sub.1 and C.sub.2.
When a quarter (25-cents) coin is inserted into the coin slot of
the locker, the first counter C.sub.1 delivers its counting signal
through the signal line L.sub.2 to the AND gate G.sub.2, while the
second counter C.sub.2 delivers a counting signal through the
signal line L.sub.6 to the AND gate G.sub.2. The production of the
counting signals from the second counter will be described later.
As a result, the AND gate G.sub.2 is operated thereby to produce an
output signal. The output signal of the AND gate G.sub.2 is
introduced to an input terminal of an AND gate G.sub.7 through an
OR gate G.sub.6 connected to the outputs of the AND gates G.sub.1
through G.sub.5.
The other input terminal of the AND gate G.sub.7 is connected
through a signal line l.sub.(5) to a detecting switch SW.sub.2
which is adapted to detect the insertion and removal of the key
thereby to produce a detecting signal. Therefore, when the key is
inserted in the key hole, a detecting signal is produced by the
detecting switch SW.sub.2. This signal from the detecting switch
SW.sub.2 together with the signal from the OR gate G.sub.6 is
applied to the AND gate G.sub.7, as a result of which an output
signal is produced from the AND gate G.sub.7. The output signal
thus produced is converted by an inverter I.sub.2 thereby to drive
an electrical magnet device Mg which is provided with a switching
transistor Tr and a diode d and is adapted to lock (or unlock) the
key, as a result of which the key becomes turnable for locking the
locker.
As soon as the key is turned to lock the locker, a detecting switch
which is adapted to detect the turning of the key is activated
thereby to ground its normally-closed contact NC side.
Consequently, an operating signal from the switch SW.sub.3 is fed
to an input terminal of an AND gate G.sub.8 through a signal line
l.sub.(6) and to an AND gate G.sub.9 through an inverter
I.sub.3.
When the key is turned and is then removed out of its key hole, the
removal of the key is detected by the detecting switch SW.sub.2,
and a detecting signal from the detecting switch SW.sub.2 is
applied to the other input of the AND gate G.sub.8 through the
signal line l.sub.(5) and to the other input terminal of the AND
gate G.sub.9 through an inverter I.sub.4. The AND gate G.sub.8
described above is adapted to feed a resetting signal to a memory M
when the key is inserted in the key hole and then turned to move
the pole of the switch SW.sub.3 to the normally-open contact NO
side (or the unlocking side). In addition, the AND gate G.sub.9 is
adapted to deliver a setting signal to the memory M when the key is
turned thereby to move the pole of the switch SW.sub.3 to the
normally-closed contact NC side (or the locking side) and then the
detecting switch SW.sub.2 is actuated by the removal of the
key.
As is apparent from the above description, when the key is removed
from the key hole after having been turned to the locking side, the
resetting signal of the AND gate G.sub.8 is eliminated and the
memory M is set by the setting signal of the AND gate G.sub.9
whereby the operation of turning and removing the key is stored in
the memory M. As a result, the memory M produces an output signal
due to the storing of the locking condition (hereinafter referred
to as a "locking signal"). The locking signal is introduced to an
AND gate G.sub.11 through a signal line l.sub.(10). The AND gate
G.sub.11 delivers a time-lapse signal of a timer T through an OR
gate G.sub.10 to the input terminal of the second counter C.sub.2
with the locking signal being applied to the AND gate G.sub.11.
When the memory M is set to the conditions of unlocking the locker,
a signal indicating the completion of one-operation (from locking
to unlocking) of the locker, namely, a one-operation-completing
signal is introduced through a signal line l.sub.(9), a pulse
generating circuit P comprising inverters I.sub.5 and I.sub.6, a
resistor and a capacitor, and the OR gate G.sub.10 to the input of
the counter C.sub.2 by the memory M. The second counter C.sub.2
receives as a counting signal the above-described time-lapse signal
or one-operation-completing signal thereby to carry out its
step-by-step operation.
In the case when the coin locker is unlocked, the circuit shown in
FIG. 3 will operate as follows: when the same count as that in the
case of locking the coin locker is stored in the second counter
C.sub.2, the detecting switch SW.sub.2 is operated by the insertion
of the key thereby to produce a detecting signal. This detecting
signal is applied through the signal line l.sub.(5) to the AND gate
G.sub.7. As a result, the AND gate G.sub.7 produces an output
signal which enables the key to be turned. The key-turning
operation unlocks the coin locker and is at the same time detected
by the detecting switch SW.sub.3, which is adapted to detect the
turning of the key thereby to produce a detecting signal. The
detecting signal produced from the detecting switch SW.sub.3 is
applied through the signal line l.sub.(6) to the AND gate
G.sub.8.
Consequently, the AND gate G.sub.8 produces a resetting signal,
which is applied to the memory M so as to reset the memory M. When
the memory M is reset, the memory M produces its output signal.
This output signal is applied through the signal line l.sub.(9) to
the pulse generating circuit P, which generates a pulse signal for
step-by-step operation only when the memory M is reset. The pulse
signal for step-by-step operation is applied through the OR gate
G.sub.10 to the second counter C.sub.2 whereby the circuit becomes
ready for the next locking operation.
In the case when the step-by-step operation of the second counter
C.sub.2 is being carried out during a period when the coin locker
is locked, the key-turning operation described above is prohibited
by a key-locking means, but when the step-by-step operation of the
counter C.sub.1 is advanced by the insertion of coins to a count
corresponding to that of the second counter C.sub.2, the AND gate
G.sub.7 produce a signal which enables the key to be turned, as a
result of which the coin locker can be unlocked.
According to the present invention, a counting value of the time
lapse counter which is referred to that of the coin counter is
always in advance of the latter counting value. Only when both
counting values becomes coincident with each other can the coin
locker be locked or unlocked by the key. Furthermore, since the
time lapse counter is advanced by one step with the aid of
one-operation completing signal, the coin locker becomes ready for
next use without the resetting both of the counters. Therefore, it
is not necessary at all to provide a special means which restores
the circuit of the coin locker to its initial or original
conditions. In addition, the circuit according to the present
invention is relatively simple in construction and is therefore
free from erroneous operations or troubles.
While a few embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and
described in detail, it is particularly understood that the
invention is not limited thereto or thereby.
* * * * *