U.S. patent number 3,896,915 [Application Number 05/432,977] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-29 for vending machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Nippon Coinco Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Kazuyuki Akai, Yukichi Hayashi, Shinichi Kobayashi, Seiu Sakai, Masayuki Tamura, Yutaka Yokoda.
United States Patent |
3,896,915 |
Hayashi , et al. |
July 29, 1975 |
Vending machine
Abstract
A vending machine adapted to temporarily retain a coin of large
denomination which is not usable as a change coin among the
deposited coins and store coins of small denominations in coin
stacking tubes. When the deposited money is to be returned, coins
of the same denominations as the deposited small denomination coins
are paid out from the coin stacking tubes while the retained large
denomination coin itself is also returned. In event the vending
machine is short of change coins, the vending machine vends the
required article only when a coin requiring no change is deposited
and automatically returns the deposited coin when a coin requiring
change is deposited.
Inventors: |
Hayashi; Yukichi (Tokyo,
JA), Yokoda; Yutaka (Tokyo, JA), Tamura;
Masayuki (Sakado, JA), Kobayashi; Shinichi
(Kamihukuoka, JA), Akai; Kazuyuki (Tokyo,
JA), Sakai; Seiu (Yamato, JA) |
Assignee: |
Nippon Coinco Co., Ltd. (Tokyo,
JA)
|
Family
ID: |
27571611 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/432,977 |
Filed: |
January 14, 1974 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
|
|
Jan 17, 1973 [JA] |
|
|
48-7549 |
Feb 13, 1973 [JA] |
|
|
48-17721 |
Jul 24, 1973 [JA] |
|
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48-83328 |
Jul 24, 1973 [JA] |
|
|
48-83329 |
Jul 27, 1973 [JA] |
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|
48-84684 |
Aug 22, 1973 [JA] |
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48-94078 |
Aug 22, 1973 [JA] |
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48-94079 |
Aug 23, 1973 [JA] |
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48-98931 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
194/218 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
5/24 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
5/00 (20060101); G07F 5/24 (20060101); G07F
005/20 () |
Field of
Search: |
;194/1N,9R,10,1M,DIG.15C |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Kocovsky; Thomas E.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A vending machine comprising means for producing pulses
corresponding in number to the value of a deposited coin and a coin
paid out, addition and subtraction counter means for making
addition by said pulses produced upon insertion of the coin and
making subtraction by said pulses produced upon paying out of the
coin, a temporary retention mechanism for temporarily retaining a
coin of large denomination among coins to be inserted, means for
storing the inserted coins except the retained coin to
corresponding change coin stacking tubes, coin memories
respectively storing the numbers of coins of particular
denominations among the inserted coins, electromagnetic control
means for directing the temporarily retained coin to a cash box
upon receipt of a vend instruction signal and directing the coin to
a return outlet upon receipt of a return signal, means for
producing a signal corresponding to a set vend price, means for
obtaining a count corresponding to the value of the required change
by making subtraction upon application of the signal corresponding
to the set vend price to said addition and subtraction counter
means, detection means for detecting whether the change can be paid
out in coins of a plurality of denominations, coin return means for
reading the contents of said coin memories and returning coins of
the same denominations as the inserted coins from the temporary
retention mechanism and the change coin stacking tubes when the
inserted coins should be returned, and change pay out means for
reading the contents of said coin, memories and delivering a least
possible number of coins as change upon said detection when change
should be paid out.
2. A vending machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising
detection means for detecting shortage of change and producing a
detection signal and means for producing a return instruction
signal upon receipt of said detection signal in case the value of
the deposited coins exceeds the set vend price, said coin return
means and said electromagnetic control means being automatically
actuated by said return instruction signal.
3. A vending machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising a
timer adapted to delay said vend instruction signal and said return
signal by a predetermined period of time and thereafter actuate
said electromagnetic control means, said change payout means and
said coin return means.
4. A vending machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising reset
control means for producing a reset signal during a transient time
from turning-on of power till the start of stable oscillation of
clock pulses regardless of insertion of coins, logic circuit means
producing and cancelling the reset signal upon receipt of a signal
from a coin detection switch and a signal from said addition and
subtraction counter means and means for controlling resetting or
setting of said addition and subtraction counter means upon
production or cancellation of the reset signal, said logic circuit
means producing the reset signal in a stand-by state and producing
no reset signal from the insertion of the coin until a series of
addition and subtraction counting has been completed and the count
of said addition and subtraction counter means has become zero, and
said addition and subtraction counter means being reset and
prevented from performing counting during the transient time and
the stand-by time for ensuring prevention of miscounting of said
counter means due to external causes such as noise.
5. A vending machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising means
for producing an insertion detection signal according to
denomination of an inserted coin upon insertion of the coin, a
first memory provided for each of coins of different denominations
and storing said insertion detection signal temporarily and
self-holding the storage of said signal, a second memory associated
with said first memory which stores the contents of said first
memory and supplies the contents after a predetermined period of
time to said first memory to release the self-holding thereof, a
common memory storing the contents of said second memory and
outputs the contents after a predetermined period of time, a
control circuit provided for each denomination and causing the
contents of said first memory to be stored in said second memory
only when said insertion detection signal is not stored in any of
predetermined first memories for denominations of higher precedence
and no storage is made in said common memory and an output control
circuit for producing a coin detection signal for each denomination
in response to the outputs of said second memory and said common
memory, said coin detection signal being produced with a time
interval in the order of precedence.
6. A vending machine comprising means for producing pulses
corresponding in number to the value of a deposited coin and a coin
paid out addition and subtraction counter means for making addition
by said pulses produced upon insertion of the coin and making
subtraction by said pulses produced upon paying out of the coin, a
plurality of vend price signal generation means for respectively
producing a signal corresponding to a set vend price of each of one
or more articles to be vended, a plurality of coincidence signal
generation means for respectively producing a coincidence signal
when the vend price signal and the count of said addition and
subtraction counter means coincide with each other, a plurality of
vend signal generation means for respectively producing a vend
signal upon receipt of said coincidence signal, a plurality of
article piece number selection means respectively provided for
either one of said vend price signal generation means and being
operable for selecting the number of pieces of the required
article, a plurality of article dispensing means respectively
provided for either one of said article piece number selection
means and dispensing the required number of the article by
operation of said selection means and upon receipt of said vend
signal, means for producing an article dispensing signal upon
dispensing of the article, a temporary retention mechanism for
temporarily retaining a coin of large denomination among coins to
be inserted, means for storing the inserted coins except the
retained coin to corresponding change coin stacking tubes, coin
memories respectively storing the numbers of coins of particular
denominations among the inserted coins, electromagnetic control
means for directing the temporarily retained coin to a cash box
upon receipt of the article dispensing signal and directing the
coin to a return outlet upon receipt of a return signal, means for
obtaining a count corresponding to a required change from said
addition and substraction counter means by applying thereto the
vend price signal corresponding to the number of the dispensed
article in response to the article dispensing signal and thereby
causing said counter means to make subtraction, detention means for
detecting whether or not the change is being paid out by coins of a
plurality of denominations, coin return means for reading the
contents of said coin memories and returning coins of the same
denominations as the inserted coins from the temporary retention
mechanism and the change coin stacking tubes when the inserted
coins should be returned, and change pay out means for reading the
contents of said coin memories and delivering a least possible
number of coins as change upon said detection when change should be
paid out, whereby a plurality of pieces of the article are
dispensed by a single deposition of coins.
7. A vending machine comprising means for producing pulses
corresponding in number to the value of a deposited coin or a coin
paid out, addition and subtraction counter means for making
addition by said pulses produced upon insertion of the coin and
making subtraction by said pulses produced upon paying out of the
coin, a plurality of vend price signal generation means for
respectively producing a signal corresponding to a set vend price
of each of two or more kinds of articles to be vended, a plurality
of coincidence signal generation means for respectively producing a
coincidence signal when the vend price signal and the count of said
addition and subtraction counter means coincide with each other, a
plurality of vend signal generation means for respectively
producing a vend signal upon receipt of said coincidence signal, a
plurality of article kind selection means respectively provided for
either one of said vend price signal generation means and being
operable for selecting two or more kinds of articles, a plurality
of article dispensing means respectively provided for either one of
said article kind selection means and dispensing the required kinds
of articles by operation of said selection means and upon receipt
of said vend signal, means for producing an article dispensing
signal upon dispensing of the articles, a temporary retention
mechanism for temporarily retaining a coin of large denomination
among coins to be inserted, means for storing the inserted coins
except the retained coin to corresponding change coin stacking
tubes, coin memories respectively storing the numbers of coins of
particular denominations among the inserted coins, electromagnetic
control means for directing the temporarily retained coin to a cash
box upon receipt of the article dispensing signal and directing the
coin to a return outlet upon receipt of a return signal, means for
obtaining a count corresponding to a required change from said
addition and subtraction counter means by applying thereto the vend
price signal corresponding to the kinds of the dispensed articles
in response to the article dispensing signal and thereby causing
said counter means to make subtraction, detection means for
detecting whether or not the change is being paid out by coins of a
plurality of denominations, coin return means for reading the
contents of said coin memories and returning coins of the same
denominations as the inserted coins from the temporary retention
mechanism and the change coin stacking tubes when the inserted
coins should be returned, and change pay out means for reading the
contents of said coin memories and delivering a least possible
number of coins as change upon said detection when change should be
paid out, whereby two or more kinds of articles are dispensed by a
single deposition of coins.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a vending machine and, more particularly,
to a vending machine capable of accurately returning a coin of the
same denomination as that inserted in the vending machine in case
the coin has once been inserted in the machine but should be
returned because purchase of the goods is not made for one reason
or another, and also capable of paying out change either in large
denomination coins or in small denomination coins according to
necessity and returning the inserted coin when the machine is short
of a required change.
In vending machines of known types, returning of money equivalent
in sum to an inserted coin for cases where purchase of the goods
has not been made is achieved by using coins stored in a change
coin stacking tube. If an amount of money equivalent to an inserted
large denomination coin such as 100 yen is to be returned but the
coin of the same denomination is not stored as change in the change
coin stacking tube, small denomination coins such as 10 yen or 50
yen must be used. This causes shortage of change and if the
shortage of change is to be avoided, the vending machine requires a
large change coin stacking tube.
The prior art vending machine is also disadvantageous in that a
return instruction tends to be given before the amount of the
inserted coin is electrically calculated in case a return button is
depressed immediately after the coin is inserted in the machine
with a result that shortage or even absence of refund occurs.
In order to avoid shortage of change, another conventional type of
vending machine employs a construction such that an inserted coin
is temporarily retained and thereafter is transferred to a cash box
when purchase is made or returned when it is to be refunded. This
type of vending machine, however, requires a large and complicated
mechanism for retaining all of the inserted coins. Besides, the
retained coins cannot be used as change in this type of vending
machine.
There is still another type of prior art vending machine which
temporarily retains all inserted coins by the kind of coin and
thereafter returns them when they are to be refunded and transfer
them to change stacking tube when purchase is made. This type of
vending machine also requires a complicated coin retaining
mechanism and, moreover, has a defect that coins become jammed in a
chute of the machine with a resulting faulty operation of the
machine since a relatively large number of coins are transferred
simultaneously from the coin retaining unit to the change stacking
tubes.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a novel and
useful vending machine which has eliminated the above described
disadvantages of the prior art vending machines.
It is another object of the invention to provide a vending machine
capable of counting and storing the amount and kind (denomination)
of inserted coins and temporarily retaining a large denomination
coin or coins among the inserted coins while storing small
denomination coins in a change coin stacking tube provided for each
denomination of coin so as to enable the machine to return the
retained large denomination coin itself as well as return the same
denomination of coins as the inserted small denomination coins from
the change coin stacking tube. Each time the coin is returned, the
amount of the coin is subtracted from the whole amount of the
inserted coins and the coin return operation is finished when the
balance becomes Zero.
It is another object of the invention to provide a vending machine
incorporating a control system which produces a vend signal
regardless of the amount of stored change when an inserted coin
requires no change and, when the inserted coin requires change,
returns a coin of the same denomination as the inserted coin only
in case the machine is short of change.
It is another object of the invention to provide a vending machine
incorporating a control system which actuates a coin return
mechanism when the amount of inserted coin or coins coincide with a
set vend price or when a return button is depressed so as to return
coins inserted in the machine thereafter. According to the
inventive vending machine, a subtraction, change payment or return
order is given with a delay of a predetermined period of time after
a vend order signal or a return signal is received so as to ensure
accurate detection, vend and return operations of the machine and
thereby to eliminate an erroneous operation of the machine.
It is another object of the invention to provide a vending machine
capable of vending a plurality of pieces of one and the same
commodity with a single coin depositing action.
It is another object of the invention to provide a vending machine
capable of selectively vending a plurality of different kinds of
commodities.
It is another object of the invention to provide a vending machine
in which adverse effects of noise is effectively prevented and an
erroneous operation of the machine at the time of turning-on of
power is completely eliminated.
It is another object of the invention to provide a vending machine
which has eliminated likelihood of miscounting which occurs at the
time when different denominations of coins are simultaneously
detected by detection switches.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a vending
machine incorporating an escrow device which temporarily retains a
large denomination coin sorted out by a coin acceptor and not used
as change among inserted coins, such retention of the coin being
effected by return and receiving levers capable of projecting into
entrances to a coin path leading to a return outlet and a path
leading to a cash box, and thereafter leads the retained coin to
the return path by withdrawing the return lever when the coin is to
be returned and to the cash box by withdrawing the receiving lever
when purchase is made.
Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent
from the description made hereinbelow with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing one preferred
embodiment of the vending machine according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a detailed circuit diagram of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a detailed circuit diagram of a pulse control section PC
shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a time chart illustrative of signals appearing at various
parts in the circuit shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing another embodiment
of the vending machine according to the invention;
FIG. 6 is a detailed circuit diagram of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing one example of a vend signal
transmitter and a vend circuit;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing one example of a reset control
device;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing one example of a miscount
prevention device;
FIG. 10 (a) is a front elevational view showing coin paths of a
coin control device of the inventive vending machine;
FIG. 10 (b) is a side elevational view showing relative positions
of the coin paths in the neighbourhood of an outlet of an acceptor
A in section;
FIG. 11 is a side elevational view showing one example of a coin
return device partly in section;
FIG. 12 is a rear view of the coin return device as viewed from the
rear side of the acceptor;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the coin control device showing
portions thereof in a cut away state;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 13 showing the coin
control device in a state wherein a 100 yen coin is temporarily
retained;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing coin paths above 10 yen coin
and 50 yen coin tubes;
FIGS. 16 (a) and (b) are side elevational views showing upper
portions of the 10 yen and 50 yen coin tubes in section for
explaining operations for receiving and rejecting the coins;
FIG. 17 is a top plan view of a change payout device;
FIG. 18 is a view of the change payout device taken along line A--A
of FIG. 17; and
FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrative of interlocking
relations between a link lock, a 10 yen payout link and a 50 yen
payout link.
Referring first to FIG. 1, reference characters S.sub.1, S.sub.2
and S.sub.3 respectively designate switches for detecting insertion
of 100 yen, 50 yen and 10 yen coins. The 100 yen coin among the
inserted coins is temporarily retained in mechanical manner since
this coin is not used as change. This mechanism for retaining the
100 yen coin is shown in FIG. 10. Referring to FIG. 10, if a coin
return electromagnetic control device to be described later is not
in operation, a 50 yen coin inserted from an insertion slot. In
passes through paths l.sub.1 and l.sub.2, actuates the switch
S.sub.2 and thereafter is received in a 50 yen change coin stacking
tube C.sub.1. A 10 yen coin likewise passes through paths l.sub.3
and l.sub.4, actuates the switch S.sub.3 and thereafter is received
in a 10 yen change coin stacking tube C.sub.2. A 100 yen coin
passes through paths l.sub.5 and l.sub.6, actuates the switch
S.sub.1 and thereafter is temporarily retained in a mechanical
manner by means of a plunger PL.sub.1 of a return solenoid E.sub.1
and a plunger PL.sub.2 of a receiving solenoid E.sub.2.
Reverting to FIG. 1, IL designates an input logic circuit, PC a
pulse control section which produces a pulse of a predetermined
pulse width upon receipt of a signal from the input logic circuit
PC, AN an AND gate, OR an OR agate, and AS an addition and
subtraction counter which adds or subtracts by the output pulses
supplied from the OR gate OR. SS designates a vend price setting
circuit, CM a comparison circuit for comparing the output of the
addition and subtraction counter AS with the output of the vend
price setting circuit SS and produces a coincidence signal when
these outputs coincide with each other, CG a vend signal storage
and control section for storing and controlling a vend signal by
means of the coincidence signal supplied from the comparison
circuit CM, VE a vend signal transmitter, CA a coin return
solenoid, CB a control circuit for energizing the solenoid CA when
the amount of the inserted coins has reached a predetermined vend
price or when a return instruction is received, S.sub.4 a return
switch, S.sub.5 a vend switch, RR a return and receiving control
section for actuating the return solenoid E.sub. 1 or the receiving
solenoid E.sub.2 upon closing of the switch S.sub.4 or S.sub.5, RK
a change payout and return section, FD a 50 yen detection section
for detecting whether a required change is 50 yen or more or less
than 50 yen, FM a 50 yen coin memory for storing the number of 50
yen coins among the coins inserted in the machine, S.sub.7 a switch
for detecting whether there is a 50 yen coin in a 50 yen change
coin stacking tube C.sub.1, OM a 100 yen coin memory for storing
the number of 100 yen coins among the coins inserted in the
machine, FS a 50 yen - 10 yen supply electromagnetic control
section for supplying a 50 yen coin when energized, and 10 yen coin
when deenergized, during the change payout or coin returning
operation, RG a reset signal generating circuit which produces a
reset signal when the count of the addition and subtraction counter
has become 0, S.sub.6 a switch for detecting whether there is a 10
yen coin in a 10 yen change coin stacking tube C.sub.2, and M a
subtraction instruction control section respectively.
The control system of the vending machine according to the
invention will be described in detail with reference to the circuit
diagram shown in FIG. 2.
Reference characters S.sub.1, S.sub.2 and S.sub.3 designate
switches which respectively are actuated by passing coins sorted
out by a coin acceptor (hereinafter referred to as "acceptor") A
for detecting the insertion of the coin. In the illustrated
embodiment, the switch S.sub.1 is adapted to detect a 100 yen coin,
the switch S.sub.2 a 50 yen coin and the switch S.sub.3, a 10 yen
coin respectively. The switches S.sub.1, S.sub.2 and S.sub.3 are
connected to the pulse control section PC through corresponding
inverters 1, 2 and 3 and chattering prevention circuits 4, 5 and 6.
The switches S.sub.1, S.sub.2 and S.sub.3 are applying high level
signals to the inputs of the respective inverters 1, 2 and 3 in the
state shown in the figure. When the switches S.sub.1, S.sub.2 and
S.sub.3 are actuated upon detection of the coins, low level signals
are applied to the inputs of these inverters 1, 2 and 3. In the
following description, a high level is represented by 1 and a low
level by 0.
The pulse control section PC is adapted to produce pulses of
predetermined different pulse widths in response to coin detection
signals supplied from the switches S.sub.1, S.sub.2 and S.sub.3.
When the switch S.sub.3 is actuated upon insertion of a 10 yen coin
to apply a signal 1 to a terminal T.sub.3 of the pulse control
section PC, the pulse control section PC produces a pulse of a
pulse width shown as A in FIG. 4. When the switch S.sub.2 is
actuated upon insertion of a 50 yen coin to apply a signal 1 to a
terminal T.sub.2, the pulse control section PC produces a pulse of
a pulse width shown as B in FIG. 4. (This pulse width is five times
as long as the pulse width of the pulse A.) Similarly, a pulse of a
pulse width shown as C in FIG. 4 is produced upon detection of a
100 yen coin.
One prefersed example of circuit construction of such pulse control
section PC is illustrated in FIG. 3. The construction and operation
of this pulse control section will now be described.
An OR gate OR.sub.1 receives a coin detection signal supplied from
the terminals T.sub.1 and coin detection signls supplied from the
terminals T.sub.2 and T.sub.3 via OR gates OR.sub.2 and OR.sub.3.
When a signal 1 which represents detection of a coin is applied to
either one of the terminals T.sub.1 - T.sub.3, the OR circuit
OR.sub.1 produces a signal 1 which is applied to the input terminal
of a flip-flop DF.sub.1. The flip-flop DF.sub.1 receives a working
pulse WP such as shown in FIG. 4. The flip-flop DF.sub.1 stores and
outputs the signal 1 upon receipt of a first working pulse WP (the
1st word) and thereafter resets this output signal 1 upon receipt
of a next working pulse WP (the second word) if a signal applied at
this time to the input terminal thereof is 0. The output of the
flip-flop DF.sub.1 is applied to one of the input terminals of an
AND gate AND.sub.1 and also to the input of a flip-flop DF.sub.2.
The flip-flop DF.sub.2 is of the same construction as the flip-flop
DF.sub.1. The output of this flip-flop DF.sub.2 which is still 0 at
the first word and becomes 1 at the second word is applied to the
other input of the AND gate AND.sub.1 through an inverter IN.sub.1.
Accordingly, the input signals of the AND gate AND.sub.1 at the
first word are both 1 so that the AND gate AND.sub.1 produces a
signal 1 during a period of time between the generation of the
first working pulse WP and the generation of the next working pulse
WP (hereinafter referred to as "1 word time"). This output signal 1
representing the fact that a coin of either denomination has been
inserted in the machine is fed to an AND gate AND.sub.2 via an OR
gate OR.sub.4. This output signal 1 of the AND gate AND.sub.1 has a
pulse width which is entirely the same as the one shown as C in
FIG. 4.
The AND gate AND.sub.2 also receives output of an inverter
IN.sub.2. This output of the inverter IN.sub.2 is 0 only when a
signal 1 is applied either from the OR gate OR.sub.2 to an AND gate
AND.sub.5 or from the OR gate OR.sub.3 to an AND gate AND.sub.4 to
cause the AND gate AND.sub.5 or AND.sub.4 to gate out the signal 1.
Accordingly, when the 100 yen coin detection switch S.sub.1 is
actuated to apply a signal 1 to the terminal T.sub.1, the output of
the inverter IN.sub.2 is 1 and the AND gate AND.sub.2 gates out the
output signal 1 from the AND gate AND.sub.1. Since the output of
the AND circuit AND.sub.2 represents the output of the pulse
control section PC, a pulse signal having a pulse width of 1 word
time shown as C in FIG. 4 is produced from the pulse control
section PC upon detection of insertion of a 100 yen coin.
When the 50 yen coin detection switch S.sub.2 is actuated to apply
a signal 1 to the terminal T.sub.2, the signal 1 is applied from
the OR gate OR.sub.2 to one of the input terminals of the AND gate
AND.sub.5. In the meanwhile, a pulse DT.sub.5 as shown in FIG. 4 is
successively applied to the other input terminal of the AND gate
AND.sub.5. Accordingly, the AND gate AND.sub.5 produces a pulse
signal having a pulse width which is the same as the one of the
pulse DT.sub.5 when the two signals are simultaneously applied to
the inputs of the AND gate AND.sub.5. This signal 1 is applied to
the input of a flip-flop DF.sub.3 through an OR circuit OR.sub.5.
The flip-flop DF.sub.3 constantly receives a pulse DP as shown in
FIG. 4 which has a period of one tenths that of the working pulse
WP. The flip-flop DF.sub.3 stores and outputs the signal 1 of the
OR circuit OR.sub.5 upon receipt of a first pulse DP and resets the
signal 1 upon receipt of a next pulse DP. Accordingly, the output
of the flip-flop DF.sub.3 is 1 while the pulse DP is between 5DP
and 6DP. This signal 1 is applied to the inverter IN.sub.2 and one
of the input terminals of an AND gate AND.sub.3. A pulse DT.sub.10
as shown in FIG. 4 is successively applied to the other input of
the AND gate AND.sub.3 through an inverter IN.sub.3. Since the
pulse DT.sub.10 is not generated at the pulse 5 DP, the AND gate
AND.sub.3 produces an output signal 1. This output signal 1 is
applied to the flip-flop DF.sub.3 via the OR gate OR.sub.5.
Accordingly, the output signal 1 of the flip-flop DF.sub.3 is
self-held after the pulse 6 DP. This self-holding is released when
the pulse DT.sub.10 is applied to the inverter IN.sub.3. Thus, the
output of the inverter IN.sub.3 becomes 0 substantially after the
pulse 5 DP. The AND condition of the AND gate AND.sub.2 is
satisfied only during a period of time between the generation of
the pulse C shown in FIG. 4 from the AND gate AND.sub.1 and the
substantial generation of the pulse 5 DP, and the pulse control
section PC produces a pulse signal shown as B in FIG. 4 during this
time.
When the 10 yen coin detection switch S.sub.3 is actuated to apply
a signal 1 at the terminal T.sub.3, this signal 1 is applied to one
of the inputs of an AND gate AND.sub.4 through the OR gate
OR.sub.3. Since a pulse DT.sub.1 as shown in FIG. 4 is applied to
the other input of the AND gate AND.sub.4, the AND gate AND.sub.4
produces a pulse having the same pulse width as the pulse DT.sub.1
when it receives the two input signals simultaneously. This output
pulse of the AND gate AND.sub.4 is applied to the input of the
DF.sub.3 through the OR gate OR.sub.5. For the reason described
above, the output of the flip-flop DF.sub.3 becomes 1 substantially
after the pulse 1 DP and, accordingly, the output of the inverter
IN.sub.2 becomes 0. The AND condition of the AND gate AND.sub.2
therefore is satisfied only during a period of time between the
generation of the pulse shown as C in FIG. 4 from the AND gate
AND.sub.1 and the substantial generation of the pulse 1 DP, and the
pulse control section PC produces a pulse signal shown as A in FIG.
4 which represents the detection of the insertion of the 10 yen
coin.
As will be described in detail later, pulse signals corresponding
to the denominations of the inserted coins are also produced from
the pulse control section PC when the coins are to be returned. In
this case, signals are applied from AND gates 41, 44, 45 and 51 to
be described later to the OR gates OR.sub.2, OR.sub.3 and OR.sub.4
of the pulse control section PC. The output of the flip-flop
DF.sub.2 is applied to an OR gate OR.sub.13 as a signal KP as will
also be described later. Further, the output of the AND gate
AND.sub.1 is applied to the terminal T.sub.4 in addition to the OR
gate OR.sub.4.
Reverting to FIG. 2, construction and operation of the circuit
stages post to the pulse control section PC will be described. The
output pulse from the pulse control section PC is applied to the
AND gate AN. The AND gate AN also receives a pulse t.sub.1 as shown
in FIG. 4. The AND gate AN gates out only one shot of the pulse
t.sub.1 upon receipt of the pulse A (FIG. 4) from the pulse control
section PC, i.e. upon detection of the insertion of a 10 yen coin.
This pulse t.sub.1 is applied to the addition and subtraction
counter AS through the OR gate OR. Similarly, five shots of the
pulse t.sub.1 pass through the AND gate AND and applied to the
addition and subtraction counter AS through the OR circuit OR upon
detection of a 50 yen coin. When the insertion of a 100 yen coin
has been detected, ten shots of the pulse t.sub.1 are applied to
the addition and subtraction counter AS through the AND gate AN and
the OR gate OR.
If a 100 yen coin or a 50 yen coin is inserted, one shot of the
pulse C shown in FIG. 4 is produced from a terminal T.sub.4. If the
inserted coin is a 100 yen coin, an AND gate 58 receives the signal
from the terminal T.sub.1 and the signal from the terminal T.sub.4.
The AND gate 58 therefore produces an output representing the
insertion of one 100 yen coin and this output is stored in a 100
yen coin memory 52. If the inserted coin is a 50 yen coin, an AND
gate 53 receives the signal from the terminal T.sub.2 and the
signal from the terminal T.sub.4 and produces an output
representing the insertion of one 50 yen coin. This output is
stored in a 50 yen memory 54.
From the foregoing description, it will be understood that pulses
corresponding in number to the quotient obtained by dividing the
whole amount of the inserted coins by 10 yen are applied to the
input of the addition and subtraction counter AS.
The addition and subtraction counter AS receives an addition and
subtraction control input from an inverter 7. The addition and
subtraction counter AS performs addition when the control input is
0, and performs subtraction when the control input is 1. The
addition and subtraction counter AS is of a conventional
construction including a shift register and a binary counter.
When a coin is inserted in the machine, the control input to the
addition and subtraction counter AS is 0 as will be described later
and, in this case, the addition and subtraction counter AS performs
addition. As all of the coins have been inserted, a value
corresponding to the total amount of the inserted coins is counted
in the form of a binary information in the addition and subtraction
counter AS. The respective stages of the shift register of the
addition and subtraction counter AS provide the comparison circuit
CM with outputs P.sub.1, P.sub.2 . . . P.sub.5. The comparison
circuit CM has at the input side thereof a plurality of exclusive
OR circuits which receive these outputs P.sub.1, P.sub.2, . . .
P.sub.5 at one of their inputs. The other input terminals of the
exclusive OR circuits are connected to the vend price setting
circuit SS. The vend price setting circuit SS is capable of setting
a vend price at a desired price and supplying binary signals
corresponding to the set vend price to the exclusive OR circuits of
the comparison circuit CM. The outputs of the exclusive OR circuits
are connected to the input of an AND gate CMA. Accordingly, the
comparison circuit CM produces an output 1 when the count of the
addition and subtraction counter As coincides with the set vend
price.
This output is stored in a memory 8 and also applied to one of the
inputs of an AND gate 10 through an OR gate 9. Since at this time
the AND gate 10 receives at the other input an output from the
memory 8, the AND gate 10 produces an output which is applied to
one of the inputs of an AND gate 12 through a flip-flop 11. As will
be described later, a signal 1 is constantly applied to the other
input of the AND gate 12, so that the AND gate 12 produces an
output 1 which causes the vend signal transmitter VE to transmit a
vend signal.
The output signal of the memory 8 is applied also to the coin
return solenoid CA. This return solenoid CA is provided for moving
a pin into and out of the coin path of an acceptor A. When a signal
1 is applied to the solenoid CA, the solenoid CA is deenergized to
project the pin into the coin path of the acceptor A. Accordingly,
a coin which has fallen in the coin path is blocked by the pin and
returned to a return outlet OUT. If, for example, a purchaser has
inserted a 100 yen coin against a set price of 60 yen and
thereafter has erroneously inserted a 10 yen coin, this 10 yen coin
is automatically returned.
When a purchaser depresses a purchase button (not shown) after the
vend signal is output from the vend signal transmitter VE, a
predetermined article for sale is delivered and the vend switch
S.sub.4 is simultaneously actuated. As the switch S.sub.4 is
changed over from the state shown in FIG. 2, an input to an
inverter 14 becomes 0 and the inverter 14 produces an output 1.
This output 1 is applied to a memory 15 and stored therein. The
output of the memory 15 is applied to a timer Ta through an OR gate
16 to start a delaying action of the timer Ta. The timer Ta outputs
a signal 0 when it is not in operation. This signal 0 is inverted
by an inverter I.sub.17 and the inverted output 1 is reinverted by
the inverter I.sub.7 to become a signal 0. This signal 0 is applied
to the addition and subtraction counter AS to cause it to perform
its counting operation. After the delaying operation, the timer Ta
produces an output signal 1 which is inverted by the inverter
I.sub.17 and reinverted by the inverter I.sub.7. Accordingly, a
signal 1 is applied to the addition and subtraction counter AS to
make it ready for subtracting operation. In the meanwhile, the
output 0 of the inverter 17 is applied to an AND gate 19. Since the
AND condition of the AND gate 19 is not satisfied, the output of
the AND gate 19 becomes 0 and, accordingly, the output of the AND
gate 12 becomes 0, thereby stopping the operation of the vend
signal transmitter VE. Thus, the vend signal transmitter VE ceases
to produce the vend signal.
The output 0 of the inverter 17 is inverted by an inverter 18 and
the inverted output 1 is applied to a times T.sub.6 and also to one
of the inputs of each of AND gates 20 and 21. The timer T.sub.6
produces a signal 1 after lapse of a predetermined period of time
and this signal 1 is applied to another input terminal of each of
the AND gates 20 and 21. The AND condition of the AND gate 20 is
not satisfied at the time when the signal 1 is produced from the
inverter 18 because the output of the memory 15 is being applied to
another input terminal of the AND gate 20 through an inverter 23.
On the other hand, the output 1 of the memory 15 is applied to
another input terminal of the AND gate 21. The AND gate 21
therefore produces an output 1 which is applied to the receiving
solenoid E.sub.2 to actuate it. As the receiving solenoid E.sub.2
is actuated, the pin PL.sub.2 provided on the cash box side in a
device for mechanically retaining a coin temporarily is withdrawn
and the coin which has been temporarily retained is received in the
cash box.
The output 1 of the AND gate 21 is applied to a flip-flop 26 via an
OR gate 25 and stored therein. The flip-flop 26 produces an output
upon receipt of the pulse DP. This output of the flip-flop 26 is
returned to the flip-flop 26 via the AND gate 27 and the OR gate 25
to maintain the flip-flop 26 in a self-holding state. The output 1
of the flip-flop 26 is also applied to a flip-flop 28. The output
terminal of the flip-flop 28 is connected through an inverter 29 to
one of the input terminals of an AND gate 30. While the flip-flop
26 outputs 1 and the flip-flop 28 has not received the DP pulse
yet, all of the inputs of the AND gate 30 are 1 so that the AND
gate 30 produces an output 1. The output 1 of the AND gate 30 is
fed to AND gates SP.sub.1 - SP.sub.5 of the subtraction pulse
transmitter SP.
Accordingly, the vend price setting circuit SS produces outputs
upon receipt of the timing pulses t.sub.1 - t.sub.5 thereby
subtracting a value corresponding to the vend price from the count
of the register of the addition and subtraction counter AS. If the
vend price and the amount of the inserted coin coincide with each
other, all of the outputs P.sub.1 - P.sub.5 of the respective
stages of the register of the addition and subtraction counter AS
become "O" and the whole circuit is reset. For this purpose, a
reset circuit RG is provided. The reset circuit RG receives the
signal P.sub.1 - P.sub.5 and produces a signal Rc when all the
input signals P.sub.1 - P.sub.5 are 0. This reset signal Rc is
applied to each of the memories and AND gates of the circuit.
Thus, the count of the addition and subtraction counter AS becomes
a difference obtained by subtracting the set vend price from the
amount of the inserted coin. If this value is not zero, a sum
corresponding to this value should be paid out as change.
The change payout operation will now be described taking by way of
example a case where the price is 120 yen and two 100 yen coins
have been deposited.
Referring to FIG. 2, the count of the addition and subtraction
counter AS becomes 80 after depression of the vend switch S.sub.4.
A detector FD detects whether the change to be returned is 50 yen
and over or not. The detector FD is adapted to receive the outputs
P.sub.1 - P.sub.5 of the addition and subtraction counter AS and
produce an output 1 when its count is 5 or more (i.e. when the
change is 50 yen or more), and 0 when its count is 1, 2, 3 or 4
(i.e. when the change is less than 50 yen). The output of the
detector FD is applied to one of the inputs of an AND gate 31. The
other input of the AND gate 31 is connected to a switch S.sub.7
provided for detecting whether the 50 yen coin tube is empty or
not. Accordingly, the AND gate receives a signal 1 when there is a
50 yen coin in the 50 yen coin tube and passes a signal 1 to a
memory 32 when the change is 50 yen or more. The signal 1 stored in
the memory 32 energizes the electromagnetic control section FS
through an OR gate 33. In the meanwhile, the output signal 1 of the
flip-flop 28 is applied to one of the inputs of an AND gate 35 via
an OR gate 34. Since the output of an inverter 36 is 0 and the
output of a flip-flop 37 is 0 when a change payout switch S.sub.8
is in the state shown in FIG. 2, an output 1 of an inverter 38 is
applied to one of the AND gate 35. The AND gate 35 thereupon
produces an output 1 which is applied to a motor control section 39
to actuate it for driving the motor. As one 50 yen coin has been
delivered as a part of the required change, the switch S.sub.8 is
changed to a position in which the output of the inverter 36 is
changed to 1. This output 1 is applied to one of the inputs of an
AND gate 41 through a chattering prevention circuit 40 and a
flip-flop circuit 37. Since a flip-flop 42 produces an output 0
until it receives a pulse WP, an output 1 of an inverter 43 is
applied to the other input of the AND gate 41. The AND gate
therefore produces an output 1 which is applied to one of the
inputs of each of AND gates 44 and 45. Since at this time the AND
gates 44 and 45 recive the output 1 of the OR gate 33 at the other
input thereof, this AND gate 44 produces an output 1. This output
is applied to the pulse control section PC producing the same
result as if a 50 yen coin was inserted in the machine.
Accordingly, the pulse control section PC provides the AND gate AN
with a signal B shown in FIG. 4 and five pulses are applied to the
addition and subtraction counter AS via the OR gate OR. Since the
addition and subtraction counter AS is in a subtraction mode at
this time, the counter AS effects subtraction to reduce its count
to 3.
This causes the output of the detector FD to change to 0 thereby
deenergizing the electromagnet control section FS. In other words,
the change payout mechanism is brought into a 10 yen payout mode.
Thus, one 10 yen coin is delivered at each rotation of the change
payout motor in the same manner as has previously been described,
whereas the output 1 of the AND gate 41 is applied to one of the
inputs of the AND gate 45.
The output 0 of the OR circuit 33 is inverted by an inverter 46 and
the output 1 of the inverter 46 is applied to the other input of
the AND gate 45. The AND gate 45 therefore produces an output 1
which is applied to the pulse control section PC producing the same
result as if a 10 yen coin was inserted in the machine. The pulse
control section PC provides the AND gate AN with a signal A shown
in FIG. 4. Accordingly, one pulse is applied to the addition and
subtraction counter AS via the OR gate OR to reduce the count of
the counter AS to 2. Ten yen coins are subsequently delivered in
the same manner until the whole circuit stops its operation upon
receipt of a reset signal Rc which is produced when the count of
the addition and subtraction counter AS has become 0. Thus, the
change payout operation has been completed.
Next to be described is an operation of the machine in a case where
the purchaser has pressed a return button after inserting a coin in
the machine.
When the return button (not shown) is depressed and the return
switch S.sub.5 is thereby changed over, an inverter 47 produces an
output 1 which is sorted in a return signal memory 48. The output 1
of this memory 48 is applied to one of the inputs of a NAND circuit
49. Since a signal 1 is applied to the other input of the NAND
circuit 49 at this time, the NAND circuit produces an output 0. The
AND conditions of the AND gates 19 and 12 are no longer satisfied
so that the vend signal is interrupted. Simultaneously, the output
1 of the return signal memory 48 is applied to the AND gate 20 to
satisfy the AND condition thereof in a state in which the vend
switch S.sub.4 is not in operation. Accordingly, the output 1 of
the AND gate 20 is applied to the return solenoid E.sub.1.
As the signal 1 is applied to the return solenoid E.sub.1, the
return pin PL.sub.1 of the previously described temporary retaining
device is withdrawn and the temporarily retained coin is returned
to a return outlet OUT.
Assume now that one 10 yen coin, one 50 yen coin and one 100 yen
coin have been inserted. In this case, the temporarily retained 100
yen coin is returned in the above described manner, whereas the 10
yen and 50 yen coins in the total amount of 60 yen are returned in
the same manner as in the change payout. More specifically, the
output 1 of the AND gate 20 is applied to a return start memory 50.
The output signal of the memory 50 in turn is applied to an AND
gate 51. A 100 yen coin insertion memory 52 is adapted to produce a
signal 1 when the output 1 of the memory 50 produced in response to
the insertion of the 100 yen coin is inverted by an inverter 61 and
therafter is applied to the memory 52 via an AND gate 62 as a
readout signal 0. When the signal 1 is applied to the AND gate 51
form the memory 52, the AND condition of the AND gate 51 is
satisfied and a signal 1 is applied from the AND gate 51 to the
pulse control section PC.
It will be understood that the change payout mechanism is prevented
from coming into operation when a signal 1 is read from the memory
52 by applying a signal 0 to one of the inputs of an AND gate 64
through an inverter 63.
The pulse control section PC then produces a pulse C shown in FIG.
4. The addition and subtraction counter AS receives 10 pulses from
the AND circuit AN and effects subtraction of 100 yen. The
subsequent return of the 50 yen and 10 yen coins is effected in the
same manner as has previously been described with respect to the
change payout operation.
A signal indicating that the 50 yen coin has been inserted is
applied to a 50 yen insertion memory 54 from the pulse control
section PC through an AND gate 53 and stored in the memory 54.
Since the output 1 of the AND gate 41 is inverted by an inverter 55
and thereafter is applied to one of the inputs of an AND gate 56,
the output of the AND gate 56 becomes 0 and this signal 0 serves to
read out the contents of the memory 54. The read out signal 1
energizes the 50 yen - 10 yen payout control section FS via an AND
gate 57 and the OR gate 33. The subsequent operation for returning
the 50 yen coin is the same as has been described with respect to
the return of the 100 yen coin. Then the 10 yen coins are returned
in a similar manner.
The operation of the machine in the event of shortage of coins in
the coin tubes will now be described.
As switch S.sub.6 provided for detecting whether the 10 yen coin
tube is empty or not is changed over from the position shown in
FIG. 2 and provides the OR gate 9 with a signal 0 in case the 10
yen coin tube has not a sufficient number of 10 yen coins required
for delivering the change, this signal 0 is applied from the OR
gate 9 to the AND gate 10. Accordingly, the AND gate 12 does not
produce an output 1. In the meanwhile, an inverter 59 to which the
switch S.sub.6 is connected via the OR gate 9 produces an output 1.
This output 1 is applied to one of the inputs of an AND gate 60. An
output 1 of the memory 8 is applied to the other input of the AND
gate 60. The AND gate 60 therefore produces an output 1 which is
applied to the return memory 48 as a return instruction signal.
It will be understood from the foregoing that the state in which
the machine is short of change is the same as the state in which
the return switch S.sub.5 is actuated and the inserted coin is
returned as in the case of return mode.
While a coincidence signal is being applied to the AND gate 10 via
the OR gate 9, a signal 1 continues to be applied to the AND gate
10 even when a signal 0 is applied to the OR gate 9 by switch
S.sub.6. Accordingly, the vend signal continues to be produced and
the above described return operation is not performed.
In event the switches S.sub.1, S.sub.2 and S.sub.3 have failed to
function as they should, and a signal 0 only is applied, a signal 1
is produced from the pulse control section PC as described above
and this signal 1 is applied to the coin return solenoid CA. This
causes the pin to project into the coin path of the acceptor to
return all of the inserted coins.
In the foregoing embodiment, the coin receiving and change payout
operations are performed by switching of the vend switch S.sub.4
after application of the output signal 1 of the AND gate 12 to the
vend signal transmitter VE. It will be understood, however, that
the same operations may be performed by applying the output of the
AND gate 12 directly to the memory 15 as a vend instruction
signal.
The switches used in the vending machine according to the invention
need not be of a contact type but other types of switches such as a
contactless type switch, a proximity switch and a phototransistor
type switch may be used.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrative of another embodiment of the
vending machine according to the invention. The vending machine of
this embodiment is adapted to deliver a a plurality of one and the
same kind of article with a single coin depositing action.
In FIG. 5, the same component parts as those shown in FIG. 2 are
designated by the same reference characters. Main differences
between the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and that shown in FIG. 2 are
that in the former there are provided n units of price setting
circuits CP, comparison circuits CM, vend signal storage control
sections CG and vend signal transmitters VE (These circuit,
sections and transmitters are distinguished from each other by
suffix numbers attached to the reference characters.) and that in
the former the vend signal from the vend circuit is applied
directly to a return and receiving control section RR through a
terminal TE.
One actual example of the circuit schematically shown in FIG. 5
will now be described with reference to FIG. 6. (In FIG. 6, the
same component parts as those shown in FIG. 2 are designated by the
same reference numerals).
Upon insertion of one or more coins into the slot of the machine, a
numeric value corresponding to the total sum of the inserted coin
or coins is counted in the form of a binary information by a
counter AS in the same manner as was previously described with
respect to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Outputs P.sub.1,
P.sub.2, . . . P.sub.5 of the counter AS are applied to comparison
circuits CM.sub.1, CM.sub.2 . . . CM.sub.n. Each of the comparison
circuits CM.sub.1, CM.sub.2 . . . CM.sub.n has a plurality of
exclusive OR gates at its input section. These exclusive OR gates
receive at one of their respective input terminals the outputs
P.sub.1, P.sub.2 . . . P.sub.5 and are connected at the other input
terminals thereof to price setting circuits SS.sub.1, SS.sub.2, . .
. SS.sub.n. The price setting circuits SS.sub.1, SS.sub.2 . . .
SS.sub.n are capable of setting desired vend prices and a vend
price corresponding to the desired number of article is set in each
of the circuits SS.sub.1, SS.sub.2, . . . SS.sub.n in the form of a
binary information. For convenience of explanation, let it be
assumed that the circuit SS corresponds to a vend of one piece of
the article and sets a price for the one piece, the circuit
SS.sub.2 corresponds to a vend of two pieces of the article and
sets a price for the two pieces and the circuit SS.sub.n likewise
sets a vend price for the n pieces of the article. Signals
corresponding to the set prices are applied to the input of the
exclusive OR circuits of the respective comparison circuits
CM.sub.1 CM.sub.2 . . . CM.sub.n in the form of a binary
information (5 bits in the illustrated embodiment). The output
terminals of the exclusive OR circuits of the comparison circuits
CM.sub.1, CM.sub.2 . . . CM.sub.n are respectively connected to the
inputs of AND gates CMA.sub.1, CMA.sub.2 . . . CMA.sub.n.
Accordingly, the comparison circuits CM.sub.1 - CM.sub.n produce a
coincidence signal 1 when count of the counter AS coincides with
the set price.
When a coincidence signal is produced from the comparison circuit
CM.sub.1, this coincidence signal is stored in a memory 8.sub.1 of
the vend signal storage control section CG.sub.1 and also applied
to one of the inputs of AND gate 10.sub.1 of the same section
CG.sub.1 through an OR gate 9.sub.1. Since the AND gate 10.sub.1
also receives an output of the memory 8.sub.1, the AND gate
10.sub.1 produces an output 1. This output 1 is applied to one of
the inputs of an AND gate 12.sub.1 through a flip-flop 11.sub.1.
The AND gate 12.sub.1 constantly receives at the other input a
signal 1 and, accordingly, the AND gate 12.sub.1 produces a signal
1 which drives a vend signal transmitter VE.sub.1 to produce a vend
signal.
In case the comparison circuits CM.sub.2 - CM.sub.n produce a
coincidence signal, vend signal storage sections CG.sub.2 -
CG.sub.n are likewise actuated to cause vend signal transmitters
VE.sub.2 - VE.sub.n to produce a vend signal.
It will be noted that if set price signals applied to the above
described comparison circuits CM.sub.1 - CM.sub.n are represented
as aK (where K is a price of a single piece of the article and a =
1, 2, .... n), and the amount of the inserted coins, i.e., the
counted value of the addition and subtraction counter as x (aK
.ltoreq. x), all the comparison circuits receiving a signal
representing a set price which is less than or equal to x produce
coincidence signal thereby causing vend signals corresponding to
the respective comparison circuits to be produced. More
specifically, if a vend price for a single piece of the article is
set at 60 yen and three 100 yen coins are introduced in the
machine, all the vend signal transmitters VE.sub.1 - VE.sub.5
produce their respective vend signals.
The reason for adopting the above described construction in which a
plurality of vend signals are produced in accordance with the total
amount of coins introduced is that the number of articles to be
delivered cannot necessarily be determined at the instant when the
purchaser has inserted the coins. Taking the above described case
for example, it cannot be determined whether the purchaser's
requirement is four pieces or five pieces of the article or he has
erroneously supplied a superfluous amount of money notwithstanding
the fact that his real intention was to purchase less pieces of the
article. Accordingly, the present embodiment is so constructed that
one to five pieces of the article may be selectively delivered in
the above described case.
The number of article which the purchaser actually wants to have is
determined upon depression of a selection switch of a vend circuit
of which construction and operation will be described in detail
hereinbelow.
The outputs of the vend signal transmitters VE.sub.1 - VE.sub.n are
applied to the vend circuits for delivery of the number of article
selected by the purchaser. FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing one
example of the vend signal transmitter and the vend circuit.
Referring to FIG. 7, the vend signal transmitters VE.sub.1 -
VE.sub.n comprise relay coils RYL.sub.1 - RYL.sub.n. Reference
characters RYL.sub.1 - a.sub.1 through RYL.sub.n -a.sub.1 denote
relay contacts switched by the actuation of the relay coils
RYL.sub.l - RYL.sub.n. An a-c power AC is applied to these relay
contacts RYL.sub.1 - a.sub.1 through RYL.sub.n - a.sub.1. Selection
switches SW.sub.1 - SW.sub.n are provided respectively for the vend
signal transmitters VE.sub.1 - VE.sub.n so as to enable the
purchaser to select a desired number of the articles. Accordingly,
these selection switches SW.sub.1 - SW.sub.n are provided in a
number corresponding to the number of prices set in the vend price
setting circuits SS.sub.l - SS.sub.n. Motors M.sub.1 - M.sub.n are
provided for the selection switches SW.sub.1 - SW.sub.n for
delivering the wanted article to the purchaser. As either one of
the selection switches SW.sub.1 - SW.sub.n is depressed, the
corresponding motor starts to be driven to deliver the required
number of article to the purchaser. The driving of the motor is
stopped upon completion of the delivery of the article. Switches
SWM.sub.1 - SWM.sub.n are carrier switches provided for the motors
M.sub.1 - M.sub.n for self-running of these motors M.sub.1 -
M.sub.n for a predetermined number of rotation. Reference
characters RL.sub.1 - RL.sub.n designate relay coils for
self-holding and RL.sub.1 -a.sub.1 through RL.sub.n -a.sub.3 relay
contacts which are switched by the relay coils RL.sub.1 - RL.sub.n.
A reference numeral 70 designates an ac-to-dc converter which is
provided for providing the vend signal receiving terminal TE with a
signal 1 upon settting of a selected one of the selection switches
SW.sub.1 - SW.sub.n. Ac-to-dc converters AD.sub.1 - AD.sub.n are
respectively connected in parallel with the motors M.sub.1 -
M.sub.n for applying a signal 0 to terminals Ad.sub.1 -
Ad.sub.n.
Assume that the relay coils RYL.sub.1 and RYL.sub.2 of the vend
signal transmitters VE.sub.1 and VE.sub.2 are energized and the
selection switch SW.sub.2 is set. In this case, only the relay coil
RL.sub.2 is energized and the contacts RL.sub.2 - a.sub.1, RL.sub.2
- a.sub.2 and RL.sub.2 - a.sub.3 only are closed. Accordingly, the
motor M.sub.2 is driven to cause the switch SWM.sub.2 to switch
from the position shown in the figure thereby deenergizing the coil
RL.sub.2. The pieces of the required article are delivered by this
driving of the motor M.sub.2. Upon stopping of the motor M.sub.2,
the switch SWM.sub.2 is switched back to the position shown in the
figure. In the meanwhile, the closing of the contact RL.sub.2
-a.sub.3 causes a signal 1 to be applied to the terminal TE via the
ac-to-dc converter 70. This signal 1 is applied to the memory 15
(FIG. 6) and stored therein. Again, a signal 0 is applied from the
ac-to-dc converter AD.sub.2 to the terminal AD.sub.2.
Referring again to FIG. 6, the output from the memory 15 is fed to
the timer Ta through the OR gate 16 to start a delaying action of
the timer Ta. After the delaying action of the timer Ta, the
counter AS is changed to a subtraction ready state in the same
manner as has previously been described. Since the AND gate 19 now
receives the output of the inverter 17, the output of the AND gate
19 becomes 0. Thereupon the outputs of the AND gates 12.sub.1 -
12.sub.n become 0 and, accordingly, the vend signal transmitters
VE.sub.1 - VE.sub.n cease to produce the vend signals. The
operation of the receiving solenoid E.sub.2 thereafter is the same
as was described with respect to the first embodiment.
An output signal 1 from the AND gate 21 is also applied to one of
the inputs of an AND gate 65. The output of the AND gate 65 is
applied to and stored in the flip-flop 26 via the OR gate 25. The
flip-flop 26 is self-held by feeding back its output through the
AND gate 27 and the OR gate 25 upon application thereto of a pulse
DP. The output 1 of the flip-flop 26 is also applied to a flip-flop
28.
The output terminal of the flip-flop 28 is connected to one of the
input terminals of an AND gate 30 via an inverter 29. Accordingly,
all inputs of the AND gate 30 are 1 while the flip-flop 26 produces
an output 1 and the flip-flop 28 has not received the pulse DP yet.
The AND gate 30 therefore produces an output 1.
The output 1 of the AND gate 30 is applied to AND gates AP.sub.1 -
AP.sub.5 of subtraction pulse transmitters SP.sub.1, SP.sub.2 . . .
SP.sub.n. Accordingly, the signals from the price setting circuits
SS.sub.1 - SS.sub.n are produced from OR gates A.sub.1 - A.sub.n
through timing by the pulses t.sub.1 - t.sub.5 shown in FIG. 4. The
outputs of the OR gates A.sub.1 - A.sub.n are respectively applied
to AND gates 67.sub.1 - 67.sub.n. The AND gates 67.sub.1 - 67.sub.n
also receive outputs of the ac-to-dc converters AD.sub.1 - AD.sub.n
from the terminals Ad.sub.1 - Ad.sub.n via inverters 68.sub.1 -
68.sub.n. The outputs of the ac-to-dc converters AD.sub.1 -
AD.sub.n are also applied to a logic circuit 69 via the terminals
Ad.sub.1 - Ad.sub.n and the inverters 68.sub. 1 - 68.sub.n. The
logic circuit 69 is constructed in such a manner that it produces
an output 1 when either one of the outputs of the invertors
68.sub.1 - 68.sub.n is 1. The ac-to-dc converters AD.sub.1 -
AD.sub.n respectively produce an output 0 when the corresponding
selection switches SW.sub.1 - SW.sub.n (FIG. 7) are set and the
corresponding motors M.sub.1 - M.sub.n are driven. Accordingly, the
signal 0 is applied to one of the terminals Ad.sub.1 - Ad.sub.n
corresponding to one of the switches SW.sub.1 - SW.sub.n selected
by the purchaser whereby the AND condition of the AND gate 65 is
satisfied, whereas the AND condition is also satisfied in one of
the AND gates 67.sub.1 - 67.sub.n corresponding to the terminal to
which the signal 0 is applied. One of the OR gates A.sub.1 -
A.sub.n corresponding to this AND gate produces an output which is
applied to the OR gate 66 through the corresponding one of the AND
gates 67.sub.1 - 67.sub.n and further to the addition and
subtraction counter AS through the OR gate OR.
Thus, a value corresponding to the set price of the selected number
of article is subtracted from the value stored in the counter AS.
Since the interval at which the pulse t.sub.1 appears from the
pulse t.sub.5 is equal to the interval of the shift pulse
.phi..sub.1, subtraction is effected at each bit. If the set price
coincides with the amount of the inserted coins, all of the outputs
P.sub.1 - P.sub.5 of the respective stages of the register of the
counter AS become 0 whereby the whole circuit is reset by the reset
circuit RG.
It will be understood from the foregoing that the counted value of
the addition and subtraction counter AS becomes difference between
the amount of the inserted coins and the set price. In case this
difference is not 0, an amount of money corresponding to this
difference is payed out as change. The change payout operation is
performed in the same manner as has previously been described with
respect to the first embodiment.
Next to be described is an operation performed in a case where the
change coin tube is short of change coins. In case there is
shortage of change, a 10 yen shortage detection switch S.sub.6 is
actuated to supply a signal 0 to one of the inputs of each of AND
gates 10.sub.1, 10.sub.2 . . . 10.sub.n through OR gates 9.sub.1,
9.sub.2 . . . 9.sub.n. Accordingly, when the shortage of change
occurs, AND gates 12.sub.1, 12.sub.2 . . . 12.sub.n which are
connected to the outputs of the AND gates 10.sub.1, 10.sub.2 . . .
10.sub.n do not produce a signal 1. Since the switch S.sub.6 is
also connected to an inverter 59 through the OR gates 9.sub.1,
9.sub.2 . . . 9.sub.n, the output of the inverter 59 is 1 and
applied to one of the inputs of an AND gate 60. The AND gate 60
receives at the other input thereof a signal 1 from a memory
8.sub.n so that the AND gate 60 produces an output 1 which is
supplied to a return memory 48 as a return instruction signal.
Accordingly, if there occurs shortage of change and a signal 1 is
produced from the comparison circuit CM.sub.n of the most
significant digit, the device is brought into a state which is the
same as in the case where the return switch S.sub.4 is actuated
whereby the inserted coin or coins are returned to the
purchaser.
While a coincidence signal is applied to the AND gate 10.sub.n via
the OR gate 9.sub.n, the AND gate 10.sub.n continues to produce a
signal 1 even when the 10 yen coin shortage detection switch
S.sub.6 applies a signal 0 to the OR gate 9.sub.n. Thus, a vend
signal is produced and the above described return operation is not
performed.
As described in the foregoing, this embodiment is extremely
convenient in a case where the purchaser wants a plurality of
pieces of the same kind of article since the machine is capable of
vending a desired number of the article within an amount of the
inserted coins.
The embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 5 - 7 is so
constructed that a plurality of pieces of one and the same article
can be delivered. It will be noted that a plurality of kinds of
articles may be delivered by the machine of the same construction
as described above. For this purpose, selling prices respectively
corresponding to different articles are preset in the price setting
circuits SS.sub.1 - SS.sub.n in the form of binary information and
the selection switches SW.sub.1 - SW.sub.n are made to correspond
to the respective articles.
The addition and subtraction counter employed in the above
described vending machine consists of a plurality of flip-flop
circuits. This type of counter, however, tends to make an erroneous
operation when the power is turned on or when the machine is set at
a stand-by, i.e. the coin has not been inserted in the slot yet and
the counter has not started its counting operation, because the
flip-flop circuits of the counter are unintentionally inverted due
to noise which often occurs on such occasions. The tendency to the
erroneous operation of the addition and subtraction counter of the
vending machine poses a very serious problem because the vending
machines are usually located along the street and the counter is
subject to the adverse effect of a very complicated noise. Again,
since a regular clock pulse is not produced before a lapse of
certain time after turning-on of the power, the addition and
subtraction counter which is controlled by this clock pulse is
placed in a very unstable state during this transient period. The
counter therefore is likely to make an erroneous counting operation
in case, for example, a coin is inserted in the machine immediately
after the turning-on of the power.
According to the present invention, a reset control device is
provided for preventing such erroneous operation of the counter.
FIG. 8 illustrates one example of such reset control device which
may be used with the control system as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and
FIGS. 5 - 7. FIG. 8 therefore shows the internal construction of a
reset control device RCN as well as connections of the device with
the coin return solenoid CA, the addition and subtraction counter
AS, the pulse control section PC and the chattering preventing
circuits 4, 5, 6.
In FIG. 8, the outputs of the chattering prevention circuits 4, 5
and 6 are respectively applied to corresponding flip-flops 74, 75
and 76 through NOR circuits 71, 72 and 73. The outputs of the
flip-flops 74, 75 and 76 in turn are supplied to a flip-flop 78
through a NOR circuit 83, an inverter 84 and a flip-flop 77. The
flip-flops 74 - 76 are adapted to temporarily store the signal 1
applied from the NOR circuits 71 - 73 and gate out this signal 1
upon application of the working pulse WP of a predetermined
interval as shown in FIG. 4. The flip-flops 77 and 78 likewise gate
out a signal 1 stored temporarily therein upon application of the
working pulse WP. The output of the flip-flop 78 is applied to NAND
circuits 80, 81 and 82 through an inverter 85. The NAND circuits 80
- 82 receive at the other input terminals thereof the outputs of
the corresponding flip-flops 74, 75 and 76. The outputs of the NAND
circuits 80, 81 and 82 are applied to the flip-flops 74, 75 and 76
through the NOR gates 71, 72 and 73.
Thus, the signal 1 which is once stored in the flip-flops 74, 75
and 76 is passed through the NAND circuits 80, 81 and 82 and stored
again in the flip-flops 74, 75 and 76 for self-holding. When a
signal 1 is produced from the flip-flop 78, the condition of the
NAND circuits 80, 81 and 82 is not satisfied whereby the flip-flops
74, 75 and 76 are released from self-holding.
The flip-flop 78 produces an output 1 at the third word after the
detection switches S.sub.1 - S.sub.3 are actuated to apply a signal
0 to the NOR circuits 71 - 73, i.e. upon application of three shots
of the pulse WP, thereby releasing the flip-flops 74, 75 and 76
from self-holding. The flip-flops 74, 75 and 76 therefore produce
an output 0 at the fourth word.
A reset signal transmitter RG.sub.4 receives output signals of a
power-turning-on reset control section RG.sub.1, a stand-by
identification control section RG.sub.2 and a stand-by reset
control section RG.sub.3 through lines L.sub.1, L.sub.2 and L.sub.3
respectively. When either one of the signals on the lines L.sub.1 -
L.sub.3 is 0, the output of NAND circuit 102 becomes 1 and a signal
0 is output from an inverter 103 as a reset signal Rc. The addition
and subtraction counter AS and the pulse control section PC are
reset by this signal 0. When the signals on the lines L.sub.1 -
L.sub.3 are all 1, the addition and subtraction counter AS and the
pulse control section PC are set by this signal 1. The "resetting"
of the addition and subtraction counter AS means non-performance of
the counting operation and maintenance of the count at zero without
likelihood of the erroneous operation due to noise etc., whereas
the "setting" of the counter means an operable condition of the
counter. The operations of the respective control sections RG.sub.1
- RG.sub.3 will be described in detail hereinbelow.
The power-turning-on reset control section RG.sub.1 provides a
signal 0 on the line L.sub.1 during a transient time from
turning-on of the power till the start of oscillation of regular
clock pulses thereby providing the reset signal Rc during this
time. In the example illustrated in the figure, the control section
RG.sub.1 comprises a CR time constant circuit 86 having a capacitor
C.sub.1 connected to a negative power source -Vc. The output of the
time constant circuit 86 is applied to a MOS field-effect
transistor (hereinafter referred to as "MOS transister") MOS.sub.1
through inverters 87 and 88. The drain of the MOS transistor
MOS.sub.1 is connected to the input of an inverter 89. A MOS
transistor MOS.sub.3 is connected at the gate thereof to the output
of the inverter 87 and, at the drain thereof, to the negative power
source -Vc. The MOS transistor MOS.sub.3 is further connected at
the source thereof to the drain of the MOS transistor MOS.sub.2.
The working pulse WP is applied to the gate of the MOS transistor
MOS.sub.2. The MOS transistor MOS.sub.2 is connected at the source
thereof to the input of the inverter 89 and also to a capacitor 90
which is grounded. Thus, the output of the inverter 89 is applied
to a NAND circuit 102 through the line L.sub.1.
The charging time for the CR time constant circuit 86 is determined
in accordance with the time required for a stable oscillation of
the clock pulse. When the power is turned on, the output of the
time constant circuit 86 is at a low level and therefore
constitutes the signal 0 during a certain period of time.
Accordingly, the output of the inverter 87 becomes a signal 1 and
that of the inverter 88 a signal 0. This brings the MOS transistor
MOS.sub.1 into conduction whereby the input side of the inverter 89
is brought into a high level (ground potential) and a signal 1 is
applied to the inverter 89. Thus, a signal 0 is applied to the NAND
circuit 102 via the line L.sub.1 and the inverter 103 outputs a
signal 0 thereby resetting the addition and subtraction counter AS.
The output 0 of the inverter 89 is also applied to a NOR circuit
97. The output of the NOR circuit 97 is fed to a coin return
solenoid CA. The solenoid CA is actuated upon receipt of a signal 1
from the NOR circuit 97 to return the inserted coin or coins to the
purchaser.
When the output of the time constant circuit 86 becomes 1 after a
lapse of the predetermined time, the output of the inverter 87
becomes 0 thereby bringing the MOS transistor MOS.sub.3 into
conduction. In the meanwhile, the working pulse WP which is
produced upon stabilization of the oscillation of the clock pulse
is applied to the gate of the MOS transistor MOS.sub.2 thereby
bringing it into conduction and the MOS transistor MOS.sub.1 into
non-conduction. Accordingly, charging of the capacitor 90 is
started. When the charging has been completed, the input side of
the inverter 89 becomes a signal 0 and a signal 1 is applied to the
NAND circuit 102 via the line L.sub.1. Accordingly, production of
the reset signal Rc depends upon the signals on the other lines
L.sub.2 and L.sub.3.
The stand-by identification control section RG.sub.2 is adapted to
provide the NAND circuit 102 with a signal 0 via the line L.sub.2
and thereby cause the NAND circuit 102 to produce the reset signal
Rc during a period of timem from the turning-on of the power till
recognition of the fact that none of the detection switches
S.sub.1, S.sub.2 and S.sub.3 is producing a signal 0 due to
malfunction thereof and that the addition and subtraction counter
AS is not making miscounting. The outputs of the inverter 84 and
the flip-flops 77 and 78 are applied to a NOR circuit 91 and
supplied to a NOR circuit 93 via an inverter 92. The NOR circuit 93
also receives a count signal from the addition and subtraction
counter AS via the line Lc. The count signal is 0 when the count of
the counter AS is zero and 1 when the count is a value other than
zero. The output of the NOR circuit 93 is applied to an AND gate 95
via an OR gate 94. The AND gate 95 also receives the output of the
inverter 89 and the pulse .phi..sub.1 shown in FIG. 4. The output
of the AND gate 95 is applied to one of the inputs of an AND gate
96 which receives at the other input thereof the pulse .phi..sub.2
shown in FIG. 4. The output of the AND gate 96 is fed to a NAND
circuit 102 via the line L.sub.2 and also to an OR gate 94. The
pulses .phi..sub.1 and .phi..sub.2 are locked in the AND gates 95
and 96 once they have been applied to these AND gates and,
accordingly, a signal 1 continues to be applied to them. The output
of the AND gate 96 is applied also to a NOR circuit 97.
Assume that the oscillation of the clock pulse has now been
stabilized and a signal 1 is applied from the inverter 89 to the
AND gate 95. Assume further that the pulses .phi..sub.1 and
.phi..sub.2 are respectively applied to the AND gates 95 and 96. If
either one of the detection switches S.sub.1 - S.sub.3 is out of
order and produces a signal 0, the output of the NOR circuit 91
becomes 0 and a signal 1 is applied to the NOR circuit 93 via the
inverter 92. Accordingly, the AND gates 95 and 96 respectively
produce an output 0 and the signal 0 is applied to the NAND circuit
102 via the line L.sub.2 resulting in production of the reset
signal Rc. The same operation as the above described one is
performed in a case where the addition and subtraction counter AS
makes miscounting and a signal 1 is applied to the NOR circuit 93
via the line Lc.
If a coin is inserted in this state, the coin will be returned to
the purchaser because the signal 0 is being applied from the AND
gate 96 to the NOR circuit 97 thereby actuating the coin return
solenoid CA. When the counter AS is not making miscounting and the
switches S.sub.1 - S.sub.3 are not making an erroneous operation,
the signals applied to the NOR circuit 93 are both 0. Accordingly,
the AND gates 95 and 96 respectively produce an output 1, and a
signal 1 is applied to the NAND circuit 102 via the line L.sub.2.
Thus, production of the reset signal Rc depends upon the signal on
the line L.sub.3. The signal 1 of the AND gate 96 is also applied
to the OR gate 94 to maintain the signal 1 of the AND gate 96 in a
self-holding state. Accordingly, once the stand-by condition is
confirmed after turning-on of the switch, the signal 1 on the line
L.sub.2 remains constant even if the switches S.sub.1 - S.sub.3 are
actuated and the counter AS performs a counting operation.
The stand-by reset control section RG.sub.3 is constructed in such
a manner that while a coin is not inserted and a series of addition
and subtraction counting operation is not performed, the control
section RG.sub.3 constantly supplies a signal 0 to the NAND circuit
102 via the line L.sub.3 to cause the NAND circuit 102 to produce
the reset signal Rc, and if one of the switches S.sub.1 - S.sub.3
is actuated, NAND circuit 102 ceases to produce the reset signal Rc
and thereafter is prevented from producing the reset signal Rc
until a series of counting operation is completed.
The NAND circuit 99 receives the output of the inverter 84 and also
the output of the flip-flop 77 which is applied through the
inverter 98. The output of the NAND circuit 99 is applied to a
flip-flop 79 through a NOR circuit 100. The input signal to the
flip-flop 79 is temporarily stored therein and thereafter is read
out upon application of the pulse DP shown in FIG. 4. The readout
signal is fed to the NAND circuit 102 via the line L.sub.3 and to
the NAND circuit 101. The NAND circuit 101 receives also the count
signal and applied from the addition and subtraction counter AS via
the line Lc and an error signal applied via the line LE. The error
signal becomes 0 when the count of a reversible conter (not shown)
of the addition and subtraction counter AS becomes a nagative value
by subtraction and otherwise is 1. Assume that signals 1 are being
supplied to the NAND circuit 102 via the lines L.sub.1 and L.sub.2
and a coin is not introduced in the machine. The output of the
inverter 84 is 0 and that of the inverter 98 is 1. The output of
the NAND circuit 99, therefore, is a signal 1 and the output of the
NOR circuit 100 is a signal 0. Accordingly, the flip-flop 79
provide the NAND circuit 102 with a signal 0 via the line L.sub.3
thereby producing the reset signal Rc. Thus, the addition and
subtraction counter AS is constantly reset.
If a coin is inserted and the switch S.sub.1 thereby is actuated
the flip-flop 74 produces a signal 1 upon application thereto of a
first working pulse WP. This signal 1 is applied to the NAND
circuit 99 via the inverter 84. Since the output of the flip-flop
77 at this time is 0, the NAND circuit 99 supplies a signal 1 to
the flip-flop 79 via the NOR circuit 100. The flip-flop 79 produces
a signal 1 upon receipt of the pulse DP and, accordingly, the
output of the inverter 103 connected to the output of the NAND
circuit 102 becomes 1 whereby the production of the recet signal Rc
ceases. Thus, the counter AS is set and capable of counting. The
amount of the introduced coins is now calculated and the signals on
the lines L.sub.C and L.sub.E becomes 1. Since the output of the
flip-flop 79 is a signal 1, the NAND circuit 101 provides the NOR
circuit 100 with a signal 0. The flip-flop 79 therefore receives a
signal 1 thereby maintaining the signal 1 on the line L.sub.3 in
self-holding. When count signal on the line L.sub.C becomes 0 upon
completion of the operation of the counter AS for subtracting the
price from the deposited amount has finished, the NAND condition of
the NAND circuit 101 is no longer satisfied and, accordingly, the
flip-flop 79 produces an output 0 thereby producing the reset
signal Rc again.
As will be understood from the foregoing, the reset control device
is capable of effectively preventing the addition and subtraction
counter AS from making a faulty operation due to external noises by
ensuring an accurate resetting of the counter in the stand-by
state. The reset control device is also capable of preventing the
erroneous operation of the counter AS due to failure in production
of regular pulses by having the counter AS reset and an inserted
coin returned during the transient period from turning-on of the
power till the start of oscillation of a regular clock pulse. Thus,
the purchaser will be protected from suffering an unexpected loss
of his coin.
In a vending machine, various kinds of coins are inserted and, if
two or more kinds of coins have actuated the detection switches
simultaneously due to delay in passing of the preceding coin or
insertion of the coins in rapid succession, there occurs miscount,
i.e., the exact amount of the inserted coin is not calculated.
According to the invention, a miscount prevention device is
provided to prevent occurence of such miscount. FIG. 9 is
illustrative of one example of the miscount prevention device which
is provided between the detection switches S.sub.1 - S.sub.3 and
the pulse control section PC.
In FIG. 9, the chattering prevention circuits 4, 5 and 6
respectively produce detection signals upon insertion of the
different kinds of coins.
Flip-flops 107, 108 and 109 temporarily store a signal 1 applied
from their corresponding OR gates 104, 105 and 106 and output the
signal 1 upon receipt of the working pulse WP of a predetermined
pulse interval. The outputs of the flip-flops 107, 108 and 109 are
respectively applied to flip-flops 113, 114 and 115 through AND
gates 110, 111 and 112. The output terminals of the flip-flops 113,
114, and 115 are connected to a flip-flop 117 through an OR gate
116. These flip-flops 113 and 114, 115 and 117 are also receiving
the working pulse WP.
The outputs of the flip-flops 113, 114 and 115 are applied to AND
gates 121, 122 and 123 via inverters 118, 119 and 120 and also to
AND gates 124, 125 and 126 respectively. The AND gates 121, 122 and
123 receive also the outputs of the flip-flops 107, 108 and 109
respectively. Accordingly, the signal 1 temporarily stored in the
flip-flops 107, 108 and 109 is self-held by being again stored
therein through the AND gates 121, 122 and 123. This self-holding
is released when the signal 1 is output from these flip-flops 113,
114 and 115.
The AND gates 124, 125 and 126 receive also the output of the
flip-flop 117 through an inverter 127. The AND gates 124, 125 and
126 respectively correspond to the kinds of coinage used in the
vending machine. The outputs of these AND gates 124, 125 and 126
are applied to the counter (not shown) as coin detection signals
for addition of the amounts of the inserted coins.
The output of the flip-flop 117 is fed to the AND gates 110, 111
and 112 through a NOR circuit 129. The output of the OR gate 116 is
applied to the NOR circuit 129 and also to the AND gate 128.
The AND gates 110, 111 and 112 receive also the outputs of the
inverters 4, 5 and 6 via inverters 130, 131 and 132 respectively.
The AND gate 11 further receives the output of the flip-flop 107
through an inverter 133. The AND gate 112 further receives the
output of a NOR circuit 134 which receives the outputs of the
flip-flops 107 and 108.
The outputs of the flip-flops 107, 108 and 109 and the output of an
inverter 135 connected to the output terminal of the NOR circuit
129 are applied to the coin return solenoid CA via an OR gate 136.
This solenoid CA is provided for projecting the pin into and
withdrawing the same from the coin passage of the acceptor A. When
a signal 1 is applied to the solenoid CA, the solenoid is
deenergized to project the pin into the coin passage. A coin
inserted in the slot thereafter is blocked by the pin and delivered
to the coin return outlet OUT.
Accordingly, the inserted coin is rejected when either one of the
flip-flops 107 - 109 is producing a signal 1 whereby a successive
insertion of coins which is likely to cause miscounting of the
counter is prevented. Furthermore, in case a signal 0 is produced
due to incomplete contact of either one of the switches S.sub.1 -
S.sub.3, an inserted coin is rejected by application of a signal 1
to the solenoid CA from the corresponding one of the flip-flops 107
- 109.
The operation of the miscount prevention device will be described
with reference to a case wherein the switches S.sub.1, S.sub.2 and
S.sub.3 have been simultaneously actuated.
The insertion detection signal 0 from the respective switches
S.sub.1, S.sub.2 and S.sub.3 are inverted by the inverters 4 - 6
and the output 1 of the inverters 4 - 6 are stored in the
flip-flops 107 - 109 through the OR gates 104 - 106. The stored
signal 1 is read out one word (e.g. 1ms) later upon application of
the pulse WP. The read out signal 1 is applied to the AND gates
110, 111 and 112 and the AND gates 121, 122 and 123. Since the
outputs of the flip-flops 113, 114 and 115 in this stage are 0, the
AND conditions of the AND gates 110, 111 and 112 are satisfied and
these AND gates are self-held. In the meanwhile, the AND gates 110,
111 and 112 receive an output 1 of the NOR circuit 129. The AND
gate 111 further receives a signal 0 from the inverter 133 and the
AND gate 112 a signal 0 from the NOR circuit 134. If the switches
S.sub.1 , S.sub.2 and S.sub.3 are actuated from this state, the
outputs of the inverters 130, 131 and 132 become 1 and these
outputs 1 are applied to the AND gates 110, 111 and 112. The AND
gate 110 accordingly provides the flip-flop 113 with a signal 1.
The signal 1 is read out one word later (two words counting from
the beginning) and stored, in the flip-flop 117 via the OR gate
116. The signal 1 from the flip-flop 113 is also applied to the
inverter 118 and the output 0 of the inverter 118 is applied to the
AND gate 121. The flip-flop 107 thereby is released from
self-holding. The output 1 of the flip-flop 113 is applied also to
the AND gate 124. Since the output of the AND gate 128 at this time
is 1, the AND gate 124 produces a 100 yen coin detection
signal.
The signal 1 stored in the flip-flop 117 is read out one word later
(three words counting from the beginning) whereby the output of the
AND gates 128 and 124 become 0. The output of the flip-flop 117
becomes 0 still one word later (four words counting from the
beginning) and, accordingly, the NOR circuit 129 produces an output
1.
When the output of the NOR circuit 129 has become 1, the AND gate
111 which has already received a signal 1 from the inverter 133
produces an output 1. This output 1 is stored in the flip-flop 114
and read out one word later (five words counting from the
beginning). This output signal 1 serves to release self-holding of
the flip-flop 108 as well as to cause the AND gate 125 to produce a
50 yen coin detection signal. In the meanwhile, the output 1 of the
flip-flop 114 is stored in the flip-flop 117 via the OR gate 116
whereupon the output of the OR gate 16 becomes 0 and the AND
condition of the AND gate 111 is no longer satisfied. The flip-flop
117 produces a signal 1 one word later (six words from the
beginning) whereby the outputs of the AND gates 128 and 125 become
0. Still one word later (seven words from the beginning), the
output of the flip-flop 117 becomes 0 and, accordingly, the output
of the NOR circuit 129 becomes 1.
When the output of the NOR circuit 129 has become 1, the AND gate
112 produces an output 1 since the output of the NOR circuit 134
has already become 1. The output 1of the AND gate 112 is stored in
the flip-flop 115 and read out one word later (eight words counting
from the beginning). This output 1 releases the flip-flop 109 from
self-holding and causes the AND gate 126 to produce a 10 yen coin
detection signal. Thus, the 100 yen, 50 yen and 10 yen detection
signals are sequentially produced with a proper time interval
therebetween.
It will be understood from the above description that in case two
or more switches are actuated within one word time, a detection
signal for a coin of higher precedence is produced first and a
detection signal for a coin of lower precedence is produced only
after the detection of the coin of higher precedence is recognized
by the flip-flop 117 (i.e. the flip-flop 117 has produced a signal
1).
Accordingly, when these coin detection signals are supplied to the
counter for counting of the amount of the inserted coins, no two or
more detection signals are provided simultaneously so that
miscounting of the counter will be completely avoided.
It should be noted that if a switch for a coin of lower precedence,
e.g. S.sub.3, is actuated more than one word time prior to
actuation of a switch for a coin of higher precedence, e.g.
S.sub.1, the detection operation of the switch S.sub.3 for a lower
precedence coin precedes that of the switch S.sub.1 for a higher
precedence coin.
In the above description, the terms "higher precedence" or "lower
precedence" do not mean the denomination of coinage but an order of
precedence in the production of the detection signals. In the
present embodiment, the detection signals are produced in the order
of a 100 yen coin, a 50 yen coin and a 10 yen coin if the three
switches are simultaneously actuated. It will be understood,
however, that the order of precedence may be changed as desired
without reducing the effect of the miscount prevention device.
One preferred example of the coin control device according to the
invention will be described hereinbelow.
FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the coin control device
illustrative of passage of the inserted coin. The device comprises
an acceptor A adapted to sort out a plurality of coins (100 yen, 50
yen and 10 yen coins in the present example), pass the sorted out
coins to their corresponding outlets upon insertion thereof and,
when the device is in a "reject" state, pass all of the inserted
coins to a return outlet, and a coin control mechanism B including
a mechanism for introducing 10 yen and 50 yen coins among the coins
sorted out by the acceptor A respectively into a 10 yen coin tube
and a 50 yen coin tube and, in case the coin tube is full,
introducing the inserted coin to a cash box, a mechanism for
temporarily retaining a 100 yen coin on a mechanical principle, a
mechanism for returning the temporarily retained 100 yen coin in a
return position and introducing the retained 100 yen coin into the
cash box in an accept position, and a mechanism for paying out
change from the respective coin tubes.
In the reject position, the inserted 50 yen coin passes from a path
l.sub.1 down a path l.sub.7 to an outlet 140 of the acceptor A. The
10 yen coin passes from a path l.sub.3 down a path l.sub.8 to the
outlet 140. Likewise, the 100 yen coin passes from a path l.sub.5
down a path l.sub.9 to the outlet 140. These coins are then led to
a main return path 141 of the coin control mechanism B and returned
from an outlet OUT. In the accept position, the 50 yen coin passes
paths l.sub.1 and l.sub.2 to an outlet 139. The 10 yen coin passes
paths l.sub.3 and l.sub.4 to an outlet 137. The 100 yen coin passes
paths l.sub.5 and l.sub.6 to an outlet 138. These coins are then
led to the coin control mechanism B. The relative disposition of
the outlets 137, 138 and 139 is illustrated in FIG. 10 (b).
In the coin control mechanism B, the 10 yen coin is received in a
10 yen coin tube C.sub.2 or, when the coin tube C.sub.2 is full of
10 yen coins, introduced into the cash box via a path l.sub.14. The
50 yen coin is received in a 50 yen coin tube C.sub.1 or, when the
coin tube C.sub.2 is full, introduced into the cash box via a path
l.sub.13. The 100 yen coin passes through a path l.sub.12 to a
position G where it is temporarily retained by means of a retaining
mechanism to be described later. The 100 yen coin thereafter is led
to the main return path 141 via a path l.sub.15 in the return state
or to the cash box via a path l.sub.16.
The acceptor A comprises a coin return device which is capable of
returning the inserted coin in a vend stop state caused by stoppage
of electricity or exhaustion of articles to be vended by energizing
the coin return solenoid CA. One preferred example of such coin
return device will now be described.
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a return lever 143 is pivotably
supported at one end thereof on a support 147 which is fixedly
secured to the rear surface of the acceptor A. This return lever
143 is provided with interrupting pins 150a, 150b and 150c which
are respectively adapted to interrupt the paths l.sub.3, l.sub.1
and l.sub.5 of the acceptor A in the reject position. The acceptor
A is formed with apertures 149a, 149b and 149c for respectively
receiving the pins 150a, 150b and 150c. An adjusting screw 152 is
secured to the rear surface of the acceptor A. This adjusting screw
152 extends through the return lever 143. A helical spring 151 is
provided about the adjusting screw 152 between the return lever 143
and the rear surface of the acceptor A.
A return solenoid CA secured to a body 142 of the vending machine
has a movable iron piece 145 to which is fixedly attached an
actuating lever 146 of the return lever 143. When the movable iron
piece 145 is not attracted to the solenoid CA, i.e. the solenoid CA
is not energized, the actuating lever 146 urges the return level
143 by force of a spring 153 to a position wherein the interrupting
pins 150a - 150c can interrupt the passage of the coins. Reference
numerals 154 and 148 respectively identify stops provided at the
end portions of the lever 143 and the movable iron piece 145.
The operation of the coin return device will now be described.
When vending has to be stopped due to stoppage of electricity or
exhaustion of the article to be vended, the solenoid CA is
deenergized to release the movable iron piece 145. The movable iron
piece 145 is pivoted away from the solenoid CA due to the force of
the spring 153 thereby causing the actuating lever 146 to move the
return lever 143 to a position wherein the interrupting pins 150a -
150c extend through the apertures 149a - 149c of the acceptor A and
thereby interrupt the coin paths l.sub.3, l.sub.1 and l.sub.5.
Accordingly, the inserted coin is interrupted by either one of the
pins 150a - 150c depending upon the denomination of the coin as
shown in FIG. 12, and cannot pass to the outlet 137, 138 or 139
(FIG. 10) but is diverted to the return outlet 140 (FIG. 10).
When the vending operation is started, the solenoid CA is energized
to attract the movable iron piece 145. This causes the return lever
143 to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 11
whereby the interrupting pins 150a - 150c are pulled out of the
acceptor A. Thus, the inserted coin can pass to the coin receiving
path.
In case the acceptor A is detached from the body 142 of the vending
machine and reatached thereto, the adjusting screw 152 provided on
the acceptor A is adjusted in accordance with the pressing force of
the actuating lever 146.
The above described coin return device is of a very simple
construction because the device consists essentially of
interrupting pins integrally formed with the return lever and an
electromagnet which actuates this return lever. In addition, this
device does not produce any vibration while operated because the
return lever is driven by the actuating lever provided on the
movable iron piece of the electromagnet. Furthermore, the device is
advantageous in that the return lever is attached integrally to the
acceptor so that no positioning of the interrupting pins is
required when the acceptor is attached to the vending machine.
In the acceptor A, construction and operation of parts other than
the coin return device are well known and description thereof will
be omitted.
Next to be described is the coin control mechanism B.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the coin control mechanism B
certain portions thereof being broken away and in section to reveal
details of construction thereunder. The main return path 141 is
formed by side panels 155a and 155c of a housing 155 and a partly
inclined bottom panel 155b. A change payout device to be described
later is housed in a space defined by lower side panels 156, 157
and a bottom plate 158. The 10 yen coin tube C.sub.2 and the 50 yen
coin tube C.sub.1 are secured at the lower end portion thereof to
the bottom plate 158 and extend downwardly through the bottom plate
158. The bottom plate 158 has an inclined plate 170 integrally
formed therewith which rises obliquely from its end adjacent an
outlet 159. A frame 160 for supporting electromagnetic solenoids
E.sub.1 and E.sub.2 is also fixedly secured to the bottom plate
158. The solenoids E.sub.1 and E.sub.2 are fixed to a horizontal
frame portion 160a of the frame 160. A plunger 161 of the solenoid
E.sub.2 is connected to a receiving lever PL.sub.1. When the
solenoid is deenergized, the plunger 161 projects to cause the
lever PL.sub.1 to project through an aperture formed in a 100 yen
coin guide panel 162 to a position in which the foremost end
portion of the lever PL.sub.1 abuts against the inside surface of a
10 yen and 50 yen coin guide panel 163. Although not shown in the
figure, the plunger of the solenoid E.sub.1 likewise is connected
to a return lever PL.sub.2 (FIGS. 10 and 14) and the return lever
PL.sub.2 is in a position in which the foremost end portion thereof
abuts against the inside surface of the guide panel 163.
A proximity switch S.sub.3 is provided above the receiving end of
the 10 yen coin tube C.sub.2 for detecting passage of an inserted
10 yen coin. This switch S.sub.3 is generally U-shaped with a
recess S.sub.3a for allowing the 10 yen coin to pass through it.
Accordingly, the inserted 10 yen coin drops into the coin tube
C.sub.2 through the recess S.sub.3a of the proximity switch S.sub.3
and is stacked in the coin tube C.sub.2. A 50 yen coin likewise
drops into the coin tube C.sub.1 through a recess S.sub.2a of a
proximity switch S.sub.2.
If any one of the coin tubes C.sub.2 and C.sub.1 is filled with a
predetermined number of coins, the inserted coin which has passed
through the associated one of the proximity switches S.sub.3 and
S.sub.2 is not received in the coin tube. This operation will be
described in detail hereinbelow. Referring to FIGS. 16(a) and
16(b), a coin blocker SX.sub.1 including a pin P.sub.1, a weight
W.sub.1, a block-out lever BL.sub.1 and a coin driven lever K.sub.1
is provided above the receiving end of the 10 yen coin tube
C.sub.2. Similarly, a coin blocker SX.sub.2 including a pin
P.sub.2, a weight W.sub.2, a block-out lever BL.sub.2 and a coin
driven lever K.sub.2 is provided above the 50 yen coin tube
C.sub.1.
When there is no stack of coins or the stack of coins is relatively
low, the coin inside of the coin tube C.sub.2 does not ride on the
coin driven lever K.sub.1. The blocker SX.sub.1 therefore is in a
position wherein it is rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. 16 due
to the weight W.sub.1 with the foremost end portion of the
block-out lever BL.sub.1 withdrawn from the path of the 10 yen
coin. Accordingly, the 10 yen coin can pass down to the coin tube
C.sub.2. More specifically, the foremost end portion BL.sub.1a of
the lever BL.sub.1 is withdrawn in a direction of arrow A in FIG.
15. The foremost end portion BL.sub.1a is disposed, in its
projecting position, beneath the recess S.sub.3a of the proximity
switch S.sub.3. In FIG. 15, reference character Q.sub.1 denotes a
recess for fitting the proximity switch S.sub.3, Q.sub.2 that for
the proximity switch S.sub.2 and Q.sub.3 that for the proximity
switch S.sub.1. As shown in FIG. 16(a), a plurality of coins are
horizontally stacked in the coin tube C.sub.2. Then, as the stack
increases its height, several coins are obliquely received in the
coin tube C.sub.2 with one peripheral end portion thereof being
supported by a projection 171 formed on the inner wall of the coin
tube C.sub.2. The oblique stack of coins increases its height until
at last a newly introduced coin holds the lever K.sub.1 against the
inside wall of the coin tube C.sub.2 against the clockwise pivoting
force of the weight W.sub.1 thereby causing the foremost end
portion of the block-out lever BL.sub.1 to project into the space
beneath the recess S.sub.3a of the proximity switch S.sub.3 as
shown in FIG. 16(a) and block the path of the 10 yen coin to the
coin tube C.sub.2. The coin receiving control for the 50 yen coin
is performed in a like manner (FIG. 16 (b)).
The coin thus prevented from dropping into the coin tube C.sub.2 by
the block-out lever BL.sub.1 passes obliquely downwardly along the
side portion of a guide panel 164 and the upper portion 165a of a
guide panel 165 as illustrated in FIG. 13 and reaches the guide
panel 163. The coin further passes from the guide panel 163 down
the inclined panel 170 to the outlet 159 and is received in the
cash box (not shown).
The 50 yen coin prevented from dropping into the coin tube C.sub.1
by the block-out lever BL.sub.2 passes obliquely downwardly along
the side portion of a guide panel 166 and between the upper end
portion 167a of a guide panel 167 and the projection 163a of the
guide panel 163 and further along the guide panel 163 to the
inclined panel 170. Thus, the 50 yen coin is received in the cash
box in the same manner as in the case of the 10 yen coin.
The inserted 100 yen coin drops through the recess S.sub.1a of the
proximity switch S.sub.1 and is guided along a path 168 between the
guide plates 162 and 163. Since the solenoids E.sub.1 and E.sub.2
are deenergized at this time, the levers PL.sub.1 and PL.sub.2 are
projecting in the path 168 and, accordingly, the 100 yen coin is
temporaily retained by the levers PL.sub.1 and PL.sub.2. FIG. 14
illustrates a state in which the 100 yen coin is temporarily held
by these levers PL.sub.1 and PL.sub.2. The entrance of a return
path 169 is provided adjacent the lever PL.sub.2. The return path
169 which is formed by a bottom panel 169a, side panels 169b and
169c and an upper panel 169d is disposed obliquely downwardly from
the path 168 to the main return path 141.
When the purchaser has stopped purchase of the article and the
return solenoid E.sub.1 is energized, the lever PL.sub.2 is
withdrawn and the 100 yen coin passes along the return path 169 and
the main return path 141 to the return outlet OUT.
When, on the other hand, the solenoid E.sub.2 is energized for the
purchase of the article, the lever PL.sub.1 is withdrawn and the
100 yen coin passes down the inclined panel 170 to the outlet 159
for storage in the cash box.
Referring to FIGS. 17, 18 and 19, the change payout device will be
described. This device is adapted to pay out 10 yen and 50 yen
coins as change when the purchase is made and, in case the
purchaser has stopped purchase after he inserted 10 yen and/or 50
yen coins, pay out coins of the same denominations.
A 50 yen coin payout slide 172 is pivotably supported on a pin PN
secured to a base plate 176 adjacent the lower open end of the 50
yen coin tube C.sub.1. A 10 yen coin payout slide 173 also is
pivotably supported on the pin PN adjacent the lower open end of
the 10 yen coin tube C.sub.2. A 10 yen coin bottom plate 174 is
interposed between these slides 172 and 173. A 50 yen coin bottom
plate 175 is secured to the base plate 176 under the slide 172. The
bottom plate 174 is formed with an aperture 174a having a
sufficient diameter to allow a 10 yen coin to pass therethrough.
Similarly, the bottom plate 175 is formed with an aperture 175a
having a sufficient diameter to allow a 50 yen coin to pass
therethrough. The slide 173 is formed with an aperture J.sub.1
capable of allowing a 10 yen coin to pass therethrough and the
slide 172 with an aperture J.sub.2 capable of allowing a 50 yen
coin to pass therethrough.
The slides 173 and 172 are respectively connected at their left end
portions (as viewed in FIG. 17) to a 10 yen payout link 177 and a
50 yen payout link 178 by means of pins 184 and 85. The 10 yen
payout link 177 consists of a flat portion 177a and a T-shaped
portion 177b erecting from the flat portion 177a. The 50 yen payout
link 178 is substantially of the same construction and is disposed
beneath the link 177 in parallel spaced relationship therewith. The
pin 184 is connected to a fixed pin on the base plate 176 through a
spring G.sub.1 and the pin 185 to another fixed pin on the base
plate 176 through a spring G.sub.2.
The 10 yen payout link 177 is formed at one end portion thereof
with recesses H.sub.1, H.sub.1, whereas the 50 yen payout link 178
is formed at one end portion thereof with an aperture 179. These
end portions of the links 177 and 178 are inserted in horizontal
openings formed in a link lock housing 180. A link lock 181 which
is connected to the plunger of the 50 yen-10 yen payout
electromagnetic solenoid E.sub.3 is inserted in a vertical opening
180a of the link lock housing 180. When the solenoid E.sub.3 is not
energized, the link lock 181 is in its lower position with its
lower end portion 181a being engaged in the aperture 179 of the 50
yen payout link 178. Accordingly, the horizontal movement of the
link 178 is prevented in this position, whereas the 10 yen payout
link is free to move through an opening 181b of the link lock
181.
A 10 yen payout cam 182 connected to the shaft of a motor (not
shown) is disposed in a position wherein it is in abutting
engagement with the other end of the 10 yen payout link 177. A 50
yen payout cam 183 of a similar shape and also connected to the
shaft of the motor is disposed in a position wherein it is in
abutting engagement with the other end of the 50 yen payout link
178. When the cam 182 is in a position shown in FIG. 17, the
aperture J.sub.1 of the slide 173 is in register with the lower
open end of the 10 yen coin tube C.sub.2 and one 10 yen coin is
received in the aperture J.sub.1. As the cam 182 is rotated
clockwise by 45.degree., the link 177 is displaced in the direction
of arrow a thereby pivoting the slide 173 in a clockwise direction.
This brings the aperture J.sub.1 of the slide 173 into register
with the opening 174a of the bottom plate 174 and the 10 yen coin
drops through the opening 174a to be paid out as change. As the cam
182 is further rotated clockwise by 45.degree., the link 177 is
displaced in the direction opposite to the arrow a thereby pivoting
back the slide 173 to its original position shown in FIG. 17. Thus,
one 10 yen coin is paid out at each 180.degree. rotation of the cam
182.
When the solenoid E.sub.3 is energized, the link lock 181 is
displaced to its upper position in which the lower end portion 181a
of the link lock 181 is disengaged from the aperture 179 of the 50
yen payout link 178 and the narrow lower portion of the opening
181b of the link lock 181 is engaged with the neck portion of the
10 yen payout link 177 defined by the recesses H.sub.1, H.sub.1.
Accordingly, the horizontal displacement of the 10 yen payout link
177 is prevented, whereas the 50 yen payout link is free to move
through the opening of the link lock housing 180. Thus, one 50 yen
coin is paid out through the opening 175a of the bottom plate 175
at each 180.degree. rotation of the cam 183 in the same fashion as
has been described above.
It will be understood from the foregoing description that in event
a coin of large denomination has been inserted in the slot but the
same amount of money as the inserted coin must be returned to the
purchaser because of his stopping of purchase notwithstanding the
state of shortage or depletion of coins of medium and small
denominations in the coin tubes, the inventive device is capable of
returning the inserted large denomination coin itself so that the
purchaser will never fail to receive the amount of money deposited
in the machine.
According to this coin control device, if a coin of small or medium
denomination is to be returned after insertion, a coin of the same
denomination as the inserted one is returned. Inasmuch as returning
of the deposited amount of money is effected by the coin of the
same denomination as the inserted one, this device is useful for
preventing an undesirable utilization of the vending machine for
exchange purposes, i.e. obtaining coins of small denomination by
inserting a coin of large denomination.
* * * * *