Vending machine control circuit

• US 4,593,361 A
• Filed: 09/07/1984
• Issued: 06/03/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Inventors: Otten, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUGGIERO, JOSEPH F
• Application Number:
  US06/648,789
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 364/479, 364/478, 364/400, 364/188, 364/189, 364/184, 364/143-146, 364/464, 371/29, 222/638, 222/2, 222/23, 222/36, 222/136, 222/129.4, 221/2, 221/6, 221/9, 221/14, 221/21, 221/29, 194/1 N, 194/2, 194/3, 194/10, 340/825.35
• US Class Current: 700/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/22 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A vending machine control circuit having a plurality of capacitively coupled switches for enabling a customer to indicate his choice of a product to be vended. A logic circuit is responsive thereto for controlling the vending of products by the generation of vend signals directed to a plurality of vend solenoids. Out-of-product switches are wired in series with the vend solenoids such that if a solenoid is activated, but no current flows therethrough, a current sensing circuit is utilized to detect that the product is out-of-stock. This is a significant improvement over prior art control circuits, particularly from the standpoint of decreased wiring requirements in the vending machine.

The control circuit has an early power failure detecting circuit which allows critical tasks within the machine to be finished prior to removal of the power. This feature allows the machine to shut down in an orderly manner, and enables the totalizer to maintain track of sales even in the event of a power failure. Software within the processor directs the overall operations of the control circuit, including the vend operations, the coin receipt and dispensing functions, and also the cash and product totalizing functions.

Claims

1. A vending machine for vending of products to customers during vending operations and having a plurality of control switches on a control panel for allowing customers to operate the machine during vending operations, including a plurality of product selection switches and a coin return switch, and a vending machine control circuit having logic means therein, including:

(a) a memory for storing data therein, including the vend prices of products offered for sale in the machine, and for also storing therein a vending program for controlling the operation of the vending machine during vending operations and also a servicing program for controlling the operation of the vending machine during vending machine servicing operations, including product price setting operations, performed by a service person;

(b) means for entering data into said memory, including a service switch accessible to a service person, and inaccessible to customers during vending operations of the machine, for calling from memory said servicing program which enables at least one of said control switches on the vending machine customer control panel to be used by a service person during vending machine service operation to enter data into memory, said control switches being utilized during said servicing program by utilizing said coin return switch to increment the price displayed on the available credit display each time the coin return switch is actuated by the service person, and utilizing the product selection switches to enter the price displayed on the available credit display into memory as the vend price for a particular product when the product selection switch for that product is actuated by the service person.

2. A vending machine for vending of products to customers during vending operations and having a plurality of control switches on a control panel for allowing customers to operate the machine during vending operations, including a plurality of product selection switches and a coin return switch, and a vending machine control circuit including logic means, coupled to said plurality of product selection switches and being responsive to actuation thereof, for controlling the vending of products by the generation of vend signals, said logic means including a processor having a vending program stored therein, and a random access memory for storing therein totals representative of the total number of vends of each product and totals representative of the cash received by the vending machine, further comprising means for entering data into said memory, including a service switch accessible to a service person, and inaccessible to customers during vending operations of the machine, for calling from memory a servicing program which enables at least one of said control switches on the vending machine customer control panel to be used by a service person during vending machine servicing operations to enter data into memory, said control switches being utilized during said servicing program by utilizing said coin return switch to increment the price displayed on the available credit display each time the coin return switch is actuated by the service person.

3. A vending machine, including a control circuit, as claimed in claim 2, said control switches being utilized during said servicing program by utilizing said product selection switches to enter the price displayed on the available credit display into memory as the vend price for a particular product when the product selection switch for that product is actuated by the service person.