Remote control system for vending machines

• US 4,853,684 A
• Filed: 01/15/1988
• Issued: 08/01/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coinex America Corporation
• Original Assignee: Harold F. Hoppstadter
• Inventors: Hoppstadter, Harold F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Ralph E.
• Application Number:
  US07/144,374
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.35, 340/825.3, 340/825.06, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 364/479, 364/478, 235/385, 235/381
• US Class Current: 340/5.9
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

A remotely operated control system for vending machines as a replacement for the coin-operated mechanism of such vending machines. The system includes a remote control box disposed any desired position away from the vending machine, a control center and either a connection box or control mechanism within the control center and either connection box or control mechanism assembled in the vending machine in place of the conventional coin mechanism otherwise employed. The system is supplied electrical power from a normal supply source and includes appropriate circuitry which is either wire or frequency operated. In the utilization of the system a purchaser of merchandise to be vended by the vending machine gives the purchase price to a salesperson who in turn actuates a button controlled switch in the control box effective to put the system in operation and places the vending machine in vend condition. The purchaser then goes to the vending machine and either through a lever, push button, or other actuating device receives his purchased product or article. The system at this time returns to stand-by no-vend condition.

Claims

1. A control system for vending machines comprising an operator actuated control box including a frequency operated transmitter and a single motion operator actuated button switch, a credit light, an inventory counter, an electrical power supplied control center including a frequency operated receiver free from wired interconnection with the transmitter, wherein upon actuation of the actuator a signal is transmitted between the transmitter and receiver for operation of the system, an article vend operative control mechanism connected to the control center effective upon actuation of the system to place a vend on the vending machine so that a customer operated article release mechanism associated with the article vend operated mechanism can be actuated by a customer to dispense the desired article, whereupon the system returns to a non-dispense condition, and wherein upon the actuation of the system placing the machine in a vend condition the credit light is turned on indicating the machine is in a vend condition and wherein upon the operation of the article release mechanism the credit light is turned off and the inventory control registers a vend operation.

2. A control system for vending machines comprising an operator actuated control box including a frequency operated transmitter, and a salesperson single motion actuator for placing the transmitter in operation with the control box located remotely from the vending machine, an electrical current supplied control center, including a frequency operated receiver, to be actuated by the transmitter when placed in operation, with the control box and control center free from wired connection with each other, a vend apparatus, a credit light, an article release means and an electrical harness for connection between the vend apparatus and control center, with the control center, electrical connector harness and vend apparatus disposed in the vending machine, said actuator upon the operation thereof effective to actuate the transmitter and cause the transmitter to transmit a signal to the receiver for the operation of the system effective to turn on the credit light, actuate the vend apparatus and place the vending machine in a vend condition so that a selection can be made by a customer who actuates the release means to dispense the desired article, and switch means operable by the release means for returning the system to a non-dispense condition while simultaneously turning off the credit light.

3. A control system according to claim 2 wherein the switch means includes a mechanical--electrical mechanism which is actuated upon flow of current, from the control center through the harness, with the system in an on position effective to provide for a vend operation and upon the dispensing of a purchased article from the vending machine, the mechanical--electrical mechanism is tripped to place the machine in a no vend position and turn off the credit light.

4. A control system for replacement of a coin operated mechanism for a vending machine comprising a control mechanism for operating the vending apparatus of the vending machine, an electrical power supplied control center including a radio frequency operated receiver wired with both the control mechanism and control center and together therewith disposed on the vending machine, a credit light and a control box including a single motion actuator in the form of a button operated switch and a radio frequency operated transmitter to be activated by said actuator for actuation of the receiver in the control center, disposed at a location remote from the control mechanism and control center and free from wired connection therewith, said control mechanism comprising electrical--mechanical means for placing the vending machine in a vend position and turn on the credit light, upon actuation of the actuator and means for actuation by a customer to release the article and permit the dispensing thereof and simultaneously returning the vending machine to a no vend condition and turn off the credit light.

5. A control system according to claim 4 wherein the control mechanism includes at least one switch, one solenoid and lever means, such that when a radio signal is sent from the control box and received by the control center, a voltage is sent to the control mechanism from the control center effective to energize the solenoid and move the lever to vend position, close the switch and turn on the light, and whereupon with the operation of means by the customer to release the article to be dispensed the light will be turned off and the lever will be actuated to return the control mechanism to a no vend position.

6. A vending machine and a control system for the vending operation thereof comprising a credit light on the machine which when lit indicates the machine is in a vend position, a control box including a radio frequency transmitter and a button operated switch for placing the transmitter in operation, a 115 volt current supplied control center including a radio frequency operated receiver, and a control mechanism including means supplied by current from the control center for controlling the dispense and no dispense operation of the vending machine and the on-off operation of the light and means operable manually by a customer purchasing an article to be dispensed by the machine when the control mechanism is in vend condition and the light is on indicating the vend condition of the machine, the transmitter operable when actuated to by the button operated switch to send a radio signal to the receiver so as to place the system in operation and provide for the supply of current for the operation of the control mechanism, and wherein the control center and control mechanism are totally disposed in the machine in electrical interconnection with each other and the control box is located remote from the machine free from wire connection with the control center and wherein the control mechanism included means comprises a solenoid operated lever and switch structure effective to place the vending machine in vend position and turn the light on and effective upon denergization when the customer actuates the manual means to release the purchased article, the light is turned off and the machine is placed in a non-vend condition.