Vending control system

Claim 2

A control circuit comprising an adder network formed by a plurality of bistable adder stages each including first and second inputs and an output, a first source of signals connected to the first adder network inputs, a plurality of second input signal sources and means for individually applying signals from selected ones of said plurality of second signal sources to selected inputs of the second adder network inputs, said adder network including means to combine inputs from the first and second sources to produce outputs at the respective adder outputs, and means for connecting selected outputs of the adder network to selected ones of the second adder inputs whereby output signals appearing on said selected adder circuit outputs produce changes in the adder which further effect the adder outputs, the arrangement of the connections between the selected adder outputs and second inputs determining the operating characteristics thereof.

Claim 3

The control circuit of claim 1 wherein all of the signals from the first source applied to the stages of the adder network are similar binary signals.

Claim 4

The control circuit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of second input signal sources include operator actuatable switch means individually actuatable to selectively apply binary signals to corresponding respective second inputs to the adder stages.

Claim 5

The control circuit of claim 1 including means interfacing said second input signal sources to the second stage inputs to the adder network, and means operatively connected between the second adder network inputs and the interface means including a multi-stage bi-stable register having inputs for connection to the respective input signal sources and outputs for connection to respective second inputs to the adder network.

Claim 6

The control circuit of claim 4 including means connected between a selected adder network output and the interface means to prevent more than one input signal from one of the plurality of second input signal sources from being applied to the second adder network inputs during any one operation.

Claim 7

The control circuit of claim 1 wherein the means for applying selected adder network outputs to selected ones of the second adder inputs include a resistive circuit connection therebetween.

Claim 8

The control circuit of claim 1 wherein the means for applying selected adder network outputs to selected ones of the second adder inputs include signal rectifier means.

Claim 9

The control circuit of claim 1 wherein the means for applying selected adder network outputs to selected ones of the second adder inputs include signal delay means.

Claim 10

The control circuit of claim 1 wherein the means for applying selected adder network outputs to selected ones of the second adder inputs include connections between the outputs of selected adder stages and inputs to different stages of the adder network.

Claim 11

The control circuit of claim 1 including an output connection to each stage of the adder network, an operator member connected to selected ones of said output connections for energization when the associated output is in a predetermined binary condition, and switch means actuated when the associated operator members are energized, said switch means controlling the application of input signals from said plurality of second signal sources to the second adder network inputs.

Claim 12

The control circuit of claim 10 including other means for applying an input signal from said plurality of second signal sources to a second adder network input, said last named means including second interface means having an input operatively connected to the other one of said second input signal sources, and second switch means actuatable during operation of a function under control of energiziNg of an operator member.

Claim 13

A control logic circuit comprising a first and a plurality of second input signal sources and a multi-stage adder circuit including means for responding to combinations of the inputs from said sources to produce output responses for control purposes, said adder circuit means having a first set of inputs connected to the first signal source and a second set of inputs operatively connected to respective ones of the second signal sources, means for selecting a particular one of the plurality of input signal sources for applying to the respective input of said second set, said adder circuit means having a plurality of output terminals at which binary control signals are produced depending on a binary combination of the inputs from the first and second sources present on the first and second adder circuit inputs and means for feeding back a selected one of the outputs of the adder circuit to a selected one of the second adder circuit inputs.

Claim 14

A control logic circuit comprising a first and a plurality of second input signal sources and a multi-stage adder circuit including means for responding to combinations of the inputs from said sources to produce output responses for control purposes, said adder circuit means having a first set of inputs connected to the first signal source and a second set of inputs operatively connected to respective ones of the second signal sources, means for selecting a particular one of the plurality of input signal sources for applying to the respective input of said second set, said adder circuit means having a plurality of output terminals at which binary control signals are produced depending on a binary combination of the inputs from the first and second sources present on the first and second adder circuit inputs and means for feeding back a selected one of the outputs of the adder circuit to a selected one of the second adder circuit inputs.

Claim 15

The control logic circuit of claim 12 wherein the adder circuit means include a multi-stage full adder circuit.

Claim 16

The control logic circuit of claim 12 wherein one of the first and second input signal sources includes a multi-stage bi-stable register circuit.

Claim 17

The control circuit of claim 12 wherein the means for feeding back a selected one of the outputs of the adder circuit include means for connecting the output terminal of at least one stage of the adder circuit to a second input of a different adder circuit stage.

Claim 18

The control circuit of claim 12 wherein the adder circuit output means includes a terminal at which binary carry output signals are produced.

Claim 19

In a vending logic control circuit for controlling vending functions, the improvement comprising a multi-stage binary adder circuit each stage of which has first and second inputs and an output, a first source of input signals and means connecting said first source to the first inputs of the adder circuit, said first source establishing a predetermined binary condition on the first adder circuit inputs, second input means including a multi-stage binary logic circuit having a binary stage corresponding to each of the adder circuit stages, each of the logic circuit stages having a direct set input and an output, means connecting the respective stage outputs of the logic circuit to corresponding second inputs of the adder circuit stages, means for applying binary operating input signals to a selected direct set input of the logic circuit and to the corresponding second adder circuit input whereby binary outputs are produced at the outputs of the adder circuit which take into account a combination of the inputs present on the first and second adder circuit inputs, and other means operatively connected between selected ones of the adder circuit outputs and a corresponding number of direct set inputs of the logic circuit and to the corresponding second inputs of the adder circuit whereby outputs appearing on said selected adder circuit outputs act as feedback signals to modify the scheme of output signals present on the adder circuit outputs.

Claim 20

In a vending logic control circuit for controlling vending functions, the improvement comprising a multi-stage binary adder circuit each stage of which has first and second inputs and an output, a first source of input signals and means connecting said first source to the first inputs of the adder circuit, said first source establishing a predetermined binary condition on the first adder circuit inputs, second input means including a multi-stage binary logic circuit having a binary stage corresponding to each of the adder circuit stages, each of the logic circuit stages having a direct set input and an output, means connecting the respective stage outputs of the logic circuit to corresponding second inputs of the adder circuit stages, means for applying binary operating input signals to a selected direct set input of the logic circuit and to the corresponding second adder circuit input whereby binary outputs are produced at the outputs of the adder circuit which take into account a combination of the inputs present on the first and second adder circuit inputs, and other means operatively connected between selected ones of the adder circuit outputs and a corresponding number of direct set inputs of the logic circuit and to the corresponding second inputs of the adder circuit whereby outputs appearing on said selected adder circuit outputs act as feedback signals to modify the scheme of output signals present on the adder circuit outputs.

Claim 21

The control circuit of claim 17 including means to prevent the application of more than one binary operating input signal to the direct set inputs of the logic circuit during any one operating function.

Claim 22

The control circuit of claim 17 wherein more than one adder circuit stage output is connected to direct set stage inputs of the logic circuit.

Claim 23

The logic control circuit of claim 19 wherein a resistor is connected in the circuit between at least one adder circuit stage output and a direct set input of the logic circuit.

Claim 24

The control circuit of claim 19 wherein a diode is connected in the circuit between at least one adder circuit stage output and a direct set input of the logic circuit.

Claim 25

The control circuit of claim 19 wherein a time delay device is connected in the circuit between at least one adder circuit stage output and a direct set input of the logiC circuit.

Claim 26

A vend control circuit comprising means to receive and accumulate amounts deposited in a vending machine, a multi-stage comparator circuit having first input means connected to the means to accumulate amounts deposited to feed said amounts to the comparator circuit, second comparator input means, a pricing matrix including customer actuated means operable by a customer to make a vend selection, said pricing matrix having outputs connected to the second comparator input means to feed signals thereto to represent the price of a selected vend, said comparator circuit including means for comparing inputs representing the amounts deposited with the signals that represent the selected vend price and for producing outputs to represent the extent of the difference therebetween, control logic circuit means to control the functioning of the vending machine including to control the production of the vending machine operations, said control logic circuit means including a multi-stage adder circuit each stage of which has a first input, a second input and an output at which binary responses are produced that represent a combination of binary signals applied to the first and second inputs, a first source of binary input signals and means for applying input signals from the first source to the respective first inputs of the adder circuit stages, a plurality of different second binary input signals including multi-stage register means having direct set inputs at which different ones of the plurality of signals from the second source are applied depending on a selection made by a customer, means for connecting the respective stage outputs of the register means to the respective stage second inputs of the adder circuit, and operator means connected to selected stage outputs of the adder circuit to produce a desired operating condition when the condition of the selected stage outputs are in a predetermined binary condition.

Claim 27

A vend control circuit comprising means to receive and accumulate amounts deposited in a vending machine, a multi-stage comparator circuit having first input means connected to the means to accumulate amounts deposited to feed said amounts to the comparator circuit, second comparator input means, a pricing matrix including customer actuated means operable by a customer to make a vend selection, said pricing matrix having outputs connected to the second comparator input means to feed signals thereto to represent the price of a selected vend, said comparator circuit including means for comparing inputs representing the amounts deposited with the signals that represent the selected vend price and for producing outputs to represent the extent of the difference therebetween, control logic circuit means to control the functioning of the vending machine including to control the production of the vending machine operations, said control logic circuit means including a multi-stage adder circuit each stage of which has a first input, a second input and an output at which binary responses are produced that represent a combination of binary signals applied to the first and second inputs, a first source of binary input signals and means for applying input signals from the first source to the respective first inputs of the adder circuit stages, a plurality of different second binary input signals including multi-stage register means having direct set inputs at which different ones of the plurality of signals from the second source are applied depending on a selection made by a customer, means for connecting the respective stage outputs of the register means to the respective stage second inputs of the adder circuit, and operator means connected to selected stage outputs of the adder circuit to produce a desired operating condition when the condition of the selected stage outputs are in a predetermined binary condition.

Claim 28

The vend control circuit of claim 23 including at least one connection between a selected adder circuit stage output and a selected direct set input to the register means, occurrence of a predetermined binary condition on said selected adder circuit stage output producing a further change in the adder circuit output and in the control function produced thereby.

Claim 29

In a vend logic control circuit for controlling vending and related functions the improvement comprising a multi-stage binary adder circuit each stage of which has first and second inputs and an output, a first source of input signals and means connecting said first source to the first inputs of the adder circuit, said first source establishing a predetermined binary condition at the first adder circuit inputs, second input means including a multi-stage binary logic circuit having a binary stage corresponding to each of the adder circuit stages, each of the logic circuit stages having a direct set input and an output, means connecting the respective stage outputs of the logic circuit to corresponding second inputs of the adder circuit stages, a plurality of sources of operating input signals and means for applying a selected one of the binary operating input signals to a selected direct set input of the logic circuit and to the corresponding second adder circuit input whereby a binary output is produced at the output of the adder circuit which takes into account a combination of the inputs present on the first and second adder circuit inputs, said means for applying a binary operating input signal to a selected direct set input of the logic circuit including a plurality of input circuits each including an optical coupler having a light emitting diode portion responsive to occurrence of an associated operating input signal and a phototransistor portion responsive to light generated by the diode portion when an operating input signal is applied to the diode portion, the phototransistor portions of the respective optical couplers being cOnnected in circuit to respective direct set inputs of the logic circuit stages, and other means connecting a selected stage output of the adder circuit to a selected direct set input of the logic circuit for applying selected outputs appearing thereat as a feed back to the adder circuit to modify a scheme of binary output signals present at the adder circuit outputs.

Claim 30

In a vend logic control circuit for controlling vending and related functions the improvement comprising a multi-stage binary adder circuit each stage of which has first and second inputs and an output, a first source of input signals and means connecting said first source to the first inputs of the adder circuit, said first source establishing a predetermined binary condition at the first adder circuit inputs, second input means including a multi-stage binary logic circuit having a binary stage corresponding to each of the adder circuit stages, each of the logic circuit stages having a direct set input and an output, means connecting the respective stage outputs of the logic circuit to corresponding second inputs of the adder circuit stages, a plurality of sources of operating input signals and means for applying a selected one of the binary operating input signals to a selected direct set input of the logic circuit and to the corresponding second adder circuit input whereby a binary output is produced at the output of the adder circuit which takes into account a combination of the inputs present on the first and second adder circuit inputs, said means for applying a binary operating input signal to a selected direct set input of the logic circuit including a plurality of input circuits each including an optical coupler having a light emitting diode portion responsive to occurrence of an associated operating input signal and a phototransistor portion responsive to light generated by the diode portion when an operating input signal is applied to the diode portion, the phototransistor portions of the respective optical couplers being cOnnected in circuit to respective direct set inputs of the logic circuit stages, and other means connecting a selected stage output of the adder circuit to a selected direct set input of the logic circuit for applying selected outputs appearing thereat as a feed back to the adder circuit to modify a scheme of binary output signals present at the adder circuit outputs.

Claim 31

In the vend logic control circuit of claim 25 at least one of said optical couplers is connected in parallel with a shorting circuit across a power source, and means to energize the optical coupler including means to momentarily remove the shorting circuit.