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US 4,025,739 AGranted
Selection and timing control for beverage vending machine
AssigneeCoffee-Mat Corporation
InventorLeo Kull
Life of this patent
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AssigneeCoffee-Mat Corporation
InventorLeo Kull
Estimating the term…
A sequencing and timing mechanism in a beverage vending machine includes a plurality of circular cams mounted on a common shaft driven by a low speed motor, and a follower is movable into engagement with each cam and actuates a corresponding switch. Freely rockably supported by each cam is a member which releasably retains a respective follower in a retracted condition and a powder feed motor is connected through each switch to a current source. A series of push buttons engage a first locking member which is releasably locked in locking position by a second locking member which, in turn, is releasably locked in a release condition by a solenoid actuated dog, the solenoid being pulse excited by a coin actuated switch. A restrictor permits the advance of only a single button which is releasably locked by the first locking member and advances a respective preselected group of follower retaining members to release position so that upon energization of the motor which rotates the cams a single revolution, a corresponding group of feed motors is energized. The cams are adjustable to effect the relative lengths of the raised and recessed portions and hence the feed motor energization intervals.
An electrical control mechanism comprising a control cam, means for rotating said control cam, a cam follower movable into engagement with said control cam, a switch movable between actuated and deactuated positions in response to the position of said cam follower, means responsive to the actuation of said switch, and means releasably retaining said cam follower in a retracted position independently of the position of said control cam, said retaining means comprising a retaining cam engaging said cam follower and rockable about the axis of said control cam independently of the rotation of said control cam between positions retracting and releasing said cam follower from following engagement with said control cam.
A selector mechanism comprising a plurality of selectively actuatable selector members individually movable between advanced and retracted positions, a first locking member movable in response to the advance of a selected selector member to an advanced position releasably locking said advanced selector member in its advanced position, a second locking member movable between an advanced position releasably locking said first locking member in its advanced position and a retracted position releasing said first locking member, electrically actuated means releasably locking said second locking member in its retracted position and a plurality of actuating members responsive to the advance of respective selector members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.