Multiple coin mechanism for a vending machine

For ensuring, before an item is vended, the deposit of a predetermined number of coins of a predetermined denomination into a vending machine having a vending linkage for controlling the dispensing of an item, a coin mechanism comprising:

• (a) a front plate, said front plate including a coin slot;
• (b) a rotatable knob having a shaft passing through the front plate;
• (c) a cylindrical coin carrier fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, said coin carrier including a pair of diametrically opposed coin members each of which are alignable with said coin slot, the coin chambers being dimensioned to receive at least one coin of a given denomination in face-to-face relation therein, at least two peripheral cut outs formed in said coin carrier, and an actuator means for coupling the coin carrier to the vending linkage of the vending machine to cause said vending machine to vend an item only upon 180 degree rotation of said coin carrier;
• (d) at least one spring biased coin pawl equal in number to the number of coins required to meet the vend price pivotally affixed to said front plate;
• (e) a first spacer plate means for engaging the coins upon rotation of said knob and coin carrier in a first direction to force each of said coins against its associate spring biased coin pawl to permit 180 degree rotation of said coin carrier in said first direction only when the number of coins of the given denomination equal to the vend price are present in one of said coin chambers;
• (f) coin ejector means affixed to said front plate for ensuring that all coins exit said coin chamber of said coin carrier when the coin carrier is rotated approximately 180;
• and
• (g) a spring loaded backup pawl for mating with the peripheral cut outs formed in said coin carrier to prevent 180 rotation of the coin carrier in a second direction opposite said first direction.