Rowe International Corporation

Lloyd D Herring

Peter Chaikowsky

Jeffrey J Kalis

Donald A Dekker

Andris C Sloss

Richard Van Dyk

Robert I Courts

Jerold R Shaltis

Thomas Meinardi

Robert J Elshof

Jeffery Kalis

A disc player and changer mechanism adapted for use in a jukebox comprises a disc carrier which has a clamping arm movably mounted thereto, a translating tower and a drive system operable to move the carrier and/or the translating tower. The clamping arm includes a first disc engaging portion at one end thereof, which is positioned substantially opposite to a second disc engaging portion of the disc carrier. The disc carrier is slidably mounted on the translating tower and the clamping arm is movable as the disc carrier is moved on the translating tower such that the first disc engaging portion moves to contact an edge of a disc while the second disc engaging portion correspondingly contacts the edge of the disc substantially diametrically opposite of the first disc engaging portion. The disc is thus positively secured between the first and second disc engaging portions and may be transported from its initial position to a disc playing mechanism in a conventional manner. Preferably, the translating tower includes a magnetic hub assembly which is mechanically operable to engage a magnetic hub with the disc as the disc is positioned substantially adjacent to the player mechanism. The magnetic hub assembly is pivotally attached to the translating tower and operable by a stationary extension contacting a portion of the magnetic hub assembly as the translating tower approaches the disc player mechanism.

Disc changer

A programmable size and price setting mechanism for use in a vending machine has a plurality of .eta. access doors aligned horizontally across a front of the vending machine, each of which access doors has a locked condition denying access therethrough and an unlocked condition allowing access therethrough, and each of which is selectably activatable between the locked and unlocked condition. There are a plurality of horizontal shelves each of which has a plurality of partitionable areas corresponding in size to a corresponding one of the .eta. access doors, such that each shelf is selectably partitionable into a plurality of up to .eta. product holding areas. A conveyor mechanism is provided for selectably moving each horizontal shelf into a vending position adjacent to the access doors so that each one of the .eta. partitionable areas is adjacent to a corresponding one the .eta. access doors. A sensor detects when one of the plurality of shelves is positioned adjacent to the plurality of .eta. access doors. A keypad with a plurality of actuatable buttons is pivotably mounted on the vending machine for use by a consumer in a 'vending mode' of operation and for use as a programming keypad to set compartment sizes and product prices when in a 'service mode' of operation. A money receiving and value detection device is also provided. Programmable control circuitry is operatively interconnected with the keypad to the shelf position sensor and to the money receiving and value detection device for activating a selected one or more of the .eta. access doors from the closed to the opened condition and positioning the selected one of the plurality of shelves and compartments into position adjacent to the access doors, upon detecting a programmed value of money received, and upon actuation of appropriate keypad buttons to select the desired compartment to actuate one or more of the .eta. access doors through which access to one of the desired product holding areas is achieved.

Pivot keypad and dual interface for multiple price and size setting

A currency acceptor includes a currency acceptance and transport unit having a first housing and an actuatable latching assembly on the first housing. A cash box is provided having a second housing and an opening in the second housing configured to interface with the first housing in a manner that the actuatable latching assembly retains the housings together. In this manner, currency may be passed through the opening from the currency acceptance and transport unit to the cash box. A security cover is provided that is configured to engage the second housing over the opening. A locking mechanism is provided which includes a member which unlatches the latching assembly so that the cash box can be removed from the currency validation and transport assembly. The locking mechanism locks the security cover over the opening.

Currency acceptor with locking cash box

A title rack page drive for a jukebox includes a plurality of title pages which are each pivotally mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis and a page drive for turning the pages. The page drive selectively turns an individual one of the pages at a time about the pivot axis of that page by positively engaging a pin on an individual one of the pages and applying a generally arcuate motion to each pin in order to rotate the pages about the axis.

Positive drive title rack for jukebox

A title display system for an automatic phonograph in which two sets of large panels, each side of which is adapted to carry three CD jackets, are arranged side by side in a recess in the front of the machine cabinet for concomitant pivotal movement of the panels inwardly or outwardly. A panel moving control system may be set in a first mode in which the panels are moved periodically to attract attention or in a second mode in which the panels are returned to positions at which predetermined pages are in view in the quiescent condition of the phonograph.

Jukebox selection display and page turning mechanism therefor

A ticket dispensing head for delivering individual tickets from a string of tickets connected by laterally extending lines of ticket material weakness in which tickets are advanced along a generally linear path past a breaker blade toward a limit switch adjustably positioned in the path of movement of the tickets beyond the breaker blade by a distance slightly greater than the length of a ticket with actuation of the switch interrupting the ticket drive to position the line of weakness connecting the leading ticket to the next ticket just beyond the blade breaker edge to permit a folder to fold the ticket along the so positioned line over the blade breaker edge for severing of the first ticket precisely along said positioned line upon subsequent actuation of the breaker blade to move along a path generally parallel to the ticket path. The position of the switch is adjusted to accommodate tickets of different size.

Growing community of inventors

Rockford, MI, United States of America

Lloyd D Herring