Trafalgar Industries Inc.

Mahendrakumar D Desai

Thomas E Shuren

Drew Henderson

Microprocessor-based vending apparatus incorporating a plurality of separately driven individual dispensing assemblies is disclosed. The dispensing assemblies are scanned to determine their state and any malfunctioning assembly disabled to prevent attempted selection by a user without shutting down the entire vending machine. The state of the malfunctioning dispensing apparatus is retained in memory so that the state of each dispensing assembly may be selectively displayed through activation of a display switch causing the microprocessor to sequentially identify and display those dispensing devices which malfunctioned. The microprocessor performs all change-making functions normally performed in vending machines to greatly reduce the complexity and expense of the coin-accepting apparatus. Additionally, data is stored representing the quantity of each coin denomination present and change-making capability is disabled when coin denominations are reduced to a predetermined count. Cash flow data is stored in memory and may be displayed upon request. All functions of the vending apparatus are continuously monitored to assure proper operation and alarm conditions to identify malfunctions are developed. The status of all such functions are stored in memory for subsequent display or data transfer. Data transfer may be to an off-line printer, an off-line memory, optically coupled data transducers or the like. The off-line memory has a transceiver which is automatically energized by the vending machine transceiver to initiate data transfer.

Microprocessor based vending apparatus

Foodstuff vending apparatus employing improved solid-state control is provided in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a processor and accompanying memory are relied upon to cause vending to occur in a programmed sequence in accord with selected vending conditions. The processor and memory are programmed in a manner to ascertain when a vending operation is about to be initiated and thereafter to invite an operator to specify a product to be vended and conditions under which such product is to be vended. Elements of the product to be vended are then dispensed, under program control, in accordance with the product designated and the conditions specified at selectable rates which are readily variable.

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Colonia, NJ, United States of America

Mahendrakumar D Desai