Control device for a vending machine dispensing mechanism

Abstract

A control device for a dispense mechanism is provided for eliminating failure of the dispense mechanism due to goods becoming stuck therein. In a dispense mechanism of the type wherein a rotating control plate is provided for restricting the motion of dispensing flappers, a control device is provided for controlling the operation of a motor which rotates the control plate. The control device provides a forward rotation signal to rotate the control plate and dispense goods in response to a dispense request. The control device further determines whether an article has become stuck by determining whether the flappers return to their original position while the control plate is being rotated. If an article is struck, the control device rotates the motor in the reverse direction such that the stuck article may be freed. Thereafter, the control device is rotated in a forward direction and again the determination is made whether the flappers have moved to their original position. This operation is repeated until either the flappers move to their original position or the motor is reversed a predetermined number of times, at which time the operation of the dispense mechanism is terminated.