US 4,231,105 AGrant

Vendor Control Circuit

Issue Date:1980-10-28

•38 Claims

•25 Drawing Sheets

Abstract

A control circuit for a vendor for vending a plurality of items comprising a microprocessor, an electrically alterable memory, a display circuit and an interrogation circuit. Values of parameters, typically prices, associated with the items to be vended are stored in the memory. The interrogation circuit can be activated to retrieve from memory the value of the parameter (e.g., price) associated with any given item. The parameter value is thereupon displayed by the display circuit. The display circuit displays the parameter value retrieved from memory independently of whether the microprocessor has another input equal in value to the value of that parameter. The parameter value stored in the memory for any given item can be altered by the microprocessor.

Metadata

Assignee

UMC Industries, Inc.

Inventors

James T. Schuller
Paul N. Albrecht
Hugo M. Canizares

Application Information

Application Number:US 9219609

Filing Date:1978-07-05

Priority Date:1978-07-05

Art Unit:236

Classifications

IPC:

G07F 1162G06F 1521

Field of Search:

364235340194900 MS File;404;405;47992 AC149 R1 N;2;10

Patent Drawings (25 sheets)

Description

Background of the Invention

This invention relates to control apparatus and more particularly to a circuit for controlling the functioning of a vendor.

The functions that a vendor is required to perform are becoming so complex that present control circuits, using electro-mechanical means, are unduly limited. The typical electro-mechanical control circuit, for example, is severely limited in the number and kind of functions it can perform in response to customer commands. Also, typical electromechanical control circuits are dedicated to a particular method of operation of the vendor, i.e., they cannot easily be modified to control new vendor functions or to accept different input signals from the vendor. As a result, when a new vendor function is added to a vendor, it is sometimes necessary to make a new control circuit rather than update the existing control circuit already in the vendor. And updating such control circuits usually requires additional circuit components and interconnections. In any event, the cost in updating existing control circuits, especially to accommodate increasingly complex vendor functions, can be prohibitive.

Present control circuits also lack means for easily setting prices and for checking that the proper prices have been set. Particularly where the items' prices change often, this is a real disadvantage; the serviceman or other authorized personnel must laboriously change those prices which are to be changed and just as laboriously check all those prices. Likewise, in beverage vendors (for example), other parameters, such as throws of ingredients, are also not easily checked or reset. In addition, prior circuits lack effective means for keeping track of the total accumulated sales of a vendor. The total accumulated sales figure, of course, would be very helpful in improving product inventory and cash control.

At least one prototype control circuit using a microprocessor has been developed to address some of the above problems. But it also has its disadvantages. The prototype unit, for example, used a volatile memory with a battery backup for storing prices. During an extended power failure, therefore, the prototype circuit lost the prices. The method of setting prices with the prototype circuit, although an improvement over prior control circuits, has problems of its own. And the prototype circuit has no provision for keeping track of total accumulated sales.

Summary of the Invention

Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of vendor control apparatus which will economically, efficiently and reliably control complex vendor functions; the provision of such apparatus which can be easily modified to control new vendor functions; the provision of such apparatus which can be modified to control new vendor functions without substantially increasing the parts count; the provision of such apparatus which can facilitate the setting of an item parameter such as price or ingredient throw; the provision of such apparatus which can facilitate the checking of an item parameter such as price or ingredient throw; the provision of such apparatus which maintains a record of the total accumulated sales of the vendor, and the provision of such apparatus which stores prices and other parameters nonvolatilely.

Briefly, apparatus of this invention comprises a memory having a plurality of addresses for storing values of at least some of the parameters associated with the items to be vended by the vendor, each item having at least one parameter associated therewith. The parameter values are stored in predetermined memory addresses and are electrically alterable. The apparatus also includes a processor, an interrogation circuit and a display circuit. The processor in response to a plurality of vendor status inputs, memory inputs and control inputs performs arithmetic and logic operations with those inputs and with the values of the parameters associated with the items in a sequence controlled by a preselected set of instructions which constitute a program. The processor supplies output signals based upon the results obtained from the operations to control functioning of the vendor. The processor can access the predetermined memory addresses and can alter the parameter values stored therein. The interrogation circuit, which is operable by authorized personnel, can retrieve from memory the values of at least some of the parameters stored therein. A parameter value retrieved from memory by the interrogation circuit is visually displayed by the display circuit independently of any other input of the processor being equal in value to the parameter value retrieved. As a result, authorized personnel may utilize the interrogation means to retrieve the value of a desired parameter from the memory.

Generally, apparatus of the invention also includes means operable by authorized personnel for setting the values of at least some of the parameters stored in the memory. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a vendor with the control circuit of this invention shown connected thereto in block-diagrammatic form;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a microprocessor and master clock used in this invention;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a chip-selecting logic circuit of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing part of the memory used in this invention;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing more of the memory used in this invention;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing two of the peripheral interface adapters used in this invention;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing the remainder of the memory used in this invention;

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing a power supply for the memory shown on FIG. 7 and reset circuitry used in this invention;

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing the connections among FIGS. 2, 4, 10 and 12;

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing the connections among FIGS. 5, 9, 11 and 13;

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing the connections among FIGS. 6, 10 and 14;

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing two more of the peripheral interface adapters used in this invention;

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing an additional peripheral interface adapter used in this invention;

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram showing the remaining peripheral interface adapter used in this invention;

FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram showing part of the display circuit of this invention;

FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram showing a matrix of switches used in setting items and setting prices in this invention;

FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram of an operation mode-setting circuit of this invention;

FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram of a product sensor used in this invention;

FIG. 19 is a circuit diagram showing a wave shaper used in this invention;

FIG. 20 is a circuit diagram of a clock used as a real time reference in this invention;

FIG. 21 is a circuit diagram of a delivery door opening circuit used in this invention;

FIG. 22 is a circuit diagram of a dollar bill indicator circuit used in this invention;

FIG. 23 is a circuit diagram of four coin indicator circuits of this invention;

FIG. 24 is a circuit diagram of change control circuitry used in this invention;

FIG. 25 is a circuit diagram of two circuits used in this invention for controlling the dollar escrow function of a coin handler;

FIG. 26 is a circuit diagram of a CREM energization circuit used in this invention;

FIG. 27 is a circuit diagram of further change control circuitry used in this invention;

FIG. 28 is a circuit diagram of two circuits used in this invention to control the functioning of a bill validator;

FIG. 29 is a circuit diagram of a free vend circuit of this invention;

FIG. 30 (sheet 18) is a circuit diagram of a display activating circuit of this invention;

FIG. 31 is a circuit diagram of a door lock relay circuit used in this invention;

FIG. 32 is a circuit diagram of an interlocking and sensing circuit of this invention;

FIG. 33 is a circuit diagram of a run relay circuit used in this invention;

FIG. 34 is a circuit diagram of an elevator level sensing circuit of this invention;

FIG. 35 is a circuit diagram of elevator control circuitry of this invention for vending a selected item;

FIG. 36 (sheet 18) is a circuit diagram of additional elevator control circuitry of this invention;

FIG. 37 is a left-side elevation of the vendor of FIG. 1 with a right-side panel thereof in an open position to reveal a semi-diagrammatic representation of the control circuitry of this invention;

FIG. 38 is a perspective exploded view, on an enlarged scale of a part of FIG. 37;

FIG. 39 is a perspective exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the part shown in FIG. 38;

FIG. 40 is a perspective exploded view of another alternative embodiment of the part shown in FIG. 38;

FIG. 41 (sheet 24) is a left-side elevation of the vendor shown in FIG. 1 with parts broken away showing an alternative to the parts shown in FIGS. 38-40;

FIG. 42 (sheet 24) is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 41 along line 42--42.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring now to the drawings, first more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown the front of a vendor 1, such as that of the second embodiment of the vendor disclosed in the coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,333, which issued on Aug. 22, 1978, for vending a plurality of items, indicated collectively by the reference numeral 3 and individually by the reference characters 3a-3x. The vendor 1, as herein illustrated, is an article dispensing vendor, items 3a-3x being items such as food products. It will be understood, however, that the control apparatus of this invention may be applicable to vendors for services, as well as vendors for products. Each item has at least one parameter, e.g., price, associated therewith, the value of which can be varied to vary the functioning of vendor 1. For example, the price parameter of item 3a can be changed from 25.cent. to 30.cent. to vary the amount of money that must be inserted into a coin slot 5 before vendor 1 will vend item 3a. Vendor 1 also has a dollar bill slot 6 for insertion of bills into the vendor.

Vendor 1 includes a control circuit, indicated generally at 7, which is the subject of this invention. Control circuit 7 includes a memory 9, a microprocessor (MPU) or processing means 11, a plurality of selection switches 13, designated individually by the reference characters 13a-13x, corresponding to items 3a-3x in vendor 1, and a display circuit 15 which includes two displays 15a and 15b. The keys of switches 13a-13x are shown on FIG. 1. The switches are shown schematically and individually labeled on FIG. 16. Switches 13 are not individually labeled on FIG. 1 because of the scale of the figure. However, it can be seen on FIG. 1 that switches 13 are arranged in exactly the same configuration as items 3a-3x, i.e., in a 6.times.4 matrix. Pressing the switch in the upper left-hand corner of the switch 13 matrix selects the upper left-hand corner item 3, i.e., item 3a. For the customer's convenience, each item 3 has two tags below it which have printed thereon a switch key reference character or characters for that item and the price. These tags for item 3a are indicated by the reference characters 4a and 4b. These switch key reference characters and the prices are not shown on FIG. 1 because of the scale of the figure. But, as an example, tag 4a might have printed thereon the reference characters A1 and tag 4b might have printed thereon the price $0.30. Of course, the upper left-hand corner switch key would in this example have imprinted thereon the reference character A1.

Memory 9, as is explained in detail below, contains RAM, ROM and EAROM memory sections, and has a plurality of addresses, e.g., in EAROM, for storing values of at least some of the parameters, e.g., the prices of items 3a-3x, in predetermined memory addresses. The parameter values are stored in EAROM so that they are electrically alterable, i.e., the values can be changed electrically by microprocessor 11. Of course they could also be stored in another type of electrically alterable memory, such as RAM.

MPU (i.e., processing means) 11 is responsive to a plurality of vendor status inputs, indicated in simplified form by a line L1 from vendor 1 to MPU 11, a plurality of inputs from memory 9, indicated in simplified form by a line L3 from memory 9 to MPU 11, and a plurality of control inputs, indicated in simplified form by a line L5 from switches 13 to MPU 11 and by line L1. The precise nature of these various inputs is explained infra in the description of the detailed circuit diagram of control circuit 7. Microprocessor 11 performs arithmetic and logic operations with the above-mentioned inputs and with the values of the parameters associated with items 3 in a sequence controlled by a preselected set of instructions which constitute a program, a copy of which is attached to this application as Appendix A. MPU 11 supplies output signals, represented in simplified form by a line L7, to vendor 1 based upon the results obtained from the above-mentioned operations to control the functioning of vendor 1. MPU 11 can also access the predetermined memory locations in memory 9 and alter the parameter values stored therein. In will be understood that the inputs and outputs of MPU 11 are represented by single lines on FIG. 1 for the convenience of the reader and that actually, as will become clear below, microprocessor 11 has a plurality of input lines which accept a variety of input signals from vendor 1 and the rest of control circuit 7. Also not shown on FIG. 1 are a plurality of peripheral interface adapters (PIAs) which interface MPU 11 with vendor 1 and the rest of control circuit 7.

Switches 13a-13x constitute interrogation means, operable by authorized personnel such as a serviceman, for retrieving from memory 9 the values of at least some of the parameters stored therein, as is explained in detail infra. Once a parameter value is retrieved from memory 9 it is displayed by display circuit 15 and display 15a. Specifically, display circuit 15 constitutes means for visually displaying a parameter value retrieved from memory 9 independently of any other input of microprocessor 11 being equal in value to the parameter value retrieved. For example, if item 3b costs 30.cent. and the interrogation means (i.e., switch 13b) retrieves the price of item 3b from memory 9, display circuit 15 displays 30.cent. in display 15a whether or not thirty cents has actually been deposited in vendor 1, i.e., whether or not MPU 11 has a vendor status input representing the deposit of thirty cents in vendor 1.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown microprocessor 11 having a plurality of address lines A0-A15, a plurality of data lines D0-D7, a read/write line R/W, a valid memory address line VMA, a reset line RESET, and an interrupt request line IRQ. MPU 11 is a MC6800 type 8-bit microprocessor sold by Motorola, Inc. of Phoenix, Arizona. The pin numbers of microprocessor 11 are shown on FIG. 2 on the body of the microprocessor. Pins 7, 35 and 38 and address lines A14 and A15 are not used in the present embodiment of the invention. Pins 1 and 21, the source supply voltage (V.sub.ss) inputs, and pin 39, which is a three-state control input TSC, are directly connected to dc circuit ground.

A non-maskable interrupt input of microprocessor 11, designated NMI, is connected to a connector PF and through a 3.3 K resistor R1 to a +5 V power supply. The NMI input can be used to initiate a program sequence to store relevant data in case of a power failure. Many circuits could be implemented to perform this function, but no specific one is shown in the Figs. Rather, FIG. 8 simply shows two blocks X1 and X2 for performing this function. Such a power failure circuit is not part of the present invention.

It will be understood that connector PF can equivalently be replaced by a wire connecting the two parts thereof. The purpose in using connector PF, and other connectors described below, is solely to simplify the schematic of control circuit 7 for the convenience of the reader. A connector having two parts is thus another representation of a wire running between the two points in control circuit 7 where the connector is attached. Likewise a three-part connector is just another representation of a wire or wires directly connecting the indicated three parts of control circuit 7.

Also to simplify the schematic, the chip-select inputs of the various integrated circuit chips which are described below are specifically labeled but the other inputs and outputs of those chips are not generally labeled except by pin number. Pin assignment charts for the various chips used in control circuit 7 can be found immediately preceding the claims.

Pins 2 and 8 of MPU 11 are connected to a + V power supply. Pin 2 is a halt input HALT which would influence operation of microprocessor 11 only if it were Low. (The MC6800 microprocessor operates at TTL voltage levels. Accordingly, hereinafter unless otherwise stated, High means a voltage level of around 5 Volts and Low means a voltage level of around 0 Volts.) The collector supply voltage V.sub.cc is supplied to microprocessor 11 by pin 8.

Pins 3, 36 and 37 of microprocessor 11 are supplied with .phi.1 and .phi.2 nonoverlapping clock signals as required from a Motorola MC6875 type clock 17. The pin numbers of clock 17 are shown on its body. Pins 1 and 2 are connected to a timing circuit consisting of a 150.OMEGA. resistor R3, a 1 K potentiometer K1 and a 68 pF capacitor C1 which determine the frequency of clock outputs .phi.1 and .phi.2. Pin 7 is the Bus .phi.2 output of clock 17. It provides a drive output nominally in phase with clock output .phi.2 on a line L9 to a chip-select circuit indicated generally at 19 (FIG. 3) and more specifically to a NAND gate G1 in chip-select circuit 19.

Pin 14 of clock 17 supplies a power-on reset signal through a connector PE to a circuit, described infra, which initiates a power-on reset cycle of control circuit 7. The other pins of clock 17 are attached as shown in FIG. 2 to ensure proper operation of the clock.

Memory 9 includes three Motorola MC68708L type read-only memory chips designated by the reference characters ROM1 (FIG. 4), ROM2 (FIG. 4) and ROM3 (FIG. 5). Also shown on FIG. 5 is a Motorola MC6810A type random-access memory chip RAM1, which is also part of memory 9. Memory chips ROM1-ROM3 and RAM1 are directly addressable by microprocessor 11. Memory 9 also includes two electrically alterable read-only memory chips, General Instruments type ER2050, designated by the reference characters EAROM1 and EAROM2 (FIG. 7) which are not directly addressable by microprocessor 11.

Control circuit 7 includes six PIAs designated by the reference characters PIA1 (FIG. 6), PIA2 (FIG. 12), PIA3 (FIG. 12), PIA4 (FIG. 13), PIA5 (FIG. 14), and PIA6 (FIG. 6). All six PIAs and Motorola type MC6820 peripheral interface adapter integrated circuit chips. PIAs PIA1 and PIA6 interface memory chips EAROM1 and EAROM2 with MPU 11. It will be understood that the number of PIAs and memory chips used will vary depending upon the desired capabilities of control circuit 7 and the architecture used in designing control circuit 7. Chip EAROM2, for example, need not be present unless chip EAROM1 has insufficient memory capacity for the design at hand.

In addition to being the interface between microprocessor 11 and EAROM1, the PIAs also interface the microprocessor with the vendor status inputs, described in detail infra, and the control inputs such as those from selection switches 13. All inputs to and outputs from microprocessor 11, except those to and from the aforementioned directly addressable memory chips, go through one of the PIAs. Thus, each PIA constitutes peripheral interface adapter means for interfacing microprocessor 11 and the inputs thereto.

Each PIA has eight data pins (pins 33-26) connected to the corresponding data lines of MPU 11. Data is transferred between the microprocessor and the PIAs in both directions by means of these pins. Similarly, the ROMs have eight data pins (pins 9-11, 13-17) connected to the corresponding data lines of MPU 11 by means of which MPU 11 reads data from the ROMs. The data pins of chips ROM1 and PIA2 are connected to the corresponding MPU 11 data lines by eight lines D0a, D1a, D2a, D3a, D4a, D5a, D6a and D7a. Chip ROM1 is also connected to MPU 11 address lines A0-A9 by ten lines A0a-A9a which are connected to the address pins of chip ROM1, i.e., pins 1-8, 22-23. By means of address lines A0-A9 and lines A0a-A9a, MPU11 can address all 1024 bytes in chip ROM1. Lines A0a and A1a are also connected to pins 35 and 36 of chip PIA2.

The data pins of chips ROM2 and PIA3 are connected to data lines D0-D7 of MPU 11 by eight lines D0b-D7b, and the address pins of chips ROM2 are connected to address lines A0-A9 by ten lines A0b-A9b. Pins 35 and 36 of chip PIA3 are also connected to lines A0b and A1b. Chip ROM3 is connected to the MPU data lines by eight lines D0c-D7c and to address lines A0-A9 by ten lines A0c-A9c.

Chip RAM1 has only 128 bytes of memory, so only seven address pins are required. Address lines A0-A6 are connected to the address pins (pins 17-23) of chip RAM1 by seven lines A0d-A6d. Pin 15 of chip RAM1, a chip select pin, is connected to address line A7 by a line A7d. Lines A0d and A1d are also connected to pins 36 and 35 of chip PIA4. The data pins of chips PIA4 and RAM1 (pins 2-9) are connected to data lines D0-D7 by eight lines D0d-D7d.

Data lines D0-D7 are connected to the data pins of PIAs PIA1, PIA5 and PIA6 by eight lines D0e-D7e. Pins 35 and 36 of these PIAs are connected to address lines A0 and A1 by two lines A0e and A1e.

Microprocessor 11 has only a limited number of address lines for addressing all the PIAs and memory chips. It can uniquely address each chip, however, since each chip has one or more chip-select inputs. For esample, each PIA has three chip-select inputs, designated CS0, CS1 and CS2, which are used to select that PIA. For a PIA to be selected, the voltages of its CS0 and CS1 inputs must be High and the voltage at its CS2 input must be Low. In accordance with convention, a chip-select input designation has no bar if the voltage at that input must be High for its chip to be selected, and it has a bar if the voltage at that input must be Low for its chip to be selected. For example, designating two chip-select inputs as CS1 and CS2 means that for that chip to be selected the voltage at the CS1 input must be Low and the voltage at the CS2 input must be High. Likewise the various memory chips have their own chip-select inputs. Memory chips ROM1-ROM3 each have a chip-select input, designated generically by the reference character CS, at pin 20. A Low on pin 20 of one of these chips, therefore, selects that particular chip. Memory chip RAM1 has six chip-select inputs, CS0, CS1, CS2, CS3, CS4, and CS5. And pin 27 of memory chips EAROM 1 and EAROM 2 is a chip-select input CS. MPU 11 does not directly address all the chip-select inputs of the various chips. Instead, it supplies signals on address lines A10-A13 to chip-select circuit 19 (FIG. 3) which constitutes means for supplying activating signals, i.e., Highs and Lows as required, to at least some of the chip-select inputs, including some of the chip-select inputs of the PIAs. For example, if the microprocessor wishes to select chip PIA1, it causes address lines A3 and A12 to be High and line A13 to be Low. The Low on line A13 is supplied to an inverter 21 in chip-select circuit 19 (FIG. 3). The resulting High output of inverter 21 is supplied on a line L11 to a NAND gate G3 (FIG. 2). Likewise the High on line A12 is supplied to an inverter 23 in chip-select circuit 19, which supplies the resulting Low to another inverter 25. The resulting High output of inverter 25 is supplied on a line L13 to the other input of gate G3 causing its output to be Low. This Low output of gate G3 is supplied through a connector PD to pin 23, the CS2 input, of chip PIA1 (FIG. 6). The High on line A3 is supplied directly to pin 22, the CS0 input, of chip PIA1. Since the CS1 input, pin 24, is connected through a 3.3 K resistor R5 to a +5 V source, it is also High and chip PIA1 is selected.

Of course, the PIAs also need a timing signal supplied to their enable (E) inputs (pin 25). This timing signal is supplied from the VMA output line of microprocessor 11 and the Bus .phi.2 output of clock 17 (FIG. 2). Specifically these two outputs are supplied, on line VMA and line L9, to gate G1 (FIG. 3) which in turn supplies a composite output (i.e., a Low output if and only if both inputs are High at the same time, otherwise a High output) to a NAND gate G5 wired as an inverter. Gate G5 has a High output, therefore, when the signals on lines VMA and L9 are both High. The output of gate G5, which is the desired timing signal, is supplied through a connector PB to the enable (E) inputs (pin 25) of all the PIAs (FIGS. 6, 12, 13 and 14) by way of two lines L14 and L16.

Microprocessor 11 not only determines which PIA is selected but also controls the direction of data transfer between itself and the selected PIA by means of its read/write line R/W. The signal on line R/W is supplied to an inverter 27 (FIG. 3) which supplies its output to a second inverter 29. The output of inverter 29, which corresponds in voltage to the signal on line R/W, is supplied through a connector PA (FIGS. 3, 6 and 14) to pin 21 of PIAs PIA1 and PIA6 and to pin 21 of PIAs PIA2-PIA5 by way of a line L15. The read/write signal is also supplied from line L15 to a line R/W1 connected to pin 16 of chip RAM1, its read/write pin.

Microprocessor 11 selects chip PIA2 by supplying a High on address lines A12 and A4 and a Low on address line A13. The High on line A4 is supplied on a line L17 (FIGS. 9 and 12) to the CS0 input (pin 22) of chip PIA2. For convenience, the corresponding lines connected to the CS0 inputs of chips PIA3 and PIA4 are labeled L17a and L17b. The CS1 input of chip PIA2 is also High because it is connected by a line L19 through a 3.3 K resistor R7 to a +5 V source. It should be noted that the CS1 inputs for PIAs PIA3-PIA5 are also connected to line L19. The High on line A12 and the Low on Line A13, as described above, cause the output of gate G3 (FIG. 2) to be Low. This Low is supplied on a line L20 to the CS2 inut (pin 23) of chip PIA2, thereby selecting chip PIA2. The Low on line L20 is also supplied to the CS2 inputs of chips PIA3-PIA5 but it does not cause those chips to be selected in the absence of other address lines being High as described infra.

It should be noted that certain outputs, e.g., the output of gate G3, are connected through a resistor to a +5 V source. These resistors and voltage sources shape the outputs of the components to which they are attached. In the absence of these wave shaping devices, the waveforms generated by the various components of control circuit 7 could become misshapen due to capacitive effects, which could result in erroneous operation of the control circuit. Typically the resistors in such combinations have a value of around 3.3 K, but that value will depend upon the actual wiring of the circuit.

It is convenient to use hexadecimal notation in writing the addresses of the components of control circuit 7. For example, using binary notation the address of chip PIA2 is 0001 0000 0001 0000, where the value of each bit corresponds to the signal level present on the corresponding address line of microprocessor 11. The hexadecimal address, on the other hand, is 1010. Hereinafter hexadecimal notation is used to describe the signal levels present on address lines A0-A13 unless otherwise noted.

The address of chip PIA3 is 1020. That of chip PIA4 is 1040, that of chip PIA5 is 1080, and that of chip PIA6 is 1100. Of course, the addresses of the PIAs can be changed by simply changing the hard-wired connections between them and microprocessor 11. Appendix A, however, has been written for this particular hard-wired circuit and must be modified in order to function properly with a different hard-wired scheme.

The memory chips are addressed in a similar fashion to the PIAs. For example, the beginning address of ROM1 is 2400. That is, the voltage level on address lines A13 and A10 is High and that on lines A11 and A12 is Low. Since line A13 is High, the output of inverter 21 (FIG. 3) is Low. This Low causes the output of gate G3 (FIG. 2) to be High, which ensures that none of the PIAs are selected. The output of inverter 21 is also supplied to an inverter 31, the High output of which is supplied on a line L21 to three NAND gates G7, G9 and G11. NAND gates G7, G9 and G11 are connected by three lines L23, L25 and L27 to the CS inputs of chips ROM3 (FIG. 5), ROM2 (FIG. 4), and ROM1, respectively. The output of only one of these gates will be Low at any one time, thereby selecting its respective chip. Which output is Low is determined by the signal levels on lines A10 and A11. The signals on lines A10 and A11 are supplied to a number of inverters, described below, which together with three NOR gates G13, G15 and G17 decode the signals and supply them to NAND gates G7, G9 and G11.

The High voltage on line A10 is supplied to an inverter 33 (FIG. 3), and its resulting Low output is supplied to NOR gates G15 and G17 and to an inverter 35, causing the latter's output to be High. This High is supplied to NOR gate G13 and its resulting Low output is supplied to gate G9. This causes its output to be High, thereby preventing selection of memory chip RON2. The Low signal on line A11 is inverted by an inverter 37 and this High signal is then supplied to gates G13 and G15 and to an inverter 39. The High supplied to gate G15 causes its output to be Low. This Low in turn causes the output of gate G7 to be High, thereby preventing selection of memory chip ROM3. The Low output of inverter 39 is supplied to gate G17 causing its output to be High, which output is supplied to gate G11. Since all inputs to gate G11 are High, its output is Low, which selects chip ROM1. The selection of chips ROM2 and ROM3 is similar to that of chip ROM1 except for the addresses. The beginning address of chip ROM2 is 2800, while that of chip ROM3 is 2C00. ROMs ROM1-ROM3 are used to store the program for MPU 11.

Memory chip RAM1 can be addressed by Lows on address lines A1, A12 and A13. The Low on line A7 is supplied directly to the CS5 input of chip RAM1 (FIG. 5) by way of line A7d. The Low on line A12 is inverted twice (by inverters 23 and 25) and supplied on a line L29 to the CS4 input of chip RAM1. Likewise, the Low on line A13 is inverted twice (by inverters 21 and 31) and supplied on line L21 and a line L31 to the CS2 input of chip RAM1. The CS0 input of chip RAM1 is connected by way of a line L33 to line L16 (FIG. 13) which carries the enable output from connector PB (FIGS. 2 and 3) described above. The CS1 input is tied to ground and the CS3 input is connected through a 3.3K resistor R9 to a +5 V source. Memory chip RAM1 is basically used as a scratchpad for MPU 11.

The prices of items 3a-3x are stored in chip EAROM1 and, if necessary, in chip EAROM2 (FIG. 7). The EAROMs are not directly addressable by microprocessor 11. Rather MPU 11 addresses the EAROMs and transfers data, e.g., prices, to and from them by means of chips PIA1 and PIA6 (FIG. 6). For example, to store some data in chip EAROM1, MPU 11 supplies that data on data lines D0-D7 to data lines D0e-D7e (FIGS. 6, 11). Data lines D0e-D7e are directly connected to the data pins (pins 26-33) of chips PIA1 and PIA6, and so supply the data to those pins. The PIAs in turn supply the data to chip EAROM1 over a plurality of lines L35, L37, L39, . . . , L65. The address pins of chip EAROM1 (pins 19-23) are connected by five lines A0f-A4f to pins 2-6 of chip PIA1. Pins 25 and 26 of chip EAROM1 mode control pins, are connected to pins 7 and 8 of chip PIA1 by two lines L66 and L68. The data can be supplied to chip EAROM2 by means of two connectors PG and PH (FIG. 7) connected to lines L35-L65.

The EAROMs require a -28 V regulated power supply which is indicated generally at 41 (FIG. 8) and includes a 723 voltage regulator chip from Signetics Corp. of Sunnyvale, California. Also shown on FIG. 8 is reset circuitry, indicated generally at 43, which causes control circuit 7 to reset under power-on or malfunction conditions. Under power-on conditions, for example, clock 17 (FIG. 2) supplies a Low through connector PE (FIGS. 2, 8) to an inverter 45. Inverter 45 supplies a High through a 10K resistor R11 to the base of a type 2N2222A transistor Q1, causing it to conduct. A line L67, connected to the collector of transistor Q1, is thereupon brought Low. Line L67 (FIGS. 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) is connected to the reset inputs (pin 34) of all the PIAs and to the RESET input of MPU 11. The Low on line L67, therefore, prepares the PIAs and the microprocessor for operation of control circuit 7.

The circuitry shown on FIGS. 2-7, 9-14 is contained on one circuit board, not shown, which must be connected to the remaining circuitry of control circuit 7 shown on FIGS. 15-36. This connection is made by means of two plugs, designated by the reference characters P1 and P2 (FIGS. 6, 8, 12, 13, 14). Referring specifically to FIG. 8, it should be noted that two portions of plug P2 are shown as oblongs while the rest of plug P2 on these FIGS. is shown as a rectangle whose outline is made up of dashes. The oblong symbol is used, particularly in the remaining FIGS., to indicate a single pin connection of a plug. The rectangle is used, on the other hand, to indicate a plurality of such connections. The number inside the oblong indicates the plug pin number, identical pin numbers, of course, indicating a connection between the two pins. For example, one plug P2 oblong on FIG. 8 contains the number 31. This indicates a direct connection between that point on FIG. 8 and pin 31 of plug P2 on FIG. 14, which is connected to pin 6 of chip PIA5.

Display circuit 15, including displays 15a and 15b, is shown in its entirety on FIG. 15. Briefly, display circuit 15 includes a 7447 type BCD-to-seven segment decoder 47, seven PNP transistors Q2-Q8, four-digit seven-segment display 15a, six-digit seven-segment display 15b, and ten inverters 49-58, such as are supplied in an MC1413 type inverter package. The digits of displays 15a and 15b, as is described in detail below, are multiplexed by inverters 49-58. That is, only one digit of the two displays is activated at a given instant, the particular digit activated being determined by the outputs of inverters 49-58.

FIG. 16 shows selection switches 13a-13x as well as a set of twelve price-setting switches 60-71. Switches 60-71, also shown on FIGS. 37-38, 41 and 42, are associated with the numerals 1-9, the character "*", the numeral "0", and the character "#", respectively. The numeral switches, i.e., switches 60-68 and 70, are used to enter prices into memory 9. Switch 69, the "*" switch, is a price-loading switch, and switch 71, the "#" switch, is a display-clearing switch. Also shown on FIG. 16 are two price-rolling switches 73 and 74, which can also be used to enter prices, and a fast-slow switch 75, which is used in conjunction with switches 73 and 74. Except for switch 75, the switches shown on FIG. 16 are arranged in a matrix 76 of eight rows and six columns. Of course, other arrangements of switches could be used, but the program appearing as Appendix A was written for this particular switch matrix. Each row of the switch matrix shown on FIG. 16 is connected through one of a series of 1K resistors, designated by the reference characters R11-R18, to a +12 V source and directly to the output of one of a series of 7407 type open-collector output drivers, designated by the reference numerals 77-84. Each column is connected through one of a series of 10I resistors, designated by the reference characters R20-R25, to ground and through one of a series of 220K resistors, designated by the reference characters R27-R32, to a NOR gate G19 and to one of a series of noninverting gates or buffer amplifiers, designated by the reference characters 86-91.

NOR gate G19 (FIG. 16) is connected by a line L69 to a mode setting circuit, indicated generally at 93 (FIG. 17). Control circuit 7 has two mutually exclusive operation modes, viz., a price-setting mode and a vending mode. Mode-setting circuit 93 constitutes means for setting the mode of operation of control circuit 7. Included in mode-setting circuit 93 are two noninverting gates 95 and 97, two NOR gates G21 and G23 and a mode-setting switch 98. Switch 98 has two contacts 98a and 98b which make up one side thereof. The other side of switch 98 is connected to ground.

Contact 98a is connected through a 1K resistor R20 to a +5 V source and directly to gate 97 and NOR gate G21. Contact 98b is connected through a 1K resistor R21 to a +5 V source and directly to gate G23. Contact 98a is shown as grounded in FIG. 17, which causes Lows to be present at the input to gate 97 and at one input of gate G21. Contact 98b, being open, does not ground its input to gate G23, so that input is High and its output Low. This is the vending mode position of switch 98. In the price-setting mode, the blade of switch 98 contacts contact 98b rather than contact 98a, thereby reversing the above voltage levels.

FIG. 18 shows a product sensing circuit 99 which is part of control circuit 7. Circuit 99 includes two light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 101 and 103 and two phototransistors Q3 and Q5. When circuit 99 is installed in a vendor such as vendor 1, LED 101 and phototransistor Q3 are disposed on one side of a delivery station, said station being indicated generally at 105 (FIG. 1) and LED 103 and phototransistor Q5 are disposed on the opposite side of delivery station 105. A product present at the delivery station will interrupt the passage of light from the LEDs to at least one of phototransistors Q3 and Q5 causing at least one and often both of them to cease conducting. This causes the collector(s) of the nonconducting transistor(s) to go High, signalling the presence of an item at delivery station 105.

Vendor 1 includes an elevator, not shown, which moves from delivery station 105 to four levels, designated by the reference characters A, B, C and D, on which the items 3 to be dispensed are located. Once the elevator reaches the desired level, the desired item is conveyed onto the elevator and the elevator descends to delivery station 105 to complete the vend. The elevator and the apparatus which conveys the desired article onto the elevator are not part of the present invention but are of the type disclosed in coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,333. In that application, the elevator is caused to move up to the desired level by an elevator motor, connected to a motion sensor. Such a motion sensor supplies a series of pulses indicative of the speed of the elevator motor, the pulses being closer together the faster the motor is turning. When the elevator reaches the proper level, it engages a stop, not shown, which prevents further movement of the elevator. At this point, the elevator motor stops and the pulses from the motion sensor cease.

Control circuit 7 includes sensing means, indicated generally at 106 (FIG. 19), for supplying a vendor status input comprising a series of pulses indicating the speed of rotation of the elevator motor in the vendor to MPU 11. The output of the motion sensor is a train of pulses which is supplied through a 47.OMEGA. resistor R23 to pins 2 and 6 of a 556-type timer 107 connected to function as a wave-shaper. Timer 107 is also called a speed-sensor clock. Timer 107 shapes these pulses and supplies them through a 0.001 .mu.F capacitor C3 to a noninverting gate 109 and directly to a noninverting gate 111. The outputs of gates 109 and 111 are supplied to MPU 11 through pins 8 and 47 of plug P2.

Control circuit 7 also includes a clock 113 (FIG. 20), called a time-base clock, which constitutes clock means for supplying interrupts to MPU 11 at a constant rate which the microprocessor uses to determine if the number of the pulses from sensing circuit 107 fall within a predetermined range. Clock 113 is a 556-type timer with a period of 10 milliseconds. The output of clock 113 (pin 3) is supplied directly to plug P2, pin 48 and through an inverter 115 to plug P2, pin 36.

Vendor 1 includes a delivery door 117 (FIG. 1) in front of delivery station 105 which automatically opens when an item is sensed at delivery station 105 by phototransistors Q3 and Q5 (FIG. 18). A circuit for causing door 117 to automatically open when an item is sensed at the delivery station is shown on FIG. 21. Briefly, MPU 11 causes a High to appear at plug P2, pin 13 when an item is sensed at delivery station 105. This High is supplied to a noninverting gate 119 which is connected to the base of a NPN transistor Q7. The base of transistor Q7 is also connected through a 1.8K resistor R25 to +5 V source. When the output of amplifier 119 goes High, therefore, transistor Q7 conducts causing current to flow through a relay coil 121 from a +12 V source. This closes the contacts of a relay, not shown, which closure is known manner is used to power a motor, remove a latch, etc., to open door 117.

Control circuit 7 controls the coin-handling functions of vendor 1 such as credit accumulation and coin return. Specifically, it controls the functioning of a coin handling unit, not shown, and a dollar bill validator, also not shown. Connections to the coin handler and validator are indicated by the reference characters CH and VAL respectively. Of course, standard coin handling units and validators must be adapted to be electrically compatible with the voltage levels of the control circuit, but this adaptation can easily be performed by one of ordinary skill in the art and is not part of this invention. When the coin handler or validator detects a valid coin or bill, it generates a signal corresponding to the type of coin or bill detected; the signal for each type coin or bill being a positive pulse. For example, the positive pulse corresponding to a dime is supplied from an optoelectronic source and sensor assembly disposed at the entrance of the dime coins tube in the coin handler.

The pulse signaling the detection of a valid dollar bill is supplied to an indicator circuit 123 (FIG. 22) comprising two 1K resistors R27 and R29, two 100K resistors R31 and R33, two noninverting gates 125 and 127, a 0.01 .mu.F capacitor C5, and a diode D3. The pulse is sensed by gate 125 and then supplied to plug P1, pin 30. The pulse is also supplied to capacitor C5 which, together with diode D3 and resistor R29, shapes it into a spike which is sensed by gate 127 and supplied to plug P1, pin 22. These signals supplied to plug P1 are thereafter supplied to MPU 11.

In a similar manner, pulses indicating the detection of nickels, dimes, quarters and dollar coins are supplied to four identical coin indicator circuits 129, 131, 133 and 135 (FIG. 23). Indicator circuits 129, 131, 133 and 135 each have a 4.7K resistor (designated by the reference characters R35, R37, R39 and R41), a 220K resistor (R43, R45, R47 and R49), a 0.01 .mu.F capacitor (C7, C9, C11 and C13), a first 100K resistor (R51, R53, R55, and R57), a second 100K resistor (R59, R61, R63, and R65), a first noninverting gate (137, 139, 141 and 143) and a second noninverting gate (145, 147, 149 and 151).

The nickel indicator circuit, circuit 129, supplies its pulse (i.e., vendor status input) representative of a deposit of a nickel in vendor 1 to plug P1, pin 34 and the spike input derived therefrom to plug P2, pin 9, and thereby supplies it to microprocessor 11. The dime indicator circuit, circuit 131, supplies its pulse and spike outputs indicating the deposit of a dime to plug P1, pin 33 and plug P2, pin 38. Circuit 133, the quarter indicator circuit, supplies its two outputs to plug P1, pins 32 and 20. And the dollar coin indicator circuit, circuit 135, supplies its output to pins 31 and 25 of plug P1. In summary, indicator circuits 123, 129, 131, 133 and 135 constitute means for supplying vendor status inputs representative of a deposit of money in vendor 1 to MPU 11.

FIG. 24 shows additional circuitry, indicated generally at 153, for controlling the functioning of the coin handler. Signals from the coin handler indicating empty change tubes are supplied to circuit 153 over four lines labeled L71, L73, L75 and L77. If the nickel change tube in the coin handler is empty, for example, there will be a Low on line L71. Lows on lines L73, L75 and L77 indicate empty dime, quarter and dollar coin change tubes respectively. The nickel change tube empty signal is supplied to a D-type latch 155. Empty signals for the dime, quarter and dollar coin tubes are supplied to additional D-type latches 157, 159 and 161. The clock inputs of the latches are connected to a clock 163 comprising a 555-type timer.

A Low on line L77, signifying that the dollar coin tube is empty, causes the Q output of latch 161 to go Low. This Low output is supplied to a noninverting gate 165 connected to plug P1, pin 28. Similarly, if the dime tube is empty, the Low on line L73 causes the Q output of latch 157 to go Low. This Low output is sensed by noninverting gate 167 and supplied to plug P1, pin 27. In response to the signal levels on pins 27 and 28 of plug P1 being Low, MPU 11 stops using dollar coins and dimes to make change and instead uses nickels and quarters.

The Q outputs of latches 155 and 159 go Low whenever the nickel and quarter change tubes, respectively, are empty. These outputs are supplied to an AND gate G25 causing its output to go Low, whenever either or both of these tubes are empty. This Low output is supplied via a noninverting gate 169 to plug P1, pin 12. It is also supplied to the base of a PNP transistor Q9, causing it to conduct, thereby lighting an out-of-change indicator lamp 171 connected between the collector of transistor Q9 and a +12 V source.

MPU 11 causes the coin handler to make change from its coin tubes by causing Highs to appear on pins 16-19 of plug P1. To cause a dollar coin to be returned in change, the MPU puts a High on plug P1, pin 16. Pin 16 of plug P1 is connected to a voltage divider consisting of a 4.7K resistor R67 connected through a 10K resistor R69 to ground. The base of an NPN transistor Q11 is connected to the voltage divider between the two resistors. The emitter of transistor Q11 is also connected to ground, while its collector is connected through a 4.7K resistor R71 to a +12 V source. A High at pin 16 of plug P1, therefore, causes transistor Q11 to conduct, which causes the voltage measured at its collector to go Low. The collector of transistor Q11 is connected through a 91.OMEGA. resistor R73 to the base of a PNP transistor Q13, the emitter of which is connected to the +12 V source and the collector of which is connected by a line L79 to a solenoid, not shown, on the dollar coin tube in the coin handler. A Low on the collector of transistor Q11 causes transistor Q13 to conduct, energizing the dollar coin relay solenoid, which causes a dollar coin to be ejected from its coin tube.

A High on pin 17 of plug P1 causes an NPN transistor Q15 to conduct, which in turn causes a PNP transistor Q17 to conduct. Transistor Q17 is connected by a line L81 to the corresponding solenoid on the quarter change tube. When it conducts, that solenoid is energized, causing a quarter to be ejected from its change tube. In the same way, Highs on pins 18 and 19 of plug P1 cause current to flow in lines L83 and L85 to energize the solenoids associated with the dime and nickel tubes respectively.

Circuit 153 also includes a PNP transistor Q19, the collector of which is connected to ground, the base of which is connected to the output of clock 163 and the emitter of which is connected via a line L87 to a sensor LED circuit, not shown, in the coin handler. Coin handlers use a plurality of standard LED sensors to check coin levels. The clock signal on line L87 is used to pulse the LEDs in those sensors so that they will not remain "on" continuously, overheat and fail. These LEDs are pulsed with relatively high current to decrease the possibility of false "Tubes Full" signals being sent to MPU 11 because of dust accumulation on the sensors or the like.

It is desirable in coin handlers to have an escrow position for dollar coins so that if the customer chooses not to complete a vend, he can receive back the very dollar coins he inserted into vendor 1. Control circuit 7 has circuits 173 and 175 (FIG. 25) for controlling such escrow.

Briefly, in response to an input signal at pin 43 of plug P1, circuit 173 provides a ground connection on a line L89 to a dollar coin escrow solenoid, not shown, in the coin handler. The other end of said solenoid is connected to a source of power, so when line L89 provides a path to ground the solenoid is activated causing dollar coins to be trapped in the escrow chute. The coin handler also has a dollar coin return solenoid which deflects the dollar coins stored in the escrow position to the customer when it is activated. Activation of the return solenoid is accomplished by supplying a signal from MPU 11 to pin 11 of plug 1. This causes a line L91 of circuit 175 to go Low, activating the return solenoid to which it is connected.

A circuit 177 (FIG. 26), identical to circuit 175 in structure and operation, is used to activate the CREM, not shown, in the coin handler. Briefly, a High on pin 13 of plug P1 causes a line L93 to go Low, providing a ground path for the CREM.

FIG. 27 shows a circuit 179 used to signal the microprocessor that the customer wants his money back. If the customer has pressed the coin return switch to abort the vend, the coin handler supplies a High on a line L94 to circuit 179. This High is sensed by a buffer or noninverting gate 181 and supplied to pin 20 of plug P2. As explained in detail infra, MPU 11 in response to this High on pin 20 of plug P2 returns the customer's money if a vend is not in progress.

The serviceman uses circuit 179 to empty the coin tubes. For this purpose the coin handler includes four switches, not shown, one for each tube. Pressing the nickel tube switch causes a High to be supplied on a line L95 from the coin handler to a buffer gate 183 in circuit 179. The output of gate 183 is connected to pin 46 of plug P1. The pressing of the dime tube switch causes a High to appear on a line L97, which is sensed by a buffer gate 185 and supplied to pin 47 of plug P1. Likewise, the High resulting from the pressing of the quarter tube switch is supplied on a line L99 to a buffer gate 187 and from there to pin 48 of plug P1. Pressing the dollar coin tube switch causes a High to be supplied on a line L101 to a buffer gate 189 and from there to pin 49 of plug P1. The signals from gates 183, 185, 187 and 189 are also supplied to a NOR gate G27. Whenever the outputs of one of these amplifiers is High, the output of gate G27 is Low. This causes the input of an inverter 191 to become Low, so its output goes High. This High output is supplied to pin 1 of plug P1. Briefly, the High on pin 1 of plug P1, called a payout request interrupt, causes MPU 11 to payout coins from the coin tube whose switch has been actuated until that switch is released.

The dollar bill validator moves a bill into an escrow position after it has been validated and then either accepts the bill by moving it to a storage location, or returns the bill to the customer depending upon whether or not the vend has been completed or aborted. Control circuit 7 controls the movement of the valid bill from the escrow position by means of two identical circuits, designated by the reference numerals 193 and 195 (FIG. 28). To return the dollar bill to the customer, MPU 11 causes pin 15 of plug P1 to go High. This High is supplied through a 100K resistor R75 to a noninverting gate 197. The output of gate 197 is supplied through a 1K resistor R77 to the base of an NPN transistor Q21, the emitter of which is connected to ground and the collector of which is connected by a line L103 to the validator. The High on the base of transistor Q21 causes line L103 to be Low, thereby signaling the validator to return the bill. Likewise, to accept the bill, MPU 11 causes pin 45 of plug P1 to go High. This results in a line L105 connected to the validator and to the collector of an NPN transistor Q23 to go Low, thereby signaling the validator to move the bill to the storage position.

On occasion the operator of vendor 1 may desire to vend items 3 simply in response to the actuation of selection switches 13, i.e., a "free vend". This is easily accomplished by means of a free vend switch 199 (FIGS. 29 and 37) having first and second positions. Free vend switch 199 has contacts 199a and 199b corresponding respectively to the first and second positions of the switch. Contact 199a is connected through a 1K resistor R79 to a +12 V source and through a 220K resistor R81 to a buffer gate 201. The output of gate 201 is connected to pin 22 of plug P2. When free vend switch 199 is in its second position, as shown in FIG. 29, the output of gate 201 is High. When switch 199 is switched to its first position, however, the +12 V source is grounded through the switch, so the output of gate 201 and the voltage on plug P2, pin 22 are Low. This Low is subsequently detected by microprocessor 11.

Control circuit 7 keeps track of the total accumulated sales figure for vendor 1. This figure is stored in chip RAM1 at address 0037-003A, and is updated after every vend by MPU 11. The total sales figure is also stored in chip EAROM1 at address "1D" and "1E" therein. Six-digit seven-segment display 15b constitutes means for displaying the total accumulated sales figure. Of course the customer has no need to know the total sales figure, so display 15b is normally inactivated and is preferably disposed inside the cabinet of the vendor as shown in FIG. 37. The serviceman has a key 203 (FIG. 30) which constitutes servicemanoperable means for activating display 15b. The serviceman merely inserts key 203 in a slot 204 of a sensor 205 in an activating circuit 207 to activate display 15b.

Display 15b is normally inactivated because inverters 53-58 (FIG. 15) have no way to sink the current from display 15b. Inverters 53-58, being part of an MC1413 type inverter package, require a ground connection in order to sink that current. This ground connection is provided on a line L107 when key 203 is inserted into sensor 205 (FIG. 30). Specifically when the serviceman places key 203 in the position in sensor 205 shown in phantom, it breaks the light path between an LED 209 and a phototransistor Q25 contained therein. This stops conduction of the phototransistor, causing the voltage measured at its collector to become positive. This positive voltage is sensed by a buffer gate 211 and supplied to the base of an NPN transistor Q27 in the common-emitter configuration. Transistor Q27 conducts, and as a result line L107 goes Low, grounding inverters 53-58 and thereby activating display 15b.

The total accumulated sales figure is reset to zero by a switch 213 which constitutes means for supplying a reset control input signal to MPU 11. When switch 213 is closed by the serviceman or other person with access thereto, it causes the outputs of two buffer gates, designated 215 and 217, to go High. These outputs are supplied to pins 1 and 11 of plug P2 and from there through the PIAs to MPU 11. Circuit 207 also includes a jumper 219 which can be removed to prevent inadvertent or non-authorized resetting of the total sales figure.

When the elevator is not at delivery station 105, door 117 is locked closed by a solenoid-operated latch, not shown. This is a safety feature which prevents a customer from opening door 117 while the elevator is moving. It also prevents a customer from surreptitiously removing items from the lower levels while the elevator is at the higher levels, e.g., level A. If, however, the elevator is at delivery station 105, door 117 is unlocked if there is a product present. This is accomplished by a door lock solenoid circuit 221 (FIG. 31) which energizes solenoid 223 to unlatch door 117 when the elevator is at delivery station 105 and a product is sensed by circuit 99. When MPU 11 has determined that the elevator is at the delivery station, and a product is present, it supplies a High to pin 7 of plug P1 which is connected to a buffer gate 225. The resulting High output of gate 225 causes an NPN transistor Q29 to conduct, energizing solenoid 223 and unlatching and opening door 117.

Control circuit 7 includes an interlocking circuit 227 (FIG. 32) which constitutes means for supplying vendor status inputs to MPU 11 which indicate that vendor 1 is not ready to vend an item 3. Interlocking circuit 227 includes a switch 229 for indicating whether the elevator is at delivery station 105, a switch 231 for indicating whether door 117 is closed, and a switch 233 for indicating whether door 117 is locked. Switch 229 has two contacts 229a and 229b. Its blade is connected to a +12 V source. Contact 229a is connected through a buffer gate 235 to pin 10 of plug P2. Contact 229a is also connected to switch 231. When the elevator is at delivery station 105, switch 229 is closed through contact 229a and thus supplies +12 V power to switch 231 and to gate 235 causing its output to be High. When the elevator leaves delivery station 105, however, switch 229 closes through contact 229b and the output of gate 235 goes Low, thereby removing power from switches 231 and 233.

Switch 231 is closed when door 105 is closed and open when it is not. When closed, switch 231 connects contact 229a through a buffer gate 237 to pin 9 of plug P1. If the elevator is at the delivery station and door 117 is closed, the output of gate 237 is High. If either or both of these conditions is not met, the output of gate 237 is Low.

Switch 233 is connected to switch 231 and is open when door 117 is unlocked. Locking of door 117 closes switch 233, which connects switch 231 through a buffer gate 239 to pin 8 of plug P1. If the elevator is at delivery station 105 and door 117 is closed and locked, the output of gate 239 is High. Otherwise, it is Low.

Normally, when not in the vend cycle, the elevator is at delivery station 105 and door 117 is closed but unlocked. As a result, the normal positions of switches 229, 231 and 233 are as shown in FIG. 32.

If all three switches are closed and conditions are proper for a vend, MPU 11 supplies a vend signal on pin 6 of plug P1 to a run relay circuit 241 (FIG. 33) which constitutes means for initiating vending of the selected item 3. In response to the vend signal from MPU 11, the output of a noninverting gate 243 in circuit 241 goes High which causes an NPN transistor Q31 to conduct. This energizes a relay coil 245 which in the known manner closes a switch, not shown, to supply power to the elevator.

Control circuit 7 controls the operation of the elevator and dispensing of items 3 by means of a circuit 247 (FIGS. 34-36). Circuit 247 includes six horizontal solenoids (HORSOLs) designated by the reference numerals 249, 251, 253, 255, 257 and 259, each of which is associated with one column of items 3. A particular item 3 is moved onto the elevator in response to the elevator being at that item's level and the HORSOL associated with that item's column having been energized before the elevator moves from the delivery station. Control circuit 7 deals only with energizing the proper HORSOL and stopping the elevator at the proper level. The particular means used to then convey the selected item onto the elevator is not part of this invention.

The HORSOLs are connected on one side to one side of a 24 VAC power line, designated LV1, and on the other side through one of a set of six triacs, designated by the reference characters 261, 263, 265, 267, 269 and 271, to the other side, designated LV2, of the power line. Each triac has its own gating circuit, indicated by the reference numerals 273, 275, 277, 279, 281 and 283, all of which are identical. When a triac is gated by its gating circuit, its corresponding HORSOL is energized. Since all the gating circuits are identical, only circuit 273 is described in detail.

To energize HORSOL 249, as is required when the item selected is in the leftmost column as shown in FIG. 1, MPU 11 causes pin 35 of plug P1 to be High. This High is supplied to a NAND gate G29 in gating circuit 273. The other input of gate G29 is clock pulses from a clock 285, so the output of gate G29 is periodically Low. This causes current to flow from a +12 V source through one side of a transformer 287 into gate G29, which in turn causes current to flow through the other side of transformer 287 into the gate terminal of triac 261. Current then flows through the main terminals of triac 261 and HORSOL 249 is energized. To vend an item in the second column from the left, MPU 11 energizes HORSOL 251 by causing pin 36 of plug P1 to be High. Likewise Highs on pins 37, 38, 39 and 40 of plug P1 result in HORSOLs 253, 255, 257 and 259 respectively being energized.

The purpose of clock 285 is to prevent the transformers in gating circuits 273, etc., from burning out as a result of being on for relatively long periods.

Microprocessor 11 controls the level at which the elevator stops by means of pins 2-5 of plug P1 (FIG. 34). Pin 2 of plug P1, which is associated with level A, is connected through a noninverting gate 289 to a switch 291, the other side of which is connected to a line L109. Pins 3-5 are connected in exactly the same way through their own gates to switches 293, 295 and 297, respectively, whose other sides are connected to line L109. Pin 3 is associated with level B; pin 4, with level C; and pin 5, with level D. To stop the elevator on level A, for example, MPU 11 causes pin 2 of plug P1 to go High and pins 3-5 to remain Low. As the elevator approaches level D it closes switch 297, connecting pin 5 of plug P1 and line L109 but nothing occurs since pin 5 is Low. That is, the closure of switch 297 causes no change in the potential measured on line L109. Likewise, as the elevator approaches level C it closes switch 295, again with not result. But as switch 291 finally closes it brings line L109 High since pin 2 of plug P1 is High. This High on line L109 is sensed by a buffer gate 299 and supplied on a line L111 to a NAND gate G31 (FIG. 35). Gate G31 is part of a triac gating circuit 301 identical to gating circuits 273, etc. The High on line L111 causes the output of gate G31 to go Low, providing in the same manner described above a gating signal for a triac 303. Triac 303 is connected at one main terminal to side LV2 of the power line and at the other main terminal to a vertical stop solenoid 305 which when energized stops the elevator by, for example, causing a mechanical stop to be held in its path as shown in coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,333. One side of vertical stop solenoid 305 is connected to side LV1 of the power line.

Solenoid 305 is also connected to side LV2 of the power line through a second triac 307 which is used to stop the elevator during reset of control circuit 7. During a system reset the microprocessor causes pin 7 of plug P2 (FIG. 36) to be High. This High is sensed by a non-inverting gate 309 and supplied on a line L113 to a first input of a NAND gate G33. The High on pin 7 of plug P2 is also sensed by a noninverting gate 311 and supplied to the clock input of a number 4013, D-type latch 313. The Q output of latch 313 therethrough goes High. This High is supplied on a line L115 through a buffer gate 315 (FIG. 35) to the second input of gate G33. The output of gate G33 is connected to one side of a transformer 317, the other side of which is connected to the gate terminal of triac 307. When the output of gate G33 goes Low, triac 307 is gated by current from transformer 317 and vertical stop solenoid 305 is energized.

When the elevator stops at the desired level, vending proceeds substantially as described in the coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,333. Specifically a tray or vend motor, not shown, goes through approximately one-half of a cycle to convey the selected item 3 onto the elevator and then stops (this is called the 180.degree. position of the tray motor). When the tray motor reaches the 180.degree. position, it energizes a relay, designated N herein and in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,333, which causes the elevator motor to reverse and move the elevator back down to delivery station 105. After relay N is energized the operation of the present elevator control circuit is somewhat different from that disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,333.

In order for the elevator to freely return to delivery station 105 after the item has been conveyed onto it, it is necessary that vertical stop solenoid 305 not be energized. It will not be energized by triac 303 because MPU 11 causes pins 2-5 of plug P1 (FIG. 34) to go Low when the elevator stops. The energization of relay N (FIG. 36) by the means disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,333, indicated by a box 317, when the tray motor reaches its 180.degree. position causes two LEDs designated by the reference numerals 319 and 321 to light. The light from the LEDs causes a photo-transistor Q33 to conduct. Phototransistor Q33 is an NPN type transistor connected in the common-emitter configuration so its collector voltage goes Low upon the lighting of LEDs 319 and 321. This Low is inverted by an inverter 323 and the resulting High is supplied to the reset input of D-type latch 313. The output of latch 313 goes Low, therefore, causing the output of NAND gate G33 (FIG. 35) to be High. As a result no gating current can flow through transformer 317, so triac 307 cannot energize solenoid 305 either. The High from inverter 323 is also supplied through a noninverting gate 325 to pin 42 of plug P1. This high is a vendor status input signal to MPU 11 that the tray motor is in its 180.degree. position.

It should be noted that although microprocessor 11, memory 9 and display circuit 15 are shown in block diagram form outside vendor 1 in FIG. 1 in actual fact all three are contained inside vendor 1 and in particular behind a front panel 327. Front panel 327 is secured to a right-side panel 329 (FIG. 37) on which control circuit 7 is mounted. Side panel 329 can be rolled forwardly part of the way out of vendor 1 to the position shown in FIG. 37, on two guideways 331 and 333, shown in phantom.

Most of control circuit 7 is enclosed in a case 335. But the parts of circuit 7 which the serviceman needs to be able to manipulate are located outside case 335. Free vend switch 199, for example, is mounted on top of case 335. And display 15b is mounted on the outside of case 335. Switches 60-71, which constitute serviceman-operable means for setting the values of at least some of the parameters stored in memory 9, are mounted in a price-setting module 337 detachably mounted in a holder 339. Specifically price-setting module 337 constitutes customer-inaccessible price-setting means for setting the prices of items 3a-3x stored in memory 9. Module 337 is customer-inaccessible because only the serviceman can roll panels 327 and 329 out from their closed position with panel 329 inside vendor 1 and panel 327 substantially flush with the front of the vendor to their open position shown in FIG. 37. Normally side panel 329 is locked in place by means of a lock and handle combination 341 mounted in panel 327. Clearly panels 327 and 329 constitute serviceman-operable means for providing access to price-setting module 337 when they are in their open position and for preventing access thereto when they are in their closed position.

Price-setting module 337 is normally connected to control circuit 7 by means of a plug 343 attached thereto and a socket 345 connected to the rest of circuit 7 by wires not shown. Plug 343 is shown unplugged from socket 345 in FIG. 37 to emphasize the fact that price-setting module 337 is serviceman removable. That is, the serviceman can have a single price-setting module 337 which he takes from vendor to vendor. Typically, however, price-setting module 337 is left in vendor 1 and plug 343 is left plugged into its socket 345.

A more detailed view of price-setting module 337 and holder 339 is had in FIG. 38. Special note should be taken of mode-setting switch 98 mounted behind holder 339 with its actuator protruding into the interior of the holder. When price-setting module 337 is in holder 339, it engages the actuator of mode-setting switch 98, which causes the blade of switch 98 to contact contact 98a (FIG. 17), which puts circuit 7 in the vending mode. That is, mode-setting circuit 93 is responsive to price-setting module 337 being in holder 339 to set control circuit 7 in its vending mode. When module 337 is removed from the holder, it no longer engages the actuator of switch 98, so the blade of switch 98 switches to contact 98b, which sets control circuit 7 in the price-setting mode. Since holder 339, module 337 and switch 98 are accessible only when panels 327 and 329 have been moved to their open position, mode-setting circuit 93 is operable to set control circuit 7 in the price-setting mode only when the serviceman access means, i.e., panels 327 and 329, is open.

Price-setting module is about 21/2".times.4".times.1" in size and is therefore of such a size that the serviceman can hold it in one hand, leaving this other hand free to operate the module by pressing the desired keys. Module 337 has a flexible cord 347 secured at one end to its body and at the other end to plug 343, this cord being of sufficient length, when extended, to allow the serviceman to stand in front of panel 327 while changing prices.

The only parts of switches 60-68 and 70 showing on module 337 are their respective actuator keys arrayed to form a numeric keyboard, indicated generally at 349. Switch keys 69 and 71 are not part of keyboard 349.

An alternative embodiment of price-setting module 337 is shown in FIG. 39 and designated by the reference numeral 351. Price-setting module 351 has a five-position rocker switch 353 in place of numeric keyboard 349. Rocker switch 353 is shown in its middle, i.e., off, position in FIG. 39. Moving switch 353 one position toward the word "UP" written on the module closes switch 73 (FIG. 16), while moving it to the second position in that direction also closes switch 75. Moving switch 353 one position toward the word "DOWN" closes switch 74 (FIG. 16), while moving it to the second DOWN position also closes switch 75 again.

For the convenience of the serviceman, display 15a is included in price-setting module 351 rather than on the front of vendor 1. Connection between module 351 and socket 345 is by a flexible cord 347a and a plug 343a, the plug having eleven additional pins to accommodate the display.

Another alternative embodiment of price-setting module 337 is a price-setting module 355 (FIG. 40) which has a dial 357 with prices indicated thereon. Module 355 includes a control knob 359 having a pointer 361 for indicating any one of the prices on the dial. A serviceman using module 355 selects prices by simply turning control knob 359 until pointer 361 points to the desired price. Module 355 is connected to socket 345 by a flexible cord 347b and a plug 343b. Each price printed on dial 357 has an associated switch, not shown, the closure of which indicates to MPU 11 the corresponding price. Appendix A must be modified slightly to allow MPU 11 to decode such switch closures.

An alternative to the embodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 37-40 is shown in FIGS. 41 and 42. Switches 60-71 in this embodiment are mounted in a drawer 363 which, when a lock 365 is unlocked by the serviceman, pivots outwardly and downwardly about the bottom of the drawer until stopped by two stops 367 and 369 which are part of the rear of drawer 363. Drawer 363, therefore, also constitutes serviceman access means for access to price-setting switches 60-71. Switch 98 in this embodiment is mounted directly behind drawer 363, positioned so that when the drawer is closed control circuit 7 is in the vending mode and when drawer 363 is open circuit 7 is in the price-setting mode. Switch 98, therefore, also constitutes means for ensuring that control circuit 7 is in its vending mode when the serviceman access means is closed.

The operation of control circuit 7 is as follows: Microprocessor 11 performs its logic and arithmetic operations in the order determined by its program (App. A). It will, however, when a Low-to-High transition occurs at the RESET input (pin 40) read the data at a predetermined address, namely 2FFE and 2FFF, and start step-by-step operation of the program from the location specified in that predetermined address, no matter where it had previously been in the program. Microprocessor 11 also stops, or interrupts, its performing of the program when a Low appears at its IRQ input (pin 4). Upon a Low on the IRQ input, MPU 11 automatically reads the address stored at 2FF8, 2FF9 and begins performing the program from that stored address. (Motorola 6800 microprocessors read the data at FFFE, FFFF upon a Low-to-High transition at the RESET input and read the data at FFF8 and FFF9 upon a Low at the IRQ input. These addresses correspond to the above addresses in the current system.

A Low-to-High transition appears on the RESET input of MPU 11 during power on. It is supplied from clock 17 through connector PE and line L67 to the RESET input. MPU 11 then looks to address 83FE, 83FF and reads the address, 2000, stored there, which is the address of the power-on subroutine BOOT in the program. The first action MPU 11 takes in sub-routine BOOT is to set the noninterrupt mask of MPU 11 to avoid interrupts on the uninitialized system. Then it clears memory locations 0030-0076 in chip RAM1. These locations are used as a temporary storage, i.e., a scratchpad, for the values of several variables which MPU 11 uses in executing the program. The most important of these variables and their functions are explained below.

FLG5 is an eight bit status flag, each bit of which signifies a particular status when High. If FLG5=01, i.e., b.sub.0 is High, it means that the CREM has been disabled. FLG5=02 means that the number to be displayed in displays 15a or 15b have a leading zero. FLG5=04 signifies a full escrow payback. FLG-08 indicates long delay needed. FLG5=10 tells the MPU to display the next digit on displays 15a and 15b. FLG5=20 tells MPU 11 to make change using the least number of coins. FLG5=40 signals the MPU to display two most significant digits, and FLG5=80 tells microprocessor 11 to load a price. Any number of bits may be set at any given instant. For instance, if leading zeroes are present and the CREM has been disabled, the value of FLG5 is 03.

FLG6 and FLG7 are status flags used to control the elevator and the payback operation of vendor 1.

TBC is a buffer for time-base-clock 113. SPEED 1 is a buffer for timer or speed-sensor clock 107, which senses the speed of the elevator motor.

COIREG is a buffer for storing information concerning the detection of a coin or bill upon deposit thereof in vendor 1 by the customer. INV04 is where the total accumulated sales figure is stored in chip RAM1. CREDH is where the customer's total credit is stored. The number of coins and bills of a particular kind deposited by the customer are stored in FENIC (nickels), FEDI (dimes), FEQUAR (quarters), FEONEC (dollar coins), FEONEB (dollar bills), and FETWO (two-dollar bills) for use in returning to the customer the exact kinds and number of coins and currency he deposited, i.e., a full-escrow payback.

COSTH is where the cost of the selected item is stored. CONTYP is used as a buffer in determining the type of coin/currency deposited and to be returned.

The column information of a selection is stored in the buffer HORSOL while the row information is stored in the buffer SELECT. Price information from switches 60-71 is stored in KEYBD1 and KEYBD2. The PRICE variable, which starts at address 0084, is not used in this embodiment of the invention.

The first forty-eight bytes of chip RAM1, 0000-002F, are used for the stack of MPU 11. Of course, the relative positions of the stack and the scratchpad could be reversed, but it would have the disadvantage that under abnormal conditions the stack could push data down into the scratchpad, thereby altering information stored there. With the present circuit on the other hand, abnormal conditions lead the vendor into a reset condition and restore normal operation for the next vend.

Next, the input/output (I/O) of the system is configured by MPU 11. That is, PIAs PIA1-PIA6 are configured to act as inputs and outputs as required. As is explained in "M6800 Microcomputer System Design Data" (Motorola, 1976) each PIA has two Output Interface Registers (or Peripheral Registers) normally called the A and B registers, two Data Direction Registers (one for each Output Interface Register) and two Control Registers (one for each Output Interface Register). In the program the Data Direction Register for the "A" Output Interface Register and that Interface Register itself are indicated by the PIA number with the suffix AD, while the "B" Data Direction Register and the "B" Output Interface Register are indicated by the PIA number and the suffix BD. For example, the Data Direction Register for the A side of chip PIA2 is indicated by the symbol PIA2AD and the symbol for the B side Data Direction Register is PIA2BD. The Control Registers are identified similarly, except the suffixes are AC and BC. Hereinafter in the specification the Data Direction Register will be distinguished from the Output Interface Register by designating the latter by its PIA number and the suffix A or B only.

The Output Interface Registers each have eight peripheral data lines associated with them. The peripheral data lines associated with the "A" Output Interface Registers have the standard designation PA0-PA7 while those for the "B" Registers have the standard designation PB0-PB7.

The Data Direction Registers determine whether the corresponding peripheral data line of the Output Interface Registers are inputs or outputs. For example, in configuring the I/O of the system, MPU 11 stores 3F, i.e., 0011 1111, in PIA2AD and PIA2BD. This makes peripheral data lines PA0-PA5 and PB0-PB5 of PIA2A and PIA2B outputs and peripheral data lines PA6-PA7 inputs. In terms of pin members of plug P1 (FIG. 12), pins 2-7 and 35-40 are outputs of pins 8-9 and 41-42 are inputs. A quick examination of the pins and their connections reveal that this is the proper configuration Pins 2-5 (FIG. 34), pin 6 (FIG. 33) pin 7 (FIG. 31), and pins 35-40 (FIG. 35) of plug P1 are indeed outputs, and pins 8 and 9 (FIG. 32), pin 41 (FIG. 16) and pin 42 (FIG. 36) are inputs.

MPU 11 addresses the "A" side of each PIA by supplying a Low on address line A1, which is connected to pin 35 of all the PIAs. A High on line A1, on the other hand, addresses the "B" side of the particular PIA selected.

When a peripheral data line is programmed as an output, the signal supplied on the corresponding data line from MPU 11 to the PIA appears directly on that peripheral data line. Conversely, if a peripheral data line is programmed as an input, the signal level present on that peripheral data line appears directly on the corresponding data line of MPU 11 during a read operation. Using the above example, peripheral data line PA2 of PIA2A has been programmed as an output. If MPU 11 then supplies a High on data line D2 to PIA2A, specifically to the D2 pin (pin 31) of chip PIA2, peripheral data line D2 of PIA2A goes High. Peripheral data line PA7 of PIA2A is an input. If the signal level present at PA7 is a Low, for example, during the time MPU 11 reads PIA2A, the Low will appear on data line D7 of the MPU, by way of pin 26 (the D7 pin) of chip PIA2 and line D7a.

After initializing the Data Direction Registers, the microprocessor initializes the Control Registers to enable some interrupts. Each PIA has two interrupt input lines for its "A" register, indicated by the reference characters CA1 (pin 40 of the PIA) and CA2 (pin 39), as well as two such lines for its "B" side, viz., CB1 (pin 18) and CB2 (pin 19). Inputs on the CA1 and CA2 input lines can cause an "A" register interrupt output, indicated IRQA (pin 38) to go Low. Likewise inputs on the CB1 and CB2 interrupt input lines can cause an IRQB (pin 37 of that PIA) interrupt output to go Low. The specific voltage levels necessary to cause these IRQ outputs to go Low are determined by the contents of the Control Registers associated with the particular PIA and are explained in the above-mentioned Motorola publication. The IRQA and IRQB outputs of all the PIAs are directly connected to the IRQ input (pin 4) of MPU 11 by a line L117. A Low on line L117 caused by any one of the PIAs will appear at the IRQ input of MPU 11 and cause it to commence its interrupt sequence.

As an example of enabling interrupts, in subroutine BOOT 72 the microprocessor loads the value 07 into PIA2BC, PIA3BC, PIA5BC and PIA1AC. As a result the IRQB output (pin 37) of chip PIA2 will go Low whenever its CB1 input (pin 18) goes High. Using the "A" register of chip PIA1 as another example, its IRQA output (pin 38) will go Low whenever its CA1 input (pin 40) goes High.

The CA1 input of chip PIA1 is connected through pin 9 of plug P2 to the output of nickel indicator circuit 129 (FIG. 23). When a nickel is deposited in vendor 1, the output of circuit 129, and therefore the CA1 input of PIA1A (FIG. 6), goes High generating an interrupt signal on line L117. Likewise the CB1 input of chip PIA5 (FIG. 14) is connected through pin 38 of plug P2 to the output of dime indicator circuit 131 (FIG. 23), the CB1 input of chip PIA 3 (FIG. 12) is connected through pin 20 of plug P1 to the output of quarter indicator circuit 133 (FIG. 23), and the CB1 input of chip PIA2 (FIG. 12) is connected through pin 25 of plug P1 to the output of dollar coin indicator circuit 135 (FIG. 23). Whenever a coin is deposited into vendor 1, one of these PIAs will generate an interrupt signal.

After initializing the coin interrupts, MPU 11 checks the status of vendor 1. Specifically, in subroutine MACSTA MPU 11 determines if the elevator is at delivery station 105. It does this by testing line PB4 of chip PIA5 (pin 14) which is connected through pin 10 of plug P2 to the output of gate 235 of interlocking circuit 227 (FIG. 32). Line PB4 will be High if the elevator is in fact at delivery station 105, since only then is the blade of elevator location switch 229 (FIG. 32) in contact with contact 229a. If the elevator is not at the delivery station, MPU 11 tests line PB7 chip PIA2 (in subroutine TM180D) to determine if the tray motor is at the 180.degree. off home position. Line PB7 (FIG. 12) is connected through pin 42 of plug P1 to the output of gate 325 (FIG. 36). This output, as explained above, is High when down relay N is energized, which occurs while the tray motor is in its 180.degree. position and the elevator is up at one of the levels or headed back down to the delivery station. If the tray motor is in fact at the 180.degree. position, MPU 11 supplies a High to line PA4 of chip PIA2 (FIG. 12). This High is supplied through pin 6 of plug P1 to run relay circuit 241 (FIG. 33) where it causes relay solenoid 245 to be energized, thereby causing the elevator to move down to delivery station 105.

Once the elevator reaches the delivery station, MPU 11 jumps to subroutine RDTOSL where it retrieves accumulated total sales information from chip EAROM1. The microprocessor supplies the address of the total accumulated sales figure, i.e., 1D, to PIA1A (FIG. 6). This causes pins 2 and 4-6 of chip PIA1 to go High and pin 3 to go Low. Pins 2-6 of chip PIA1 are connected to the address lines (pins 19-23) of chip EAROM1 (FIG. 7) by lines A0f-A4f, so these signals from chip PIA1 address word 1D in chip EAROM1. MPU 11 also causes pins 8 and 9 of chip PIA1 to go High and pin 7 to be Low. The High on pin 9 is supplied on a line L119 to a NAND gate G35 (FIG. 8), the other input of which is normally High. The resulting Low output of gate G35 is inverted by an inverter 365 and supplied on a line L121 to pin 27, the chip select input, of chip EAROM1, thereby selecting it. The High on pin 8 and the Low on pin 7 of chip PIA1 (FIG. 6) are supplied to pins 25 and 26 respectively of chip EAROM1 (FIG. 7). Pins 25 and 26 of chip EAROM1 are mode control inputs. A High on pin 25 and a Low on pin 26 put chip EAROM1 in the read mode.

Before MPU 11 can read the information stored at address 1D in chip EAROM1, however, it must clock the EAROM. This is done through PIA1B (FIG. 6). Pin 19 of chip PIA1, the CB2 pin, is connected to the clock input (pin 18) of chip EAROM1 (FIG. 7). MPU 11 programs the CB2 pin to be an output and causes its signal level to go High and then back Low. This clocks chip EAROM1 and, after a required access time, MPU 11 reads the data stored in chip EAROM1 at address 1D.

MPU 11 reads the eight most significant bits of the data stored at 1D in chip EAROM1 through chip PIA6 (FIG. 6). These eight most significant bits are supplied from data pins D8-D15 (pins 9-16) of chip EAROM1 via lines L51, L53 . . . , L65 to the PB0-PB7 peripheral data lines (pins 10-17) of chip PIA6 (FIG. 6) where they can be read by MPU 11. MPU 11 stores these bits in the buffer COSTH. The eight least significant bits of the data are supplied from data pins D0-D7 (pins 28, 1-6, and 8) of chip EAROM1 via line L35, L37, . . . , L49 to the PB0-PB7 peripheral data lines (pins 10-17) of chip PIA1 (FIG. 6). The MPU stores these bits in buffer COSTH+1, and stores the contents of COSTH+1 and COSTH in INVO4+1 and INVO4. In the same way, MPU 11 then reads the data stored at address 1E in chip EAROM1 and stores this in locations INVO4+2 and INVO4+3. Of course, it is not absolutely necessary that the total sales figure be stored in chip RAM1 and be updated there. It is also directly updated in chip EAROM1. It could be preferable to update the total accumulated sales figure in chip RAM1, however, and to store it in chip EAROM1 only upon the occurrence of a power loss or the like because the EAROMs have a relatively small upper limit on the number of times that data may be written in each address. Updating the total accumulated sales figure in the EAROMs after every sale might in some applications fatigue the EAROM.

After obtaining the total sales figure from chip EAROM1, MPU 11 energizes solenoid 223 (FIG. 31) to unlatch door 117. Solenoid 223 is energized by MPU 11 supplying a High on data line D5 to pin 28 of chip PIA2 while selecting the "A" side of the PIA, which causes the corresponding peripheral data line, P5A, to go High (FIG. 12). P5A (pin 7 of chip PIA2) is connected through pin 7 of plug P1 to door lock relay circuit 221 (FIG. 31). The High on plug P1, pin 7 turns on transistor Q29, thereby energizing relay 223 which through its contacts energize the lock solenoid.

Next, MPU 11 initializes a credit recall interrupt by loading the data 07 into PIA6BC (FIG. 6). This ensures that if the CB1 input of chip PIA6 goes High, chip PIA6 will cause its IRQB pin to go Low, which Low will be supplied on line L117 to MPU 11 to cause it to commence an interrupt sequence. The CB1 input (pin 18) of chip PIA6 is connected through pin 20 of plug P2 to the output of gate 181 in credit recall circuit 179 (FIG. 27), which output will be High if the customer presses the coin return switch.

MPU 11 also initializes payout request and clear total sales interrupts at this time by loading 07 into PIA6AC and PIA1BC. The CA1 input of chip PIA6 (FIG. 6) is connected through pin 1 of plug P1 to the output of inverter 191 in circuit 179 (FIG. 27). This output goes High, thereby generating an interrupt, if the serviceman presses one of the four switches for emptying the coin tubes. The CB1 input of chip PIA1 (FIG. 6) is connected through pin 1 of plug P2 to the output of gate 215 (FIG. 30). As explained above, the output of gate 215 goes High when the serviceman closes switch 213 to reset the total accumulated sales figure. This High output, because of the initialization of PIA1B, generates an interrupt.

Selection and price interrupts are next initialized by MPU 11 loading 1F into PIA4BC (FIG. 13). If either the CB1 or CB2 input of chip PIA4 goes High after this initialization, chip PIA4 will make its IRQB pin go Low, which will initiate an interrupt sequence in MPU 11. The CB1 input of chip PIA4 is connected through pin 35 of plug P2 to the output of gate G21 in mode setting circuit 93 (FIG. 17). The CB2 input is connected through pin 50 of plut P2 to the output of gate G23 in mode-setting circuit 93.

After initializing these interrupts, MPU 11 initializes dollar coin escrow circuit 173 (FIG. 25). The dollar coin escrow solenoid is not normally energized, and the initialization of circuit 173 ensures that this is the case. MPU 11 supplies the data 04 to PIA6A (FIG. 6) which makes peripheral data line PA2 (pin 4) of that PIA High. Data line PA2 of chip PIA6 is connected through pin 43 of plug P1 to escrow circuit 173 (FIG. 25). The High on plug P1, pin 43 ensures that line L89 is also High, which prevents energization of the dollar coin escrow solenoid. A Low on that pin, however, will result in energization of the escrow relay and the escrowing of dollar coins.

After initializing the dollar coin escrow circuit, MPU 11 sets product sensing circuit (product sensor) 99 (FIG. 18) for operation. Specifically, MPU 11 supplies the data 40 to PIA5BD. This causes data line PB6 of chip PIA5 (FIG. 14) to be High. Line PB6 (pin 16) is connected through pin 12 of plug P2 to a noninverting gate 367, the output of which is connected to the base of PNP transistor Q35 (FIG. 18), connected in the common collector configuration. LEDs 101 and 103 are connected on one side to the emitter of transistor Q35 and on the other to a +12 V source. The High on pin 12 of plug P2 removes bias from the base-emitter junction of transistor Q35. As a result LEDs 101 and 103 do not light. That is, the normal state of LEDs 101 and 103 is off. They will be turned on as required to sense items 3 at delivery station 105.

Next, MPU 11 reads the data from all the PIA Output Interface Registers in subrouting CLRINT. This clears any interrupts which may be present. During power-up, undesired interrupts are sometimes generated. Clearing these interrupts during the power-on sequence prevents these erroneous interrupts from causing a malfunction of control circuit 7.

The next step of the power-up subroutine is to pulse validator bill acceptor circuit 195 (FIG. 28) to ensure that the validator is in a known condition after power-up. MPU 11 accomplishes this by supplying 08 to PIA6A, causing peripheral data line PA3 of chip PIA6 (FIG. 6) to go High. This line (pin 5 of the PIA) is connected through pin 45 of plug P1 to circuit 195. The High output on line PA3 causes transistor Q23 to conduct, drawing line L105 Low, as is required to cause the validator to accept a bill. After a delay, MPU 11 causes line PA3 of chip PIA6 to go Low, which removes the Low from line L105.

Finally MPU 11 clears its non-interrupt mask and exits to standby routine or loop (FIRTS1) where it awaits interrupts. Control circuit 7 is now operational, ready to perform its various functions.

One function of control circuit 7 is to control a vend operation. Suppose a customer approaches vendor 1 and decides to purchase item 3i which costs $1.55, i.e., the price stored in chip EAROM1 for item 3i is $1.55. The customer first deposits a dollar coin in coin slot 5. The coin changer immediately sends a pulse to dollar coin indicator circuit 135 (FIG. 23). This pulse appears as a spike on pin 25 of plug P1 which is connected to the CB1 input (pin 18) of chip PIA2 (FIG. 12). As the CB1 input goes High, the IRQB output of chip PIA2 goes Low, supplying an interrupt signal on line L117 to the IRQ input (pin 4) of MPU 11. In response, the microprocessor jumps to location 83F8 and reads the address stored there, which is 27AD. MPU 11 then proceeds to execute the program from step 27AD, which is subroutine INTERP.

When MPU 11 receives an interrupt on line L117, it does not know which PIA generated it. Consequently, it must check, or poll, the various PIAs to determine which interrupt has been generated before it knows what action to take. First MPU 11 clears the carry bit, then it checks to see if time-base clock 113 (FIG. 20) caused the interrupt. MPU 11 then determines whether elevator speed sensor circuit 106 (FIG. 19), i.e., speed-sensor-clock 107, caused it. These steps are described in detail below in the discussion of the function of elevator control.

Next, microprocessor 11 checks for coin or currency interrupts. MPU 11 reads PIA3A (FIG. 12) whose PA3-PA7 peripheral data lines are connected through pins 30-34 of plug P1 to the outputs of dollar bill indicator circuit 123 (FIG. 22), dollar coin indicator circuit 135 (FIG. 23), quarter indicator circuit 133, dime indicator circuit 131 and nickel indicator circuit 129 respectively. Because it is a dollar coin that has been deposited, line PA4 will be High and MPU 11 will read 0001 0000 (binary). This information is temporarily stored in one of MPU 11's two accumulators.

MPU 11 then checks, in subroutine COI05, to see if a dollar coin has been deposited by examining bit 7 of PIA2BC (FIG. 12). When the dollar coin was detected, the output of gate 143 in dollar coin indicator circuit 135 (FIG. 23) went High. This High was supplied through pin 25 of plug P1 to the CB1 input of chip PIA2, setting bit 7 of control register PIA2BC High. Since this bit is High, a dollar coin caused the interrupt. Once this has been determined, MPU 11 disables the dollar coin interrupt by storing the data 04 in PIA2BC. It then clears the interrupt by reading PIA2B.

The output of PIA3A, i.e., 0001 0000 (binary) is then temporarily stored in the buffer COIREG. Note that since different coins or bills will cause different bits of PIA3A to be High, the contents of COIREG will uniquely represent the type coin/currency deposited in vendor 1. After the coin information is stored in COIREG, MPU 11 initializes an anti-jackpot delay (AJD) corresponding to a dollar coin. Each type coin has its own AJD which is used to keep the interrupt for that coin disabled during its passage through the coin sensor in the coin handler. This prevents coins with the center drilled out, i.e., washer-shaped coins, from interrupting twice and thus being credited twice. Of course, the transit time through the sensor will depend upon the sensor's beam width, the diameter of the coin, the inclination of the coin channel, the coefficient of friction between the coin and the channel and other similar factors. As a result the anti-jackpot delay for each coin is likely to differ depending upon the particular make or model of coin handler in vendor 1. For this particular coin handler the AJD for dollar coins is 70 milliseconds; for quarters, 40 ms; for dimes 70 ms; and for nickels 30 ms. Of course, new values should be obtained for the AJDs, in light of the above factors, when using control circuit 7 with any other coin handler.

MPU 11, after setting the AJD for the dollar coin, enables interrupts from time-base-clock 113, in subroutine VEND0B, by loading the data 07 into PIA4AC (FIG. 13). This ensures what when input CA1 of PIA4A goes High, an interrupt will be generated. The CA1 input of PIA4A is connected through pin 36 of plug P2 to time-base-clock 113 (FIG. 20). Whenever clock 113 generates a pulse, which is every ten ms., MPU 11 will be interrupted. MPU 11 uses these time-base-clock interrupts to measure the anti-jackpot delay of the coins.

After enabling the time-base-clock interrupt, MPU 11 clears all present interrupts, in subroutine CLRINT as described above, and jumps to subroutine CONTSK where the customer's credit is developed. In CONTSK, MPU 11, after identifying the coin as a dollar, erases COIREG, and energizes the $1-coin escrow relay by storing the data "00" in PIA6A (FIG. 6). This causes peripheral data line PA2 of chip PIA6, which is connected through pin 43 of plug P1 to $1-escrow relay circuit 173 (FIG. 25) to go Low. As a result line L89 of circuit 173 provides a ground path for the dollar coin escrow relay, causing it to be energized and thereby trapping the dollar coin in the escrow position in the coin handler.

The customer's credit, stored in buffers CREDH+2 and CREDH+3, is updated by MPU 11 to reflect the deposit of the dollar coin. Specifically MPU 11 stores 01 in CREDH+2 and 00 in CREDH+3. This is a binary-coded decimal (BCD) representation of the customer's credit. In other words, MPU 11 is responsive to the interrupt signal from PIA2B, which is an input thereto indicating the deposit of money, i.e., a dollar coin, to determine the amount of credit accumulated as a result of that deposit.

Microprocessor 11 next tests whether the number of dollar coins deposited by the customer is greater than twenty. MPU 11 does this for all types of coins to limit scavenging. Control circuit 7 returns exactly the same number of each type of coin that the customer has deposited upon the closing of a coin return switch CR. A customer wishing to take advantage of this feature could insert, e.g., fifty dimes into vendor 1, and receive the bottom fifty coins in the dime change tube upon pressing coin return switch CR. Clearly such a customer could readily empty the coin change tubes. To prohibit this, control circuit 7, as mentioned above, tests the contents of the specific number-of-coin buffers, e.g., FEDI, everytime a coin of that type is inserted into vendor 1. If the number of coins of that type exceeds twenty, MPU 11 disables the CREM and returns the customer's credit in the sane coin types as was entered. The CREM is disabled by MPU 11 supplying a signal through PIA3B to CREM control circuit 177 (FIG. 26). As the program is written, MPU 11 also disables the CREM whenever the customer's accumulated credit is over $4.95. The return of the customer's credit is discussed below.

In our example where the customer has deposited only one dollar coin, the CREM is not disabled and MPU 11 stores the fact that a dollar coin has been inserted by storing the data 01 in dollar-coin buffer FEONEC.

As mentioned above, during the anti-jackpot delay for the dollar coin, the time-base-clock 113 (FIG. 20) interrupts every 10 ms. After seven of these interrupts, MPU 11 determines through subroutine TCB01 that the AJD for the dollar coin has expired, so it reenables the dollar coin interrupt. Enabling of the dollar coin interrupt is accomplished by storing the data 07 in PIA2BC (FIG. 12). By thus setting the first two bits of PIA2BC High, MPU 11 ensures that a High on input CB1 of chip PIA2 will generate an interrupt. As explained above, this input will go High only when dollar coin indicator circuit 135 (FIG. 23) indicates the deposit of another dollar coin.

It should be noted that the customer's credit is stored in the number of coin buffers, e.g., FEONEC, and in credit buffers CREDH+2 and CREDH+3. The number of coin buffers and the credit buffers have different functions, however. The number of coin buffers are used to return coins in full-escrow while the credit buffers are used to allow purchase of an item 3. These buffers are independent, and incorrect data contained in one does not prevent the other from functioning correctly.

After enabling the dollar coin interrupt and storing the customer's credit as outlined above, MPU 11 returns to standby loop FIRTSI, which includes the display subroutine DISPLY. In subroutine DISPLY, MPU 11 determines if control circuit 7 is in the vending mode or the price-setting mode by testing PIA5B. Peripheral data line PB1 of chip PIA5 (FIG. 14) is connected through pin 23 of plug P2 to the output of gate 97 in mode-setting circuit 93 (FIG. 17). When control circuit 7 is in the vending mode the output of gate 97 is Low. MPU 11 is responsive to the resulting Low on line PB1 of chip PIA5 to branch to DISP72 which starts a credit/total sales display subroutine.

In the credit/total sales subroutine, MPU 11 sequentially displays the digits of the total accumulated sales figure and then the digits of accumulated credit as follows: Display 156 has six seven-segment display digits or units arranged in a linear array which are used to display the total accumulated sales figure. (The most significant digit, i.e., MSD, of that display is shown at the bottom of display 15b on FIG. 15 while the least significant digit, i.e., LSD, of that display is shown at the top.) Therefore, display 15b can display six digits of a total accumulated sales figure. These six digits are stored in BCD form in total sales inventory buffers INV04+1, INV04+2 and INV04+3, the two MSDs being stored in INV04+1. Suppose that the total accumulated sales figure before our hypothetical customer approached vendor 1 was $10.95. In that case the contents of INV04+1=0000 0000 (binary), the contents of INV04+2=0001 0000 (binary), and the contents of INV04+3=1001 0101 (binary). MPU 11 reads the contents of INV04+1 and stores this in one accumulator. It then tests the highest four bits, corresponding to the value that should appear in the MSD of display 15b, to determine if that value is a zero. It is, so it masks the MSD of display 15b. Masking of any digit of displays 15a and 15b is accomplished by supplying 1s to pins 27-30 of plug P2, while selecting the digit for display. Pins 27-30 of plug P2 are directly connected to the BCD input pins of decoder 47. The output of decoder 47 is supplied to driving transistors Q2-Q8 which drive the segments of whichever digit in the displays is selected at that time. Selection of a digit is accomplished by causing the output of one of inverters 49-58 to go Low. Each inverter is connected to a single digit of the displays, so the Low output of that inverter, while the outputs of the others are High, causes its digit to be energized, displaying the numeral corresponding to the signals supplied from decoder 47 at that time. When the signals at all the BDC inputs of decoder 47 are High, however, the output of the decoder is such that none of the segments in the selected digit are lit. For example, to mask the MSD of display 15b as required, MPU 11 stores the data "4F" in PIA5A. This causes peripheral data lines PA0-PA3 of chip PIA5 (FIG. 14) to be High. These Highs are supplied over pins 27-30 of plug P2 to decoder 47 (FIG. 15), resulting in a masking output thereof. Line PA6 of chip PIA5 is also High. This High is supplied through pin 33 of plug P2 to inverter 58. The resulting Low selects the MSD of display 15b but since the BCD inputs to decoder 47 are all 1s no numeral is displayed.

MPU 11 then tests the lowest four digits of buffer INV04+1 which contain the value of the second MSD of displays 15b. These are also zero, so MPU 11 masks that digit by supplying the data 8F to PIA5A. This again causes lines PA0-PA3 of chip PIA5 to go High, masking any selected digit. Line PA7 is also High at this time. Line PA7 is connected through pin 34 of plug P2 to inverter 57 (FIG. 15), whose output is connected to the second MSD, i.e., the second digit from the bottom, of display 15b. The second MSD is, therefore, selected and masked by MPU 11.

Next, MPU 11 tests the contents of the highest four bits of buffer INV04+2. Since the value of these bits is not zero, but rather 1, MPU 11 does not mask the next digit. Nor, once it has detected a non-zero digit on a display will it mask lower zero digits. MPU 11 then causes display 15b to display the numeral "1" in its third MSD, i.e., that digit third from the bottom of the display, by storing the data 01 in PIA5A and the data 80 in PIA4A. This causes peripheral data line PA0 to be High and lines PA1-PA3 to be Low. Decoder 47 is responsive to this particular set of signal levels to send out signals to light the numeral "1" on the selected digit. Supplying the data 80 to chip PIA4 causes its PA0-PA6 lines to be Low and its PA7 line to be High. The PA7 line of chip PIA4 is connected through pin 5 of plug P2 to gate 84 (FIG. 16), which is connected by a line L123 to inverter 56. Inverter 56 is connected to the third MSD of display 15b, so when its output goes Low, that digit will display the numeral "1", which is the most significant non-zero digit of the total accumulated sales figure. However, as mentioned above, inverter 56, along with inverters 53-55 and 57-58, is normally disabled, so although MPU 11 continuously supplies the total accumulated sales data to display 15b, this display is not activated until the serviceman uses his key 203 (FIG. 30).

MPU 11 then supplies the data 00 to PIA5A and the data 40 to PIA4A. Peripheral data line PA6 of chip PIA4 is therefore the only High line of PIA4A, while the output of decoder 47, controlled as above by the output of lines PA0-PA3 of chip PIA5, corresponds to the displaying of the numeral "0". Line PA6 of chip PIA4 is connected through pin 4 of plug P2 to gate 83 which is in turn connected by a line L125 to inverter 55. If inverter 55 were enabled, therefore, display 15b would at this time display the numeral "0" in the third digit from the top.

In exactly the same manner, MPU 11 then supplies display 15b with the numeral "9" in the second digit from the top of the display. This digit is selected by the data 20 being stored in PIA4AD, causing line PA5 of chip PIA4 to be High while the other peripheral data lines are Low. Line PA5 is connected through pin 3 of plug P2 to gate 82 (FIG. 16), which is connected through a line L127 to inverter 54. MPU 11 then supplies the numeral "5" to the top digit in display 15b. That digit is selected by storing the data 10 in PIA4A. Line PA4 of chip PIA4 goes High and through pin 2 of plug P2 supplies that High to gate 81 (FIG. 16). Gate 81 is connected through a line L129 to inverter 53, which is connected to the top digit, i.e., the LSD of display 15b. When enabled by key 203, display 15b displays 10.95, the total accumulated sales figure. Of course, because MPU 11 performs this step very rapidly, it appears to the naked eye that all the digits are lit at the same time.

After displaying, or attempting to display, the total accumulated sales figure, MPU 11 causes the customer's credit to be displayed. Display 15a, like display 15b, has its MSD at the bottom on FIG. 15. The two LSDs of display 15a are at the top of the display. The digits of display 15a are selected by MPU 11 causing peripheral data lines PA0-PA3 of chip PIA4 to be High. A High on line PA3 is supplied through pin 17 of plug P2 to gate 80, a High on line PA2 is supplied through pin 16 of plug P2 to gate 79, a High on line PA1 is supplied through pin 15 of plug P2 to gate 78, and a High on line PA0 is supplied through pin 14 of plug P2 to gate 77. Gates 77-80 are connected by four lines L137, L135, L133 and L131 to inverters 49-52.

Display of the customer's credit, therefore, proceeds as follows: MPU 11 first examines the four highest bits if the contents of buffer CREDH+2. As the reader will recall, the contents of buffer CREDH+2=0000 0001 (binary) and the contents of CREDH+3=0000 0000 (binary). MPU 11 thus detects a leading zero, which it masks by storing the data 0F in PIA5A. The most significant digit of display 15a is selected by MPU 11 storing the data 08 in PIA4AD. This causes line PA3 of chip PIA4 to be High and therefore the output of inverter 52 to be Low. Because of the masking of leading zeros, however, no digit is displayed.

Next, MPU 11 examines the next four bits of buffer CREDH+2, finds their value is non-zero and displays their value by supplying the data 01 to PIA5AD and the data 04 to PIA4AD. The signal to chip PIA4 causes line PA2 thereof to be High, which selects the second MSD of display 15a. The numeral "1" is therefore displayed in the second MSD of display 15a. MPU 11 then determines the value of the contents of the highest four bits of buffer CREDH+3 and causes it to be displayed by supplying the data 00 to PIA5D and the data 02 to PIA4D, the first to cause the numeral "0" to be displayed, the second through gate 78 and inverter 50 to select the second LSD of the display. Finally, MPU 11 determines the value of the least four bits of buffer CREDH+3 and causes it to be displayed in the LSD of display 15a by supplying the data 00 to PIA5AD and the data 01 to PIA4AD.

Line PA2 of chip PIA4, in addition to being used to select the second MSD of display 15a, is also used to refresh the decimal point of display 15a. To refresh the decimal point MPU 11 causes line PA2 to be High and also caused line PA5 of chip PIA5 to be High. The High on line PA5 of chip PIA5 is supplied through pin 32 of plug P2 to an inverter 369 (FIG. 15), the output of which is connected to the base of PNP transistor Q37, the collector of which is connected to the decimal point of display 15a. When line PA5 goes High, the output of inverter 369 goes Low and Transistor Q37 conducts. If line PA2 of chip PIA4 is High at the same time, a circuit is completed from transistor Q37 through the decimal point of display 15a to inverter 51, which refreshes the decimal point.

Consequently, shortly after the customer deposits his dollar coin in vendor 1, display 15a displays "1.00", i.e., his credit. This display, with the decimal point, is continuously refreshed. Thus, MPU 11 is responsive to control circuit 7 being in the vending mode and to the deposit of money in vendor 1 to determine the amount of credit accumulated as a result of the deposit and to supply to display means 15 a signal corresponding to the accumulated credit, which credit display circuit 15 thereupon displays. Also, it is clear that display 15 comprises a plurality of display units, each of which is adapted to display one digit of the customer's accumulated credit.

After the customer deposits the dollar coin into vendor 1, suppose he also deposits a quarter. Quarter indicator circuit 133 (FIG. 23) will then supply a High through pin 32 of plug P1 to peripheral data line PA5 of chip PIA3 (FIG. 12) and a spike through pin 20 of plug P1 to the CB1 input of chip PIA3. The High input causes the IRQB pin of chip PIA3 to go Low. This IRQB pin, like all those of control circuit 7, is connected by line L117 to the IRQ input of MPU 11. Therefore, the deposit of a quarter generates an interrupt. MPU 11 goes through the same sequence of program steps described before but, instead of finding a dollar coin interrupt, it continues executing the program and finds a quarter interrupt by reading PIA3BC. MPU 11 updates the customer's credit by storing 25 in buffer CREDH+3 and updates the number of quarters buffer by one, making FEQUAR=01. In exactly the same manner as in the case of the dollar coin, MPU 11 updates the display of the customer's credit on display 15a. This time, however, the contents of CREDH+3 are no longer zero, but are rather "25" so the next to the last numeral displayed will be "2" and the numeral displayed in the LSD of the display will be "5". At this point, the customer has accumulated $1.25 credit.

He inserts another quarter. MPU 11 responds exactly as in the case of the first quarter, except that it updates the contents of buffer CREDH+3 to 50 and the contents of number of quarters buffer FEQUAR to 02. Note that prior to the deposit of this second quarter, the contents of buffer CREDH+3 was 0010 0101 (binary). MPU 11 adds 0010 0101 (binary) to this figure to obtain 0100 1010 (binary), which is 4A in hexadecimal notation, and then converts this binary figure to 0101 0000, the BCD representation of 50 (decimal). It is this representation of the customer's credit that is stored in buffer CREDH+3. MPU 11 then updates display 15a to reflect the customer's new total credit.

The customer then deposits a third quarter. In response MPU 11 updates credit buffer CREDH+3 to 75 and the number of quarters buffer to 03. The customer's total credit is now $1.75, which is sufficient to buy item 3i, which costs only $1.55. The customer looks at display 15a, having forgotten how much money he has put in, sees he has enough money to buy item 3i and presses selection switch 13i (FIGS. 1 and 15).

Before discussing item selection, it should be pointed out that, although the above example of credit handling and coin indentification concerned only dollar coins and quarters, MPU 11 handles these functions for dollar bills, dimes and nickels in substantially the same way. The only real differences are in the particular peripheral data lines of chip PIA3 that go High upon the detection of a specific coin and in the specific PIA interrupt inputs (CA1 and CB1) that generate the interrupt. When a nickel is detected, peripheral data line PA7, connected through pin 34 of plug P1 to nickel indicator circuit 129 (FIG. 23) goes High, as does the CA1 input of chip PIA1, which is connected to circuit 129 through pin 9 of plug P2. When a dime is detected, the peripheral data line that goes High is line PA6. Line PA6 of chip PIA3 is connected through pin 33 of plug P1 to dime indicator circuit 131. The detection of a dime also causes the CB1 input of chip PIA5, which is connected through pin 38 of plug P2 to circuit 131, to go High. Finally, the detection of a valid dollar bill causes line PA3 of chip PIA3 and the CA1 interrupt input of chip PIA2 to go High. Line PA3 is connected to dollar bill indicator circuit 123 through pin 30 of plug P1 while the CA1 pin of chip PIA2 is connected thereto through pin 22 of plug P1.

From the above description of the standby subroutine FIRTS1 and the subroutine DISPLY contained therein, it should be clear that when MPU 11 is not servicing an interrupt it is continuously sequentially activating, or attempting to activate, the digits of displays 15b and 15a. As a result, every few microseconds pin 5 of plug P2 goes High. Shortly thereafter pin 4 of plug P2 goes High, and shortly after that pin 3 of plug P2 goes High. Pins 2, 17, 16, 15 and 14 in their turn also go High, and after MPU 11 causes pins 33 and 34 of plug P2 to go High the cycle repeats. Pins 2-5 and 14-17 of plug P2 are connected to gates 77-84 (FIG. 16) which are in turn connected to selection switches 13. When the customer presses selection switch 13, therefore, the momentary High output of gate 78 is supplied through switch 13i and resistor R22 to ground and through that switch and resistor R29 to NOR gate G19. The resulting Low output of gate G19 is supplied on line L69 to gate 95 (FIG. 17) and from there to NOR gate G21. The other input to gate G21 is also Low since mode-setting switch 98 is in the vend position, so the output of gate G21 is a High. This High is supplied through pin 35 of plug P2 to the CB1 input of chip PIA4 (FIG. 13), which causes the IRQB output of chip PIA4 to go Low. This Low, as explained above, is supplied on line L117 to the IRQ input of MPU 11 and in response thereto MPU 11 initiates an interrupt sequence by jumping to subroutine INTERP.

As in the case of the coin generated interrupts, MPU 11 first checks for a time-base-clock 113 interrupt, next for a speed-sensor-clock 107 interrupt, and then for coin/currency interrupts. This time the search for a coin/ interrupt is also unseccessful, so MPU 11 performs the next step in subroutine INTERP, which is to determine if the interrupt was a selection interrupt. To identify a selection interrupt, MPU 11 reads PIA4BC and tests bit 7 thereof to see if it is High. Bit 7 was set High when the CB1 input of chip PIA4 went High, so MPU 11 branches to the selection subroutine SEL1. In subroutine SEL1 MPU 11 first disables several interrupts, including the selection interrupt from chip PIA4, by loading the data O4 into PIA4BC (disabling the selection interrupt), PIA6BC (disabling the credit recall interrupt), PIALBC (disabling the clear total sales interrupt), and PIA6AC (disabling the coin tube payout request interrupt).

Next MPU 11 determines which selection switch has been closed by strobing the peripheral data lines of PIA4A and reading the peripheral data lines of PIA4B. Together with selection switches 13a-13x, PIA4A and PIA4B constitute means for supplying a vendor status input indicating the selection of an item 3 to MPU 11. Data lines PA0-PA7 of chip PIA4 are connected through pins 14-17 and 2-5 of plug P2 gates 77-84 to the rows of switch matrix 76, which consists of selection switches 13a-13x and switches 60-71, 73 and 74. Data lines PB0-PB5 of chip PIA4 are connected through gates 86-91 and resistors R27-R32 to the columns of that matrix. MPU 11 can thus detect which selection switch, or other switch in matrix 76 for that matter, has been closed simply by determining the pair of lines, one from lines PA0-PA7 and the other from lines PB0-PB5 that have a circuit completed through them. For example, MPU 11 first causes linePA0 of chip PIA4 to go High. This High is supplied through pin 14 of plug P2 and gate 77 to switches 13a-13f. MPU 11 then reads lines PB0-PB5 of chip PIA4. But since none of switches 13a-13f are closed, the outputs of gates 86-91 are all Low, so lines PBO-PB5 are also all Low. MPU 11 then causes line PA1 to go High, by storing the data 02 in PIA4A. This High is supplied through pin 15 of plug P2 and gate 78 to switches 13g-13l. Since switch 13a is closed the High is further supplied through resistor R29, gate 89 and pin 43 of plug P2 to data line PB2 of chip PIA4. MPU 11 reads PIA4B and thereby detects the High on line PB2, indicating a switch closure in the third column. It stores this information in the selection buffer SELINF+1 by loading the data 04 therein and stores the row information by storing the data 02 in buffer SELINF. Having found the closed switch and storedthis information in the appropriate buffers, MPU 11 does not continue testing for switch closures but instead jumps to subroutine SEL06.

In subroutine SEL06, MPU 11 determines the position number of the item selected. The position number of item 3a is "01", that of item 3b is "02", that of item 3g is "07" and so forth. The position number of item 3i, the selected item, is "09". The address in chip EAROM1 where the prices are stored corresponds to the particular position numbers of the items. For example, the price of item 3i is stored in address "09" in chip EAROM1. In determining the position number of the selected item, MPU 11 stores the selection's column information in buffer HORSOL, i.e., HORSOL=04, and the row information in buffer SELECT, i.e., SELECT=02. MPU 11 stores the position number of the selected item in one of its accumulators. MPU 11 then jumps to subroutine READ02 to find the price of item 3i.

In general, MPU 11 reads the price of item 3i, or any item for that matter, by suppling the address of that item to chip EAROM1, setting the EAROM in the read mode and selecting it, clocking the EAROM, and then reading the price of the item from PIA1B and PIA6B. Specifically, in subroutine READ02, MPU 11 first clears control registers PIA1BC and PIA6BC which allows it to set PIA1B and PIA6B as inputs by storing the data 00 into data direction registers PIA1BD and PIA6BD. Next, the microprocessor programs the CB2 pin of chip PIA1 to be an output by storing the data 34 in PIA1BC. This CB2 pin is used to clock chip EAROM1. The data 04 is stored in control register PIA6BC. As a result of this and the storing of the data 34 in PIA1BC, MPU 11 subsequently addresses the peripheral registers PIA1B and PIA6B when it reads those chips rather than their data direction registers. Chip EAROM1 is put into the read mode by having a High on pin 25 and a Low on pin 26. These pins are connected by lines L68 and L66 to pins 8 and 7, the PA6 and PA5 peripheral data lines, of chip PIA1. To select chip EAROM1 and put it in the read mode, MPU 11 supplies 110X XXXX (binary, where "X" means the signal level can be High or Low) to PIA1A. This causes peripheral data line PA7 (pin 9) of chip PIA1 (FIG. 6) to be High, which High is supplied on line L110 to NAND gate G35 (FIG. 8) causing its output to go Low, which causes the output of inverter 365 to go High, thereby putting a High on pin 27 of chip EAROM1 (FIG. 7), which selects that chip. It also causes line PA6 of chip PIA1 to be High and line PA5 to be Low. These voltages levels are suppliedover lines L68 and L66 to pins 25 and 26 of chip EAROMl, thereby putting it in the read mode. MPU 11 also stores the address of item 3a, i.e., 09, in PIA1A, which causes that address to be supplied to the address pins (pins 19-23) of chip EAROMl over lines A0f-A4f. Having supplied the proper address to chip EAROMl, MPU 11 then clocks it by supplying the data 3C to PIAlBC. This causes the CB2 pin (pin 19) of chip PIAl (FIG. 6) to go High. That High is supplied on a line L139 to the clock input (pin 18) of chip EAROML(FIG. 7). The clock pulse is removed by MPU 11 supplying the data 34 to PIAlBC. Shortly after being clocked, chip EAROMl supplies the eight LSBs (least significant bits) of the price of item 3i to its pins 28, 1-6 and 8 and the eight MSBs (most significant bits) to its pins 9-16. MPU 11 then reads the eight MSBs by reading PIA6B, whose peripheral data lines are connected to pins 9-16 of chip EAROMl through lines L51, L53 . . . L65, and stores this value, i.e., 0000 0001 (binary), in the buffer COSTH. MPU 11 reads the eight LSBs by reading PIAlB and stores this value, i.e., 0101 0101 (binary), in the buffer COSTH+1. Thus MPU 11 is responsive to a signal indicating a selection to recall the prices of that item from memory 9.

After obtaining the price information for item 3i, MPU 11 jumps to the negotiate subroutine, NEGTSK, where it determines if the customer has sufficient credit to buy the item selected. MPU 11's first step in subroutine NEGTSK is to check free vend switch 199 (FIG. 29) to see if it is closed. It does this by reading PIA5B and determining if line PB0 thereof is Low or High. Assuming a serviceman has not closed free vend switch 199, line PB0 of chip PIA5 will be High because the output of gate 201 (FIG. 29) to which line PB0 is connected through pin 22 of plug P2, is High whenever the free vend switch is open. Since line PB0 of chip PIA5 is High, MPU 11 proceeds with the NEGTSK subroutine. If it had been Low, MPU 11 would have cleared buffers COSTH and COSTH+1, ensured that the customer would receive all his credit back, and jumped to the vending subroutine VENTSK.

Since free vend switch 199 was not closed, MPU 11 next checks to see if the price for item 3a stored in chip EAROMl is 00. This is an anti-jackpot feature of control circuit 7 which protects against the vending of items if the price for those items stored in chip EAROMl is zero. If the price stored in chip EAROMl for item 3i were zero, MPU 11 would exit the interrupt sequence through a subroutine NEGT03 in which it would reestablish the customer's credit and go to standby, i.e., subroutine FIRTS1, to await the customer's next command. Since cost buffers COSTH and COSTH+1 contain a non-zero price for item 3i, MPU 22 proceeds to the next task of subroutine NEGTSK, which is to determine the difference between the customer's credit, contained in buffers CREDH+2 and CREDH+3, and the item's price, which is contained in buffers COSTH and COSTH+1. This is accomplished in subroutine SUBTSK. If the customer's credit equals the cost of the item selected, which it does not in out hypothetical case, MPU 11 then updates the credit buffers to storing 00 in them, i.e., CREDH+2=00 and CREDH+=00, and jumps to the vend subroutine VENTSK. Of the customer's credit is less than the cost of the item selected, MPU 11 reestablishes the customer's credit in buffers CREDH+2 and CREDH+3 and exits to the standby subroutine FIRTS1 to await another command. This would be the case, for instance, if the customer had deposited only $1.50 before pressing selection switch 13i.

If the customer's credit is greater than the price of the item, which is the present case, MPU 11 stores the difference, i.e., 20.cent., in buffers CREDH+2 and CREDH+3 as the customer's remaining credit. This, of course, is stored as CREDH+2=00, CREDH+3=20. Before proceeding to vend item 3i, MPU 11 checks the nickel and quarter change tubes to see if they are empty by reading PIA3B. As explained above, if both these tubes are empty, the output of AND gate G25 in circuit 153 (FIG. 24) is Low. This LOW is supplied through gate 169 and High. This High is supplied through amplifier 169 and pin 12 of plug P1 to peripheral data line PB7 of chip PIA3. If this line is Low, MPU 11 does not allow vending of item 3i because payback of change could not normally be made, and it returns the customer's credit in the full-escrow mode to a coin return cup CP.

Assuming the nickel and quarter change tubes are not empty, MPU 11 checks line PA1 of chip PIA3 (FIG. 12) to see if the collar change tube is empty. As explained above, if the dollar change tube is empty, the output of gage 165 (FIG. 24) is Low. This Low is supplied through pin 28 of plug P1 to line PA1 of chip PIA3. If the tube is empty, MPU 11 detects this low on line PA1 and in response checks to see if the change that would have to be returned to the customer after vending exceeds $2.00. If so, MPU 11 returns the customer's credit and exits to standby as above. If line PA1 of chip PIA3 is High, on the other hand, indicating that the dollar coin tube is not empty, MPU 11 checks to see if the customer would receive over $5.00 in change after a vend. If so, the customer's credit is again returned to coin cup CP. The purpose of these $2.00 and $5.00 limitations is to keep the change tubes from being emptied by some unscrupulous customer. Clearly, the present example falls within all the limits set forth above. MPU 11 in this case sets status flap FLG5=20, which indicates that when change is made it should be with the least possible number of coins, and jumps to the vend subroutine VENTSK.

The first thing MPU 11 does in subroutine VENTSK is to set its interrupt flap so that no other interrupts can cause an interrupt sequence while vending is taking place. Then it checks the status of vendor 1 by jumping to subroutine MACSTA described above. To recapitulate, in subroutine MASCTA MPU 11 determines if the elevator is at delivery station 105. Assuming for the moment that the elevator is not at the delivery station, MPU 11 exits through a subroutine NEGT03 to standby to await further customer commands, such as credit recall. The credit recall interrupt is described in full infra.

If the elevator is at delivery station 105, the status of vendor 1 is "go" so MPU 11 proceeds with the subroutine VENTSK. MPU 11 checks status flag FLG7 to see if the anti-jackpot delays (AJDs) for the coins have expired to ensure that no item is delivered until the AJDs for the coins have elapsed. If the AJDs have not elapsed, MPU 11 exits subroutine VENTSK through NEGT03 to standby. If this were the case, out customer would have to press selection switch 13Li i again for vending of item 3i to occur. And this action would re-initiate the above sequence.

Assuming that the AJDs have all expired, MPU 11 then checks the buffers SELECT and HORSOL for zero contents. If the contents of either are zero, an error has occurred, and MPU 11 would exit through NEGT03 to standby. However, in our example, SELECT=02 and HORSOL=04, so MPU 11 does not exit subroutine VENTSK but instead disables the CREM by causing line PB6 of chip PIA3 to go Low. Line PB6 is connected through pin 13 of plug P1 to CREM-energizing circuit 177 (FIG. 26). A Low at pin 13 of plug P1 causes line L93 to be High. As a result the CREM has no ground path and it is deenergized, which inhibits any new coins from entering the coin unit--they are deflected to coin cup CP. MPU 11 next, in subroutine DISINT, disables all the interrupts except the time-base-clock 113 interrupt by storing the data 04 in control registers PIA1AC, PIA1BC, PIA2AC, PIA2BC, PIA3AC, PIA3BC, PIA4BC, PIA5BC, PIA6AC and PIA6BC. Also, all present interrupts are cleared in subroutine CLRINT, explained above.

Up until this point any dollar coin or bill was being held in its escrow position pending the determination that a vend would occur, so that if the vend were aborted, the customer's own coins or bill could be returned to him. After disabling and clearing the interrupts, MPU 11 accepts any dollar coins or bills into their storage positions, sincef the vendor status is now "go" for a vend. If a dollar bill had been deposited by the customer, it would now be moved into its storage position from its escrow position by MPU 11 supplying the data 0C to PIA6A. This causes line PA2 and PA3 of chip PIA6 (FIG. 6) to go High. Line PA3 is connected through pin 45 of plug P1 to dollar-bill-accept circuit 195. As explained above, when pin 45 of plug P1 goes High, line L105 of circuit 195 goes Low and the validator moves the dollar bill to the storage position.

By supplying the data 0C to PIA6A, MPU 11 also accepts the dollar coin (or coins) deposited by the customer. The High on peripheral data line PA2 of chip PIA6 is supplied through pin 43 of plug P1 to dollar coin escrow circuit 173. This causes line L89 to go High, deenergizing the collar coin escrow solenoid in the coin changer. The dollar coin, upon the deenergization of the dollar coin escrow solenoid, falls from the escrow position to the coin box.

After a slight delay, to give the validator time to move the dollar bill, if present, to its storage location, MPU 11 removes the signal to the validator by storing the data F7 in PIA6A. This causes line PA3 of chip PIA6 to go Low.

MPU 11 now begins control of the elevator. First, it stores the contents of buffer SELECT, i.e., 02, in PIA2A, causing lines PA0, PA2 and PA3 of chip PIA2 to be Low and line PA1 to be High. Lines PA0-PA3 are connected to pins 2-5 of plug P1 respectively, so this causes a High to be supplied to one side of switch 293 (FIG. 34) while switches 291, 295 and 297 remain Low. Then it stores 04, the contents of the buffer HORSOL, in PIA2B causing lines PB0, PB1, PB3, PB4 and PB5 of chip PIA2 to be Low and line PB2 to be High. Lines PB0-PB5 are connected to pins 35-40 of plug P1, so the High on line PB2 causes pin 37 of plug P1 to be High also. As explained above, this energizes HORSOl 253, the horizontal solenoid associated with the third column from the left of items 3 in vendor 1. The microprocessor then sets the up-mode flag, i.e., it sets FLG6=40, and enables speed-sensor-clock 107 (FIG. 19) and time-base-clock 113 (FIG. 20) interrupts by storing the data 1C in PIA1AC and by storing the data 07 in PIA4AC. Storing 1C in PIA1AC ensures that when the CA2 interrupt input of chip PIA1 (FIG. 6) goes High the IRQA output of chip PIA1 will go Low, generating an interrupt sequence. The CA2 input is connected through pin 8 of plug P2 to circuit 106. Every time that the elevator motion sensor generates a pulse, the output of gate 109 in circuit 106 goes High. This High is supplied through pin 8 of plug P2 to the CA2 input of chip PIA1 and causes an interrupt. The enabling of the time-base-clock 113 interrupt has already been explained.

MPU 11 now enters a subroutine, VEND12, in which it refreshes displays 15a and 15b. It stays in this subroutine until the first time-base-clock interrupt, at which time it jumps to subroutine INTERP where it determines by reading bit 7 of PIA4AC that time-base-clock 113 caused the interrupt. MPU 11 then examines the status flag FLG6 to determine if it should perform its elevator control function. Since FLG6=40, MPU 11 is in an elevator control mode, and it jumps to elevator control subroutine TBC10. At this point in the vend cycle, MPU 11 checks whether the elevator is at delivery station 105 by using subroutine MACSTA, described above. Since the elevator is at the delivery station, MPU 11 then tests to see if door 117 is closed by reading PIA2A and testing line PA7 thereof. Line PA7 of chip PIA2 is connected through pin 9 of plug P1 to the output of gate 237. If the elevator is at the delivery station and door 117 is closed, this output will be High and line PA7 will be High. MPU 11 checks for this High and if it is not present, does not proceed with the vend. This check is made to ensure that the elevator does not move unless door 117 is closed. MPU 11 then locks door 117 by deenergizing door lock solenoid 223 (fig. 31). The door lock solenoid is deenergized by the data DF being stored in PIA2A, which, inter alia, makes line PA5 of chip PIA2 Low. Line PA5 is connected through pin 7 of plug P1 to door lock solenoid circuit 221 (FIG. 31). When line PA5 goes Low, solenoid 223 is deenergized. When this occurs, switch 233 (FIG. 32) switches from the open to the closed position, supplying a High through gate 239 to pin 8 of plug P1. Pin 8 of plug P1 is connected to peripheral data line PA6 of chip PIA2, so this line goes High also. MPU 11 reads PIA2A and checks line PA6 to see if door 117 has been locked. If not, it exits the vend cycle.

If door 117 has been locked, however, MPU 11 proceeds to generate a vend signal. That vend signal is the data 10 and it is supplied by MPU 11 to PIA2A, causing line PA4 of chip PIA2 to go High. Line PA4 is connected to pin 6 of plug P1 and so line PA4 supplies the vend signal to run relay circuit 241 (FIG. 33) energizing run relay 245. This causes power to be supplied to the elevator motor. As a result the elevator starts moving upwardly. Thus, MPU 11 in response to the selection of an item 3 generates a vend signal, provided, of course, that there is a non-zero price associated in memory 9 with that item and also provided that the customer's accumulated credit is sufficient to purchase the particular item 3 selected. It should also be apparent at this point that MPU 11 generates a vend signal even if the customer's accumulated credit is insufficient for purchase of the item selected if the free vend switch is closed in the "on" position .

Once it has energized run relay 245, MPU 11 initializes buffers TBC and SPEED1. These buffers are used to determine whether the elevator is moving or has stopped at a level. Buffer TBC is initialized with a value of 16 (decimal) and buffer SPEED1 is initialized with a value of 0. Buffer TBC is initially decremented by one and every time time-base-clock 113 (FIG. 20) interrupts, which is every 10 ms, it is again decremented by one. Buffer SPEED1 is incremented every time speed-sensor-clock 107 (FIG. 19) interrupts. When buffer TBC has been decremented to zero, i.e., after 150 ms, the value of the contents of buffer SPEED1 is checked to see if it falls between 77 (decimal) and 100 (decimal). A value within these limits indicates that the elevator is still moving. If the value is not within those limits MPU 11 removes power from the elevator.

After initializing buffers TBC and SPEED1, MPU 11 exits from the time-base-clock interrupt and returns to the loop in subroutine VEND12.

Every 1.5 to 2.0 ms while the elevator is moving, speed-sensor-clock 107 (FIG. 19) generates an interrupt by causing the output of gate 109 to go High. MPU 11 in response updates buffer SPEED1 by one and exits from the interrupt. Every 10 ms, time-base-clock 113 (FIG. 20) generates an interrupt in response to which MPU 11 decrements buffer TBC by one and exits that interrupt. These interrupts continue to occur until buffer TBC is incremented down, i.e., decremented, to zero, at which point MPU 11 tests to see if the value of the contents of buffer SPEED1 falls within the above-specified limits. If so, it resets buffer TBC to 16 (decimal) and buffer SPEED1 to zero.

The elevator is moving up continuously while the buffers SPEED1 and TBC are being updated. The speed of that movement is of course reflected in the frequency of interrupts from speed-sensor-clock 107 (FIG. 19). As the elevator approaches level D, it closes switch 297 (FIG. 34) but nothing happens as a result of that closure because pin 5 of plug P1 is not High. Likewise, as the elevator approaches level C it closes switch 295 but nothing happens. However, as it approaches level B, it closes switch 293 which provides the High on pin 3 of plug P1 to line L109 and gate 299. The output of gate 299 is therefore high and this High is supplied on line L111 to NAND gate G31 (FIG. 35). As described above, this causes vertical stop solenoid 305 to be energized which stops the elevator at level B. Because the elevator has now stopped, the speed of the elevator motor changes, i.e., stops, and the speed-sensor-clock interrupts now occur at a rate lower than 77 per 150 ms. MPU 11 detects this by comparing the value of the contents of buffer SPEED1 with the above-mentioned predetermined range of values and in response deenergizes run relay 245 (FIG. 33) by removing the vend signal. Specifically MPU 11 changes the voltage of line PA4 of chip PIA2 from High to Low by storing the data EF in PIA2A. Thus, MPU 11 is responsive to the number of pulses supplied from speed-sensor-clock 107 (FIG. 19) and circuit 106 during sixteen interrupts of time-base-clock 113 (FIG. 20) not falling within the predetermined range of 77 to 100 to remove the vend signal.

As shown in coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,333, the stopping of the elevator at a particular level causes the tray motor to dispense the item at that level whose horizontal solenoid has been energized. In the present example, HORSOL 253 was energized and the elevator stopped at level B, so item 3i is conveyed onto the elevator.

After MPU 11 deenergizes run relay 245, it exits from subroutine VEND 12 and enters a subroutine VEND 16 where it refreshes display 15a and 15b while waiting for the tray motor to reach its 180.degree. position. When the tray motor reaches its 180.degree. position it stops and pin 42 of plug P1 (FIG. 36) goes High, as discussed above. Pin 42 of plug P1 is connected to peripheral data line PB7 of chip PIA2, so this line also goes High when the tray motor reaches the 180.degree. position. MPU 11 reads PIA2B and checks line PB7 every time it goes through subroutine VEND 16, so when the tray motor has conveyed item 3i onto the elevator MPU 11 detects that fact, i.e., that the tray motor has reached the 180.degree. position, and sets status flag FLG6=08, indicating that control circuit 7 is now in the elevator down mode.

The energization of relay N (FIG. 36) in response to the tray motor reaching its 180.degree. position switches the elevator motor to the down mode but that does not simultaneously cause the elevator to descend. First, MPU 11 must cause run relay 245 to be energized. Rather than go to that step immediately, however, MPU 11 first starts to give the customer his change. Specifically, MPU 11 checks buffers CREDH+2 and CREDH+3 to see if the customer is due any change. If not, MPU 11 proceeds immediately to the elevator control section of the program. But in our example, the contents of CREDH+3=20, i.e., the customer should receive 20.cent. change. MPU 11 then stores A0 in number-of-coins buffers FENIC, FEDI, FEQUAR, FEONEC, FEONEB, and FETWO, stores the data 08 in the buffer CONTYP, and jumps to subroutine MONTSK. Buffer CONTYP is used as a pointer for MPU 11 to use in subroutine MONTSK to keep track of what type coin is being paid to the customer. In subroutine MONTSK, MPU 11 first determines if the value of a dollar coin is less than or equal to the customer's credit, which is stored in buffers CREDH+2 and CREDH+3. Since the dollar is of greater value than the customer's credit, i.e., 20.cent., MPU 11 updates the contents buffer CONTYP to point to quarters by making its contents 04. Then the same check is made with the quarter. Since this is also greater than the customer's credit, MPU 11 updates the pointer buffer to CONTYP=02 which indicates that dime coins are now to be tested. Since a dime is less than 20.cent., MPU 11 can proceed with making change.

To make change in the least coins mode, MPU 11 reads PIA3A to see if the dime change tube is empty. Line PA0 of chip PIA3 is connected through pin 27 of plug P1 to the output of gate 167 (FIG. 24). As explained above, this output is Low when the dime change tube is empty. If MPU 11 detects a Low on line PA0 of chip PIA3, it switches to the nickel coin tube by updating the pointer buffer to CONTYP=01. Similarly, if the change due the customer exceeds $1.00, MPU 11 checks whether the dollar coin tube is empty by reading PIA3A. Line PA1 of chip PIA3 is connected through pin 28 of plug P1 to the output of gate 165 (FIG. 24) and this output is Low when the dollar tube is empty. In that case, MPU 11 would switch to the quarter change tube from the dollar change tube by updating the pointer buffer to CONTYP=04.

Returning to our example where the customer is to receive 20.cent. in change, if the dime tube is not empty CONTYP=02. If it is, CONTYP=01. In any case MPU 11 stores the value of CONTYP in PIA3B which causes a coin to be ejected from one of the change tubes. Lines PB0-PB3 of chip PIA3 are connected through pins 19, 18, 17 and 16 of plug P1 to the coin return portion of circuit 153 (FIG. 24). As explained above, a High on pin 16 (and thus on line PB3) causes a dollar coin to be ejected from its coin tube, a High on pin 17 (and thus on line PB2) causes a quarter to be ejected, a High on pin 18 (i.e., on line PB1) causes a dime to be ejected, and a High on pin 19 (on PB0) causes a nickel to be ejected. When MPU 11 stores the contents of buffer CONTYP in PIA3B therefore, it causes line PB1 (or line PB0 if the dime tube is empty) to go High, thereby giving the customer one dime in change. MPU 11 also updates the customer's credit to 10.cent. by updating buffer CREDH+3 to 10.

MPU 11 then stores the data OF in buffer PAYBK1. Buffer PAYBK1 is used together with buffer TBC to keep the payback solenoids in the coin handler on for 150 ms. Of course, if those solenoids need to be energized for a different length of time than 150 ms, the initial contents of buffer PAYBK1 should be changed accordingly. After initializing buffer PAYBK1, MPU 11 enables interrupts from time-base-clock 113 and speed-sensor-clock 107 in subroutine VEND0A as described above and then refreshes displays 15a and 15b in subroutine VEND31.

At the first interrupt from time-base-clock 113 (FIG. 20), MPU 11 energizes run relay 245 (FIG. 33) and the elevator starts back down toward delivery station 105. After fifteen of these interrupts, the contents of buffer PAYBK1 are reduced to zero and the payback relay is deenergized by MPU 11 clearing PIA3B. After another short delay MPU 11 causes another dime to be given to the customer in change, following exactly the same steps as outlined above for the first time, and updates CREDH+3=00 since the customer has no remaining credit.

MPU 11 nosw continues refreshing displays 15a and 15b and checking the elevator motor speed until the elevator reaches delivery station 105. At that time, MPU 11 deenergizes run relay 245 (FIG. 33) and then tests, by reading line PB4 of chip PIA5, to see if the elevator is at delivery station 105. Line PB4 is high if the elevator is at the delivery station. This high on line PB4 of chip PIA5 at this point in the vending cycle is a control input signal indicating to MPU 11 the vending of item 3a, and switch 229 and chip PIA5 together constitute means for supplying MPU 11 that signal. In response to the signal that the selected item has been vended, MPU 11 clears and disables all interrupts (in subroutine DISINT) and updates the total sales figure in chip EAROM1 (in a subroutine SALINV).

In subroutine SALINV, MPU 11 first reads the accumulated total sales figure from addresses 1D and 1E in chip EAROM1 as before and stores this in buffers CREDH, CREDH+1, CREDH+2, and CREDH+3. Since the total accumulated sales figure before this last sale was $10.95, CREDH=00, CREDH+1=00, CREDH+2=10, AND CREDH+3=95. MPU 11 adds the cost of item 3i to this and updates CREDH+2 to 12 and CREDH+3 to 50. These figures are then stored in buffers INVO4, INVO4+1, INVO4+2 and INVO4+3, and are written into addresses 1D and 1E in chip EAROM1.

MPU 11 writes the new total accumulated sales figure in chip EAROM1 in subroutine LDPR07. The first step in writing the new total accumulated sales figure in chip EAROM1 is to erase the old figure stored there. MPU 11 does this by addressing location 1D as before through chip PIA1 and putting chip EAROM1 in the erase mode by causing line PA6 of chip PIA1 to be Low and line PA 5 thereof to be High. This causes chip EAROM1's mode control input C1 (pin 25) to be Low and its mode control input C2 (pin 26) to be High, which is the proper combination to put chip EAROM1 in the erase mode and the data at location 1D is erased. MPU 11 then initializes PIA1B of PIA6B as outputs by storing the data FF in their data direction registers, i.e., PIA1BD and PIA6BD, to write the four most significant digits of the new total accumulated sales figure in location 1D of chip EAROM1. Chip EAROM1 is then put in the write mode by causing its C1 and C2 inputs to both be Low. The first two most significant digits of the new total sales figure are supplied by MPU 11 to PIA6B and are thereby written in the highest eight bits of location 1D. The next two most significant digits, i.e., the contents of buffer CREDH+1, are supplied by MPU 11 to PIA1B and are thereby written in the lowest eight bits of location 1D. MPU 11 then proceeds in exactly the same way to erase the old figure at location 1E and to write the contents of buffer CREDH+2, i.e., 12, in the highest eight bits of location 1E and the contents of buffer CREDH+3, i.e.., 50, in the lowest eight bits.

After storing the new total accumulated sales figure in chip EAROM1, MPU 11 returns to the standby loop FIRTS1. Part of that loop is the instruction JSR PROSEN which causes MPU 11 to jump to subroutine PROSEN to check for an item on the elevator. In subroutine PROSEN, MPU 11 checks once again to see if the elevator is at delivery station 105 by checking line PB4 of chip PA5 which is connected to elevator position indicator switch 229. If the elevator is at delivery station 105, MPU 11 checks product sensing circuit 99 (FIG. 18) for circuit failure by testing lines PB2 and PB3 of chip PIA5. These lines are connected through pins 24 and 25 of plug P2 to the collectors of phototransistors Q3 and Q5 (FIG. 18). Since LEDs 101 and 103 are normally off, the collectors of phototransistors Q3 and Q5 are normally High. Therefore, if lines PB2 and PB3 of chip PIA5 are Low, MPU 11 knows that product sensor circuit 99 has failed. Once circuit 99 has passed its test, MPU 11 checks line PA6 to chip PIA2 to see if it is High. If it is, that indicates that switch 233 (FIG. 32) is closed and, therefore, door 105 is closed and locked.

Having determined that door 105 is locked, MPU senses whether item 3i is on the elevator by supplying the data XOXX XXXX (binary) to PIA5B. This causes line PB6 of chip PIA5, which line is connected through pin 12 of plug P2 to gate 367 (FIG. 18), to go Low. As a result, transistor Q35 (FIG. 18) conducts, causing LEDs 101 and 103 to light. If item 3i is present on the elevator, light from LEDs 101 or 103 will be obstructed and insufficient light will fall on the bases of phototransistors Q3 and Q5 to turn them on. Depending upon the plcement of item 3i on the elevator, both phototransistors may be off, transistor Q3 may be on and transistor Q5 may be off, or vice versa, but only if item 3i is not on the elevator will both phototransistors be on and conducting. MPU 11 therefore tests lines PB2 and PB3 of chip PIA5 to see if either is High. If one of these lines is High, the associated transistor is off and item 3i is on the elevator at delivery station 105. If the product is not sensed on the tray, MPU 11 exits the subroutine. If item 3i is on the tray, however, MPU 11 supplies the data 1XXX XXX (binary) to PIA5B, causing the PB7 line of chip PIA5 to go High. This line is connected through pin 13 of plug P2 to gate 119 (FIG. 21). When line PB7 goes High, transistor Q7 conducts, energizing coil 121 which, as explained above, causes door 117 to open. After opening door 117, MPU 11 turns off the product sensor LEDs, LEDs 101 and 103, by causing PB6 of chip PIA5 to go High. MPU 11 then returns to its standby loop, subroutine FIRTS1.

Every time MPU 11 goes through the DISPLY subroutine, which is part of the standby loop, it triggers a missing pulse detector, indicated generally at 371 (FIG. 8), which is part of reset circuit 43. The purpose of missing pulse detector 371 is to cause control circuit 7 to reset if there has been a malfunction in the program. Specifically, MPU 11 supplies the data XXX1 XXXX (binary) to PIA5A causing its PA4 line to go High, which starts a pulse. This High is supplied through pin 31 of plug P2 to missing pulse detector 371. MPU 11 then removes the High by causing line PA4 to go Low, which ends the pulse. As long as this pulse is supplied to detector 371 within a certain time, e.g., 3 ms, from the last such pulse, the output of detector 371 on a line L141 remains High. The period 3 ms is chosen to slightly exceed the maximum time MPU 11 should be executing instructions outside the DISPLY subroutine in the absence of a malfunction. If a pulse is not detected within that maximum period, line L141 goes Low. This Low is inverted by an inverter 373 and the resulting High output is supplied to the base of an NPN transistor Q39 whose emitter is connected to ground and whose collector is connected to line L67. Transistor Q39 conducts, bringing line L67 Low. We have already seen that a Low on line L67 causes control circuit 7 to reset.

If the customer in the above example had deposited his $1.75 but then chosen not to select an item, he would press the coin return switch CR. This would cause a High to appear on line L94 of circuit 179 (FIG. 27), and pin 20 of plug P2 would go High as a result. Pin 20 of plug P2 is connected to the CB1 interrupt input (pin 18) of chip PIA6. Since chip PIA6 has been initiated to generate an interrupt signal whenever its CB1 input goes High, pressing of the change return switch supplies an interrupt signal to MPU 11. Upon receiving this signal, MPU 11 jumps to the interrupt routine INTERP to identify the source of the interrupt. It discovers that the interrupt is a credit recall interrupt by checking bit 7 of PIA6BC which is set High when the CB1 input of chip PIA6 goes High. Having identified the interrupt, MPU 11 branches to credit recall subroutine RECAL.

In subroutine RECAL MPU 11 first disables all the interrupts and clears any present interrupts. It then checks status flag FLG7 to make sure that all anti-jackpot delays have expired. This is to prevent the return of credit until all coins deposited by the customer have been identified and added to his credit. MPU 11 then checks the customer's credit, which is stored in buffers CREDH+2 and CREDH+3. If the credit is zero, MPU 11 exits the interrupt; the customer is not owed any money. If the customer has some credit, MPU 11 disables the CREM by causing line PB6 of chip PIA3 to go Low. MPU 11 returns the customer's credit in essentially the same manner as it made change. That is, buffer CONTYP is used as a pointer to indicate which bill or coin is to be returned and when a bill or coin is returned its number of coins buffer, e.g., FEDI, is decremented by one. The major difference between returning the customer's credit in the full-escrow mode and making change is that in the former the contents of the number of coins buffers correspond initially to the numbers of coins or currency of each type that the customer has inserted into vendor 1 while in the latter the contents of those buffers are initialized with 160 (decimal).

In this example the contents of all the numbers of coins buffers except FEONEC and FEQUAR are zero, FEONEC=1 and FEQUAR=3. MPU 11 first checks buffer FETWO and initializes buffer CONTYP=20. Since buffer FETWO is empty, MPU 11 updates CONTYP to point to dollar bills, i.e., CONTYP=10. It then checks the contents of buffer FEONEB which is also empty.

If the customer had deposited a dollar bill into vendor 1, the contents of buffer FEONEB would equal 01 and MPU 11 would at this point return the bill by storing the contents of buffer CONTYP, i.e., 10. in PIA3B. Storing 10 in PIA3B causes line PB4 of chip PIA3 to go High. This High is supplied through pin 15 of plug P1 to circuit 193 (FIG. 28). As explained above, this high causes the validator to return the dollar bill from its escrow position to the customer.

If the buffer FEONEB is empty, MPU 11 then updates the pointer to CONTYP=08 and examines the contents of dollar coin buffer FEONEC. Since the customer deposited a dollar coin, the contents of this buffer are 01. MPU 11 stores the contents of pointer CONTYP in PIA3B and decrements the contents of buffer FEONEC by one. Storing the contents of the buffer CONTYP, i.e., 08, in PIA3B causes the PB3 line of chip PIA3 to go High. This line is connected through pin 16 of plug P1 to change circuit 153. As described above, a High on this pin causes transistors Q11 and Q13 to conduct, resulting in the return of a dollar coin to the customer. After returning the dollar coin and decrementing the contents of buffer FEONEC to zero, MPU 11 updates buffer CONTYP to point to quarters by changing its contents to 04. To see if any quarters need to be returned to the customer, MPU 11 examines the contents of buffer FEQUAR. Since the buffer FEQUAR has contents of 03, MPU 11 returns a quarter to the customer by again storing the contents of buffer CONTYP in PIA3B. This causes line PB2 of chip PIA3, which is connected through pin 17 of plug P1 to the quarter return circuitry of circuit 153 (FIG. 24), to go High and one quarter is returned to the customer. MPU 11 decrements buffer FEQUAR by one and again examines it for zero contents. Since buffer FEQUAR=02 at this point, MPU 11 returns a second quarter to the customer and again decrements buffer FEQUAR by one. This cycle is repeated one more time. MPU 11 returns the customer's third, and last, quarter and decrements buffer FEQUAR to zero. MPU 11 then updates pointer CONTYP to point to dimes, i.e., CONTYP=02 and examines the dimes number of coins buffer FEDI for non-zero contents. Since the customer deposited no dimes, buffer FEDI=00 and no dimes are returned to him. If he had put dimes in vendor 1, of course, they would at this point be returned exactly like the dollar coin and the quarters. Finally, MPU 11 updates pointer CONTYP to point to nickels and checks the contents of the nickel buffer FENIC. Since this is also zero, MPU 11 has completed the full-escrow payback of the customer's credit and it exits the interrupt to return to the standby loop.

It should be noted that control circuit 7 will return the customer's credit in the full-escrow mode not only when he presses the coin return switch but also when he deposits money in vendor 1 when free-vend switch 199 is in its "on" position, i.e., closed.

In its standby loop, MPU 11 continuously refreshes displays 15a and 15b. However, display 15b is normally not lit since its associated inverters lack a ground connection. And display 15a will not be lit if there is no customer credit in vendor 1, i.e., the accumulated customer credit is $0.00, since all leading zeros are blanked. When the serviceman approaches vendor 1 to, for example, record the total accumulated sales figure, both displays will typically be dark. To read the accumulated sales figure the serviceman inserts key 203 (FIG. 30) into slot 204. This results in line L107 going Low, as described above, to provide a ground for inverters 53-58 (FIG. 15) and display 15b lights up displaying the total accumulated sales figure, i.e., "12.50".

To reset the total accumulated sales figure to zero, the serviceman closes switch 213 (FIG. 30), causing the output of gate 215, which is connected through pin 1 of plug P2 to the CB1 interrupt input of chip PIA1, to go High. This causes the IRQB output pin of chip PIA1 to go Low, thereby supplying an interrupt signal to MPU 11, and causes bit 7 of PIA1BC to go High. MPU 11 identifies the interrupt as a clear total sales interrupt by checking bit 7 of PIA1BC to see if it is High. After determining that bit 7 is indeed High, MPU 11 jumps to subroutine CLRINV, the clearing total sales subroutine. In subroutine CLRINV, MPU 11 erases the data stored in addresses 1D and 1E of chip EAROM1 just as it did in updating the total accumulated sales figure and then writes the data 0000 into both locations, again just as it did in updating the figures. That is, MPU 11 is responsive to the closure of switch 213 and the resulting reset signal to change the total sales figure stored in memory 9 to zero. MPU 11 then jumps to subroutine RDTOSL, discussed above, to read the new data stored at locations 1D and 1E. If the total accumulated sales figure has been successfully cleared, display 15b will now be blank, since all of the digits of the total accumulated sales figure will be zero.

While servicing vendor 1, the serviceman may empty any one of the coin tubes by pressing and holding its associated switch, causing a High to appear on one of lines L95, L97, L99 or L101 (FIG. 27), which lines are associated with the nickel, dime, quarter and dollar change tubes respectively. A High on any of these lines causes the output of NOR gate G27 to go Low and, therefore, the output of inverter 191 to go High. This High is supplied through pin 1 of plug P1 to the CA1 interrupt input of chip PIA6, causing the IRQA output of chip PIA6 to go Low and bit 7 of PIA6AC to go High. In response to the Low IRQA output, MPU 11 initiates its interrupt sequence. It identifies the interrupt by testing bit 7 of PIA6AC and branches to the automatic coin tube emptying subroutine PAYOUT. There MPU 11 determines which coin tube to empty by reading PIA6A. Peripheral data lines PA4-PA7 of chip PIA6 are connected through pins 46-49 of plug P1 to lines L95, L97, L99 and L101 (FIG. 27), respectively. When one of these lines of circuit 179, line L95 for example, is High its associated peripheral data line, line PA4, will also be High.

Assuming the serviceman wants to empty the dime change tube, when he presses the switch to do that, line L97 and peripheral data line PA5 of chip PIA6 go High. Line PA5 will stay High as long as the serviceman keeps the switch closed. MPU 11 first checks line PA7 of chip PIA6 and then line PA6 but finds them both Low. Next MPU 11 checks line PA5 and upon detecting that it is High branches to the coin return subroutine described before. Briefly, MPU 11 ejects a coin from the change tubes, in this case a dime, by causing that tube's associated peripheral data line of chip PIA3, in this case line PB1, to go High. After ejecting one coin MPU 11 rechecks PIA6A to see if any peripheral data lines thereof are still High, which would indicate that the serviceman is still keeping one of the change tube switches closed. If so, it jumps back to subroutine PAYOUT and repeats the above steps. As a result, the coin changer keeps emptying the dime change tube until the serviceman releases the dime tube switch. Emptying the dollar, quarter and nickel tubes takes place in exactly the same way. After emptying the selected tube, MPU 11 returns to its standby loop.

To check or change the prices of items 3, the serviceman opens vendor 1 and switches switch 98 (FIGS. 17 and 38-40) to the price-setting position, by removing the price-setting module from holder 339, causing one input of NOR gate G23 to go Low while one input to gate G21 goes High. To check the price of any item, the serviceman then presses its selection switch 13. Closure of any one of switches 13a-13i (FIG. 16), as explained above, causes the output of NOR gate G19 to go Low. This Low is supplied on line L69 and through gate 95 to the other input of NOR gate G23, causing its output to go High. This High is supplied through pin 50 of plug P2 to the CB2 interrupt input of chip PIA4 causing the IRQB output of chip PIA4 to go Low and bit 6 of PIA4BC to go High. In response to the Low IRQB signal, MPU 11 starts the interrupt subroutine INTERP.

In subroutine INTERP, MPU 11 identifies the interrupt as a price interrupt by checking bit 6 of PIA4BC and branches to the price display subroutine PRIDIS. In PRIDIS MPU 11 determines which selection switch 13 was closed by strobing lines PA0-PA7 of chip PIA4 and reading lines PB0-PB5 thereof exactly as described above in connection with the selection of item 3i. When MPU 11 has found the closed selection switch 3, it stores the row information in buffer SELINF and the column information in buffer SELINF+1. For example, if the serviceman has pressed selection switch 13g, buffer SELINF will equal 02 and buffer SELINF+1 will equal 01. Having determined which switch was closed, MPU 11 jumps to subroutine LDPRI where it finds the position number of the closed switch in the same way as it did when item 3i was selected for vending. The position number of item 3g is 07. MPU 11 then reads the contents of location 07, i.e., the price of item 3g, in EAROM1 by using PIAs PIA1 and PIA6 as described above in connection with reading the price of item 3i. Thus, MPU 11 is responsive to the actuation of one selection switch 13 and to the apparatus being in the price-setting mode to retrieve from memory 9 the price of the item 3 corresponding to that selection switch. This price, e.g., $2.90, is stored by MPU 11 in buffers KEYBD1 and KEYB1+1. MPU 11 then returns from the interrupt to the standby loop.

Once in the DISPLY subroutine of the standby loop, MPU 11 checks line PB1 of chip PIA5 to see if mode-setting switch 98 (FIG. 17) is in the vend position or in the price-setting position. Line PB1 is connected through pin 23 of plug P2 to the output of gate 97. If switch 98 is in the price-setting position, the output of gate 97 is High. MPU 11 is responsive to this High, and thus to switch 98 being in the price-setting position, to supply the BCD coded signal corresponding to the price of item 3g to display 15a. Specifically MPU 11 stores the price of item 3g in BCD coded form in buffers DISP2 and DISP2+1. As MPU 11 executes the DISPLY subroutine, sequentially supplying the values of the digits of displays 15b and 15a to decoder 47 and activating, or attempting to activate, the corresponding units of the displays, it reaches the point where it supplies the data in buffers DISP2 and DISP2+1 while sequentially activating the units of display 15a. Since the price to be displayed is 02.90 the MSD will be blanked. Specifically it supplies the data "F" to decoder 47 while activating the MSD of display 15 a. This, of course, blanks the MSD of that display. Then it supplies the next four bits of buffer DISP2, i.e., "2" to decoder 47, which decoder constitutes means for decoding the BCD coded price signal from MPU 11, while activating the next most significant digit of display 15a. As a result, the numeral "2" is displayed on the second digit from the bottom of display 15a. Next, MPU 11 displays the highest eight bits of buffer DISP2+1, i.e., "9", in the next to last digit of display 15a and finally it displays the last four bits, i.e., "0", of buffer DISP2+1 in the LSD of display 15a. Thus, display circuit 15 is responsive to the BCD coded price signal from MPU 11 to display the price of item 3g. It is apparent that except for the contents of buffers DISP2 and DISP2+1, the displaying of the digits of a price when mode-setting switch 98 is in its price-setting position is accomplished in basically the same way that the digits of the customer's credit are displayed when switch 98 is in its vending position. It is also apparent that the price of any item 3, not just item 3g, can be displayed by the serviceman simply putting switch 98 in the price-setting mode and pressing the corresponding selection switch.

If the serviceman wants to change the price of any item 3, he uses one of the three price-setting modules, 337, 351 or 355, which constitute means for supplying to MPU 11 a control input signal representing a potential new price. Using module 337 as an example, the switches 60-68 and 70 are used to enter a potential new price, switch 71 causes display 15a to be cleared, and switch 69 causes the potential new price to be loaded into memory 9. To clear display 15a of the price, i.e., $2.90, displayed thereon, the serviceman presses switch 71. This generates an interrupt since it causes the output of gate G19 (FIG. 16) to go Low and, therefore, the output of gate G23 to go High. Just as when the serviceman pushed selection switch 13g, MPU 11 identifies the interrupt as a price display interrupt and, after disabling interrupts from PIA4B, PIA1B, PIA6B and PIA6A, jumps to subroutine PRIDIS where it determines that switch 71 was the closed switch. This information is stored in buffers SELINF and SELINF+1 as SELINF=80 and SELINF+1=04 since switch 71 is in the eighth row from the top and third column from the left of switch matrix 76. MPU 11 then determines the position number of the closed switch in exactly the same way it determined the position numbers of the selection switches 13 and stores it in one of its accumulators. However, the position numbers of the price-setting switches, i.e., switches 60-71, are not the position numbers they would have if one simply counted the selection switches and then continued to count the price-setting switches. The position number of switch 60 is 1, not 25 (decimal) for example. The price-setting switches are given their own position numbers so that their position number can equal their value. For example, the position number of switch 60, the "1" key on module 337, is "1". This system fails for switches 69, 70 and 71 however. In subroutine SEL44, MPU 11 treats these switches separately. For example, the position number of switch 71, the display clearing switch, is 0C. When MPU 11 finds that its accumulator contains the position number 0C it loads the data 00 into buffers KEYBD1 and KEYBD1+1 and exits the interrupt. Back in subroutine DISPLY, the contents of these buffers, i.e., 00, are transferred to buffers DISP2 and DISP2+1, the buffers that contain the four digits which are displayed on display 15a. Since leading zeros are blanked display 15a is cleared. Thus, pressing switch 71 results in the clearing of display 15a.

The serviceman now uses switches 60-68 and 70 to supply a potential new price to MPU 11. To supply the new price $3.05 to MPU 11, the serviceman presses switches 62, 70 and 64 in that order. Each switch closure generates an interrupt in which MPU 11 finds the position number of the switch and stores its value in the buffers KEYBD1 and KEYBD1+1. When switch 62 is pressed, MPU 11 stores its position number, i.e., "3" in the lowest four bits of buffer KEYBD1+1. When switch 70 is pressed, MPU 11 finds that its position number is 0B and in response clears its accumulator where the position number is stored. The lowest four bits of that accumulator, which are not "0000" (binary) are stored in the lowest four bits of buffer KEYBD1+1 while "0011" (binary) the former value of the lowest four bits of that buffer are shifted to be the highest four bits. When switch 64 is pressed, MPU 11 stores the lowest four bits of its position number, which are "0101" as the lowest four bits of buffer KEYBD1+1, while shifting "0000" to the highest four bits of that buffer and shifting "0011" to the lowest four bits of buffer KEYBD1. After the closure of each switch and before the closure of the next one, MPU 11 has sufficient time to exit the interrupt, return to subroutine DISPLY and display the associated numeral. That is, MPU 11 is responsive to the actuation of the key for each switch (62, 70 and 64) to cause display 15a to display the numeral associated with that key. Thus, after switch 62 is closed, MPU 11 exits to subroutine DISPLY where it transfers the contents of buffer KEYBD1 ("00") and KEYBD1+1 ("03") to buffers DISP2 and DISP2+1. As MPU 11 executes the DISPLY subroutine, it therefore causes display 15a to display the numeral 0.03. Likewise, after switch 70 is closed, MPU 11 causes display 15a to display the numerals 0.30 and after switch 64 is closed it causes the display of numerals 3.05. That is, MPU 11 is responsive to a series of switch key actuations to cause display 15a to simultaneously, i.e., at the same time as far as the human eye can tell, display the series of numerals associated with the particular series of switch keys that were actuated. More generally, MPU 11 is responsive to mode-setting switch 98 being in the price-setting position and to a potential new price input signal, i.e., 3.05, to supply a coded signal (0011 0000 0101) to display circuit 15. And display circuit 15 is responsive to the BCD coded potential new price signal to display that potential new price on display 15a.

The serviceman can change the price of any particular item 3 to the potential new price shown on display 15a simply by pressing switch 69 and then pressing the appropriate selection switch 13. Switch 69 constitutes means for putting control circuit 7 in a price loading mode. In the interrupt sequence generated by the pressing of switch 69, MPU 11 identifies the switch as the load-price switch and sets status flag FLG5=80 to put MPU 11 in the price-loading mode. The serviceman then pushes the selection switch, e.g., switch 13g, corresponding to the item he wants to have a price of $3.05. This generates an interrupt as before, but this time, because status flag FLG5=80, MPU 11 does not retrieve the price of item 3g from chip EAROM1 but rather writes the potential new price ($3.05) into location 07 in chip EAROM1. Specifically, MPU 11 identifies the closed switch as a selection switch and then, in subroutine LDPR06, checks status flag FLG5. If this flag equals 80, MPU 11 branches to the price-setting branch of the program; if not, it branches to the price-retrieving branch. Since FLG5=80, MPU 11 branches to the price-setting part of the program. The first step in price-setting after checking status flag FLG5 is to clear that status flag, i.e., remove the data 80. This is to ensure that the potential new price displayed by display 15a is loaded into the memory location associated with only one item. Otherwise, the serviceman could accidentally load the potential new price into several memory locations in an attempt merely to check the prices of the items associated with those memory locations.

After resetting status flag FLG5, MPU 11 jumps to subroutine LDPR07 where it erases the old price stored in address 07 in chip EAROM1 and writes the potential new price therein. This erasing and writing step proceeds exactly in the same way as in the erasing and writing of the total accumulated sales figure in chip EAROM1, described above. MPU 11 then reads the location in chip EAROM1 where it stored the new price, i.e., location 07, and stores this information in buffers KEYBD1 and KEYBD1+1. This information is then displayed the next time MPU 11 goes through the display subroutine DISPLY. To ensure that he has set the price of item 3g to $3.05, the serviceman either presses switch 71, to clear display 15a, and then presses switch 13g, to retrieve the price of item 3g from chip EAROM1, or he presses a different item switch 13 and then comes back to press switch 13g. It is desirable to perform this check since after pressing the load-price switch, switch 69, the serviceman may have inadvertently pressed the wrong selection switch, e.g., switch 13h. With the interrogation feature of the present invention, the serviceman can easily detect such incorrect price settings.

Typically, the serviceman goes down the rows of selection switches 13 checking the prices of items 3 and changing, by means of switches 60-71, those prices that need to be changed. Suppose the price for item 3b were set to $F.35. Since MPU 11 supplies the data "F" to decoder 47 to blank displays 15a and 15b one would expect that when selection switch 13b was pushed display 15a would display "0.35". However, display subroutine DISPLY checks for literals, i.e., characters A-F, and if one is detected, changes the contents of that digit to "A". Displays 15a and 15b display a signal "A" as a "[", so when the serviceman checks the price of item 3b display 15a will display "[0.35". When he sees the character "[" displayed, the serviceman knows he must reset the price for that item.

Of course, the serviceman can use module 351 or 355 instead of module 337 to have display 15a display a potential new price. Using module 355, for example, the serviceman merely turns control knob 359 until pointer 361 points to the desired price on dial 357, presses load switch 69 and the selection switch of the desired item.

The method of displaying potential new prices with module 351 (FIG. 3) is somewhat different from that set out above. Instead of switches 60-68 and 70, module 351 uses rocker switch 353 to set prices. Briefly, the serviceman opens and closes switches 73, 74 and 75 by moving rocker switch 353. Switches 73, 74 and 75 constitute means for supplying a price incrementing control input to MPU 11 to which MPU 11 is responsive to increment the price shown on display 15a. Specifically, switch 73 constitutes means for incrementing the displayed price up, switch 74 constitutes means for incrementing the displayed price down (i.e., decrementing the displayed price), and switch 75 constitutes rapid incrementing enabling means for supplying a control input signal to MPU 11 to cause it to increment the price displayed on display 15a at a rapid rate. For example, if the serviceman wants to change the price of item 3g from $2.90 to $3.05, as in the previous example, he need only press selection switch 3g, causing the old price of $2.90 to be displayed, and then move rocker switch 353 one position toward the word "UP", thereby closing switch 73. Closing switch 73 generates an interrupt and MPU 11 in response jumps to subroutine INTERP where it identifies the interrupt as a price interrupt and jumps to subroutine PRIDIS. There, it stores the row and column information of the closed switch in buffers SELINF and SELINF+1, i.e., SELINF=80 and SELINF+1=10, and jumps to subroutine LDPRI. MPU 11's first step in subroutine LDPRI is to see if buffer SELINF=80 and buffer SELINF+1=10. Since they do, MPU 11 immediately begins to increment display 15a by a nickel. It does this by adding the data 05 to buffer KEYBD1+1, making KEYBD1+1=95, and then branching to a delay subroutine DELA2. In subroutine DELA2, MPU 11 branches to subroutine DISPLY to display the incremented price, i.e., $2.95, and then returns to subroutine DELA2. MPU 11 loops through subroutine DELA2 sixty-four times, which gives the serviceman enough time to open switch 73 if the desired potential price is displayed on display 15a. After the sixty-fourth loop through subroutine DELA2, MPU 11 returns from that subroutine. It then strobes PIA4A and reads PIA4B to see if switch 73 is still closed. If it is, MPU 11 adds 05 to KEYBD1+1 again and branches back to subroutine DELA2. It should be noted that adding the data 05 to buffer KEYBD1+1 causes the contents of buffer KEYBD1 to become 03 and the contents of buffer KEYBD1+1 to become 00, since the addition is being done in BCD form and KEYBD1 and KEYBD1+1 are treated in the program as one sixteen bit-long buffer. In subroutine DELA2, MPU 11 then causes 3.00 to be displayed on display 15a. After another sixty-four times through subroutine DELA2, MPU 11 again checks to see if switch 73 is still closed. It is, so it updates the display by another nickel. At this point, the serviceman sees the desired price displayed so he moves rocker switch 353 back to its off position, opening switch 73. When MPU 11 returns from subroutine DELA2, it finds that switch 73 is open and stops incrementing display 15a. Thus, MPU 11 is responsive to switch 73 being in its activated state, i.e., closed, to continuously increment the price on display 15a and is responsive to switch 73 being in its deactivated state, i.e., closed, to cease incrementing the displayed price. To load the potential new price shown on display 15a, the serviceman merely presses load button 69 and the desired selection switch 13g, as before.

Moving rocker switch 353 one position "DOWN" causes switch 74 to close and the price displayed on display 15a to be decremented. MPU 11, in response to the interrupt generated by the closure of switch 74, stores the row information, i.e., 80, and the column information, i.e., 20, of switch 74 in buffers SELINF and SELINF+1 and jumps to subroutine LDPRI. The second step in subroutine LDPRI is to check for these contents of buffers SELINF and SELINF+1. When MPU 11 determines that the contents of SELINF and SELINF+1 are 8020, it decrements the price displayed on display 15a by a nickel by subtracting the data 05 from the contents of buffer KEYBD1+1. After this subtraction, MPU 11 proceeds to subroutine DELA2 where it displays the new potential price during sixty-four executions of the subroutine. MPU 11 then returns from subroutine DELA2 and checks to see if switch 74 is still closed. If it is, it again decrements the contents of buffer KEYBD1+1 and returns to subroutine DELA2. Only when switch 74 is opened does MPU 11 stop decrementing display 15a. That is, as long as switch 74 is closed MPU 11 continuously decrements the price displayed on display 15a. When the desired price is reached, the serviceman moves rocker switch 353 to its off position and loads the price as above.

Sometimes the serviceman may wish to increment or decrement the displayed price at a faster rate than that resulting from the closure of switches 73 and 74 above. To increment at this faster rate, he presses rocker switch 353 to its full "UP" position (to increment up) or its full "DOWN" position (to decrement) which in either case closes switch 75. Switch 75 is connected through pin 41 of plug P1 to line PB6 of chip PIA2, so when it is closed line PB6 goes High. MPU 11 checks line PB6 of chip PIA2 in subroutine LDPRI. If that line is High, MPU 11 changes the number of times it executes subroutine DELA2 at each price from sixty-four to ten. As a result display 15a is incremented about six times faster when switch 75 is closed than when it is open.

After checking and setting the prices of items 3, the serviceman returns the price-setting module (module 337, 351 and 355) to holder 339 which switches switch 98 to its vend position. Up until this point, switch 98 had been in the price-setting mode and display 15a had been displaying the contents of buffers KEYBD1 and KEYBD1+1. In response to switch 98 being put in the vend position, MPU 11 erases (in subroutine DISP72) the contents of buffers KEYBD1 and KEYBD1+1. As a result display 15a goes blank. Thus switch 98 also constitutes means for causing MPU 11 to cease supplying a coded potential new price signal to display circuit 47 when control circuit 7 is set from the price-setting mode to the vending mode.

The pin assignments for the major integrated circuit chips used in control circuit 7 are as follows:

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above methods and products without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. ##SPC1## ##SPC2## ##SPC3## ##SPC4## ##SPC5## ##SPC6##

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for controlling the functioning of a vendor for vending a plurality of items, each item having at least one parameter associated therewith, comprising: a memory having a plurality of addresses for storing values of at least some of the parameters in predetermined memory addresses, the parameter values stored in the predetermined memory addresses being electrically alterable; processing means responsive to a plurality of vendor status inputs, a plurality of inputs from the memory, and a plurality of control inputs, for performing arithmetic and logic operations with those inputs and with the values of the parameters associated with the items in a sequence controlled by a preselected set of instructions which constitute a program and for supplying output signals based upon results obtained from said operations to control functioning of the vendor, the predetermined memory addresses being accessible by the processing means and the parameter values stored therein being alterable by said processing means; interrogation means operable by authorized personnel for retrieving from memory the values of at least some of the parameters stored therein; and display means for visually displaying a parameter value retrieved from memory by the interrogation means independently of any other input of said processing means being equal in value to the value of the parameter retrieved from the memory, whereby authorized personnel may utilize the interrogation means to retrieve the value of a desired parameter from the memory.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for supplying at least one input representative of a deposit of money in the vendor to the processing means, said processing means being responsive to said money deposit input to determine the amount of credit accumulated as a result of said deposit and to display said amount of accumulated credit by means of the display means.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of the parameters associated with each item is price and further including means for supplying a vendor status input indicating the selection of an item to the processing means, the processing means being responsive to said selection input signal to recall the value of the price parameter associated with that particular item from memory and, if there is a non-zero price associated with that item, and if the amount of credit accumulated is sufficient for purchase of the item selected, to generate a vend signal.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further including means for initiating vending of the selected item, said initiating means being responsive to the vend signal from the processing means.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further including interlocking means for supplying vendor status inputs to the processing means which indicate that the vendor is not ready to vend the desired item.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the memory has a predetermined address for storing a total accumulated sales figure for the vendor and including means for supplying a control input signal indicating the vending of the selected item to the processing means, said processing means being responsive to said signal to update the total sales figure in the memory.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including second display means for displaying said total sales figure.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the second display means is normally inactivated and further including means operable by authorized personnel for activating said second display means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including means for supplying a reset control input signal to the processing means, said processing means being responsive to said reset signal to change the total sales figure stored in memory to zero.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means operable by authorized personnel for setting the values of at least some of the parameters stored in the memory.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein one of the parameters associated with each different item is price, wherein the apparatus has at least two mutually exclusive modes of operation, one of said operation modes being a vending mode and one of said operation modes being a price-setting mode, wherein the interrogation means includes a plurality of selection switches corresponding to the items in the vendor, and further including means for setting the mode of operation of the apparatus, the processing means being responsive to the actuation of a selection switch and to the apparatus being in the price setting mode to retrieve from the memory the price of the item corresponding to that selection switch and to supply a coded signal corresponding to said price to the display means, the display means being responsive to the coded price signal from the processing means to display the price of the item corresponding to the actuated selection switch.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including means for supplying at least one vendor status input to the processing means respresentative of a deposit of money in the vendor, said processing means being responsive to the apparatus being in the vending mode and to said money deposit input to determine the amount of credit accumulated as a result of said deposit and to supply to said display means a signal corresponding to said accumulated credit, whereby said display means displays said accumulated credit when the apparatus is in the vending mode and displays the price corresponding to an item whose selection switch is actuated when the apparatus is in the price-setting mode.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the serviceman-operable parameter setting means is a price-setting means for setting the prices of the items to be vended, said price setting means including means for supplying to the processing means a control input signal representing a potential new price, said processing means being responsive to the apparatus being in the price-setting mode and to said potential new price input signal to supply a coded signal corresponding to said potential new price to the display means, the display means being responsive to the coded potential new price signal to display the potential new price.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the price-setting means includes means for putting the apparatus in a price loading mode, the processing means being responsive to the apparatus being in the price loading mode and to the actuation of a selection switch to erase the price in the memory address corresponding to the actuated selection switch and to write the potential new price into said corresponding memory address thereby to change the price of the item corresponding to the actuated selection switch from the value stored in the corresponding memory address before the apparatus was put into the price loading mode to the potential new price value, whereby a serviceman can use the price-setting means to cause the display of a potential new price, activate the price loading mode means and actuate a selection switch and thereby change the price of the item selected to the potential new price.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein the potential new price supplying means includes a numeric keyboard having a plurality of keys, the processing means being responsive to the actuation of a key to cause the display means to display the numeral associated with that key.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the operation mode setting means includes means for causing the processing means to cease supplying a coded potential new price signal to the display means upon the apparatus being set from the price setting mode to the vending mode thereby erasing the last price setting appearing in the display means.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including incrementing means for supplying a parameter incrementing control input to the processing means, the processing means being responsive to the parameter incrementing control input to increment the parameter shown on the display means.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein the incrementing means includes means for incrementing the displayed parameter up and means for incrementing the displayed parameter down.

19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein the incrementing means has at least one state wherein it is activated and at least one state wherein it is deactivated, said processing means being responsive to the incrementing means being in an activated state to continuously increment the displayed parameter and being responsive to the incrementing means being put in a deactivated state to cease incrementing the displayed parameter.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein the incrementing means further includes rapid incrementing enabling means for supplying a control input signal to the processing means to cause the processing means to increment the parameter displayed by the display means at a rapid rate, the processing means being responsive to the presence of the rapid incrementing control signal to continuously increment the displayed parameter at a faster rate than in the absence of said signal.

21. Apparatus for controlling the functioning of a vendor for vending a plurality of items, each item having a price associated therewith, comprising: a memory having a plurality of addresses for storing values of the prices of the items in predetermined memory addresses, the price values stored in the predetermined memory addresses being electrically alterable; processing means responsive to a plurality of vendor status inputs, a plurality of inputs from the memory, and a plurality of control inputs, for performing arithmetic and logic operations with those inputs and with the values of the prices associated with the items in a sequence controlled by a preselected set of instructions which constitute a program and for supplying output signals based upon results obtained from said operations to control functioning of the vendor, the predetermined memory addresses being accessible by the processing means and the price values stored therein being alterable by said processing means; interrogation means for retrieving from memory the values of at least some of the prices stored therein; display means for visually displaying a price value retrieved from memory by the interrogation means independently of any other input of said processing means being equal in value to the price value retrieved from the memory; means for supplying at least one input representative of a deposit of money in the vendor to the processing means, said processing means being responsive to said money deposit input to determine the amount of credit accumulated as a result of said deposit; means for supplying an input indicating the selection of an item to the processing means, the processing means being responsive to said selection input signal to recall the value of the price associated with that particular item from memory and, if there is a non-zero price associated with that item, and if the amount of credit accumulated is sufficient for purchase of the item selected, to generate a vend signal; means for initiating vending of the selected item, said initiating means being responsive to the vend signal from the processing means; and a customer inaccessible free vend switch and means for connecting the free vend switch with the processing means, said free vend switch having a first and a second position, the processing means being responsive to said free vend switch being in the first position to generate a vend signal even if the amount of credit accumulated is insufficient for purchase of the item selected.

22. Apparatus for controlling the functioning of a vendor for vending a plurality of items, each item having a price associated therewith, comprising: a memory having a plurality of addresses for storing values of the prices of the items in predetermined memory addresses, the price values stored in the predetermined memory addresses being electrically alterable; processing means responsive to a plurality of vendor status inputs, a plurality of inputs from the memory, and a plurality of control inputs, for performing arithmetic and logic operations with those inputs and with the values of the prices associated with the items in a sequence controlled by a preselected set of instructions which constitute a program and for supplying output signals based upon results obtained from said operations to control functioning of the vendor, the predetermined memory addresses being accessible by the processing means and the price values stored therein being alterable by said processing means; interrogation means for retrieving from memory the values of at least some of the prices stored therein; display means for visually displaying a price value retrieved from memory by the interrogation means independently of any other input of said processing means being equal in value to the price value retrieved from the memory; means for supplying at least one input representative of a deposit of money in the vendor to the processing means, said processing means being responsive to said money deposit input to determine the amount of credit accumulated as a result of said deposit; means for supplying an input indicating the selection of an item to the processing means, the processing means being responsive to said selection input signal to recall the value of the price associated with that particular item from memory and, if there is a non-zero price associated with that item, and if the amount of credit accumulated is sufficient for purchase of the item selected, to generate a vend signal; means for initiating vending of the selected item, said initiating means being responsive to the vend signal from the processing means; and sensing means for supplying a vendor status input comprising a series of pulses indicating the speed of rotation of a motor in the vendor to the processing means and further including clock means for supplying interrupts to the processing means, said processing means being responsive to the number of pulses supplied by the sensing means during a predetermined number of clock interrupts not falling within a predetermined range of values to remove the vend signal.

23. Apparatus for controlling the functioning of a vendor for vending a plurality of items, each item having a price associated therewith, comprising: a memory having a plurality of addresses for storing values of the prices of the items in predetermined memory addresses, the price values stores in the predetermined memory addresses being electrically alterable; processing means responsive to a plurality of vendor status inputs, a plurality of inputs from the memory, and a plurality of control inputs, for performing arithmetic and logic operations with those inputs and with the values of the prices associated with the items in a sequence controlled by a preselected set of instructions which constitute a program and for supplying output signals based upon results obtained from said operations to control functioning of the vendor, the predetermined memory addresses being accessible by the processing means and the price values stored therein being alterable by said processing means; interrogation means for retrieving from memory the values of at least some of the prices stored therein; display means for visually displaying a price value retrieved from memory by the interrogation means independently of any other input of said processing means being equal in value to the value retrieved from the memory; means operable by authorized personnel for setting the values of at least some of the prices stored in the memory, said apparatus having at least two mutually exclusive operation modes, one of said operation modes being a vending mode and one of said operation modes being a price-setting mode, said price-setting means being customer inaccessible; authorized personnel access means having an open and a closed position for providing authorized personnel access to said customer inaccessible price-setting means when said access means is in its open position and for preventing access to said price-setting means when said access means is in its closed position; and mode-setting means for setting the mode of operation of the apparatus, said mode-setting means being operable to set said apparatus in the price-setting mode only when the access means is open.

24. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein the customer inaccessible price-setting means includes a price-setting module detachably mounted in a holder, said mode-setting means being responsive to the price-setting module being in its holder to set the apparatus in its vending mode and being responsive to the price-setting module being out of its holder to set the apparatus in its price-setting mode.

25. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein the mode-setting means includes means for ensuring that the apparatus is set in its vending mode when the access means is closed.

26. Apparatus as set in forth in claim 23 wherein the customer inaccessible price-setting means includes an authorized personnel-removable price-setting module and plug means for connecting the price-setting module to the apparatus, said plug means being authorized personnel accessible by way of the authorized personnel-operable access means and being customer inaccessible.

27. Apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein the removable price-setting module is of such a size that the an authorized person can hold it in one hand, thereby leaving the authorized persons's other hand free to operate said price-setting module.

28. Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein the price-setting module includes the display means.

29. Apparatus for controlling the functioning of a vendor for vending a plurality of items, each item having a price associated therewith, comprising: a memory having a plurality of addresses for storing values of the prices in predetermined memory addresses, the price values stored in the predetermined memory addresses being electrically alterable; processing means responsive to a plurality of vendor status inputs, a plurality of inputs from the memory, and a plurality of control inputs, for performing arithmetic and logic operations with those inputs and with the values of the prices associated with the items in a sequence controlled by a preselected set of instructions which constitute a program and for supplying output signals based upon results obtained from said operations to control functioning of the vendor, the predetermined memory addresses being accessible by the processing means and the price values stored therein being alterable by said processing means; interrogation means for retrieving from memory the values of the prices stored therein, said interrogation means including a plurality of selection switches corresponding to the items in the vendor; display means for visually displaying a price value retrieved from memory by the interrogation means independently of any other input of said processing means being equal in value to the price value retrieved from the memory; means operable by authorized personnel for setting the values of the prices stored in the memory, said apparatus having at least two mutually exclusive modes of operation, one of said operation modes being a vending mode and one of said operation modes being a price-setting mode; and means for setting the mode of operation of the apparatus, the processing means being responsive to the actuation of a selection switch and to the apparatus being in the price-setting mode to retrieve from the memory the price of the item corresponding to that selection switch and to supply a coded signal corresponding to said price to the display means, the display means being responsive to the coded price signal from the processing means to display the price of the item corresponding to the actuated selection switch; said price-setting means including means for supplying to the processing means a control input signal representing a potential new price, said processing means being responsive to the apparatus being in the price-setting mode and to said potential new price input signal to supply a coded signal corresponding to said potential new price to the display means, the display means being responsive to the coded potential new price signal to display the potential new price; said price-setting means including means for putting the apparatus in a price-loading mode, the processing means being responsive to the apparatus being in the price-loading mode and to the actuation of a selection switch to erase the price in the memory address corresponding to the actuated selection switch and to write the potential new price into said corresponding memory address thereby to change the price of the item corresponding to the actuated selection switch from the value stored in the corresponding memory address before the apparatus was put into the price-loading mode to the potential new price value, whereby authorized personnel can use the price-setting means to cause the display of a potential new price, activate the price-loading mode means and actuate a selection switch and thereby change the price of the item selected to the potential new price; said potential new price supplying means including authorized personnel-operable dial means for selecting the potential new price, said dial means including a dial having a plurality of prices indicated thereon and a control knob having a pointer for indicating a given one of the prices on the dial, whereby authorized personnel may select a potential new price by turning the control knob to point to that price on the dial.

30. Apparatus for controlling the functioning of a vendor for vending a plurality of items, each item having a price associated therewith, comprising: a memory having a plurality of addresses for storing values of the prices in predetermined memory addresses, the price values stored in the predetermined memory addresses being electrically alterable; processing means responsive to a plurality of vendor status inputs, a plurality of inputs from the memory, and a plurality of control inputs, for performing arithmetic and logic operations with those inputs and with the values of the prices associated with the items in a sequence controlled by a preselected set of instructions which constitute a program and for supplying output signal based upon results obtained from said operations to control functioning of the vendor, the predetermined memory addresses being accessible by the processing means and the price values stored therein being alterable by said processing means; interrogation means for retrieving from memory the values of at least some of the prices stored therein, said interrogation means including a plurality of selection switches corresponding to the items in the vendor; display means for visually displaying a price value retrieved from memory by the interrogation means independently of any other input of said processing means being equal in value to the price value retrieved from the memory; means operable by authorized personnel for setting the values of the prices stored in the memory, said apparatus having at least two mutually exclusive modes of operation, one of said operation modes being a vending mode and one of said operation modes being a price-setting mode; means for setting the mode of operation of the apparatus, the processing means being responsive to the actuation of a selection switch and to the apparatus being in the price-setting mode to retrieve from the memory the price of the item corresponding to that selection switch and to supply a coded signal corresponding to said price to the display means, the display means being responsive to the coded price signal from the processing means to display the price of the item corresponding to the actuated selection switch; and incrementing means for supplying a price incrementing control input to the processing means, the processing means being responsive to the price incrementing control input to increment the price shown on the display means;

31. Apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein the incrementing means includes means for incrementing the displayed price up and means for incrementing the displayed price down.

32. Apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein the incrementing means has at least one state wherein it is activated and at least one state wherein it is deactivated, said processing means being responsive to the incrementing means being in an activated state to continuously increment the displayed price and being responsive to the incrementing means being put in a deactivated state to cease incrementing the displayed price.

33. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein the incrementing means further includes rapid incrementing enabling means for supplying a control input signal to the processing means to cause the processing means to increment the price displayed by the display means at a rapid rate, the processing means being responsive to the presence of the rapid incrementing control signal to continuously increment the displayed price at a faster rate than in the absence of said signal.

34. Apparatus for controlling the functioning of a vendor for vending a plurality of items, each item having at least one parameter associated therewith, comprising: a memory having a plurality of addresses for storing values of at least some of the parameters in predetermined memory addresses, the parameter values stored in the predetermined memory addresses being electrically alterable; processing means responsive to a plurality of vendor status inputs, a plurality of inputs from the memory, and a plurality of control inputs, for performing arithmetic and logic operations with those inputs and with the values of the parameters associated with the items in a sequence controlled by a preselected set of instructions which constitute a program and for supplying output signals based upon results obtained from said operations to control functioning of the vendor, the predetermined memory addresses being accessible by the processing means and the parameter values stored therein being alterable by said processing means; interrogation means operable by authorized personnel for retrieving from memory the values of at least some of the parameters stored therein; display means for visually displaying to authorized personnel a parameter value retrieved from memory by the interrogation means independently of any other input of said processing means being equal in value to the value of the parameter retrieved from the memory, whereby authorized personnel may utilize the interrogation means to retrieve the value of a desired parameter from the memory; customer inacessible means operable by authorized personnel for setting the values of at least some of the parameters stored in the memory, said apparatus having a least two mutually exclusive operation modes, one of said operation modes being a vending mode and one of said operation modes being a parameter-setting mode; authorized personnel-operable access means having an open and a closed position for providing authorized personnel access to said customer inaccessible parameter-setting means when said access means is in its open position and for preventing access to said price-setting means when said access means is in its closed position; and mode-setting means for setting the mode of operation of the apparatus, said mode-setting means being operable to set said apparatus in the price-setting mode only when the access means is open.

35. Apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein the customer inaccessible parameter-setting means includes a parameter-setting module detachably mounted in a holder, said mode-setting means being responsive to the parameter-setting module being in its holder to set the apparatus in its vending mode and being responsive to the parameter-setting module being out of its holder to set the apparatus in its parameter-setting mode.

36. Apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein the mode-setting means includes means for ensuring that the apparatus is set in its vending mode when the access means is closed.

37. Apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein the customer inaccessible price-setting means includes an authorized personnel-removable parameter-setting module and plug means for connecting the price-setting module to the apparatus, said plug means being authorized personnel accessible by way of the access means and being customer inaccessible.

38. Apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein the parameter-setting means includes means for putting the apparatus in a parameter-loading mode, and means for selecting an item having a parameter which is to be changed, the processing means being responsive to the apparatus being in the parameter-loading mode and to the selecting means to erase a parameter value in the memory address corresponding to the selected item and to write a new parameter value into said corresponding memory address thereby to change a parameter of the item from the value stored in the corresponding memory address before the apparatus was put into the parameter-loading mode to a new parameter value, whereby authorized personnel can use the parameter-setting means to change the value of a parameter of a selected item to a new parameter value.

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Abstract

Description