US5154272A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Controller for an automatic vending machine
Assignee: Nippon Conlux Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1991-04-16
•
Granted: 1992-10-13
•
Expires: 2011-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A controller for an automatic vending machine in which the specification for each of a plurality of countries is set easily. If a country setting switch sets a specification for a desired country, parameter values corresponding to the specification are read from a memory and elements required for changing the specification are controlled in accordance with the parameter values. The parameter values include, for example, respective threshold levels for the inserted coins for each of the countries and the values indicative of the distributing manners to distribute the respective inserted coins for each of the countries.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenji Nishiumi
- 👤 Shusuke Sumi
- 👤 Kenji Nakajima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:18
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F13/00; G07F5/00; G07F5/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A controller for an automatic vending machine comprising: a country setting switch for setting the operation of the machine on the basis of a specification for each of countries; means for storing parameters corresponding to the specification for each country; control means for reading from the storing means a parameter value corresponding to the specification selected by the country setting switch in correspondence to the selective operation of the country selecting switch and controlling the appropriate elements of the machine in accordance with the parameters, the storing means stores as the parameter value a distributing manner to distribute an inserted coin for each of the countries; and the control means reads from the storing means the distributing manner in correspondence to the specification selected by the country setting switch and controls the distribution of the coin in accordance with the distributing manner.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A controller for an automatic vending machine comprising: a country setting switch for setting the operation of the machine on the basis of a specification for each of countries; means for storing parameters corresponding to the specification for each country; control means for reading from the storing means a parameter value corresponding to the specification selected by the country setting switch in correspondence to the selective operation of the country selecting switch and controlling the appropriate elements of the machine in accordance with the parameters, the storing means stores as the parameter value a distributing manner to distribute an inserted coin for each of the countries; and the control means reads from the storing means the distributing manner in correspondence to the specification selected by the country setting switch and controls the distribution of the coin in accordance with the distributing manner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A controller according to claim 1, wherein the country setting switch comprises at least one dip switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A controller according to claim 1, wherein the storing means stores a threshold level for an inserted coin used in each of the countries as the parameter value; and the control means reads from the storing means a threshold level corresponding to the specification selected by the country selecting switch and judges the inserted coin in accordance with the read threshold level.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3918564A
Cited
US4184366A
Cited
US4267915A
Cited
EP0024150A1
Cited
US4462513A
Cited
JPS5854772A
Cited
US4556140A
Cited
GB2128006A
Cited
US4572349A
Cited
US4538719A
Cited
US4749074A
Cited
GB2199978A
Cited
JPH0211951A
Cited
JPH0248788A
Cited
JPH0250288A
Cited
US5067604A
Cited
JPH037996A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-10-13 | 1996-04-13 | 1996-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-13 | 2000-04-13 | 2000-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-13 | 2004-04-13 | 2004-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |