\
`
`United States Patent 119)
`Lightner
`
`176]
`
`154) VENDING SYSTEM FOP REMOTE' Y
`ACCESSIBLES'FORED :INFORMA TION
`Inventor: Rilbert W. LlghtJIer, 8SN, Atlantic
`Avenue, Cocoa Beach"F1a. 32931
`June 1,1971
`(22) Filed:
`[21] Ap,pl.No.: 148,714
`
`[52) U.s. CL ...•... 340/147 R, 179/2 "TV, 179/6.3 CC,
`'\79/6.3 MI\, I 791100.2'E, \.94/15
`[51),
`laL CL .. ,.Gllb 15/02, H04m ),7/02, H04q9/00
`[U) Fleld,of'Search' .. 3401147 iR, 147 A,I49 A, 162,
`340/,174.1 R, 174.1 CC, 1'47; 178/6.6 A;
`179il00.2E, 2R, 2 A, 6.3 MA, 6.3 CC;
`)"46/33 M; 19412, 10, 1'5
`
`156)
`
`Refereaces Cited
`
`3,609,227,
`3,444,334
`3,169;624
`
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`9/1971 Kuljian ........................ " .... 178/6.6 A
`5/1969 Clark .......... " .......................... 194/15
`2/1965 Baker et aI .... , ......... : .............. 194/15
`
`Primary uamilltr....;Donald J. Yusko
`Alforllty-Rose ok Edell
`
`3,718,906
`(1,1')
`145) Feb. 27, 1973
`
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A vendi rig system includes a central ,station at which
`various information stored on ,master recordings can
`be'selectively'accessed by purchasen from any. of mul(cid:173)
`tiple remote vending machines, the accessed informa(cid:173)
`tion. beins reproduced on cartridge-type storage media
`at that vending machine. The cartridge, upon receiv(cid:173)
`ing all ohhe selected! Information, is ejected from the
`vending machine for
`the permanent use of the
`purchaser. In a preferred embodiment the master
`recording medium comprises a plurality of endless
`master tapes continuously driven by a common cap(cid:173)
`stan. The master tapes may contain commercially
`recorded music which is selectively transferred to a
`magnetic tape cassette at a vending machine. The
`master
`tapes may contain complete albums of
`recordings which are automatically produced on the
`cassette, or alternatively may contain a variety of solo
`recordings which can be individually selected to
`create a new album of the purchaser·s choice.
`
`13 Claims, 14 Dn"lag Figuns .
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`PATENTEOfEB27 1973
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`,
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`1
`VENDING SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY ACCESSIBLE
`STORED INFORMA110N
`
`3,718,906
`
`2
`It is still another object of the present invention to
`provide a system and method
`for distributing
`recordings to the,public wherein .the'consumer can al(cid:173)
`ways obtain a c0i'Y ofa currently popular recordir.d'
`It is still another object of the present invention to
`provide a system and method
`for disuibuting
`recordings to the public which permit'the consumer to
`group individual recorded selections into an album of
`his own choice.
`It.is another object of the present invention to pro-
`vide a .system and method' for rapidly. and efficiently
`disseminatingiadvenising messagl:j.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INV"
`The present invention relatl:j to a, methOa and ap- S
`paratus employing a vending machine conceptto per-"
`mit largescale rapid dissemination of centrally stored
`information. More particularly, the present invention
`reiates to a system wherein purchasers at varioul vend"
`ing machine locations canlobtain recordings'of,selected 10
`information'stored at a central station, The preferred
`emb"ociiinent of the, present invention is described
`herein ,as utilized for the sale of commercial audio
`recordings; it is, to .be understood however that the IS
`In accordance with the Ipresent invention, a central
`present system is applicable to the dislributionand sale
`o(v!rtuaUy any stored information, :be lit audio, video,
`computer1mastertape center is ,installed in each major
`marketarea,and1services a multiplicity of:remote,vend·
`etc.
`ing machines distributed throughout that area. 17he
`The commercial recording industry, while immense-
`Iy profitable. has a number of\ogistics problems. ,For 20 master tape center includes storage media, such as
`example.
`the recording companies often cannot
`endless tapes, on which a'iarge selection of recordings
`produce and distribute sufficient copies of extremely
`can be easily and rapidly stored and changed. The
`popular recording within a period of time that is 'fast
`master tape center communicates with the various
`enough'to take advantage of the popularitypeak'for the
`vending machines by means of any suitable transmis-
`recording. Invariably there' are lost sales by vinue of 2S sion ·media. Each vending.machine offers to the con-
`sumer a selection of anything stored ,in the master tape
`the fact thaHome consumers cannot obtain copies of a
`recording until after the .popularity of that recording
`center. The vending machine includes a high speed
`has ebbed. Another, problem for'the recording compa-
`duplicator and I a quantity of recordable media, such as
`nies is therlarge investment required in materials. labor
`blank tape cassettes. The data selected by the con-
`and equipment for reproducing thousands and some- 30 sumer'is;transmitted fromthelmastertape center to the
`times millions of copies ora recording.
`.vendiitgmachine where it:is copied by the duplicator
`the retailer. of commercial
`onto the cassette which is then ejected from the
`On another scale.
`recordings. in order to provide his customers with a
`machine .. Payment byithe consumer may beiin the form
`of currency, tokens. cir credit cards which permit the
`large,selection,must have a considerable inventory in-
`vestment. Quite often. because,of,changesiin the popu- lS consumer ,to maintain an account that lis maintained'
`current by a'computerat the master tape center;
`larity of various types of music, ,the' retailer 'is:left with
`stock that'can only be sold below the retailer's cost,
`,In a preferred embodiment of the invention. the
`Another phase of'the problem'in the recording indus-
`master 'tape center includes mUltiple endless tapes
`try may ,be viewed: from ,the point of view of the con- 40 which, are arranged lobe continuouslY'driven bya com(cid:173)
`mon capstan. Each tape is individually. accessiblS!,from
`sumer. Often. in the case of very popular recordings.
`the consumer.l'!'ust wait to obtain his copy because ,the
`. any vending machine serViced by the master 'tape
`retailer is temporarily sold out~ Another problem faced'
`center;
`by the, consumer is hillack of choice in selecting the
`BRIEF OESCRlP17IONOF THE ORA WINGS
`recordings he wishl:j to purchase. Specifically. the vast 4S
`The above and still Cunher objects. featureslandad-
`majority of recordings are albums containlng!a number
`vantagesof,the:present'invention will become apparent
`of musical selections •. K the consumer. wishes ,to !obtain
`copies of only one:or two·of.the selections in an,a1bum.
`upon consideration of the following detailed descripo
`tion of one specific embodiment thereof. especially
`be il often forced to,purchase the entirealbumibecauie
`the desired selections are not avlilable as single SO when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
`recordL From the consumer's point:ohiew It would be
`drawings •. wherein:
`highly desirable to pennithlm to group various, in-
`Fla. I is a functional block diasram of a preferred
`dividual recorclingsto form an!album of his own choos-
`embodiment orthe present!invention;
`ing.
`Fla. 2 isa frontview,inlplan'of,a master tape trans-
`It is therefore a broad object of the present invention 5S pon'cavity rack'employed in the system of FIG. I;
`to provide a system, and' method for distributing
`FIG. 3 is a, top view in plan of a,single. maslertape
`recorded information to consumers wherein the afore-
`transpon assembly,utilized'in the rack of FIG. 2;
`FIOS. 4 and4a'are diasrammatic iIlustnitions,o(the
`mentionedlproblemsare eliminateci.
`cassette changer employed in the system of F10~ I,
`It is another object of the present invention Copra-
`vide a system, and method' whereby a recordin. com- 60 wherein, the modifications of a' commerciaUy available·
`pany can place its product on' the market almost im-
`cassette changer are specifically represented;
`Fla. 5 is.a side view in plan of a cassette vending
`mediately while only ,producing a relatively small
`machine mechanism employed in the prescnt inven-
`number of recording copies.
`It js,another objector the present invention tolpro-
`tion;
`FIGS. 6 'and 7 are top and bottom views respectively
`vide a system and method for distributing commercial 65
`reco,rdinp'to the public which permits the retailer~to
`ofa cassette.torage magazine turret employed in the
`mechanism· of Fla. 5;
`avoid large investments'in record copies.
`
`SUMM ... RY,OFTHE INVENTION
`
`KAS00765
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`4
`3
`of buttol\ll at touch tone device 15 in order to select
`FlCi. 8 is a panial view in perspective or the
`mecltlUlism ofFiCi. 5 wherein the loadin, or cassettes
`which master tape. or ponion thereof. he wishes to
`havc rcproduced on a blank cassette locatcd at the
`into'"dl~~!icator is diagranimaticaJly Illustrated;
`vcndingmar.hine.
`.
`.
`a runctional block diagram illustrating
`\". ".,' -'t and multiplexing of signals between the 5
`Each of the master tapes may comprise one album,of
`master tape station and the vending machines 'in, the
`recordechelections. each 'master tape running continu-
`ously to permit multiple access to every album from
`system ofFiCi. 1;
`FlO. 10 is a logic diagram iIIustratini functional
`any of vending machines 10. Tone signals. recorded
`operation at each vendinl machine in the· system of
`after each sclectlon in cvery album, signal vcndinl
`FlO~ 1;
`10 machines waiting: to receive
`that album 10 that
`flO. 1-1 ,\s'a functional blockdlagram'ilIustrat1ilg the
`reproduction may commence between selections
`rather than in. the middle of a selection. Some of the
`operationorconirol,~irctlitsilocated at the master tape
`mastet tapes, ,rather than have complete albums
`centerofthesystemof,FlO.l;
`FIG. 12 \s a functional block diagram of an a1terna- J5 recorded thereon,store only one sclection;,this:permits
`tive ,approach to signal transmission between the
`.a custom,r at a vending machine to sclea that sonl"in
`mas1eitape center and the various vendinl machines;
`addition to othersinauJarly recorded selections, to
`and ' c ompo s e lUI albumofhis'(avorite selections.
`flO. 13 is a functional 'block diagram illustrating a
`The.fi~ished!product cassette:ejected from the vend.
`secondaltemalive approach to signal transmission 20 ing,machine'may be'of,any'formatlncluding'two chan-
`between the master tape· center and the various vend-
`nel stereo quarter track format, or four channel
`ing machines.
`quadraphonic ·four track in.line format, depending
`upon the ,program format on the master tapes. The
`DESCRlmON OF THE'PREFERRED
`electronics and heads for both syiteml are preferably
`EMBODIMENTS
`25 four. channels so that either format·may'be employed.in
`ReferringspecificaUy to FIG. 1 oCthe accomplUlying
`the loading of the desired master tape. In a two chan-
`drawlngsithere.is.ilIustrated a system comprising amul-
`nel, quaner track format the two stereo channels· are ,
`tiplicity ohending machines 10( 1). 10(2), .... 100n).
`duplicated. simultlUlcously at the vending ma.chine ror
`all serviced by a,common master tape system 1'1 and a
`both, directions ofplaybacic. This cuts the dupllcating ,
`common computer system 12. Signal·transmission IUId 30 time in'half, thereby allowing a 30 minute cassette to!be
`sWhchingbetween the vending machines 10 IUId the
`duplicatedi(all four tracks •. twoin each direction):in the
`computer and master. tape: systems ~is· efl'ectedby unit
`same time that a IS minute cassette would normaUy
`ll,which in .the, preferred' embodiment represents lUI
`require. Importantly, dupUcating can be effected even
`Americaa Telephone" Telegraph speciaJwide blUld
`though two tracks are runnmgbackw8rda without ad-
`XY picture :phone switching exchange, such as is 35 versely efl'ectina the quality of ,playback. In
`the
`presentiyerriployed in the Pittsburgh. PennsylvlUlia
`preferred, embodiment of the Invendon the standard
`area for picture phone transmission. Thepicture;phone
`C-30 (35 minute) cassette is vended'at vending
`tranlmlsSionisystem ,responds to dialed instructions en-
`machines 10 .. ln the four-channel quadraphonic rormat.
`tered at1eachvending'machine·to connect that vending 40 playing time or the finished tape is half that or the
`machine ·lOla selected master tape sOlthat the contents
`finished quarter ,tereo·tape becausc·all rour tracks are
`of the lattercan1be transmitted to the vending machine.
`played:back at the same time ,in ,the' quadraphonic fo~~,
`Appropriate interface circuits 14(a), U(.b). 14(c). .
`mat.!For such,. system.it II preferable,that the standard -
`.J4(N). are employedito,render the system compatible
`C~O cassette (70 minutes) be employed. Cleafly, any
`with' the signal requirements ror the picture phone 45 length casseneor other tape cartridge may beuiilized;
`'Rererring now to FIGS. 2·and·3 of the accompanying
`system.
`Each vending machine 10 Includes a lOucMone dlal-
`drawinp, the master:tape syatem Includeia·plurallty or
`ing device 15 from which standard te1ephone.dIalUnes
`Rat rectangular muter tape tranlport uailll 21 which
`are adapted to 'be stacked In a tape transport cavity
`extend'to the central picture phone ot!lce uchange 13.
`In addition· a picture phone 'trunkUne extends from SO rack 20 •. By way·ofexampleonly.,raCt20 II Ulustrated
`each vending machine 10 to the central oMce
`as'being capableofreceivinS'thirty trimsport units 21,
`each ·at a ,respective shell 22. however. It is 10 be un-
`achange.lJ.
`The master tape system Includes a plurality of
`dentoocl that lUIy number, of tnnsport , 1Ift11ll 21,may be
`'
`.
`stackedlin aslngle cavity rack 20.
`endleu tapes, each associated with a respecdve
`playback head. as described below. Each playback 55 Muter tape traniport unit 21'lncludesa section of
`head commllftlc:ates with the central olllee exchange
`endless tape 2l stoled' In a bin 24 havinl lUI egreu
`13 by means of an appropriate picture phone trunk : line
`opening 25 and an Inpea opcning26 between which a
`seCtion of tape 2J eltteD. exteriorly of bin 24. A
`and'uinterface ~lrcuit'l4. ThecomiMneuystem com-
`master tape transport paill Utendlnl between egress
`munlcates with central omce eltchanp 13 via a pluraU.
`ty of dial lines, ·one dial 'line for each ,master lIIpe In 60 opening 25 IUIdlngrea opcning26ilncludea .the follow-
`ing elements: It. suide channel 27 dd1nedbetweena
`master tape system 1.1.
`portion ,of the waD ofibln 24ud,the'uterior wall of
`The standard telephone dla1 Ilnu control.the special
`U'IUIIpOn lIftit 21 •• series of tapeguida 28; a fotir
`wide1band X:V plcture\~hone switching cin:ullllat cen·
`channel.playback head 29; and piach roUer 30. PInch
`traI oMceexchange ll"thereby,crou-connectlng any
`incoming wide band picture phone trunk line to any 65 roller 30 is urged Intodrivlnl poIitionby sprlnl32,at.
`outloingwide'band picture phonetrunlc line. In broad
`tachedto pinch roOer pivot arm 31. The four output
`tetm .. a consumer pushes preestablished combinations
`channels from playback .. head 29 are electrically con-
`
`KAS 00766
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`Page 00011
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`3,118,906
`
`6
`5
`greater than the size'of a tape cassette to be employed
`nected to respective contact pins 33 extending out-
`with the vendingmaehine;of the present invention. Ex·
`wardly from the rear edge of the transport unit11.
`The rear edge of traIISport unit 11 includes a
`tending upwardly from each rectangular 10
`:
`casseue storage magazi.e 6l arransed •
`recessed ponion which extends ,,,the point .p' which
`master tape 13,passes pinch roller 30. This permits the 5 stack of tape cassettes. The bottom cassette in each
`mister tape·tobe enpsed between the pinch roller JO
`stack is supported on the upper surfacelof turret frame
`.53 and slides alons'tJtat surface as turret member 50
`and ,a capstan 34 when the master tape transport ,unit
`21 is slid into rack 10;in one of shelves 11. Capstan 34.
`rotates. For this purpose, tJte spacing. between turret
`. member SO and turret frame 53 is less than the
`as viewed in FIG. 1. extends along the entire venical
`lensth of raeic 10 so' as to engase each of the. master 10 thickness, of a cassette. A sinsle rectangular hole 62,
`also slishtly larger than the size of a casselle, is pro-
`tapes installed in the rack. A capstan ,drive motor 36
`provides'continuous rotary drive Cor capstan 34. A'cap-
`vlded in turret frame 53 as best illustrated in FIG. 7.
`stan shield 35 surrounds a ponion of the capstan When turret member 50· is rotated 10 that a stack of
`peripberyand preventsmastertapelJ from wrappins 15 casettes, overlies. hole 62 in turretJrame 53, the ,lower,
`most cassette in ,the.stacJc ,is ,free to fall,throushithetur.
`around the .capstan or pinch. roller 30. A connector
`strip 37 extends venJcally alonS the rear interior wall of
`ret frame. l:.oeated immediately below:rectansular hole
`raek,10 and includes a series of Cour female connectors
`61'isitheduplicator 'mechanism 49,which is arranged to
`each adapted to receive a set of four contact· pins 33
`receive cassettes Crom'the turret member.
`from a respective master tape transport unit 11 20' A turret timing solenoid '55 is disposed. beneath tur·
`'ret Crame 53 and. includes an' armature in the form of
`mounted in the rack. The output signals from each
`master tape transport unit are amplified and. mul-
`turret alignment rod 56. Alignment,rod 56 extends,up.
`tiplelled in the:manner described hereinbelow.
`wardlythroush turret frame 53 and turret member 50
`Each of the remote vending machines,includes a cas-
`through a pair of aligned holes 60, 61. In this manner
`sette chanser 40 of the same general type as Norelco 25 rod 56 prevents relative rotation between the turret
`Model No. 2S02 . . However. the Norelco cassette
`member and the turret frame. When solenoid 55. is
`cbange is modified as illustrated iii FIGS. 4 and 4d for
`energized rod 56 is uially retracted a distance sum·
`purposes of its utilization in the present invention.
`tient to clear turret member 50 and thereby permit
`Specifically the changes to the cassette changer are:as
`rotation of turret member 50'relative to frame 53. A
`follows: ( I') the plaYback,headiis.removed and replaced JO nange 51 is'secured to rod!56at a loeationlbelow frame·
`by a four channel cassette duplicator head 41; (2) a
`53 and acts to compress a sprinS.S7 against the main
`second motor M2 is provided'along with existing motor
`frame;of solenoid'5S, Retraction!of· rod. 56 upon, ener-
`,.n; (3) the drive 'belt 43 connected to the cassette
`gization orthe solenoid ,is accomplished against.lhe bias
`duplicator'nywheel 44 is moved from motor M 1 tOltJte
`ofsprinS'57 which continually urges.thuod upwardly.
`newly added motor M1; (4) a pause solenoid 45' ,is]5 When nanse:51,is,retracted with rod 56 it actuates a
`microswitch 59 to supply energization current·to motor
`added; (5) the eject button is removed; and (6) the
`eject relay, formerly actuated by the eject button. is M3. In addition nange51 is arranged to actuate a
`driven by logic circuitry illustrated iil,detail in, FIG. 10.
`motor lever 64 when solenoid 55 is energized. the lever
`Motor 'M1thus ,drives capstan,46 which in tum drives 40 in tum actuating a tension rod· 65 to pull turret motor
`idler 47 to drivethetake,up reel 41 of the,cassette.cur· M3 toward turret 50 against the action, of bias spr.ing
`renlly in the:duplicator, 49: Motor MIls lefuo drive!the
`66. This causes turret drive wheel 51 to peripherallY'"
`chanser mechanisnl8lone in the same manner as in,the
`engage the turret member 50 to effect a rimdrive
`Norelco,eassette changer.
`operation.
`Gperationofthe vendinsmachine is more clearly un· 4S A channel 66 of ·rectangular cross section extends
`derstood with reference to 'FlGS. 5,,6,7 and I. More
`downwardly from .;reclansuJar hole,61'buurret frame
`specifically. thevendins machine Includes a frame hav-
`53 toward ;the cassette duplicator mecbanism 49 and
`inS abase ,plate 54 below wblch is . mounted lubstan-thereby provides • loadlnS SUide channel for the
`duplicator. A cassette;senslns switcb 67 Is arranged in
`tial1y all of the electronic ein:uits required for opera-
`tionlof·the vendlnS machine. A generally circular,turret 50 guide channel 66 to detecubeipreseDce or absence of,a
`frame 53 Is supported above and spaced' ·from. base
`cassette in the· storap mapzine 63, allanedwith
`plate 54. Turret frame 53 bas a plunllty of holes 60
`duplicator 40.
`defined therethroush and form In. a circle about the
`Whenla storage magazine, is aligned over opening 62
`center of theJrame. A Oat circular turret member'50 Is
`and guide channel 66, the lowermost c:asaelle,isin'posl-
`rotatably supported by turret frame 53 for. rota.tion SS tion to be recorded upon whereas the second lower·
`abOUI an:nis eXlendlnsthroush the centers ofboth,tur.. most cassette actuateseasselte sense switch 67. This
`removes a ground'iisnal,from solenoidl55, maintain ins
`ret member 50 and turret·frame53. A plunlity.of indell
`the solenoid deeneraized with turret alisnment rod 56
`holes 61 are defined, tJtroush tumt member 50 and
`engasins·an appropriate one of,indell holes 61 In turret
`form a 'circle of size identical to the circle formed 'by
`suide,boles'6O. The"uide holeslare,equallin number to 60 50. When the duplication of information on the cas-
`sette in'the:dupllcator is completed, a slanal. generated
`the index'holes and in the·eumple illustrated fi~een of
`•
`each set of holes are provided.
`in the manner described hereinbelow in reladonto.
`FIG .. 10, actuates the eject mec:hanismto:cause the full
`A plurality of rectangular holes 52 are defined
`throush turret member 50 andiform a circular path ad-
`cassette to be ejected vi. port 68 ,and; be taken by the
`jacenttJte·periphery of the turret, member. The number 6S consumer. Ejection of the cassette is effected in the
`of rectangular'holes51 is equal to the number,of·indell
`same manner u in .tJte Norelco Model 2502 Cassette
`holes 61. The size of rectangular holes 52 Is slightly
`Changerwhen:the eject'button tJterei" is actuated.
`
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`

`3,718,906
`
`7
`8
`division demodulator 83. The four demodulated audio
`Wben the last casselle of the storage magazine 63 is
`in the duplicator. the CllSette sensing switch 67 is
`signals are then delivered to signal conditioning circuits
`released to provide a ground for turret timing solenoid
`81 wt· ,.
`, ., ofexarnple may be Dolby Model 320
`55. The latter is eneraized thereby, c:ausinS plignment
`sip
`ers. The conditioned sl,.,als are then
`rod 56 to retract and unlock turret 50 relative to frame 5 dellvereCl ..... ecord amplifiers 85 before being applied
`53. In addition nange 58 actuates microswitch 59 and
`to the vending machine duplicator head 41. Amplifiers
`lever 64 to energize motor MJ and bring motor drive
`85 may be Telex Model 1l>A-1 aniplifiers.
`wheel 51 into enpgement with turret so. The turret is
`The demodulated channel Number" lisnaJ. in addi·
`rotated at the rate of approximately one·sixth revolu·
`tion to providing audio information from one of the
`tion per minute. Approximately one half inch before 10 master tape tracks. serves a control function in that it
`the next storale magazine 63 Is aligned with hole 62
`also carriers an 80 Hz tone which is recorded between
`and guide channel 66, the lowermost cassene in that
`selections on the master tape. This Iisnal is employed
`magaziDe drops Into channel 66 to actuate switch 67.
`in FtO. 10, in the manner described below, as a
`This removes the ground slanal from solenoid 55 which 15 start/stop control signal.
`nevertheless is maintained in a condition with rod 56
`Referrins now to FtO. 10 of the accompany ina
`retracted due to the ract that the rod Is not yet aJiJDed
`drawinp there Is Illustrated a logic circuit employed in
`with an index hole 61. nie turret therefore continues to
`each vending machine to control operation in response
`rotate, as driven by motor M3, until index hole 61 is
`to deposit of currency or insertion of a credit card· into
`aligned with rod 56 which thereupon is pushed by 20 the vending machine by a consumer. For purposes of jJ.
`spring 57 through index hole 61 to lock the turret in
`lusuation only, a positive logic convention is employed
`place.
`in FtO. 10 whereby a relativel! positive signal is con·
`Ia the manner described in the preceding para·
`sidered binary 1 and a relative negative signal is con·
`sidered binary O. loitiation of operation at a vending
`graphs, turret member 50 is sequentially stepped one
`magazine position at a time as each storage magazine 25 machine occurs upon deposit of currency in a currency
`63 is emptied.
`receiver 91 or insertion of a credit card in credit card
`Audio signal transmission between a master tape
`terminal 92. Currency receiver 91 is a conventional
`playback head and a vending machine is illustrated
`currency receiver or the type which gives a positive
`functionally in FlO. 9. The four audio output signals
`voltage signal upon receipt of a preestablished amount
`from a typical' playback head 29 at the master tape 30 of currency. Credit card terminal 92 is also conven·
`center are applied to respective playback amplifiers 71.
`tional and may for example be the type manuractured
`Each or amplifiers 71 may comprise a Telex Model
`by IBM as Model 2730-1. Assuming first the receipt of
`TDA-l, and is preferably mounted integrally with the
`the proper amount of currency at receiver 91. a binary
`1 signal is applied to the preset terminal of flip.flop 93
`master tape transport cavity rack 20 of FlO. 2. One set
`of amplifiers 71 is provided. ror each master tape. 35 to force a binary 1 sianal at the 0 output terminal or
`Transmission from the master tape center is assumed to
`that nip-flop. Flip-flop 93, as well as all of the flip-flops
`be accomplished by means of American Telephone and
`described herein, may be of the type manufactured by
`Texas Instruments'Model SN7476. The binary I 0
`Telegraph picture phone trunks. To save the number of
`Iinel which must be switched, the four amplified 40 signal from nip. flop 93 actuates relay driver 94, which
`playback signals are multiplexed into a single line for
`is simply a binary inverter, to energize the power relay
`each master tape. Audio playback channel Number 1 is
`95. Energization of power relay 95 closel the normally
`FM·moduJated on a 276 KHz carrier at modulator 72.
`open contacts of that relay to apply power to the elec·-
`Channels Number 2 and Number 3 are time division
`tronies and control circuits or the vendin. machine.
`modulated with a 76 KHz clock at modulator 73. Chan· 45 Application or power to the vending machine circuits
`nel Number 41s fM·modulated on a 368 KHz carrier at
`ener&izes line relay 96 through a path provided by the
`normally closed contacts or line interrupt relay 97.
`modulator 74. The three output sigaals from modula.
`Energization of line switch relay 96 COMects the
`tors 72, 73 and 74 are resildvely mixed at mixer 75 and
`telephone dial lines for the vendln, machlDe to a con.
`terminated at zero db level at American Telephone and
`Telepapb picture phone PBF interface unit 76. The 50 ventional touch tone dlalilll device 15. In addition the
`composite ABllai Is tranlmitted through an American
`dial tone from the telephone dial lines is connected
`Telephone Ii; Telelflllb picture phone wide band
`through contacts of relay 96 to a pair of dial tone band
`trunk. as described In relation to FlO. 1. to the picture
`pass tilters 101 and 102, which OIlers include' detection
`circuits whicfl provide blnuy I output sigrial. wheD.
`phone wide band switchln, central office exchanae 13.
`The composite sipal Is then switched to the ap- .55 ever a liJDaI at the standard dial tone frequency Ia
`propriate calJina picture phone trtInks and transmitted
`received. The oUlJ'ut signall from ralters 101 and 102
`to the vending machine ItatiON. Each ltation ter·
`actuate AND pte 103 which in tum actuates relay
`minates the received lignalln American Telephone and
`driver 104 to eneraize dial tone relay lOS. When relay
`lOS Is eneraiz,ed its normally open contacts close to
`Telegrapb picture phone PBF interface unit 77 which
`in tum delivers the siPal to a decoder unit 78 which 60 light the "dial for selection'"lamp 106 on the front
`separates the 276 KHz carrier, the 368 KHz carrier and
`panel of the vendin. machine. The CUIlOmer is now
`the 76 KHz time divided sign .... The 276 KHz sJJDalls
`able to push an appropriate combination of push but.
`demodulated by FM-demodulator 82 to restore the
`tON at touch tone device 15 to Mloct whlcbever muter
`channel Number 1 audio lilllal. Likewise the 368 KHz
`tape he wilhes duplicated at the vendirig machine. A
`signal Is demodulated by FM-demodulator 84 to 65 number code for each master tape wiD normally be pro-
`v1ded at each vending macbJfte to facilitate selection by
`restore the channel Number 4 slpal. The channels
`Number 2 and Number 3 lianals are restored by time
`the customer.
`
`KAS 00768
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`3,718,906
`
`10
`9
`and thereby stop the tape before reproduction can
`In additlon to turning on,thelpower and actuating the
`begin. Once the clear leader portion of tape 120 is
`touch tone device 15 insertlon,or,the'proper amount of
`transported past photo cell" 121 the end of tape signal is
`currency in currency receiYt!· 91 "~,,erates an enable
`maintained binary o and AND 118,is inhibited.
`signal which is applied to
`, band pass filter
`~1 U. The ,enable signal eu ..... :