Exhibit 1313
`
`United States Patent
`
`[191
`
`[11]
`
`3,718,906
`
`Lightner
`1451 Feb. 27, 1973
`
`[54] VENDING SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY
`ACCESSIBLE STORED INFORMATION
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor: Robert W. Lightner, 85 N. Atlantic
`Avenue, Cocoa Beach, Fla. 32931
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Junel,l971
`
`[21] Appi.No.: 148,714
`
`[51]
`[58]
`
`[52] U.S. Cl. ....... 340/147 R, 179/2 TV, 179/6.3 CC,
`179/6.3 MA, 179/1002 E, 194/15
`Int. Cl.....Gllb 15/02, H04m 17/02, H04q 9/00
`Field of Search ..340/147 R, 147 A, 149 A, 162,
`340/174.1 R, 174.1 CC, 147; 178/6.6 A;
`179/1002 E, 2 R, 2 A, 6.3 MA, 6.3 CC;
`346/33 M;194/2,10,15
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`
`3,609,227
`3,444,334
`3,169,624
`
`9/1971
`5/1969
`2/1965
`
`Kuljian ................
`[78/66 A
`
`....194/15
`Clark........
`
`Baker et a1. ............................ 194/15
`
`Primary ExaminereDonald J. Yusko
`Attorney—Rose & Edell
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A vending system includes a central station at which
`various information stored on master recordings can
`be selectively accessed by purchasers from any of mul-
`tiple remote vending machines, the accessed informa-
`tion being reproduced on cartridge-type storage media
`at that vending machine. The cartridge, upon receiv—
`ing all of the 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-
`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.
`
`23 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures
`
`MASTER TAPE
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`Page 00001
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`Page 00001
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`

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`PATENTEDFE5271973
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`Page 00009
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`Page 00009
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`

`

`3,718,906
`
`2
`
`1
`VENDING SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY ACCESSIBLE
`STORED INFORMATION
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a method and ap-
`paratus employing a vending machine concept to per-
`mit large scale rapid dissemination of centrally stored
`information. More particularly, the present invention
`relates to a system wherein purchasers at various vend-
`ing machine locations can obtain recordings of selected
`information stored at a central station. The preferred
`embodiment of the present
`invention is described
`herein as utilized for the sale of commercial audio
`recordings; it is to be understood however that the
`present system is applicable to the distribution and sale
`of virtually any stored information, be it audio, video,
`etc.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`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-
`ways obtain a copy of a currently popular recording.
`It is still another object of the present invention to
`provide
`a
`system and method for distributing
`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
`disseminating advertising messages.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In accordance with the present invention, a central
`computer master tape center is installed in each major
`market area and services a multiplicity of remote vend—
`ing machines distributed throughout that area. The
`master tape center includes storage media, such as
`endless tapes, on which a large selection of recordings
`can be easily and rapidly stored and changed. The
`master tape center communicates with the various
`vending machines by means of any suitable transmis—
`sion media. Each vending machine offers to the con-
`sumer a selection of anything stored in the master tape
`center. The vending machine includes a high speed
`duplicator and a quantity of recordable media, such as
`blank tape cassettes. The data selected by the con-
`sumer is transmitted from the master tape center to the
`vending machine where it is copied by the duplicator
`onto the cassette which is then ejected from the
`machine. Payment by the consumer may be in the form
`of currency, tokens, or credit cards which permit the
`consumer to maintain an account that is maintained
`current by a computer at the master tape center.
`the
`In a preferred embodiment of the invention,
`master tape center includes multiple endless tapes
`which are arranged to be continuously driven by a com—
`mon capstan. Each tape is individually accessible from
`any vending machine serviced by the master tape
`center.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The above and still further objects, features and ad-
`vantages of the present invention will become apparent
`upon consideration of the following detailed descrip-
`tion of one specific embodiment thereof, especially
`when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
`drawings, wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a preferred
`embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a front view in plan of a master tape trans—
`port cavity rack employed in the system of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a top view in plan of a single master tape
`transport assembly utilized in the rack of FIG. 2;
`FIGS. 4 and 4a are diagrammatic illustrations of the
`cassette changer employed in the system of FIG. 1,
`wherein the modifications of a commercially available
`cassette changer are specifically represented;
`FIG. 5 is a side view in plan of a cassette vending
`machine mechanism employed in the present inven-
`tion;
`
`FIGS. 6 and 7 are top and bottom views respectively
`of a cassette storage magazine turret employed in the
`mechanism of FIG. 5;
`
`Page 00010
`
`20
`
`The commercial recording industry, while immense-
`ly profitable, has a number of logistics problems. For
`example,
`the
`recording companies often cannot
`produce and distribute sufficient copies of extremely
`popular recording within a period of time that is fast
`enough to take advantage of the popularity peak for the
`recording. Invariably there are lost sales by virtue of 25
`the fact that some consumers cannot obtain copies of a
`recording until after the popularity of that recording
`has ebbed. Another problem for the recording compa-
`nies is the large investment required in materials, labor
`and equipment for reproducing thousands and some-
`times millions of copies of a recording.
`On another
`scale,
`the retailer of commercial
`recordings, in order to provide his customers with a
`large selection, must have a considerable inventory in-
`vestment. Quite often, because of changes in the popu-
`larity of various types of music, the retailer is left with
`stock that can only be sold below the retailer’s cost.
`Another phase ofthe problem in the recording indus-
`try may be viewed from the point of view of the con-
`sumer. Often, in the case of very popular recordings,
`the consumer must wait to obtain his copy because the
`retailer is temporarily sold out. Another problem faced
`by the consumer is his lack of choice in selecting the
`recordings he wishes to purchase. Specifically, the vast
`majority of recordings are albums containing a number
`of musical selections. If the consumer wishes to obtain
`copies of only one or two of the selections in an album,
`he is often forced to purchase the entire album because
`the desired selections are not available as single
`records. From the consumer’s point of view it would be
`highly desirable to permit him to group various in-
`dividual recordings to form an album of his own CI‘lOOS-
`ing.
`It is therefore a broad object of the present invention
`to provide a system and method for distributing
`recorded information to consumers wherein the afore-
`mentioned problems are eliminated.
`It is another object of the present invention to pro-
`vide a system and method whereby a recording com-
`pany can place its product on the market almost im~
`mediately while only producing a relatively small
`number of recording copies.
`It is another object of the present invention to pro-
`vide a system and method for distributing commercial
`recordings to the public which permits the retailer'to
`avoid large investments in record copies.
`
`30
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`40
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`Page 00010
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`

`3
`
`3,718,906
`
`4
`
`FIG. 8 is a partial view in perspective of the
`mechanism of FIG. 5 wherein the loading of cassettes
`into a duplicator is diagrammatically illustrated;
`FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram illustrating
`transmission and multiplexing of signals between the
`master tape station and the vending machines'in the
`system of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 10 is a logic diagram illustrating functional
`operation at each vending machine in the system of
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram illustrating the
`operation of control circuits located at the master tape
`center of the system of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of an alterna-
`tive p approach to signal
`transmission between the
`master tape center and the various vending machines;
`and
`
`FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram illustrating a
`. second alternative approach to signal
`transmission
`between the master tape center and the various vend-
`ing machines.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS '
`
`5
`
`IO
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`Referring specifically to FIG. 1 of the accompanying
`drawings there is illustrated a system comprising a mul-
`tiplicity of vending machines 10(1), 10(2), .
`.
`. 10(n),
`all serviced by a common master tape system 11 and a
`common computer system 12. Signal transmission and
`switching between the vending machines 10 and the
`computer and master tape systems is effected by unit
`13, which in the preferred embodiment represents an
`American Telephone .& Telegraph special wide band
`XY picture phone switching exchange, such as is
`presently employed in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
`area for picture phone transmission. The picture phone
`transmission system responds to dialed instructions en-
`tered at each vending machine to connect that vending
`machine to a selected master tape so that the contents
`of the latter can be transmitted to the vending machine.
`Appropriate interface circuits 14(a), 14(b), 14(c) .
`.
`.14(N), are employed to render the system compatible
`with the signal requirements for the picture phone
`system.
`Each vendingmachine 10 includes a touch tone dial-
`ing device 15 from which standard telephone dial lines
`extend to the central picture phone office exchange 13.
`In addition‘a picture phone trunk line extends from
`each vending machine
`10 to the central office
`exchange 13.
`tape system includes a plurality of
`The master
`endless
`tapes, each associated with a respective
`playback head, as described below. Each playback
`head communicates with the central office exchange
`13 by means of an appropriate picture phone trunk line
`and an interface circuit 14. The computer system com-
`municates with central office exchange 13 via a plurali—
`ty of ‘dial lines, one dial 'line for each master tape in
`master tape system 1 1.
`.
`The standard telephone dial lines control the special I
`wide‘band XY picture phone switching circuits at cen-
`tral office exchange 13,'thereby cross— connecting any
`incoming wide band picture phone trunk line to any
`outgoing wide band picture phone trunk line. In broad
`terms, a'consumer pushes preestablished combinations
`
`60
`
`65
`
`of buttons at touch tone device 15 in order to select
`which master tape, or portion thereof. he wishes to'
`have reproduced on a blank cassette located at the
`vending machine.
`Each of the master tapes may comprise one album of
`recorded selections, each master tape running continu—
`ously to permit multiple access to every album from
`any of vending machines 10. Tone signals, recorded
`after each selection in every album, signal vending
`machines waiting to receive that album so that
`reproduction may commence between selections
`rather than in the middle of a selection. Some of the
`master
`tapes, rather than have complete albums
`recorded thereon, store only one selection; this permits
`a customer at a vending machine to select that song, in
`addition to other singularly recorded selections,
`to
`compose an album of his favorite selections.
`The finished product cassette ejected from the vend-
`ing machine may be of any format including two chan-
`nel stereo quarter track format, or four channel
`quadraphonic four track in-line format, depending
`upon the program format on the master tapes. The
`electronics and heads for both systems are preferably
`four channels so that either format may be employed in
`the loading of the desired master tape. In a two chan-
`nel, quarter track format the two stereo channels are _
`duplicated simultaneously at the vending machine for
`both directions of playback. This cuts the duplicating .
`time in half, thereby allowing a 30 minute cassette to be
`duplicated (all four tracks, two in each direction) in the
`same time that a 15 minute cassette would normally
`require. Importantly, duplicating can be effected even
`though two tracks are running backwards without ad-
`versely effecting the quality of playback. _ In the
`preferred. embodiment of the invention the standard
`C—30 (35 minute) cassette is vended at vending
`machines 10. In the four-channel quadraphonic format,
`playing time of the finished tape is half that of the
`finished quarter stereo tape because all four tracks are
`played back at the same time in the quadraphonic for--
`mat. For such a system it is preferable that the standard
`C—GO cassette (70 minutes) be employed. Clearly, any
`length cassette or other tape cartridge may be utilized.
`Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the accompanying
`drawings. the master tape system includes a plurality of
`flat rectangular master tape transport units 21 which
`are adapted to be stacked in a tape transport cavity
`rack 20. By way of example only, rack 20 is illustrated
`as being capable of receiving thirty transport units 21,
`each at a respective shelf 22; however, it is to be un-
`derstood that any number of transport units 21 may be
`stacked in a single cavity rack 20.
`Master tape transport unit 21 includes a section of
`endless tape 23 stored in a bin 24 having an egress
`opening 25 and an ingress opening 26 between which a
`section of tape 23 extends exteriorly of bin 24. A
`master tape transport path extending between egress
`opening 25 and ingress opening 26 includes the follow-
`ing elements: A guide channel 27 defined between a
`portion of the wall of bin 24 and the exterior wall of
`transport unit 21; a series of tape guides 28; a four
`channel playback head 29; and pinch roller 30. Pinch
`roller 30 is urged into driving position by spring 32 at-
`tached to pinch roller pivot arm 31. The four output
`channels from playback head 29 are electrically con-
`
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`5
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`3,718,906
`
`6
`
`nected to respective contact pins 33 extending out-
`wardly from the rear edge of the transport unit 21.
`The rear edge of transport unit 21 includes a
`recessed portion which extends to the point at which
`master tape 23 passes pinch roller 30. This permits the
`master tape to be engaged between the pinch roller 30
`and a capstan 34 when the master tape transport unit
`21 is slid into rack 20 in one of shelves 22. Capstan 34,
`as viewed in FIG. 2, extends along the entire vertical
`length of rack 20 so as to engage each of the master
`tapes installed in the rack. A capstan drive motor 36
`provides continuous rotary drive for capstan 34. A cap-
`stan shield 35 surrounds a portion of the capstan
`periphery and prevents master tape 23 from wrapping
`around the capstan or pinch roller 30. A connector
`strip 37 extends vertically along the rear interior wall of
`rack 20 and includes a series of four female connectors
`each adapted to receive a set of four contact pins 33
`from a respective master
`tape transport unit 21
`mounted in the rack. The output signals from each
`master tape transport unit are amplified and mul-
`tiplexed in the manner described hereinbelow.
`Each of the remote vending machines includes 2 cas-
`sette changer 40 of the same general type as Norelco
`Model No. 2502. However,
`the Norelco cassette
`change is modified as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 4a for
`purposes of its utilization in the present invention.
`Specifically the changes to the cassette changer are as
`follows: ( 1 ) the playback head is removed and replaced
`by a four channel cassette duplicator head 41; (2) a
`second motor M2 is provided along with existing motor
`M1; (3) the drive belt 43 connected to the cassette
`duplicator fly wheel 44 is moved from motor M1 to the
`newly added motor M2; (4) a pause solenoid 45 is
`added; (5) the eject button is removed; and (6) the
`eject relay, formerly actuated by the eject button, is
`driven by logic circuitry illustrated in detail in FIG. 10.
`Motor M2 thus drives capstan 46 which in turn drives
`idler 47 to drive the take up reel 48 of the cassette cur-
`rently in the duplicator 49. Motor M1 is left to drive the
`changer mechanism alone in the same manner as in the
`N orelco cassette changer.
`Operation of the vending machine is more clearly un-
`derstood with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8. More
`specifically, the vending machine includes a frame hav-
`ing a base plate 54 below which is mounted substan-
`tially all of the electronic circuits required for opera—
`tion of the vending machine. A generally circular turret
`frame 53 is supported above and spaced from base
`plate 54. Turret frame 53 has a plurality of holes 60
`defined therethrough and forming a circle about the
`center of the frame. A flat circular turret member 50 is
`rotatably supported by turret frame 53 for rotation
`about an axis extending through the centers of both tur~
`ret member 50 and turret frame 53. A plurality of index
`holes 61 are defined through turret member 50 and
`form a circle of size identical to the circle formed by
`guide holes 60. The guide holes are equal in number to
`the index holes and in the example illustrated fifteen of
`each set of holes are provided.
`A plurality of rectangular holes 52 are defined
`through turret member 50 and form a circular path ad-
`jacent the periphery of the turret member. The number
`of rectangular holes 52 is equal to the number of index
`holes 61. The size of rectangular holes 52 is slightly
`
`5
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
`
`40
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`45
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`50
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`
`greater than the size of a tape cassette to be employed
`with the vending machine of the present invention. Ex—
`tending upwardly from each rectangular hole 52 is a
`cassette storage magazine 63 arranged to support a
`stack of tape cassettes. The bottom cassette in each
`stack is supported on the upper surface of turret frame
`53 and slides along that surface as turret member 50
`rotates. For this purpose, the spacing between turret
`member 50 and turret frame 53 is
`less than the
`thickness of a cassette. A single rectangular hole 62,
`also slightly larger than the size of a cassette, is pro-
`vided in turret frame 53 as best illustrated in FIG. 7.
`When turret member 50 is rotated so that a stack of
`casettes overlies hole 62 in turret frame 53, the lower—
`most cassette in the stack is free to fall through the tur-
`ret frame. Located immediately below rectangular hole
`62 is the duplicator mechanism 49 which is arranged to
`receive cassettes from the turret member.
`A turret timing solenoid 55 is disposed beneath tur-
`ret frame 53 and includes an armature in the form of
`turret alignment rod 56. Alignment rod 56 extends up-
`wardly through turret frame 53 and turret member 50
`through a pair of aligned holes 60, 61. In this manner
`rod 56 prevents relative rotation between the turret
`member and the turret frame. When solenoid 55 is
`energized rod 56 is axially retracted a distance suffi-
`cient to clear turret member 50 and thereby permit
`rotation of turret member 50 relative to frame 53. A
`flange 58 is secured to rod 56 at a location below frame
`53 and acts to compress a spring 57 against the main
`frame of solenoid 55. Retraction of rod 56 upon ener-
`gization of the solenoid is accomplished against the bias
`of spring 57 which continually urges the rod upwardly.
`When flange 58 is retracted with rod 56 it actuates a
`microswitch 59 to supply energization current to motor
`M3.
`In addition flange 58 is arranged to actuate a
`motor lever 64 when solenoid 55 is energized, the lever
`in turn actuating a tension rod 65 to pull turret motor
`M3 toward turret 50 against the action of bias spring
`66. This causes turret drive wheel 51 to peripherally
`engage the turret member 50 to effect a rimdrive
`operation.
`A channel 66 of rectangular cross section extends
`downwardly from a rectangular hole 62 in turret frame
`53 toward the cassette duplicator mechanism 49 and
`thereby provides a loading guide channel
`for
`the
`duplicator. A cassette sensing switch 67 is arranged in
`guide channel 66 to detect the presence or absence of a
`cassette in the storage magazine 63 aligned with
`duplicator 40.
`When a storage magazine is aligned over opening 62
`and guide channel 66, the lowermost cassette is in posi—
`tion to be recorded upon whereas the second lower-
`most cassette actuates cassette sense switch 67. This
`
`removes a ground signal from solenoid 55, maintaining
`the solenoid deenergized with turret alignment rod 56
`engaging an appropriate one of index holes 61 in turret
`50. When the duplication of information on the cas-
`sette in the duplicator is completed, a signal, generated
`in the manner described hereinbelow in relation to
`FIG. 10, actuates the eject mechanism to cause the full
`cassette to be ejected via port 68 and be taken by the
`consumer. Ejection of the cassette is effected in the
`same manner as in the Norelco Model 2502 Cassette
`Changer when the eject button therein is actuated.
`
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`When the last cassette of the storage magazine 63 is
`in the duplicator,
`the cassette sensing switch 67 is
`released to provide a ground for turret timing solenoid
`55. The latter is energized thereby, causing alignment
`rod 56 to retract and unlock turret 50 relative to frame
`53. In addition flange 58 actuates microswitch 59 and
`lever 64 to energize motor M3 and bring motor drive
`wheel 51 into engagement with turret 50. The turret is
`rotated at the rate of approximately one-sixth revolu»
`tion per minute. Approximately one half inch before
`the next storage magazine 63 is aligned with hole 62
`and guide channel 66, the lowermost cassette in that
`magazine drops into channel 66 to actuate switch 67.
`This removes the ground signal from solenoid 55 which
`nevertheless is maintained in a condition with rod 56
`retracted due to the fact that the rod is not yet aligned
`with an index hole 61. The turret therefore continues to
`rotate, as driven by motor M3, until index hole 61 is
`aligned with rod 56 which thereupon is pushed by
`spring 57 through index hole 61 to lock the turret in
`place.
`In the manner described in the preceding para-
`graphs, turret member 50 is sequentially stepped one
`magazine position at a time as each storage magazine
`63 is emptied.
`transmission between a master tape
`Audio signal
`playback head and a vending machine is illustrated
`functionally in FIG. 9. The four audio output signals
`from a typical playback head 29 at the master tape
`center are applied to respective playback amplifiers 71.
`Each of amplifiers 71 may comprise a Telex Model
`TDA—I , and is preferably mounted integrally with the
`master tape transport cavity rack 20 of FIG. 2. One set
`of amplifiers 71 is provided for each master tape.
`Transmission from the master tape center is assumed to
`be accomplished by means of American Telephone and
`Telegraph picture phone trunks. To save the number of
`lines which must be switched,
`the four amplified
`playback signals are multiplexed into a single line' for
`each master tape. Audio playback channel Number 1 is
`FM-modulated on a 276 KHz carrier at modulator 72.
`Channels Number 2 and Number 3 are time division
`modulated with a 76 KHz clock at modulator 73. Chan-
`nel Number 4 is FM-modulated on a 368 KHz carrier at
`modulator 74. The three output signals from modula-
`tors 72, 73 and 74 are resistively mixed at mixer 75 and
`terminated at zero db level at American Telephone and
`Telegraph picture phone PBF interface unit 76. The
`composite signal is transmitted through an American
`Telephone & Telegraph picture phone wide band
`trunk, as described in relation to FIG. 1, to the picture
`phone wide band switching central office exchange 13.
`The composite signal
`is then switched to the ap-
`propriate calling picture phone trunks and transmitted
`to the vending machine stations. Each station ter~
`minates the received signal in American Telephone and
`Telegraph picture phone PBF interface unit 77 which
`in turn delivers the signal to a decoder unit 78 which
`separates the 276 KHz carrier, the 368 KHz carrier and
`the 76 KHz time divided signals. The 276 KHz signal is
`demodulated by FM-demodulator 82 to restore the
`channel Number 1 audio signal. Likewise the 368 KHz
`signal
`is demodulated by FM-demodulator 84 to
`restore the channel Number 4 signal. The channels
`Number 2 and Number 3 signals are restored by time
`
`l0
`
`IS
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`4O
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`8
`division demodulator 83. The four demodulated audio
`signals are then delivered to signal conditioning circuits
`81 which by way of example may be Dolby Model 320
`signal conditioners. The conditioned signals are then
`delivered to record amplifiers 85 before being applied
`to the vending machine duplicator head 41. Amplifiers
`85 may be Telex Model TDA—l amplifiers.
`The demodulated channel Number 4 signal, in addi-
`tion to providing audio information from one of the
`master tape tracks, serves a control function in that it
`also carriers an 80 Hz tone which is recorded between
`selections on the master tape. This signal is employed
`in FIG. 10,
`in the manner described below, as a
`start/stop control signal.
`Referring now to FIG. 10 of the accompanying
`drawings there is illustrated a logic circuit employed in
`each vending machine to control operation in response
`to deposit of currency or insertion of a credit card'into
`the vending machine by a consumer. For purposes of i1-
`lustration only, a positive logic convention is employed
`in FIG. 10 whereby a relatively positive signal is con-
`sidered binary 1 and a relative negative signal is con-
`sidered binary 0. Initiation of operation at a vending
`machine occurs upon deposit of currency in a currency
`receiver 91 or insertion of a credit card in credit card
`terminal 92. Currency receiver 91 is a conventional
`currency receiver of the type which gives a positive
`voltage signal upon receipt of a preestablished amount
`of currency. Credit card terminal 92 is also conven—
`tional and may for example be the type manufactured
`by IBM as Model 2730—1. Assuming first the receipt of
`the proper amount of currency at receiver 91, a binary
`1 signal is applied to the preset terminal of flip-flop 93
`to force a binary 1 signal at the Q output terminal of
`that flip-flop. Flip-flop 93, as well as all of the flip-flops
`described herein, may be of the type manufactured by
`Texas Instruments Model SN7476. The binary 1 Q
`signal from flip-flop 93 actuates relay driver 94, which
`is simply a binary inverter, to energize the power relay
`9S. Energization of power relay 95 closes the normally
`open contacts of that relay to apply p0wer to the elec-
`tronics and control circuits of the vending machine.
`Application of power to the vending machine circuits
`energizes line relay 96 through a path provided by the
`normally closed contacts of line interrupt relay 97.
`Energization of line switch relay 96 connects the
`telephone dial lines for the vending machine to a con-
`ventional touch tone dialing device 15. In addition the
`dial tone from the telephone dial lines is connected
`through contacts of relay 96 to a pair of dial tone band
`pass filters 101 and 102, which filters include detection
`circuits which provide binary 1 output signals when-
`ever a signal at the standard dial tone frequency is
`received. The output signals from filters 101 and 102
`actuate AND gate 103 which in turn actuates relay
`driver 104 to energize dial tone relay 105. When relay
`105 is energized its normally open contacts close to
`light the “dial for selection" lamp 106 on the front
`panel of the vending machine. The customer is now
`able to push an appropriate combination of push but-
`tons at touch tone device 15 to select whichever master
`tape he wishes duplicated at the vending machine. A
`number code for each master tape will normally be pro-
`vided at each vending machine to facilitate selection by
`the customer.
`
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`3 ,718,906
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`10
`
`In addition to turning on the power and actuating the
`touch tone device 15 insertion of the proper amount of
`currency in currency receiver 91 generates an enable
`signal which is applied to an 80 Hertz band pass filter
`111. The enable signal effectively provides power to
`the band pass filter rendering it responsive to pass
`signals within a band centered about 80 Hertz. The
`input signal to the 80 Hertz filter is the start/stop con-
`trol signal derived from input channel Number 4 in
`FIG. 9. There is an 80 Hertz control tone recorded
`between selections on each master tape. In order to
`prevent initiation of master tape duplication in the mid-
`dle of a selection, the 80 Hertz tone, in the manner to
`be described below, permits access to the master tape
`by the vending machine. Thus the currency receiver
`91, by virtue of its generation of the enable signal, puts
`the vending machine in a mode whereby it is awaiting
`access to the master tape selected at touch tone device
`15.
`
`Operation of the vending machine by credit card is
`substantially the same as that described for currency,
`with the exception that credit card operation requires
`credit checking and billing operations at the computer
`12 before the vending machine is permitted access to
`the selected master tape. These credit checking and
`billing operations are described below in reference to
`FIG. 11. For purposes of describing the remainder of
`FIG. 10 it is assumed that the proper amount of cur—
`rency has been received by receiver 91 or that a valid
`credit card has been inserted in credit card terminal 92.
`In either case, both currency receiver 91 and credit
`card terminal 92 generate the start and enable signals
`mentioned above.
`
`If the vending machine is awaiting access to a
`selected master tape, receipt of the 80 Hertz tone s