초록 ▼

An automatic vending machine having a control circuit for controlling the quantity of ice in an ice storage chamber. A signal generating circuit is provided for producing digital signals in response to ice being supplied to, and discharged from, the ice storage chamber. A counting circuit comprising

An automatic vending machine having a control circuit for controlling the quantity of ice in an ice storage chamber. A signal generating circuit is provided for producing digital signals in response to ice being supplied to, and discharged from, the ice storage chamber. A counting circuit comprising an up-down counter receives the digital signals and adjusts a count value which represents the quantity of ice in the storage chamber. The counter produces an output signal when sufficient ice is available to supply vending needs, but not when the ice quantity falls below a predetermined value. The vending operation is suspended when the counter output signal is not produced.

대표청구항 ▼

In an automatic vendor having an ice machine with a storage chamber in which the produced ice is stored and from which the ice is supplied during vending, and which is provided with a sensor producing a signal when the ice quantity in the chamber reaches a predetermined full storage level, the impro

In an automatic vendor having an ice machine with a storage chamber in which the produced ice is stored and from which the ice is supplied during vending, and which is provided with a sensor producing a signal when the ice quantity in the chamber reaches a predetermined full storage level, the improvement comprising: means for producing digital signals representative of quantities of ice makeup to and ice discharge from the storage chamber; counting means for receiving said digital signals and for storing a count value indicative of the quantity of ice in said storage chamber, and for producing an output signal when its count value is not less than a predetermined minimum value, and for producing an auxiliary output signal when the count value is at least a predetermined intermediate value less than the full count; a vend control responsive to the counting means output signal, to deactivate the vending operation of the vendor in response to cessation of said counting means output signal; and means responsive to said auxiliary output signal for starting operation of said ice machine to make ice upon interruption of said auxiliary output signal.