METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A LOW-POWER, BATTERY-POWERED VENDING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for a money-operated, low-powered, vending and dispensing apparatus which is solely battery-powered and which can be utilized in the vending or dispensing of products or services. The present invention comprises at least one battery, a control system housed on a control board, money sensing and validating devices, circuitry to perform a battery power test and to indicate a low battery power condition, circuitry and devices to determine the acceptability of various types of money, or its equivalent, which could be accepted by the apparatus, and circuitry and devices to indicate such acceptability. The present invention further comprises a product delivery circuit and device, circuitry to indicate the activation, or lack thereof, of the product delivery device, and circuitry and a device to indicate when the apparatus is being serviced. The present invention utilizes many power saving components and devices, as well as power saving design and operational techniques, so as to facilitate low-powered operation. While the present invention is described, in its preferred embodiment, for use in an apparatus for the vending or dispensing of newspapers or other printed matter, it may find countless applications in other apparatus utilized in the vending or dispensing of products or services.