# US 2008/0185259 A1 · Techniques For Mounting a Peripheral Device in a Vending Machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185259 A1 - Document ID: US20080185259A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/568,741 - Filed: 2005-05-06 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2005-05-06 - Assignees: MEI, Inc. - Inventors: David C. Deaville; Peter Buillard; Robert J. Clauser; Jeffrey T. Thawley; Michael D. Nunn; Evan J. Cost - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185259A1 ## CPC - G07D 11/10: Mechanical details - G07F 9/10: Casings {or parts thereof}, e.g. with means for heating or cooling - G07F 19/205: {Housing aspects of ATMs} - G07D: HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract Techniques are disclosed that minimize the effect of an external force on peripheral devices attached to a host machine (e.g., vending and gaming machines). The techniques include using long spacers that are designed to be close to the rear of a machine so that in the event of a vandalism attack on the front of the machine, a peripheral device attached to the machine, such as a bill acceptor, transfers the external force to the back of the machine. Once the force is transferred, the force is distributed over a robust surface. The techniques also include use of a cradle assembly and a fixed housing to mount peripheral devices in machines that also minimize the effect of an external force on peripheral devices mounted to machines. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of reducing the effect of a force applied to a peripheral device attached to a host machine, the method comprising: installing a peripheral device in a host machine, wherein a force applied to a front of the peripheral device is transferred to a surface at a rear face of the host machine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein installing the peripheral device in the host machine comprises attaching an elongated nut to the peripheral device and extending the elongated nut to the rear face of the host machine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein installing the peripheral device in the host machine comprises attaching a spacer plate to the peripheral device and extending a free end of the spacer plate to the rear face of the host machine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 comprising attaching a removable plate to the spacer plate prior to attaching the peripheral device to the host machine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 comprising attaching the removable plate to the rear face of the host machine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein installing the peripheral device in the host machine comprises attaching a first end of a rod to the peripheral device and extending a second end of the rod to the rear face of the host machine. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 further comprising attaching the rod to a pivoting linkage, the pivoting linkage providing movement for the rod in releasing the peripheral device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein installing the peripheral device in the host machine comprises attaching a pull rod to the peripheral device and extending a free end of the pull rod to the rear face of the host machine. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein attaching the pull rod to the peripheral device comprises clamping the pull rod in a first position to the peripheral device using a tension spring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 comprising releasing the peripheral device from the rod by pulling the rod to a second position away from the peripheral device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 comprising positioning the rod to fall to the first position under the weight of gravity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein installing the peripheral device in the host machine comprises attaching the peripheral device to a fixed housing having movable rods extending through the housing for securing the peripheral device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 comprising positioning the rod in a first position for securing the peripheral device to the host machine and positioning the rod in a second position for installing and removing the peripheral device from the host machine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 comprising sliding the rod between the first and the second positions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 comprising rotating the rod between the first and the second positions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein installing the peripheral device in the host machine comprises attaching the peripheral device to the host machine using a plurality of torsion bars and positioning a portion of a flange of the peripheral device under a plate attached to an inside of the host machine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 comprising extending each of the plurality of torsion bars in a first position over and under the plate for securing the peripheral device to the host machine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 comprising extending each of the plurality of torsion bars in a second position for installing and removing the removing the peripheral device from the host machine. ### Claim 19 A method of installing a peripheral device in a host machine comprising: rotating a cradle to a first position to mount the peripheral device in the host machine. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 comprising rotating the cradle to a second position to remove the peripheral device. ### Claim 21 A method of installing a peripheral device in a host machine comprising using clips, wherein the peripheral device is releasable by squeezing the clips toward one another. ### Claim 22 A method of installing a peripheral device in a host machine comprising: attaching the peripheral device to a removable locking bar; and sliding the removable locking bar upward in the host machine to engage a retaining flange. ### Claim 23 A method of installing a peripheral device in a host machine comprising: attaching the peripheral device to a bolt and retaining the bolt behind a fixed folded bracket. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23 comprising attaching a first end of the fixed folded bracket to a door of the host machine. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23 comprising positioning the folded bracket for moving the bolt downward under the weight of gravity. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23 comprising positioning the folded bracket for moving the bolt sideways using a spring. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral device comprises a bill validator, a coin validator, or a card reader and wherein the host machine comprises a vending machine or a gaming machine. ### Claim 28 A peripheral device mounting mechanism configured to mount a peripheral device on a host machine so that when the peripheral device is mounted to the host machine, a force applied to a front surface of the peripheral device is transferred to a surface at a rear of the host machine. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 28 including an elongated nut to attach the peripheral device to the host machine and configured to extend from the peripheral device to the rear face of the host machine. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 28 including a spacer plate to attach the peripheral device to the host machine and configured to extend a free end of the spacer plate to the rear face of the host machine. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 30 including a removable plate configured to attach to the spacer plate prior to attachment of the peripheral device to the host machine. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 31 configured to attach the removable plate to the rear face of the host machine. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 28 configured to attach a first end of a rod to the peripheral device and to extend a second end of the rod to the rear face of the host machine. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 33 configured to attach the rod to a pivoting linkage, the pivoting linkage to provide movement for the rod in releasing the peripheral device. ### Claim 35 (depends on 28) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 28 including a pull rod to attach to the peripheral device and configured to extend a free end of the pull rod to the rear face of the host machine. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 35 including a tension spring to clamp the pull rod in a first position to the peripheral device. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 36 configured to pull the rod to a second position away from the peripheral device to release the peripheral device from the rod. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 36 configured to position the rod to the first position under the weight of gravity. ### Claim 39 (depends on 28) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 28 including a plurality of torsion bars to attach the peripheral device to the host machine and a plate attached to an inside of the host machine, wherein a portion of a flange of the peripheral device is positioned under the plate. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 39 configured to extend each of the plurality of torsion bars to a first position over and under the plate to release the peripheral device to the host machine. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 39 configured to extend each of the plurality of torsion bars in a second position to remove the peripheral device from the host machine. ### Claim 42 A peripheral device mounting mechanism for mounting a peripheral device to a host machine, wherein the mounting mechanism comprises a cradle, wherein the cradle is rotated to a first position to mount the peripheral device in the host machine. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 42 wherein the cradle is rotated to a second position to remove the peripheral device. ### Claim 44 A peripheral device mounting mechanism for mounting a peripheral device to a host machine, wherein the mounting mechanism comprises clips to attach the peripheral device to the host machine and configured to release the peripheral device from the host machine by squeezing the clips toward one another. ### Claim 45 A peripheral device mounting mechanism for mounting a peripheral device to a host machine, wherein the mounting mechanism is configured to attach the peripheral device to a removable locking bar, wherein the removable locking bar is slidable upward in the host machine to engage a retaining flange. ### Claim 46 A peripheral device mounting mechanism for mounting a peripheral device to a host machine, wherein the mounting mechanism comprises a bolt to attach the peripheral device to the host machine and configured to retain the bolt behind a fixed folded bracket. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 46 configured to attach a first end of the fixed folded bracket to a door of the host machine. ### Claim 48 (depends on 46) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 46 wherein the folded bracket is configured to move the bolt downward under the weight of gravity. ### Claim 49 (depends on 46) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 46 wherein the folded bracket is configured to move the bolt sideways using a spring. ### Claim 50 (depends on 46) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 46 including a fixed housing having a movable rod, the rod configured to extend through the housing to secure the peripheral device. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 50 configured to position the rod in a first position to secure the peripheral device to the host machine and to position the rod in a second position to install and to remove the peripheral device. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 51 configured to slide the rod between the first and the second positions. ### Claim 53 (depends on 51) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 51 configured to rotate the rod between the first and the second positions. ### Claim 54 (depends on 28) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 28, wherein the peripheral device comprises a bill validator, a coin validator, or a card reader, and wherein the host machine is a vending machine or a gaming machine. ### Claim 55 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the peripheral device comprises a bill validator, a coin validator, or a card reader and wherein the host machine comprises a vending machine or a gaming machine. ### Claim 56 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the peripheral device comprises a bill validator, a coin validator, or a card reader and wherein the host machine comprises a vending machine or a gaming machine. ### Claim 57 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the peripheral device comprises a bill validator, a coin validator, or a card reader and wherein the host machine comprises a vending machine or a gaming machine. ### Claim 58 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the peripheral device comprises a bill validator, a coin validator, or a card reader and wherein the host machine comprises a vending machine or a gaming machine. ### Claim 59 (depends on 42) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 42, wherein the peripheral device comprises a bill validator, a coin validator, or a card reader, and wherein the host machine is a vending machine or a gaming machine. ### Claim 60 (depends on 44) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 44, wherein the peripheral device comprises a bill validator, a coin validator, or a card reader, and wherein the host machine is a vending machine or a gaming machine. ### Claim 61 (depends on 45) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 45, wherein the peripheral device comprises a bill validator, a coin validator, or a card reader, and wherein the host machine is a vending machine or a gaming machine. ### Claim 62 (depends on 46) The peripheral device mounting mechanism of claim 46, wherein the peripheral device comprises a bill validator, a coin validator, or a card reader, and wherein the host machine is a vending machine or a gaming machine.