US 4,359,062 AGranted

Electronic coin dispenser

AssigneeBrandt, Inc.

InventorsRichard P. Uecker, Stephen J. Horvath, Francis C. Larkin

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Abstract

An electronic coin dispenser provides a calculator and a printer besides dispensing coins and displaying the amount of change on an 8-digit LED display. The electromechanical coin dispensing elements and the thermal print head are controlled by a microcomputer, which is responsive to mode select signals to direct such operations as: dispensing amounts between $0.01-$4.99; dispensing the cents portion of a dollar and cents amount on the LED display; and automatically advancing the tape a plurality of lines so that the expended portion can be conveniently torn off. Split change for a quarter and a dollar is provided by operating dual-function keys labeled "0/25" and "00/$" respectively. Remote data is received by the microcomputer through a remote interface and amounts dispensed by remote command are displayed in a distinctive manner. The microcomputer also performs timing functions which are essential to the operation of the print head and coin dispensing elements.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A calculating coin dispenser which comprises:

means for holding coins in stacks of different denominations;
coin ejector means for selecting coins in individual stacks for ejection;
payment means for driving the coin ejector means to dispense selected coins;
head means with elements for forming alphanumeric characters across the width of a record-keeping tape;
head enable means electrically coupled to the head means for enabling selected elements in the head means;
keyboard input means for entering calculating and coin dispensing commands and operands associated therewith;
first means responsive to selected keyboard inputs for storing simple operands and performing calculations therewith to generate a total operand;
second means responsive to a selected keyboard command for generating output signals, which are coupled to the coin ejector means to select coins to be dispensed in the amount of a selected operand, and which are coupled to the payment means to effect payment;
third means responsive to selected keyboard commands for generating output signals which are coupled to the head means and to the head enable means to print alphanumeric characters on the tape, including simple operands and total operands generated in the first means;
and
fourth means for signalling a preselected one of two limits for the amount to be dispensed;
wherein the keyboard input means includes a total key and a dispense key;
wherein the first means is responsive to the operation of the total key to calculate a total amount;
and
wherein the second means is coupled to the first means and is responsive to the limit signal from the fourth means and to the sequential operation of the total key and the dispense key to generate output signals to dispense the total amount up to the signalled limit.

12 more elements

A calculating coin dispenser which comprises:

means for holding coins in stacks of different denominations;
coin ejector responsive to data signals for selecting coins in individual stacks for ejection, the coin ejector means being actuated by an enable signal;
payment means responsive to an enable signal for driving the coin ejector means to dispense the selected coins;
head means with elements responsive to data signals for selecting alphanumeric characters to be formed across the width of a record-keeping tape;
head enable means electrically coupled to the head means for enabling the head means in response to an enable signal;
a keyboard that is operable for entering calculating and coin dispensing commands and operands associated therewith;
and
microcomputer means coupled to the keyboard and responsive to keyboard commands for performing calculations and for generating, through a common output, data signals which are coupled to the head means to select the alphanumeric characters to be formed and data signals which are coupled to the coin ejector means to select the coins to be dispensed, the microcomputer means also being coupled to the head enable means, to the coin ejector means and to the payment means for generating enable signals thereto to cause the selected alphanumeric characters to be printed on the tape and to effect payment.

5 more elements

A calculating coin dispenser, which comprises:

means for holding coins in stacks of different denominations;
coin ejector means responsive to data signals for selecting coins in individual stacks for ejection, the coin ejector means being actuated by an enable signal;
payment means responsive to an enable signal for driving the coin ejector means to dispense the selected coins;
print head means with elements responsive to data signals for selecting alphanumeric characters to be formed across the width of a record-keeping tape;
print head enable means electrically coupled to the print head means for enabling the print head means in response to an enable signal;
serial-to-parallel means electrically coupled to the coin ejector means and to the print head means, and responsive to serially received data input signals to provide parallel data output signals which select the alphanumeric characters to be formed by the print head means, and which select the coins to be ejected by the coin ejector means;
keyboard input means for entering calculating and coin dispensing commands and operands associated therewith;
and
processing means responsive to the keyboard commands for performing calculations, for generating serial data output signals to the serial-to-parallel means to select coins to be dispensed and alphanumeric characters to be recorded on tape, and for generating enable signals to the coin ejection means, to the payment means and to the print head enable means to perform coin dispensing and record-keeping operations.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.