Coin mechanism
AssigneesLarry S. Frankel, Martin S. Frankel
InventorsGregory Shteyngarts, Joseph Feldman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coin mechanism for vending machines comprising a coin receptacle, a detector for unlocking a dispensing mechanism only when a coin of the proper size is received in the receptacle, and a coin retaining device for retaining coins deposited in the mechanism only when a selected product has been properly dispensed from the machine. The detector includes a wall defining part of a coin slot, a window in the wall, a coin holding lever for holding coins across the window only when such coins are of the proper denomination, and a detector arm for entering the window when it is open to prevent the actuation of the product dispensing mechanism and for enabling the actuation of the dispensing mechanism when the window is closed by a coin.
Claims13
A coin mechanism for a vending machine, said coin mechanism receiving coins and effecting the dispensing of product from the machine purchased with the coins and comprising:
- coin receptacle means comprised of parallel wall members defining opposed walls of a slot for receiving coins deposited into the machine;
- a window through one of said wall members;
- a holding lever pivotally mounted between said wall members having a surface defining a third wall of said slot, said lever being pivotally movable between a coin holding position for holding coins of proper size across said window and a coin releasing position for not holding coins of improper size;
- a carrier movable along a linear path relative to said window between an inactive position and an active position for effecting discharge of product from the machine;
- sensing means on said carrier for sensing the presence or absence of a coin at said window, said sensing means having a first condition reflective of the presence of a coin of improper size and a second condition reflective of a coin of proper size, said sensing means preventing movement of said carrier to said active position when in said first condition;
- coin retaining means having a dispensing condition for receiving coins discharged by said receptacle means and for dispensing said received coins from the machine, and an enabling condition for enabling the retention of coins discharged by said receptacle means;
- dispensing means for dispensing product from the machine in response to movement of said carrier to the active position;
- and
- an actuator for effecting dispensing of said product and the discharge of coins from said coin receptacle means, said actuator being fixedly connected to said carrier and said sensing means to effect movement of said carrier and sensing means therewith, said coin retaining means assuming the dispensing condition in response to said sensing means assuming its first condition and said coin retaining means assuming the enabling condition in response to said sensing means assuming its second condition, said holding lever moving to said coin release position when said coin retaining means assumes said enabling condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.