Paper and coin currency totalizer for an existing vending machine

The improved paper and coin currency totalizer for being installed on an existing vending machine of the type having an existing totalizer unit which includes an existing coin receiving channel, an existing movable mechanical release means for being moved to a release position to allow an item in the existing vending machine to be dispensed, and an existing movable mechanical reset means which is for being moved to a reset position after the item is dispensed, said improved paper and coin currency totalizer comprising:

• a housing mounted on an outside wall of the existing vending machine;
• an electronic paper currency sensor and a currency totalizer control means mounted within said housing;
• an electronic coin currency sensor mounted in the existing totalizer unit in alignment with the coin receiving channel;
• said electronic coin currency sensor for producing a coin signal when a coin currency passes through the coin receiving channel and by said electronic coin currency sensor;
• said electronic paper currency sensor for producing a paper signal when a paper currency is deposited in and verified by said electronic paper currency sensor;
• said currency totalizer control means for receiving each said paper signal from said electronic paper currency sensor and each said coin signal from said electronic coin currency sensor;
• said currency totalizer control means including currency amount means for determining by a total of said paper signals and said coin signals when a predetermined amount of currency has been deposited in said electronic paper currency sensor and through the coin receiving channel;
• actuation means mounted in the existing totalizer unit for moving the mechanical release means in the existing totalizer unit to the release position;
• said currency totalizer control means including actuation signal means for sending an actuation signal to said actuation means from said currency amount means when said predetermined amount of currency has been deposited in said electronic paper currency sensor and through the coin receiving channel;
• a reset sensor mounted in the existing totalizer unit in alignment with the movable mechanical reset means for producing a reset signal when the movable mechanical reset means is moved to the reset position;
• and
• said currency totalizer control means for receiving said reset signal and for discontinuing said actuation signal to the actuation means when said reset signal is received from said reset sensor.

A method of converting an existing vending machine to enable paper currency and coin currency to be used to allow an item in the existing vending machine to be dispensed therefrom;

• the existing vending machine being of the type which is coin operated and has an existing totalizer unit which includes a plurality of coin receiving channels, coin sensing means for sensing when coin currency is deposited in the plurality of coin receiving channels, totalizer means for totaling the coin currency passing through the plurality of coin receiving channels as sensed by the coin sensing means and for determining when a predetermined total of the coin currency has been deposited therein, movable mechanical release means for being moved to a release position to allow the item to be dispensed, first actuation means operably controlled by the totalizer means when the first predetermined total of the coin currency has been deposited in the plurality of coin receiving channels for moving the movable mechanical release means to the release position, movable mechanical reset means for movement to a reset position to reset the totalizer means and to move the movable mechanical release means away from the release position after the item is dispensed;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• removing the coin sensing means;
• removing the totalizer means;
• removing the first actuation means;
• securing a housing to the existing vending machine;
• providing currency totalizing control means within said housing, said currency totalizing control circuit including a currency adding means;
• installing an electronic coin currency sensor in the existing totalizer unit in alignment with a first coin receiving channel of the plurality for sensing the coin currency passing thereby;
• installing a second actuation means in the existing totalizer unit for being actuated to move the movable mechanical release means to the release position;
• installing a reset sensor in the existing totalizer unit in alignment with the movable mechanical reset means when moved to the reset position;
• providing an electronic paper currency sensor within said housing for sensing the paper currency passing therethrough;
• operably connecting said currency totalizing control means to said electronic coin currency sensor and said electronic paper currency sensor for determining through the currency adding means when a predetermined total currency is sensed by said electronic coin currency sensor and said electronic paper currency sensor;
• operably connecting said currency totalizing control means to said second actuation means for actuation thereof when said predetermined total currency is determined by said currency adding means;
• and
• operably connecting said currency totalizing control means to said reset sensor, said currency totalizing control means for being reset and for discontinuing actuation of said second actuation means when the movable mechanical reset means is moved to the reset position as sensed by said reset sensor.