Coin counting and escrow system
AssigneeImonex Services, Inc.
InventorsPhilemon L. Bruner, David C. Bugge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coin escrow unit including a first and a second body where the first body has a first and second flange, where the first flange is adapted to impart a tumbling movement to downwardly moving coins, and the second flange is downwardly distending, and where the second body has a downwardly distending flange, the downwardly distending flanges of the first and second bodies combining to form a coin retention assembly.
Claims12
A coin race system for use in a coin activated machine, said system comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) a first plate having a first face and a second face, said first face being attached to said housing, said second face having an upper portion and a lower portion when said machine is in an upright, operating position, said second face being formed to provide a groove, said groove vertically spanning the entirety of said second face through said upper portion and said lower portion of said second face;
- (c) a second plate having a first side and a second side, said first side having an upper portion and a lower portion when said machine is in an upright, operating position, said first side of said second plate being formed to matingly engage said second face of said first plate, said groove defining a coin race between said first plate and said second plate when said plates are so engaged, said coin race having a race entrance and a race exit such that a coin may enter into said coin race through said race entrance, pass vertically in said coin race between said first plate and said second plate and exit out of said coin race through said race exit, the coin having a substantially vertical orientation when it passes through said coin race and said race exit, said lower portion of said first side of said second plate being formed with an area of decreased width, said area being located to correspond to said groove in said lower portion of said second face of said first plate such that said race exit is deeper than said race entrance, thereby allowing the coin to begin to depart from its substantially vertical orientation in this area.
A coin counting and escrow system for registering and collecting a deposit of a combination of coins into a coin activated machine, each of said coins having two opposed faces, said coins following a downward coin travel path due to the forces of gravity, said coin counting and escrow system comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) a coin separating mechanism attached to said housing;
- (c) a coin counting mechanism attached to said housing at a location below said coin separating mechanism when said machine is in an upright, operating position, wherein said coins enter said coin counting mechanism in an on-edge orientation such that said opposed faces of said coins are substantially vertical, said coin counting mechanism comprising,
- (1) a first plate having a first face and a second face, said first face being attached to said housing, said second face having an upper portion and a lower portion, said second face being formed to provide a groove, said groove vertically spanning the entirety of said second face through said upper portion and said lower portion of said second face,
- (2) a second plate having a first side and a second side, said first side having an upper portion and a lower portion, said first side of said second plate being formed to matingly engage said second face of said first plate, said groove defining a coin race between said first plate and said second plate when said plates are so engaged, said coin race having a race entrance and a race exit such that a coin may enter into said coin race through said race entrance, pass vertically in said coin race between said first plate and said second plate and exit out of said coin race through said race exit, the coin having a substantially vertical orientation when it passes through said coin race and said race exit, said lower portion of said first side of said second plate being formed with an area of decreased width, said area located to correspond to said groove in said lower portion of said second face of said first plate such that said race exit is deeper than said race entrance, thereby allowing the coin to begin to depart from its substantially vertical orientation in this area;
- (d) an escrow unit attached to said housing at a location below said coin counting mechanism when said machine is in said upright, operating position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.