# US 5,701,988 A · Coin-operated locker

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- Number: US 5,701,988 A
- Document ID: US5701988A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/526,562
- Filed: 1995-09-12
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1994-09-21
- Assignees: Alpha Corporation
- Inventors: Kazuo Tsukada
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701988A

## CPC

- G07F 17/12: comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
- Y10S 70/41: Coin-controlled
- 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})
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A coin-operated locker includes a control section for controlling a lock mechanism so as to permit locking of the locker upon insertion of a coin and permit insertion of a coin and prohibit locking of the locker upon unlocking of the locker and a timer for measuring a predetermined time interval. The control section controls a timer to start operation after a coin-operated locker has been locked. The control section further monitors measurement by the timer and controls so as to permit the insertion of coins and prohibit the locking of the locker when the measurement by the timer has been completed and the locker has therefore been unlocked.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A coin-operated locker comprising:
a lock mechanism;
a timer for measuring a predetermined time interval: and
a control means for controlling said lock mechanism so as to permit locking of the lock mechanism when a coin is inserted, and to permit repeated locking and unlocking of the lock mechanism if the predetermined time interval has not elapsed;
wherein the control means statics the timer when the lock mechanism is locked, monitors measurement by the timer, and permits the insertion of a coin and prohibits the locking of the lock mechanism when the measurement by the timer is completed and the lock mechanism is subsequently unlocked,
wherein the operation of permitting the insertion of a coin and the operation of prohibiting the locking of the locker are interlocked through a solenoid means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A coin operated locker according to claim 1, further comprising:
a coin sensor for detecting an insertion of coins;
a lock/unlock detector for detecting the locking and unlocking of the lock mechanism;
a key insertion/disinsertion detector for detecting the insertion and disinsertion of a key into the lock mechanism;
a drive means for permitting/prohibiting the rotation of the key and for permitting/prohibiting the insertion of the coin.

### Claim 3

A coin-operated locker comprising;
a lock mechanism;
a timer for measuring a predetermined time interval; and
a control means for controlling said lock mechanism so as to permit locking of the lock mechanism when a coin is inserted, and to permit repeated locking and unlocking of the lock mechanism if the predetermined time interval has not elapsed;
wherein the control means starts the timer when the lock mechanism is locked, monitors measurement by the timer, and permits the insertion of a coin and prohibits the locking of the lock mechanism when the measurement by the timer is completed and the lock mechanism is subsequently unlocked,
wherein if the lock mechanism is unlocked before the measurement by the timer is completed, the control means reset and restarts the timer when the lock mechanism is again locked.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A coin operated locker according to claim 3, further comprising:
a coin sensor for detecting an insertion of coins;
a lock/unlock detector for detecting the locking and unlocking of the lock mechanism;
a key insertion/disinsertion detector for detecting the insertion and disinsertion of a key into the lock mechanism;
a drive means for permitting/prohibiting the rotation of the key and for permitting/prohibiting the insertion of the coin.

### Claim 5

A coin-operated locker comprising:
a lock mechanism;
a timer for measuring a predetermined time interval; and
a control means for controlling said lock mechanism so as to permit locking of the lock mechanism when a coin is inserted, and to permit repeated locking and unlocking of the lock mechanism if the predetermined time interval has not elapsed;
wherein the control means starts the timer when the lock mechanism is locked, monitors measurement by the timer, and permits the insertion of a coin and prohibits the locking of the lock mechanism when the measurement by the timer is completed and the lock mechanism is subsequently unlocked,
wherein if the lock is unlocked before the measurement by the timer is completed, the control means suspend the measurement of the timer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A coin operated locker according to claim 5, further comprising:
a coin sensor for detecting an insertion of coins;
a lock/unlock detector for detecting the locking and unlocking of the lock mechanism;
a key insertion/disinsertion detector for detecting the insertion and disinsertion of a key into the lock mechanism;
a drive means for permitting/prohibiting the rotation of the key and for permitting/prohibiting the insertion of the coin.