Use of security coupons in connection with locking mechanisms for vending and gaming machines
AssigneeMars, Incorporated
InventorsDavid Deaville, Patrick J. McGarry, Robert D. Ross
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for using electronic security coupons in connection with locking mechanisms for preventing unauthorized access to or removal of internal components of vending and gaming machines. A security coupon is received in the bill validator section of the machine, the security coupon is recognized, and the locking mechanism is unlocked. The security coupon optionally can be stored in a currency cassette.
Claims46
A method of using a security coupon in connection with a vending machine having a bill validator section and a lock to prevent unauthorized access to internal components of the vending machine, the method comprising:
- receiving a security coupon in the bill validator section of the vending machine;
- recognizing the security coupon in the bill validator section;
- and
- unlocking the lock in response to recognizing the security coupon.
A method of using a security coupon in connection with a bill validator-stacker unit having a bill validator section and a currency cassette locked to the unit, the method comprising:
- receiving a security coupon in the bill validator section of the unit;
- recognizing the security coupon;
- storing the security coupon in the currency cassette;
- and
- unlocking the currency cassette from the unit after storing the security coupon to permit removal of the currency cassette from the unit.
A currency validator-stacker unit comprising:
- a validator section for determining whether inserted banknotes and security coupons are genuine;
- a removable currency cassette connected to the validator section;
- a transport path for transporting genuine banknotes from the validator section to the currency cassette;
- a locking mechanism for locking the currency cassette to the currency validator-stacker unit, wherein the currency cassette can be removed from the currency validator-stacker unit only when the locking mechanism is unlocked;
- and
- a control unit for unlocking the locking mechanism when a security coupon received in the validator section is recognized as genuine.
A vending machine comprising:
- a front panel;
- an entryway in the front panel for receiving banknotes and security coupons;
- a validator section connected to the entryway for determining whether inserted banknotes and security coupons are genuine;
- a removable currency cassette connected to the validator section;
- a transport path for transporting genuine banknotes from the validator section to the currency cassette;
- one or more locks to prevent unauthorized access to internal components of the vending machine;
- and
- a control unit for unlocking the one or more locks when a security coupon received in the validator section is recognized as genuine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.