# US 7,740,529 B2 · Coin dispenser with auto-latching coin canister > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,740,529 B2 - Document ID: US7740529B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/525,206 - Filed: 2006-09-21 - Published: 2007-04-19 - Granted: 2010-06-22 - Earliest claimed: 2005-09-22 - Assignees: Telequip Corporation - Inventors: Victor A. Quattrini; Robert Pitman; Jack J. Bisson; Hamlin Peterke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7740529B2 ## CPC - G07D 1/02: giving change {(coin-actuated mechanisms in general G07F)} - G07D 1/00: Coin dispensers (devices delivering paper currency G07D11/00) - G07D: HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING ## Abstract A coin dispenser includes a coin canister that automatically locks into the dispenser. A remotely operated mechanism may unlock the canister from the dispenser. The dispenser may serve as a loading stand for the canister. The canister may be adapted for manual loading of coins into the canister without removing the canister from the dispenser. The canister may include a receptacle for coins and an aperture adapted to facilitate loading coins into the receptacle and to retain coins in the receptacle. The canister may include a repositionable handle that covers an aperture of the canister in one position and serves as a carrying handle in another position. A system for dispensing coins includes a controller electrically connected to a coin dispenser. The dispenser includes a coin canister and a latch that locks the canister to the dispenser. The controller can send an electrical signal that unlocks the canister. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A coin dispenser, comprising: a coin canister comprising a removable cover that secures coins in the coin canister from unauthorized removal from the coin canister, the coin canister comprising a series of tubular receptacles; and a latch, wherein the latch is operable to automatically lock the coin canister against unauthorized removal from the coin dispenser when the coin canister is placed into a first position for dispensing a coin from the coin dispenser, wherein the cover includes a plurality of circular openings for manually loading a plurality of coins into the coin canister in a single action without removing the coin canister from the first position, wherein each of the plurality of circular openings is aligned with one of the series of tubular receptacles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The coin dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a remotely operable mechanism operable to unlock the coin canister from the coin dispenser. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The coin dispenser of claim 1, wherein the coin canister is operable to couple with the coin dispenser in a second position for loading coins into the coin canister. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The coin dispenser of claim 3, wherein the coin canister comprises a feature operable while the coin canister is in the second position to couple with the coin dispenser to retain the coin canister in the second position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The coin dispenser of claim 3, wherein the coin dispenser comprises a feature operable while the coin canister is in the second position to couple with an edge of the coin canister to retain the coin canister in the second position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The coin dispenser of claim 1, wherein each receptacle in the series of tubular receptacles comprises: an aperture for manually loading a plurality of coins into the receptacle and retaining coins in the receptacle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The coin dispenser of claim 1, wherein the coin canister comprises a repositionable handle, the repositionable handle operable in a first position to cover an aperture of each receptacle in the series of tubular receptacles and operable in a second position to facilitate transporting the coin canister. ### Claim 8 A coin canister for use in a coin dispenser, the coin canister comprising: a series of tubular receptacles; a first feature operable to couple with a latch of the coin dispenser to automatically lock the coin canister against unauthorized removal from the coin dispenser when the coin canister is placed into a first position for dispensing a coin from the coin dispenser; and a removable cover that secures coins in the coin canister from unauthorized removal from the coin canister, wherein the cover includes a plurality of circular openings for manually loading a plurality of coins into the coin canister in a single action without removing the coin canister from the first position, wherein each of the plurality of circular openings is aligned with one of the series of tubular receptacles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The coin canister of claim 8, further comprising a second feature operable to couple the coin canister with a coin dispenser in a second position for inserting coins into the coin canister. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The coin canister of claim 8, wherein each receptacle in the series of tubular receptacles comprises: an aperture for manually loading a plurality of coins into the receptacle and retaining coins in the receptacle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The coin canister of claim 8, further comprising: a repositionable handle, wherein the repositionable handle is operable in a first position to cover an aperture of each receptacle in the series of tubular receptacles and operable in a second position to facilitate transporting the coin canister. ### Claim 12 A method for use with a coin dispenser comprising a coin canister, the coin canister comprising a series of tubular receptacles, the method comprising: automatically locking the coin canister against unauthorized removal from the coin dispenser when the coin canister is placed in a first position for dispensing a coin from the coin dispenser; and securing coins in the coin canister with a removable cover that prevents unauthorized removal of the coins from the coin canister, wherein the cover includes a plurality of circular openings for manually loading a plurality of coins into the coin canister in a single action without removing the coin canister from the first position, wherein each of the plurality of circular openings is aligned with one of the series of tubular receptacles. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising remotely operating a mechanism to unlock the coin canister from the coin dispenser. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising coupling the coin canister with the coin dispenser in a second position for loading coins into the coin canister. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein coupling the coin canister with the coin dispenser in the second position further comprises coupling a feature of the coin canister with the coin dispenser to retain the coin canister in the second position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein coupling the coin canister with the coin dispenser in the second position further comprises coupling a feature of the coin dispenser with the coin canister to retain the coin canister in the second position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising providing an aperture for each receptacle in the series of tubular receptacles, the aperture configured for manually loading a plurality of coins into the receptacle and retaining coins in the receptacle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a repositionable handle, wherein the repositionable handle is operable in a first position to cover an aperture of each receptacle in the series of tubular receptacles and operable in a second position to facilitate transporting the coin canister. ### Claim 19 A coin dispenser, comprising: a coin canister, operable to couple with the coin dispenser in a first position for loading coins into the coin canister and in a second position for dispensing a coin from the coin dispenser; a latch operable to automatically lock the coin canister against unauthorized removal from the coin dispenser when the coin canister is placed into the second position; and a remotely operable mechanism operable to unlock the coin canister from the coin dispenser, wherein the coin canister comprises: a series of tubular receptacles; and a removable cover that secures coins in the coin canister from unauthorized removal from the coin canister and the cover includes a plurality of circular openings for manually loading a plurality of coins into the coin canister in a single action without removing the coin canister from the second position, wherein each of the plurality of circular openings is aligned with one of the series of tubular receptacles. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The coin dispenser of claim 19, wherein the coin canister comprises a feature operable while the coin canister is in the first position to couple with the coin dispenser to retain the coin canister in the first position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The coin dispenser of claim 19, wherein the coin dispenser comprises a feature operable while the coin canister is in the first position to couple with an edge of the coin canister to retain the coin canister in the first position. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The coin dispenser of claim 19, wherein each receptacle in the series of tubular receptacles comprises an aperture for manually loading a plurality of coins into the receptacle and retaining coins in the receptacle. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The coin dispenser of claim 19, wherein the coin canister comprises a repositionable handle, the repositionable handle operable in a first position to cover an aperture of each receptacle in the series of tubular receptacles and operable in a second position to facilitate transporting the coin canister. ### Claim 24 A system for dispensing coins, comprising: a controller; and a coin dispenser electrically connected to the controller, the coin dispenser comprising a coin canister and a latch operable to automatically lock the coin canister against unauthorized removal from the coin dispenser when the coin canister is placed in a dispensing position, wherein the coin canister comprises: a series of tubular receptacles; and a removable cover that secures coins in the coin canister from unauthorized removal from the coin canister, wherein the cover includes a plurality of circular openings for manually loading a plurality of coins into the coin canister in a single action without removing the coin canister from the dispensing position, wherein each of the plurality of circular openings is aligned with one of the series of tubular receptacles; wherein the controller is operable to send an electrical signal to the coin dispenser that causes the latch to unlock the coin canister from the coin dispenser. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the controller is one of a point-of-sale (POS) terminal and a POS host system. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the controller is a POS host system and the coin dispenser is a first coin dispenser of a plurality of coin dispensers.