Coin acceptor with anti-fraud feature
AssigneeImonex Services, Inc.
InventorsPhilemon L. Bruner, Kurt D. Regenbrecht
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for preventing the fraudulent receipt of credit for the goods or services provided by a coin-operated device is disclosed. A coin acceptor with an anti-fraud feature comprises a coin-accept channel comprising a lip to block the introduction of a non-coin object to a coin sensor and a coin-guiding surface to guide a coin downstream the lip to the coin sensor. The coin-accept channel may further comprise a blocking area, a deflection surface, and a protrusion to prevent the upstream movement of a tethered coin-like object, thereby preventing a single tethered coin-like object from receiving multiple credits for the goods or services provided by a coin-operated device.
Claims10
An apparatus for use with a coin-operated device, comprising:
- at least one coin-accept channel comprising a coin entrance portion and a coin exit portion downstream from said coin entrance portion, wherein said coin exit portion comprises a lip extending into the coin accept channel upstream from a coin sensor, said lip having a top surface substantially normal to a portion of the coin accept channel, wherein said lip obstructs passage of a non-coin object through the coin-accept channel to prevent the eclipse of said coin sensor by said non-coin object;
- said at least one coin-accept channel comprising a coin-guiding surface upstream from said lip to guide a coin past said lip toward said coin sensor;
- and,
- wherein said top surface of said lip is substantially horizontal.
An apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- a coin acceptor coupled to said housing to accept coins to operate said a coin-operated device, said coin acceptor comprising:
- at least one coin-accept channel comprising a coin entrance portion and a coin exit portion downstream from said coin entrance portion, wherein said coin exit portion comprises a lip extending into the coin accept channel upstream from a coin sensor, said lip having a top surface substantially normal to a portion of the coin accept channel, wherein said lip obstructs passage of a non-coin object through the coin-accept channel to prevent the eclipse of said coin sensor by said non-coin object;
- said at least one coin-accept channel comprising a coin-guiding surface upstream from said lip to guide a coin past said lip toward said coin sensor;
- and,
- wherein a downstream most portion of the coin-guiding surface is spaced apart from the top surface of the lip.
A coin-operated device, comprising:
- a coin acceptor to accept coins to operate said coin-operated device, said coin acceptor compromising:
- at least one coin-accept channel comprising a coin entrance portion and a coin exit portion downstream from said coin entrance portion, wherein said coin exit portion comprises a lip extending into the coin accept channel upstream from a coin sensor, said lip having a top surface substantially normal to a portion of the coin accept channel, wherein said lip obstructs passage of a non-coin object through the coin-accept channel to prevent the eclipse of said coin sensor by said non-coin object;
- and
- said at least one coin-accept channel comprising a coin-guiding surface upstream from said lip to guide a coin past said lip toward said coin sensor:
- wherein the coin-guiding surface extends into the coin accept channel less than the lip extends into the coin accept channel.
A method of preventing fraudulent receipt of credit for use of a coin-operated device, comprising:
- a) guiding a coin received in a coin acceptor for a coin-operated device towards a coin sensor along a passage;
- wherein a portion of the passage upstream to the coin sensor is substantially vertical;
- b) allowing the coin to drop vertically in the portion of the passage
- c) accelerating the coin in a direction normal to the coin face with a coin-guiding surface:
- such that the subsequent trajectory of the coin avoids a lip extending into the passage downstream from the coin-guiding surface;
- wherein the coin-guiding surface extends into the passage less than the lip;
- d) detecting an eclipse of said coin sensor by said coin downstream from the lip;
- e) detecting an opening of said coin sensor once said coin travels downstream from said com sensor;
- f) crediting proper coinage for use of said coin-operated device once said coin sensor is eclipsed and subsequently opened;
- and
- g) blocking the introduction of a non-coin object to said coin-sensor with said lip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.