Check-actuated control mechanisms – Control mechanism actuated by check – other than coin – which... – Having electric circuit with switch operated by check
Patent
1994-09-15
1996-06-18
Terrell, William E.
Check-actuated control mechanisms
Control mechanism actuated by check, other than coin , which...
Having electric circuit with switch operated by check
194905, G07F 700
Patent
active
055269168
ABSTRACT:
A cart management apparatus for retaining and vending carts such as luggage carts, shopping carts, and strollers, includes a retaining rail for receiving cart keys disposed on the carts, a rotatable paddlewheel including a plurality of paddles, at least one of which projects into the retaining rail to provide an obstruction therein, an electromagnetic brake coupled to the paddlewheel to selectively inhibit rotation of the paddlewheel and restrict removal of cart keys from the rail, and a one-way clutch, also coupled to the paddlewheel to allow free rotation of the paddlewheel in a return direction to allow cart keys to be inserted into the retaining rail when carts are returned to the apparatus. The preferred apparatus may be used with existing carts which are retrofit with cart keys that are suitable for being retained within the rail. Furthermore, a plurality of electronic sensors are utilized to detect the removal and return of carts to the apparatus and thereby prevent theft of rewards dispensed by the system. In particular, one such sensor utilizes a transmitter and a receiver which are coupled to a transmitter and receiver of a cart key located in close proximity thereto to determine whether a valid cart key is being detected by the sensor.
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"Smarte Carte.RTM. Unveils New Baggage Trolley System for European Airports", Smarte Carte International Concourse, Sep., 1987.
QVS Luggage "Trolley Management Systems" brochure (no date).
"Ordnungssysteme fur Gepack-und Einkaufswagen" brochure (no date).
Expresso product literature (no date).
Expresso "Skillful Concepts for Airports" advertisement, ACI Europe Airport Business Supplement Winter (no date).
Amdahl Keith L.
Otterson Dan L.
Rogney Christopher J.
Severson Verne L.
Lowe Scott L.
Smarte Carte Inc.
Terrell William E.
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