Check-actuated control mechanisms – Control mechanism actuated by check – other than coin – which...
Patent
1999-03-09
2000-11-07
Bartuska, F. J.
Check-actuated control mechanisms
Control mechanism actuated by check, other than coin , which...
194905, G07F 700
Patent
active
061422835
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, as well as the unique identity of that cart key, so that the apparatus may maintain a queue of the carts retained therein. A control unit in the preferred apparatus utilizes a non-volatile audit memory mounted in the apparatus for storing system parameters such as statistical and configuration information, whereby if the control unit is replaced the system parameters may be restored to the new control unit.
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Amdahl Keith L.
Bussey Mark G.
Otterson Dan L.
Rogney Christopher J.
Severson Verne L.
Bartuska F. J.
Smarte Carte Inc.
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