Check-actuated control mechanisms – With additional – disparate means preventing fraudulent...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-18
2001-09-18
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3652)
Check-actuated control mechanisms
With additional, disparate means preventing fraudulent...
C194S239000, C194S255000, C221S007000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290049
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of bulk vending machines, and more particularly. to a data generating device for a standard bulk vending machine coin mechanism.
Both vending machines and bulk vending machines are old in the art. Vending machines are normally associated with those machines used for dispensing a particularly chosen item to a user of the machine. For example, a user of a vending machine will insert the required amount of money, represented by coins or bills, into the machine and will then have an opportunity to select from a variety of different items. These items can include different types of snacks (candy bars, potato chips, pretzels, gum, breath mints, etc.), drinks (soda, fruit juices, water, etc.) and ice cream (sandwiches, pops, cones, etc.).
In contrast, a bulk vending machine does not normally lend itself to giving the user of a machine a choice between the goods to be selected, and is normally operated with coins only. In general, bulk vending machines hold large quantities of a particular type of item (gum balls, nuts, trail mix, toys, balls, etc.) in a large top mounted receptacle. By placing a coin into the coin mechanism of the bulk vending machine, and turning the handle, one, or a handful, of the items within the receptacle are dispensed down a chute for receipt by the user. In these machines, no choice has been given to the user, and the user will receive whichever item, or items, are next in line to be dispensed. Parents will now clearly understand the distinction between vending machines and bulk vending machines; vending machines give their child a choice and the child walks away happy and content, while bulk vending machines distribute what they want to the awaiting hands of the child, and no matter how much screaming and ranting by the child, he/she will have to eat the blue gum ball, even though he/she really wanted a green gum ball.
Another important distinction between vending machines and bulk vending machines, is that vending machines are normally AC powered units which are plugged into a wall outlet, while bulk vending machines are almost never electrically powered. This makes bulk vending machines safer to use, and allows for their placement in any location.
In the history of the bulk vending industry there has been no effective way of (1) counting the money received into bulk vending machines or (2) displaying that information in a format which is easy to use and manipulate.
Today's standard methods for determining the amount of vends which have occurred, and the coins inserted into a given machine during a certain period of time, are by hand-held coin counters and weight scales. These methods make the collection process very time consuming and leave no hope for any sense of security, nor for the possibility of building any kind of financial history for the particular machine by the owner or lease holder of the machine.
As is evidenced by the counting mechanisms of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,201,396, 4,392,564, 4,376,479,4,369,442,4,216,461 and 4,143,749, the prior art discloses attempts to insert counters, usually into vending machines, but sometimes into bulk vending machines. These prior art counters have the disadvantages of requiring a separate AC power source and the need of an associated power converter to provide the low voltage power needed to the meter. These prior art counters also disclose mechanisms having computers attached thereto, mechanisms for determining the value of the coins deposited, and mechanisms for counting the value of the items exiting the machine. All of these counters are hindered by deficiencies in size, power source and the complicated nature of their operation.
Additional prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 3,783,986 to Bolen, which shows a complicated counter for bulk vending machines, wherein the counter is specifically not attached to the coin mechanism of the machine, which requires a hole to be cut into the back of the machine, and which, while being a good attempt to resolve an industry-wide problem, nevertheless has a counter which is too far removed from, and connected by too many gears to, the coin mechanism.
The bulk vending industry is, despite the Bolen counter, still crying out for a small, self powered (not requiring an external AC power source) counting mechanism for its bulk vending machines. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a coin mechanism and/or coin mechanism and data generating device combination for a bulk vending machine which, preferably, needs no external AC power source, is sized so as to fit within the restricted space limitations of a bulk vending machine without needing to cut a hole in the machine, is accurate, is easily read, is not able to be tampered with, is easily installed and maintained, and is capable of allowing the user to download the data for use in spreadsheet-like print outs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, a data generating device for use in combination with a coin mechanism of a bulk vending machine is provided.
The combination uses a standard coin mechanism of a bulk vending machine which in its normal operation is received into an opening in the bulk vending machine, and a data generating device in working relation with the coin mechanism. The coin mechanism has a selectively rotatable shaft extending axially therefrom which has mounted therearound. a portion of the data generating device. The data generating device has a contact switch assembly, comprising a first pair of spaced-apart wires at a first location of the switch assembly, the first pair of wires connected to a data compilation/transfer device by a lead wire and to a capacitor by another lead wire, a second pair of spaced-apart wires at a second location of the switch assembly, the second pair of wires connected at least to the capacitor by yet another lead wire, a selectively rotatable element having a metal strip attached thereto, the metal strip able to connect both of the wires of both of the first and second pairs of the spaced-apart wires at separate and distinct positions during the selective rotation of the selectively rotatable element, wherein the shaft causes the selectively rotatable element to rotate bringing the metal strip first in contact with the first pair of spaced-apart wires and then in contact with the second pair of spaced-apart wires, thereby causing the compilation of data.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to improve a standard bulk vending machine coin mechanism by placing it in combination with a data generating device.
Still another object of the invention is to improve a standard bulk vending machine coin mechanism through placement of the combination coin mechanism and data generating device within the limited space provided in a bulk vending machine.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide security and peace of mind to the owner/lease holder of bulk vending machines by enabling them to have independent, accurate and non-tamperable results of the counting of coins deposited into a bulk vending machines.
Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the following description.
The invention accordingly comprises assemblies possessing the features, properties and the relation of components which will be exemplified in the products hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
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Gilman Michael R.
Jaketic Bryan
Kaplan & Gilman LLP
Nova Resolution Industries, Inc.
Olszewski Robert P.
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