Patent EP0219306A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0219306A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Operating system for a coin-freed machine
Assignee: Barcrest Ltd
•
Filing: 1986-10-08
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2006-10-08
Abstract
Abstract A coin-freed machine such as a pool table has a coin mechanism (17) and a control unit (2) which is linked to an operating device (9) and is arranged to actuate the machine (1) when sufficient coins have been inserted into the coin mechanism (17). The coin mechanism (17) is in the control unit (2) and the control unit (2) is located remote from the machine. A link (11), such as an electric cable, is provided between the unit (2) and the machine (1). The unit (2) may monitor and store data relating to operation of the coin mechanism (17), and provision may be made for transferring this to a data recorder (28). The unit (2) may include a timer (18b) so that the valve of coins required to actuate the machine (1) can automatically change at different times of the day.
Inventors
- 👤 John Laurence Wain
- 👤 John Corrigan Marshall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:15
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3244; G07F17/3225; G07F17/3232; G07F17/3234; G07F9/00; G07F9/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
An operating system for a coin-freed machine, said system having a control unit (2), a link (11) between the control unit (2) and the machine (1), an operating device (9) within the machine (1) operable when actuated to put the machine (1) into an operational state, and a coin mechanism (17) operable to actuate the device (9) when coins to a predetermined value have been inserted into the mechanism (17), characterised in that the control unit (2) is at a location remote from the machine, and the coin mechanism (17) is provided within the unit (2) whereby the device (9) is arranged to be actuated by the coin mechanism (17) via the link (11) between the machine (1) and the control unit (2).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
An operating system for a coin-freed machine, said system having a control unit (2), a link (11) between the control unit (2) and the machine (1), an operating device (9) within the machine (1) operable when actuated to put the machine (1) into an operational state, and a coin mechanism (17) operable to actuate the device (9) when coins to a predetermined value have been inserted into the mechanism (17), characterised in that the control unit (2) is at a location remote from the machine, and the coin mechanism (17) is provided within the unit (2) whereby the device (9) is arranged to be actuated by the coin mechanism (17) via the link (11) between the machine (1) and the control unit (2).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 1, characterised in that power is supplied along the link (11) from the control unit (2) to the operating device (9) for powering operation thereof.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
22 words
A system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the said machine (1) is a pool table.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 3, characterised in that the operating device (9) is arranged to release balls from a storage rack (5) of the table.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
36 words
A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the control unit further incorporates electronic circuitry (18) arranged to monitor and record data pertaining to the usage of the machine (1).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
114 words
An operating system for a coin-freed machine, said system comprising a control unit (2), an operating device (9) within the machine (1) operable when actuated to put the machine into an operational state, a coin mechanism (17) operable to actuate the device (9) when coins to a predetermined value have been inserted into the mechanism (17), characterised in that the coin mechanism (17) is provided within the unit (2) and electronic circuitry (18) is provided within the unit connected to the coin mechanism arranged to monitor and store data relating to operation of the mechanism, and an interface (20) is provided via which said stored data can be transferred to data receiving equipment (28).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
An operating system for a coin-freed machine, said system comprising a control unit (2), an operating device (9) within the machine (1) operable when actuated to put the machine into an operational state, a coin mechanism (17) operable to actuate the device (9) when coins to a predetermined value have been inserted into the mechanism (17), characterised in that the coin mechanism (17) is provided within the unit (2) and electronic circuitry (18) is provided within the unit connected to the coin mechanism arranged to monitor and store data relating to operation of the mechanism, and an interface (20) is provided via which said stored data can be transferred to data receiving equipment (28).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 6, characterised in that portable data receiving equipment (28) is arranged to be plugged into the interface (20) to receive the data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the receiving equipment (28) is arranged additionally to receive site information data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 8, characterised in that the site information is derived from a plug-in key inserted into the control unit (2).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
34 words
A system according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that data can only be received by the said equipment (28) after insertion of a plug-in identification key into the unit.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
25 words
A system according to any one of claims 6 to 10, which is also a system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
42 words
A system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the control unit (2) contains electronic circuitry (18) arranged to control operation of the coin mechanism (17) and/or the machine (1) in accordance with a predetermined operational program.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
119 words
An operating system for a coin-freed machine, said system comprising a control unit (2), an operating device (9) within the machine (1) operable when actuated to put the machine into an operational state, and a coin mechanism (17) which is pre-set to actuate the operating device (9) when coins to a predetermined value have been inserted into the mechanism (17), characterised in that the coin mechanism is provided within the unit, and electronic circuitry (18) is provided within the unit connected to the coin mechanism, said circuitry including a real time clock (18b) and being arranged to change the said pre-setting so as to change the predetermined value of coins required to actuate the device (9) at predetermined times.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
119 words
An operating system for a coin-freed machine, said system comprising a control unit (2), an operating device (9) within the machine (1) operable when actuated to put the machine into an operational state, and a coin mechanism (17) which is pre-set to actuate the operating device (9) when coins to a predetermined value have been inserted into the mechanism (17), characterised in that the coin mechanism is provided within the unit, and electronic circuitry (18) is provided within the unit connected to the coin mechanism, said circuitry including a real time clock (18b) and being arranged to change the said pre-setting so as to change the predetermined value of coins required to actuate the device (9) at predetermined times.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 13, which is also a system according to any one of claims 1 to 12.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.