Coin apparatus

Claim 2

Coin apparatus comprising first and second coin chutes, means for arresting a number of coins in the first chute and diverting the next coin to the second chute, and means responsive to passage of said next coin through the second chute for operating a credit register, the means for arresting coins in the first chute comprising a gate carrying a stop, said gate being movable between a closed position wherein the stop extends across the first chute and an open position wherein the stop is withdrawn from the first chute, said gate being adapted to carry the stop in various positions for arresting different numbers of coins, a latch for latching the gate in closed position, said means responsive to passage of the said next coin through the second chute acting to release the latch and thereby open the gate, and wherein the latch is adapted to operate the credit register.

Claim 3

Coin apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having means for resetting the latch in latching position holding the gate closed.

Claim 4

Coin apparatus for controlling the operation of a vending machine, said coin apparatus having a credit accumulator operable through a basic 5-cent increment corresponding to deposit of a nickel, means for operating the credit accumulator through one such increment in response to deposit of a nickel, means for operating the credit accumulator through two of said 5-cent increments in response to deposit of a dime, and means for operating the credit accumulator through five of said 5-cent increments in response to deposit of a quarter, said coin apparatus being adapted to control the vending machine to vend at a price P1 which is a whole multiple of 5 cents, and having reset means for resetting said credit accumulator to zero on a vend, the improvement comprising the provision of penny price means modifying said apparatus to control the vending machine to vend at a price P2 which is equal to P1 minus 5 cents plus N pennies, N being less than 5, comprising means for arresting N-1 pennies deposited in said machine, the Nth penny deposited in said machine being diverted from said arresting means for passage through the penny price means, means responsive to passage of said Nth penny through said penny price means for actuating the said means for operating the credit accumulator through a 5-cent increment, and means operable by said reset means of said apparatus for resetting said penny price means.

Claim 5

Coin apparatus for controlling the operation of a vending machine, said coin apparatus having a credit accumulator operable through a basic 5-cent increment corresponding to deposit of a nickel, means for operating the credit accumulator through one such increment in response to deposit of a nickel, means for operating the credit accumulator through two of said 5-cent increments in response to deposit of a dime, and means for operating the credit accumulator through five of said 5-cent increments in response to deposit of a quarter, said coin apparatus being adapted to control the vending machine to vend at a price P1 which is a whole multiple of 5 cents, and having reset means for resetting said credit accumulator to zero on a vend, the improvement comprising the provision of penny price means modifying said apparatus to control the vending machine to vend at a price P2 which is equal to P1 minus 5 cents plus N pennies, N being less than 5, comprising means for arresting N-1 pennies deposited in said machine, the Nth penny deposited in said machine being diverted from said arresting means for passage through the penny price means, means responsive to passage of said Nth penny through said penny price means for actuating the said means for operating the credit accumulator through a 5-cent increment, and means operable by said reset means of said apparatus for resetting said penny price means.

Claim 6

Coin apparatus for controlling the operation of a vending machine, said coin apparatus having a credit register operable through a basic 5-cent increment corresponding to deposit of a nickel, means for operating the credit register through one such increment in response to deposit of a nickel, means for operating the credit register through two of said 5-cent increments in response to deposit of a dime, and means for operating the credit register through five of said 5-cent increments in response to deposit of a quarter, said coin apparatus being adapted to control the vending machine to vend at a price P1 which is a whole multiple of 5 cents, means adapting said apparatus to control the vending machine to vend at a price P2 which is equal to P1 minus 5 cents plus N pennies, N being less than 5 , comprising a first penny chute, means for delivering pennies deposited in the vending machine to said first penny chute, a second penny chute, means for arresting N-1 pennies in said first penny chute, the Nth penny being diverted into the second penny chute, and means responsive to passage of the Nth penny through the second penny chute for actuating the said means for operating the credit register through a 5-cent increment, means for releasing the pennies arrested in the first chute for delivery to a money box in response to passage of the Nth penny through the second penny chute, said means for arresting pennies in the first penny chute comprising a gate carrying a stop, said gate being movable between a closed position wherein the stop extends across the first penny chute and an open position wherein the stop is withdrawn from the first penny chute, said gate being adapted for carrying the stop in a first position for arresting one penny, a second position for arresting two pennies and a third position for arresting three pennies, the first penny chute being adapted to be blocked against entry of any penny, the means for operating the credit register through a basic 5-cent increment including a trip wire, and having a latch for latching the gate in closed position, said latch being releasable for opening of the gate, and engaging said trip wire in moving to its released position.

Claim 7

Coin apparatus for controlling the operation of a vending machine, said coin apparatus having a credit register operable through a basic 5-cent increment corresponding to deposit of a nickel, means for operating the credit register through one such increment in response to deposit of a nickel, means for operating the credit register through two of said 5-cent increments in response to deposit of a dime, and means for operating the credit register through five of said 5-cent increments in response to deposit of a quarter, said coin apparatus being adapted to control the vending machine to vend at a price P1 which is a whole multiple of 5 cents, means adapting said apparatus to control the vending machine to vend at a price P2 which is equal to P1 minus 5 cents plus N pennies, N being less than 5 , comprising a first penny chute, means for delivering pennies deposited in the vending machine to said first penny chute, a second penny chute, means for arresting N-1 pennies in said first penny chute, the Nth penny being diverted into the second penny chute, and means responsive to passage of the Nth penny through the second penny chute for actuating the said means for operating the credit register through a 5-cent increment, means for releasing the pennies arrested in the first chute for delivery to a money box in response to passage of the Nth penny through the second penny chute, said means for arresting pennies in the first penny chute comprising a gate carrying a stop, said gate being movable between a closed position wherein the stop extends across the first penny chute and an open position wherein the stop is withdrawn from the first penny chute, said gate being adapted for carrying the stop in a first position for arresting one penny, a second position for arresting two pennies and a third position for arresting three pennies, the first penny chute being adapted to be blocked against entry of any penny, the means for operating the credit register through a basic 5-cent increment including a trip wire, and having a latch for latching the gate in closed position, said latch being releasable for opening of the gate, and engaging said trip wire in moving to its released position.