US3841457A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for automatic collection of coins in coin-operated apparatus
Assignee: Glory Ltd
•
Filing: 1972-09-01
•
Granted: 1974-10-15
•
Expires: 1992-09-01
Abstract
Abstract Coins inserted into the slots of apparatus having a number of coin-operated units in vertical and horizontal arrangement are dropped through vertical chutes onto a conveyor belt housed in a hollow base structure supporting the apparatus thereon. The conveyor belt may be operated intermittently by a timer mechanism to collect the coins dropped thereon during each predetermined length of time into a receptacle positioned adjacent one of its ends.
Inventors
- 👤 M Tanaka
- 👤 S Kawasaki
- 👤 T Kaneda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:24
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D9/00; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/10; G07F17/12; G07F9/00; G07F9/06; G07F9/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A coin collecting apparatus for use in rental lockers, automatic vending machines, and the like which have a plurality of coin-operated units disposed in a plurality of rows and columns, said apparatus comprising in combination with said coinoperated units: a hollow base structure for mounting said plurality of coinoperated units; a plurality of members for fixing said coin-operated units onto said base structure; a plurality of chutes extending vertically along the respective columns of said coin-operated units for directing the coins downwardly therethrough; coin conveyor means extending horizontally within said hollow base structure for carrying the coins discharged thereon through said chutes toward one end thereof; driving means for driving said conveyor means; drive-control means for controlling the starting and stopping of said drive means, said drive-control means including a timer means for controlling the automatic operation of said driving means at predetermined time intervals; and a coin receptacle disposed adjacent said one end of said conveyor means for collecting therein the coins carried by said conveyor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A coin collecting apparatus for use in rental lockers, automatic vending machines, and the like which have a plurality of coin-operated units disposed in a plurality of rows and columns, said apparatus comprising in combination with said coinoperated units: a hollow base structure for mounting said plurality of coinoperated units; a plurality of members for fixing said coin-operated units onto said base structure; a plurality of chutes extending vertically along the respective columns of said coin-operated units for directing the coins downwardly therethrough; coin conveyor means extending horizontally within said hollow base structure for carrying the coins discharged thereon through said chutes toward one end thereof; driving means for driving said conveyor means; drive-control means for controlling the starting and stopping of said drive means, said drive-control means including a timer means for controlling the automatic operation of said driving means at predetermined time intervals; and a coin receptacle disposed adjacent said one end of said conveyor means for collecting therein the coins carried by said conveyor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lock and a key which allow removal of coins collected in said coin receptacle by particular individuals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for protecting the coins from jumping out of said coin conveyor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said conveyor means comprises a drive roller, means for imparting rotation to said drive roller, a plurality of guide rollers, and a conveyor belt disposed around said drive roller and said guide rollers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, including a channel-shaped guide extending under the upper stretch of said conveyor belt tO keep the same substantially U-shaped in cross section and thus to prevent the coins from falling off the lateral edges of said conveyor belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which said conveyor belt has a number of perforations along both later edges thereof to receive a plurality of pins formed correspondingly along both lateral edges of said drive roller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
91 words
A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said conveyor means comprises a supply roller, a take-up roller, a plurality of guide rollers, a conveyor belt extending from said supply roller to said take-up roller over and around said guide rollers, and means for intermittently imparting rotation to said take-up roller to move said conveyor belt over said guide rollers by winding the same on said take-up roller, said supply roller being kept energized in a direction such as to cause said conveyor belt to be rewound thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising switch means capable of preventing said means from imparting rotation to said take-up roller when actuated, and a switch-actuating member mounted in such a position on said conveyor belt as to move into contact with said switch means to actuate the same when said conveyor belt has been moved a predetermined distance from said supply roller to said take-up roller to collect the coins dropped thereon in said receptacle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a stop for preventing the coins from falling off said conveyor belt during the rewinding operation thereof.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |