Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of monitoring, cashing up and collecting money from coin-operated machines, which are connected individually or in groups with change dispensers, at least one of the change dispensers being a master change dispenser and the remainder of the change dispensers being slave change dispensers, the method including the steps of transferring excess coins from the machines to the dispensers, feeding coins to coin strongboxes of the dispensers, and, within each dispenser, 1) feeding coins to a payout tray by a coin sorting device in accordance with a banknote to be changed, and 2) feeding inserted banknotes into a banknote collecting container, the method further comprising the steps of a) adding and storing the value of coins being fed by each coin sorting device, b) adding and storing the value of the banknotes fed into each change dispenser and accumulated in each banknote collecting container, c) transferring data representing the stored values of the banknotes and coins by a radio equipment from each slave change dispenser to the master change dispenser, d) transferring data from the master change dispenser to a central control device, the control device evaluating the data transferred to it and monitoring the operation of the change dispensers, and e) cashing up the change dispensers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of monitoring, cashing up and collecting money from coin-operated machines, which are connected individually or in groups with change dispensers, at least one of the change dispensers being a master change dispenser and the remainder of the change dispensers being slave change dispensers, the method including the steps of transferring excess coins from the machines to the dispensers, feeding coins to coin strongboxes of the dispensers, and, within each dispenser, 1) feeding coins to a payout tray by a coin sorting device in accordance with a banknote to be changed, and 2) feeding inserted banknotes into a banknote collecting container, the method further comprising the steps of a) adding and storing the value of coins being fed by each coin sorting device, b) adding and storing the value of the banknotes fed into each change dispenser and accumulated in each banknote collecting container, c) transferring data representing the stored values of the banknotes and coins by a radio equipment from each slave change dispenser to the master change dispenser, d) transferring data from the master change dispenser to a central control device, the control device evaluating the data transferred to it and monitoring the operation of the change dispensers, and e) cashing up the change dispensers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the master change dispenser records the data transferred to it by the slave change dispensers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the data transfer between the master change dispenser and the slave change dispensers is performed in short, cyclic, time intervals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein within each change dispenser coins are fed to the payout tray as directed by the central control device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein unsorted coins are fed to the coin sorting device from a hopper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein the data transferred is coded.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the data transferred between the master change dispenser and the central control device is coded.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 7, wherin the master change dispenser receives a password as code before it transfers data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the data transfer between the master change dispenser and the central control device is executed via a modem or by radio equipment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said coin-operated machines are vending machines.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said coin-operated machines are gambling machines.