Abstract: A coin changer including a coin changer housing comprising a coin storage cassette. The coin storage cassette comprises a plurality of coin stores. A light source is located within the housing that directs light onto the coin stores with the light source providing sufficient light to allow a user to substantially view the coin stores in the absence of another light source.

Abstract: A bill validator for a vending machine including a bill validator housing having a pair of wing deflectors associated therewith in a sliding arrangement and a bezel having at least two indicator apertures in a faceplate portion thereof and further comprising a pair of opposing mounting wings, the mounting wings comprising retainer portions, the retainer portions comprising ramped surfaces and retainer surfaces on inner surfaces of the wings. The retainer portions cooperate with bezel mount apertures formed in the bill validator housing to retain the bezel upon the bill validator housing. The wing deflectors comprise tapered surfaces at an end adjacent to the mounting wings, the tapered surfaces when brought into contact with the mounting wings resiliently force the mounting wings outwardly to disengage the retainer portions from the bezel mount apertures to allow disassociation of the bezel from the bill validator housing.

Abstract: A method is shown providing a Bill Validator that is adaptable for bill payback by utilizing an attachable bill hopper module to fit between the bill Stacker and the Bill Validator. A construction is shown providing a bill Validator utilizing an attachable bill hopper module fitted between the bill Stacker and the bill Validator that fits in the same “envelope” with an existing Bill Validator with Stacker. A method and construction is shown where higher bill security is provided when the power is off. A method and construction is shown where higher bill security is provided when humidity and icing occur in and around the inlet.

Abstract: A method of examining a coin for determining the validity of its denomination, comprises the steps of moving a coin through a passageway, sensing said moving coin in said passageway with one or more sensors to interact with said moving coin and provide at least two values indicative of the said coin, calculating two or more coin features by using said at least two values, determining that said coin features values lie between predetermined minimum and maximum stored values, applying predetermined coefficients of weighted-error to each of said coin features, calculating weighted-error correlation coefficients using two or more of the said coin feature values, and determining validity when the said calculated weighted-error correlation coefficient is above predetermined minimum stored values, or when said coefficient is the maximum of all calculated coefficients.

Abstract: A cassette having a plurality of coin stores for storing and dispensing coins in a coin changer, the coin stores arranged in a plurality of rows of coin stores, and a coin reject path for transporting coins that have been rejected by the coin changer, the coin reject path being disposed between rows of the coin stores.

Abstract: A device for sensing predetermined characteristics of an object such as a coin or a token in order to determine its validity or genuineness and in some cases its denomination, the device including a combination of optical and electromagnetic sensors which operate together along a coin path and capable to analyze the coin or token in different positions so that if there are multiple holes or rings of transparent material they can be sensed and used to determine the coin or token's validity and denomination.

Abstract: A method of receiving and paying out bills including the steps of providing a bill passage in about the central portion of an elongate casing that extends along one side of a bill receiving chamber having a bill payback: outlet; providing a bill conveying apparatus for conveying a bill delivered to said bill passage to a predetermined position for receiving it; utilizing a bill pushing member being capable of moving in a reciprocating motion across said passage to bill receiving chamber when the bill located at said predetermined position in said passage to be received, effects receiving of the bill by pushing it with a surface of said bill pushing member across from said passage; disengaging the rearmost bill from said bill receiving chamber by operating bill extracting apparatus in the reverse direction by a predetermined amount while said bill pushing member is activated causing it to extract away and pull out from a rearmost bill leading edge retainer which holds the remaining bills in position; and, oper

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for selection of vendible products provides designated product reference areas at a refrigerated double glass front vending machine for making viewable product selections thereon by applying a light tap at its outer glass pane and sensing the tap location by three or more spaced apart resilient members each having its first portion attached at the inner glass pane. The resilient member's second portion suspends an inertia mass that reciprocates at a predetermined rate due to the inertia mass weight and the resiliency of the suspending member. A sensor senses the reciprocating movement in response to the light tap. The location of the tap is determined by measuring the arrival time of each predetermined signal produced by the first resonating alternation of its attached resiliently suspended inertia mass during the first rearward movement of the inner glass pane.

Abstract: A vending machine and a method of use having a solid front. The solid front has an inner and outer surface. The solid front defined a plurality of product selection areas, each of the product selection areas associated with a product vendable by said vending machine. A plurality of sense electrodes are placed on the inner surface of the solid front of the vending machine, each of said electrodes associated with one of the product selection areas. The sense electrodes are physically isolated from the outer surface of the solid front by the solid front. A circuit electrically connects to the sense electrodes and determined whether a customer has contacted the outer surface in one of the product selection areas. The circuit communicates information indicating that a product selection area has been touched to a vending machine controller, and the vending machine vends the product.

Abstract: A device for dispensing coins comprising a plurality of hoppers arranged adjacent a sloped coin ramp. The hoppers are located to eject coins from the hopper onto the coin ramp. At least one hopper is mounted on a hopper shim such that the hoppers are installed at a plurality of heights. The hoppers further arranged in at least two rows with the coin ramp disposed therebetween and at least one hopper including a hopper bin that is of extended height with respect to another hopper bin.

Abstract: A coin changer having a funnel portion, a coin changer body, and an acceptor removably mounted to the coin changer body. The funnel portion has a front funnel portion, two side funnel portions and a rear funnel portion. The rear funnel portion is attached to the coin changer body and the front funnel portion is attached to the acceptor.

Abstract: A tray for a product vending machine including a flat base upon which product to be vended may be placed. A plurality of walls are attached to the base which define rows into which product is organized. A channel within the flat base houses a threaded shaft. The threaded shaft threadingly attaches to a product drive member.

Abstract: A system and method of delivering products from a vending machine having a number of selectable product storage locations comprising actively moving products using a product delivery mechanism associated with each of said selected product storage locations, driving an endless element having at least one engagement finger that is moved in a first direction by an actuator to engage one of a number of rotatable drive elements each connected to said product delivery mechanism, driving said endless element with said engagement finger in a second direction by reversing said actuator and going past said rotatable drive elements without engagement to provide for the selection of other products.

Abstract: A device for dispensing bulk-loaded coins including a transport unit having a transport unit frame, an electric motor driving a drive gear, a rotor and a transport slide. The drive gear further includes a drive pin. The rotor agitates coins located within a bin of a bulk-loaded coin hopper when rotated in a first direction and relaxes coins within the bin when rotated in a second direction. The rotor is rotatable by an associated drive gear. The transport slide includes a central bore and flexible member. The flexible member defines a home position deflection ramp and a home position clearance path. The home position deflection ramp and home position clearance path are located in a position such that the drive pin causes the transport slide to reciprocate when the drive gear is operated in a first direction and to remain stationary when the drive gear is operated in a second, different direction.

Abstract: A system and process for controlling one or more vending machine devices, including the provision of a communications and control system for effecting an interchange of information over a wireless bus between and among the vending machine devices, the communications and control system including a plurality of communications portions associated with respective vending machine components and operable to transmit and receive short distance communications signals, the vending machine components being positioned within range of the short distance communications signals to define a peer-to-peer network having a wireless communications bus accessible through the communications portions interconnecting the positioned vending machine components for point-to-point communications.

Abstract: A coin payout device has a slider with a coin receiving hole for receiving a coin. The slider is reciprocable between a first position whereat the hole is at a coin discharging station and a second position whereat the hole is at a coin receiving station. A rotary coin orienting device is located at the coin receiving station for orienting coins parallel to the hole by a rotary action. A motor drives the slider from the first position to the second position and simultaneously rotates the rotary coin orienting device. In order to prevent damage in the event of jams, the motor is not used to drive the slider from the second position to the first position and instead springs are used.

Abstract: A system for controlling one or more vending machines each of which has an associated module which can send and receive radio frequency signals, the system including a central data collection device which includes a device for sending radio frequency signals which can be intercepted by and used to control the operation of a selected one or more of the vending machines, each vending machine having elements for using the radio frequency signals it receives from the central data collection device to vend products selected by a customer, the central collection device includes a mechanism for determining the amount of deposits or credit entry in excess of the selected vends for returning this excess deposits or credit entry to the customer based on the amount of credit or deposits entered and the cost of the products selected to be vended by the vending machines.

Abstract: A dispensed product detection system and method for use in a refrigerated vending machine utilizing an optical light beam crossing the path through which a dispensed product travels. An optical emitter transmits a light beam through at least one layer of substantially transparent anti-fog film to reduce moisture condensation and across the product path to an optical detector wherein signal intensity is measured. As a dispensed product passes through the light beam between the emitter and the detector, the beam is momentarily broken, resulting in a change in signal intensity at the infrared detector which is registered as the vend of a product.

Abstract: A device for determining a level of objects in a hopper comprises a hopper for storing and dispensing objects, a pair of sensors positioned within the hopper for sensing one or more of the objects within the hopper, and a processor connected to the pair of sensors for receiving signals indicative of the pair of sensors sensing one or more of the objects, the processor for determining the level of objects within the hopper based upon tracking a trend in the signals.