Abstract: An apparatus for suspending at least one current-carrying contact wire for current collectors of overhead line buses or trams comprises a connecting element is fixed to a support cable. The connecting element is formed from an insulating plastic material, preferably a glass fiber-reinforced polyamide, and forms a unitary shaped body having a receiving member for a support element which is adjustable relative thereto, for supporting the gripping member. The connecting element includes a support shoe with connection eye for an insert which can be fixed therein, for receiving the support element in a pivotable manner and a clamping cover which can be screwed to the support shoe. The support shoe and clamping cover are provided with a longitudinal groove for receiving the support cable in a non-slip fashion.

Abstract: A disc-type coin sorter comprises a rotatable disc with a resilient top surface. A stationary sorting head forms a queuing region to align the outer edges of the coins at a desired common radius, and a plurality of exit channels receive the queued coins and guide coins of different diameters to different exit stations along the periphery of the sorting head. The lower surface of the sorting head is positioned parallel to the upper surface of the disc and spaced slightly therefrom, to press coins of all denominations downwardly into the resilient top surface at predetermined sections thereof. A pair of recycle channels recirculates coins in the queuing region if the outer edges of these coins are located inwardly of the desired common radius.

Abstract: A charging cord box has a first opening facing a cord outlet lid and a second opening at a substantially right angle to the first opening. A charging cord is passed through the first opening and the second opening. In storing the charging cord in the box, the charging cord can be lowered spontaneously by its own weight. Further, in drawing the charging cord from the box, a base portion of the charging cord is merely bent and no undue external force is applied to the charging cord. Accordingly, damage to the charging cord can be suppressed.

Abstract: Coin-controlled apparatus for locking shopping carts together in nested series at a cart parking station having coin-controlled mechanism mounted on a cart, e.g. on the handle of the cart, which is adapted for receiving and releasably locking therein a latch bar on a tether which is attached to the next cart in the nested series. Deposit of a coin is required to release the latch bar to free the cart for being wheeled away by the user. The coin is held until the user brings the cart back to a cart parking station, nests it in the end cart at the parking station, and inserts the latch bar which is tethered to the end cart in the mechanism to lock the returned cart to the series and to provide for return of the user's coin. The apparatus has a detent arrangement permitting reduction in its size.

Abstract: A coin discriminating apparatus includes a light emitter for illuminating the surface of a coin, a light receiver for receiving reflected light from the surface of the coin and producing pattern data of the coin, a pattern data memory for storing the pattern data of the coin produced by the light receiver, a reference data memory for storing reference pattern data of each denomination, a magnetic sensor for detecting a material of the coin, a first discriminator for determining the denomination of the coin based on the material of the coin detected by the sensor, a second discriminator for determining the denomination of the coin based on the diameter of the coin, a denomination discriminator for determining the denomination of the coin based on the determined results by the first and second discriminators, a data comparator for reading reference pattern data corresponding to the denomination of the coin stored in the reference data memory based on the determined result by the denomination discriminator and c

Abstract: The invention relates to a current collector for an electrically powered vehicle. The collector includes a current collecting member which collects current from a current supplying body and conducts the current to a load in the vehicle. The current collecting member is coupled to a driving system through a first insulating element. The driving system moves the current collecting member to the current supplying body. A sensor for controlling the driving system is positioned between the driving system and the insulating element.

Abstract: A cart management apparatus for retaining and vending carts such as luggage carts, shopping carts, and strollers, includes a retaining rail for receiving cart keys disposed on the carts, a rotatable paddlewheel including a plurality of paddles, at least one of which projects into the retaining rail to provide an obstruction therein, an electromagnetic brake coupled to the paddlewheel to selectively inhibit rotation of the paddlewheel and restrict removal of cart keys from the rail, and a one-way clutch, also coupled to the paddlewheel to allow free rotation of the paddlewheel in a return direction to allow cart keys to be inserted into the retaining rail when carts are returned to the apparatus. The preferred apparatus may be used with existing carts which are retrofit with cart keys that are suitable for being retained within the rail.

Abstract: A coin validating system typically used in a coin operated machine electrically couples a stationary coin to the tuning coils of an oscillator circuit. While the coin is in a stationary position and the oscillator is tuned to a first rest frequency, the output frequency and output amplitude of the oscillator is measured. The metal coin will increase the signal frequency from its rest frequency and will decrease the signal amplitude from its rest amplitude. While the coin is stationary, frequency and amplitude are measured and compared with expected parameters of a valid coin. If a match is made, the rest frequency of the oscillator circuit is changed. At the second test frequency, signal frequency and amplitude are measured and compared with expected frequency and amplitude parameters for a valid coin. Only if a match is made at both the high frequency and the low frequency is an accept gate actuated.

Abstract: A device for servicing a vending machine including i) a chip card reader for receiving payments to the vending machine and transferring information elements from the vending machine to the device, ii) a servicing door, and iii) a lock for preventing opening of the servicing door.

Abstract: An unacceptable coin removing apparatus for a coin handling machine includes a rotatable disk for receiving coins deposited into the coin handling machine and feeding coins one by one into a coin passage provided with a reference guide rail and a facing guide rail facing the reference guide rail, transporting belts for transporting coins in the coin passage, sensors for detecting coins, a first projecting member which can be projected from the reference guide rail into the coin passage, a second projecting member which can be projected from the facing guide rail into the coin passage, a coin collecting opening and a controller for controlling the operation of the first projecting member, the second projecting member, the transporting belts and the rotatable disk. When the sensors detect an acceptable coin, the controller does not actuate the first and second projecting members.

Abstract: A coin sensor, such as a post acceptance sensor for a coin validator, at a coin sensing station on a coin path having a sidewall, includes optical source and detector pairs that detect the presence of the coin by reflection of source radiation to the detector by the coin's surface. In order to improve sensitivity the side wall has an angled surface configuration which inhibits reflection of radiation from each source to the detectors in the absence of a coin.

Abstract: The present invention is a coin sorter apparatus for sorting a group of mixed coins by denomination and immediately terminating the sorting process in response to a predetermined operating condition, such as the filling of a coin receptacle with a predetermined number of coins. Sorting is provided by a stationary sorting head and a rotatable disc positioned sufficiently proximate to one another so that when the group of mixed coins are dropped into the center opening of the stationary sorting head, they are rotated by the rotating disc and guided by the sorting head on a outward spiral sorting path to exit channels along the periphery of the stationary sorting head. Each of the exit channels acts as an exit chute for a particular coin denomination by releasing pressure on that particular coin and freeing the coin to move outwardly along the exit channel and exit into a coin receptacle.

Abstract: A coin delivering apparatus includes a coin escalator having a coin passage where coins advance in a row. A gate is provided at a side wall of the coin passage for opening and closing a portion of the side wall. A coin delivering unit is further provided to deliver the coins toward an inlet of the coin passage in sequence. When the gate is closed, the coins delivered by the coin delivering unit advance into the coin passage via the inlet thereof and are forced out from an outlet of the coin passage. When the gate is opened while no coins are delivered by the coin delivering unit, the coins remaining in the coin passage are transferred by the coin delivering unit to a coin collecting opening to be discharged therethrough.

Abstract: A harp for an electric trolley bus having a channeled shoe member for sliding engagement with a conducting wire. The channeled shoe member is mounted onto the uppemost member of a ball-and-socket swivel joint, and includes an improved shunt member extending through the lowermost member of the ball-and-socket swivel joint for carrying electric current from the swivel joint to a transmission cable provided to deliver electric current into the trolley bus. The shunt comprises a flexible length of conductive cable, with a graphite contact secured at a first end, and a copper contact secured at a second end, and includes a coil spring to maintain the two contacts biased against their respective adjacent conducting elements, and the graphite contact is adapted to be worn by the swiveling action of the swivel joint to mate with the micro-spherical topography of the adjacent contacting portion of the ball-and-socket swivel joint.

Abstract: The conveyor safety circuit (40) is connected on remotely operated vehicles (12) each having on-board controllers (28) which automatically run along guide rails (18) powered from power rails (20) extending along the guide rails (18). The safety circuit (40) interrupts power to the on-board controllers (28) when neutral is lost or during power down. The safety circuit (40) will provide power to the vehicle (12) during brief interruptions of power or neutral, i.e., brush skips, without vehicle (12) shut down.

Abstract: A conveyor includes electrification rails and modules mounted on those rails to provide electricity to a pallet, so that appliances being carried on the pallet can be plugged in as they travel along the conveyor. The modules include an improved T-shaped shoe for contacting the bottom surface of the pallet, toe bars which prevent the shoe from pivoting sideways as the pallet pushes on the shoe, and a switch for turning power to the shoe on and off, depending upon whether there is a pallet on top of the shoe.

Abstract: A coin handling system comprises a coin-driving member having a resilient surface and a stationary coin-guiding member having a coin-guiding surface opposing the resilient surface of the coin-driving member. The coin-guiding surface is positioned generally parallel to the resilient surface and spaced slightly therefrom. The resilient surface of the coin-driving member moves coins along the coin-guiding surface of the coin-guiding member. The coin handling system uses a lubrication distribution system to reduce friction between the coins and the coin-guiding surface of the coin-guiding member. The lubrication distribution system includes at least one cavity formed in the coin-guiding surface of the coin-guiding member. A reservoir stores a lubrication fluid, and a supply tubing is used to convey the lubrication fluid from the reservoir to the cavity. A control system regulates the flow of the lubrication fluid from the reservoir to the cavity via the supply tubing.

Abstract: A multi-product, self-service merchandising kiosk having a walk-in enclosure, interactive selection panel, illuminated merchandise display, internal drink dispenser and modular, dry goods dispenser having multi-compartmented inventory shelving and bottomless storage drawers. Purchases are selected via audio visual instructions entered at an interactive touch panel containing graphical icons, and a monitor having a menu and overlaid with an array of infrared transmitters and receivers. A programmable controller controls the drink and dry goods dispensers, manages payment transactions via a bill receiver, coin changer, credit card verifier, and receipt printer and provides periodic inventory status reports. A merchandise selector includes a motor driven, track supported collection bin and electromagnetic drawer puller. The selector aligns the bin to selected inventory drawers, extends and retracts the drawers and conveys the selected merchandise to a customer dispenser.

Abstract: A current collecting apparatus provided with sliders 2 for collecting electric power from a power feeder 1, a current collector 3 for collecting power, an insulator for insulating and supporting the current collector 3, and a flexible conductor for delivering the power collected by the current collector 3 to a conductor 5, which is connected to the flexible conductor and used for supplying the power to the vehicle side. The conductor 5 and the insulator 4 are disposed so that the former is offset with respect to the latter in the crosswise direction of a railway vehicle. With this arrangement, aerodynamic noise emanating from the current collector loaded on the vehicle running at high speed can be substantially reduced.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a coin checking device includes inserting a calibrating module into a coin passage. The coin passage contains at least one coin sensor for determining a coin's physical features. The calibrating module generates measuring signals which simulate an acceptable coin's presence. The measuring signals are received by the at least one coin sensor which in turn outputs sensor signals. The measuring signals and the sensor signals are used to calculate a calibration factor for the coin checking device.