Abstract: An electronically actuated coin slider provides an appearance and operation similar to a conventional coin-activated slider without the use of coins. A card reader activates the coin slider and allows a user to push the slide bar to actuate a game, machine, or device in a manner similar to that of a convention slider. A servo motor engages or disengages latching hooks to prevent or allow operation of the slide bar.

Abstract: A gas cylinder lease system is disclosed, comprising one or more lease equipments and a cloud server equipment, wherein the inside of the lease equipment is installed with at least one placement rack area for accommodating the gas cylinder; accordingly, after any one of the lease equipments has been rented and at least one gas cylinder has been taken out, the renter may subsequently return the used gas cylinder to the lease main rack located at the same or different locations, with the use status of each placement rack area being uploaded to the cloud server equipment in real-time thereby monitoring the operation status of each lease equipment and executing corresponding replenishment and maintenance tasks in a timely fashion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vending system for supply of product from a plurality of containers each having a corresponding access door having an electrically activatable lock arrangement 200. The system has an interface module by which a predetermined maximum electrical power is made available for supply to the containers and lock arrangements such that each lock arrangement has a plurality of operational modes. The modes include: an active mode by which the lock arrangement is activatable in response to a vending instruction; a standby mode by which the lock arrangement awaits a vending instruction; and a sleep mode by which the lock arrangement minimises power drawn from the interface module. The interface module operates the lock arrangements in the standby mode and the interface module operates at least one lock arrangement in the sleep mode, and at least one lock arrangement in the active mode.

Abstract: A snack dispenser comprises tiers stacked to resemble a wedding cake. Each tier includes a trough divided into transparent slots into which a snack may be placed. The troughs are mounted on a rotatable carousel having a transparent front shell with transparent locked doors therein. The doors are unlocked by a door control mechanism when coins of proper monetary value are inserted into a coin box. The coin box accepts and learns the value of different types of coins, or accepts personal identification numbers. Opening the door blocks the rotation of the carousel, blocks the opening of other doors, and resets the credit of the coins inserted. When closed, the door locks all doors until additional coins are inserted. Servicing the dispenser includes removal of the front shell, removal of empty tiers, and replacement of replenished tiers. All segments can be removed and collapsed into a flat position.

Abstract: A ball bearing actuation mechanism includes a circular gauge wheel rotatably mounted in an interior chamber of a housing below an inlet passage and adjacent to outlet and overflow discharge openings of the housing and a curved retainer wall mounted to the housing in the interior chamber adjacent to a peripheral groove on the gauge wheel so as to form a channel therebetween which extends between the inlet passage and discharge outlet opening of the housing. The peripheral groove has a length preset to receive a preset number of ball bearings in single file fashion therein when the ball bearings are deposited into interior chamber via the inlet passage such that any ball bearings above the preset number deposited into the inlet passage of the housing will divert to the overflow discharge outlet of the housing.

Abstract: A method of operating a memory includes generating a first reference voltage and detecting an active mode of operation of the memory. Upon detection of the active mode, commencing the charging of a node to develop a second reference voltage having a desired value on the node. The word line drive voltage is generated using the first reference voltage while the node is charging the second reference voltage to the desired value. The word line drive voltage is generated using the second reference voltage once the second reference voltage on the node has been charged to the desired value. A standby mode of operation of the memory is detected, and upon detection of the standby mode, the charging of the node is terminated and the word line drive voltage is generated using the first reference voltage.

Abstract: A snack dispenser consists of a series of tiers stacked to resemble a wedding cake. Each tier includes a trough divided into slots. A snack may be placed into each slot. The front of each slot is transparent. The troughs or trays are mounted on a rotatable carousel. The carousel is covered with a backshell and a transparent front shell. The front shell has transparent doors therein. By inserting a proper amount of money and aligning the carousel so that the desired snack is beneath a door; the door may be opened and the customer may withdraw his snack from that slot. The opening of the door blocks the rotation of the carousel, blocks the opening of the remaining doors, and also resets or cancels the credit of the coins inserted. When the single door is closed again, all doors will be blocked so that a person can not again open a door until proper coins are inserted. To service the dispenser the front shell is removed. A segment of all tiers is removed.

Abstract: A coin escrow unit including a first and a second body where the first body has a first and second flange, where the first flange is adapted to impart a tumbling movement to downwardly moving coins, and the second flange is downwardly distending, and where the second body has a downwardly distending flange, the downwardly distending flanges of the first and second bodies combining to form a coin retention assembly.

Abstract: A coin operated vending machine is disclosed having a mechanism for setting at least three prices at which an article is to be vended. Price selection is remotely effected by an externally accessible lock.

Abstract: A coin operated vending machine is disclosed having a mechanism for setting at least three prices at which an article is to be vended. Price selection is remotely effected by an externally accessible lock.

Abstract: A coin operated vending machine is disclosed having a mechanism for setting at least three prices at which an article is to be vended. Price selection is remotely effected by an externally accessible lock. A totalizer sums the inserted coins and in response to the insertion of the required amount permits the opening of the vending door. An important feature resides in the provision of a lock by which any one of the prices can be selected.