Other

Glenview Systems Inc.

Allan M Brown

James Anglehart

James J Grinsteiner

Michael J Sciortino

Ann Seymour

John A Forte

Denis Laniel

An automatic hopper fill system for a coin dispensing machine. An auxiliary coin reservoir container is positioned entirely within the machine to perform the hopper fill function when the hopper becomes empty. The container includes an opening or chute which is normally blocked by an electro-mechanically controlled release door and opened electronically by a circuit which reads a hopper empty code generated to release the auxiliary coin reserve into the hopper. An indicator light is mounted on the external surface of the machine to indicate that the auxiliary container has released the coin reserve into the hopper so that the auxiliary container can be re-filled with coins at a convenient time.

Automatic hopper fill system for coin dispensing machines

A panel 15 has a plurality of keys 12 and associated LEDs 14. The panel 15 is divided up into product characteristic columns 16 and at least one recommended product column 18. The array of product characteristic selection keys are used for inputting at least one selection of a plurality of product characteristics. The LEDs associated with the product characteristic selection keys indicate selected ones of the plurality of product characteristics. A logic controller interprets the key presses and accordingly controls the illumination of the LEDs. Selection of a product characteristic from each of the categories 16 will typically cause at least one recommended product to be indicated in the group of products 18. Pressing on one of the keys 12 in column 18 can optionally cause an automatic indication of all product characteristics which can be associated with the selected product. A sheet containing the labeling information on the front panel may be replaceable and the logic controller may be reprogrammable to allow the same apparatus to be updated and reused.

Information display apparatus

The electronic funds acceptor has a memory for storing the maximum value of a vending machine product to reduce the number of coin or bill received signals to be generated and sent to the electronics in the vending machine which authorize purchase of goods from the vending machine. The acceptor also has a memory for recording incomplete transaction records so that a purchase transaction can be completed later in the case that the user removes the medium from the vending machine once the transaction is in progress. The acceptor also has a memory for storing the total amount of goods purchased using electronic funds so that the total purchase amount from all vending machines can be compared to the total amount of funds loaded onto the electronic funds recording medium to check for fraud or abuse of the system. As a further measure of security, the acceptor has a memory for storing an incrementable use marker in association with each identification number of all electronic funds data recording media which carry a copy of the use marker. If the use marker is determined by the acceptor to precede the marker recorded in memory in the acceptor, the transaction is prevented since the given medium would necessarily be a copy. The vending machine using the funds acceptor has a product price memory for determining a product price as a function of time of day and the recording medium identification number.

Electronic funds acceptor for vending machines

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St. Hubert, Canada

Allan M Brown