Rowe International Corporation

Attwood Corporation

Donald A Dekker

Jeffrey J Kalis

Lloyd D Herring

James D Collins

Robert I Courts

Lawrence Zandstra

Michael R Nulph

A vending or merchandising machine is provided which includes a bulk-loaded coin hopper for providing change to a user of the machine. The vending machine may be operable in a change mode, wherein change is dispensed from the bulk loaded hopper in an amount equivalent to the amount of credit input into the machine by user, or a vending mode, where a user may select an item to be purchased, and receive the item and change in an amount equal to the input amount less the purchase price of the item. Preferably, the vending machine automatically switches to the change mode in response to an input threshold amount being inserted into the vending machine. Preferably, the vending machine further may be selectively switched to the change mode in response to a user input on a keypad or the like on the merchandising machine.

Merchandising machine with bulk coin hopper

A currency acceptor includes a currency acceptance and transport unit having a first housing and an actuatable latching assembly on the first housing. A cash box is provided having a second housing and an opening in the second housing configured to interface with the first housing in a manner that the actuatable latching assembly retains the housings together. In this manner, currency may be passed through the opening from the currency acceptance and transport unit to the cash box. A security cover is provided that is configured to engage the second housing over the opening. A locking mechanism is provided which includes a member which unlatches the latching assembly so that the cash box can be removed from the currency validation and transport assembly. The locking mechanism locks the security cover over the opening.

Currency acceptor with locking cash box

A bill box assembly for use with an acceptor adapted to insert acceptable bills into the box through an opening in the box body which supports a door for movement between an open position at which bills can be inserted and a closed position over the opening. A spring loaded bolt locks the box onto the acceptor. A lever is biased to cause a hook on one end thereof to enter an opening in the door in the closed position thereof to lock the door while the other end of the lever releases the bolt. A key-operated lock is adapted to move the lever out of its door locking position. The box is molded in two parts which are assembled with the belt in position.

Locked cassette bill box

A multiple bill escrow apparatus for forming a stack of successively received bills at an escrow location and for selectively moving the stack to a stacker or to a return in which a ram moves successively received bills to between pairs of first and second belt lengths to form the stack and in which the first and second belt lengths are mounted for relative movement to accomodate said stack and are concomitantly driven to move said stack out of the escrow position. Diverter belts are actuated selectively to direct the stack to a return path formed by pairs of third and fourth belt lengths mounted for relative movement to accommodate the stack and concomitantly driven to return the stack.

Multiple bill escrow mechanism

An improved compact bill acceptor having a frame provided with transport means for carrying a bill inserted therein along a path from an inlet to the space between a ram and the front opening of a bill box carried by the frame and a compound slide connected between the frame and the ram for reciprocating the ram to drive a positioned bill into the bill box. Preferably the bill box has open sides closed by side panels pivotally mounted on the frame to permit the box to be unloaded through one of the sides.

Compact bill acceptor

A steering wheel has a rim engaged by spokes radiating from a central hub. The central hub supports the spokes by means of radial openings having staked connecting points between the central hub and the spokes. Before staking, the spokes are movable within the radial openings so they can compensate for shrinkage of the rim during curing of the rim material or can engage of the steering rim to form the rim into a desired shape.

Boat steering wheel

A steering wheel has a rim engaged by spokes radiating from a central hub. The central hub supports the spokes by means of radial openings having staked connecting points between the central hub and the spokes. Before staking, the spokes are movable within the radial openings so they can compensate for shrinkage of the rim during curing of the rim material or can engage the steering rim to form the rim into a desired shape.

Growing community of inventors

Grand Rapids, MI, United States of America

Donald A Dekker