Mars, Incorporated

Michael Chittleborough

David Charles Deaville

Thomas E Shuren

Elwood E Barnes

Alan M Meeks

Peter R Johnson

Robert G Lloyd

Coin validators

An apparatus and method for reducing vandalism and minimizing damage from liquids injected into apertures of a vending machine is described. An anti-salting module, having a housing with an integral tray for collecting liquids, is connected beneath a bill validator in a vending machine A rubber fillet is connected to the rear of the bill validator and directs injected fluids to the tray. A moisture sensor integral to the tray is connected to detection and control circuitry. When moisture is detected, the detection and control circuitry operates to interrupt power and control signals to the bill validator. Other external sensors, such as a second moisture sensor and a continuity sensor for monitoring the status of other vending machine components, may also be connected to the detection and control circuitry. After moisture has been detected, vending machine power and control signals can be restored only when moisture is no longer present, and a SET switch is depressed by service personnel.

Vending machine apparatus and method to prevent fraud and minimize

A coin handling device (1) for guiding coins selectively along different paths according to denomination or type. The coin handling device comprises essentially a rectangular slab-like coin guiding element (5) pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis within a main body (4) and provided with actuating means (15, 18) operable to move the element (5) selectively into different working positions. In use, coins travelling downwardly through a vertical coin chute (23) will pass through a passage extending through the coin guiding element (5) when the element is in its central, upright position. In each of the other positions of the element (5), one or other of its rectangular faces (25) is positioned transversely in the path of coins from the vertical chute (23), so as to deflect and re-direct the coins along second or third paths. The coin handling device is capable of enabling coins to be guided along a selected path with the minimum height requirement and with only a single movable coin-guiding element (5).

Coin handling device

Growing community of inventors

Binfield, United Kingdom

Michael Chittleborough