Vending machine lock with motor controlled slide-bar and hook mechanism and electronic access

• US 10,174,522 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2014
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Triteq Lock & Security LLC
• Original Assignee: Triteq Lock & Security LLC
• Inventors: Denison, William, Myers, Gary L., Paeth, Richard, Captarencu, Catalin, Roatis, Calin V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Merlino, Alyson M
• Application Number:
  US14/531,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20150069765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/026 the bolt moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/26 Interlocks, e.g. for locking the doors of compartments other than that to be used
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1021 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1079 Gear
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5093 For closures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7113 Projected and retracted electrically

Abstract

An enhanced slide and hook locking mechanism control system for vending machines and the like that utilizes a reversible motor and worm gear drive that operates the slide and book mechanism. The worm drive is coupled to the slide through a crankshaft type of interconnection. Or as alternatives, the slide means can be gear driven or it may be connected using push-pull type of cable or rod. An electronic control with a microcomputer interface drives the motor control and the system may be operated by a keypad or a remote wireless control device.

Claims

1. A locking system for vending machines or cabinets wherein a door is selectively locked and unlocked to a cabinet on which the door is movably mounted, comprising in combination:

a slide mechanism linearly moveable and having either hooks or slots, the slide mechanism being carried either by the door or cabinet for selectively engaging the other of the door or cabinet having the other of the hooks or slots,

a mechanical driver engaging the slide mechanism for moving the slide mechanism between a lock position and an unlock position for locking and unlocking the door to the cabinet,

a gear reduction system connected to the mechanical driver for driving the mechanical driver to move the slide mechanism between the lock position and the unlock position and for imparting a resisting force to the mechanical driver which in turn transfers the resisting force to the slide mechanism,

a motor connected to the gear reduction system for driving the gear reduction system,

a motor control interface for actuating the motor to drive the gear reduction system to drive the mechanical driver to move the slide mechanism between the lock and unlock position so as to selectively lock and unlock the door from the cabinet; and

a keyless access control device for signaling to the motor controller interface to actuate the motor.

2. The locking system of claim 1, wherein the gear reduction system comprises at least one gear positioned between the motor and the mechanical driver.

3. The locking system of claim 2, wherein the at least one gear of the gear reducing system comprises at least two gears between the motor and the mechanical driver.

4. The locking system of claim 3, wherein the gear reduction system further comprises a gear box.

5. The locking system of claim 1, wherein the movement of the slide mechanism is completely powered by the motor through the gear reduction system and the mechanical driver.

6. The locking system of claim 5, wherein power to the motor is supplied by at least one battery.

7. The locking system of claim 1, wherein the keyless access control device is an electronic remote.

8. The locking system of claim 1, wherein the keyless access control device is a removable keypad transmission device for providing an access code.

9. The locking system of claim 1, wherein the gear reduction system for imparting the resisting force to the slide mechanism comprises a helical gear, a worm gear, and a gear box.

10. A locking system for vending machines or cabinets wherein a door is selectively locked and unlocked to a cabinet on which the door is movably mounted, comprising in combination:

a slide mechanism linearly moveable and having either hooks or slots, the slide mechanism being carried either by the door or cabinet for selectively engaging the other of the door or cabinet having the other of the hooks or slots,

a mechanical driver engaging the slide mechanism for moving the slide mechanism between a lock position and an unlock position for locking and unlocking the door to the cabinet,

a gear reduction system connected to the mechanical driver for driving the mechanical driver to move the slide mechanism between the lock position and the unlock position and for imparting a resisting force to the mechanical driver which in turn transfers the resisting force to the slide mechanism,

a motor connected to the gear reduction system for driving the gear reduction system; and

a motor control interface for actuating the motor to drive the gear reduction system to drive the mechanical driver to move the slide mechanism between the lock and unlock position so as to selectively lock and unlock the door from the cabinet;

wherein the motor control interface is adapted to actuate the motor via at least two of sensor switches, motor current monitors, and timers.

11. A vending machine locking system providing for keyless entry to an interior of a vending machine, the locking system comprising:

a sliding lock mechanism linearly moveable and having hooks or slots and being positionable in a lock position and an unlock position, wherein the sliding lock mechanism is adapted to selectively engage at least one portion of the vending machine via the hooks or slots to prevent access to the interior of the vending machine when in the lock position, and is adapted to allow access to the interior of the vending machine when in the unlock position;

a motor controlled mechanism engaging the sliding lock mechanism to move the sliding lock mechanism between the lock position and the unlock position;

a gear reduction system connected to the motor controlled mechanism for driving the motor controlled mechanism and for imparting a resisting force to the motor controlled mechanism which in turn transfers the resisting force to the sliding lock mechanism, wherein the gear reduction system includes at least one gear positioned between the motor and the motor controlled mechanism;

a motor engaging the gear reduction system for moving the gear reduction system to drive the motor controlled mechanism to move the sliding lock mechanism;

an electronic motor controller for selectively actuating the motor to move the gear reduction system; and

a keyless access control device for signaling to the electronic motor controller to actuate the motor.

12. The vending machine locking system of claim 11, wherein the electronic motor controller actuates the motor via at least two of sensor switches, motor current monitors, and timers.

13. The vending machine locking system of claim 11, wherein the movement of the sliding lock mechanism is completely powered by the motor through the gear reduction system and the motor controlled mechanism.

14. The vending machine locking system of claim 13, wherein power to the motor is supplied by at least one battery.

15. The vending machine locking system of claim 11, wherein the keyless access control device is an electronic remote.

16. The vending machine locking system of claim 11, wherein the keyless access control device is a removable keypad transmission device for providing an access code.

17. The vending machine locking system of claim 11, wherein the gear reduction system for imparting the resisting force to the sliding lock mechanism comprises a helical gear, a worm gear, and a gear box.

18. The vending machine locking system of claim 11, wherein the gear reduction system comprises at least two gears between the motor and the motor controlled mechanism.

19. The vending machine locking system of claim 18, wherein the gear reduction system further comprises a gear box.

20. A method for keyless entry to an interior of a vending machine or cabinet, comprising the steps of:

signaling via a keyless access control device to an electronic motor controller;

actuating a motor via the electronic motor controller;

moving a motor controlled mechanism via the motor and a gear reducing system having at least one gear positioned between the motor and the motor controlled mechanism;

selectively linearly moving a sliding lock mechanism, having hooks or slots, between a lock position and an unlock position via the motor controlled mechanism, wherein the sliding lock mechanism selectively engages at least one portion of the vending machine via the hooks or slots to prevent access to the interior; and

reducing motor rotation via the gear reducing system to impart a resisting force to the motor controlled mechanism and through to the sliding lock mechanism.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of actuating the motor via the electronic motor controller further comprises utilizing at least two of sensor switches, motor current monitoring, and timers.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the movement of the sliding lock mechanism is completely powered by the motor through the gear reducing system and the motor controlled mechanism.

23. The locking system of claim 22, wherein power to the motor is supplied by at least one battery.

24. A method for keyless entry to an interior of a vending cabinet having a door movably mounted to the vending cabinet, comprising the steps of:

providing a sliding lock mechanism carried by either the door or the vending cabinet, the sliding lock mechanism having at least one hook or at least one slot;

signaling via a keyless access control device to an electronic motor controller;

actuating a motor via the electronic motor controller;

moving a motor controlled mechanism via the motor and a gear reducing system having at least one gear positioned between the motor and the motor controlled mechanism;

selectively moving the sliding lock mechanism between one of a lock position and an unlock position via the motor controlled mechanism such that the at least one hook or at least one slot of the sliding lock mechanism selectively engages with the at least one slot or at least one hook carried by the other of the door or the vending cabinet, so as to prevent access to the interior of the vending cabinet while in the lock position; and

reducing rotation, produced by the motor when the motor is actuated, via the gear reducing system and imparting a resisting force from the gear reducing system to the motor controlled mechanism and there through to the sliding lock mechanism to resist an external prying force from moving the sliding lock mechanism out of the lock position.