Money-Operated Machine and Method for Servicing It

• US 20070251798A1
• Filed: 11/25/2004
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Braukmann, Erwin, Aubrey, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US10/581,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20070251798A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 194/205
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/24 for parking meters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/06 Coin boxes

Abstract

A money-operated machine is disclosed, such as a ticket machine for parking, for example. The machine includes a changeable cashbox used to receive money, which can be changed at given time intervals. The machine further includes a rechargeable voltage source for supplying the electric consumers of the machine with power. A method is disclosed for maintaining the money-operated machine. By integrating the voltage source into the cashbox, it is possible to form a common change unit. As a result, the money-operated machine requires less servicing since the cashbox can be changed and the voltage source can be charged in a single work step.

Claims

1. A money-operated machine, comprising:

a replaceable cashbox to hold money, replaceable at specified intervals; and

a rechargeable voltage source to supply power to electrical loads of the machine, the voltage source being integrated in the cashbox to form a common replacement unit, the replacement unit including an interface via which the voltage source is connectable to the electrical loads of the machine when the replacement unit is positioned in the machine.

2. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the voltage source is connectable to a charging station via said interface when the replacement unit is positioned in a holding frame arranged outside the machine.

3. The machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the replacement unit is holdable in a transportation frame, arranged in a transportation vehicle, and includes a charging station.

4. The machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the replacement unit is holdable in a storage frame, including a charging station and arranged at least one of a cashbox-emptying location and at a charging location.

5. The machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one display to display a charge state of the voltage source.

6. A method for servicing a money-operated machine, as claimed in claim 1, with a replacement unit of the machine, the replacement unit, being exchangeable and including at least one of a cashbox to be emptied and a voltage source to be charged, the method comprising:

exchanging the replacement unit at specified intervals for a new replacement unit, the new replacement unit being prepared in a holding frame, with a charging station in which the voltage source is charged, and the holding frame being arranged at least one of in a transportation vehicle and at at least one of a cashbox-emptying location and at a charging location.

8. The machine of claim 1, wherein the money-operated machine is a parking-ticket machine.

9. The machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the replacement unit is holdable in a storage frame, including a charging station and arranged at least one of a cashbox-emptying location and at a charging location.

7. (canceled)

10. A method for servicing a money-operated machine with a replacement unit of the machine, the method comprising:

exchanging the replacement unit at specified intervals for a new replacement unit including at least one of a cashbox to be emptied and a voltage source to be charged, the new replacement unit being arranged in a holding frame and the holding frame being arranged at least one of in a transportation vehicle and at least one of a cashbox-emptying location and at a charging location.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the money-operated machine is a parking-ticket machine.

12. A money-operated machine, comprising:

a cashbox, replaceable at specified intervals; and

a rechargeable voltage source, to supply power to the machine, the voltage source being and the cashbox being an integrated unit, the integrated unit including an interface to connect to the electrical loads of the machine when the integrated unit is positioned in the machine.

13. The machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the voltage source is connectable to a charging station via said interface when the replacement unit is positioned in a holding frame arranged outside the machine.

14. The machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein the replacement unit is holdable in a transportation frame, arranged in a transportation vehicle, and includes a charging station.

15. The machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein the replacement unit is holdable in a storage frame, including a charging station and arranged at least one of a cashbox-emptying location and at a charging location.

16. The machine as claimed in claim 12, further comprising at least one display to display a charge state of the voltage source.

17. The machine of claim 12, wherein the money-operated machine is a parking-ticket machine.