AUTOMATIC FEE DETERMINING AND RECEIPT TOTALIZING SYSTEM FOR PARKING FACILITIES

• US 3,815,718 A
• Filed: 11/27/1972
• Issued: 06/11/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cincinnati Bell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Paul A. Singer
• Inventors: Singer, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sloyan, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US05/309,707
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 194/1M,1N,DIG.3,DIG.15,DIG.14,DIG.23 235/92CN,92TC,61.8A,61.6 346/82
• US Class Current: 705/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/145 for revolving doors or turnstiles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/22 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 194/902 Check-operated device for controlling parking lot

Abstract

An automatic fee determining system for use in parking facilities including means to totalize the amount of coins accepted by the system. The system includes means for calculating the fee due from a parking ticket. The customer inserts coins into a coin receptor and a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'vend'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' signal is produced only when the total value of coins at least equals the calculated fee due. A coin return is provided to return coins so long as the total value of coins accepted is less than the calculated fee due. Means are provided to capture the coins when the amount accepted is at least as large as the calculated fee due. A pulse generator responsive to the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'vend'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' signal is provided to produce a series of pulses corresponding to the value of the coins captured. The coin value pulses are counted by a pulse responsive totalizer which counts and stores the total value of coins captured.

Claims

1. An automatic fee determining system including means for calculating the fee due, coin receptor means, means for generating a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'vend'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' signal when the total value of coins deposited is at least equal to the fee calculated, said coin receptor means including selectively operable coin return means for returning coins when actuated so long as the total value of coins received is less than the calculated fee, means for capturing said coins within said system when the total value of coins received by said receptor at least equals the calculated fee, a totalizing circuit for recording the total value of coins deposited in the coin receptor means and captured in the system, said money totalizing circuit comprising:

pulse responsive counter means for recording the total value of coins captured by the coin capturing means;

pulse generating means for generating pulses corresponding to the value of coins deposited in said coin receptor means; and

means responsive to said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'vend'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' signal for causing said pulse generator means to apply pulses to said pulse responsive counter only when the value of coins deposited at least equals the fee calculated.

2. The automatic fee determining system of claim 1 where said system accepts coins of various values and said pulse generating means generates a pulse for each low value coin in the total value of coins deposited, where said low value coin is the smallest value coin of all coins accepted by the system.

3. The automatic fee determining system of claim 1 including interlock means operative when said pulse generating means is generating pulses to disable said fee calculating means.

4. The automatic fee determining system of claim 1 including interlock means operative when said pulse generating means is generating pulses to disable said selectively operable coin return means.

5. The automatic fee determining system of claim 1 including interlock means operative when said pulse generating means is generating pulses to disable said fee calculating means and said selectively operable coin return means to permit the pulse responsive counter to count the coins deposited without being altered by other system operations.

6. The automatic fee determining system of claim 5 wherein said system accepts coins of various values and said pulse generating means generates a pulse for each low value coin in the total value of coins deposited, where said low value coin is the smallest value coin of all coins accepted by the system.

7. The automatic fee determining system of claim 2 including interlock means operative when said pulse generating means is generating pulses to disable said fee calculating means.

8. The automatic fee determining system of claim 2 including interlock means operative when said pulse generating means is generating pulses to disable said selectively operable coin return means.

9. In an automated fee determining system including means for calculating and displaying the fee due, a coin receptor means for receiving coins, a coin counting means for counting the value of received coins, a display decrementing means for reducing the displayed fee due by the value of coins received, and means for producing a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'vend'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' signal when the total value of coins received is at least equal to the calculated fee due, a money totalizing circuit for accumulating the calculated fee due for each system operation comprising, in combination:

a temporary storage means for storing the calculated fee due;

a pulse generator means responsive to said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'vend'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' signal and to said temporary storage means to produce a series of pulses corresponding to the value of the calculated fee due; and

accumulator means for counting said series of pulses to provide a sum of all such series of pulses counted thereby indicating the sum of all previously calculated fees due.

10. The money totalizer circuit in claim 9 wherein said temporary storage means includes a decrement counter means, said decrement counter having a decrement input for receiving pulses to decrement the value stored therein;

means responsive to said decrement counter to provide a counter greater than 0 signal whenever said decrement counter has a number stored therein which is greater than 0;

wherein said pulse generator means includes a startable clock means for producing said series of pulses in response to said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'vend'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' signal and said counter greater than 0 signal, said series of pulses being operatively connected to said decrement input to provide said decrement pulses to said decrement counter.

11. The money totalizer circuit in claim 9 additionally including a power on interlock means connected to said accumulator means for preventing pulses from being applied to said accumulator means while power is being turned on to the system.

12. The money totalizer circuit in claim 9 additionally including interlock means responsive to said pulse generator means for preventing further operation of said calculating and displaying means while said pulse generator means is producing said series of pulses.