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Electronic coin mechanism and system

  • US 5,201,396 A
  • Filed: 11/27/1991
  • Issued: 04/13/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A coin operated mechanism for counting coins of various values to determine the value of a coin deposited comprising:

  • a coin wheel normally oriented in a coin receiving position and rotatable about an axis of rotation to a coin release position,said coin wheel including a coin receiving section,means to guide deposited coins to said coin wheel and to said coin receiving section whereby said coin wheel is rotated from said coin receiving to the coin releasing position by the weight of the coin,said coin wheel including a plurality of apertures located in a predetermined array,light source means on one side of said wheel and positioned to pass light through said apertures as said coin wheel is rotated,light detector means positioned on the side of said wheel opposite said light source and adapted to be illuminated by light passing through said apertures to produce a series of light pulses as said coin wheel rotates,said plurality of apertures being in an array such that one or more of said apertures is covered by a coin depending upon the diameter dimension of a coin; and

    electronic means to determine the value of each deposited coin.

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