Apparatus for storing coins or coin-like articles
First Claim
1. Apparatus for storing coins or coin-like articles to be arranged against one another or above one another in a plurality of columns, the apparatus comprising:
- a structure having a plurality of column recesses formed between a plurality of separator means extending parallel to and spaced apart from each other, each of the plurality of columns being disposed in a respective column recess; and
a mechanism for determining the number of coins or coin-like articles present in the structure, the determining mechanism comprising a plurality of transmitters and receivers in the form of respective semiconductor elements and arranged in rows within the separator means substantially parallel to the column recesses, only transmitters or only receivers being arranged inside each separator means, the separator means containing transmitters and the separator means containing receivers being alternately arranged within the structure, each transmitter being arranged in one of the separator means for transmitting beams of light across a first column recess and a second column recess disposed adjacent to the transmitter to a pair of receivers disposed in a pair of separator means on opposite sides of the first and second column recesses, the beams traversing the first and second column recesses along lines corresponding to cords of coins or coin-like articles when present in the first and second column recesses.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for storing coins or coin-like articles, such as for example gaming chips, tokens or the like, wherein the coins or coin-like articles to be stored are arranged against one another or above one another in at least one column, with this apparatus having a mechanism for determining the number of coins or coin-like articles present in the apparatus. The mechanism for determining the number of coins or coin-like articles present in the apparatus is formed by a plurality of transmitter/receiver pairs such as, for example, ultrasonic transmitters/receivers, light transmitters/receivers or the like arranged in rowssubstantially parallel to the column(s) of coins or coin-like articles.
106 Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus for storing coins or coin-like articles to be arranged against one another or above one another in a plurality of columns, the apparatus comprising:
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a structure having a plurality of column recesses formed between a plurality of separator means extending parallel to and spaced apart from each other, each of the plurality of columns being disposed in a respective column recess; and a mechanism for determining the number of coins or coin-like articles present in the structure, the determining mechanism comprising a plurality of transmitters and receivers in the form of respective semiconductor elements and arranged in rows within the separator means substantially parallel to the column recesses, only transmitters or only receivers being arranged inside each separator means, the separator means containing transmitters and the separator means containing receivers being alternately arranged within the structure, each transmitter being arranged in one of the separator means for transmitting beams of light across a first column recess and a second column recess disposed adjacent to the transmitter to a pair of receivers disposed in a pair of separator means on opposite sides of the first and second column recesses, the beams traversing the first and second column recesses along lines corresponding to cords of coins or coin-like articles when present in the first and second column recesses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Apparatus for storing coins or coin-like articles that are arranged against one another or above one another in at least one column, each column being disposed in a respective column recess, the apparatus comprising:
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separators extending parallel to and spaced apart from one another; and mechanism for determining the number of coins or coin-like articles present in the apparatus, the mechanism including a plurality of transmitter/receiver pairs with transmitters and receivers that are arranged in rows substantially parallel to the column recess defined between the separators for storing the at least one column of coins or coin-like articles, the transmitter/receiver pairs for determining the number of the coins or coin-like articles being within the separators, only transmitters or only receivers being arranged inside each separator with the separators containing the transmitters and the separators containing the receivers being alternately arranged, the transmitters and receivers being aligned in rows with a constant spacing from one another wherein the receivers are displaced relative to the transmitters by half the receiver-to-receiver spacing. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification