Device for dispensing articles of value and magazine therefor
First Claim
1. A device for dispensing articles of value comprising:
- a dispensing mechanism for dispensing said articles;
a closed magazine for holding a plurality of said articles, said magazine including, (i) a gate moveable from a closed position to an open position, said gate in said open position permitting an article to be moved by the dispensing mechanism from the magazine for dispensing thereof, said gate when said magazine is initially loaded with articles disposed in the closed position, (ii) a one-cycle gate operating mechanism including a moveable actuator moveable from a first position to a second position to secure the magazine to the dispensing mechanism and coupled to the gate for moving the gate from the initial closed position to the open position for dispensing of articles by the dispensing mechanism and back to the first position to release the magazine from the dispensing mechanism and close the gate; and
(iii) means for locking the gate in the closed position after one cycle of the actuator from said first to said second and back to said first position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and magazine are set for dispensing articles of value such as pre-paid telephone calling cards. The closed magazine has a gate moveable between a closed to an open position to permit articles to be dispensed therefrom by a dispensing mechanism. A one cycle gate operating mechanism is included which has an actuator moveable from a first position to a second position to secure the magazine to the dispensing mechanism and open the gate. Should the actuator be moved to close the gate, the gate is locked in the closed position and cannot be re-opened. Surreptitious opening of the gate to remove cards and then closing the gate prevents the gate from re-opening and prevents securing the magazine to the dispensing mechanism.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A device for dispensing articles of value comprising:
-
a dispensing mechanism for dispensing said articles;
a closed magazine for holding a plurality of said articles, said magazine including, (i) a gate moveable from a closed position to an open position, said gate in said open position permitting an article to be moved by the dispensing mechanism from the magazine for dispensing thereof, said gate when said magazine is initially loaded with articles disposed in the closed position, (ii) a one-cycle gate operating mechanism including a moveable actuator moveable from a first position to a second position to secure the magazine to the dispensing mechanism and coupled to the gate for moving the gate from the initial closed position to the open position for dispensing of articles by the dispensing mechanism and back to the first position to release the magazine from the dispensing mechanism and close the gate; and
(iii) means for locking the gate in the closed position after one cycle of the actuator from said first to said second and back to said first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A device for dispensing articles of value comprising:
-
a dispensing mechanism for dispensing said articles;
a closed magazine for holding a plurality of said articles, said magazine including, (i) a gate moveable from a closed position to an open position, said gate in said open position permitting an article to be moved by the dispensing mechanism from the magazine for dispensing thereof, said gate when said magazine is initially loaded with articles disposed in the closed position, (ii) a one-cycle gate operating mechanism including a moveable actuator moveable from a first position to a second position to secure the magazine to the dispensing mechanism and coupled to the gate for moving the gate from the initial closed position to the open position for dispensing of articles by the dispensing mechanism and back to the first position to release the magazine from the dispensing mechanism and close the gate and means for locking the gate in the closed position after one cycle of the actuator from said first to said second and back to said first position, said locking means including a cam and follower coupled between said actuator and said gate to move said gate between said open and closed positions in response to movement of the actuator, an axially moveable pin, said gate including a pear shaped bore including a major bore and a smaller diameter minor bore and said pin includes a shaft of a size to pass only said major bore, an axially extending finger adapted to pass through said minor and said major bores and a slider, said finger passing through said minor bore to engage said slider when said gate is at the second position, movement of the gate to the second position passing the finger through the major bore, said pin shaft restrained from insertion into said major bore by said slider and movement of said gate back toward said first position extending the finger through the major bore to lock the gate in the closed position.
-
-
10. A magazine for an article dispensing device of the type having a frame, article dispensing means and means for mounting a magazine containing a plurality of articles to be dispensed, said magazine comprising:
-
a closed housing to retain a plurality of articles to be dispensed, said housing including a gate moveable between a closed position to an open position to pass an article being dispensed from the magazine by the article dispensing means;
a moveable catch for securing the magazine to the dispensing device;
an actuator for manipulating the catch;
a gate mechanism including means for moving the gate from said closed to said open position in response to manipulation of said actuator to secure the magazine to the dispensing device, and for closing the gate in response to manipulation of the actuator to release the catch and magazine from the dispensing device; and
means for locking the gate in a closed position after one cycle of opening the gate and closing the gate. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
-
Specification