Removable coin bin

• US 7,337,890 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Blake, John R., Bochonok, Steve T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US11/653,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20070108015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 188 5- 7, 188/19, 188/23
• US Class Current: 194/353
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/06 Coin boxes

Abstract

A removable coin storage apparatus is used in a coin processing device, and includes a removable bin for storing and transporting coins. The removable bin has a stopped position and a moving position. The coin storage apparatus further includes a brake device that is pivotally coupled to the removable bin for preventing movement of the removable bin in the stopped position. The brake device has a manually moveable element that is movable between a first position and a second position, each one of the first position and the second position corresponding to one of the stopped position and the moving position of the removable bin. The brake device also has a contact surface for exerting a frictional force on a floor surface in the stopped position of the removable bin.

Claims

1. A removable coin storage apparatus being used in a coin processing device, said apparatus comprising:

a receptacle for storing and transporting coins, said receptacle having a stopped position and a moving position;

a brake device coupled to said receptacle for preventing movement of said receptacle in said stopped position, said brake device having one or more contact surfaces for exerting a frictional force on a floor surface when said receptacle is in said stopped position;

a handle functionally integrated with said brake device and conveniently located for transporting said receptacle in said moving position, said handle including a fixating pin located along a longitudinal axis of the handle, said fixating pin locating said handle in a non-pivoting position when the receptacle is in said stopped position, said handle and said fixating pin being movable simultaneously in a translational motion along said longitudinal axis of said handle and relative to a pivoting point of said receptacle, said translational motion being independent of said brake device and changing said handle between a pivoting position and said non-pivoting position, said handle and said fixating pin being movable relative to said pivoting point of said receptacle in a rotational motion together with said brake device to move all of said one or more contact surfaces of said brake device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handle includes a locking pin for locking said handle in said pivoting position when said receptacle is in said moving position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a bracket for coupling said brake device to said receptacle, said bracket being mechanically connected to said brake device, said bracket including a groove for receiving said fixating pin in at least one of said pivoting position and said non-pivoting position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coin processing device is a coin redemption machine.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receptacle further comprises a plurality of wheels connected to a bottom exterior surface of said receptacle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of wheels includes at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel, said front wheel being in contact with said floor surface only in said moving position, said rear wheel being in contact with said floor surface in both of said stopped position and said moving position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said plurality of wheels are made at least in part from a material selected from a group consisting of a phenolic and a rubber material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receptacle further includes a bottom exterior surface having grooves for engaging a forklift structure.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handle includes two telescoping members, each of said two telescoping members including an outer member and an inner member, said outer member including a locking pin for locking said outer member relative to said inner member in said moving position of said receptacle.

10. A removable coin storage apparatus being used in a coin processing device, said apparatus comprising:

a receptacle comprising a first opening to allow the placement of coins inside said receptacle, and a second opening to allow said coins to be discharged from said receptacle;

a handle pivotally coupled to said receptacle for transporting said receptacle, said handle being movable linearly and rotationally, said handle being movable between a plurality of positions including a fixed position corresponding to a stopped position of said receptacle, said handle including a fixating pin for locating said handle in said fixed position, said fixating pin being located along a longitudinal axis of the handle, said fixating pin and said handle being movable simultaneously in a non-rotational direction along said longitudinal axis of said handle to change said handle between said fixed position and a plurality of pivoting positions corresponding to a moving position of said receptacle; and

a brake for preventing movement of said receptacle when said receptacle is in said stopped position, said brake being integratedly coupled to said handle such that said brake is movable only in response to rotational movement of said handle, said brake having one or more contact surfaces for contacting a floor surface when said receptacle is in said stopped position, all of said one or more contact surfaces being movable in response to said rotational movement of said handle.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a bracket for coupling said brake to said receptacle, said bracket being mechanically connected to said brake.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said bracket includes one or more grooves for receiving said fixating pin in corresponding positions of said handle.

13. A method for transporting a removable coin storage apparatus located in a coin processing device, said method comprising:

storing a plurality of coins in a receptacle, said receptacle being coupled to a brake device and a handle, said handle being integratedly coupled with said brake device, said brake device include one or more contact surfaces;

grasping said handle to transport said receptacle in a moving position;

pivoting said handle in a direction toward said receptacle to cause contact between all of said one or more contact surfaces of said brake device and a floor surface;

in response to said pivoting, raising a front wheel of said receptacle to prevent physical contact between said front wheel and said floor surface; and

moving said handle independently of said brake device in a non-rotational direction along a longitudinal axis of said handle to secure said handle in a fixed non-rotational position, a fixating pin of said handle being moved simultaneously with said handle along said longitudinal axis of said handle to engage said fixating pin in a pin locating position, said pin locating position corresponding to said fixed non-rotation position of said handle.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising performing said pivoting step and said raising step generally simultaneously.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

lifting said handle to disengage said fixating pin from said pin locating position; and

pivoting said handle in a direction away from said receptacle to remove contact between all of said one or more contact surfaces of said brake device and said floor surface.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

lifting said handle to allow free movement in a rotational direction; and

pivoting said handle in a direction away from said receptacle to cause physical separation between all of said contact surfaces of said brake device and said floor surface.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said moving step includes an axial movement between a telescopic outer member of said handle and a telescopic inner member of said handle.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising restraining relative movement between said telescopic outer member and said telescopic inner member by locking said handle using a spring-loaded pin.