Coin bin having security feature for use with a coin processing device

• US 20070051582A1
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Bochonok, Steve, Blake, John, Peklo, John, Munro, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,658,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 194/202
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 1/02 giving change coin-actuated mechanisms in general G07F
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/00 Counting coins in combination with coin-sorting G07D3/16; Handling of coins not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 1/04 Coin chutes

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a security grate for limiting access to a coin bin is disclosed. The security grate comprises a plurality of generally parallel upper slats and a plurality of generally parallel slats disposed below the upper slats. The plurality of first slats receives coins and directs coins moving under the force of gravity in a first direction. The plurality of lower slats receive coins from the upper slats and direct the coins moving under the force of gravity in a second direction.

Claims

1. A coin bin for holding coins from a coin processing device, comprising:

a plurality of walls defining an interior volume for holding coins;

a least one coin input area for receiving coins from the coin processing device; and

at least one security grate disposed over the at least one coin input area.

2. The coin bin of claim 1 wherein the security grate includes a plurality of slats that define at least one coin path extending between the at least one coin input area to the interior volume, the plurality of slats direct the coins in a first direction along the coin path, the plurality of slats direct the coins in a second direction along the coin path, the second direction being different than the first direction.

3. The coin bin of claim 2 wherein the slats are constructed of a rigid material.

4. The coin bin of claim 2 wherein the plurality of slats are arranged so as to form a plurality of generally V-shaped members.

5. The coin bin of claim 2 wherein the plurality of slats include an upper slat and a lower slat, the upper slat being disposed relative to the horizontal at a first angle, the lower slat being disposed relative to the horizontal at a second angle, the first angle being different than the second angle.

6. The coin bin of claim 5 wherein the upper slat is disposed at an angle of from 44 degrees to 180 degrees relative to the lower slat.

7. The coin bin of claim 5 wherein the slats are generally rectangular-shaped having a long edges generally parallel to the horizontal, one of long edges of the upper slat disposed adjacent to the coin input area, the other of the long edges of the upper slat being disposed adjacent a long edge of the lower slat.

8. The coin bin of claim 1 wherein the security grate includes a plurality of upper generally coplanar upper slats and a plurality of generally coplanar lower slats that define a plurality of nonlinear coins paths extending between the at least one coin input area to the interior volume.

9. The coin bin of claim 8 wherein the first slats direct the coins along the coin path in a first direction, the lower slats direct the coins along the coin path in a second direction.

10. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin, comprising:

a plurality of generally parallel upper slats; and

a plurality of generally parallel slats disposed below the upper slats;

wherein the plurality of first slats receiving coins and directing coins moving under the force of gravity in a first direction, the plurality of lower slats receiving coins from the upper slats and directing the coins moving under the force of gravity in a second direction.

11. A coin bin for holding coins from a coin processing device, comprising:

a plurality of walls defining an interior volume for holding coins;

a least one coin input area for receiving coins from the coin processing device; and

at least one security feature disposed over the at least one coin input area.

12. The coin bin of claim 11 wherein the security feature comprises a security grate.

13. The coin bin of claim 11 wherein the security feature comprise a security screen.

16. The coin bin of claim 11 wherein the wherein the security feature prevents viewing coins contained within the interior volume of the coin bin through the coin input area.

14. The coin bin of clam 11 wherein the security feature allows to coins to flow thought the coin input area into the coin bin.

15. The coin bin of clam 11 wherein the security feature prevents human hands from extending through the coin input area into the interior volume of the coin bin.

17. A security grate for a coin bin, comprising:

a plurality of slats that define at least one coin path extending between a coin input area to an interior volume of an associated coin bin, the plurality of slats collectively defining a coin path that directs coins input thereto in a first direction along the coin path and in a second direction different than the first direction.

18. A security grate for a coin bin according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of slats are constructed of a rigid material.

19. A security grate for a coin bin according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of slats are arranged so as to form a plurality of generally V-shaped members.

20. A security grate for a coin bin according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of slats include an upper slat portion and a lower slat portion, the upper slat portion being disposed relative to the horizontal at a first angle, the lower slat portion being disposed relative to the horizontal at a second angle, the first angle being different than the second angle.

21. A security grate for a coin bin according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of slats include an upper slat portion and a lower slat portion, the upper slat portion being disposed relative to the horizontal at a first angle, the lower slat portion being disposed relative to the horizontal at a second angle, the first angle being substantially equal to the second angle.

22. A security grate for a coin bin according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of upper slat portions are substantially coplanar.

23. A security grate for a coin bin according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of lower slat portions are substantially coplanar.

24. A security grate for a coin bin according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of slats define a plurality of coin paths.

25. A security grate for a coin bin according to claim 24, wherein the plurality of coin paths comprise at least one nonlinear coin path extending between the a coin input area and a coin output area thereof.

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin, comprising:

a plurality of upper slats; and

a plurality of lower slats disposed substantially below the plurality of upper slats;

wherein the plurality of upper slats are disposed to receive coins and direct coins moving thereby in a first direction, and

wherein the plurality of lower slats are disposed to receive coins from the plurality of upper slats and direct the coins in a second direction.

33. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin, comprising:

a first coin path defined by at least a first upper slat and a first lower slat, the first upper slat being disposed in a generally downwardly first direction and the first lower slat being disposed in a generally downwardly second direction;

a second coin path defined by at least a second upper slat and a second lower slat, the second upper slat being disposed in said generally downwardly first direction and the second lower slat being disposed in said generally downwardly second direction;

a third coin path defined by at least a third upper slat and a third lower slat, the third upper slat being disposed in a generally downwardly third direction and the third lower slat being disposed in a generally downwardly fourth direction,

wherein the first upper slat, second upper slat, and third upper slat are disposed to receive coins from a coin source and to facilitate movement of such coins downwardly to the respective first lower slat, second lower slat, and third lower slat, and

wherein the gaps between adjacent slats are dimensioned slightly larger than the diameter of the largest coin to be passed therethrough.

34. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin according to claim 33, wherein said first upper slat and said first lower slat are disposed adjacent to and substantially parallel to a corresponding one of the second upper slat and the second lower slat to form a substantially constant gap therebetween.

35. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin according to claim 34, wherein said third upper slat and said third lower slat are disposed substantially perpendicularly to said first upper slat, said first lower slat, said second upper slat, and said second lower slat.

36. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin according to claim 35, wherein said third upper slat and said third lower slat are disposed substantially perpendicularly to said first upper slat, said first lower slat, said second upper slat, and said second lower slat.

38. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin according to claim 34, wherein said fourth direction is substantially perpendicular to said first direction and said second direction.

39. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin according to claim 34, wherein said fourth direction is at an angle to said first direction and said second direction.

37. (canceled)

40. A coin bin for holding coins from a coin processing device, comprising:

a plurality of walls, a floor, and a movable cover defining an interior volume for holding coins;

a least one coin input area for receiving coins from the coin processing device, the coin input area protruding from the movable cover; and

at least one security grate disposed within the at least one coin input area.

41. The coin bin according to claim 40, wherein the security grate includes a plurality of slats that define at least one coin path extending between the at least one coin input area to the interior volume.

42. The coin bin according to claim 40, wherein the plurality of slats direct the coins in a first direction along the coin path, the plurality of slats direct the coins in a second direction along the coin path, the second direction being different than the first direction.

43. The coin bin according to claim 40, wherein the security grate includes a plurality of upper slat members and a plurality of lower slat members that define at least one non-linear coin path extending between the at least one coin input area to the interior volume.