Patent ID: 8607956
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for receiving and detecting a bottle, comprising: a chute configured for receiving the bottle therein, said chute having a bottle inlet for receiving the bottle, a bottle outlet through which the bottle exits said chute, a chute wall extending longitudinally between said inlet and said outlet and a chute interior between said inlet and said outlet through which said bottle moves; a bottle stop having a stop member disposed within said chute and biased in a direction away from said chute wall towards said chute interior such that said stop member engages said bottle in said chute interior when said bottle moves through said chute, said stop member configured such that said stop member is moveable by said bottle in a direction away from said bottle toward said chute wall as said bottle moves from said inlet to said outlet thereby allowing said bottle to pass, and said stop member is moveable by said bottle in accordance with said bias in a direction away from said chute wall towards said bottle as said bottle is pulled in a direction from said outlet to said inlet to more forcibly engage and thereby inhibit movement of said bottle; and a first sensor for detecting when the bottle is at a first position within said chute, said sensor being in communication with an indicator for indicating the receipt of a bottle.