Patent ID: 7708129
Filing Date: 2010-05-04
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. A multiple coin actuation mechanism for a vending machine, said mechanism comprising: (a) a front cover plate adapted to fixedly attach to a vending machine, said front cover plate having a peripheral portion and first and second coin slots defined in and open at said peripheral portion at locations angularly spaced apart from one another; (b) a carrier wheel mounted for rotation in a predetermined direction relative to said front cover plate and having a front side facing toward said front cover plate and a rear side facing away from said front cover plate, said carrier wheel also having a peripheral edge and first and second coin recesses defined on said rear side of said carrier wheel at positions angularly spaced apart from one another and open at said peripheral edge of said carrier wheel for alignment with said first and second coin slots of said cover plate when said carrier wheel is in an initial home position at which a user can initially deposit first and second coins into said first and second coin recesses through said first and second coin slots, said carrier wheel being rotatable from said initial home position in said predetermined direction past a final coin dispensing position before returning to said initial home position upon completion of a dispensing cycle of operation of said coin actuation mechanism; (c) a rear retainer plate fixedly attached to said front cover plate and at least partially overlying said carrier wheel at said rear side thereof to assist retention of said first and second coins in said first and second coin recesses of said carrier wheel as said carrier wheel is rotated in said predetermined direction through said dispensing cycle of operation; and (d) means for allowing unobstructed insertion of said first coin through said first coin slot and into said first coin recess, said means including a latch biased to an inward home position in which an inner end of said latch extends through an upstream side of said first coin slot of said front cover plate, relative to said predetermined direction of rotation of said carrier wheel, generally alongside a path of insertion of said first coin through said first coin slot and into said first coin recess of said carrier wheel for allowing the unobstructed insertion of said first coin through said first coin slot into said first coin recess, said latch also pivotally yieldably movable away from said inward home position due to engagement with said second coin as said second coin recess of said carrier wheel is brought into alignment with said first coin slot of said front cover plate to allow said second coin in said second coin recess of said carrier wheel to pass under said latch and said latch to ride over said second coin while said latch remains in contact with said second coin and prevents removal of said second coin from said second coin recess of said carrier wheel as said carrier wheel is rotated in the predetermined direction through said complete dispensing cycle that results in the deposited first and second coins successively exiting from said carrier wheel at said final coin dispensing position.