Patent ID: 6050385
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
For a bulk vending machine, a combination coin mechanism and coin counter, comprising:a coin mechanism designed to be partially received into an opening in said bulk vending machine, said coin mechanism comprising a selectively rotatable shaft extending axially therefrom; anda coin counter attached to a portion of said coin mechanism within said opening of said bulk vending machine, a portion of said coin counter located around a portion of said selectively rotatable shaft, comprising:a numeric display;a capacitor; anda contact switch assembly, comprising:a first pair of spaced-apart wires at a first location of said switch assembly, said first pair of spaced-apart wires connected to said numeric display and to said capacitor;a second pair of spaced-apart wires at a second location of said switch assembly, said second pair of spaced-apart wires connected at least to said capacitor;a selectively rotatable element located on said portion of said coin counter located around said portion of said selectively rotatable shaft and substantially between said first and second pairs of spaced-apart wires, comprising a conductive strip which separately contacts both of said first and second pairs of spaced-apart wires when said selectively rotatable element is selectively rotated, said contact between said conductive strip and said first pair of spaced-apart wires occurring at said first location of said switch assembly, and said contact between said conductive strip and said second pair of spaced-apart wires occurring at said second location of said switch assembly and after said contact between said conductive strip and said first pair of spaced-apart wires;wherein said numeric display advances a numeric count at a first contact between said conductive strip and said first pair of spaced-apart wires, and further wherein said numeric display can only advance another numeric count after said selectively rotatable element rotates, bringing said conductive strip into contact with said second pair of spaced-apart wires.