Abstract:
A coin operated air compressor providing compressed air with a share splitter for diverting the proceeds from deposited coins into separate collection bins according to predetermined ratio(s).

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of and claims priority benefit of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 13/470,351 filed on 13 May 2012 which claims priority benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/485,951 filed on 13 May 2011. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to coin operated vending machines. More particularly the invention relates share allocation for coin operated compressed air stations and shared use of the coin operated detection system by a plurality of devices 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In many communities the motoring public is underserved with respect to compressed air for maintaining proper air pressure in automotive tires. Maintaining tire pressure is a significant safety concern both for drivers and passengers in the subject vehicle and to other vehicles on the road. One of the issues relating to these pumps relates to monitoring the operational status of the devices. There is a need for devices which encourage monitoring of the operation of the devices. 
         [0004]    A benefit of embodiments described herein is providing the user with an alternative for obtaining benefit from unused pump time by allowing the user to switch the time value remaining to other power tool(s) such as a vacuum cleaner. 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art  10  coin operation component of a compressed air pump machine. The components including a housing  11  which includes a coin receiving component  13 , a coin detection component  21  and a coin storage component  31 . The system shown employs standard coin receiving slot(s)  15  and a coin return  23 . The coin detection component includes systems which identify valid coins and employs a coin detection controller  25  for rejecting invalid coins and for sending control signals initiating operation of the compressed air pump when valid coin(s) in the correct amount are detected. When valid coins are received they are deposited in a hopper (not shown) The coin hopper is accessible via a access door  33  secured by a locking mechanism  35 . 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like features and wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art coin operated control system; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates an automated system for share distribution of a coin operated vending control system; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates an isometric view of an automated share allocation device as per  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrate a top perspective view of the device illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the flapper of the device illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  illustrates an isometric view of the front half of the share distribution hopper illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative embodiment of an automated system for share distribution; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment of a selection and sensor and power connections for the vending system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the FIGUREs, like numerals being used to refer to like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. 
         [0016]    The present invention generally relates to coin operated vending machines particularly coin operated air compressor vending machines. The improvement to prior art devices is to automatically divide the proceeds from the coin operated vending system. Some of the advantages of this system are: it provides for instant commissions or splits of the proceeds of the vending machine; it allows for instant verification of the correct split percentage by empting one of the hoppers and depositing coins to observe the split. It allows for fewer trips to the machine to collect proceeds, avoids the costs of splitting the proceeds; provides motivation for the commissionee to make sure that the device is operational and let the operator know if the machine needs servicing so that operator can send service techs when they are needed saving operator costs in allocation of resources. The system allows for adjustment to the share percentages, adjustment to the time value for the detected payment and adjustment to the weighting of time based on the device selected (for embodiments that allow for switching between different powered tools. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of an automated system for share distribution of a coin operated vending control system. The system is a vending machine which employs a coin operation subsystem  100 . The coin operation subsystem includes conventionally available means for receiving coins  113 ; a conventional coin detection subsystems  121  and secured access coin storage  131  for storing the received coins (not shown). In the embodiment shown these components are all in a single housing but that this is not necessary. In the embodiment shown the coin detection control system  125  and coin allocation control system  153  are separate devices. In other embodiments these control system functions may be embodied in a single controller performing both functions. The coin operation subsystem  100  illustrated includes: slot(s)  115  for receiving coins; a coin return  123  for rejected coins and/or change. Other conventional means for receipt and return of coins are likely. The coin storage  131  section has separately securable chambers with respectively separate access doors  133  and  137  which are secured by different locks  135  and  139  respectively. These access doors  133  and  137  provide access to separate coin baskets/drawers (not shown). In practice divided shares of the proceeds are accessible from the coin hoppers secured by the access door locks  135 ,  139 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates an isometric view of an automated share allocation device  151  in greater detail. The major components of the device are a hopper  155 , a flapper  161  and, control circuit  153 . In the embodiment illustrated, the hopper is composed of two parts front  159  and back  157 . The flapper  161  is sandwiched between the front  159  and back  157  of the hopper  155  pivoting on pivots  165  and  167  (as seen in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 ). The hopper  155  has en entry port  171  on the top and two exit ports  173  and  175  respectively. Coins fall into the entry port  171  and exit one of the exit ports  173  or  175 . Which port serves as the exit port depends on the position of the flapper  161 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  also illustrates an embodiment of the control circuit  153  of the allocation system  151 . The control circuit includes a processor  183  which includes data and instruction data storage and logic processing capabilities. It also includes a motor  181  which drives the rotation of the flapper  161  about pivots  165  and  167  (as seen in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 ). In the embodiment shown the motor  181  is a stepper motor in alternative embodiments other types of drives are possible such as linear drives and/or servo-motors and or solenoids would also be suitable. The control circuit also includes appropriate drive circuitry  185 . In addition the circuitry includes power and data connector  187  for powering the control circuit and communicating with other vending systems such as the coin detection control circuit and for programming and diagnostics. The control circuitry also includes DIP (dual inline package) switches  189  for programming the operation of the control circuit  153 . On other embodiments other means for programming would be appropriate. 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top perspective view of the hopper  155  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The view is down through the entry port  171  and through the two exit ports  173  and  175  of the hopper  155  are easier to see. This view also provides a different perspective of the motor&#39;s  181  connection to the flapper  161  to pivot about pivots  167  and  165 . In operation if the flapper  161  is pivoted so the top edge  163  of the flapper  161  is to the left the coins will exit port  173 . On the other hand, if the flapper  161  is pivoted by the motor  181  so that the top edge  163  of the flapper  161  is to the right the coins will exit port  175 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the flapper  161  of the device illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . The pivots  167  and  165  pivot the flapper  161  about pivot axis  166  driving the top edge of the flapper  163  to the left or right this diverting the coins out of the exit port designated by the position of the flapper  161  in the hopper  155 . In this embodiment the motor drive (shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 3 ) is connected to the flapper  161  at pivot  167 .  FIG. 5  also illustrates the pivot stopp  169  which works with a slot  193  in the front face of the hopper  159  shown in  FIG. 6  to stop or set the pivot positions of the flapper  161  (shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 3 ) to determine the exit port  173  or  175  for the dropping coins. 
         [0022]      FIG. 6  also illustrates the setting  191  for pivot  167  of the flapper  161  (shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0023]    In operation of the embodiment shown, the control circuit  153  receives signals from the coin detection controller  125 . The control circuit  152  keeps a count of the accepted coins received. Using this count the control circuit shifts the flapper to allocate the proceeds in the form of received coins to either exit port  173  or  175 . Coins that exit port  173  are collected in a coin basket/drawer (not shown) accessible via access door  137  secured by locking mechanism  139 . Coins that exit port  175  are collected in a coin basket/drawer (not shown) accessible via access door  133  secured by locking mechanism  135 . The DIP switches  189  can be used to set the allocation ratios/percentages such as 50% or 20% by way of example. In the case of fifty cents the flapper may shift after every purchase or it may shift after equal number of purchase such as 10 and then shift again after 10. For 20 percent the flapper may shift after 4 purchases and then shift to the other side and then shift again after on purchase and so on. By allowing for a automated divided allocation of the proceeds a store owner or agent may be provided with access to one of the allocations of the proceeds to provide motivation to monitor and/or maintain the operation of the vending device. In the embodiment shown the allocation protocol can be set with the DIP switches  189  or by means of programming the processor via the data connection ports  187 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative embodiment of an automated system for share distribution  200 . This embodiment includes a user interphase  201  for selecting from a multible devices. The embodiment illustrated employs a toggle, other embodiments may employ buttons or dials or other similarly known user selection interfaces. In the embodiment shown the user may use the air compressor to pump up her tires and if she has any time left can switch over to a vacuum cleaner to use up any extra time. In alternative embodiments the user may be able to select from other devices or a wider array of devices such as a water pump. This embodiment includes a display  111  for showing the time remaining and a power switch  211  which is responsive to a power controller  213  which is responsive to the user selection interface  201  to power the selected device and remove power from the other devices. For example the switch may apply power across power lines  221  when the air compressor is selected and no power across lines  223  to the vacuum. When the user switches the selection the power may be applied across lines  223  and may be removed from across power lines  221  and removed from lines  221 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment of a selection and sensor and power connections for the vending system. This embodiment illustrates input connections from a coin detection circuitry  255  and from a flap position sensor  217 . It also illustrates connectors for powering flipping of the flap  215  and for providing power to alternative devices  225 . In the embodiment illustrated the control adjustments can be made by means of DIP switches  231 ,  233  and  235  for respectively adjusting the add on value of time, the value of time for detected coin counts and for adjusting the allocation splits effected by the allocation hopper. 
         [0026]    The control routines allow for different time value weightings for remaining time value based on the device being driven. For example, Fifty cents may equate to twice the time with the vacuum as with the air compressor. So if there is one minute remaining on the display and the user switches to vacuum the time will be recalculated and the user will be allocated two minutes of vacuum time which will be reflected on the display as two minutes. Additionally in some embodiments the user is not debited for time when the compressor is building up to operation pressures. However, in these embodiments the compressor will time out if it does not reach or maintain predetermined operating pressure(s). 
         [0027]    In some embodiments the vending machines also include communication modems for transmitting and receiving information and instructions from a remote location. Information may include collection and service activities, GPS coordinates, forcing the diverter to a home position, cycle counts, coin basket/drawer accesses. 
         [0028]    While the disclosure has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as disclosed herein. The disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.