Patent ID: 7682228

Claim:
A coin intake mechanism for a cash redemption machine for receiving a batch of coinage from a user, for totaling a value for the batch of coinage and for dispensing a voucher or a form of credit to the user, the coin intake mechanism comprising: an open coin hopper for receiving a batch of coins which are put into the machine by the user; an inclined path disposed laterally to one side of the open coin hopper and having a lower end for receiving coins from the open coin hopper and an opposite, higher end entering into an intake opening into a body of a cash redemption machine; and a motorized feeding mechanism for moving the coins along the inclined path to the intake opening; and a cover disposed laterally to one side of the coin hopper area and extending lengthwise over a portion of the inclined coin path to prevent access to the intake opening in the machine and to prevent access to coins in a vicinity of the intake opening, the cover being spaced from the inclined path to allow coins to be fed therebetween as the coins are received from the coin hopper; and wherein the cover is pivotable at one end that is disposed opposite an end for receiving the coins; and further comprising a sensor for sensing pivoting of the cover from a position preventing access to the intake opening to a lifted position; and wherein the motorized feeding mechanism is responsive to the sensor sensing the lifting of the cover, for stopping the movement of coins toward the intake opening.