EP0316227B1 - Coin-actuated device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a machine actuated by the introduction of coins and more particularly an embodiment of a coin storage chest for such a machine.

There are many machines which are operated by the introduction of coins. Mention may be made of public telephones, product distributors, ticket distributors, paying parking control machines, etc. These machines must necessarily include a receptacle in the safe for storing the coins introduced by the users. We also understand that, when these machines are installed on the public highway, they are particularly vulnerable to acts of vandalism and that special precautions must be taken to protect the receptacle for storing parts.

The pay parking control machines, often called parking meters, which are most often encountered are installed along public roads to allow motorists to pay the required parking tax on the one hand and Parking attendants are responsible for checking that users of parked vehicles have actually paid this tax.

With regard to the method of payment there are three types of machines: machines in which payment is made using memory cards; of machines in which payment is made using coins; and finally mixed machines that allow both types of payment. The invention of course relates to the last two types of machines.

If the payment is made using coins, the machine must have a receptacle for storing the coins. On the one hand this receptacle must provide effective protection against vandalism, on the other hand it must allow easy collection of coins. According to the present invention, the coin receptacle is of the type described in European patent 44,754 issued in the name of FLONIC. The receptacle remains permanently in the housing of the parking machine. The bottom of the case also constitutes at least part of the bottom of the receptacle. This bottom is provided with a collection orifice which is closed by a sliding shutter. To proceed with the collection, it suffices to place a container for the collection of coins below the orifice and to operate the shutter to clear the collection orifice.

However, it is necessary to be able to have access under certain conditions inside the coin receptacle. To do this, it is expected that part of the receptacle partitions are removable. There then arises the problem of protecting this receptacle against vandalism. On such a machine there are two main types of interventions. Maintenance interventions, and interventions for the collection of parts. For maintenance, the attendant opens the front door of the box with a key and performs the required operations in the box. For the collection it is not necessary to have access inside the box, it is enough to have a means external to the box to operate the collection shutter. For security reasons, it is understood that it is very preferable that it is difficult, if not impossible, to dismantle the removable partitions of the receptacle from inside the housing. More specifically, it is advantageous to provide that the removable partitions of the receptacle can only be dismantled when the collection shutter is in the open position. Thus only the attendant who holds both the collection means for moving the shutter and the access key to the housing of the parking machine can access the interior of the receptacle, this possibility not existing for the attendants to simple maintenance. Document EP-A-0 044 754 achieves this result. However, the locking of the removable partition is obtained by the direct action of the shutter on a removable part which is fundamentally linked to the removable partition. This therefore limits the use of the locking device described therein to particular configurations of the removable partition and the shutter.

An object of the invention is to provide a parking machine of the above type but comprising a locking device adaptable to all the relative configurations of the shutter and of the removable partition.

To achieve this goal, the machine actuated by the introduction of coins comprises a housing provided with a bottom and in said housing a receptacle for collecting the coins introduced into the machine, said receptacle comprising a bottom of which at least one part is common with the bottom of said housing, said common part comprising a collection orifice opening out of said housing and at least one first removable partition separating the interior of said receptacle from the rest of the interior of the housing and not perpendicular to the direction of movement of a shutter of the machine, movable in rectilinear translation between a first position in which it closes said orifice and a second position in which said orifice is released, and in said receptacle, a removable member, distinct from said shutter, having a first state corresponding to a given position in which a first part of said member locks said removable partition by entering it and a second state in which said member does not lock said partition, said shutter immobilizing said member in its first state when it is itself in its first position and is characterized in that the member separate from said shutter is movable, in that the second state of the member corresponds to a second position thereof and in that the passage of the shutter from its second position to its first position causes said member to move from its second position to its first position by cooperating with said shutter by a second part of said separate member forming a stop.

It is understood that thus, although the removable partition is not perpendicular to the direction of movement of the shutter and preferably substantially parallel to this direction, the latter is effectively locked when the shutter is in the closed position, thanks to the presence of the movable member which is actuated by the movement of the shutter.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective du boîtier d'une machine de contrôle de stationnement payant comportant un réceptacle pour pièces de monnaie conforme à l'invention ;
• La figure 2 est une vue en coupe verticale d'un réceptacle muni du système de verrouillage selon l'invention ; et
• Les figures 3a et 3b montrent la chaine cinématique de verrouillage des cloisons du réceptacle pour pièces de monnaie respectivement en position déverrouillée (3a) et en position verrouillée (3b).

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example. The description refers to the attached drawing in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the housing of a paid parking control machine having a coin receptacle according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a receptacle provided with the locking system according to the invention; and
• Figures 3a and 3b show the kinematic chain for locking the partitions of the receptacle for coins respectively in the unlocked position (3a) and in locked position (3b).

FIG. 1 shows, in a simplified form, a paid parking control machine comprising a receptacle for collecting coins according to the invention. The machine comprises a box 10 of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape mounted on a foot 12. The box 10 has a bottom 14, an upper wall 16, two side walls 18 and 20 and a rear wall 22. The front wall is partly formed by a door 24 closed by a lock 26. In FIG. 1, the door 24 has been shown in dotted lines to allow a better view of the interior of the case 10.

The case internally comprises a certain number of members which are not part of the invention and which have therefore not been shown in FIG. 1. Mention may be made of a coin selector, a pre-collection system of coins and "coin return", a reel of paper for printing tickets, a printer, for example a thermal printer, and electronic circuits for controlling these various organs.

In Figure 1 there is shown a receptacle 30 for storing coins after they have passed through the coin selector and the pre-collection device. According to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the receptacle 30 has a general rectangular parallelepiped shape. The bottom wall and the rear wall of the receptacle 30 are respectively constituted by a part of the bottom 14, and a part of the rear wall 22 of the housing 10. Similarly one of its side walls is formed by a part of the side wall 20 of the box 10. The other walls of the receptacle 30, which separate it from the rest of the interior of the housing 10, are specific to the receptacle. They include a front wall 32 integral with the bottom 14 and the side wall 20 of the housing, and an upper wall and a second side wall formed respectively by removable partitions 34 and 36. The upper partition 34 is provided with an opening 38 for the introduction of the coins into the receptacle, and the partition 36 is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the shutter 42.

The bottom 24 of the housing 10, in its part, which also forms the bottom of the receptacle 30 is provided with an orifice 40 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1.

The orifice 40 can be closed by a shutter 42 which can be operated in rectilinear translation in the direction of the arrow F. The shutter 42 is also provided with an orifice 44 having the same dimensions as the orifice 40. In the position shown on Figure 1, the shutter 42 is fully pushed towards the rear of the machine. The two orifices 40 and 44 do not overlap at all. The orifice 40 is therefore closed. If the shutter 42 is pulled forward, the two orifices 40 and 44 are superimposed and it is therefore possible to collect the parts contained in the receptacle 30.

Figure 1 shows, in a simplified form that, in the receptacle 30, a member 50 pivotally mounted on the bottom of the receptacle 30 can be controlled in movement by the shutter 42, so that it locks on the bottom 14 of the housing 10 the partition 36. In turn, the lateral partition 36 locks the upper partition 34. Thus when the shutter 42 is in its position where it closes the orifice 40 of the bottom of the housing, the partitions 34 and 36 are locked on the walls of the housing 10. On the contrary, when the shutter is in the position where it releases the orifice 40, the removable partitions 34 and 36 are no longer locked.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3a and 3b, a preferred embodiment of the receptacle 30 will be described in more detail.

Figure 2 shows in more detail the structure of the receptacle 30. The bottom wall 14 of the housing in the area of the orifice 40 is surmounted by a counter plate 60 fixed to the bottom 14 by two parallel strips 62 and 64. The shutter 42 can slide between the bottom 14 and the counter plate 60 while being guided laterally by the strips 62 and 64. The counter plate 60 is pierced with an orifice 66 which is superimposed exactly on the orifice 40. Inside the receptacle 30 there is a hopper 68 in which the coins are actually stored, the partitions of the receptacle serving only as mechanical protection against attempted break-ins. The lower end 68 a of the hopper 68 is held opposite the orifice 66 of the counter plate by a flange 70 formed on the counter plate. A rib 72 of reduced height is welded to the bottom 14 parallel to the partition 36 so that the lower part 36 a of the partition is pressed against the rib 72, the latter being disposed inside the receptacle 30.

The locking member 50 is pivotally mounted about an axis 80 integral with the bottom 14 of the housing. The member 50 comprises a lever portion 82. On one of the edges of the lever there are two nozzles 84 and 86, arranged in the plane of the lever. A heel 88 projects from the other edge of the lever. The heel 88 is arranged in the plane of the obturator 42. The heel 88 is intended to cooperate with the rear edge 90 of the shutter 42 and with its lateral edge 92. In addition, the lower part 36 has removable partition 36 and the rib 72 are provided with two slots respectively 94, 96, and 98, 100. When the partition 36 is in the locked position, the slots 94, 98 and 96, 100 coincide respectively.

When the obturator 42 is in the closed position (FIG. 3b) the nozzles 84 and 86 of the member 50 penetrate respectively into the sets of slots 94, 98 and 96, 100, and the heel 88 of the member 50 is in abutment against the lateral edge 92 of the shutter. In this position, the partition 36 is therefore locked on the bottom of the case since the spouts 84 and 86 of the pivoting member 50 penetrate into the slots 94 and 96 and the heel 88 is in abutment against the obturator 42. Of course in this position there is no overlap between the orifices 40 and 44.

When the shutter 42 is in the open position (FIG. 3a) the heel 88 of the member 50 can come to bear on the rear edge 90 of the shutter. In this position the nozzles 84 and 86 do not penetrate into the slots 94 and 96. The partition 36 is therefore free. In this position the orifices 40 and 44 are superimposed.

FIG. 2 shows better how the locking of the partition 36 already partially achieved by the member 50 is completed and how the locking of the partition 36 also ensures the locking of the upper partition 34.

The rear edge of the partition 36 is engaged between two angle elements 102 and 104 secured to the rear partition 22 of the housing. When the nozzles 84 and 86 enter the slots 94 and 96, the partition 36 is therefore completely immobilized. The upper edge 36 has a partition 36 is curled. The edge 34 a of the partition 34 is engaged in a slide 106 secured to the partition 20 of the housing, and the partition 34 rests in part on an angle element 108 secured to the rear partition 22 of the housing. Furthermore, the upper edge 36 a of the partition 36 is disposed above the edge 34 b of the partition 34. Thus, when the partition 36 is locked on the housing by the member 50 the partition 34 is also locked on the housing.

When the shutter 42 is in the position shown in Figure 3a, position corresponding to the collection of coins contained in the receptacle 30, the member 50 can be freely brought into the position it occupies in this same figure. As already explained, the partition 36 can then be removed by lifting it upwards and the partition 34 can also be removed. It is then possible to easily access the interior of the receptacle 30 to carry out the necessary interventions and in particular access the mechanism of a lock disposed in the receptacle. This lock is used to lock the shutter in its closed position.

To close the receptacle 30, it suffices to replace the partitions 36 and 34. When the shutter 42 is returned to its closed position, the edge 90 then the edge 92 of the shutter cause the member 50 to pivot, the beaks 84 and 86 penetrate into the sets of slots 94, 98 and 96, 100. At the end of the travel of the shutter 42, the heel 88 is in abutment against the edge 92 of the shutter.

In addition, as shown in Figures 2 and 3a, 3b, the mechanical connection between the foot 12 and the housing 10 is achieved by sets, studs-nuts such as the assembly 110. The nut 110 is located inside the casing 10 but outside the receptacle 30. It would therefore be possible, after opening the door 20, to unscrew the nuts 110 to separate the casing from its foot. To avoid such an attempt at vandalism, the spout 84 has a sufficient length so that, when the member 50 is in the locking position, the spout 84 covers the head of the stud 110. Thus, even when the front door is open, it it is not possible to unscrew the nut protected by the spout 84.

In addition, because the nozzles 84 and 86 first pass through the slots 98 and 100 formed in the rib 72 which is very close to the bottom of the partition 36 having the slots 94 and 96 it is practically impossible to tear off the member 50 for removing the partition 36.

It is also important to emphasize that the bottom of the partition 36 is locked by the member 50 at two points formed by the spouts 84 and 86. These two points are regularly distributed over the length of the partition 36. The anchoring of the partition 36 on the bottom 14 of the case is therefore very effective.

It goes without saying that the removable partitions 34 and 36 could be constituted in another way, for example formed by one and the same piece, the separation into two having the sole purpose of facilitating the access operation inside. of the receptacle. Likewise, the partition 34 could have been fixed and secured to the housing, only the lateral partition 36 being removable. According to yet another embodiment, it is possible to provide that the partition 36 is fixed and integral with the housing, only the upper partition 34 being removable. In this case the upper partition 34 is provided with two vertical tabs with the end of which the two slots are formed in which the two nozzles 84 and 86 of the locking member penetrate when the latter is in the suitable position.

It goes without saying that the movable return member 50 may not be pivotable. This could be a moving part guided in translation in a direction perpendicular to the removable partition. In this case the shutter comprises a ramp which converts the movement of the shutter into a movement of the return member to lock the removable partition.

Similarly, it would not go beyond the invention if the removable partition was not parallel to the direction of movement of the shutter but inclined with respect to the latter. It is understood, however, that the general parallelepiped shape of the receptacle is very functional.

Finally, it goes without saying that the machine provided with the receptacle according to the invention is not necessarily a parking terminal. As already indicated, it can be any machine activated by the introduction of coins.
It has not been described how the shutter 42 can be moved. Preferably the shutter is moved using the head of the coin collecting device as explained in detail in the European patent already cited.

Claims (5)

1. Machine operated by the introduction of coins, comprising a housing (10) provided with a bottom (14) and in said housing a receptacle (30) for collecting the coins introduced into the machine, said receptacle comprising a bottom at least a portion of which is shared with the bottom of said housing, said shared portion comprising a collecting orifice (40) opening out on the outside of said housing and at least a first removable partition (36) separating the interior of said receptacle from the remainder of the interior of the housing and not perpendicular to the direction of displacement of a shutter (42) of the machine, movable in rectilinear translation between a first position in which it blocks said orifice (40) and a second position in which said orifice is released, and in said receptacle a removable member (50) separate from said shutter and having a first state corresponding to a given position in which a first portion of said member (84) locks said removable partition by penetrating the latter and a second state in which said member does not lock said partition, said shutter (42) immobilising said member in its first state when it is itself in its first position, characterised in that the member (50) separate from said shutter (42) is movable, in that the second state of the member corresponds to a second position thereof and in that passage of the shutter from its second position to its first position causes displacement of said member from its second position to its first position by cooperating with said shutter via a second portion (88) of said separate member forming a stop.
2. Machine according to claim 1, characterised in that said removable partition forms a vertical wall of said receptacle.
3. Machine according to claim 2, characterised in that said movable member (23) is mounted pivotably about a shaft (80) rigidly connected to the housing (14).
4. Machine according to either of claims 2 and 3, characterised in that it comprises a second removable partition (34), said first partition (36) comprising means (36a) for immobilising said second partition at least partially when said first partition is locked by said pivotable member (50).
5. Machine according to any of claims 2 to 4, further comprising a leg (12), said housing (10) being rigidly connected to said leg by means of at least one dismountable fixing element (110) opening out on the outside of said receptacle (30), characterised in that said first portion (84) of the movable member (50) makes said fixing element undismountable when said movable member is in its first position.

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