FR2740585A1 - Coin return mechanism that is resistant to vandalism and fraud - Google Patents

Abstract

The coin return mechanism has a coin guide (4) opening into a chamber (3) into which the returned coins normally fall. The chamber has a door (2) that normally covers its opening and must be swung inward to allow the user access to the interior of the chamber to collect the returned coins. To prevent blocking of the coin guide with a material such as chewing gum, the door has a curved arc (22), which covers the opening of the coin guide as the door is swung upward to gain access to the coin chamber. The inner end of the arc carries a stop (23) that limits the opening of the door.

Description

Apparatus capable of dispensing coins and
resistant to vandalism.

An apparatus for dispensing vandal resistant coins is disclosed. By distribution is meant both the distribution itself and the return of coins. By coins, we mean any object of a given value and allowing a financial transaction.

There are various types of devices that deliver coins in public places. We can think, for example, of a coin mechanism or a parking meter which, when it has broken down, returns the coins inserted. The parts are guided in a chimney opening to the outside and comprising an access flap which prevents the parts from falling out of the device and which the user has previously pushed back to recover the parts.

Continuing with the example of parking meters, these are sometimes subjected to fraudulent attacks consisting in putting them out of service by the introduction of foreign bodies and sealing the mouth, not visible, of the chimney with a block of foam. To do this, simply push the shutter and bypass its free edge to slide the foam block up. The parts subsequently introduced by users therefore do not leave the mouth of the chimney and accumulate therein. The user accuses a device malfunction and does not detect the deception.

Removing the foam block allows the scammer to recover the accumulated coins later.

The present invention aims to prevent such a scam.

To this end, the invention relates to an apparatus capable of distributing coins and comprising a chimney for rendering coins with a flap for access to the chimney mounted pivoting on a frame, characterized in that the chimney opens out onto a pocket terminal for the recovery of parts and the flap and the pocket are arranged to, after pivoting the flap, isolate the terminal pocket from the chimney.

Thus, the shutter has a switch function, or airlock, putting the pocket in communication exclusively with the chimney or the outside and therefore preventing direct communication between them to introduce a foreign body blocking the fall of coins.

The invention will be better understood using the following description of the preferred embodiment of a parking meter according to the invention, with reference to the attached single figure which shows, in side section, the part for rendering parts .

The parking ticket machine shown comprises a box with a front wall 1 pierced with an opening closed by a suspended pivoting flap 2 for access to a terminal pocket 3 onto which opens an upstream chimney 4 for rendering coins. The arrow F1 illustrates the path of the parts.

The shutter 2 has a wall 21 located, at rest, in the plane of the wall 1, and is extended by a wall 22 here substantially in the form of a portion of circular cylinder centered on the pivot axis of the shutter 2. The shutter 2 here again comprises a substantially radial end deflector 23, located, in the rest position, in the mouth of the chimney 4, in order to reflect towards the pocket 3 the falling pieces and avoid trapping them in the part 22.

As shown by the dotted representation of the shutter 2 in the depressed position, the part 22 practically closes the chimney 4. The deflector 23 could have performed this function.

 It can be provided that the part 22 or 23 abuts at the end of the race on the upper edge of the chimney 4 or on any other stop of the box.

Part 22 could be only a support arm for a shutter.

Claims (4)

1. Apparatus capable of distributing coins and comprising a chimney (4) for rendering coins with a flap (2) for access to the chimney (4) pivotally mounted on a frame, characterized in that the chimney (4 ) leads to an end pocket (3) for recovering the parts and the flap (2) and the pocket (3) are arranged to, after pivoting the flap (2), isolate the terminal pocket (3) from the chimney (4) . 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flap (2) has a wall substantially in the form of a cylindrical sector (22) arranged to close off the chimney (4). 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flap has a substantially radial wall (23), for closing the chimney (4). 4. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flap (2) comprises a stop (23) for pivoting limitation.