FR2777100A1 - COIN BOXES FOR AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTORS OF PRODUCTS AND AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTORS BY APPLYING - Google Patents

Abstract

The lockable coin box (70) on the vending machine (10) has a coin opening into which coins fall which are ejected from a coin mechanism (26). Upon removal of the coin box (70), a locking mechanism automatically blocks the coin opening, thereby making the contents of the coin box (70) accessible only to a person who has the key to unlock. this one. In a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism is actuated by a rotation of the latch (78) which locks the coin box (70) to the vending machine (10). Application to automatic dispensers for various products such as chewingum balls and candies.

Description

The present invention relates to automatic dispensing apparatus

  of products. In particular, this invention relates to a lockable coin box for vending machines or other

this guy.

  Vending machines, such as vending machines for chewing gum balls, are widely used in the sale of candy and other small items. A typical vending machine includes a hopper assembly having a transparent globe which acts as a container for the objects and which is placed on a dispensing wheel which rotates in a hopper. A customer deposits the necessary part or parts in the coin mechanism and turns the handle, which causes the dispensing wheel to rotate to transport a pre-established quantity of products to the inlet of a dispensing chute. The hopper assembly is placed on a body which is mounted on a base defining a secure compartment containing a coin box in which the coin mechanism

  drop the deposited coins.

  Vending machines are generally purchased and maintained in working order by operators who assemble these vending machines and maintain them in passing places, such as shopping centers, restaurants and the like. The operator ensures periodic filling of the distributors and collects the revenue from the sale of objects made by the distributors, and it generally gives part of the revenue to the owners of the premises. A large ATM operator can operate several hundred ATMs, employing special personnel to service the ATMs and deliver various coins to the operator.

  are accumulated inside the coin box.

  Vending machines are more particularly intended for use in public places where they are not easily monitored and, as such, they are designed to resist attempts by customers to fraud, theft and vandalism. However, since it is not possible to track the number of items sold by each distributor, the operator of the distributor can never know how many coins will have been collected from a particular distributor during 'a maintenance operation by its staff. The operator can thus be subject to theft of coins from him. The operator may also be subject to substitution of counterfeit coins in place of real coins by his maintenance staff before the collected coins are returned to him. In both cases, the profits from

  the operator can be reduced significantly.

  It is therefore desirable that the ATM be provided with a lockable coin box which can be removed as a whole by maintenance personnel, but which remains in a locked state and can only be unlocked by the operator, the contents of the coin box being thus inaccessible to maintenance personnel. Such a device would significantly reduce or even eliminate the opportunities for theft or "skimming" by maintenance personnel before they restore

  the distributor's recipe.

  The present invention thus creates an automatic dispenser having a lockable coin box with an opening for coins into which coins fall as they are ejected from the coin mechanism. The coin box has an external lock that can be unlocked by service personnel to remove the coin box from the ATM, but when the coin is removed, a locking mechanism blocks the opening for coins. change, making the contents of the coin box inaccessible to anyone who does not have a key to unlock a second lock provided on the lid of the coin box. Maintenance personnel cannot therefore steal coins from the coin box and, at the same time, the maintenance operations of ATMs are

  facilitated by the fact that it is easy to remove and put back the coin box.

  The present invention thus creates a coin box comprising a container having an upper part, a lower part and side walls defining the interior of the container, the lower part comprising an opening for coins as well as an opening allowing access. inside the container, a removable panel fixed releasably, by a first lock at the opening provided in the container in order to secure the interior of the container against unauthorized access, and a mechanism blocking device for blocking the opening for coins provided inside the container, comprising a blocking element having an opening aligned with the opening for coins when the blocking element is in an operating position, The blocking element being able to move between the operating position and a blocking position in which the opening does not is not aligned with the coin opening in such a way that the locking element blocks the coin opening, and a retaining mechanism for holding the locking element in the operating position, the movement of the locking element to the operating position activating the retaining mechanism for holding the locking element in the locking position when the locking element is moved back to the position

blocking.

  The present invention further creates a coin box comprising a container having a bottom portion and side walls defining the interior of the container, an upper portion comprising a removable cover releasably attached to the container using a latch lid to secure the interior of the container against unauthorized access, the upper part comprising an opening for coins, and a locking mechanism for locking the opening for coins arranged inside container comprising a blocking member having an opening aligned with the coin opening when the blocking member is in an operating position, the blocking member being movable between an operating position and a position where the opening is not aligned with the coin opening so that the el locking device blocks the coin opening, and a retaining mechanism for holding the locking element in the operating position, the retaining mechanism being primed from inside the container to allow the locking element to move from the locking position to the operating position, so that the movement of the locking element towards the operating position causes the retaining mechanism to keep the locking element in the locking position when the blocking element is moved back to the blocking position. The present invention furthermore creates a vending machine comprising a part for containing products and a secure compartment defined inside a body, a coin mechanism mounted in the body for receiving a coin or a token and transporting the coin or token in the secure compartment for deposit in a coin box, the coin box comprising a container having an upper part, a lower part and side walls defining the interior of the container, the upper part comprising an opening for coins as well as an opening allowing access to the interior of the container, a removable panel fixed in a releasable manner, using a first latch, to the opening of the container so to secure the interior of the container against unauthorized access, and a locking mechanism to block the opening for parts coin disposed inside the container, comprising a blocking member having an opening aligned with the coin opening when the blocking member is in an operating position, the blocking member being movable between the operating position and a blocking position in which the opening is not aligned with the coin opening so that the blocking member blocks the coin opening, and a retaining mechanism for hold the locking element in the operating position, the movement of the locking element towards the operating position activates the retaining mechanism for holding the locking element in the locking position when the element

  blocking device is moved back to the locking position.

  The invention will be better understood and other aims, characteristics,

  details and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the description

  Explanatory which will follow made with reference to the appended schematic drawings given solely by way of examples illustrating embodiments of the present invention and in which: - Figure 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a dispenser implementing the invention, - Figure 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the base of the automatic dispenser of Figure 1 and shows the position of the guide chute of the coins, - Figure 3 is a rear elevation partially cut away from the base and from the body of the automatic dispenser of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a plan view from above partially cut away from the coin box, FIG. 4a is a plan view from above of the locking mechanism of the coin opening still in a priming position during the insertion process in the dispenser, - Figure 4b is a top plan view of the mechanis me blocking the opening for coins in an operating position after insertion into the dispenser, - Figure 4c is a top plan view of the locking mechanism of the opening for coins in a locked position after removal of the dispenser, - Figure 5 is a side elevational view in cross section of the base of Figure 2, - Figure 6a is a cross section on a larger scale showing how to lock the cover of the coin box this box, FIG. 6b is a cross-section on a larger scale showing the cover of the coin box in a locked position on the coin box, and - FIG. 7 is a partially broken away perspective view showing

  a preferred actuation system for the locking mechanism.

  Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates by way of example an automatic distributor 10 implementing the invention. The dispenser 10 comprises a transparent container, or globe 12 in which are placed the products to be sold by the distributor and which has an upper opening closed by a cover 24 to prevent unauthorized access to the products located in the globe 12. The globe 12 is placed on a collar 14 which rests in a hopper 16 in which the dispensing wheel rotates 20. The hopper 16, the collar 14 and the globe 12 are for example fixed to each other in the form of a one-piece hopper assembly using bolts 18 passing through a retaining ring (not shown) tightening the globe 12 to the hopper 16. The hopper assembly is mounted on a body 30 comprising a base, the body 30 being for example a one-piece housing in plastic material

  having an upper part and a lower part both open.

  The hopper assembly is fixed to the base 40 using a central rod 38 which extends from the base 40 upwards through the body 30, the hopper 16, the distribution wheel 20 and the globe 12 , and ends in the cover 24 which is locked to the central rod 38 by a cylindrical lock 25, so

  thus fixing together the constituent elements of the distributor 10.

  A coin mechanism 26 mounted in the body 30 has a coin slot 26c and a handle 26a accessible to a customer, and is designed such that the handle 26a can be rotated only when the coin or the appropriate token is inserted into the coin slot 26c. The coin mechanism 26 is placed such that a timing gear 27 meshes with a toothed edge of the timing wheel 20, thereby causing the timing wheel 20 to rotate as it is turned the handle 26a of the coin mechanism 26 until a product holder (not shown) containing a preset amount of product comes into alignment with the inlet of a dispensing chute 28, in order to transport the product to the user via a tilting door 28a. When the handle 26a is completely turned, the coin mechanism 26 deposits, in a secure compartment defined inside the body 30, the coin

or the token that was entered.

  The invention will here be described by way of example in the context of an automatic dispenser 10 which accepts coins 1 of a

  particular denomination. It will be understood that the description applies

  also to an ATM that accepts coins of any currency, of any denomination, or tokens, or any other similar element capable of releasing the mechanism to

  26 coins to deliver an item from the dispenser 10.

  The invention is not intended to be limited by the type of coins, tokens, or other elements used to actuate the coin mechanism 26. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a coin box lockable coin 70 is contained inside the base 40, which, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, comprises a bottom 42 surrounded by a base wall 44 provided with a lip 45 forming a U-shaped part inside which the body 30 rests in the assembled state of the dispenser 10. It is advantageous to provide a free space inside the base 40 to make it easy, without being obstructing, the insertion and removal of the coin box 70 and , in the preferred embodiment, this is done by providing a bridge 60 extending between the front face 44a and the rear face 44b of the base wall 44 and to which the rod

  central 38 can be fixed to secure, to the base 40, the hopper assembly.

  A threaded sleeve 68 is drilled or formed in the center of the trigger guard 60 to screw the central rod 38 into it, and a nut 38a can be used to adjust the depth of insertion of the central rod 38 into the sleeve 68, as can be seen. in Figure 5. The trigger guard 60 thus provides a secure structure to which the central rod 38 can be fixed, leaving a free space inside the base 40 to accommodate the coin box 70. Such an embodiment is described and illustrated in US patent application No. 08/929403, under examination, filed by the applicant on September 15, 1997 for "Bulk Vendor Base with Removable Cash Box", and who is

  incorporated herein for reference.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the base contains a lockable and removable coin box 70 which, when used, is disposed inside the base 40, but which is accessible from

  lI'extérieur the base 40 for removal and emptying of its contents.

  The coin box 70 is slidably arranged inside the base 40 and, in the preferred embodiment, it can be inserted and removed like a drawer through an opening 46 extending on one side of the base wall 44, as seen in FIG. 1. The bottom 42 of the base 40 may have edges 48, as shown in FIG. 3, for the housing of bolt heads (not shown) fixing the base 40 to a support or rubber feet (not shown) for distributors 10 simply placed on a flat part. The coin box 70, illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, has the form of a container comprising a lower part or bottom 72 and walls 74, preferably molded from a piece of metal or plastic. The bottom 72 is provided with U-shaped parts 73 for housing the edges 48 provided on the bottom 42 of the base 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the wall 74a which aligns with the opening 46 of the base 40 has shoulders 76 which match the shape of the base wall 44, as seen in Figure 1, so that, in the closed position, the base 40 has a uniform appearance. This configuration also makes it more difficult to insert a tool between the coin box 70 and the base wall 44, thus making it possible to resist attempts to use a crowbar to remove the box. money 70 outside the base 40. The money box 70 further comprises an upper part which, in the preferred embodiment, is closed by a removable panel comprising a cover 80 as described below which, in conjunction with the

  bottom 42 and walls 74, defines the interior of the container.

  The coin box 70 is provided with an external lock 78, preferably arranged in the center of the wall 74a which aligns with the opening 46 provided in the base 40, and can optionally be provided with a handle 79 to be entered when the coin box 70 is removed from the base 40, or when it is inserted into this base. The external lock 78 serves to lock the coin box 70 to the base, and it can be a traditional type tubular lock with a bolt 78a which engages any suitable surface inside the base 40 or the body 30 to prevent removing the coin box 70. In the preferred embodiment, the underside of the trigger guard 60 is provided with a locking surface 69, clearly visible in FIG. 5, against which the bolt 78a can be securely engaged. External lock 78 is provided

  to be operated by maintenance personnel, as described below.

  The upper part of the coin box 70 includes a cover with a lid latch 82, for locking the coin box 70 and thus making its contents inaccessible to maintenance personnel. The cover latch 82 can also be a traditional type tubular latch s having a rod 82a which is screwed into a threaded sleeve 77 formed in the bottom 72 of the coin box 70. The cover latch 82 is placed on one end of the cover 80 (the rear end in the illustrated embodiment) and, on the other end, flanges 84 are provided with reinforcing ribs 84a which engage in notches 75a provided in ribs 75 formed at the inside of the front face 74a, as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b. Thus, the cover 80 can be fixed to the container by inserting the flanges 84 in the notches 75a and by screwing the rod 82a of the latch.

  cover 82 in threaded sleeve 77.

  It is seen that the end of the cover 40 opposite the cover lock 82 can be fixed to the container in many other ways well known to those skilled in the art and, for example, by hinges, bosses or the like, and the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular manner of securing the cover 80 to the container, such as that shown and described here. The important feature is the provision of a cover lock 82 which must be unlocked to open the cover 80 and which uses a key different from that used for the external lock 78. The key

  for the cover lock 82 is kept by the operator, as described above

  below. Preferably, the cover latch 82 is recessed in the cover 80 as seen at 83 in Figure 4, so that the cover latch 82 does not protrude above the top of the coin box 70 and thus does not interfere with the insertion of the coin box 70 into the

base 40, nor its withdrawal.

  The cover 80 has a slot 88, clearly visible in FIG. 4, through which the bolt 78a of the external lock 78 protrudes when the latter is in the locked position shown in FIG. 5. The slot 88 should not be larger than necessary to allow the bolt 78a to pass through it unimpeded, so that unauthorized access, through the slot 88 towards the inside of the coin box 66, is effectively blocked by the external lock 78, so as to avoid the possibility of coins 1 being removed from the interior of the locked coin box 70,

through slot 88.

  The cover 80 is provided with a coin opening 86, through which coins 1 ejected from the coin ejection ramp 26b of the coin mechanism 26 are deposited in the coin box 70 Preferably, the coin opening 86 is disposed in the center of the top of the coin box 70, allowing coins 1 which fall into the coin box 70 to stack outside. from the center and avoids a local accumulation of coins which could block the opening for coins 86. The coins 1 are directed through the opening for coins 86 by a guide chute 90 having, on the one hand, an inlet 92 adjacent to the coin ejection ramp 26b of the coin mechanism 26 and, on the other hand, an outlet 94 arranged above the opening for coins 86. preferably the guide trough 86 has the shape of a continuous curve or has a substantially uniform pitch in order to prevent coins from becoming lodged in guide trough 90. In order to facilitate the deposit of coins 1 through the coin opening 86, outlet 94 of the guide chute

  may have a chamfered bottom edge, as shown in Figure 3.

  In the preferred embodiment, the guide chute 90 is kept aligned with the ejection ramp 26b of the coin mechanism 26 and with the coin opening 86 by a stirrup 96 fixed to the trigger guard 90 by the nut 38a, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The guide chute 90 may have another configuration and / or be mounted in any suitable manner with its inlet 92 placed to receive the coins 1 ejected by the coin mechanism 26 and its outlet placed to deposit the coins 1 in the opening for coins

currency 86.

  Locking the lid 80 of the coin box 70 will not make the contents of the coin box 70 inaccessible if the coin opening 86 remains open, as maintenance personnel could turn the coin box 70 over. and attempting to extract the coins through the opening for coins 86. The invention therefore creates a locking mechanism 100 to prevent access to the opening for coins 86 when the coin box 70 is removed from the dispenser 10. The locking mechanism 100, shown in Figure 4, is hidden inside the coin box 70 in the preferred embodiment by being fixed under

cover 80.

  The locking mechanism 100 comprises a locking element 102 having an opening 104 approaching the dimensions of the coin opening 86. The locking element 102 is mounted so as to move between an operating position in which the the opening 104 is aligned with the coin opening 86, as shown in Figure 4b, and a locking position in which the opening 104 is not aligned with the coin opening 86, as shown in FIG. 4c, position in which the locking element 102 blocks the opening for coins 86 and thus prevents access to the interior of the coin box 70. In the preferred embodiment which is illustrated, the locking element 102 is pivotally mounted on the cover 80 using a rivet 102a; however, the locking element 102 can be mounted in any other suitable manner which allows it to move between the positions of

operation and blocking.

  The locking mechanism 100 is designed in such a way that, when the coin box 70 is empty, the locking element 102 can be moved to the operating position by the service personnel, but that, when the coin box 70 is removed from a dispenser 10, the blocking element cannot be moved by maintenance personnel out of the blocking position. In the preferred embodiment, this is accomplished by using the external latch 78 as an actuator for the locking member 102, and by providing a retaining mechanism 110 which allows the locking member 102 to move to the operating position when inserted into the dispenser 10 but, once the locking element is moved out of the operating position when the coin box is removed from the dispenser 10, a retaining pawl 112 Locked

  the locking element 102 in the locking position.

  The retaining pawl 112 is pivotally mounted on the cover 80 while being subjected to a spring 113 fixed to the cover 80. Thus, under the action of the spring 113, the tail 112a of the retaining pawl 112 engages in a tooth 106 provided on the locking member 102, as shown in Figure 4c, to prevent the locking member 102 from pivoting to the operating position after the coin box 70 has been removed from the dispenser 10. The member locking device 102 can thus be made to pivot towards the operating position only by first rotating the tail 112a of the retaining pawl 112 in order to move it away from the tooth 106, as shown in the

  Figure 4b, and this can only be done from inside the coin box 70.

  In order to allow the locking element 102 to move towards the operating position when the coin box 70 is inserted into the dispenser 10, a pivoting mounted catch pawl 114 is provided for retaining the retaining pawl 112 in a priming position in which the latter does not come into the path of the locking element 102. The priming pawl, age 114 has a bent head 114b which engages with a head 112b of the retaining pawl 112 It will be noted that, in the embodiment shown, the head 112b of the retaining pawl 112 is also of bent shape, which is practical for manufacturing reasons. However, it will be understood that the head 112a of the retaining pawl 112 need not be of angled shape provided that it has a surface which can be

  engaged by the head 114b of the priming pawl 114.

  In the preferred embodiment, the blocking element 102 is made to pivot between the operating and blocking positions by rotation of the external lock 78. The blocking element 102 is provided with a toothed rack 102b which meshes with a toothed wheel 78b rotatably attached to the external lock 78 as shown in Figure 7. The locking element 102 thus moves between the operating position shown in Figure 4b and the locking position shown in Figure 4c when the external lock 78 is caused to rotate, coinciding respectively with the rotation of the latch 78a in the locking position and, respectively, out of it. The external lock 78 thus serves as an external actuating member which actuates the release mechanism 110. This is advantageous because it represents an action that the maintenance personnel must perform so as to lock the coin box 70 in the base 40 of the dispenser and so as to unlock the coin box 70 in order to remove it from the base 40. It will however be seen that it is possible to use other means, such as a pawl which lowers or slides, when inserting the coin box 70 into the base

  40 of the distributor, to actuate the locking element 102.

  Optionally, a protective plate 98 is fixed to the cover 80 on the area of the locking mechanism 100; for example by bolts 99, to prevent the locking mechanism 110 from being obstructed by coins 1 accumulating inside the coin box 70. If the latter is provided, the protective plate 98 must presenting an opening 98a aligned with the opening for coins 86, so that coins 1 can fall through the protective plate 98 into the coin box 70 when the locking mechanism 100 is in the

operating position.

  In operation, the hopper assembly is assembled in the traditional manner, and the base 80 is locked to the hopper assembly by engaging the central rod 38 in the threaded bush 68, then mounting the body 30 and the hopper assembly. on the base 40 so that the central rod 38 extends until it crosses the globe 12. The cover 24 is then placed on the globe 12, the tubular latch 25 is then inserted through the cover 24 and finally engaged the latch 25 on the threaded upper end of the central rod 38. This effectively fixes all of the components of the dispenser

  between the base 40 and the cover 24.

  The coin box 70 is primed by unlocking the lock

  cover 82 to release the rod 82a from the socket 77 and open the cover 80.

  The external latch 78 is in the unlocked position, with the latch 78a removed below the cover 80, and the locking member 102 is thus in the locking position shown in Figure 4c. The operator initiates the coin box 70 by pivoting the tail 112a of the retaining pawl 112 in order to move it away from the tooth 106 and by pivoting the priming pawl 114 towards the retaining pawl 112 so that the head 114b of the priming pawl 114 locks onto the head 112b of the retaining pawl, as shown in FIG. 4. This locks the retaining pawl 112 in the priming position, moving it away from the path of the blocking element 102 (illustrated by an arrow in FIG. 4). The locking element 102 can thus pivot from the locking position to the operating position when the external latch 78 is rotated towards the locking position. The operator closes the cover 80, again engages the rod 82a of the cover lock 82 in the socket 77,

  and he keeps the key to the cover lock 82.

  The distributor 10 is thus set up in a shopping center, a restaurant or the like, where a person from the maintenance service unlocks the lock 25, removes the cover 24 and fills the globe 12 with products. This person then inserts a primed coin box 70 into the base 40 of the dispenser 10 through the opening 46 and, using a key provided by

  the operator, turns the external lock 78 to the locked position.

  When the external lock 78 is turned to the locked position (by turning counterclockwise in the illustrated embodiment), which locks the coin box 70 in the base 40 of the dispenser, the lock 78a passes through the slot 88 and engages with the rim 69 below the trigger guard 60 to prevent the distributor 70 from being removed from the base 40. At the same time, the toothed wheel 78b rotates, meshing with the rack 102b provided on the blocking member 102 to move the locking member 102 to the operating position. As the locking element 102 moves to the operating position, part of the locking element, namely the boss 108 in the illustrated embodiment, comes into contact with the priming pawl 114, as shown in FIG. 4a, and finally causes the priming pawl 114 to unlock from the head 112b of the retaining pawl 112, as

shown in Figure 4b.

  The locking mechanism 100 is now in the operating position, with the opening 104 aligned with the coin opening 86 and the shank 112a of the retaining pawl 112 (now unlocked from the priming pawl 114) pushed against the outer edge 102b of the locking element 102. The distributor 10 then filled is ready to operate. Once a sufficient number of objects has been distributed by the distributor 10, a person from the maintenance service comes to replace the full coin box 70 with an empty coin box 70 primed in the manner described above. This person then rotates the external lock 78 to unlock the coin box 70 from the base 40 by turning clockwise in the embodiment shown). As the bolt 78a withdraws from the flange 69 and enters the coin box 70 through the slot 88, the toothed wheel 70b meshes with the rack 102a to pivot the locking element 102 towards the position of blocking. When the locking element 102 reaches the locking position, the spring 113 causes the tail 102a of the retaining pawl 112 to engage in the tooth 106, as shown in FIG. 4c. The maintenance person removes the full coin box 70 from the base 40, and introduces the coin box

  vacuum 70, previously initiated by the operator in the manner described above

  above. Full money box 70 cannot be opened by staff

  because the operator kept the key to the cover lock 82.

  With the tail 112a of the retaining pawl 112 housed against the locking element 102, the locking element 102 cannot be moved back to the operating position. Access to the coin opening 86 thus remains blocked by the locking element 102 until the cover 80 is open and the retaining pawl 112 is made to pivot away from the tooth. 106 during the priming process, as described above. Thus, the maintenance personnel cannot have access to the interior of the full coin box 70. The maintenance person hands over the full coin box 70 to the operator, who unlocks the cover lock 82 , opens the cover 80 and removes the coins 1. The operator then initiates the empty coin box 70 in the manner described above, and returns the coin box 70 thus primed to the maintenance personnel with a view to cleaning it.

  use in another distributor 10.

  It will be noted that for real security, the retaining pawl 112 must lock in the tooth 106 of the locking element 102 before the bolt 78a is completely released from the flange 69 below the trigger guard 60. This will prevent personnel from maintenance of partially unlocking the external lock 78 and removing the coin box 70 before the locking element

  102 has been locked and brought into the locked position.

  In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the cover 80 covers the entire upper part of the coin box 70, and the locking mechanism 100 is fixed to the underside of the cover 80. This is advantageous for rapid removal of the 1 coins out of the box

  coin 70 and for periodic maintenance of the locking mechanism 100.

  However, it will be noted that opening the cover 80 does not require the entire upper part of the coin box 70 to be seen, and that it is possible to design the coin box 70 with a smaller lid 80, so that a portion of the upper part of the coin box 70 is secured to the wall 74, as long as the smaller opening allows access to the interior of the coin box 70 in order to empty it. It is also possible to design the coin box 70 so that the cover is fixed to the wall 74, and to provide an opening in one end to gain access to the coin box 70, the locking mechanism 100 being kept fixed. , at any suitable position, in the box

currency 70.

  In the above embodiments, the locking mechanism can be designed to be primed from outside the coin box, for example by adding a spring to push the priming pawl 114 against the retaining pawl 112 and an opening next to the retaining pawl 112 for the insertion of a tool or a wrench configured to pivot the head 112b towards the locking element 102 until the priming pawl 114 locks onto the head 112b of the retaining pawl 112. This variant may not be suitable for all cases, in that the priming system could then facilitate failure of the locking characteristic of the gearbox.

currency 70.

  The invention is however not limited to the embodiments shown and described in detail since various modifications can be made

  made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (4)

  1. Coin box characterized in that it comprises: a container having an upper part, a lower part and side walls defining the interior of the container, the upper part comprising an opening for coins, as well as an opening providing access to the interior of the container, a removable panel releasably fixed, by a first lock, to the opening provided in the container in order to secure the interior of the container against unauthorized access , and 0 a blocking mechanism for blocking the coin opening disposed inside the container, comprising: a blocking element having an opening aligned with the coin opening when the blocking element is located in an operating position, the blocking element being able to move between the operating position and a blocking position in which the opening is not s aligned with the coin opening in such a way that the blocking element blocks the coin opening, and a retaining mechanism to hold the blocking element in the operating position, the movement of the blocking element to the operating position activating the retaining mechanism for holding the blocking element in the blocking position when the blocking element   is moved back to the blocking position.   2 - Coin box according to claim 1, characterized in that the coin box is slidably received inside the compartment   secured and secured by a second lock.   3 - Coin box according to claim 2, characterized in that the blocking element is moved between the blocking position and the position of   operation by rotation of the second lock.   4 - Coin box according to claim 1, characterized in that the blocking element is held in the blocking position by a retaining pawl which can move between a position lying in a path of movement of the blocking element and a position outside   a path of movement of the locking element.   - Coin box according to claim 4, characterized in that the   retaining pawl is pushed against the locking element.   6 - Coin box according to claim 5, characterized in that the retaining pawl is held in a priming position outside the path of movement of the locking element by a priming pawl which can move between a position in which the priming pawl is moved away from the retaining pawl and a position in which the priming pawl comes into contact with the retaining pawl in order to fix the retaining pawl in the primed position.   7 - Coin box according to claim 6, characterized in that the priming pawl is moved from the position in which the priming pawl is in contact with the retaining pawl towards the position separated from the retaining pawl by the element blocking when the blocking element   moves to the operating position.   8 - Coin box characterized in that it comprises: a container having a lower part and side walls defining the interior of the container, an upper part comprising a removable cover fixed releasably to the container using a lid lock to secure the interior of the container against unauthorized access, the upper part comprising a coin opening, and a locking mechanism for blocking the coin opening arranged at the interior of the container comprising: a blocking member having an opening aligned with the coin opening when the blocking member is in an operating position, the blocking member being movable between an operating position and a blocking position in which the opening is not aligned with the coin opening so that the element of b locating blocks the coin opening, and a retaining mechanism for holding the locking member in the operating position, the retaining mechanism being primed from inside the container to allow the locking member to move from the locked position to the operating position, so that movement of the locking member to the operating position causes the retainer to hold the locking member in the locked position when the element   block is moved back to the blocking position.   9 - Coin box according to claim 8, characterized in that the coin box is slidably received inside the compartment   secured and secured by a second lock.   - Coin box according to claim 9, characterized in that the blocking element is moved between the blocking position and the position of   operation by rotation of the second lock.   1 1 - Coin box according to claim 8, characterized in that the blocking element is held in the blocking position by a retaining pawl which can move between a position in a path of movement of the element blocking and a position outside   a path of movement of the locking element.   12 - Coin box according to claim 1 1, characterized in that   the retaining pawl is pushed against the locking element.   13 - Coin box according to claim 12, characterized in that the retaining pawl is held in a priming position outside the path of movement of the locking element by a priming pawl which can move between a position in which the priming pawl is moved away from the retaining pawl and a position in which the priming pawl comes into contact with the retaining pawl in order to secure the retaining pawl in the priming position.   14 - Coin box according to claim 13, characterized in that the priming pawl is moved from the position in which the priming pawl is in contact with the retaining pawl to the position separated from the retaining pawl by the blocking element when the blocking element   moves to the operating position.   - Automatic dispenser characterized in that it comprises a part for containing products and a secure compartment defined inside a body, a coin mechanism mounted in the body for receiving a coin or a token and transporting the coin or token in the secure compartment to be deposited in a coin box, the coin box comprising: a container having an upper part, a lower part and side walls defining the interior of the container, the upper part comprising an opening for coins as well as an opening allowing access to the interior of the container, a removable panel fixed in a releasable manner, by a first latch, to the opening provided in the container, in order to secure inside the container against unauthorized access, and a locking mechanism to block the coin opening d arranged inside the container, comprising: a blocking member having an opening aligned with the coin opening when the blocking member is in an operating position, the blocking member being movable between the operating position and a blocking position in which the opening is not aligned with the coin opening so that the blocking member blocks the coin opening, and a retaining mechanism for hold the locking element in the operating position, the movement of the locking element towards the operating position activates the retaining mechanism for holding the locking element in the locking position when the locking element is   moved back to the blocking position.   16 - ATM according to claim 15, characterized in that the coin box is slidably received inside the   secure compartment and is secured by a second lock.   17 - Automatic dispenser according to claim 16, characterized in that the blocking element moved between the blocking position and the position   operating by rotation of the second lock.   18 - Automatic dispenser according to claim 15, characterized in that the blocking element is held in the blocking position by a retaining pawl which can move between a position located in a path of movement of the blocking element and a position located in   outside a path of movement of the blocking element.   19 - Automatic dispenser according to claim 18, characterized in   that the retaining pawl is pushed against the locking element.   - Automatic dispenser according to claim 19, characterized in that the retaining pawl is maintained in a priming position outside the path of movement of the blocking element by a priming pawl which can move between a position in which the priming pawl is moved away from the retaining pawl and a position in which the priming pawl comes into contact with the retaining pawl in order to secure the   retaining pawl in priming position.   21 - Automatic dispenser according to claim 20, characterized in that the priming pawl is moved from the position in which the priming pawl is in contact with the retaining pawl to the position separated from the priming pawl by l blocking element when the   blocking moves to the operating position.   22 - Automatic dispenser according to claim 15, characterized in that a chute is provided between the coin mechanism and   The opening for coins.   23 - Automatic dispenser according to claim 15, characterized in that the body comprises a base and in that a rod fixing the part containing the products to the base and fixed to a trigger guard extending through an upper part of the base is attached to a wall of the base, creating a free space inside the base to slide the coin box.