Escrow and security device for coin and dollar bill operated vending machine

Claim 2

In a coin and dollar bill operated vending machine having coin receiving and totalizing means, dollar bill receiving and validating means, a cashbox for receiving coins and dollar bills inserted into the vending machine, and vending means for initiating the delivery of merchandise from the vending machine, and improved escrow and security device comprising: a door, said door adapted to be manually actuated to move to a closed position thereby closing access to the coin receiving means and to the dollar bill receiving means; locking means for locking said door in the closed position when said door is moved to the closed position after a dollar bill has been inserted into the dollar bill receiving means; initiation means for initiating operation of the validating means in response to insertion of a dollar bill into the dollar bill receiving means and in response to the movement of said door to the closed position; transport means for transporting a dollar bill to the cashbox in response to validation of the dollar bill by the validating means; and vend start means for initiating operation of the vending means to deliver merchandise to a purchaser in response to said transport means transporting the dollar bill to the cashbox and for terminating operation of said locking means so that said door may move to an open position; disabling means for preventing operation of said locking means and said initiating means when a coin is inserted into the coin receiving and totalizing means.

Claim 3

An escrow and security arrangement as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising return means for terminating operation of said locking means, initiating means and transport means before operation of said vend start means in response to purchaser stimulus so that a purchaser may retrieve deposited coins or dollar bills before initiation of operation of the vending means to deliver merchandise.

Claim 4

An escrow and security arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a pivotably mounted lever member, said lever member mounted so that a first end thereof will engage and lock said door when said lever member is pivoted in response to the insertion of a dollar bill into the dollar bill receiving means and said door is moved to the closed position.

Claim 5

An escrow and security arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said initiating means comprises initiating switch means operable to provide electrical power to the validating means in response to insertion of a dollar bill into the dollar bill receiving means and movement of the door to a closed position.

Claim 6

An escrow and security arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transport means comprises: rotatable roller means for contacting and moving the dollar bill when said roller means are rotated; motor means operably connected to said roller means to rotate said roller means in response to validation of the dollar bill by the validating means.

Claim 7

An escrow and security arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vend start means comprises: vend switch means operable in response to the transport means transporting a dollar bill to the cashbox, said vend switch means for completing an electrical circuit to the vending means when operated to initiate operation of the vending means.

Claim 8

An escrow and security device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said disabling means comprises: disabling switch means for terminating electric power to the locking means, and initiating means, when said switch means is opened; coin and follower means for opening said disabling switch means in response to coins being inserted into the coin receiving and totalizing means.

Claim 9

In a coin and dollar bill operated vending machine having coin receiving and totalizing means, dollar bill receiving and validating means, a cashbox for receiving coins and dollar bills inserted into the vending machine and vending means for initiating delivery of merchandise from thE vending machine, an improved escrow and security device comprising: a door, said door adapted to be actuated to move to a closed position thereby closing access to the coin receiving means and the dollar bill receiving means; locking means for locking said door in the closed position when said door is moved to the closed position after a dollar bill has been inserted into the dollar bill receiving means; initiating means for initiating operation of the validator in response to insertion of a dollar bill into the dollar bill receiving means and in response to the movement of said door to the closed position; vend start means for initiating operation of the vending means to deliver merchandise to the purchaser in response to the validating means validating a dollar bill inserted into the receiving means; transport means for transporting the dollar bill to the cashbox in response to the delivery of merchandise by the vending means; and disabling means for preventing the operation of said locking means and said initiating means when a coin is inserted into the coin receiving and totalizing means.

Claim 10

In a coin and dollar bill operated vending machine having coin receiving and totalizing means, dollar bill receiving and validating means, a cashbox for receiving coins and dollar bills inserted into the vending machine and vending means for initiating delivery of merchandise from thE vending machine, an improved escrow and security device comprising: a door, said door adapted to be actuated to move to a closed position thereby closing access to the coin receiving means and the dollar bill receiving means; locking means for locking said door in the closed position when said door is moved to the closed position after a dollar bill has been inserted into the dollar bill receiving means; initiating means for initiating operation of the validator in response to insertion of a dollar bill into the dollar bill receiving means and in response to the movement of said door to the closed position; vend start means for initiating operation of the vending means to deliver merchandise to the purchaser in response to the validating means validating a dollar bill inserted into the receiving means; transport means for transporting the dollar bill to the cashbox in response to the delivery of merchandise by the vending means; and disabling means for preventing the operation of said locking means and said initiating means when a coin is inserted into the coin receiving and totalizing means.

Claim 11

An escrow and security device, as claimed in claim 8, and further comprising return means for terminating operation of said locking means, initiating means, and transport means before operation of said vend start means in response to purchaser stimulus so that a purchaser may retrieve deposited coins or dollar bills before the initiation of operation of the vending means to deliver merchandise.

Claim 12

An escrow and security arrangement for use in combination with a dollar bill validator for a vending machine, the validator comprising a sensing head for determining the authenticity of the dollar bill, said escrow and security arrangement comprising: receiving means for receiving and retaining the inserted dollar bill, the validator being adjacent said receiving means; coin receiving and totalizing means for receiving and totalizing inserted coins; a door, said door adapted to be manually actuated to move to a closed position to close access to said receiving means and said coin receiving means after a dollar bill is inserted into said receiving means; locking means for locking said door in the closed position in response to the insertion of a dollar bill into said receiving means; initiation means for initiating operation of the validator in response to insertion of a dollar bill into said receiving means and in response to the movement of said door to the closed position; transport means for transporting a dollar bill to a cashbox in the vending machine in response to the validator determining the authenticity of the inserted dollar bill; and vend means for initiating the vending of merchandise from the vending machine and for terminating operation of said locking means so that the door may move to an open position in response to the transporting of a dollar bill by said transport means; disabling means for preventing operation of said locking means and said initiating means when a coin is inserted into the coin receiving and totalizing means.

Claim 13

An escrow and security arrangement for use in combination with a dollar bill validator for a vending machine, the validator comprising a sensing head for determining the authenticity of the dollar bill, said escrow and security arrangement comprising: receiving means for receiving and retaining the inserted dollar bill, the validator being adjacent said receiving means; coin receiving and totalizing means for receiving and totalizing inserted coins; a door, said door adapted to be manually actuated to move to a closed position to close access to said receiving means and said coin receiving means after a dollar bill is inserted into said receiving means; locking means for locking said door in the closed position in response to the insertion of a dollar bill into said receiving means; initiation means for initiating operation of the validator in response to insertion of a dollar bill into said receiving means and in response to the movement of said door to the closed position; transport means for transporting a dollar bill to a cashbox in the vending machine in response to the validator determining the authenticity of the inserted dollar bill; and vend means for initiating the vending of merchandise from the vending machine and for terminating operation of said locking means so that the door may move to an open position in response to the transporting of a dollar bill by said transport means; disabling means for preventing operation of said locking means and said initiating means when a coin is inserted into the coin receiving and totalizing means.