Appeal No. 1999-1536 Page 4
Application No. 08/938,592
at such a location along the disc that the coin follows the appropriate path 180a-180f to exit at
the appropriate location to enter the appropriate L-shaped fitting 206, tube 208, bag funnel 210
and bag 212 for that particular coin denomination.
Ristvedt is also provided with a coin counter 152 which counts each coin as it
encounters the corresponding discrete one of the pins 114a-114f and keeps a coin count for
each coin denomination. The coin counter is electrically connected to a solenoid 136 which,
when actuated in response to the counter reaching a predetermined coin count for a particular
coin denomination, raises a plate 120 on which the pins 114a-114f are mounted to move the
pins to a raised position above the pad 54. Upon raising of the pins above the pad, sorting of
any more coins is prevented and all residual coins traveling on the rotating pad pass in the
direction of arrow 146, as shown in Figure 4, into an overflow receptacle 174. Thus, when
the user desires to deposit only a selected number of coins of a particular denomination in a
collection bag, the user can enter that selected number, by means of a button (not shown), to a
comparator 164. After the coin counter 152 counts the preselected number of that particular
denomination, the comparator outputs a signal to actuate the solenoid 136 to raise the pins to
prevent further sorting and send all residual coins to the overflow receptacle 174.
Ristvedt lacks "a shunting mechanism, disposed in a coin route extending from one of
said exit channels to an associated coin-collecting container, for separating the coins discharged
from said one of said exit channels into two or more batches" as required by claim 49.
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007