Importance

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Abstract

A tracking system counts events in the operation of multiple machines or devices over a wide geographic area. One or more reed switches for transmitting an electrical signal to a tracking device is mounted to the stationary frame of the coin mechanism and actuated by a magnetic element mounted to the revolving coin carrier. In one embodiment a controller is programmed to pass a pulse from the reed switch to a counter only once during every preset interval, for example five seconds. This helps to defeats attempts to artificially increase the vend count by jiggling the handle at the point where the magnet passes the reed switch, to cause multiple passes within a single rotational cycle of the coin mechanism. Additional prevention is provided in a further embodiment having two reed switches that must be actuated in sequence before the controller will pass a pulse to the counter.

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First Claim