Method of operating a coin mechanism

(19)

(11)

EP 1 168 256 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	09.03.2005 Bulletin 2005/10

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	02.01.2002 Bulletin 2002/01

(21)	Application number: 01122416.9

(22)	Date of filing: 01.07.1998

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: G07F 5/16, G07F 5/24, G07F 11/00

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	CH DE ES FR GB IT LI

(30)

Priority:

02.07.1997 GB 9714031

(62)	Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
	98932335.7 / 0993661

(71)	Applicant: Mars Incorporated
	McLean, Virginia 22101-3883 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	Yellop, Andrew Michael Sandhurst, Berkshire GU47 OXU (GB) Green, Stephen Michael Reading, Berkshire RG5 4PA (GB) Billington, Gregory John Reading, Berkshire RG6 3BS (GB) Fletcher, Paul Robert Camberley, Surrey GU15 1DE (GB)

(74)	Representative: Burke, Steven David et al
	R.G.C. Jenkins & Co. 26 Caxton Street London SW1H 0RJ London SW1H 0RJ (GB)

(54)	Method of operating a coin mechanism

(57) A method of operating a coin mechanism comprises switching between a first phase in which coins having a denomination in a first set of coin denominations are accepted and dispensed as change and coins having a denomination in a second set of coin denominations are accepted but not dispensed as change, a second phase in which coins having a denomination in the first set are accepted but not dispensed as change and coins having a denomination in the second set are accepted and dispensed as change and a third phase in which coins having a denomination in the first set are not accepted.

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