Systems, methods and devices for coin processing and coin recycling

• US 10,043,333 B1
• Filed: 12/14/2017
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Adams, Thomas P., Gordon, Glenn S., Bochnak, Matthew J., Hallowell, Curtis W., Blake, John R., Sobelevsky, Mikhail B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beauchaine, Mark J
• Application Number:
  US15/842,314
• Time in Patent Office: 236 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 1/00 Coin dispensers devices delivering paper currency G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/20 Controlling or monitoring the operation of devices; Data handling
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/22 Means for sensing or detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/235 for monitoring or indicating operating conditions; for detecting malfunctions
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/06 arranged along a circular path
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/128 Rotary devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/14 Apparatus driven under control of coin-sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/16 in combination with coin-counting
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 5/00 Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of coins, e.g. for segregating coins which are unacceptable or alien to a currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/002 Coin holding devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/008 Feeding coins from bulk

Abstract

Currency processing systems, coin processing machines, coin sorting and recycling assemblies, and methods of making and methods of using the same are presented herein. A currency processing system is disclosed which includes a housing with a coin input area for receiving coins and coin receptacles for stowing processed coins. A disk-type coin processing unit includes a rotatable disk for imparting motion to input coins, and a sorting head for separating and discharging coins from exit stations. An automated coin chute receives coins from one of the exit stations. The automated coin chute includes a movable diverter plate that selectively transitions between a first position, whereby coins received from the exit station of the disk-type coin processing unit are redirected through a coin-recycling output passage to a coin-recycling receptacle, and a second position, whereby coins received from the exit station are redirected through a coin-depositing output passage to a coin-depositing receptacle.

Claims

1. A coin-recycling dispenser assembly for dispensing coins stowed in one or more coin totes into one or more coin containers, the coin-recycling dispenser assembly comprising:

a housing with one or more tote docking stations, each of the tote docking stations including a guide mechanism and a drive mechanism;

one or more tote docks coupled to the housing, each of the tote docks being rotatably coupled to one of the tote docking stations and configured to seat therein one of the coin totes, movement of each of the tote docks being limited by the guide mechanism,

wherein each of the drive mechanisms is selectively actuable to rotate one of the tote docks between a loading position, whereat the coin tote is removable from the tote dock, and a dispensing position, whereat the coins stowed inside the coin tote are dispensed, one at a time, into one of the coin containers.

2. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the guide mechanisms of the tote docking stations includes a guide track, and each of the tote docks includes a guide channel configured to mate with the guide track and thereby limit rectilinear movement of the tote dock during rotation thereof.

3. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the guide tracks of the tote docking stations includes a retention tab pressing against a flange of the guide channel and thereby retaining the tote dock in contact with the tote docking station.

4. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the tote docks includes a drum-shaped body, the guide channel extending along an outer circumference of the drum-shaped body.

5. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the guide mechanisms of the tote docking stations includes a rotation stop, and each of the tote docks includes a stopping shoulder configured to abut the rotation stop and thereby limit rotation of the tote dock.

6. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the drive mechanisms of the tote docking stations includes a motor-driven gear assembly, and each of the tote docks includes a toothed track configured to engage with the motor-driven gear assembly.

7. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 6, wherein each of the tote docks includes a drum-shaped body, the toothed track extending along an outer circumference of the drum-shaped body.

8. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the tote docking stations includes a coin slot configured to transmit coins, one at a time, to one of the coin containers.

9. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the tote docks includes a tote pocket configured to slidably receive therein one of the coin totes.

10. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 9, wherein each of the tote pockets includes a contoured surface configured to lie flush against a complementary contoured wall of a coin tote and thereby ensure proper orientation of the coin tote when seated inside the tote pocket.

11. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 1, further comprising a coin till assembly with a till housing and one or more coin funnels stowed inside the till housing, each of the coin funnels having removably mounted at a narrow end thereof one of the coin containers.

12. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 11, wherein the coin till assembly further comprises one or more coin chutes attaching the till housing to the dispenser assembly housing, each of the coin chutes being configured to direct coins, under the force of gravity, into one of the coin containers through one of the coin funnels.

13. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the tote docks includes an automated coin disk assembly selectively actuable to separate coins received from a corresponding coin tote such that coins are transmitted one at a time from the tote dock to the tote docking station.

14. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 13, wherein each of the coin disk assemblies includes a disk motor and a rotor mounted to a roof deck of the tote dock, the rotor having disc-shaped openings configured to receive therein coins from the corresponding coin tote, the disk motor being selectively actuable to rotate the rotor.

15. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 14, wherein each of the tote docking stations includes an array of electrical contacts and each of the tote docks includes an electrical contact pad, wherein rotation of the tote dock to a predetermined position mates the electrical contact pad with the array of electrical contacts and thereby selectively actuates the disk motor.

16. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the tote docks includes a coin sensor configured to count coins received from the coin tote.

17. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 16, wherein each of the tote docking stations includes an electrical contact pad, and each of the tote docks includes an electrical contact, wherein rotation of the tote dock to a predetermined position mates the electrical contact with the electrical contact pad such that coin data is transferrable from the coin sensor.

18. The coin-recycling dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein the dispenser assembly dispenses coins at about 300 to about 500 coins per minute.

19. A coin-recycling system comprising:

a plurality of hand-held coin totes, each of the hand-held coin totes having a respective rigid tote body with a wall defining a coin hole, and a lid attached to the tote body and configured to move between a first position, whereat the lid covers the coin hole, and a second position, whereat the lid exposes the coin hole such that coins can be passed therethrough;

a coin till assembly with a till housing, a plurality of coin chutes attached to the till housing, and a plurality of coin funnels stowed inside the till housing, each of the coin funnels having removably mounted at a narrow end thereof a respective coin cylinder, and each of the coin chutes being configured to direct coins, under the force of gravity, into a respective one of the coin cylinders through one of the coin funnels;

a dispenser assembly housing with a plurality of tote docking stations, each of the tote docking stations including a respective arcuate guide track with a rotation stop and laterally spaced rails, a respective motor-driven gear assembly, and a respective coin slot configured to transmit coins, one at a time, to one of the coin chutes;

a plurality of tote docks juxtaposed on the dispenser assembly housing and rotatably coupled to a respective one of the tote docking stations, each of the tote docks having a respective tote pocket configured to removably seat therein one of the coin totes, a respective stopping shoulder configured to mate with the rotation stop and thereby limit rotation of the tote dock, a respective pair of guide channels configured to mate with the laterally spaced rails of the guide track and thereby limit lateral movement during rotation of the tote dock, and a respective coin disk configured to separate coins received from a corresponding coin tote, and a respective toothed track engaged with the corresponding motor-driven gear assembly,

wherein each of the motor-driven gear assemblies is selectively actuable to rotate a respective one of the tote docks between a loading position, whereat one of the coin totes is pushable into and removable from the tote dock, and a dispensing position, whereat coins stowed inside the coin tote are dispensed, one at a time, from the tote dock, through the tote docking station, to the coin till assembly and into one of the coin cylinders through one of the coin funnels.

20. The coin-recycling system of claim 19 wherein each of the coin cylinders is sized to hold 120-200 coins stacked therein.