Method and apparatus for varying coin-processing machine receptacle limits

• US 20060175176A1
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Blake, John R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,602,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 194/216
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/00 Counting coins in combination with coin-sorting G07D3/16; Handling of coins not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/002 Coin holding devices

Abstract

In one aspect, a method for optimizing a usable volume of a coin receptacle associated with a coin-processing device is provided. This method includes the steps of obtaining data from at least one sensor and adjusting, responsive to such data, an upper limit of coins which may be input into the receptacle or an available number of coins which may be input into the receptacle.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing a usable volume of a coin receptacle associated with a coin-processing device comprising the steps of:

obtaining data from at least one sensor;

adjusting, responsive to said data, at least one of an upper limit of coins which may be input into said receptacle and an available number of coins which may be input into said receptacle.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

associating the data obtained from at least one sensor to a count corresponding to a number of coins input into the coin-processing machine and deposited into said coin receptacle; and

updating a counter corresponding to the number of coins input into the coin-processing machine and deposited into said coin receptacle.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

associating the data obtained from at least one sensor to a denomination of each of the coins input into the coin-processing machine and deposited into said coin receptacle;

storing in at least one of a memory, a controller, and a computer-readable medium a count for each denomination of the coins input into the coin-processing machine and deposited into said coin receptacle.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting step is performed after each batch of coins is processed.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting step is performed continuously with each processed coin.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting step is performed following attainment of a predetermined milestone.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting step is performed following attainment of a plurality of predetermined milestones.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting step is performed at least one of periodically or intermittently during coin processing.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting step further comprises utilizing at least one of an equation and a look-up table.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sensing a characteristic of at least one of an interior volume of said coin receptacle, an object or objects in an interior volume of said coin receptacle, fields emanating from said coin receptacle, and said coin receptacle.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said obtaining data from at least one sensor comprises receiving a signal from at least one of a coin discrimination sensor, a coin counting sensor, an ultrasonic linear position sensor, a linear position sensor, a cable extension linear position sensor, a linear encoder and associated position changing member, a capacitive linear position sensor, a position probe, a position sensor utilizing optical triangulation of reflected waves, a generic level sensor, an electrical current sensor, an inductive sensor, a magnetic sensor, and a CCD image sensor.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

inputting said data into at least one of a memory, a controller, and a computer-readable medium.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said plurality of predetermined milestones comprises at least one of a predetermined number of coins, a predetermined value of coins, a predetermined number of coins of a selected denomination, a predetermined value of coins of a selected denomination, a predetermined coin mix in combination with one of a predetermined number of coins of at least one specified denomination and a predetermined value of coins, a predetermined weight of coins, a predetermined weight of a coin receptacle containing the coins, a height of coins in a coin receptacle, a volume of coins in a coin receptacle, an activation of at least one of a passive and an active switch, and a manual input.

14. A coin-processing system comprising:

a coin processing machine and a coin receptacle associated therewith, said coin receptacle configured to receive coins input into the coin processing machine;

at least one of a sensor and a switch disposed to output a signal in response to a condition in a coin-processing machine coin receptacle;

means for updating at least one of an upper limit of coins which may be received within the coin receptacle and a remaining number of coins which may be received within the coin receptacle.

15. A coin-processing system according to claim 14, wherein said means for updating comprises a controller adapted to receive said signal output from said at least one of a sensor and a switch, or a signal associated therewith.

16. A coin-processing system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one of a sensor and a switch comprises a sensor comprising at least one of a coin discrimination sensor, a coin counting sensor, an ultrasonic linear position sensor, a linear position sensor, a cable extension linear position sensor, a linear encoder and associated position changing member, a capacitive linear position sensor, a position probe, a position sensor utilizing optical triangulation of reflected waves, a generic level sensor, an electrical current sensor, an inductive sensor, a magnetic sensor, and a CCD image sensor.

17. A coin-processing system according to claim 16, wherein said sensor is adapted to register a coin output to said coin receptacle, and wherein said controller is adapted to update a coin counter.

18. A coin-processing system according to claim 16, wherein said sensor is adapted to register a coin denomination of a coin output to said coin receptacle, and wherein said controller is adapted to update a coin denomination counter.

19. A coin-processing system according to claim 15, wherein said controller is adapted to output a signal corresponding to said at least one of an upper limit of coins which may be received within the coin receptacle and a remaining number of coins which may be received within the coin receptacle to a memory to update said memory with each processed coin.

20. A coin-processing system according to claim 15, wherein said controller is adapted to update a memory by output of a signal following attainment of at least one predetermined milestone said at least one of an upper limit of coins which may be received within the coin receptacle and a remaining number of coins which may be received within the coin receptacle.

21. A coin-processing system according to claim 15, wherein said controller is adapted to update to a memory periodically or intermittently during coin processing with information relating to at least one of an upper limit of coins which may be received within the coin receptacle and a remaining number of coins which may be received within the coin receptacle.

22. A coin-processing system according to claim 15, wherein said controller is adapted to update to a memory in accord with at least one of an equation and a look-up table by outputting a signal thereto corresponding to said at least one of an upper limit of coins which may be received within the coin receptacle and a remaining number of coins which may be received within the coin receptacle.

23. A coin-processing system according to claim 14, wherein said signal output from said at least one of a sensor and a switch and a memory corresponds to a sensed characteristic of at least one of an interior volume of said coin receptacle, an object or objects in an interior volume of said coin receptacle, fields emanating from said coin receptacle, and said coin receptacle.

24. A coin-processing system according to claim 15, wherein said controller is adapted to update a memory after each batch of coins is input and processed by outputting a signal corresponding to at least one of an upper limit of coins which may be received within the coin receptacle and a remaining number of coins which may be received within the coin receptacle.

25. A coin-processing system comprising:

a coin processing machine and a coin receptacle associated therewith, said coin receptacle configured to receive coins input into the coin processing machine;

at least one of a sensor and a switch disposed to output a signal in response to a condition in a coin-processing machine coin receptacle. and

a controller comprising a processor, said controller configured to calculate an upper limit of coins permitted to be input into said coin receptacle based at least in part upon at least one of said signal and a signal related thereto.

26. A coin-processing system in accord with claim 25, wherein said controller further comprises a memory for storing said upper limit calculated by said controller.

27. A coin-processing system according to claim 26, wherein said at least one of a sensor and a switch comprises at least one of an ultrasonic linear position sensor, a linear position sensor, a cable extension linear position sensor, a linear encoder and associated position changing member, a capacitive linear position sensor, a position probe, a position sensor utilizing optical triangulation of reflected waves, a generic level sensor, an electrical current sensor, an inductive sensor, a magnetic sensor, and a CCD image sensor.

28. A coin-processing system according to claim 25, wherein said at least one of a sensor and a switch is disposed within said coin receptacle.

29. A coin-processing system according to claim 25, wherein said at least one of a sensor and a switch is disposed externally to said coin receptacle.

30. A coin-processing system according to claim 25, wherein said sensor is adapted to sense a characteristic of at least one of an interior volume of said coin receptacle, an object or objects in an interior volume of said coin receptacle, fields emanating from said coin receptacle, and said coin receptacle.

31. A coin-processing system according to claim 25, wherein said coin-processing machine coin receptacle condition is a percentage-full condition of the coin receptacle.

32. A coin-processing system according to claim 25, wherein said coin-processing machine coin receptacle condition is a time-to-fill condition estimated by at least one of extrapolation of a coin mix in said coin receptacle and utilization of a look-up table for a time-to-fill corresponding to at least one of a coin mix in said coin receptacle and an estimated coin mix.

33. A coin-processing system according to claim 27, wherein said coin-processing machine coin receptacle condition is a weight of at least one of the coin-bearing coin receptacle and the coins contained within said coin receptacle.