Apparatus, System and Method For Coin Exchange

• US 20090236201A1
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Jones, William J., Hallowell, Curtis W., Blake, John R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,443,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 194/215
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 1/04 dispensing change equal to a sum deposited
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/0087 Banknote changing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/008 Feeding coins from bulk

Abstract

A method for exchanging coins, the method including the acts of receiving in a self-service coin exchange machine a plurality of coins, processing the plurality of coins to determine a total value of the plurality of coins, and dispensing currency to the patron from a currency dispenser, the currency having a value related to the total value.

Claims

1. A method for exchanging coins in a retail environment, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of coins in a coin processing machine disposed in a retail environment, the coin processing machine comprising a currency dispenser;

processing the plurality of coins to determine a total value of the plurality of coins; and

dispensing currency to the patron from the currency dispenser, the currency having a value related to the total value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the currency comprises bills and coins.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the value related to the total value consists of the total value less a transaction fee.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transferring a portion of the total value to an account using a communication device and an associated communication path.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of transferring a portion of the total value to an account comprises transferring a portion of the total value to a patron account.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of transferring a portion of the total value to an account comprises transferring a portion of the total value to a third part account designated by a patron.

7. A self-service coin exchange apparatus for exchanging currency for coins in a public area, the self-service coin exchange apparatus being disposed in a public area and comprising:

a coin input region configured to receive from a patron of a retail establishment a plurality of coins of arbitrary denomination;

a coin processing device configured to determine a total value of the input coins and to discharge the coins to one or more coin receptacles; and

a currency dispenser configured to dispense currency for a value related to the total value.

8. The self-service coin exchange apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a user input device; and

a communication device configured to establish communication with a local computer, a remote computer, or both a local computer and a remote computer.

9. The self-service coin exchange apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a user input device, the user input device comprising at least one of a card reader, a biometric characteristic reader, a touch screen, a touch pad, a keypad, or a sensor or reading device configured to accept input data from a user'"'"'s magnetic storage device, optical storage device, solid state storage device, or electronic storage device.

10. The self-service coin exchange apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a user input device; and

a communication device configured to establish communication with a patron'"'"'s personal electronic device.

11. The self-service coin exchange apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a user input device; and

a communication device configured to transfer transaction value related data to a patron'"'"'s personal electronic device or data storage device.

12. The self-service coin exchange apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a coin dispenser configured to dispense loose coins or rolled coins,

wherein the self-service apparatus currency dispenser is configured to dispense currency for a value related to the total value.

13. The self-service coin exchange apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a communication device configured to establish communication with a local computer or a remote computer through a communication path comprising a hardwired communication device or a wireless communication device.

14. The self-service coin exchange apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a user input device configured to accept input of a destination device or destination media from a user; and

a communication device, the communication device being configured to transmit to the destination device or store in the destination media a second value related to the total value, the second value being less than or equal to a remainder of the total value minus a value of the dispensed currency.

15. The self-service coin exchange apparatus of claim 8, wherein the self-service coin exchange apparatus is configured to transmit transaction information or statistical transaction information using the communication device to a remote computer.

16. The self-service coin exchange apparatus of claim 8, wherein the self-service coin exchange apparatus is configured to transmit to a remote computer status information relating to the self-service coin exchange apparatus.

17. The self-service coin exchange apparatus of claim 16, wherein the status information relates to a status of a coin receptacle, a coin dispenser, or a currency dispenser.

18. The self-service coin exchange apparatus of claim 16, wherein the status information relates to a status of the coin processing device.

19. The self-service apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a touch screen display.

20. The self-service coin exchange apparatus of claim 7, wherein the self-service coin exchange apparatus is a stand-alone machine.