APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COIN EXCHANGE

• US 20090242626A1
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Mennie, Douglas U., Jones, William J., Hallowell, Curtis W., Blake, John R.
• Application Number:
  US12/408,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20090242626A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• 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: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]

Abstract

A self-service apparatus for exchanging value for coins including a coin input region configured to receive a batch of coins from a user, a coin processing device configured to determine a total value for the batch of coins, a value card storage device operatively coupled to a value card dispensing device configured to dispense, to a card receptacle or card slot, a value card from the value card storage device, the dispensed value card being associated with a value relating to the total value and a currency storage device operatively coupled to a currency dispensing device. The user is permitted an option to receive a value relating to the total value in the form of currency, a value card, or a combination of currency and a value card and the self-service apparatus is configured to charge a first transaction fee for dispensing value cards and is configured to charge a second transaction fee for dispensing currency.

Claims

1. A self-service apparatus for exchanging value for coins comprising:

a coin input region configured to receive a batch of coins from a user;

a coin processing device configured to determine a total value for the batch of coins;

a value card storage device operatively coupled to a value card dispensing device configured to dispense, to a card receptacle or card slot, a value card from the value card storage device, the dispensed value card being associated with a value relating to the total value; and

a currency storage device operatively coupled to a currency dispensing device,

wherein the user is permitted an option to receive a value relating to the total value in the form of currency, a value card, or a combination of currency and a value card, and

wherein the self-service apparatus is configured to charge a first transaction fee for dispensing value cards and is configured to charge a second transaction fee for dispensing currency.

2. A self-service apparatus for exchanging value for coins according to claim 1, wherein the value card storage device comprises a single cassette or track.

3. A self-service apparatus for exchanging value for coins according to claim 1, wherein the value card storage device comprises a plurality of cassettes or tracks.

4. A self-service apparatus for exchanging value for coins according to claim 1, wherein the value card is a store card.

5. A self-service apparatus for exchanging value for coins according to claim 4, wherein the first transaction fee is zero.

6. A self-service apparatus for exchanging value for coins according to claim 1, wherein the first transaction fee and the second transaction fee are equal.

7. A self-service apparatus for exchanging value for coins according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication device configured to transmit information from the self-service apparatus to a local computer, to a remote computer, to a transaction terminal, or to any combination thereof, wherein the information is related to a status of the value card storage device or value card dispensing device.

8. A self-service apparatus for exchanging value for coins according to claim 7, wherein the information comprises a number of value cards remaining in the value card storage device.

9. A self-service apparatus for exchanging value for coins according to claim 7, wherein the information comprises a jam indication.

10. A device for permitting a retail store patron to convert loose mixed coins into a value card, the device comprising:

a hopper located remotely from cashier stations in a retail store, the hopper being configured to receive loose mixed coins from a store patron;

a coin counter for determining a total coin value of the loose mixed coins received in the hopper;

a user interface configured to provide transaction related information to a user and to receive user inputs;

a currency dispensing device configured to output currency; and

a value card dispensing device configured to output one or more types of value cards,

wherein the device is configured to output, responsive to a user selection, currency, a value card, or a combination of currency and a value card having a total value, singly or in combination, relating to the total coin value.

11. The device according to claim 10,

wherein the total value equals the total coin value less a transaction fee.

12. The device according to claim 11,

wherein the transaction fee is related to the total coin value.

13. The device according to claim 10,

wherein the device is programmable to permit adjustment of the transaction fee in correspondence with at least one of a transaction type or a total coin value.

14. A redemption kiosk comprising:

a value storage media reading device configured to read data from a value storage media and determine a value associated therewith;

a display device;

a communication device configured to transmit data to and receive data from a non-bank accounting system associated with the value storage media;

a controller configured to transmit data relating to the value storage media from the value card redemption kiosk to the non-bank accounting system to obtain a value associated with the value storage media; and

a currency dispensing device configured to, following instruction from the controller and a corresponding decrementing of the value associated with the value storage media in the non-bank accounting system, output currency to the user in an amount relating to the value associated with the value storage media.

15. A redemption kiosk according to claim 14, wherein the value storage media is a value card.

16. A redemption kiosk according to claim 15, wherein the amount relating to the value is the total value associated with the associated with the value storage media.

17. A redemption kiosk according to claim 15, wherein the amount relating to the value is the total value associated with the value storage media less a transaction fee.

18. A redemption kiosk according to claim 15, wherein the value card is a store card.

19. A redemption kiosk according to claim 14, wherein the value storage media is an electronic wallet, an electronic purse, a PDA, a cellular telephone, a solid-state media, a smart card, or a magnetic storage media.

20. A redemption kiosk according to claim 14, wherein the currency dispensing device comprises a bill dispenser and a coin dispenser.