SELF-SERVICE CURRENCY EXCHANGE MACHINE
First Claim
1. A self-service exchange machine configured to receive currency from a customer and dispense to the customer a card associated with a value relating to the value of the received currency, comprising:
- a coin module for receiving bulk mixed coins input by said customer in a coin hopper in association with the exchange transaction, said coin module being configured to substantially simultaneously receive the bulk mixed coins in the coin hopper, to separate the bulk mixed coins into a single-file stream of coins using a motor-driven rotary sorting device and, following the separation of the bulk mixed coins into a single-file stream of coins, to discriminate between valid and invalid coins using at least one discrimination sensor disposed along the coin path of the single-file stream of coins;
a bill module for receiving bills input by said customer, said bill module discriminating between valid and invalid bills;
a display device;
a card dispenser for dispensing a card having a storage medium for storing a monetary value; and
a controller coupled to said display device, said coin module, said bill module, and said card dispenser, said controller determining a total value of valid coins and valid bills input into said coin module and said bill module and causing the display of at least the total value on the display device, said controller instructing said card dispenser to dispense said card with a monetary value that is related to said total value to complete the exchange transaction wherein the card is exchanged for the input currency, wherein said monetary value stored on the dispensed card can be for any monetary value input by the customer and is not constrained to a predetermined value or values.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-service exchange machine is configured to receive currency from a customer and dispense to the customer a card associated with a value relating to the value of the received currency. The self-service exchange machine includes a coin module for receiving bulk mixed coins input by the customer in a coin hopper in association with the exchange transaction, the coin module being configured to substantially simultaneously receive the bulk mixed coins in the coin hopper, to separate the bulk mixed coins into a single-file stream of coins using a motor-driven rotary sorting device and, following the separation of the bulk mixed coins into a single-file stream of coins, to discriminate between valid and invalid coins using at least one discrimination sensor disposed along the coin path of the single-file stream of coins. The self-service exchange machine also includes a bill module configured to receive bills and to discriminate between valid and invalid bills, a display device, a card dispenser configured to dispense a card having a storage medium for storing a monetary value and a controller coupled to the display device, the coin module, the bill module, and the card dispenser. The controller is configured to determine a total value of valid coins and valid bills input into the coin module and the bill module, to cause the display of a total value on the display device, and to instruct the card dispenser to dispense a card with a monetary value that is related to the total value to complete the exchange transaction. The card is exchanged for the input currency and the monetary value stored on the dispensed card can be for any monetary value input by the customer and is not constrained to a predetermined value or values.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A self-service exchange machine configured to receive currency from a customer and dispense to the customer a card associated with a value relating to the value of the received currency, comprising:
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a coin module for receiving bulk mixed coins input by said customer in a coin hopper in association with the exchange transaction, said coin module being configured to substantially simultaneously receive the bulk mixed coins in the coin hopper, to separate the bulk mixed coins into a single-file stream of coins using a motor-driven rotary sorting device and, following the separation of the bulk mixed coins into a single-file stream of coins, to discriminate between valid and invalid coins using at least one discrimination sensor disposed along the coin path of the single-file stream of coins; a bill module for receiving bills input by said customer, said bill module discriminating between valid and invalid bills; a display device; a card dispenser for dispensing a card having a storage medium for storing a monetary value; and a controller coupled to said display device, said coin module, said bill module, and said card dispenser, said controller determining a total value of valid coins and valid bills input into said coin module and said bill module and causing the display of at least the total value on the display device, said controller instructing said card dispenser to dispense said card with a monetary value that is related to said total value to complete the exchange transaction wherein the card is exchanged for the input currency, wherein said monetary value stored on the dispensed card can be for any monetary value input by the customer and is not constrained to a predetermined value or values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19)
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16. The self-service exchange machine of claim 16, wherein said at least one receptacle includes a plurality of receptacles, each of said plurality of receptacles being dedicated to a particular denomination.
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18. The self-service exchange machine of claim 18, wherein said total value is allocated entirely to said card.
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20. A self-service exchange machine configured to receive currency from a customer and dispense to the customer a card associated with a value relating to the value of the received currency, comprising:
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a coin module configured to receive bulk mixed coins input by said customer in a coin hopper in association with the exchange transaction, said coin module being configured to substantially simultaneously receive the bulk mixed coins in the coin hopper, to separate the bulk mixed coins into a single-file stream of coins and, following the separation of the bulk mixed coins into a single-file stream of coins, to pass the coins by at least one sensor disposed along the coin path of the single-file stream of coins, the sensor or sensors being adapted to output signals indicative of at least one of a size and a validity of each coin; a bill module configured to receive bills input by said customer, the bill module being configured to output signals indicative of at least one of a denomination and a validity of each coin; a display device; a card dispenser configured to dispense a card having a physical storage medium adapted to store a monetary value; and a controller coupled to said display device, said coin module, said bill module, and said card dispenser, said controller being configured to determine a total value of valid coins and valid bills input into said coin module and said bill module responsive to the signals output from the coin module and the bill module, the controller being further configured to instruct said card dispenser to dispense said card with a monetary value that is related to said total value, in exchange for the input currency, to complete the exchange transaction.
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Specification