Multi-transaction coin machine

• US 6,318,536 B1
• Filed: 06/09/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cash Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cash Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Korman, Bruce R., Golds, August
• Primary Examiner(s): BARTUSKA, FRANCIS JOHN
• Application Number:
  US09/328,529
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 194/216, 194/217, 194/218, 194/347, 194/348, 194/349, 453/17, 453/57, 453/32
• US Class Current: 194/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/16 in combination with coin-counting
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/008 Feeding coins from bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/203 Dispensing operations within ATMs dispensing in general G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/08 Counting total of coins inserted

Abstract

A multi-transaction coin machine is provided which accepts a number of coins, counts the coins and displays the value to a user. The user is presented a variety of options in exchange for the coins, including a receipt redeemable for cash, or a variety of electronic financial transactions, including paying bills or purchasing tickets. The multi-transaction coin machine is an innovation in self-service convenience, efficiency and functionality, providing the services of a variety of machines, such as coin machines, ATMs, ticket services, and bill paying services all in a single user-operated machine.

Claims

1. A coin counting machine, comprising:

a coin discriminator sensor;

a coin hopper having a container for receiving a plurality of coins, and a feed for feeding the coins in the container to the coin discriminator sensor;

a controller for calculating a monetary value of said coins responsive to said coin discriminator sensor;

a transport device for transporting the coins from a user to the container at a controlled flow rate, said flow rate being a function of a quantity of coins in the container;

wherein the controller causes the container to dispense debris therefrom after all the coins have been extracted from the container by the feed; and

wherein said feed comprises a moveable backplate biased toward the container and a circular disc rotatably mounted to the moveable backplate, and said controller causes the container to dispense the debris by moving the moveable backplate away from the container.

2. A coin counting machine, comprising:

a coin discriminator sensor;

a coin hopper having a container for receiving a plurality of coins, and a feed for feeding the coins in the container to the coin discriminator sensor;

a controller for calculating a monetary value of said coins responsive to said coin discriminator sensor;

a transport device for transporting the coins from a user to the container at a controlled flow rate, said flow rate being a function of a quantity of coins in the container;

a coin input tray for receiving said coins from the user and coupling said received coins to the transport device, wherein said coin input tray is adapted to couple coins to the transport device by lifting one end of the input tray, and further comprising a lock down mechanism to selectively prohibit the lifting of said one end of the input tray.

3. A coin counting machine, comprising:

a coin discriminator sensor;

a coin hopper having a container for receiving a plurality of coins, and a feed for feeding the coins in the container to the coin discriminator sensor;

a controller for calculating a monetary value of said coins responsive to said coin discriminator sensor, said controller causing the container to dispense debris therefrom after all the coins have been extracted from the container by the feed;

wherein said feed comprises a moveable backplate biased toward the container and a circular disc rotatably mounted to said moveable backplate, and said controller causes the container to dispense the debris by moving the moveable backplate away from the container.

4. A remote transaction machine for applying a monetary value of coins deposited by a user to a remote transaction, comprising:

a coin counting module operable to count coins deposited therein by a user, and to calculate a monetary value therefor;

a computer connected to said coin counting module, said computer comprising a processor, a memory, a user interface, and a connection for communicating transaction information over a communication link connected thereto, wherein said processor is adapted to execute program instructions stored in said memory, said program instructions comprising;

generating a transaction request according to an option selected by the user from a menu of transaction options provided on said user interface;

sending the transaction request to a remote recipient via a communication link connected to said connection;

receiving a response back from the remote recipient via the communication link;

providing the response received from the remote recipient to the user using said user interface; and

confirming a transaction between the user and the remote recipient, wherein the transaction includes a payment by the user to the remote recipient,

wherein said coin counting module retains at least a portion of the coins deposited by the user having a monetary value equal to at least a portion of the payment by the user to the remote recipient, and wherein said coin counting module further comprises a coin discriminator sensor and a container for receiving the coins deposited by a user, and wherein said coin counting module further comprises a movable backplate biased toward said container for dispensing debris from said container.

5. A remote transaction machine for applying a monetary value of coins deposited by a user to a remote transaction, comprising:

a coin counting module operable to count coins deposited therein by a user, and to calculate a monetary value therefor;

a computer connected to said coin counting module, said computer comprising a processor, a memory, a user interface, and a connection for communicating transaction information over a communication link connected thereto, wherein said processor is adapted to execute program instructions stored in said memory, said program instructions comprising;

generating a transaction request according to an option selected by the user from a menu of transaction options provided on said user interface;

sending the transaction request to a remote recipient via a communication link connected to said connection;

receiving a response back from the remote recipient via the communication link;

providing the response received from the remote recipient to the user using said user interface; and

confirming a transaction between the user and the remote recipient,

wherein the transaction includes a payment by the user to the remote recipient wherein, said coin counting module retains at least a portion of the coins deposited by the user having a monetary value equal to at least a portion of the payment by the user to the remote recipient, and wherein said coin counting module further comprises a coin discriminator sensor and a container for receiving the coins deposited by a user, said coin counting module further comprising a coin rail, a feed for extracting coins from said container onto said rail, and a solenoid positioned to expel non-authentic coins from said rail, and wherein said coin counting module further comprises at least one air hose positioned to direct compressed air onto said coin rail.