Automatic coin input tray for a self-service coin-counting machine

• US 6,602,125 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Coinstar Incorporated (Outerwall Inc.)
• Inventors: Martin, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matecki, Kathy
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, SANG K
• Application Number:
  US09/849,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20020170801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 194/200, 453/57, 453/49, 453/12, 221/277, 221/203
• US Class Current: 453/12
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/16 in combination with coin-counting

Abstract

An automatic coin input tray is disclosed. In one embodiment, the automatic coin input tray includes a coin-staging section, a delivery disk section and a ramp section. A user pours coins onto the coin-staging section, which are then delivered to the delivery, disk section under the force of gravity. The delivery disk section automatically meters the coins provided to the ramp section by providing a rotatable disk that sinks into a coin-input buffer, based upon the weight of coins placed thereupon. Accordingly, instead of all coins being fed to the ramp section at once, a more limited number of coins are provided to the ramp section. In addition, a controller circuit is provided to stop rotation of the rotatable disk and, hence, delivery of further coins, upon sensing various conditions including, for example, a coin jam.

Claims

1. An automatic coin input tray comprising:

a coin-staging section for receiving coins directly from a user;

a delivery disk section which receives coins from the coin-staging section by the force of gravity, the delivery disk section including a rotatable disk that sinks into a coin-input buffer based upon a weight of the coins; and

,

a ramp onto which coins are delivered by the rotatable disk.

2. The automatic coin input tray of claim 1, wherein the rotatable disk is sloped at an angle relative to horizontal so that coins are guided towards its periphery.

3. The automatic coin input tray of claim 2, wherein the periphery of rotatable disk is level with a lip when no coins are placed on the rotatable disk.

4. The automatic coin input tray of claim 3, wherein the periphery of the rotatable disk sinks a distance below the lip based upon the weight of the coins placed on the rotatable disk.

5. The automatic coin input tray of claim 4, wherein coins must pass over the lip in order to be fed to the ramp section.

6. The automatic coin input tray of claim 5, wherein a spring located beneath the rotatable disk assists in controlling the distance the periphery of the rotatable disk sinks below the lip.

7. The automatic coin input tray of claim 6, wherein coins are delivered from the delivery disk section to the ramp section via an exit.

8. The automatic coin input tray of claim 7, wherein the exit is offset relative to a center of the ramp section.

9. The automatic coin input tray of claim 8, wherein the ramp section includes a bi-angled ramp having a first steep portion and a second steeper portion.

10. The automatic coin input tray of claim 9, wherein coins are fed from the ramp section through an input slot.

11. The automatic coin input tray of claim 10, wherein a coin jam sensor is provided to sense coin jams at the input slot.

12. The automatic coin input tray of claim 11, wherein a controller receives information from the coin jam sensor regarding whether a coin jam exists at the input slot.

13. The automatic coin input tray of claim 12, wherein the controller cuts power to the rotatable disk upon receiving a signal from the coin jam sensor indicating that a coin jam exists.

14. The automatic coin input tray of claim 13, wherein the controller includes a delay circuit to reduce the likelihood of cutting power to the rotatable disk when a coin jam does not exist.

15. The automatic coin input tray of claim 13, wherein an LED indicates the existence of a coin jam to a user.

16. The automatic coin input tray of claim 11, wherein a controller monitors current drawn by a motor used to rotate rotatable disk.

17. The automatic coin input tray of claim 16, wherein the controller cuts power to the motor upon the current exceeding a predetermined level.

18. The automatic coin input tray of claim 16, wherein upon determining that the current drawn by the motor exceeds a predetermined level, the controller causes the rotatable disk to reverse its direction of rotation.

19. The automatic coin input tray of claim 11, wherein a controller monitors whether a input gate is opened or closed.

20. The automatic coin input tray of claim 19, wherein the rotatable disk is prevented from rotating by the controller until the input gate is opened.

21. The automatic coin input tray of claim 1, wherein the coin-staging section includes a coin-staging ramp having perforations therein, through which debris may fall, and wherein the coin-staging ramp is sloped at an angle relative to horizontal.

22. The automatic coin input tray of claim 1, wherein the rotatable disk has one or more grooves on its surface.

23. The automatic coin input tray of claim 1, wherein the rotatable disk has one or more protrusions on its surface.