Currency handing apparatus

• US 6,615,970 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2000
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mei Incorporated (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Andrew Mark, Billington, Gregory John
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell, James R.
• Application Number:
  US09/544,154
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 194/200, 194/216, 194/217
• US Class Current: 194/216
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/24 with change-giving

Abstract

Cash handling apparatus comprising a power input and a money transport system for moving items of money in a normal operating mode, with a power control system for detecting a probable reduced supply power level and, in dependence thereon, for selecting a reduced power mode in which the money transport system continues to function for future transactions, whilst the apparatus draws a lower power from the power input.

Claims

1. Cash handling apparatus comprising a power input and a money transport system for moving items of money in a normal operating mode in which the apparatus draws normal power from the power input, characterized by a power control system for detecting a probable reduced supply power level and, in dependence thereon, for selecting a reduced power mode in which said money transport system continues to function for future transactions, while said apparatus draws a lower power from said power input.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power store charged from said power input, and from which power is available to one or more circuits of said apparatus.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the power control system is arranged, in a said reduced power mode, to create a delay greater than a predetermined period between successive operations of the or each said circuit.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said circuits include at least one actuator of said money transport system.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which said actuator comprises a money dispense actuator.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which said money dispense actuator is a coin dispense motor.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which said actuator comprises a money accept actuator.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which said money accept actuator comprises a coin accept gate.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which said money accept actuator comprises a coin separator.

10. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which said circuits include a signal output relay for connection to an external apparatus.

11. Cash handling apparatus comprising a power input and a money transport system for moving items of money in a normal operating mode in which said apparatus draws normal power from said power unit, characterized by a power control system for detecting a probable reduced supply power level and, in dependence thereon, for selecting a reduced power mode in which said money transport system continues to function for future transactions, while said apparatus draws a lower power from said power input, and in which said money moving system comprises at least two actuators operating simultaneously in said normal mode, and said power control system is arranged to operate said actuators sequentially in said reduced power mode.

12. Cash handling apparatus comprising a power input and a money transport system for moving items of money in a normal operating mode in which said apparatus draws normal power from said power unit, characterized by a power control system for detecting a probable reduced supply power level and, in dependence thereon, for selecting a reduced power mode in which said money transport system continues to function for future transactions, while said apparatus draws a lower power from said power input, and further comprising one or more subsystems other than said money transport system, and in which said power control system is arranged to reduce power to said other subsystems.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, in which said power control system is arranged to temporarily reduce power to said other subsystems during operation of said money transport system.

14. Cash handling apparatus comprising a power input and a money transport system for moving items of money in a normal operating mode in which said apparatus draws normal power from said power unit, characterized by a power control system for detecting a probable reduced supply power level and, in dependence thereon, for selecting a reduced power mode in which said money transport system continues to function for future transactions, while said apparatus draws a lower power from said power input, and in which said power control system is arranged to select one of a plurality of reduced power modes corresponding to successively lower power levels.

15. A method of operating a currency handling apparatus arranged to transport items of money, comprising providing a plurality of operating modes corresponding to successively lower peak power consumptions. in each of which modes the apparatus continues to transport items of money;

detecting probable available power from an external power supply; and

selecting one of said modes to match the available power.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising sensing available power.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising varying the money transport rate to vary the peak power consumed.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising varying the money payout rate to vary the peak power consumed.

19. The method of claim 17 comprising varying the money acceptance rate to vary the peak power consumed.

20. A method of operating a currency handling apparatus arranged to transport items of money, comprising detecting the available power from an external power supply;

and varying the money transport rate to match the peak power consumed to the available power.