Coin counter and voucher dispensing machine and method

• US 6,854,581 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coinstar, LLC
• Original Assignee: Coinstar Incorporated (Outerwall Inc.)
• Inventors: Molbak, Jens H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US10/119,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20040011620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 194/335, 194/344, 194/351, 283/72, 162/140
• US Class Current: 194/344
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 1/04 dispensing change equal to a sum deposited
• 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 19/202 Depositing operations within ATMs depositing in general G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/08 Counting total of coins inserted
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

A coin sorting and counting machine and a method for operating it to automatically dispense cash vouchers based on the value of the counted coins, manufacturers'"'"' coupons and store coupons. Coins are placed in a hopper tray angled downward from the horizontal. When the hinged tray is lifted, the coins travel over a peak structure, through a waste management system and into the coin sorting and counting apparatus. The value of the coins and the number of coins within each denomination are displayed as the coins are counted. The coins fall into a storage area and the user is issued a cash voucher and a series of manufacturer coupons.

Claims

1. An apparatus for discriminating coins, the apparatus comprising:

coin input region;

a coin discriminator;

a transport that facilitates coin movement along a path from the coin input region to the coin discriminator; and

moveable opening positioned along the path between the coin input region and the coin discriminator, the moveable opening being moveable between a dosed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the moveable opening prevents passage of coins when the moveable opening is in the closed configuration, and wherein the moveable opening permits passage of a stream of coins when the moveable opening is in the open configuration, the stream of coins being limited to a thickness of about the thickness of a single layer of coins.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vibrating feeder which moves coins to the coin discriminator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a non-volatile memory configured to store at least information related to an output from the coin discriminator.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the non-volatile memory stores information which includes information selected from the group consisting of:

transaction information;

voucher amount;

control number;

number of coins counted;

time of a transaction;

beginning balance;

numbers of coin receptacles removed;

number of coins in removed receptacles;

types of coins in removed receptacles;

amount of deposit;

ending balance.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a printer controlled to print information related to a value of coins determined by the coin discriminatory, wherein the printer prints on paper configured to discourage counterfeiting.

6. An apparatus for discriminating coins comprising:

an input region;

a coin discriminator;

means for facilitating coin movement from the input region along a path to the coin discriminator; and

moveable gate means for limiting a flow of coins, moving under force of gravity, to a thickness no greater than about a single layer of coins, when the moveable gate means are in a fully-open position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising vibrating feeder means for moving coins to the coin discriminator.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising non-volatile memory means for storing at least information related to an output from the coin discriminator.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising means for discouraging counterfeiting.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for discouraging counterfeiting are selected from the group consisting of:

printing of a store identifier;

printing of a transaction number;

printing of a bar code;

printing of a machine identifier;

printing of transaction time and date;

printing of total amount counted;

printing of number of coins of each denomination counted;

printing of number of coins rejected.

11. A method for discriminating coins, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of coins in an input region;

moving the coins from the input region along a path to a coin discriminator;

passing the coins through moveable opening, both separate from and spaced from the input region, wherein the moveable opening prevents passage of a train of coins having a thickness greater than about the thickness of a single layer of coins when the moveable opening is in its fully-open position; and

discriminating coins in the coin discriminator.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising activating a vibrating feeder to move coins to the coin discriminator.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing, in a non-volatile memory, at least information related to output from the coin discriminator.

14. An apparatus that receives desired coins and other items, the apparatus comprising:

a coin input region;

at least a first separator in which one or more of the other items are separated from at least some of the desired coins;

a moveable opening, both separate from and spaced from the coin input region, that prevents passage of coins, after leaving the coin input region, greater than a predetermined thickness of about the thickness of a single layer of coins, when the moveable opening is in its fully-open position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a vibrating feeder which moves coins along a path ultimately leading to a coin discriminator.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a non-volatile memory configured to store at least information related to an output from a coin discriminator.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a printer controlled to print information related to a value of coins determined by the coin discriminator, wherein the printer prints on paper configured to discourage counterfeiting.

18. An apparatus that receives desired coins and other items, comprising:

coin input means;

at least first means for separating one or more of the other items from at least some the desired coins; and

moveable gate means for preventing passage of coins, after leaving the coin input means, greater than a predetermined thickness of about the thickness of a single layer of coins, when the moveable pate means are in a fully-open position.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising non-volatile memory means for storing at least information related to output from a coin discriminator.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means, coupled to printer means, to discourage counterfeiting.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising vibrating means for feeding coins along a path ultimately leading to a coin discriminator.

22. A method for use in connection with coin discrimination, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of desired coins and other items in a first region;

passing at least some of the desired coins, after leaving the first region, through a moveable opening, both separate from and spaced from the first region, which prevents passage of coins greater than a predetermined thickness, wherein coins are presented to the opening at substantially a same time and are moving under force of gravity, and wherein the predetermined thickness is about the thickness of a single layer of coins when the moveable opening is in its fully-open position.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising vibrating coins for feeding along a path ultimately leading to a coin discriminator.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising storing, in a non-volatile memory, at least information related to an output from a coin discriminator.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising printing information related to a value of coins determined by the coin discriminator, wherein the printing is configured to discourage counterfeiting.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of printing comprises printing on special paper.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of printing comprises printing using special ink.

28. An apparatus for discriminating coins comprising:

a coin input region;

a coin discriminator;

a transport that facilitates coin movement from the input region along a path that directs the coins to the coin discriminator; and

a moveable gate positioned along the path separate from both the input region and the coin discriminator, the gate being moveable between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the gate prevents passage of coins past the gate when the gate is in the closed configuration, and wherein the gate permits passage of a stream of coins when the gate is in the open configuration but limits the stream of coins to a thickness of about the thickness of a single layer of coins.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the moveable gate moves between the closed and open configurations in response to a user input.