Method and apparatus for conditioning coins prior to discrimination

• US 7,017,729 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coinstar, LLC
• Original Assignee: Coinstar Incorporated (Outerwall Inc.)
• Inventors: Ferguson, Chris, Scherer, Scott, Cannon, Larry D., Gerrity, Dan, Riday, Rick, Finch, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, JEFFREY ALAN
• Application Number:
  US10/997,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20050145463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 194200-204, 194216-218, 194347-349, 194/335, 194/344, 194/351, 283/72, 162/140, 453/3, 453/5, 453/8, 453/57, 453/63
• US Class Current: 194/347
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/24 with fixed or moving interior agitators
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 5/00 Cleaning by methods involving the use of air flow or gas flow B08B6/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/10 provided by sieves arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 5/08 Testing the magnetic or electric properties
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/00 Counting coins in combination with coin-sorting G07D3/16; Handling of coins not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/008 Feeding coins from bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 1/041 with means, other than for testing currency, for dealing with inserted foreign matter, e.g. "stuffing", "stringing" or "salting"

Abstract

A coin conditioner is provided for cleaning or otherwise conditioning coins in a coin discriminator apparatus prior to transfer to a coin sensor. Coins enter through a feed tray and move down the length of a perforated tumbler, preferably without the use of gravity, such as under screw force, mechanical or centrifugal force. The spinning tumbler is preferably rotated about its longitudinal axis by a motor. In one embodiment, a blower or vacuum draws or moves air from one area to another, with the air preferably being filtered. As coins move through and down a tumbler, projections such as vanes, fins, ridges, dimples, spines or other raised features cause mechanical agitation and/or abrasion as coins are lifted and dropped while passing longitudinally through the tumbler. The coins are conditioned and non-coin matter is collected as it is separated and/or abraded from the coin surfaces. Tumbler perforations permit non-coin matter to pass through the perforations into a collection tray or other apparatus and/or are collected into filter media as a result of the air flow. In one embodiment, the air pressure system eliminates or reduces the occurrence of low density or light non-coin matter, such as hair or dust, and prevents these materials from settling or being carried through downstream portions of the coin processing system.

Claims

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

a coin input region configured to receive a plurality of coins in random orientation;

a debris separation device configured to receive the plurality of coins from the coin input region, the debris separation device having at least a first wall with at least one opening sized to prevent passage therethrough of a smallest coin of the plurality of coins;

a driver operably coupled to the debris separation device and configured to move the debris separation device and agitate the plurality of coins;

a coin discriminator configured to receive the plurality of coins from the debris separation device, the coin discriminator including at least one sensor configured to discriminate between acceptable coins and unacceptable coins;

a coin receptacle configured to receive at least a portion of the acceptable coins from the coin discriminator; and

a communications facility configured to transmit information to a remote computer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the first wall of the debris separation device forms a cylindrical surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the first wall of the debris separation device is at least generally flat.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the driver is operably coupled to the debris separation device to rotate the debris separation device about at least a first axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the debris separation device is configured to rotate about an axis, and wherein the first wall further includes means for urging the plurality of coins in a direction at least generally parallel to the axis as the debris separation device rotates about the axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the debris separation device is configured to rotate about a non-horizontal axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the driver is configured to vibrate the debris separation device to agitate the plurality of coins.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the debris separation device further includes a second wall and a third wall extending upwardly from opposing edges of the first wall.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the debris separation device is at least generally channel-shaped.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the opening in the first wall of the debris separation device is one of a plurality of openings in the first wall, and wherein the plurality of openings are configured to let dirt and other non-coin items exit the debris separation device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communications facility is configured to transmit a signal to the remote computer when the coin receptacle is at least generally full of acceptable coins.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communications facility is configured to transmit a signal to the remote computer when the coin receptacle is at least generally full of acceptable coins, and wherein the signal causes a person to empty the coin receptacle.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communications facility is configured to transmit information related to a malfunction of the apparatus for counting coins.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communications facility includes a modem.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communications facility includes a local area network.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communications facility includes a wireless communication system.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communications facility includes a video communication system.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the remote computer is a portable computer at least temporarily connected to the communications facility.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communications facility is configured to transmit information to the remote computer relating to an access to the coin receptacle.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a voucher dispenser configured to dispense a redeemable voucher for an amount related to a total value of the acceptable coins.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a voucher dispenser configured to dispense a redeemable voucher for an amount related to a total value of the acceptable coins, and wherein the redeemable voucher is redeemable at a point of sale in a non-bank retail location in exchange for products sold at the retail location.

22. An apparatus for issuing a redeemable voucher, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of randomly oriented coins from a user;

means for separating debris from the plurality of coins received from the user, the means for separating defining an interior space having at least a first opening sized to let dirt and other non-coin items exit the means for separating to the exclusion of any one of the plurality of coins;

means for discriminating the plurality of coins received from the user to determine a total value of acceptable coins;

receptacle means for holding at least a portion of the acceptable coins received from the means for discriminating; and

means for transmitting information to a remote computer, wherein the information is related to a status of the receptacle means.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising motive means operably coupled to the means for separating, wherein the motive means are configured to move the means for separating to cause at least some of the plurality of coins to exit the interior space.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for reversing the means for separating in response to sensing a slowing or halting of movement of the means for separating.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for flowing air through the means for separating.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for dispensing a redeemable voucher for an amount related to the total value of the acceptable coins, wherein the redeemable voucher is redeemable at a point of sale in a non-bank retail location for products sold at the retail location.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for dispensing a redeemable voucher for an amount related to the total value of the acceptable coins;

wherein the redeemable voucher includes a security feature configured to prevent voucher fraud.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for dispensing a deposit receipt for an amount related to the total value of the acceptable coins, wherein the deposit receipt is configured to facilitate deposit of the amount in an account.

29. A method for counting coins, the method comprising:

receiving a randomly oriented plurality of coins in a coin input region;

transferring the plurality of coins from the coin input region to a debris separation device positioned to receive coins from the coin input region, the debris separation device having a plurality of holes sized to prevent passage therethrough of the smallest coin of the plurality of coins;

moving the debris separation device to agitate the plurality of coins and let non-coin matter within the debris separation device pass through one or more of the plurality of holes and exit the debris separation device;

transferring the plurality of coins from the debris separation device to a coin discriminator, the coin discriminator including at least one coin sensor configured to discriminate at least one coin denomination;

transferring at least a portion of the plurality of coins from the coin discriminator to a coin receptacle; and

communicating information to a remote computer, wherein the information is related to a status of the coin receptacle.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein moving the debris separation device includes rotating the debris separation device about an axis to agitate the plurality of coins.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein moving the debris separation device includes vibrating the debris separation device.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

receiving a user request for a redeemable voucher; and

dispensing a redeemable voucher for at least a portion of the discriminated coins, wherein the voucher is redeemable at a point of sale in a non-bank retail location in exchange for products sold at the retail location.