Apparatus, system and method for coin exchange

• US 8,443,958 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Blake, John R., Hallowell, Curtis W., Jones, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAUCHAINE, MARK J
• Application Number:
  US12/346,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20090236201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 194/215, 235/379, 209/534
• US Class Current: 194/215
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 1/04 dispensing change equal to a sum deposited
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/0087 Banknote changing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/008 Feeding coins from bulk

Abstract

A method for exchanging coins, the method including the acts of receiving in a self-service coin exchange machine a plurality of coins, processing the plurality of coins to determine a total value of the plurality of coins, and dispensing currency to the patron from a currency dispenser, the currency having a value related to the total value.

Claims

1. A method for exchanging coins in a retail environment, the method comprising:

substantially simultaneously receiving a plurality of coins of a first currency type in a coin input region of a bulk coin processing machine disposed in a retail environment, the coin processing machine comprising a currency dispensing device;

processing the plurality of coins to determine a total value of the plurality of coins; and

returning the input total value of the plurality of coins to a patron of the bulk coin processing machine, minus any applied fees, in the form of currency bills or currency bills and coins of the first currency type dispensed from the currency dispensing device of the coin processing machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein no fees are applied and the value returned to the patron is equal to the total value.

3. The method for exchanging coins in a retail environment of claim 1, wherein the bulk coin processing machine is a stand-alone machine.

4. A stand-alone self-service coin exchange apparatus configured to exchange currency for coins in a public area, the stand-alone self-service coin exchange apparatus being disposed in a public area and comprising:

a coin input region configured to substantially simultaneously receive from a patron of a retail establishment a plurality of coins of arbitrary denomination;

a coin processing device configured to determine a total value of the input coins and to discharge the processed coins to one or more coin receptacles; and

a currency dispenser comprising at least one bill dispenser configured to automatically dispense currency bills of at least one denomination and at least one coin dispenser configured to automatically dispense coins comprising at least one denomination,

wherein the currency dispenser of the stand-alone self-service coin exchange apparatus is configured to automatically dispense currency bills and coins in an amount related to the total value of the input coins.

5. The stand-alone self-service coin exchange apparatus configured to exchange currency for coins in a public area according to claim 4, wherein the currency dispenser is configured to automatically dispense currency bills and coins in an amount equal to the total value, minus any imposed transaction fee or fees.

6. The stand-alone self-service coin exchange apparatus configured to exchange currency for coins in a public area according to claim 4, wherein the currency dispenser is configured to automatically dispense currency bills and coins in an amount equal to the total value.