Method and apparatus for varying coin-processing machine receptacle limits
First Claim
1. A method for optimizing a usable volume of a coin receptacle associated with a coin-processing device comprising the acts of:
- receiving a plurality of coins in a coin input area of said coin-processing device;
obtaining data for each coin from at least one sensor;
associating said data for each coin with a denomination;
depositing all of said received plurality of coins with an associated denomination into said coin receptacle of said coin-processing device, said coin receptacle being configured to accept, but not dispense, deposited coins until a maximum number of coins occupy said coin receptacle and to securely store the coins in the coin receptacle until removal of the coin receptacle from the coin-processing device;
adjusting, responsive to said data, an upper limit of said maximum number of coins which may be deposited into said coin receptacle, andpreventing input of additional coins into said coin processing machine when a total number of coins stored in said coin receptacle is substantially equivalent with or equivalent to said upper limit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one aspect, a method for optimizing a usable volume of a coin receptacle associated with a coin-processing device includes receiving a plurality of coins in a coin input area of the coin-processing device, obtaining data for each coin from at least one sensor, associating the data for each coin with a denomination, depositing all of the received plurality of coins with an associated denomination into the coin receptacle of the coin-processing device, the coin receptacle being configured to accept, but not dispense, deposited coins until a maximum number of coins occupy the coin receptacle and to securely store the coins in the coin receptacle until removal of the coin receptacle from the coin-processing device and adjusting, responsive to the data, an upper limit of the maximum number of coins which may be deposited into the coin receptacle.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for optimizing a usable volume of a coin receptacle associated with a coin-processing device comprising the acts of:
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receiving a plurality of coins in a coin input area of said coin-processing device; obtaining data for each coin from at least one sensor; associating said data for each coin with a denomination; depositing all of said received plurality of coins with an associated denomination into said coin receptacle of said coin-processing device, said coin receptacle being configured to accept, but not dispense, deposited coins until a maximum number of coins occupy said coin receptacle and to securely store the coins in the coin receptacle until removal of the coin receptacle from the coin-processing device; adjusting, responsive to said data, an upper limit of said maximum number of coins which may be deposited into said coin receptacle, and preventing input of additional coins into said coin processing machine when a total number of coins stored in said coin receptacle is substantially equivalent with or equivalent to said upper limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 38, 39)
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14. A coin-processing system comprising:
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a coin processing machine comprising a coin input area, a coin processing module configured to process a plurality of randomly oriented mixed denomination coins input into said coin input area, and a coin receptacle configured to receive and store all coins of one or more recognized denominations processed by said coin processing module; at least one sensor or switch disposed proximate said coin receptacle to sense a condition representing a status of said coin receptacle and to output a signal in response to said condition; and a controller configured to update a variable upper limit of a maximum number of coins permitted to be processed by said coin processing machine said variable upper limit responsive to receipt of denominated coins into said coin receptacle, said controller further configured to prevent input of additional coins into said coin processing machine when a total number of coins stored in said coin receptacle is substantially equivalent with or equivalent to said upper limit, wherein the coin receptacle is configured to accept, but not dispense, deposited coins and configured to securely store the coins in the coin receptacle until removal of the coin receptacle from the coin-processing device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A coin-processing system comprising:
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a coin processing machine comprising a coin processing module configured to denominate input mixed denomination coins, to count said denominated coins, and to output said denominated coins into a coin receptacle, said coin receptacle configured to receive said coins output by said coin processing module; and a controller configured to calculate an upper limit of a maximum number of additional coins permitted to be processed by said coin processing machine, said upper limit responsive to said output of said denominated coins into said coin receptacle, said controller further configured to prevent input of additional coins into said coin processing machine when a total number of coins stored in said coin receptacle is substantially equivalent with said upper limit, wherein the coin receptacle is configured to accept, but not dispense, deposited coins and configured to securely store the coins in the coin receptacle until removal of the coin receptacle from the coin-processing device. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification