System and method for processing coins

• US 8,684,160 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Hallowell, Curtis W., Jones, William J., Mennie, Douglas U.
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAUCHAINE, MARK J
• Application Number:
  US13/779,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20130178139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• Field of Search: 194/344, 194/356, 534/67, 534/69
• US Class Current: 194/344
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 5/00 Methods or arrangements for verifying the correctness of markings on a record carrier; Column detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 11/02 for validating inserted tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/20 Controlling or monitoring the operation of devices; Data handling
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/50 Sorting or counting valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/125 by moving deflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0043 using barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/12 Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

A self-service currency processing machine includes a user control panel, a coin hopper configured to receive input bulk coins, and a coin processing module configured to sort the input bulk coins by denomination and output the coins, via operation of at least one controller-controlled diverter, along a specified path to a coin receptacle station comprising at least one plastic coin bag. The machine also includes a controller configured to selectively distribute coins of one or more denominations to a selected plastic coin bag in the coin receptacle station responsive to an instruction received from one of the user control panel or a host system communicatively coupled to the machine via a communication interface and a bag sealing device configured to seal the selected plastic coin bag following receipt of the predetermined number of coins of one or more denominations in the selected plastic coin bag.

Claims

1. A self-service currency processing machine disposed in a publicly accessible area for public use, comprising:

a user control panel;

a coin hopper configured to receive input bulk coins;

a coin processing module configured to sort the input bulk coins by denomination and output the coins, via operation of at least one controller-controlled diverter, along a specified path to a coin receptacle station comprising at least one plastic coin bag;

a controller configured to selectively distribute coins of one or more denominations to a selected plastic coin bag in the coin receptacle station responsive to an instruction received from one of the user control panel or a host system communicatively coupled to the self-service currency processing machine via a communication interface; and

a bag sealing device configured to seal the selected plastic coin bag following receipt of the predetermined number of coins of one or more denominations in the selected plastic coin bag.

2. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to selectively distribute coins of a plurality of denominations to the selected plastic coin bag in the coin receptacle station responsive to an instruction received from one of the user control panel or the host system communicatively coupled to the self-service currency processing machine via the communication interface.

3. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller-controlled diverter is disposed in the coin processing module.

4. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 3, wherein the coin processing module defines a plurality of exit channels, and wherein a separate distribution manifold is provided for each of the plurality of exit channels.

5. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 1, further comprising a coin distribution device disposed downstream of the coin processing module.

6. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 5, wherein the coin distribution device comprises or one or more controller-controlled diverters disposed to divert coins output by the coin processing module to the coin receptacle station along a plurality of different coin paths.

7. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 5, wherein the coin distribution device comprises a rotating distribution manifold, coupled to the coin processing module, for selectively distributing the sorted coins to the coin receptacle station coin receptacles.

8. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 7, wherein the rotating distribution manifold comprises a pivotal coin chute.

9. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 7, wherein the coin distribution device further comprises a linear distribution manifold coupled to the rotating distribution manifold.

10. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 9, wherein the linear distribution manifold comprises at least one gate configured to direct coins to a selected one of a plurality of the coin receptacles.

11. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 5, wherein the coin distribution device comprises one linear distribution manifold or a plurality of linear distribution manifolds, coupled to the coin processing module, for distributing the sorted coins to specific coin receptacles of the coin receptacle station.

12. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 11, wherein the user control panel comprises a touch screen device.

13. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 8, wherein the coin distribution device comprises a plurality of distribution manifolds configured to selectively distribute coins output from the coin processing module to a user-defined plastic coin bag.

14. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 1, wherein the seal formed on the plastic coin bags by the bag sealing device comprises a tamper-proof seal.

15. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 1, wherein the seal formed on the plastic coin bags by the bag sealing device comprises at least one of a crimped seal, an adhesive seal, or metallic band seal.

16. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 1, wherein the self-service currency processing machine controller comprises a plurality of modes of operation selectable by a user via the user control panel, at least one mode of operation permitting a specified mix of coins to be discharged to a plastic coin bag in the coin receptacle station.

17. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 1, wherein the self-service currency processing machine controller comprises a plurality of preprogrammed modes of operation selectable by a user via the user control panel, at least one preprogrammed mode of operation permitting a user to designate a number of coins to be directed to an individual plastic coin bag in the coin receptacle station.

18. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 1, wherein the seal comprises a sealing media applied to an exterior of the plastic coin bags.

19. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to distribute coins of a plurality of denominations to a selected one of the plastic coin bags.

20. The self-service currency processing machine of claim 1, wherein the user control panel is configured to enable an operator input to the controller to cause the controller to output to the plastic coin bag a specified number of coins of one or more denominations.

21. A self-service currency processing system comprising:

a plurality of self-service currency processing machines disposed in one or more publicly accessible areas for public use; and

a host system communicatively coupled via a communication interface to each of the plurality of self-service currency processing machines,

wherein each of the plurality of self-service currency processing machines comprises a user control panel, a coin hopper configured to receive input mixed coins, a coin processing module configured to sort the input mixed coins by denomination, a coin distribution device, a controller configured to selectively distribute coins of one or more denominations to a selected receptacle responsive to an instruction received from one of the user control panel or the host system, and sealing device configured to seal the selected receptacle following receipt of the predetermined number of coins of one or more denominations in the selected receptacle, and

wherein the coin receptacle comprises one or more plastic coin bags.

22. The self-service currency processing system of claim 21, wherein the controller of each of the plurality of self-service currency processing machines is configured to selectively distribute coins of a plurality of denominations to a selected plastic coin bag in the coin receptacle station responsive to an instruction received from one of the user control panel or the host system communicatively coupled to the self-service currency processing machine via the communication interface.

23. The self-service currency processing system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the coin processing module or the coin distribution device of the self-service currency processing machines comprises a controller-controlled diverter.

24. The self-service currency processing system of claim 23, wherein the coin processing module defines a plurality of exit channels, and wherein a separate distribution manifold is provided for each of the plurality of exit channels.

25. The self-service currency processing system of claim 21, wherein the coin distribution device is disposed downstream of the coin processing module of the self-service currency processing machines.

26. The self-service currency processing system of claim 25, wherein the coin distribution device of the self-service currency processing machines comprises or one or more controller-controlled diverters disposed to divert coins output by the coin processing module to the coin receptacle station along a plurality of different coin paths.

27. The self-service currency processing system of claim 25, wherein the coin distribution device, disposed downstream of the coin processing module of the self-service currency processing machines, comprises a rotating distribution manifold, coupled to the coin processing module, for selectively distributing the sorted coins to the coin receptacle station coin receptacles.

28. The self-service currency processing system of claim 27, wherein the rotating distribution manifold comprises a pivotal coin chute.

29. The self-service currency processing system of claim 27, wherein the coin distribution device further comprises a linear distribution manifold coupled to the rotating distribution manifold.

30. The self-service currency processing system of claim 29, wherein the linear distribution manifold comprises at least one gate configured to direct coins to a selected one of a plurality of the coin receptacles.

31. The self-service currency processing system of claim 25, wherein the coin distribution device comprises one linear distribution manifold or a plurality of linear distribution manifolds, coupled to the coin processing module, for distributing the sorted coins to specific coin receptacles of the coin receptacle station.

32. The self-service currency processing system of claim 25, wherein the coin distribution device, disposed downstream of the coin processing module of the self-service currency processing machines, comprises a plurality of distribution manifolds configured to selectively distribute coins output from the coin processing module to a user-defined plastic coin bag.

33. The self-service currency processing system of claim 21, wherein the seal formed on the plastic coin bags by the bag sealing device comprises a tamper-proof seal.

34. The self-service currency processing system of claim 21, wherein the seal formed on the plastic coin bags by the bag sealing device comprises at least one of a crimped seal, an adhesive seal, or metallic band seal.

35. The self-service currency processing system of claim 21, wherein the controller for each of the plurality of self-service currency processing machines is configured with a plurality of modes of operation selectable by a user via the user control panel, at least one mode of operation permitting a specified mix of coins to be discharged to a plastic coin bag in the coin receptacle station.

36. The self-service currency processing system of claim 21, wherein the controller for each of the plurality of self-service currency processing machines is configured with a plurality of preprogrammed modes of operation selectable by a user via the user control panel, at least one preprogrammed mode of operation permitting a user to designate a number of coins to be directed to an individual plastic coin bag in the coin receptacle station.

37. The self-service currency processing system of claim 21, wherein the seal comprises a sealing media applied to an exterior of the plastic coin bags.

38. The self-service currency processing system of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to distribute coins of a plurality of denominations to a selected one of the plastic coin bags.

39. The self-service currency processing system of claim 21, wherein the user control panel is configured to enable an operator input to the controller to cause the controller to output to the plastic coin bag a specified number of coins of one or more denominations.

40. A method for packaging coins in a self-service currency processing machine disposed in a publicly accessible area for public use, comprising:

receiving a user input for a desired coin mix comprising a specified number of coins of one or more specified denominations at a control panel of the self-service currency processing machine;

receiving in a coin hopper coins comprising a plurality of denominations;

sorting the plurality of coins in a coin processing module;

routing coins relating to the desired coin mix from the coin processing module to a coin receptacle station comprising a plastic coin bag;

determining, using a controller, if the coins routed from the coin processing module provide the desired coin mix and, if not, outputting to the plastic coin bag one or more denominations, from one or more coin escrow compartments, coins in an amount necessary to provide the desired coin mix; and

sealing the plastic coin bag with a bag sealing device following receipt of the desired coin mix in the selected plastic coin bag.

41. The method for packaging coins in a self-service currency processing machine according to claim 40, further comprising:

dispensing the plastic coin bag to the user via a user convey path.

42. The method for packaging coins in a self-service currency processing machine according to claim 41, wherein the act of sealing the plastic coin bag with a bag sealing device comprises forming a tamper-proof seal.

43. The method for packaging coins in a self-service currency processing machine according to claim 41, wherein the act of sealing the plastic coin bag with a bag sealing device comprises at least one of forming a crimped seal, an adhesive seal, or a metallic band seal.

44. The method for packaging coins in a self-service currency processing machine according to claim 41, wherein the self-service currency processing machine controller comprises a plurality of modes of operation selectable by a user via the user control panel, at least one mode of operation permitting a specified mix of coins to be discharged to a plastic coin bag in the coin receptacle station.

45. The method for packaging coins in a self-service currency processing machine according to claim 41, wherein the act of routing coins relating to the desired coin mix from the coin processing module to a coin receptacle station comprising a plastic coin bag comprises outputting the coins from the coin processing module to a linear distribution manifold.

46. The method for packaging coins in a self-service currency processing machine according to claim 45, wherein the linear distribution manifold comprises at least one gate configured to direct coins to a selected one of a plurality of the coin receptacles.

47. The method for packaging coins in a self-service currency processing machine according to claim 41, wherein the coin distribution device comprises one or more linear manifolds, coupled to the coin processing module, for distributing the sorted coins to specific coin receptacles of the coin receptacle station.

48. The method for packaging coins in a self-service currency processing machine according to claim 40, wherein the act of routing coins relating to the desired coin mix from the coin processing module to a coin receptacle station comprising a plastic coin bag comprises the act of actuating a controller-controlled diverter in the coin processing module to guide one or more coins to a manifold or comprises the act of actuating a controller-controlled diverter in the coin processing module to guide one or more coins to a coin distribution device.

49. The method for packaging coins in a self-service currency processing machine according to claim 40, wherein the act of determining comprises outputting to the plastic coin bag coins of a plurality of denominations, from one or more coin escrow compartments, coins in an amount necessary to provide the desired coin mix if the coins routed from the coin processing module are determined not to provide the desired coin mix.

50. The method for packaging coins in a self-service currency processing machine according to claim 49, wherein the coin distribution device comprises or one or more controller-controlled diverters disposed to divert coins output by the coin processing module to the coin receptacle station along a plurality of different coin paths.