Coin counting and sorting machines
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A coin processing machine comprising:
- a coin input region configured to receive a plurality of random coins from a user;
a coin counting portion having a coin discriminator that receives the coins from the coin input region and discriminates the coins to determine a total value; and
a coin sorting portion having a coin sorter that receives the coins from the coin discriminator and sorts the coins into individual denominations, the coin sorter including—
a back plate having a series of coin apertures in a surface thereof, wherein each of the coin apertures is sized to permit passage therethrough of coins corresponding to a particular denomination;
a coin sensor mounted proximate the back plate;
a plurality of coin movers operably connected to the coin sensor, wherein each of the coin movers is positioned adjacent to an individual coin aperture; and
a coin disk rotatably mounted relative to the back plate, the coin disk having a plurality of coin carrying portions configured to receive individual coins from the coin discriminator and carry the coins sequentially past the coin sensor and then the series of coin apertures, wherein the coin sensor is configured to send signals to the coin movers based on the denominations of the individual coins moving past the sensor, and wherein the coin movers are configured to respond to the signals by moving each of the coins through the aperture in the back plate that corresponds to the denomination of the particular coin;
wherein the coin disk is positioned between the plurality of coin movers and the back plate.
16 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, apparatuses, and associated methods for counting and sorting coins are described herein. In one embodiment, a coin processing machine can include a coin input region, a coin counting portion, and a coin sorting portion. The coin counting portion can include a first hopper that receives coins from the coin input region, and a coin discriminator that receives the coins from the first hopper and discriminates the coins to determine their value. The coin sorting portion can include a second coin hopper that receives the coins from the coin discriminator, and a coin sorter that receives the coins from the second hopper and sorts the coins into individual denominations.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A coin processing machine comprising:
-
a coin input region configured to receive a plurality of random coins from a user; a coin counting portion having a coin discriminator that receives the coins from the coin input region and discriminates the coins to determine a total value; and a coin sorting portion having a coin sorter that receives the coins from the coin discriminator and sorts the coins into individual denominations, the coin sorter including— a back plate having a series of coin apertures in a surface thereof, wherein each of the coin apertures is sized to permit passage therethrough of coins corresponding to a particular denomination; a coin sensor mounted proximate the back plate; a plurality of coin movers operably connected to the coin sensor, wherein each of the coin movers is positioned adjacent to an individual coin aperture; and a coin disk rotatably mounted relative to the back plate, the coin disk having a plurality of coin carrying portions configured to receive individual coins from the coin discriminator and carry the coins sequentially past the coin sensor and then the series of coin apertures, wherein the coin sensor is configured to send signals to the coin movers based on the denominations of the individual coins moving past the sensor, and wherein the coin movers are configured to respond to the signals by moving each of the coins through the aperture in the back plate that corresponds to the denomination of the particular coin; wherein the coin disk is positioned between the plurality of coin movers and the back plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A coin processing machine comprising:
-
a coin input region configured to receive a plurality of random coins from a user; a coin counting portion having— a first coin hopper that receives the plurality of coins from the coin input region; and a coin discriminator that receives the coins from the first coin hopper and discriminates the coins to determine a total value; and a coin sorting portion having— a second coin hopper that receives the coins from the coin discriminator; and a coin sorter that receives the coins from the second coin hopper and sorts the coins into individual denominations, wherein the coin sorter includes— a back plate having a series of coin apertures in a surface thereof, wherein individual coin apertures are sized to permit passage therethrough of coins corresponding to particular denominations; a coin sensor mounted proximate the back plate; a plurality of coin movers operably connected to the coin sensor, wherein each of the coin movers is positioned adjacent to an individual coin aperture; and a coin disk rotatably mounted relative to the back plate, the coin disk having a plurality of coin carrying portions configured to receive individual coins from the second coin hopper and carry the coins sequentially past the coin sensor and then the series of coin apertures, wherein the coin sensor is configured to send signals to the coin movers based on the denominations of the individual coins moving past the sensor, and wherein the coin movers are configured to respond to the signals by moving the individual coins through the adjacent apertures in the back plate; wherein the coin disk is positioned between the plurality of coin movers and the back plate. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
-
-
10. A coin processing machine comprising:
-
a coin input region having a basin that receives a plurality of random coins from a user; a coin counting portion having— a first coin hopper that receives the plurality of coins from the coin input region; and a coin discriminator that receives the coins from the first coin hopper and discriminates the coins to determine a total value, wherein the basin includes at least one outlet through which coins move from the basin toward the coin counting portion; a vibration sensor operably coupled to the basin; a controller operably connected to the vibration sensor and the coin counting portion, wherein the vibration sensor is configured to sense the vibration of coins being deposited into the basin and send a corresponding signal to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to respond to the signal from the vibration sensor by automatically starting the coin counting portion and allowing coins to flow through the outlet to the coin counting portion; and a coin sorting portion having— a second coin hopper that receives the coins from the coin discriminator; and a coin sorter that receives the coins from the second coin hopper and sorts the coins into individual denominations.
-
-
11. A computer-controlled method of counting and sorting coins, the method comprising:
-
receiving a plurality of random coins from a user; moving the coins past a first coin sensor to discriminate coin denominations and count the coins; collecting the counted coins in a hopper irrespective of denomination; removing the counted coins from the hopper with a rotating disk; carrying the counted coins on the rotating disk past a second coin sensor to sense coin denominations; and individually knocking the counted coins off of the rotating disk at selected positions to automatically sort the counted coins into a plurality of containers based on coin denomination, wherein each container only holds coins of a single denomination. - View Dependent Claims (12)
-
-
13. A coin sorter comprising:
-
a back plate having a series of coin apertures in a surface thereof, wherein individual coin apertures are sized to permit passage therethrough of coins corresponding to particular denominations; a coin sensor mounted proximate the back plate; a plurality of coin movers operably connected to the coin sensor, wherein each of the coin movers is positioned adjacent an individual coin aperture; and a coin disk rotatably mounted relative to the back plate, the coin disk having a plurality of coin carrying portions configured to carry individual coins past the coin sensor and the series of coin apertures, wherein the coin sensor is configured to determine the denominations of the individual coins and send corresponding signals to the individual coin movers, and wherein the coin movers are configured to respond to the signals by moving the individual coins through the adjacent coin apertures in the back plate; wherein the coin disk rotates between the back plate and the plurality of coin movers. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
-
16. A consumer-operated coin counting machine comprising:
-
a coin input region configured to receive a plurality of random coins from a user; a coin counting portion configured to receive the coins from the coin input region; a vibration sensor operably coupled to the coin input region; and a controller operably connected to the vibration sensor and the coin counting portion, wherein the vibration sensor is configured to sense the vibration of coins being deposited into the coin input portion and send a corresponding signal to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically start the coin counting portion in response to receiving the signal from the vibration sensor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification