Coin processing systems, methods and devices

• US 9,437,069 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2014
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Gordon, Glenn S., Blake, John R., Hallowell, Curtis W., Krbec, Marianne, Jones, William J., Adams, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beauchaine, Mark
• Application Number:
  US14/197,847
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 194/344, 194/350, 211/1, 211/86.01, 211/183, 248/95, 248 97-101, 248/689, 193/2.R, 193/DIG.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 39/06 adapted to support containers or wrappers
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 67/12 Sack holders, i.e. stands or frames with means for supporting sacks in the open condition to facilitate filling with articles or materials nozzles, funnels or guides adapted to support sacks B65B39/06
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 67/1238 Inserts or external supports, e.g. baskets, for stiffening sacks in the open condition
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 13/00 Handling of coins or of valuable papers, characterised by a combination of mechanisms not covered by a single one of groups G07D1/00 - G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/128 Rotary devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/16 in combination with coin-counting
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/008 Feeding coins from bulk

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for processing coins are presented herein. A coin processing system is disclosed which includes a housing with a coin input area for receiving a batch of coins, a controller with a communication interface operatively attached to the housing, and a coin processing unit for counting, discriminating, and/or valuing coins received from the coin input area. The coin processing system also includes a mobile coin receptacle removably disposed within the housing and configured to receive coins from the coin processing unit. The mobile coin receptacle is configured to wirelessly communicate information to the communication interface of the controller. The mobile coin receptacle can include one or more electrical contacts that mate with one or more electrical contacts on the housing to wirelessly communicate the information.

Claims

1. A coin receptacle system for a coin processing machine having a coin input area and a coin processing unit for processing and outputting coins received by the coin input area, the coin receptacle system comprising:

a flexible coin bag configured to stow processed coins output from the coin processing unit, the coin bag having an expanded bag height and an opening at a top of the coin bag; and

a generally rigid coin receptacle sleeve having an interior cavity, the sleeve being configured to releasably attach to the coin processing machine, the coin receptacle sleeve being configured to receive and hold processed coins output from the coin processing unit within the interior cavity of the sleeve, the coin receptacle sleeve comprising upper and lower sleeve portions and having a sleeve height greater than the expanded bag height, wherein the lower sleeve portion of the coin receptacle sleeve seats inside the coin bag and constrains the coin bag to a predetermined footprint;

wherein the sleeve is configured such that when the coin bag is positioned around the sleeve the top of the coin bag is positioned around the lower sleeve portion; and

wherein the upper portion of the sleeve has an interior cavity having a first maximum cross-sectional area and the lower portion of the sleeve has an interior cavity having a second maximum cross-sectional area smaller than the first maximum cross-sectional area.

2. The coin receptacle system of claim 1, wherein the lower sleeve portion of the coin receptacle sleeve extends approximately the entirety of the expanded bag height.

3. The coin receptacle system of claim 1, wherein the upper sleeve portion of the coin receptacle sleeve projects out of the coin bag such that a full coin height to which coins can be fed into the coin receptacle sleeve is above the expanded bag height of the coin bag.

4. The coin receptacle system of claim 1, wherein the lower sleeve portion constrains the coin bag to a restricted width while coins are directed into the coin bag via the upper sleeve portion, and wherein, upon removal of the lower sleeve portion from the coin bag after coins are directed thereto, the coin bag expands to an unrestricted width.

5. The coin receptacle system of claim 1, wherein

the coin processing machine includes a wheeled trolley with a base, the coin receptacle sleeve being configured to seat on, readily attach to and readily detach from the base of the wheeled trolley.

6. The coin receptacle system of claim 5, wherein the wheeled trolley includes opposing sleeve clamps, the coin receptacle sleeve being configured to mate with the opposing sleeve clamps and thereby attach to the base and seat on the base in an upright position.

7. The coin receptacle system of claim 1, wherein the upper sleeve portion of the coin receptacle sleeve includes a sleeve deflector configured to change a trajectory of the coins received from the coin processing unit.

8. The coin receptacle system of claim 1, wherein the coin receptacle sleeve includes a handle extending across an opening in the upper sleeve portion of the coin receptacle sleeve, the handle being configured to maintain the opening at a constant width.

9. The coin receptacle system of claim 1, wherein the volume of the cavity of the sleeve is such that it accommodates a Federal Reserve standard-size number of US coins of a single denomination.

10. A coin receptacle sleeve for a coin processing machine with a housing having an input area for receiving a batch of coins, a coin processing unit disposed within the housing and operable to process coins received via the input area, and a non-rigid coin bag with an expanded bag height for stowing processed coins, the coin receptacle sleeve comprising:

a generally rigid and elongated tubular body having an interior cavity for receiving and holding processed coins from the coin processing machine, the tubular body having adjacent upper and lower portions collectively defining a sleeve height that is greater than the expanded bag height of the coin bag, the lower portion of the tubular body being configured to fit inside the coin bag and constrain the coin bag to a confined footprint, and the upper portion of the tubular body being configured to extend out of the coin bag and the tubular body being configured to receive processed coins from the coin processing machine in its interior cavity and hold coins therein such that a full coin height to which coins can be fed into the coin receptacle sleeve is above the expanded bag height of the coin bag.

11. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 10, wherein the lower portion of the coin receptacle sleeve extends approximately the entirety of the expanded bag height.

12. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 10, wherein the lower portion constrains the coin bag to a restricted width and length while coins are directed into the coin bag via the upper portion, and wherein, upon removal of the lower portion from the coin bag after coins are directed thereto, the coin bag expands to an unrestricted width and length.

13. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 10, wherein the upper portion has a first cross-sectional area and the lower portion has a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area.

14. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 10, wherein the upper portion of the coin receptacle sleeve includes a sleeve deflector configured to change a trajectory of the coins received from the coin processing unit.

15. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 10, wherein the coin receptacle sleeve includes a handle extending across an opening in the upper portion of the coin receptacle sleeve, the handle being configured to maintain the opening at a constant width.

16. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 10, wherein the volume of the cavity of the tubular body is such that it accommodates a Federal Reserve standard-size number of US coins of a single denomination.

17. A coin receptacle sleeve for a coin processing machine configured to receive and process a batch of coins and deposit at least some of the coins into the sleeve having a non-rigid coin bag disposed about a portion of the sleeve, the coin bag having an opening at a top of the coin bag, the coin receptacle sleeve comprising:

a generally rigid and elongated tubular body having an interior cavity for receiving and holding processed coins from the coin processing machine, the tubular body having an upper sleeve portion and a lower sleeve portion, the sleeve being configured such that when the coin bag is positioned around the sleeve the top of the coin bag is positioned around the lower sleeve portion adjacent a bag height level, the lower portion of the tubular body being configured to fit inside the coin bag, and the sleeve being configured constrain coins received within the interior cavity of the sleeve up to a full coin height level to which coins can be fed into the coin receptacle sleeve, the full coin height level being located in the upper sleeve portion and being above the top of the coin bag.

18. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 17, wherein the volume of the cavity is such that it accommodates a Federal Reserve standard-size number of US coins of a single denomination.

19. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 18, wherein the volume of the cavity below the bag height level is such that it is too small to accommodate a Federal Reserve standard-size number of US coins of a single denomination.

20. A coin receptacle sleeve for a coin processing machine configured to receive and process a batch of coins and deposit at least some of the coins into the sleeve having a non-rigid coin bag disposed about a portion of the sleeve, the coin bag having an opening at a top of the coin bag, the coin receptacle sleeve comprising:

a generally rigid and elongated tubular body for receiving and holding processed coins from the coin processing machine, the tubular body having an interior cavity and having an upper sleeve portion and a lower sleeve portion, the lower sleeve portion having a maximum outer circumference, the upper sleeve portion having a maximum outer circumference which is greater than the maximum outer circumference of the lower sleeve portion.

21. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 20, wherein the sleeve has a sleeve height and the lower sleeve portion has a height that is approximately 65% of the sleeve height.

22. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 20, wherein the lower sleeve receptacle has a bag height level near which the top of the coin bag is to be positioned when coins are to be received in the interior cavity of the tubular body and wherein the upper sleeve has a full coin height level representing a level to which coins are to rise when coins are to be received in the interior cavity of the tubular body and wherein accordingly the full coin height level is above the bag height level such that coins are filled into the cavity of the tubular body above the top of the bag and wherein the cross-sectional area of the cavity increases above the bag height level.

23. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 20, wherein the lower sleeve portion has a height and has substantially vertical walls and a substantially uniform horizontal cross-sectional area throughout its height.

24. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 23, wherein the substantially uniform horizontal cross-sectional area of the lower sleeve portion has a generally rectangular shape.

25. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 24, wherein the circumference of the sleeve increases in transitioning from the lower sleeve portion to the upper sleeve portion.

26. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 24, wherein the sleeve has a height and a left side and a generally parallel right side and a front side and a rear side, wherein the left and right sides are generally parallel throughout the height of the sleeve and wherein the front and rear sides flare out away from each other in transitioning from the lower sleeve portion to the upper sleeve portion.

27. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 26, wherein the degree to which the front and rear sides flare out away from each other is initially larger in a lower portion of the upper sleeve portion and then is less in an upper portion of the upper sleeve portion as the front and rear sides approach a more vertical angle in the upper portion of the upper sleeve portion.

28. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 26, wherein the sleeve has a width as measured from the left side to the right side not exceeding 3 inches.

29. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 26, wherein the sleeve has a width as measured from the left side to the right side of approximately 2.75 inches.

30. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 29, wherein the sleeve has a maximum depth as measured from the front side to the rear side of approximately 12.2 inches.

31. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 30, wherein the volume of the cavity is such that it accommodates a Federal Reserve standard-size number of US coins of a single denomination.

32. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 26, wherein the volume of the cavity is such that it accommodates a Federal Reserve standard-size number of US coins of a single denomination.

33. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 32, wherein the volume of the cavity is such that it accommodates $50 of US pennies.

34. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 32, wherein the volume of the cavity is such that it accommodates $200 of US nickels.

35. The coin receptacle sleeve of claim 32, wherein the volume of the cavity is such that it accommodates $1000 of US quarters or $1000 of US dimes.

36. A mobile coin receptacle assembly for a coin processing system having a housing configured to receive a batch of coins, a coin processing unit operable to process coins received by the housing, the mobile coin receptacle assembly comprising:

a movable trolley configured to removably insert into the housing of the coin processing system, the trolley having a base, the trolley having a footprint; and

a plurality of coin receptacle sleeves removably attached to the trolley and supported by the base, each coin receptacle sleeve being configured to receive through an opening in an upper portion thereof at least some of the coins output from the coin processing unit;

wherein each sleeve has a generally rigid and elongated tubular body having an interior cavity for receiving processed coins from the coin processing machine, each tubular body having an upper sleeve portion and a lower sleeve portion, each sleeve is configured such that when a coin bag having an opening at a top of the coin bag is positioned around a respective sleeve the top of the coin bag is positioned around the lower sleeve portion of the respective sleeve, the lower portion of the tubular body of the respective sleeve being configured to fit inside the coin bag; and

wherein each sleeve having a coin bag positioned therearound constrains coins received within the interior cavity of the sleeve up to a full coin height level to which coins can be fed into the coin receptacle sleeve, the full coin height level being located in the upper sleeve portion and being above the top of the coin bag.

37. The mobile coin receptacle assembly of claim 36, wherein the lower portion of the tubular body of each sleeve is configured to fit inside a coin bag and wherein the volume of the cavity of each sleeve is such that it accommodates a Federal Reserve standard-size number of US coins of a single denomination.

38. The mobile coin receptacle assembly of claim 37, wherein the sleeves are dimensioned and arranged on the trolley to provide a bag density not exceeding ½

square foot per bag.

39. The mobile coin receptacle assembly of claim 37, wherein the sleeves are dimensioned and arranged on the trolley to provide a bag density not exceeding approximately 0.44 square foot per bag.

40. The mobile coin receptacle assembly of claim 37, wherein the sleeves are dimensioned and arranged on the trolley to provide a bag density not exceeding approximately 0.39 square foot per bag.

41. The mobile coin receptacle assembly of claim 37, wherein the sleeves are dimensioned and arranged on the trolley to provide a bag density not exceeding approximately 0.28 square foot per bag.

42. The mobile coin receptacle assembly of claim 37, wherein the plurality of sleeves comprise 16 sleeves and the trolley has a footprint not exceeding approximately 6.25 square feet.

43. The mobile coin receptacle assembly of claim 37, wherein the plurality of sleeves comprise 16 sleeves and the trolley has a footprint not exceeding approximately 4.67 square feet.

44. The mobile coin receptacle assembly of claim 37, wherein the lower sleeve portion of each tubular body has a maximum outer circumference and wherein the upper sleeve portion of each tubular body has a maximum outer circumference which is greater than the maximum outer circumference of the corresponding lower sleeve portion.

45. The mobile coin receptacle assembly of claim 37, wherein each sleeve has a height and a left side and a generally parallel right side and a front side and a rear side, wherein the left and right sides are generally parallel throughout the height of the sleeve and wherein the front and rear sides flare out away from each other in transitioning from the lower sleeve portion to the upper sleeve portion.