Systems, methods and devices for processing coins with linear array of coin imaging sensors
First Claim
1. A currency processing system comprising:
- a housing with a coin input area configured to receive a batch of coins;
one or more coin receptacles operatively coupled to the housing;
a disk-type coin processing unit operatively coupled to the coin input area and the one or more coin receptacles to transfer coins therebetween, the coin processing unit including;
a rotatable disk configured to impart motion to a plurality of the coins,a sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and adjacent the rotatable disk, the lower surface forming a plurality of shaped regions configured to guide the coins, responsive to motion imparted by the rotatable disk, to a plurality of exit stations through which the coins are discharged from the coin processing unit to the one or more coin receptacles, anda linear array of non-optical imaging sensors mounted to, adjacent or within the sorting head adjacent the rotatable disk, the linear array of sensors being configured to sense each of the coins on the rotatable disk and output a signal indicative of coin image information for processing the coin.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Currency processing systems, coin processing machines, and methods of imaging coins are presented herein. A currency processing system is disclosed which includes a housing with a coin input area for receiving coins and coin receptacles for stowing processed coins. A disk-type coin processing unit is coupled to the coin input area and coin receptacles. The disk-type coin processing unit includes a rotatable disk for imparting motion to the coins, and a sorting head having a lower surface adjacent the rotatable disk. The lower surface forms various shaped regions for guiding the coins, under the motion imparted by the rotatable disk, to exit channels through which the coins are discharged to the coin receptacles. A linear array of sensors is mounted to the sorting head and/or the rotatable disk. The sensors examine each coin on the rotatable disk and output a signal indicative of coin image information for processing the coin.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A currency processing system comprising:
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a housing with a coin input area configured to receive a batch of coins; one or more coin receptacles operatively coupled to the housing; a disk-type coin processing unit operatively coupled to the coin input area and the one or more coin receptacles to transfer coins therebetween, the coin processing unit including; a rotatable disk configured to impart motion to a plurality of the coins, a sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and adjacent the rotatable disk, the lower surface forming a plurality of shaped regions configured to guide the coins, responsive to motion imparted by the rotatable disk, to a plurality of exit stations through which the coins are discharged from the coin processing unit to the one or more coin receptacles, and a linear array of non-optical imaging sensors mounted to, adjacent or within the sorting head adjacent the rotatable disk, the linear array of sensors being configured to sense each of the coins on the rotatable disk and output a signal indicative of coin image information for processing the coin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A coin imaging sensor system for a coin processing apparatus, the coin processing apparatus including a housing with an input area for receiving coins, one or more coin receptacles for stowing processed coins, a coin sorting device for separating coins by denomination, and a coin transport mechanism for transferring coins from the input area, through the coin sorting device, to the one or more coin receptacles, the coin imaging sensor system comprising:
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a linear array of non-optical imaging sensors configured to mount inside the housing adjacent the coin transport mechanism upstream of the one or more coin receptacles and downstream from the input area, the linear array of sensors being configured to sense each of the coins and output a signal indicative of coin image information; an image processing circuit operatively coupled to the linear array of sensors and configured to process the coin image information signals output therefrom; and a processor operatively coupled to the image processing circuit and configured to examine the processed signals and generate therefrom an image for each of the coins. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A currency processing device comprising:
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a coin input area configured to receive coins; at least one coin receptacle configured to receive and stow processed coins; a coin processing unit configured to receive coins from the coin input area, process the coins, and output the processed coins to the at least one coin receptacle; a linear array of non-optical imaging sensors mounted to or adjacent the coin processing unit, the linear array of sensors being configured to sense each of the processed coins and output a signal indicative of coin image information; and at least one processor configured to receive the coin image signals from the linear array of sensors and generate therefrom an image of a surface of each of the coins. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification