Systems, methods and devices for processing coins with linear array of coin imaging sensors

• US 9,870,668 B1
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Jagielinski, Tomasz M., Tomor, Matthew, Yacoubian, Araz, Mecklenburg, David J., Yang, Danny D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beauchaine, Mark
• Application Number:
  US15/360,004
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/08 by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/10 Image acquisition document image scanning and transmission H04N1/00; control of digital cameras H04N23/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/70 using pattern recognition or machine learning optical pattern recognition or electronic computations therefor G06V10/88
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1437 Sensor details, e.g. position, configuration or special lenses G06V30/1429 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/22 Means for sensing or detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/00 Sorting a mixed bulk of coins into denominations
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/126 the coins being diverted by ramps in channels
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/128 Rotary devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/14 Apparatus driven under control of coin-sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 5/08 Testing the magnetic or electric properties
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/008 Feeding coins from bulk

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.

Claims

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, and

a linear array of non-optical 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;

wherein the coin image information signal output by the linear array of sensors is sufficient to generate a coin image with a resolution of at least two (2) dots per inch (dpi).

2. The currency processing system of claim 1, wherein the linear array of sensors is configured to sense the coins on the rotatable disk at a linear speed of at least 300 inches per second (ips).

3. The currency processing system of claim 1, wherein the linear array of sensors is configured to sense the coins on the rotatable disk at a linear speed of at least 50 inches per second (ips).

4. The currency processing system of claim 1, wherein each sensor carries a single excitation frequency.

5. The currency processing system of claim 1, further comprising an electronics circuit operable to excite each of the coins on the rotatable disk using electric energy, magnetic energy, or electromagnetic energy, wherein the linear array of sensors is operable to capture a response of each excited coin, the coin image information signals being representative of the captured response.

6. The currency processing system of claim 1, wherein the linear array of sensors includes a plurality of magnetic field sensors.

7. The currency processing system of claim 1, wherein the linear array of sensors includes a plurality of eddy current sensors.

8. The currency processing system of claim 1, wherein the linear array of sensors includes a plurality of extraordinary magnetoresistance (EMR) sensors.

9. The currency processing system of claim 1, wherein the linear array of sensors comprises thin film magnetic remanence (MR) type imaging sensors.

10. The currency processing system of claim 1, wherein the linear array of sensors comprises thin film magnetic in-field type imaging sensors.

11. The currency processing system of claim 1, wherein the linear array of sensors comprises magnetic in-field type imaging sensors.

12. The currency processing system of claim 1, wherein the linear array of sensors comprises Hall technology type imaging sensors.

13. The currency processing system of claim 1, further comprising a processor operatively coupled to the linear array of sensors to receive the coin image information signals and determine therefrom whether each of the coins is valid or invalid.

14. The currency processing system of claim 1, wherein the linear array of non-optical sensors comprises a plurality of linear arrays of non-optical sensors and wherein the system further comprises a processor operatively coupled to the plurality of linear arrays of sensors to receive the coin image information signals and determine therefrom whether each of the coins is valid or invalid.

15. The currency processing system of claim 1, further comprising a processor operatively coupled to the linear array of sensors to receive the coin image information signals and determine therefrom a denomination, a fitness, or an authenticity, or any combination thereof, of each of the coins.

16. The currency processing system of claim 1, wherein the linear array of sensors is arranged transverse to the path of travel of passing coins and wherein the width of the array is approximately equal to or greater than the diameter of the largest coin the system is configured to process.

17. The currency processing system of claim 16, wherein the width of the array is approximately equal to or greater than 1.2 inches.

18. The currency processing system of claim 16, wherein the width of the array is approximately equal to or greater than the diameter of a U.S. half dollar coin.

19. The currency processing system of claim 18, wherein the linear array of sensors is configured to sense the coins on the rotatable disk at a linear speed of at least 50 inches per second (ips).

20. The currency processing system of claim 16, wherein the linear array of sensors is a first linear array of sensors and the system further comprising a second linear array of sensors positioned generally parallel to and adjacent the first linear array of sensors.

21. The currency processing system of claim 20, wherein the sensors of the first and second linear arrays of sensors are interlaced with one another.

22. The currency processing system of claim 21, wherein the coin image information signal output by the linear arrays of sensors is sufficient to generate a coin image with a resolution of at least 50 dots per inch (dpi).

23. The currency processing system of claim 22, wherein the linear arrays of sensors are configured to sense the coins on the rotatable disk at a linear speed of at least 50 inches per second (ips).

24. The currency processing system of claim 20, further comprising a processor operatively coupled to the linear arrays of sensors to receive the coin image information signals and determine therefrom whether each of the coins is valid or invalid.

25. The currency processing system of claim 24, wherein the linear array of sensors is configured to sense the coins on the rotatable disk at a linear speed of at least 50 inches per second (ips).

26. The currency processing system of claim 1, wherein the linear array of sensors includes a plurality of electromagnetic imaging sensors aligned rectilinearly adjacent one another.

27. The currency processing system of claim 26, wherein each of the electromagnetic imaging sensors comprises at least one coil.

28. The currency processing system of claim 27, wherein each of the electromagnetic imaging sensors comprises at least one primary coil and at least one secondary coil.

29. The currency processing system of claim 28, wherein each of the electromagnetic imaging sensors comprises a ferromagnetic core.

30. The currency processing system of claim 28, wherein for each of the electromagnetic imaging sensors the primary coil is wound around a first portion of the core for driving a low frequency signal, and the secondary coil is wound around a second region of the core for driving a high frequency signal, and wherein the primary and secondary coils are separated from one another by a space therebetween.

31. The currency processing system of claim 30, wherein the primary and secondary coils have a square shape.

32. The currency processing system of claim 28, wherein the primary and secondary coils have a square shape.

33. The currency processing system of claim 1, wherein each sensor carries a multiple excitation frequencies.

34. The currency processing system of claim 33, wherein each sensor carries a four excitation frequencies (4F).

35. The currency processing system of claim 34, further comprising an electronics circuit operable to excite each of the coins on the rotatable disk using electric energy, magnetic energy, or electromagnetic energy, wherein the linear array of sensors is operable to capture a response of each excited coin, the coin image information signals being representative of the captured response.

36. A currency processing device comprising:

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 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;

wherein the linear array of sensors is arranged transverse to the path of travel of passing coins and wherein the width of the array is approximately equal to or greater than the diameter of the largest coin the system is configured to process; 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.

37. The currency processing device of claim 36, wherein the width of the array is approximately equal to or greater than 1.2 inches.

38. The currency processing device of claim 36, wherein the width of the array is approximately equal to or greater than the diameter of a U.S. half dollar coin.