System, method and apparatus for repurposing currency
First Claim
1. A self-service machine comprising:
- a controller;
a coin processing module configured to sort coins and to discharge the sorted coins to a selected output destination including being configured to selectively discharge coins of mixed denominations to a mixed coin bin;
the mixed coin bin configured to receive and hold mixed coins received from the coin processing module and to selectively discharge mixed coins held thereby, the mixed coin bin comprising a discharge actuator, controlled by the controller, configured to selectively discharge mixed coins from the coin bin;
at least one secure repurposed coin retrieval area;
a coin repurposing module configured to package coins received from the coin processing module into a deliverable coin package and to output the deliverable coin package to a designated one of the at least one secure repurposed coin retrieval area; and
a conveyor system configured to receive mixed coins discharged from the mixed coin bin and securely convey the mixed coins to the coin processing module for reprocessing;
wherein the controller, responsive to an order for a deliverable coin package received through one or more user-interfaces, causes the mixed coin bin discharge actuator to selectively discharge mixed coins from the coin bin to the conveyor system, causes the conveyor system to securely convey the mixed coins received from the mixed coin bin to the coin processing module, causes the coin processing module to sort the mixed coins, outputting coins corresponding to the order for a deliverable coin package to the coin repurposing module and outputting coins not corresponding to the order for the deliverable coin package back to the mixed coin bin, and continuing these acts until the coin processing module outputs to the coin repurposing module coins corresponding to the order for a deliverable coin package, at which point any remaining coins conveyed by the conveyor system and processed by the coin processing module are directed to be output to the mixed coin bin and the coin repurposing module is caused to prepare the deliverable coin package and to output the deliverable coin package to the designated one of the at least one secure repurposed coin retrieval area.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of repurposing coins includes the acts of discharging processed mixed coins into a coin bin, receiving a first request for a number of or value of coins of a first denomination from an authorized person, outputting the mixed coins from the coin bin onto a coin conveyor responsive to the received first request, conveying the mixed coins output from the coin bin, using the coin conveyor, to the coin processing machine for repurposing, and discharging the coins of the first denomination from the coin processing machine to a secure coin cassette and discharging coins of a denomination other than the first denomination back to the coin bin. These acts of outputting, conveying and discharging are continued until the number of or value of coins of the first denomination have been discharged to the secure coin cassette.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A self-service machine comprising:
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a controller; a coin processing module configured to sort coins and to discharge the sorted coins to a selected output destination including being configured to selectively discharge coins of mixed denominations to a mixed coin bin; the mixed coin bin configured to receive and hold mixed coins received from the coin processing module and to selectively discharge mixed coins held thereby, the mixed coin bin comprising a discharge actuator, controlled by the controller, configured to selectively discharge mixed coins from the coin bin; at least one secure repurposed coin retrieval area; a coin repurposing module configured to package coins received from the coin processing module into a deliverable coin package and to output the deliverable coin package to a designated one of the at least one secure repurposed coin retrieval area; and a conveyor system configured to receive mixed coins discharged from the mixed coin bin and securely convey the mixed coins to the coin processing module for reprocessing; wherein the controller, responsive to an order for a deliverable coin package received through one or more user-interfaces, causes the mixed coin bin discharge actuator to selectively discharge mixed coins from the coin bin to the conveyor system, causes the conveyor system to securely convey the mixed coins received from the mixed coin bin to the coin processing module, causes the coin processing module to sort the mixed coins, outputting coins corresponding to the order for a deliverable coin package to the coin repurposing module and outputting coins not corresponding to the order for the deliverable coin package back to the mixed coin bin, and continuing these acts until the coin processing module outputs to the coin repurposing module coins corresponding to the order for a deliverable coin package, at which point any remaining coins conveyed by the conveyor system and processed by the coin processing module are directed to be output to the mixed coin bin and the coin repurposing module is caused to prepare the deliverable coin package and to output the deliverable coin package to the designated one of the at least one secure repurposed coin retrieval area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A self-service machine comprising:
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a controller; a coin processing module configured to sort coins and to discharge the sorted coins to a selected output destination; a mixed coin bin configured to receive and hold mixed coins received from the coin processing module, the coin bin comprising a discharge actuator, controlled by the controller, configured to selectively discharge mixed coins from the coin bin; a plurality of removable secure coin cassettes; and a conveyor system configured to receive mixed coins discharged from the mixed coin bin and securely convey the mixed coins to the coin processing module for reprocessing; wherein the controller, responsive to an order for a deliverable coin package received through one or more user-interfaces, causes the mixed coin bin discharge actuator to selectively discharge mixed coins from the coin bin to the conveyor system, causes the conveyor system to securely convey the mixed coins received from the mixed coin bin to the coin processing module, causes the coin processing module to sort the mixed coins, outputting coins corresponding to the order for a deliverable coin package to a selected one of the plurality of removable secure coin cassettes and outputting coins not corresponding to the order for the deliverable coin package back to the mixed coin bin, and continuing these acts until the coin processing module outputs to the selected one of the plurality of removable secure coin cassettes coins corresponding to the order for a deliverable coin package, at which point any remaining coins conveyed by the conveyor system and processed by the coin processing module are directed to be output to the mixed coin bin. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification