Coin handling – Assorter – Smallest first
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-04
2003-08-05
Matecki, Kathy (Department: 3654)
Coin handling
Assorter
Smallest first
C453S049000, C453S057000, C194S200000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06602125
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to input trays for coin-counting machines. More specifically, the present invention relates to automatic input trays for self-service coin-counting machines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The assignee of the present invention has obtained a number of patents directed to technology generally related to coin-counting machines including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,564,546; 5,620,079; 5,746,299; 5,799,767; 5,842,916; 5,909,793; 5,909,794; 5,957,262; 5,988,348; 6,047,807; 6,047,808; 6,056,104; 6,082,519; 6,095,313; 6,116,402; 6,168,001; and, 6,174,230, all of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. The coin-counting machines described in at least some of the above-referenced patents include those of the self-service variety.
Specifically, some of assignee's patents disclose self-service apparatuses and methods which allow an ordinary consumer to take a jar of change to a grocery store and dump it all in one of assignee's machines. In one embodiment, after counting the change, the machine prints out a voucher that is exchangeable for cash and/or merchandise.
Although various devices for counting, sorting and otherwise handling coins had been in existence for some time, prior to the methods and devices disclosed in assignee's patents, there had still been a persistent need for further developments in the area. This is clear from the fact that, prior to the methods and devices disclosed in assignee's patents, people were still commonly accumulating large quantities of coins. Previously, the ordinary consumer typically had few choices for dealing with accumulated coins, namely: (1) laboriously separating the denominations, “rolling” the coins and taking the rolls of coins to a bank; or, (2) taking the coins to a bank and obtaining the bank personnel's assistance in counting coins using a bank's counting machine. The choices were so unacceptable that ordinary people just let coins accumulate (e.g., in their coin jars).
Some of assignee's patents are directed to a coin handling device that is practical for self-service use by a “typical consumer.” In some embodiments, assignee's patents disclose a coin-counting device which can treat as waste the slugs, foreign coins, dirt, lint, light paper and “various other objects” that are input by untrained users, thus, providing a practical coin handling device.
FIG. 1
illustrates a coin counter/sorter and coupon/voucher dispensing device
100
, which is similar to that shown in
FIG. 12
of assignee's U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,079. The device
100
generally includes a coin counting/sorting portion
102
and a coupon dispensing portion
104
. The coin counting portion
102
includes an input tray
106
, a voucher dispensing slot
108
, a coin return slot
110
, a sorting/counting mechanism
112
, and customer I/O devices, including a keyboard
114
, additional keys
115
, a speaker
116
and a video screen
118
. The coupon dispensing portion includes an activating device
120
(such as a button) and a coupon receptacle
122
. The device
100
can include various indicia, signs, displays, advertisements and the like on its external surfaces.
FIG. 2
illustrates a perspective view of an angled coin tray and peak structure (similar to FIG. 14 of assignee's U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,079), while
FIG. 3
illustrates a cross-sectional view of an angled coin tray, peaked structure and a transfer tray (similar to FIG. 15 of assignee's U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,079). With reference to
FIGS. 2 and 3
, bottom surface
202
of the input tray
106
is angled downward in a direction away from the transfer tray
206
, when the input tray
106
is in its lowermost (or rest) position
208
. Thus, coins do not begin flowing into the transfer tray
206
until a user begins lifting the input tray
106
, such as by lifting handle
204
. As the user lifts the input tray
106
from its lowermost position
208
to an upper position
210
, coins become positioned higher than the pivot point (or peak)
214
. Accordingly, such coins begin to slide, move over peak
214
and into the transfer tray
206
.
In some instances, a user may be required to use his hands in connection with feeding coins out of the input tray. Specifically, if the user lifts the tray too fast, the user may need to place his hands near the peak, for example, to prevent coins from leaving the input tray too quickly in order to avoid jamming of the machine. If, on the other hand, the user lifts the tray too slowly, the user may need to place his hands on the coins in the input tray so as to assist the coins out of the input tray and over the peak. In either case, a user's hands may be exposed to coin grime and small sharp objects.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an automatic coin input tray such that a user does not need to physically touch (or only, in very limited circumstances, needs to physically touch) coins during the feeding process. Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide an automatic coin input tray which meters coins in such a fashion as to reduce coin jams. In addition, it would be advantageous to indicate to a user when coins were being fed too quickly to the automatic coin input tray, so as to reduce the likelihood of coin jams.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is designed to minimize the aforementioned problems and meet the aforementioned, and other, needs.
In one embodiment, the automatic coin input tray includes a coin-staging section, a delivery disk section and a ramp section. A user pours coins onto the coin-staging section, which are then delivered to the delivery disk section under the force of gravity. The delivery disk section automatically meters the coins provided to the ramp section by providing a rotatable disk that sinks into a coin-input buffer, based upon the weight of coins placed thereupon. Accordingly, instead of all coins being fed to the ramp section at once, a more limited number of coins are provided to the ramp section. In addition, a controller circuit is provided to stop rotation of the rotatable disk and, hence, delivery of further coins, upon sensing various conditions including, for example, a coin jam.
Other embodiments, objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
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Coinstar Inc.
Kim Sang
Matecki Kathy
Perkins Coie LLP
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