Check-actuated control mechanisms – Including specific check passageway – And movable check diverter
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-28
2001-11-20
Chilcot, Richard (Department: 2167)
Check-actuated control mechanisms
Including specific check passageway
And movable check diverter
C453S010000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318537
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to currency processing machines, and, in particular, to a currency processing machine which accepts bulk coins and selectively distributes the coins into one of a plurality of coin receptacles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currency processing machines generally have the ability to receive bulk coin and/or bank notes from a user of the machine. The currency processing machine may be a redemption type of machine wherein, after the deposited coins and/or bank notes are counted, funds are returned to the user in a pre-selected manner determined by the user, or to a card which stores electronic money, such as a smartcard. Alternatively, the machine may be a simple deposit type of machine where funds which have been deposited by the user are credited to his or her account.
In these currency processing machines, the bulk coins that are received from users are typically sorted into individual denominations and deposited into containers corresponding to each respective denomination as sorted. When these containers have reached their capacity, the operator of the currency processing machine must then physically remove the full container and replace it with an empty container so that the machine can be returned to its operational state. However, in many environments, the coins deposited by the user into the currency processing machine are removed from the currency processing machine and recirculated into other types of coin discharging machines.
For example, in casinos, gaming machines must be filled by a bag commonly referred to as a “hopper fill bag” which contains a known amount of tokens/coins so that the gaming machine can discharge payouts to users who have won a jackpot. In some existing currency processing machines, the tokens/coins are held in a coin container and subsequently discharged from the machine through an exterior spout. When the machine is full of tokens/coins or when a gaming machine requires a fill of tokens/coins, a casino employee (e.g. the machine operator) manually places a hopper fill bag over the exterior spout and instructs the machine to fill it. The casino employee then transports the hopper fill bag to a gaming machine requiring additional tokens/coins.
One disadvantage associated with prior art currency processing machines is the large amount of time required for an operator (e.g. a casino employee) to unload the processed coins from the machine. Such a large amount is required because some machines utilize a single convey track to move coins from internal coin containers to an exterior spout to dispense the coins to the operator. An associated disadvantage, is that many of these prior art machines are unable to transact with a user while the operator is unloading the processed coins from the currency processing machines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a currency processing machine in which the user deposits coins of mixed denominations and also possibly bank notes. As used herein, the term “coins” includes U.S. and foreign coins and also tokens which have a monetary value, such as casino tokens. The user deposits the coins of mixed denominations into a hopper located at the front of the machine which is accessible to the user. The coins are then sorted by a sorting device into their respective denominations. The sorting device also counts the coins and may discriminate between authentic and non-authentic coins.
After determining the amount of the deposited coins, the currency processing machine typically provides a way for the user to convert the deposited coins into alternative funds available to the user. For example, the deposited amount of coins may be converted into bank notes. Or, the user may insert a card having media for storing a monetary amount, such as a smartcard, and the currency processing system places a credit on the inserted card. Further, the currency processing machine may convert the deposited amount as a credit to the user's specific account which is accessible by the currency processing machine. The currency processing machine may also have the capability of receiving and counting bank notes and provide for the same types of conversion of bank notes as described with respect to the depositing of coins.
The sorted coins are then sent from the sorting device to a coin receptacle station for each denomination. Each coin receptacle station includes a plurality of coin receptacles for holding the sorted coins of a specific denomination. The coin receptacle station may also include a coin distribution mechanism which selectively distributes the coins for each denomination between the plurality of coin receptacles. The coin distribution mechanism may be one of a variety of configurations such as one which moves a coin distributor tube between adjacent coin receptacles, one which employs a series of diverter mechanisms which divert coins to specific coin receptacles, or one which includes a carousal which moves the coin receptacles to a position directly below a coin distribution tube. For purposes of this application, the term “coin receptacle” is defined to include various types of coin containing elements including a coin bag, a coin container that collects unstacked coins, and a coin cartridge which collects stacked coins.
In an alternative embodiment, the coins are not sorted, but are simply counted by a coin counter and sent as mixed coins to the coin receptacle station. Because the coins are not sorted into denomination, the machine only requires one receptacle station. Thus, the flow of the mixed coins into a plurality of receptacles at the one coin station can be controlled by the machine.
The currency processing machine may be connected to a host system which controls various operational functions of the machine. For example, the host system may receive a signal from the currency processing machine indicating when one or more of the coin receptacles for a specific denomination are full and require an exchange with an empty coin receptacle. The host system may also include coin management software which controls the manner in which coins are placed in receptacles. For example, the coin management software of the host system may instruct a certain currency processing machine to fill one type of coin receptacle while other currency processing machines fill a different type of coin receptacle. Alternatively, the coin management software of the host system may instruct each currency processing machine with time-dependent coin filling algorithms. For example, the currency processing machine may fill all of its coin bags during the morning, while filling its coin cartridges during the afternoon.
Further, in a casino environment, the coin management software of the host system may be connected to a gaming machine network which informs the host system of the coin demands of specific gaming machines throughout the casino. Thus, the coin management software may instruct certain currency processing machines at specific locations of the casino to fill a certain type of coin receptacle to meet the coin demands of gaming machines that are in the proximity of such a currency processing machine.
The currency processing machine may also include a receptacle sealing device within each coin receptacle station. Thus, after a coin receptacle has been filled, it can be sealed to provide for a security measure against any attempts to tamper with the receptacle. The currency processing machine may also include security compartments for each denomination such that an authorized individual accessing one particular denomination will not have access to the coins for other denominations.
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patent: 3246295 (1
Brown Cherrie L.
Carver Eric R.
Jones John E.
Jones William J.
Munro Mark C.
Chilcot Richard
Cummins-Allison Corp.
Jaketic Bryan
Jenkens & Gilchrist
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