Coin handling – Assorter
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-26
2001-07-24
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3652)
Coin handling
Assorter
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264545
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to methods for processing mixed coins to determine the value thereof and, more particularly, to such methods in which mixed coins are segregated.
In recent years there have been developed machines which allow users to insert a large volume of mixed coinage and which process to coins to determine the total value thereof while counterfeits, mutilated coins and foreign coins are rejected and returned to the user. The user receives a printout indicating the total value of the coins which have been accepted, and this slip can be presented to a cashier in the supermarket or other facility where the processing machine is located for redemption in U.S. currency.
The coins which are received in the processing unit are generally stored in mixed condition in a vault within the processing unit. Periodically, the vault is removed and taken to another site for further processing such as an armored car carrier's facility or a bank vault. At that facility, the large volume of coins which have now been collected is sorted and valued in high speed counting and sorting equipment.
It is known that the pennies comprise by far the largest volume of the coins which are passed through such coin processing facilities. It is further known that the processing of mixed coins in high speed counting and sorting equipment produces substantial wear and tear on the equipment, and this is a factor in the service charge which the initial user incurs in his or hers processing of the mixed coinage.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method for processing mixed coinage in which the coins of the denomination constituting the largest volume can be segregated, separately stored and ultimately separately processed at the final processing location.
It is also an object to provide such a coin processing method in which the sorting and counting of the coins at the final processing facility can be performed expeditiously to reduce the cost and time required for processing such coins.
Another object is to provide a novel coin processing apparatus which segregates the coin denomination of largest volume to facilitate further processing.
A further object is to provide such coin processing apparatus which may be simply and economically fabricated and in which the coins are stored in a removable vault which may be readily transported.
A still further object is to provide such coin processing apparatus in which the vault in which the coins are stored enables ready removal of the mixed coins and determination of the segregated denomination is effected by weighing of the vault with that denomination of coins remaining therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects may be readily attained in a method for counting coins of mixed denominations and segregating coins of a single denomination from those of other denominations, in which a stream of coins of mixed denominations is passed through a first station in which all coins are counted to determine the total value thereof. The stream of mixed coins is sorted to segregate coins of a selected denomination from coins of other denominations, and the coins of other denominations are deposited into a first vault chamber. The segregated coins of the selected denomination are deposited into a second vault chamber and a valuation of the counted coins is provided.
Usually, the method involves a further step of weighing the segregated coins of the selected denomination in the second vault chamber after multiple customer transactions to determine the total value thereof. Usually, the coins are United States coinage and the selected denomination is a penny, and the sorting step removes the coins in the mixed stream by denomination with any dimes in the stream being channeled to the stream of mixed coins which are of denomination larger than pennies.
Generally, the coin sorting step offsorts the segregated coins of the selected denomination from the stream of coins exiting the counting step into the second vault chamber, while the stream of the remaining coins is directed into the first vault chamber. The counting step also removes from the stream of mixed coins foreign, mutilated and counterfeit coins, and the removed coins are separately discharged.
The vault chambers may be separable, and the method will include the step of weighing the second vault chamber with the selected coins therein to determine its weight and thereby the total value of the coins of the selected denomination.
This will usually take place at a processing station and the method includes the steps of periodically transporting the vault chambers with the coins therein to a processing center and weighing the segregated coins in the second chamber to determine the value thereof. Preferably, the vault chambers are formed in a single vault and the method includes the step of removing the mixed coins from the first chamber and weighing the vault thereafter. At the processing center, the mixed coins are removed from the first chamber and the mixed coins are counted and sorted.
A coin processor for counting coins of mixed denominations and segregating coins of a selected denomination from those of other denominations comprises a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion providing a vault receiving chamber. A vault is removably seated in the vault receiving chamber and provides a first coin receiving chamber and a second coin receiving chamber. In the upper portion of the housing is a coin counter for receiving coins of mixed denominations and counting all coins. A coin sorter is also provided in the upper portion for segregating a stream of mixed coins exiting the counter into a stream of coins of a selected denomination and a stream of coins of other mixed denominations. A first conduit for the stream of coins of other mixed denominations extends to the first chamber in the vault, and a second conduit for the stream of coins of the selected denomination extends to the second chamber in the vault. The processor also includes indicia providing means for displaying the total value of the counted coins.
In one embodiment, the first chamber is removable from the vault and the vault has a door to access the first chamber and which may be locked for security. In another embodiment, the vault has separate discharge ports for each of the chambers through which the coins therein may be separately discharged.
Preferably, the coin sorter includes a channel for a stream of coins and means along the channel for segregating the coins of the selected denomination. When the coins to be sorted are those of the United States and the selected denomination being a penny, the sorter includes means for combining dimes with the stream of larger diameter coins.
Desirably, the counter includes means for removing foreign, counterfeit and mutilated coins and a discharge chute for the removed coins. Conveniently, the indicia providing means is a printer. The housing has an opening therein, an access door closing the opening through which the vault may be removed, and means for locking the access door. The vault desirably includes wheels on which the vault may be moved and an engageable element which can be engaged to remove it from the housing. The vault may also have recesses in its bottom end for seating the forks of a fork lift to move the vault at the processing center.
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Allexon Robert A.
Magee William D.
Jaketic Bryan
Olszewski Robert P.
Pepe & Hazard LLP
The Magee Company
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