Patents Assigned to Cummins-Allison Corp.
  • Patent number: 10049521
    Abstract: Currency processing systems, coin processing machines, computer-readable storage media, and methods of managing processed coins are presented herein. A method is presented for managing coins processed by a currency processing system. The method includes: receiving a batch of coins by the currency processing system; feeding the coins into a coin processing unit which includes one or more coin discriminating sensors; sorting the batch of coins into genuine fit target coins and reject coins; sorting the reject coins into a plurality of reject groups, each of which corresponds to a respective category of rejected coins; analyzing at least one of the reject groups to determine if any genuine target coins were mischaracterized and erroneously sorted into that reject group; and, crediting a user of the currency processing system for any genuine target coins in the reject group determined to have been mischaracterized and erroneously sorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John R. Blake, Curtis W. Hallowell, Tomasz M. Jagielinski
  • Patent number: 10043333
    Abstract: Currency processing systems, coin processing machines, coin sorting and recycling assemblies, and methods of making and methods of using the same 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 includes a rotatable disk for imparting motion to input coins, and a sorting head for separating and discharging coins from exit stations. An automated coin chute receives coins from one of the exit stations. The automated coin chute includes a movable diverter plate that selectively transitions between a first position, whereby coins received from the exit station of the disk-type coin processing unit are redirected through a coin-recycling output passage to a coin-recycling receptacle, and a second position, whereby coins received from the exit station are redirected through a coin-depositing output passage to a coin-depositing receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Adams, Glenn S. Gordon, Matthew J. Bochnak, Curtis W. Hallowell, John R. Blake, Mikhail B. Sobelevsky
  • Patent number: 9972156
    Abstract: Currency bills are transported past an image scanner to one or more output receptacles. Each of the bills is imaged to produce image data from which a visually readable image of each bill can be reproduced. The serial number, denomination, and/or secondary identifiers of a bill is attempted to be extracted and/or determined from the image data associated with the bill. The serial number of the bill has an integer number, X, of characters. One or more of the X characters of the serial number of the currency bill is not extracted with a predetermined confidence. In response to failing to extract all of the X characters of the serial number of the bill with the predetermined confidence, a serial number field in an electronic record associated with the bill is populated with a serial number snippet image. The electronic record is stored in a non-transitory memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas U. Mennie, Antony D. Susai, William J. Jones, Frank M. Csulits, Matthew L. Anderson, Robert J. Klein, Ralf H. Jaeger, David R. Badalamenti, Dale E. Beutel
  • Patent number: 9971935
    Abstract: Currency bills are transported past an image scanner to one or more output receptacles. Each of the bills is imaged to produce image data from which a visually readable image of each bill can be reproduced. The serial number, denomination, and/or secondary identifiers of a bill is attempted to be extracted and/or determined from the image data associated with the bill. The serial number of the bill has an integer number, X, of characters. One or more of the X characters of the serial number of the currency bill is not extracted with a predetermined confidence. In response to failing to extract all of the X characters of the serial number of the bill with the predetermined confidence, a serial number field in an electronic record associated with the bill is populated with a serial number snippet image. The electronic record is stored in a non-transitory memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas U. Mennie, Antony D. Susai, William J. Jones, Frank M. Csulits, Matthew L. Anderson, Robert J. Klein, Ralf H. Jaeger, David R. Badalamenti, Dale E. Beutel
  • Patent number: 9934640
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John R. Blake, Curtis Hallowell, William Jones, Marianne Krbec
  • Patent number: 9916713
    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 an input area for receiving coins and receptacles for stowing processed coins. A disk-type coin processing unit is coupled to the coin input area and coin receptacles. The coin processing unit includes a rotatable disk for imparting motion to coins, and a sorting head adjacent the rotatable disk with shaped regions for guiding moving coins to exit channels through which the coins are discharged to the coin receptacles. A sensor arrangement mounted adjacent the rotatable disk includes one light emitting device for emitting light onto a coin surface at near-normal incidence. A photodetector senses light reflected off the coin surface and outputs a coin-image signal for processing the coin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Araz Yacoubian, Danny D. Yang, Tomasz M. Jagielinksi, Frank M. Csulits, Gary P. Watts
  • Patent number: 9875593
    Abstract: Currency processing systems, coin processing machines, coin sorting and recycling assemblies, and methods of making and methods of using the same 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 includes a rotatable disk for imparting motion to input coins, and a sorting head for separating and discharging coins from exit stations. An automated coin chute receives coins from one of the exit stations. The automated coin chute includes a movable diverter plate that selectively transitions between a first position, whereby coins received from the exit station of the disk-type coin processing unit are redirected through a coin-recycling output passage to a coin-recycling receptacle, and a second position, whereby coins received from the exit station are redirected through a coin-depositing output passage to a coin-depositing receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Adams, Glenn S. Gordon, Matthew J. Bochnak, Curtis W. Hallowell, John R. Blake, Mikhail B. Sobelevsky
  • Patent number: 9870668
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Tomasz M. Jagielinski, Matthew Tomor, Araz Yacoubian, David J. Mecklenburg, Danny D. Yang
  • Patent number: 9830762
    Abstract: The method according to some embodiments comprises a coin processing machine depositing a plurality of the coins from the coin processing machine through an upper opening of a generally rigid and elongated tubular body of a coin receptacle sleeve and into the coin sleeve until a top level of coins within the sleeve is adjacent to a top of a coin bag; and continuing to deposit additional coins through the upper opening and into the sleeve until a top level of coins within the sleeve is adjacent a full coin height level and above the top of the coin bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John R. Blake, Curtis W. Hallowell, Marianne Krbec, William J. Jones, Thomas P. Adams, Glenn S. Gordon
  • Patent number: 9633500
    Abstract: Currency processing systems, coin processing machines, computer-readable storage media, and methods of managing processed coins are presented herein. A method is presented for managing coins processed by a currency processing system. The method includes: receiving a batch of coins by the currency processing system; feeding the coins into a coin processing unit which includes one or more coin discriminating sensors; sorting the batch of coins into genuine fit target coins and reject coins; sorting the reject coins into a plurality of reject groups, each of which corresponds to a respective category of rejected coins; analyzing at least one of the reject groups to determine if any genuine target coins were mischaracterized and erroneously sorted into that reject group; and, crediting a user of the currency processing system for any genuine target coins in the reject group determined to have been mischaracterized and erroneously sorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John R. Blake, Curtis W. Hallowell, Tomasz M. Jagielinski
  • Patent number: 9558418
    Abstract: A document processing device convertible between a first configuration and a second configuration includes an input receptacle, a transport mechanism, a scanner, and a convertible output area. The input receptacle is configured to receive documents including currency bills therein. The transport mechanism is configured to transport the documents along a transport path from the input receptacle. The scanner is positioned along the transport path and is configured to scan at least a portion of each of the documents transported to generate data associated therewith. The convertible output area is configured to be selectively coupled with a first output assembly and a second output assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: William J. Jones, Paul A. Jones
  • Patent number: 9508208
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Tomasz M. Jagielinski, Matthew Tomor, Araz Yacoubian, David J. Mecklenburg, Danny D. Yang
  • Patent number: 9501885
    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 an input area for receiving coins and receptacles for stowing processed coins. A disk-type coin processing unit is coupled to the coin input area and coin receptacles. The coin processing unit includes a rotatable disk for imparting motion to coins, and a sorting head adjacent the rotatable disk with shaped regions for guiding moving coins to exit channels through which the coins are discharged to the coin receptacles. A sensor arrangement mounted adjacent the rotatable disk includes one light emitting device for emitting light onto a coin surface at near-normal incidence, and another light emitting device for emitting light onto the coin surface at high-angle incidence. A photodetector senses light reflected off the coin surface and outputs a coin-image signal for processing the coin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Araz Yacoubian, Danny D. Yang, Tomasz M. Jagielinski, Frank M. Csulits, Matthew Tomor
  • Patent number: 9495808
    Abstract: A method of processing documents includes receiving a stack of documents including currency bills and substitute currency media. Each substitute currency medium has at least one barcode. The method further includes transporting the stack of documents via a transport mechanism, one document at a time, along a transport path and denominating with a currency detector each of the currency bills in the stack of documents. The currency detector is positioned adjacent to the transport path. The method further includes scanning with a barcode scanner a barcode on each substitute currency medium in the stack of documents. The barcode scanner is positioned adjacent to the transport path. The method further includes imaging with an image scanner each substitute currency medium in the stack of documents to generate a raw image file of the substitute currency medium. The image scanner is positioned adjacent to the transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Charles P. Jenrick, Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell, Douglas U. Mennie
  • Patent number: 9477896
    Abstract: Currency bills are received, transported, and imaged to produce image data from which a visually readable image of each currency bill can be reproduced. Each of the currency bills includes a denomination, a serial number, and a set of secondary identifiers. One of the currency bills is determined to be a suspect bill. The suspect bill serial number is attempted to be extracted from the image data associated with the suspect bill. In response to failing to extract a complete serial number of the suspect bill, a serial number field in a suspect report is populated with a serial number snippet image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas U. Mennie, Antony D. Susai, William J. Jones, Frank M. Csulits, Matthew L. Anderson, Robert J. Klein, Ralf H. Jaeger, David R. Badalamenti, Dale E. Beutel
  • Patent number: 9437069
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for processing coins are presented herein. A coin processing system is disclosed which includes a housing with a coin input area for receiving a batch of coins, a controller with a communication interface operatively attached to the housing, and a coin processing unit for counting, discriminating, and/or valuing coins received from the coin input area. The coin processing system also includes a mobile coin receptacle removably disposed within the housing and configured to receive coins from the coin processing unit. The mobile coin receptacle is configured to wirelessly communicate information to the communication interface of the controller. The mobile coin receptacle can include one or more electrical contacts that mate with one or more electrical contacts on the housing to wirelessly communicate the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John R. Blake, Curtis W. Hallowell, Marianne Krbec, William J. Jones, Thomas P. Adams, Glenn S. Gordon
  • Patent number: 9430893
    Abstract: Currency processing systems, coin processing machines, computer-readable storage media, and methods of managing processed coins are presented herein. A method is presented for managing coins processed by a currency processing system. The method includes: receiving a batch of coins by the currency processing system; feeding the coins into a coin processing unit which includes one or more coin discriminating sensors; sorting the batch of coins into genuine fit target coins and reject coins; sorting the reject coins into a plurality of reject groups, each of which corresponds to a respective category of rejected coins; analyzing at least one of the reject groups to determine if any genuine target coins were mischaracterized and erroneously sorted into that reject group; and, crediting a user of the currency processing system for any genuine target coins in the reject group determined to have been mischaracterized and erroneously sorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John R. Blake, Curtis W. Hallowell, Tomasz M. Jagielinski
  • Patent number: 9390574
    Abstract: A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past an image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the image scanner and the discrimination unit. The image scanner obtains an image of the documents, obtains an image of a selected area of the documents, and obtains information contained in the selected area of the document. The discrimination unit determines the authenticity of the document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John E. Jones, Paul A. Jones, William J. Jones, Ronald M Gafron, Douglas U. Mennie
  • Patent number: 9355295
    Abstract: A device has a deposit, a sell, and an audit mode of operation to monitor and reconcile bills. The device includes a memory storing records, an input receptacle to receive bills, an image scanner to image bills, a transportation mechanism to transport bills, and one or more processors. In the deposit mode, the one or more processors extract serial numbers and generate records. Each record includes a physical bill location field to indicate the location that the bill is expected to be physically located. In the sell mode, the one or more processors update the physical bill location fields to indicate that the expected physical bill location is a second location. In the audit mode, the one or more processors determine if each record corresponds with an audit record and generate an indication that the teller drawer is balanced responsive to a determination that each audit record corresponds with a respective record and a determination that each record corresponds with an audit record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: William J. Jones, Frank M. Csulits, Douglas U. Mennie, Ralf H. Jaeger, Robert J. Klein, Dale E. Beutel, David R. Badalamenti
  • Patent number: 9330515
    Abstract: Currency processing systems, coin processing machines, and methods of sorting batches of coins are presented herein. A currency processing system is disclosed which includes a housing with a coin input area for receiving coins, and one or more coin receptacles stowed inside the housing. A disk-type coin processing unit is operatively coupled to the coin input area and the coin receptacle(s). The coin processing unit includes a rotatable disk for imparting motion to coins received from the coin input area, and a sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and at least partially spaced from the rotatable disk. The lower surface forms a plurality of shaped regions for guiding the coins, under the motion imparted by the rotatable disk, to a plurality of exit stations through which the coins are discharged to the coin receptacle(s). The sorting head and the rotatable disk are obliquely angled with respect to the support surface upon which the housing rests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: James M. Rasmussen, Marianne Krbec, John R. Blake