Patents Assigned to MEI, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20120286044
    Abstract: A multi media payment device includes a banknote acceptor and a RF card reader, and also may include a magnetic card reader. A bezel assembly for connection to the bill acceptor preferably includes a reader unit to read magnetic swipe cards and contactless chip cards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: MEI, INC.
    Inventors: Evan J. Cost, Peter Bullard, Robert Martin
  • Publication number: 20120273378
    Abstract: A document storage assembly for storing documents such as banknotes in a stacked configuration includes a sup-=port plate assembly for biasing the stack of documents toward an opening in the housing of the document storage assembly. The housing can include an assist mechanism to facilitate displacement of the stack of documents during the stacking of a newly received document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: MEI, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Snider, Karen Marvin, Chris Carmine, Kenneth B. Wood, Alfred F. Bergeron, Robert Clauser
  • Publication number: 20120242210
    Abstract: An assembly includes a currency cassette, a pressure plate, and a plurality of gears rotatably connected to at least two opposite edges of the pressure plate. In an implementation, a plurality of substantially parallel racks are configured to engage a plurality of the gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: MEI, Inc.
    Inventor: Evan J. COST
  • Patent number: 8240451
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed that minimize the effect of an external force on peripheral devices attached to a host machine (e.g., vending and gaming machines). The techniques include using long spacers that are designed to be close to the rear of a machine so that in the event of a vandalism attack on the front of the machine, a peripheral device attached to the machine, such as a bill acceptor, transfers the external force to the back of the machine. Once the force is transferred, the force is distributed over a robust surface. The techniques also include use of a cradle assembly and a fixed housing to mount peripheral devices in machines that also minimize the effect of an external force on peripheral devices mounted to machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Deaville, Peter Bullard, Robert J. Clauser, Jeffrey T. Thawley, Michael D. Nunn, Evan J. Cost
  • Patent number: 8220611
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for mounting currency mechanisms of various sizes and shapes in vending machines or the like. The system may allow for relatively simple installation and removal of currency mechanisms without the use of mounting screws. The system includes a mounting surface, a portion of which is adapted to mate with a first surface of a currency mechanism. A tab is extended from the mounting surface to engage an opening in the first surface of the currency mechanism. A retention device is coupled to the mounting surface and is manipulable to engage a second surface of the currency mechanism and to cooperate with the tab to grip the currency mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventor: Evan J. Cost
  • Patent number: 8186672
    Abstract: An indicator, such as an alarm or warning, is generated to indicate that a document storage cassette attached to a document handling device (e.g., a currency validator) has reached a particular capacity or is approaching its full capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Mackenzie, Stephen Marsh, Mark H. Greenawalt, Bill Nichols, Phil Pascarella, Rick Lopez, Peter Camilleri
  • Publication number: 20120118698
    Abstract: Characterizing an item of currency employs a validation apparatus that includes at least three specified light sources for illuminating the item of currency. Each of the specified light sources has an emission spectrum similar to an approximating function for reconstructing a predetermined set of spectrum. At least one receiver receives light emitting from the at least three specified light sources. A transportation unit transports the item of currency within the validation apparatus. The light received by the receiver is at least one of light reflected by or light transmitted through the item of currency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: MEI, INC.
    Inventors: Fatiha Anouar, Gaston Baudat, Philippe S. Jard
  • Patent number: 8177046
    Abstract: A banknote validator takes both reflection and transmission optical measurements at different wavelengths. An emitter and sensor on one side of the banknote path are used to make a calibration measurement using light reflected from a window on the other side of the path, overlying another optical device. Each measurement is normalized on the basis of multiple measurements of different wavelengths, distributed over a substantial area, such as along the relevant scan line, preferably using a value representing the dispersion of the measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Voser
  • Patent number: 8157167
    Abstract: A multi media payment device includes a banknote acceptor and a RF card reader, and also may include a magnetic card reader. A bezel assembly for connection to the bill acceptor preferably includes a reader unit to read magnetic swipe cards and contactless chip cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventors: Evan J. Cost, Peter Bullard, Robert Martin
  • Patent number: 8146914
    Abstract: An assembly includes a currency cassette, a pressure plate, and a plurality of gears rotatably connected to at least two opposite edges of the pressure plate. In an implementation, a plurality of substantially parallel racks are configured to engage a plurality of the gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventor: Evan J. Cost
  • Publication number: 20120066533
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device and a method for validating documents of value, especially a low power validator for validating documents of value is described comprising: a processing unit for controlling operation of the validator; an inlet for receiving a document of value from a user; and a power management system for transitioning the validator between a power conserving mode and a normal operating mode, wherein the power management system comprises a wake up unit arranged to monitor the inlet for the presence of a document of value and to monitor the voltage provided from a power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: MEI, INC.
    Inventor: Varuni Mishra
  • Patent number: 8096400
    Abstract: A security gate mechanism for a currency handling apparatus having a currency passageway includes a rotatable gate having a slit therein. The slit is aligned with the currency passageway when the rotatable gate is in an initial position. A drive wheel is coupled to the rotary gate for driving the rotatable gate in first and second directions, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction. A positioning member is selectively engageable with the drive wheel for positioning the rotatable gate in the initial position such that the slit in the rotatable gate is substantially aligned with the passageway. The positioning member is arranged to be engageable with the drive wheel when the drive wheel rotates the rotatable gate in the second direction, but it is not engageable with the drive wheel when the drive wheel rotates the rotatable gate in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Shuren, Robert J. Clauser
  • Publication number: 20110286822
    Abstract: Automatically processing secure containers housing valuable documents includes receiving a secure container in a secure container processing unit, opening the secure container using an extraction module operatively coupled to the secure container processing unit, removing the valuable documents from the secure container using the extraction module, transferring the valuable documents to an external processing apparatus, and closing the secure container using the extraction module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: MEI, INC.
    Inventors: James A. Bradley, Christopher A. Campbell, Andrew P. Cook, Jonathan D. Lewis, Gregory H. Selke
  • Publication number: 20110259707
    Abstract: A money handling apparatus is arranged to receive items of currency and classify each into at least one class. Each class of currency items is stored and managed by the money handling apparatus in order to be able to extract the received items. In some implementations, the money handling apparatus is arranged to receive items of currency, store items of currency, receive at least one service media, and transport at least one stored currency item to a removable storage unit in a specified sequence or order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: MEI, INC.
    Inventor: Neil M. Young
  • Publication number: 20110233028
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to modeling the structure of an item of currency and to predicting the behavior of a currency sensing system as related to the structure of a tested item of currency. For a specified set of parameters of an item of currency, the response of the currency sensing system can be predicted. A particular construction of an item of currency can be determined based on theoretical responses from the item of currency being tested with a theoretical currency sensing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: MEI, INC.
    Inventor: Gaston Baudat
  • Patent number: 8027920
    Abstract: A transaction system comprises a plurality of transaction units each for performing a respective type of transaction. The units are interconnected via a serial link, and there is a common controller which has respective protected memory areas storing Java code for controlling the respective units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Douglas Allan, Bernard Joseph Campbell
  • Publication number: 20110187095
    Abstract: An unknown item of currency is compared to at least one known item of currency by evaluating the spectral response of the unknown item of currency. A spectral response is obtained from the unknown item of currency, and the spectral response of the unknown item of currency is separated into a first component and a second component. At least one component of the spectral response of the unknown item of currency is compared to at least one component of the spectral response of at least one known item of currency having a specific denomination. A determination is made as to whether the unknown item on currency is a member of the class of the at least one known item of currency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: MEI, Inc.
    Inventor: Fatiha Anouar
  • Publication number: 20110186402
    Abstract: A reference data set used for classifying items of currency is established by obtaining at least one measured response from at least one known item of currency, projecting the measured response data from the known item of currency from a first space to a second space, and applying a reduction technique to the second space thereby reducing the complexity of the second space. The reference data set, which can be used for classifying items of currency, is thus represented by a subset of all measured responses obtained from the known item of currency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: MEI, Inc.
    Inventor: Fatiha Anouar
  • Patent number: D643871
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventors: André Gerlier, Michael D. Nunn, Juan-José Moreno, Roberto Polidoro, Christian Voser
  • Patent number: D644682
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventors: André Gerlier, Michael D. Nunn, Juan-José Moreno, Roberto Polidoro, Christian Voser