Patents by Inventor Bob M. Dobbins
Bob M. Dobbins has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240127658Abstract: A secure smart safe with a high speed validator configured to accept notes in an orderly stack and deposit them into a storage compartment within the safe in orderly stacks for easy retrieval by a cash in transit (CIT) guard. The storage compartment includes a carousel of cash cassettes each containing an orderly stack of validated notes. The arrangement of multiple cash cassettes around the rotatable carousel offer substantial banknote storage capacity in a tight vertical space designed to fit under a counter in a retail shop.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Applicant: Ellenby Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Carullo, Aaron H. Dobbins, Luke M. Reilly, Bob M. Dobbins
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Patent number: 11679170Abstract: A sanitizer is described which frames a payment media, such as a bill, a coin and a credit card, in an irradiation zone between narrowly spaced support walls having associated ultraviolet lamps arranged to irradiate the payment media for at least a predetermined minimum time period. In one approach a motorized transport transports the payment media to an entry point from which it falls into the irradiation zone. In another aspect, a gravity feed approach is employed to return the irradiated media item to a dispense zone. One application is to alleviate concern at a point of sale where customers and merchants are concerned about whether payment media may be carrying a dangerous virus.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Ellenby Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Aaron H. Dobbins, Bob M. Dobbins, Thomas Carullo
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Patent number: 11193310Abstract: An electronic lock with an electronic sensing arrangement to accurately sense relative positions of a bolt which mechanically locks a door, such as a door of an electronic drop safe, and to also sense an electronically controlled plunger which locks the bolt in place. The arrangement provides a mechanism for sensing a variety of mechanical malfunctions, as well as, potential fraud or tampering situations.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2020Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Ellenby Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Aaron H. Dobbins, Bob M. Dobbins, James Henry
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Patent number: 11183036Abstract: A device designed to validate and transport paper currency in a protected fashion. While being transported, the device monitors for tampering or break-in attempts and subsequently generates warning notifications, or sounds an alarm depending on configuration and the type of tampering detected. The transport case provides end-to-end cash accountability from a location where a bill is inserted into the case, to the bank or cash destination, where the transport case is delivered. Additionally, a docking station accessory is described in which the transport case can be securely fixed while at a point of sale.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2019Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Ellenby Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Aaron H. Dobbins, Bob M. Dobbins, Thomas Carullo
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Publication number: 20210330832Abstract: A sanitizer is described which frames a payment media, such as a bill, a coin and a credit card, in an irradiation zone between narrowly spaced support walls having associated ultraviolet lamps arranged to irradiate the payment media for at least a predetermined minimum time period. In one approach a motorized transport transports the payment media to an entry point from which it falls into the irradiation zone. In another aspect, a gravity feed approach is employed to return the irradiated media item to a dispense zone. One application is to alleviate concern at a point of sale where customers and merchants are concerned about whether payment media may be carrying a dangerous virus.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: Aaron H. Dobbins, Bob M. Dobbins, Thomas Carullo
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Publication number: 20200157849Abstract: An electronic lock with an electronic sensing arrangement to accurately sense relative positions of a bolt which mechanically locks a door, such as a door of an electronic drop safe, and to also sense an electronically controlled plunger which locks the bolt in place. The arrangement provides a mechanism for sensing a variety of mechanical malfunctions, as well as, potential fraud or tampering situations.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: Aaron H. Dobbins, Bob M. Dobbins, James Henry
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Publication number: 20200160675Abstract: A device designed to validate and transport paper currency in a protected fashion. While being transported, the device monitors for tampering or break-in attempts and subsequently generates warning notifications, or sounds an alarm depending on configuration and the type of tampering detected. The transport case provides end-to-end cash accountability from a location where a bill is inserted into the case, to the bank or cash destination, where the transport case is delivered. Additionally, a docking station accessory is described in which the transport case can be securely fixed while at a point of sale.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2019Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: Aaron H. Dobbins, Bob M. Dobbins, Thomas Carullo
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Patent number: 10584515Abstract: An electronic lock with an electronic sensing arrangement to accurately sense relative positions of a bolt which mechanically locks a door, such as a door of an electronic drop safe, and to also sense an electronically controlled plunger which locks the bolt in place. The arrangement provides a mechanism for sensing a variety of mechanical malfunctions, as well as, potential fraud or tampering situations.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2017Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: ELLENBY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Aaron H. Dobbins, Bob M. Dobbins, James Henry
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Patent number: 10522010Abstract: A device designed to validate and transport paper currency in a protected fashion. While being transported, the device monitors for tampering or break-in attempts and subsequently generates warning notifications, or sounds an alarm depending on configuration and the type of tampering detected. The transport case provides end-to-end cash accountability from a location where a bill is inserted into the case, to the bank or cash destination, where the transport case is delivered. Additionally, a docking station accessory is described in which the transport case can be securely fixed while at a point of sale.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: ELLENBY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Aaron H. Dobbins, Bob M. Dobbins, Thomas Carullo
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Publication number: 20190156612Abstract: A smart vend motor is described which may be deployed in a standard snack and candy vending machine, a coin and bill dispensing machine, or the like. Each smart vending motor has a local smart control able to determine if its corresponding smart vending motor has been selected for energization from a signal sent to multiple vend motors. This smart controller can also control operation of multiple additional devices, such as LEDs to light products, consumer information displays, and product drop detectors. In some applications, vending of multiple vend motors at the same time is supported.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2018Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Bob M. Dobbins, Aaron H. Dobbins, Robert D. Ross, Scott Barnes
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Patent number: 9947166Abstract: A readily reconfigureable cash dispensing system for providing change, such as coins of different values and bills or currency of different denominations needed by a retail store, grocery store, busy convenience store, or the like. A tray or trays for storing and delivering multiple rolls of coins or bills of a first value, as well as, a tray or trays for storing and delivering stacks of bills are described herein. A bill acceptor may be employed to accept bills used to purchase rolls of coins and stacks of bills, and a system controller can sense restocking and dispensing events to maintain an accurate inventory of cash in the bill acceptor, as well as, the total cash stored in the form of coin rolls or rolls bills, as well as, bill stacks.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2017Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Ellenby Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Bob M. Dobbins, Philip Rene Reger, Scott Barnes, Thomas Carullo
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Publication number: 20180089968Abstract: A device designed to validate and transport paper currency in a protected fashion. While being transported, the device monitors for tampering or break-in attempts and subsequently generates warning notifications, or sounds an alarm depending on configuration and the type of tampering detected. The transport case provides end-to-end cash accountability from a location where a bill is inserted into the case, to the bank or cash destination, where the transport case is delivered. Additionally, a docking station accessory is described in which the transport case can be securely fixed while at a point of sale.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Aaron H. Dobbins, Bob M. Dobbins, Thomas Carullo
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Publication number: 20180066453Abstract: An electronic lock with an electronic sensing arrangement to accurately sense relative positions of a bolt which mechanically locks a door, such as a door of an electronic drop safe, and to also sense an electronically controlled plunger which locks the bolt in place. The arrangement provides a mechanism for sensing a variety of mechanical malfunctions, as well as, potential fraud or tampering situations.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Inventors: Aaron H. Dobbins, Bob M. Dobbins, James Henry
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Patent number: 9816673Abstract: A vending machine includes a controller with an interface to control vending machine peripherals including an integrated LED lamp assembly having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a DC power connector to connect to a source of DC power within the vending machine. A power regulating circuit adjustably controls the amount of power provided to the LEDs in response to vending machine control signals.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2017Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: ELLENBY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Bob M. Dobbins, Louis J. Frontino, Philip Rene Reger, Paul L. Mason
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Patent number: 9799179Abstract: A device designed to validate and transport paper currency in a protected fashion. While being transported, the device monitors for tampering or break-in attempts and subsequently generates warning notifications, or sounds an alarm depending on configuration and the type of tampering detected. The transport case provides end-to-end cash accountability from a location where a bill is inserted into the case, to the bank or cash destination, where the transport case is delivered. Additionally, a docking station accessory is described in which the transport case can be securely fixed while at a point of sale.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: ELLENBY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Aaron H. Dobbins, Bob M. Dobbins, Thomas Carullo
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Publication number: 20170236356Abstract: A readily reconfigureable cash dispensing system for providing change, such as coins of different values and bills or currency of different denominations needed by a retail store, grocery store, busy convenience store, or the like. A tray or trays for storing and delivering multiple rolls of coins or bills of a first value, as well as, a tray or trays for storing and delivering stacks of bills are described herein. A bill acceptor may be employed to accept bills used to purchase rolls of coins and stacks of bills, and a system controller can sense restocking and dispensing events to maintain an accurate inventory of cash in the bill acceptor, as well as, the total cash stored in the form of coin rolls or rolls bills, as well as, bill stacks.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Bob M. Dobbins, Philip Rene Reger, Scott Barnes, Thomas Carullo
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Publication number: 20170138544Abstract: A vending machine includes a controller with an interface to control vending machine peripherals including an integrated LED lamp assembly having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a DC power connector to connect to a source of DC power within the vending machine. A power regulating circuit adjustably controls the amount of power provided to the LEDs in response to vending machine control signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2017Publication date: May 18, 2017Applicant: Ellenby Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Bob M. Dobbins, Louis J. Frontino, Philip Rene Reger, Paul L. Mason
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Patent number: 9619957Abstract: A readily reconfigurable cash dispensing system for providing change, such as coins of different values and bills or currency of different denominations needed by a retail store, grocery store, busy convenience store, or the like. A tray or trays for storing and delivering multiple rolls of coins or bills of a first value, as well as, a tray or trays for storing and delivering stacks of bills are described herein. A bill acceptor may be employed to accept bills used to purchase rolls of coins and stacks of bills, and a system controller can sense restocking and dispensing events to maintain an accurate inventory of cash in the bill acceptor, as well as, the total cash stored in the form of coin rolls or rolls bills, as well as, bill stacks.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: ELLENBY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Bob M. Dobbins, Philip Rene Reger, Scott Barnes, Thomas Carullo
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Patent number: 9593811Abstract: A retrofit LED lamp assembly and retrofitting method for use in a vending machine. The retrofit LED assembly having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a power connector adapted to connect to a source of power within a vending machine. A power regulating circuit adjustably controls the amount of power provided to the LEDs in response to control signals received by a communication circuit in the lamp assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: ELLENBY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Bob M. Dobbins, Louis J. Frontino, Philip R. Reger, Paul L. Mason
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Patent number: 9406208Abstract: A device designed to transport paper currency in a protected fashion. While being transported, the device monitors for tampering or break-in attempts and subsequently generates warning notifications, devalues currency with indelible ink, or sounds an alarm depending on configuration and the type of tampering detected. Further, techniques are described for transferring indelible ink efficiently and reliably to a cash compartment area of the transport case.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2014Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Ellenby Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Aaron H. Dobbins, Bob M. Dobbins, Thomas Carullo, Robert D. Ross