Including Value Accumulator For Plural Checks Patents (Class 194/215)
  • Publication number: 20090014510
    Abstract: A cash register including a cash drawer having currency compartments, each currency compartment including a currency signaling device for signaling to the cash register a quantity of currency in the respective currency compartment; and at least one display for indicating a quantity of currency to be dispensed from each currency compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aaron R. Cox, Thomas J. Sluchak, Ronald A. Smith, Robert P. Tennant
  • Patent number: 7278527
    Abstract: The respective proportions of currency items of different denominations in a multi-denominational store are adjusted in accordance with future change requirements for the different denominations. This is achieved by inhibiting the sending of a particular denomination to the store if the number of currency items of that denomination currently contained in the store exceeds a threshold, leaving more room for currency items of other denominations. There is also disclosed a multi-denominational banknote store which stores banknotes individually in radial regions of a drum, and which can rotate to bring each region into registry with an input/output conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Daout, Juan-Jose Moreno, Christian Bercovitz
  • Patent number: 7195113
    Abstract: A method of measuring a characteristic of a container in a coin handling apparatus which involves generating a data set from an acoustic pulse reflected by the container and analyzing the data set. The analysis includes comparing the data set to one or more stored data sets. This is used to determine the height of a coin stack in a coin tube and/or to identify the coin tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Mei, Inc.
    Inventor: David Furneaux
  • Patent number: 7070037
    Abstract: A method and system for determining the monetary value of coins included in a plurality of stacks of coins arranged for dispensing from an automatic coin dispensing machine are provided. The method and system employ a sensor arranged to determine the height of the stack of coins in each of the plurality of stacks of coins and a microprocessor in communication with the ultrasonic sensor. The microprocessor is adapted to determine the monetary value of coins in each of the plurality of stacks of coins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventor: Glen Navis
  • Patent number: 7025258
    Abstract: A ball bearing actuation mechanism includes a circular gauge wheel rotatably mounted in an interior chamber of a housing below an inlet passage and adjacent to outlet and overflow discharge openings of the housing and a curved retainer wall mounted to the housing in the interior chamber adjacent to a peripheral groove on the gauge wheel so as to form a channel therebetween which extends between the inlet passage and discharge outlet opening of the housing. The peripheral groove has a length preset to receive a preset number of ball bearings in single file fashion therein when the ball bearings are deposited into interior chamber via the inlet passage such that any ball bearings above the preset number deposited into the inlet passage of the housing will divert to the overflow discharge outlet of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Inventor: Kil Jae Chang
  • Patent number: 7025189
    Abstract: A supply detecting device for money or equivalents capable of determines the presence thereof within a closed container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Glenview Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Mircea Sorin Petrusan, Michael J. Sciortino
  • Patent number: 6976570
    Abstract: A coin sorting and counting machine and a method for operating it to automatically dispense cash vouchers based on the value of the counted coins, manufacturers' coupons and store coupons. Coins are placed in a hopper tray angled downward from the horizontal. When the hinged tray is lifted, the coins travel over a peak structure, through a waste management system and into the coin sorting and counting apparatus. The value of the coins and the number of coins within each denomination are displayed as the coins are counted. The coins fall into a storage area and the user is issued a cash voucher and a series of manufacturer coupons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Coinstar, Inc.
    Inventor: Jens H. Molbak
  • Patent number: 6957733
    Abstract: A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack. The device comprises an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be evaluated and a plurality of output receptacles for receiving the bills after they have been evaluated. A transport mechanism transports the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to one of the output receptacles along a transport path. A discriminating unit including a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle evaluates the bills. The discriminating unit counts and determines the denomination of the bills. A means for flagging bills meeting or failing to meet a certain criteria causes the transport mechanism to halt in response to a determination that a bill meets or fails to meet the criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Richard A. Mazur, Douglas U Mennie, Mark C Munro, Lars R Stromme, Bradford T Graves, William J Jones
  • Patent number: 6896114
    Abstract: A coin dispensing apparatus which is simple in structure and can prevents rise in cost and money exchange fraud. The apparatus comprises an inserting aperture 2 which is provided at the upper part of the body 1 and into which coins 3 are put, a sorting unit 4 which comprises a coin discriminating device 40 discriminating genuineness of coins 3 put into it through the inserting aperture 2, and sorts the coins so discriminated, a coin storing unit 6 which is located under the sorting unit 4 and stores coins 3 sorted every coin kind, a holding unit 5 which is provided between the coin storing unit 6 and the sorting unit 4, and holds temporally coins 3 sorted by the sorting unit 4 every coin kind, and a coin repayment unit 7 which is provided at the lower part of the body 1 and returns coins 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Matsumoto, Toshikatsu Kamoda
  • Patent number: 6880707
    Abstract: Document handling apparatus comprises a transport system (2, 3) for feeding documents from an input location (20) to one or more intermediate or final output locations (24, 30), at least one of the output locations being accessable from outside the apparatus. At least one radiation generator (60) and detector (60A) are arranged so as to sense an attempt to access documents in the at least one output location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Sallen Electronica
    Inventor: Jaime Sallen Rosello
  • Publication number: 20040262121
    Abstract: A banknote acceptor is disclosed to have a banknote verification assembly adapted to verify the authenticity of the inserted banknote by means of an optical transmitter module, which uses an UV LED to emit UV light through the inserted banknote, and an optical receiver module, which uses a phototransistor to receive light passing from the UV LED through the banknote and to produce a corresponding output signal, for enabling a control unit to determine the authenticity of the banknote subject to the nature of the output signal received from the photo transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Tien-Yuan Chien, Shoe-Po Chan, Yeuh-Ping Hsu
  • Patent number: 6827647
    Abstract: A gaming machine comprises a central processing unit and a local microcontroller. The CPU operates a gaming machine in response to a wager. The local microcontroller is distinct from and coupled to the central processing unit. The local microcontroller performs the low-level coin handling operations independent from the central processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Loose, William A. Gwiasda
  • Publication number: 20040188221
    Abstract: A method of exchanging coins that maximizes benefits to a host/operator of an implementing machine (10) and minimizes or eliminates any transaction charges to users of the machine (10) by providing users an establishment-specific or otherwise dedicated cash-substitute or other non-cash option in return for the coins. Possible exchange options include dispensing a disposable first type of cash-substitute device (40a,40b); storing a credit on a re-usable second type of cash-substitute device (44); making a charitable donation; and crediting an account. Because the establishment own or rents and operates the machine (10), exchanged coins can be used to replenish cash drawers or to replenish its coin dispensers or dispensing machines used, for example, at or by checkstands or self-checkout stands or self-service checkout systems, and because the exchange options are primarily establishment-specific, sales increase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: Kenneth Carter
  • Patent number: 6772870
    Abstract: A token count/sort apparatus includes a rotary disc (10) for supporting tokens (11) and is manually rotatable, an arcuate transfer track (23) extending along the periphery of the disc and formed with one token transfer inlet (24). A plurality of sorting holes are formed in the transfer track for successively sorting and dropping the tokens in the order of increasing diameters as the tokens are transferred upstream toward downstream in the transfer direction. An endless transfer belt (30) rotates in synchronism with the rotary disc (10) by intermediate gears (40), (41) and (42), thereby transferring the tokens (11) in a pressed condition. A token discerner (31) is provided between the token transfer inlet (24) and the sorting hole located at the most upstream position in the transfer direction for counting the tokens and determining the diameters of the tokens. In a batch processing mode, the token discerner determines whether the preset value for the token count or sum is attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignees: Sugai General Industries Ltd., Wing Design Co., Prev.
    Inventors: Katsumi Sugai, Nobuyuki Nakatani, Masanari Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6736251
    Abstract: A coin sorting and counting machine and a method for operating it to automatically dispense cash vouchers based on the value of the counted coins, manufacturers' coupons and store coupons. Coins are placed in a hopper tray angled downward from the horizontal. When the hinged tray is lifted, the coins travel over a peak structure, through a waste management system and into the coin sorting and counting apparatus. The value of the coins and the number of coins within each denomination are displayed as the coins are counted. The coins fall into a storage area and the user is issued a cash voucher and a series of manufacturer coupons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Coinstar, Inc.
    Inventor: Jens H. Molbak
  • Publication number: 20040079615
    Abstract: A method of measuring a characteristic of a container in a coin handling apparatus which involves generating a data set from an acoustic pulse reflected by the container and analysing the data set. The analysis includes comparing the data set to one or more stored data sets. This is used to determine the height of a coin stack in a coin tube and/or to identify the coin tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventor: David Furneaux
  • Patent number: 6712688
    Abstract: A series of staggered, overlapping coin carousels with coin stalls that receive coins, drive motors that operate to rotate the carousels and position the coin stalls so that the coins can be transferred between the carousels, and coin transfer mechanisms with gates that operate to move the coins between the carousels. An electronic controller is programmed to keep track of the positions and values of the coins in the coin stalls, and to determine and operate the appropriate drive motors and transfer gates for transferring coins between the carousels and for returning change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Qvex, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. McGinty, Steven M. Faes
  • Patent number: 6708811
    Abstract: A coin handling assembly includes a coin vault loaded completely within an appliance cabinet. The coin vault is positioned to receive coins from the coin drop and a locking member is movable from a closed position keeping coins within the coin vault to an open position permitting the coins to drop by gravity to the outside of the cabinet walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel E. Roscoe
  • Patent number: 6659259
    Abstract: A method and system and computer readable medium for processing currency including cash, coins, passive cards, prepaid cards, debit cards, check cards, and smart cards and for providing tokens including passive cards, debit cards, check cards, and smart cards. A transaction fee is calculated based upon a combination of one more of the following (i) type and amount of currency deposited; (iii) the type and amount of token requested; and (iii) the type and amount of the subsequent purchase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: DataWave Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Knox, Josh Emanuel
  • Patent number: 6651797
    Abstract: An in-wall coin bank with novelty face. The bank features a novelty face with an entertainment feature. The entertainment feature responds when a deposit is made, amusing or entertaining the user. The face may be detachable, different types of faces with entertainment features are possible. Methods of using the bank for saving are also disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Evan Tree
  • Patent number: 6640956
    Abstract: A coin handling machine (10) has a coin sorting member (12) with a plurality of sorting openings (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20) by which respective denominations of coins (14) are sorted, having a coin driving member (21) with webs (22) for moving the coins to the coin sorting openings (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20), having a motor (60) coupled to the coin driving member (21), and having a brake (65) for stopping the motor (60), the coin handling machine (10). A coin imaging sensor (40) optically images at least a portion of a coin (14) and for transmitting dimensional data for identifying coins by denomination. A main controller (120) receives said dimensional data and counts each coin for bag stopping purposes separate from the counts maintained for totalizing the sorted coins. The controller (120) transmits signals to at least reduce the speed of the motor (60) when a bag count limit is reached for a respective denomination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: De La Rue Cash Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Zwieg, Robert F. Fredrick, John P. Grajewski, John A. Kressin, Thomas S. Murphy, Jon R. Stieber
  • Publication number: 20020189917
    Abstract: The present invention is an intelligent metering system for currency-activated devices having an electromechanical meter. The intelligent metering system includes an inductive pickup winding associated with the electromechanical meter. An amplifier is coupled to the inductive pickup winding to boost a signal detected from the inductive pickup winding when electromechanical meter is actuated. A pulse detector, coupled to the amplifier, detects pulses, false triggerings and filters out EMF spikes. A microprocessor is coupled to the pulse detector for counting the pulses detected by the pulse detector and for storing meter data related to the counted pulses in a memory device. An interface is coupled to the microprocessor for transmitting the meter data from the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Joseph W. Cole, Michael J. Bennett
  • Publication number: 20020162724
    Abstract: A coin sorting apparatus (S) has a presorting unit (A) and two main sorting units (B1, B2). The presorting unit (A) sorts mixed coins into three groups (large coin group, medium coin group, small coin group). The main sorting units (B1, B2) sort by denomination coins of the two groups (medium coin group, small coin group) among the three groups of coins broadly sorted by the presorting unit (A). Thus, the number of denominations to be dealt with by a single sorting operation can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Yushi Hino, Masaharu Tochio, Daisuke Hoshino, Kisho Yanase, Yoshikatsu Oota, Tasuku Nakamoto
  • Publication number: 20020100660
    Abstract: An electronically controlled cash handling device (12) has a CPU (21), a program memory (23), a cash handling functions I/O portion (25), a radio transceiver (24) operating according to the Bluetooth specification and an antenna (26). The device (12) can communicate through wireless communication to a peripheral cash handling device (13) which supplements the cash handling functions of the base machine (12). The cash handling device (12) can also communicate through the wireless network with computer peripheral I/O devices (14), such as a printer (18), batch display (20) and scanner (22) to enhance the capabilities of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Jon R. Stieber, Thomas P. Adams, Robert L. Zwieg, William R. Kirkman
  • Publication number: 20020060120
    Abstract: Especially designed as an opto-electronic sensor, as an addition to the classic electromechanical sensor available in games machine dispensers (2) awarding prizes in cash, consisting of a pair of bent plates (11) jointly fixed to the entrance door (6) of the machine door (7), specifically framing the slot (5) in the entrance door (6), for the transport of coins from the dispenser (2) to the applicable prize-collecting tray (6), so that the parallel branches of these plates (10-10′) support the photoemitter (15) and photoreceptor (16) respectively in this opto-electronic sensor, interconnected through orifices (17) in the plates themselves (10-10′) and in the orifices (18) that are operated at the front of the dispenser (2), framing the exit coin mouth (4), so that this luminous beam is interrupted during coin movement to apply the necessary detection and accounting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Applicant: Proindumar, S.L.
    Inventor: Jesus Franco Munoz
  • Publication number: 20020011393
    Abstract: A currency receiving device for receiving currency from a user, comprising a body adapted to be moved by a person, a currency input controller, attached to the body, to receive and count deposits of currency, a currency receptacle, operatively connected to the currency input controller, to receive currency from the currency input controller and to store the currency, and a source of power, to provide power to the currency input controller, wherein, upon receiving a first deposit of currency at a first location, the currency receiving device may be moved to a second location to receive a second deposit of currency at the second location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: NAMSYS INC.
    Inventor: John Siemens
  • Publication number: 20010042671
    Abstract: To provide a commodity price setting method and a commodity price setting system in an automatic vending machine, which can reduce wrong setting of a commodity price and with which an operator can easily set and confirm a commodity price. Since a numerical value of a commodity price is formed by multiplying a minimum currency value in an inputting apparatus and this numerical value is inputted in a storage device, a set value can always be a multiple of a minimum currency value with a minimum unit of the set value as the minimum currency value. Therefore, a fraction less than the minimum currency value that cannot be used in the automatic vending machine is never set as a commodity price, and confusion and wrong operation such as a customer trying to insert an unusable currency can be surely prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: Kazuyasu Ushigome, Naoto Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6180068
    Abstract: An apparatus for mixing vapor and liquid reactants within a column. The apparatus forms a first mixing zone into which a first reactant (e.g. vapor) is homogenized by swirl flow and flows vertically downward. The apparatus further forms a second mixing zone into which a second reactant (e.g., liquid) is homogenized by swirl flow and flows vertically downward. Additional amounts of either the first reactant, the second reactant or both may be added into or ahead of the first mixing zone or the second mixing zone as appropriate. The first reactant is directed radially to collide in crossflow with a thin sheet of the second reactant to provide intense mixing of the first and second reactants. Due to separate mixing zones for the two reactants, the mixing conditions for each can be tailored to best mix each reactant while minimizing pressure drop and minimizing the space and volume requirements for this mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Sherri L. Boyd, Gregory P. Muldowney
  • Patent number: 5662204
    Abstract: A money operated gaming machine has a box-like housing and a door pivoted on one side wall and able to be locked to such housing, such door bearing on an outer side thereof game areas and a design characterizing the game. In the housing there is arranged a coin unit which consists at least of a coin inlet, a coin testing mechanism, coin distributing and guiding mechanism coin stack tubes and a coin paying out mechanism. At the side wall of the housing, located on the opening side of the door, rails are attached for a carriage holding a frame, which is provided with holding mechanisms for the individual modules constituted by the components of the coin unit. To facilitate simpler and clear installation and maintenance of the coin unit, at the inner side of the back wall of the frame a printed circuit board with U-shaped and knife-like limbs constituting contacts is held, which on insertion into the frame of a module provided with contact springs come into conducting contact with the contact springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: NSM Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilhelm Menke, Borge Heidersberger
  • Patent number: 5566806
    Abstract: A vending machine for tennis ball containers comprising a cabinet having a delivery station. A plurality of storage chutes are within the cabinet. Each chute holds a series of one particular brand of tennis ball containers. A facility in the cabinet is for accepting currency to cover the cost of one of the particular brand of tennis ball containers. An assembly in the cabinet is for selecting one of the particular brand of tennis ball containers. A unit is for dispensing one at a time, one of the particular brand of tennis ball containers selected into the delivery station of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Inventor: David L. Reale
  • Patent number: 5377807
    Abstract: Various signals are exchanged between a coin acceptor section that identifies the authenticity of deposited coins and sorts out the on the basis of their denominations, and a change control section that receives the sorted-out coins and performs control to count the coins and to deliver the coins as a change. Such a signal exchange between the two sections is achieved through optical coupling between a light emitting diode and a photo transistor, without employing any electric contacts. Further, electric power supply from the change control section to the coin acceptor section is done through spring-biased probes without employing any electric connectors, or through inductive coupling without employing any electric contacts. Such arrangements can greatly facilitate attachment and detachment of the coin acceptor section to and from the change control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Nippon Conlux Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kojima, Michihiro Ota, Osamu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 4960196
    Abstract: An automatic toll collector of a throw-in type is installed in toll roads, parking places and other tollgates so that a driver can pay a toll while the driver sits on a driver's seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Kanehara, Kazumi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 4836352
    Abstract: An express package collection locker capable of automatically calculating the portage fee of a package. The locker comprises a plurality of boxes for storing packages, a plurality of weight sensors incorporated in the boxes, respectively, and a plurality of push buttons for selecting regions from a map which correspond to possible destinations of the package. The locker further comprises a CRT display for displaying operating instructions, and a main controller. The main controller calculates the portage fee of a package placed in any one of the boxes, in accordance with the weight of the package measured by the weight sensor provided within the box, and the region destination of the package, which has been selected by operating the desired button. The portage, thus calculated, is displayed by the CRT display. The main controller locks the door of the box when the portage is duly paid into the locker, and then prints and issues a voucher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignees: UPL Co. Ltd, Koto Electronics Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Tateno, Yoshio Shimotori
  • Patent number: 4638825
    Abstract: A coin counting device for simultaneously counting a number of coins, all of which are of a selected denomination. The device includes a hopper, an inclined planar member to receive coins from the hopper, members mounted to prevent coins from rolling down the planar member and to prevent coins from sliding down the planar member atop one another. The device also includes an array of pin members to disperse the coins transversely across the surface of the planar member. Gate means are mounted at the bottom edge of the inclined planar member to count coins as they slide passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Coffman Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Gifford, James H. Coffman
  • Patent number: 4576272
    Abstract: A coin-operated vending machine for bottles or cans of a moderate capacity, including a plurality of side-by-side storage chutes for feeding bottles or cans to openings in the front wall of the vending machine, a cradle in each of the openings forming a row of adjacent cradles for receiving the bottles or cans from the chutes, and a mechanical interlock between the respective cradles for precluding the dispensing of more than one product for any vend cycle. The mechanical interlock also includes a spring-detent assembly for indexing the cradles between closed, intermediate, and fully-open positions in a step-by-step manner. The mechanical interlock is designed to be substantially tamper-proof. A vend chute structure is also provided which permits flexibility of product loading, the free flow of cooling air throughout the vending machine cabinet, and easy cleaning of the vend chute and associated components. The vending machine is adaptable for use on a counter top or mounting to the wall of a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Annis R. Morgan, Jr., Bernd Mehlan, Josef Gress, Hugh S. Williford