Patent Application
20130199422
The invention relates to a device for handling coins. The coins supplied to the device via the supply unit are sorted in a coin processing unit, are stored in a coin storage system with at least two coin storages and can be dispensed at a dispensing unit. From document WO 2009/127731 A1 such a device is known.
In the retail sector it may, for example, be the case that due to change more coins are handed out to the customers than are earned. Alternatively or additionally it may be necessary that coin money not needed by a retail firm is collected. In both cases a retail firm depends on the supply of coin money or the disposal of coin money that is, for example, delivered or collected by a security transport company. Here, the personal handover of coins delivered or collected by the security transport company involves substantial time and effort, as the delivery of coins by the security transport company depends on the attendance time of the employees of the retail firm. Due to a necessary “second set of eyes principle” the handover of coin money to the security transport company is also associated with higher personnel expenses for the retail firm. Moreover, during the process of coins being supplied to the device by the security transport company it is not possible for the employees of the retail firm to supply coins what may lead to problems in the operating procedure. Supplying coins by an employee of the retail firm may be necessary if, for example, during a break or at change of shift a cashier supplies the coins from the cash drawer to the device.
Based on this prior art it is the object of the invention to specify a device for handling coins that enables a simply method for handing over coins.
In this device at a first side of the device a first supply unit for supplying coins is provided. Furthermore, the device comprises at least one coin processing unit for processing coins that are supplied via the first supply unit and a coin storage system that comprises at least two coin storages for storing coins. The coin processing unit sorts the supplied coins according to at least one sorting criterion in the coin storages. At the first side of the device there is a dispensing unit for dispensing the coins removed from the coin storage system. At a second side of the device there is a second supply unit for supplying coins. This second supply unit supplies the inserted coins to the coin processing unit.
This second supply unit for example is available exclusively to the security transport company, whereas the first supply unit is provided for the coins that are supplied to the device by employees of a retail firm or of a bank in which the device is installed. In this way nuisances for the employees of a retail firm or a bank during handover of coins to a security transport company are avoided.
Preferably, the first side and the second side of the device are arranged opposite to each other. Such an arrangement enables a large spatial separation of the supply units and avoids that, in case both supply units are used simultaneously, the users supplying coins to the device do not impede each other. Users are in particular employees of the retail firm, of the bank as well as employees of the security transport company. Further, this enables a spatial separation of the supply units, in particular if the device is integrated into a wall.
In a preferred embodiment the device has a control unit for determining the number of coins supplied to the respective coin storage. By this the inventory of each individual coin storage is known and retrievable any time. Thus, a user can verify if a service intervention is necessary due to a full or empty coin storage. Preferably an upper limit and/or a lower limit are set in a control unit of the device. When reaching and/or exceeding the upper limit the status of the coin storage is set to full and/or when reaching and/or falling below the lower value the status of the coin storage is set to empty. The value of the lower and/or the upper limit can also automatically depend on the amounts of coins and the coin requirements at the site of operation and/or on the operating time.
In an especially preferred embodiment the coin storage system comprises eight coin storages. By means of this, euro coins that are in circulation with eight different common coin values can be stored in a single denomination by assigning a coin storage to each coin value.
It is advantageous if the device comprises exactly one coin processing unit for processing the coins supplied via the first supply unit and the second supply unit. By this a compact design of the device is achieved. With the help of means that for example comprise a mechanical locking device it is guaranteed that only coins from the first supply unit or the second supply unit can be supplied simultaneously to the coin processing unit. This locking device for example prevents the access of a user to the supply unit to be locked or it can prevent the coin supply from the supply unit to the coin processing unit or it can delay the coin supply from the supply unit to the coin processing unit until the coin supply via the other supply unit is completed.
Preferably, the coin processing unit removes a predetermined number of coins from at least one coin storage. By simultaneously removing more than one coin the dispensing of coins at the dispensing unit is accelerated. In particular, a stack of coins with a predetermined height can be removed from below from a stack of coins arranged in one of the coin storages.
In a preferred embodiment the device is provided with means for authentication of a user. In particular these means can comprise a card reader, an RFID-reader or a scanner for determining biometrical data. Preferably before a transaction a user has to authenticate himself with the help of the means for authentication. By this the security can be increased as the device is operable by authorized users only.
In a preferred embodiment at least one control unit records the conducted transactions during which coins are supplied or removed. Thus, all changes in the amount of coins of the coin storages are documented. If in this recording at least the total value of the supplied or removed coins is recorded the security transport company can supply bulk coins to the device, that is to say a coin package of a random mixture of coins the value and denomination of which was determined by means of the device. As the provision costs for such packages of coins are lower than the provision costs for packages of coins of a single denomination with known coin number the costs for providing coins can be reduced.
Preferably to each recorded transaction a user is assigned who is authenticated for the respective transaction. By this it is achieved that an employee of the security transport company can supply coins to the device without being accompanied by another authenticated person, for example by a person authenticated by the retail firm or the bank as this transaction is recorded by means of the recording preferably in an audit-proof manner and can be verified subsequently, if necessary.
In an especially preferred embodiment the dispensing unit arranged at the first side is the first dispensing unit, and at the second side of the device a second dispensing unit is arranged. By means of the second output unit the coins removed from one of the coin storages by the coin processing unit can be dispensed at the second side of the device. Thus, coins cannot only be supplied at both sides but can also be removed at both sides. Consequently, two users can use the device simultaneously avoiding waiting time.
Therefore, twice as many transactions can be conducted per time unit. Furthermore, this enables a spatial separation of the supply units, in particular if the device is integrated into a wall.
In a preferred embodiment the first dispensing unit transports the coins to be dispensed to at least one receiving compartment of a cash drawer arranged in the first dispensing unit and/or the second dispensing unit transports the coins to be dispensed to at least one receiving compartment of a cash drawer arranged in the second dispensing unit. This embodiment guarantees a quick and easy filling of the cash drawers required by the cashiers. Cash drawers are drawers of cash registers that are used for example in the retail business.
In an especially preferred embodiment the filling of the cash drawer is carried out with a predetermined number and denomination of coins that can be selected by the user and/or that is dependent on the cash drawer arranged in the first or second dispending unit. In this way the respective cash drawer is automatically filled with a mixture of coins that is optimal for the location depending on the cash drawer and/or a cashier assigned to one of the cash drawers.
Further, the first dispensing unit and/or the second dispending unit can transport the coins into pre-manufactured coin transport containers, for example in plastic bags or in bags. Afterwards, the respective dispensing unit can seal these coin transport containers, preferably in an audit-proof manner by heat sealing or gluing the openings. Afterwards, these sealed coin transport containers together with the coins in the coin transport container are dispensed by the respective dispensing unit. In this way packages of coins packed in an audit-proof manner are produced and dispensed.
It is especially preferable if a labeling unit for labeling the coin transport containers in the device is provided. The labeling of the coin transport containers can either be conducted by printing or sticking pre-printed labels on them. Alternatively or additionally, labels can be imprinted by means of the labeling unit and the imprinted labels can be stuck onto the coin transport container. Preferably the labeling of the coin transport container contains for example information with regard to content, value, number, destination and/or origin of the coins in the coin transport container. This information can be applied as clear text and/or in coded form, in particular as barcode.
In an especially preferred embodiment the device is arranged in a transfer safe. This transfer safe can preferably be integrated into a building wall. A transfer safe is accessible by a first and a second side, wherein the accessible sides are arranged such that after installation into a wall at each side of the wall there is one of both accessible sides.
For this purpose the device is arranged in the transfer safe such that the first side of the device with the first supply unit and the first dispensing unit is provided at the first accessible side of the transfer safe, and the second side of the device with the second supply unit and a possible second dispensing unit is provided at the second accessible side of the transfer safe. This embodiment enables the security transport company, independent of the service times of a company assigned to the transfer safe to supply this company with coin money and/or to dispose of coin money of this company.
In an especially preferred embodiment the coin processing unit comprises at least one sensor that detects at least one property of a supplied coin. The preferred properties are in particular the genuineness of the coin, the denomination of the coin, the currency of the coin and/or a picture of the obverse and/or the reverse of the coin. Alternatively or additionally by means of the sensor a geometric structure and/or a material property of the coin, such as a magnetic property of the coin, at least one dimension of the coin and/or the weight of the coin can be detected. In this way the coin can be identified clearly and/or the genuineness of the coin can be checked. Thus, a simple assignment of the coin storage for the respective coin is possible.
Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description which in connection with the enclosed Figures explains the invention in more detail with reference to embodiments.
At the outside 20 of the building wall 12 at its first side 22 the device 10 is provided with a first closed access 24. The first access 24 is designed as access door 24, so that when the first access door 24 is closed no access is possible to a first supply unit 26 located in the inside of the device 10 at the first side 22 and to a first dispensing unit 28 that is also located at the first side 22. Further, when the first access door 24 is closed, no access is possible to a coin processing unit 30 that is arranged in the inside of the device 10, to a coin storage system 32 arranged in the inside of the device 10, to a control unit 34 arranged in the inside of the device 10 and to a labeling unit 36 arranged in the inside of the device 10. A first package of coins 38 is also protected against access from the first side 22 by means of the access door 24.
At the inside 40 of the building wall 12 the device 10 protrudes from the building wall 12. A support device 90 is provided for supporting the part of the device 10 that protrudes from the building wall 12. At a second side 42 of the device 10 opposite to the first side 22 a second access door 44 illustrated in closed position in
In the illustrated embodiment the coin storage system 32 comprises eight coin storages 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68. This embodiment is intended for use in a currency system with eight coins of different value in circulation, as is for example the case in the euro area. By means of this provided eight coin storages 54 to 68 that are able to store at least one coin, preferably to store each between two hundred and three hundred coins, these eight different coin values can be stored in the eight coin storages 54 to 68 by single denomination.
In this embodiment the first supply unit 26 is designed as a slide that is extendable in a telescope-like manner. By means of this the supply unit 26 can be brought in a first pushed together state or in a second extended state. The pushed together state is the deactivated state of the supply unit 26 and the extended state is the operating state for supplying coins.
The first supply unit 26 and the second supply unit 50 are formed as slides and transport the coins supplied to them to the coin processing unit 30. The coin processing unit 30 checks by means of at least one sensor that is for example integrated into the coin processing unit 30 the genuineness of the coin and determines the value of the coin. According to this information the coin is sorted into the respective coin storage 54 to 68 that is provided for the coins of the determined monetary value. Coins that cannot be assigned to one of the coin storages 54 to 68 are supplied directly to one of both dispensing units 28, 52, wherein preferably a coin supplied via the first supply unit 26 is dispensed at the first dispensing unit 28 and a coin supplied to the second supply unit 50 is dispensed at the second dispensing unit 52. If in the respective dispensing unit 28, 52 there is a cash drawer 70, in a preferred embodiment of the device a coin that cannot be assigned to a coin storage 54 to 68 is dispensed next to the cash drawer 70.
In
Moreover, the device 10 comprises a control unit 34 that controls the operations in the device 10. Additionally, by detecting the number of coins supplied to or removed from one of the coin storages 54 to 68 the inventory of coins is determined, i.e. the number of coins in the respective coin storage 54 to 68. For this, either the coin processing unit 30 determines the required data and/or the device 10 is provided with not-illustrated sensors for determining the number of coins supplied to or removed from one of the coin storages 54 to 68 and makes these data available to the control unit 34.
Furthermore, the control unit 34 records at least transactions during which coins are supplied to or removed from the device 10 or the coin storage system 32, respectively. The recorded information can be stored in a storage unit in the device. Preferably, this control unit is a component of the control unit 34. On request of a user a recording with the logged information is printed out by means of the labeling unit 36 and is output by the first dispensing unit 28 or the second dispensing unit 52. Alternatively, the respective log data can be output via a data interface of the control unit 34 on request or in case of a new recorded event.
In the opened state of the access doors 24, 44 shown in
In
For collecting the coins the first dispensing unit 28 and the second dispensing unit 52 are provided with pre-manufactured, empty containers for the transport of coins (not-illustrated). The respective dispensing unit 28, 52 fills the coins to be dispensed in these containers for the transport of coins, preferably in plastic bags or paper bags and seals the containers for the transport of coins, preferably by heat sealing or gluing in an audit-proof manner. A sealed container for the transport of coins that contains at least one coin is designated as coin package 38, 72. The labeling unit 36 labels the coin packages 38, 72 preferably at least with the coin value and a further designation that serves for identifying the coin package 38, 72 as first coin package 38 or as second coin package 72. Following this step the respective dispensing unit 28, 52 dispenses the coin package/s. The dispensing process at the first dispensing unit 28 can take place such that the first coin package 38 remains in the first dispensing unit 28 until the first access door 24 is opened.
In this specified embodiment the coin processing unit 30 is designed to process approximately ninety coins per minute, i.e. to supply coins to one of the coin storages 54 to 68 or to remove coins from one of the coin storages 54 to 68 and for example to dispense the coins in the receiving compartment 74 to 88 of the cash drawer 70 shown in
It is not necessary that at the first side 22 the first access door 24 or that at the second side 42 the second access door 44 is arranged. In alternative embodiments different access possibilities can be provided. In particular, at the first side 22 and the second side 42 similar access doors 24, 44 can be provided, so that the device 10 has two first access doors 24 or two second access doors 44.
The described embodiment of the first access door 24 prevents objects to be supplied to the device 10 which would impair an intended use of the device 10 or would require repair of the device.
In a further not-illustrated embodiment at the first side 22 and/or the second side 42 behind the first access door 24 there is a second access door 44. By means of this in-line arrangement of two access doors the advantages of both access doors are combined so that the device 10 is protected against supply of inappropriate objects by unauthorized persons and users can supply coins by means of the supply unit 26, 50 and/or can remove coins by means of the dispensing unit 28, 52. Here, the users do not have to be granted access to the coin processing unit 30, the coin storage system 32, the control unit 34 or the labeling unit 36. Service personnel with permission to open the second access door 44 is nevertheless granted access to the coin processing unit 30, the coin storage system 32, the control unit 34 or the labeling unit 36.
In a further embodiment the coin storage system 32 or the coin storages 54 to 68 determine the number of coins stored in the coin storages 54 to 68 and transfer these data to the control unit 34.
This application claims priority to German patent application No. 10 2011 052 575.0 filed Aug. 11, 2011 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2011 052 575.0 | Aug 2011 | DE | national |
