Patent Grant
7036651
The present invention relates generally to cash processing, and, more particularly, to a system for processing currency bills and coins from a cash receptacle.
In general, banks and retail stores use currency processing machines to process money received during the regular course of business. Machines that sort, count, and authenticate currency bills and coins have become valuable tools in maintaining accurate and up-to-date financial statements. Providing automated machines that are programmed to perform particular functions, e.g., automatically sorting and counting cash received in a register till, improves the efficiency of a business.
Some activities are performed routinely and are generally the same in all businesses that exchange currency on a daily basis. For example, retail stores generally require that all the money from a cash receptacle or register till, which includes currency bills and coins, be counted after an operator's work-shift is over, such as at the end of the day. The money from the till is counted, and then deposited into a money safe or vault. Often, a pre-selected amount of money is placed back in the till so that the next work-shift has a base amount for the start of the next shift. In the preceding example, generally, an operator must count the money from the till, compare the cash register receipts to the counted totals, and then put a base amount of money for the next work-shift in the till. Two problems associated with the “counting down” of a cash till in the described manner are the potential for human error and the time it takes to manually perform the counting tasks.
Therefore, there is a need for a system that decreases the potential for human error and decreases the amount of time involved in performing tasks related to the counting and preparation of a cash receptacle.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method and system for processing currency bills and coins is provided for preparing a batch of currency in a cash receptacle. An operator provides an amount of cash, including currency bills and coins, and indicates a target amount. The system includes a resident memory for storing a mode of operation, determines a total amount of the cash, and determines a cash removal amount by comparing the total amount of the cash to the target amount. The cash removal amount is displayed to the operator for adding or removing cash to prepare the cash receptacle for future use.
The above summary of the present invention is not intended to represent each embodiment, or every aspect, of the present invention. Additional features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description, figures and claims set forth below.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments are shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Referring now to
The bill device 52 includes a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) 56 for controlling the operation of the bill device 52, and the coin device 54 includes a CPU 58 for controlling the operation of the coin device 54. The bill CPU 56 is linked to a memory 60 for storing information such as currency bill processing results, master authenticating characteristic information, and master denominating characteristic information. The coin CPU 58 is linked to a memory 62 for storing information such as coin processing results and other coin processing information. In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the bill memory 60 and the coin memory 62 is resident on the corresponding device. In another embodiment, the system 50 includes either the bill CPU 56 or the coin CPU 58, wherein the included CPU controls the operation of the bill device 52 and the coin device 54. If only one CPU is included, then the corresponding memory, the bill memory 60 or the coin memory 62, stores information for both the bill device 52 and the coin device 54. As mentioned above, it is understood that the system 50 can be adapted to use the bill memory 60 and/or the coin memory 62 for storing relevant information. Alternatively, the system 50 can use instead or in addition an external memory. Furthermore, in alternative embodiments of the present invention an operator can use any one of the bill CPU 56 or the coin CPU 58 to control the bill device 52, the coin device 54, or both.
The bill device 52 includes an operator interface 64 communicatively linked to the bill CPU 56 for receiving input from and displaying information to an operator of the bill device 52. The coin device 54 includes an operator interface 66 communicatively linked to the coin CPU 58 for receiving input from and displaying information to an operator of the coin device 54. The bill operator interface 64 and the coin operator interface 66 can comprise an LCD display and a keypad or a touch-screen according to alternative embodiments of the present invention. As shown in
In other embodiments, the system 50 is linked to one or more printers for providing an operator with a hardcopy of totals and results from the processing of currency bills, and/or coins. For example, a printer 68 can be linked to the bill device 52 and/or a printer 70 can be linked to the coin device 54. Either printer can provide results for either device.
Referring now to
The single-pocket device 100 includes an operator interface 116, which is shown in
In alternative embodiments of the present invention, additional sensors can replace or be used in conjunction with the optical scanheads 106, 108 in the single-pocket device 100 to analyze, authenticate, denominate, count, and/or otherwise process currency bills. For example, size detection sensors, magnetic sensors, thread sensors and/or ultraviolet/fluorescent light sensors may be used in the single-pocket device 100 to evaluate currency bills. The use of these types of sensors for currency evaluation are described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,278,795, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
According to one embodiment of the single-pocket device 100, each optical scanhead 106, 108 comprises a pair of light sources 118 that direct light onto the currency bill transport path. The light illuminates a substantially rectangular light strip 120 upon the currency bill 110, the illuminated strip 120 being positioned on the transport path adjacent the scanheads 106, 108. Light reflected off the illuminated strip 120 is sensed by a photodetector 122 positioned between the two light sources. The analog output of the photodetector 122 is converted into a digital signal by means of an analog-to-digital (ADC) convertor unit 124 whose output is fed as a digital input to a processor such as a CPU 126.
According to one embodiment, the currency bill transport path is defined in such a way that the transport mechanism 104 moves currency bills with the narrow dimension of the currency bills being parallel to the transport path and the scan direction. Put another way, the wide edge of a currency bill is the leading edge of the currency bill. As a currency bill 110 traverses the scanheads 106, 108, the light strip 120 effectively scans the currency bill across the narrow dimension of the currency bill. In the embodiment depicted, the transport path is so arranged that the currency bill 110 is scanned across a central section of the currency bill along its narrow dimension, as shown in
Additional details of the mechanical and operational aspects of the single-pocket device 100 are described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,295,196 and 5,815,592, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. According to various alternative embodiments, the single-pocket device 100 is capable of processing, including denominating, currency bills at a rate ranging between about 800 to over about 1500 currency bills per minute.
While the single-pocket device 100 of
In alternative embodiments of the system 50, currency bill processing devices having a plurality of output receptacles (“multi-pocket devices”) are used as the bill device 52. Multi-pocket devices having two, three, four and six pockets are described in detail in the commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,407, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Any of these various multi-pocket embodiments may be adapted for use in the system 50.
Referring now to
The two output receptacles 152, 154 may be utilized in a variety of fashions according to a particular application. For example, currency bills may be directed to the first output receptacle 152 until a predetermined number of currency bills have been transported (e.g., until the first output receptacle 152 reaches its capacity or a strap limit), and then directs subsequent currency bills to the second output receptacle 154. In another application, all currency bills are transported to the first output receptacle 152 except those currency bills triggering error signals, such as “no call” error signals (i.e., currency bill whose denomination is not identified) and “suspect document” error signals (i.e., currency bills failing an authentication test), which are directed to the second output receptacle 154. Further details of the operational and mechanical aspects of the two-pocket device 150 illustrated in
One of the contributing factors to the size of the two-pocket device 150, as well as the single-pocket device 100 and other multi-pocket devices, is the size of the currency bills to be handled. For example, some German Deutschmark notes are larger than United States currency bills. Therefore, if an application requires that a bill device 52 be able to process both United States and German notes, the transport mechanism of the device must be adapted to handle both sizes of notes. Accordingly, the size of the bill device 52 can vary according to alternative embodiments of the present invention.
Referring now to
As the rotatable disc 210 rotates, the coins deposited on the top surface thereof tend to slide outwardly across the surface of the pad 212 of the rotatable disc 210 due to the centrifugal force. As the coins move outwardly, those coins which are lying flat on the pad 18 enter the gap between the upper surface of the pad 212 and the sorting head 206 because the underside of the inner periphery of the sorting head 206 is spaced above the pad 212 by a distance which is approximately as large as the thickness of the thickest coin. As further described below, the coins are sorted into their respective denominations and discharged from exit channels corresponding to their denominations.
A unitary base member 216 is the primary mounting structure for numerous components in the coin device 10. Because of a need for minimizing the size of the coin device 54, the unitary base member 216 includes a plurality of integral coin chutes 218. The integral coin chutes 218 receive the sorted coins as they exit from the sorting head 206. The number of coin chutes 218 is typically the same for each coin device 54; however, the number of coin chutes 218 that are used in a particular coin device 54 will vary depending on the number of coins in the coin set.
The coins are sorted by their diameters within the sorting head 206, exit from the sorting head 206 into a plurality of coin chutes 218, and are captured in a plurality of coin bins 220 positioned on the exterior of the coin device 200. If the coin device 200 is to be used for sorting only six denominations (like in the United States coin set), then only the six coin bins 220 located on the front of the coin device 200 are used. Thus, the coin device 200 can fit and operate within a footprint that is defined by length L′ and width W in
The coin bins 220 can be removed entirely from the coin device 200 such that a till from a cash register or coin bags receive the sorted coins. The conversion of the coin device 200 for use with a till of a cash register and for use with coin bags will be discussed with reference to
An operator interface or control panel 224 is used by the operator to control the coin device 200. The operator interface 224 includes a display 226 for displaying information about the coin device 200. The operator interface 224 also includes keys 228 allowing the operator to enter information to the coin device 200. The operator interface 224 may also include a touch screen device which provides more versatility to the operator when inputting information to the coin device 200. The operator interface 224 also serves a structural purpose because it is the surface which closes the upper front portion of the coin device 200.
The operator of the coin device 200 may decide that the coin bins 220, 222 are not needed and, instead, that the coins must be directed into the cash till of a typical cash register. Because the coins are processed based on their diameters, not on their value, it is necessary to distribute the coins into a pattern that coincides with the coin receptacle locations in a cash till of a cash register. In the United States, the typical cash register has coin receptacles in which coins are placed in a manner of increasing value. In fact, most cash tills for cash registers use just one coin receptacle for both the half-dollars and dollars since they are used fairly infrequently. Thus, the standard United States cash register has only five coin receptacles.
In one embodiment of the invention, to convert the coin device 200 into a system that places coins into a cash till of a standard retail cash register, the coin device 200 includes a manifold 230 as shown in
The manifold 230 includes six inlets 240–250 which receive coins in the order of the diameters of the coins. In other words, when manifold 230 is used with the United States coin set, inlet 240 receives dimes, inlet 242 receives pennies, inlet 244 receives nickels, inlet 246 receives quarters, inlet 248 receives dollars, and inlet 250 receives half-dollars. But to place these coins in ascending value in a coin till, it is necessary to rearrange the flow of these coins along their respective coin paths. Accordingly, from the inlets 240–250, the coins travel down particular coin paths 252–262 which lead only to five outlets 264–272. Consequently, the dimes which enter inlet 240 are transported down path 256 to outlet 268. Pennies enter inlet 242 and pass down path 252 to outlet 264. Nickels enter inlet 244 and pass down path 254 to outlet 266. Quarters enter inlet 246 and pass down through path 258 to outlet 270. Dollars and half-dollars enter inlets 248 and 250, respectively, pass through paths 260 and 262, respectively, and enter into the same outlet 272.
The coin device 200 may not have enough space below its intermediate wall to accommodate both the manifold 230 and the cash till. Thus, the coin device 200 may be placed on a platform which increases the space underneath the intermediate wall. The platform may be configured such that the floor 234 is raised in a manner which allows a cash till to be inserted in a reversed direction than what is shown in
In other embodiments, the manifold 230 can be designed to have more or less coin inlets, paths, and outlets. and/or to sort the coins in a different order. For example, if the coins sorted are coins from two different countries, such as from the United States and from Canada, then ten coin paths might be required (i.e., two coin paths for pennies, one coin path for United States pennies and one coin path for Canadian pennies, two coin paths for dimes, one coin path for United States dimes and one coin path for Canadian dimes, etc.). In alternate embodiments, the manifold 230 can be designed to sort the coins in a different or non-conventional order. For example, if it is requested that the quarters should be placed in-between the dimes and the nickels, then the coin paths can be designed to accommodate such a design request.
As shown in
Because the coin device 200 has a width that is less than the typical cash till 274, the coin device 54 may include a conversion device 276 over the coin tray 202. The conversion device 276 is wide enough to allow the checker to insert his or her cash till 274 and dump the coins from the till 274 into the coin device 200 for processing without having to worry about the coins being spilled onto the floor. The conversion device 276 essentially funnels the coins into a lower aperture that is about as wide as the coin tray 202. Further details of the operational and mechanical aspects of the coin device 200 are detailed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,997,395 and 6,139,418, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Referring now to
In general, a target amount of cash is provided to the system 50, wherein the target amount of cash is a predetermined amount corresponding to the batch of currency that it is desired to be left in the cash receptacle for use at the beginning of a next work-shift. According to the target amount, which can be manually or automatically provided, the system 50 determines the amount of coins and the amount of currency bills that need to be removed from the cash receptacle. Thus, in general, the system 50 counts the total amount of money that is in the cash receptacle, including all the coins and all the currency bills, and then instructs the operator to add or remove cash from the cash receptacle to provide the batch of currency according to the target amount of cash. The steps below describe the activities performed by the system 50 and it is understood that they are not necessarily performed in the order that they are described. Furthermore, it is understood that the term cash receptacle is used generically, and that many different types of money storing devices can be used, such as cash bags or cash tills.
An operator brings the receptacle to the system 50, placing the bills in the bill device 52 and the coins in the coin device 54. Alternatively, the bills and/or the coins are placed in the corresponding devices using an automated process or a semiautomated process. At step 300 the operator selects the target amount of cash, which as explained above corresponds to the batch of currency placed back or left in the cash receptacle after counting down the receptacle. The batch of currency includes bills, coins, or both, and is also referred to as a total batch.
In one embodiment, the target amount of cash is a single number which corresponds to the total batch, which generally includes a bill batch and a coin batch. The system 50 can be, optionally, programmed to maintain a predetermined ratio between the coin batch and the bill batch which will make-up the total batch. For example, the system 50 can be programmed to maintain a 50/50 ratio between the coins and the bills. Alternatively, predetermined limits can be set for each type of currency, coins and bills. For example, a coin limit can be set to $50 and a bill limit can be set at $50. In another embodiment, the target amount of cash is two numbers, a first number corresponding to the bill batch and a second number corresponding to the coin batch.
The target amount can be selected by the operator, who can be an employee that has just finished the work-shift, every time the money from the cash receptacle is counted. Alternatively, the selection of the target amount can be restricted to only certain operators, such as supervisors, and the target amount can be preselected by the supervisors to be a default value. Thus, if the target amount is preselected, the operator does not have to select the target amount every time the cash receptacle is counted down.
At step 302, after a target amount is provided, by operator input or by default, a round-off amount is provided. Just like the target amount, the round-off amount can be inputted by the operator or it can be a preset value. In general, the round-off amount approximates to the next value down the number of coins that should be removed from the cash receptacle, so that a round amount of coins is left in the receptacle as the coin batch. For example, if the round-off amount is $1, then the coin batch will be rounded-down to the nearest lower dollar amount, e.g., both $20.99 and $20.01 will be rounded-down to $20.00. If the round-off amount is $5, then the coin batch will be rounded-down to the nearest whole dollar amount that is divisible by five, e.g., $24.99 and $22.49 will be rounded-down to $20.00. If the round-off amount is $10, then the coin batch will still be rounded-down to the nearest whole dollar amount that is divisible by five, e.g., $29.99 and $24.99 will be rounded-down to $20.00. In other embodiments, the round-off amount can be programmed to round-up to the nearest higher dollar amount, e.g., both $20.99 and $20.09 will be rounded-up to $21.00, or to round-up or round-down to the nearest dollar amount, higher or lower, e.g., $20.99 will be approximated to $21.00 and $20.01 will be approximated to $20.00.
At step 304, the system 50 processes the currency and determines the total amount of currency that is present in the cash receptacle. The bill device 52 counts the currency bills and determines the bill total, and the coin device 54 counts the coins and determines the coin total. After completion of this step, the system 50 knows the total amount of currency in the cash receptacle, including the bill total and the coin total.
At step 306, the system 50 determines the coin batch by rounding down the coin total, according to the selected round-off amount as explained above. Based on the coin total and on the coin batch, the system 50 determines the amount of coins that should be removed, if any, from the receptacle—a coin removal amount. Specifically, the coin removal amount is the difference between the coin batch and the coin total. Then, the system 50 instructs the operator to remove an amount of coins equal in value to the coin removal amount. For example, the system 50 tells the operator what amount should be removed, e.g., “Remove $3.38 in coins,” or the system tells the operator how many coins of each denomination should be removed, e.g., “Remove 3 pennies, 1 nickels, 3 dimes, and 12 quarters.”
Depending on the particular application requirements, a more sophisticated algorithm can be provided such that more coins of a first denomination are removed than coins of a second denomination. For example, if it is desired that quarters are more useful than dimes, nickels, or pennies, the system 50 will generally instruct the operator to remove most, if not all, of the pennies, nickels, and dimes before telling the operator to remove any quarters. At this point, based on the round-off amount and the coin total, the system 50 knows how many coins need to be left in the receptacle, i.e., the coin batch which equals the coin total minus the coins removed.
Although in most cases coins will be rounded down to the nearest lower dollar amount, it is possible to have the coins rounded up to the nearest higher dollar amount. For example, if the round-off amount is $1, and the coin total is $44.01, then the coin batch will be $45. Similarly, the system 50 can be allowed to round up or down, depending on which is the closest value. For example, assuming that the round-off amount is $1, a coin total of $44.49 will be rounded-down to $44.00 while a coin total of $44.50 will be rounded-up to $45.00. Note that in cases where the coin total can be rounded-up coins may have to be added instead of removed from the cash receptacle.
At step 308, the system 50 determines the bill batch (which is the amount of bills that are to be left in the receptacle after processing) by subtracting the coin batch from the target amount. Then, the bill batch is subtracted from the bill total to determine the amount of bills that should be removed from the cash receptacle—a bill removal amount. Alternatively, the operator can remove the bills directly from the bill device 52, after the bills have been processed, and then place the leftover bills (i.e., the bill batch) in the cash receptacle. Similar to the removal of coins, the system 50 can be adapted to display a specific amount, which means that the operator decides the denominations that will be included in the amount to be removed, or the system 50 can directly display how many bills from each denomination must be removed. For example, the system 50 can instruct the operator to “Remove $355,” or to “Remove five $1 bills, two $5 bills, two $10 bills, one $20 bill, four $50 bills, and one $100 bill.”
If at step 308 a determination is made that the bill batch is greater than the bill total, then the system 50 instructs the operator to add bills to the cash receptacle. Similar to that described above in relation to displaying the coin removal amount, the system 50 can instruct the operator to add a specific number of bills from each denomination, or it can instruct the operator to add a specified amount. If at step 308 the bill batch is equal to the bill total, then bills do not have to be removed or added, and consequently, the cash receptacle contains the appropriate bill batch.
At step 310, the cash receptacle contains the proper amount of currency and the cash receptacle is ready for the next work-shift. Thus, the batch of currency in the cash receptacle corresponds to the target amount. The operator places the cash receptacle back in the register, if the cash receptacle is a cash till, and the next work-shift can begin.
In alternative embodiments, the system 50 can have additional options. For example, the system 50 can have a media selection option for cash receptacles that contain more than one type of currency. For example, a retail store that transacts business near the border between United States and Canada might require the ability to account for both United States and Canadian dollars. The system 50 would provide, for example, a United States coin total, a Canadian coin total, a United States bill total, and a Canadian bill total, and respective coin removal and bill removal amounts.
Referring now to
The system 50 determines at step 326 that the coin total in the drawer is $43.69. At step 327, the system 50 rounds-off the coin total according to the round-off amount. Because the round-off amount is $5, the rounded-amount or coin batch within the nearest $5 increment is $40. At step 328, the system 50 determines the coin removal amount, which is equal to the coin total, $43.69, minus the coin batch, $40. Assuming that $40 in coins satisfies a predetermined setting of coins to bills ratio or coins/bills limits, the $40 rounded-amount is the coin batch and the amount of coins to be removed is $3.69. Thus, $40 in coins is the amount that should remain or be returned to the drawer. For example, a display can instruct an operator to remove $3.69 in coins from the coin total, to return-to-drawer $40 in coins from the coin total, or both.
At step 330, the system 50 determines that the bill total is $537. Assuming that all the bills have been removed from the drawer for processing, then, at step 332, the bill amount to be “Returned to Drawer” is determined. The target amount has been set to $100, and the coin batch has been determined to be $40. The bill batch is calculated by subtracting the coin batch ($40) from the target amount ($100), resulting in $60. The bill “Return to Drawer” amount is equal to the bill batch, which is the difference between the target amount and the coin batch, i.e., $100 minus $40. The amount of bills to be returned to drawer equals $60. After the operator removes $3.69 in coins and returns $60 in bills to drawer, the drawer will contain $100, $40 in coins and $60 in bills. The operator can be instructed to return-to-drawer $60 in bills, or, alternatively, to remove $477 in bills from the bill total and then return the leftover to the drawer. Thus, effectively, the method allows the operator to remove $3.69 in coins and $477 in bills ($537−$60) from the coin total and the bill total that was present in the drawer before processing. The operator places the drawer back in the register, which is then ready for the next work-shift.
In another embodiment, the system 50 is provided with a limit on either the coin batch or on the bill batch, to maintain a desired balance of coins and bills in the cash receptacle. The limit can be an upper limit, a lower limit, or both. For example, if the target amount is $100 and the coin batch is $90, it may be undesirable to have $90 in coins and $10 in bills. Thus, an upper limit can be imposed such that the coin batch will be a coin upper limit if the coin batch is higher than the coin upper limit. In the previous example, if the coin upper limit is $50, then it is guaranteed that the prepared cash receptacle will include no more than $50 in coins. Similarly, a lower limit can be imposed such that the coin batch will be a coin lower limit if the coin batch is lower than the coin lower limit. In the previous example, if the coin lower limit is $25, then it is guaranteed that the prepared cash receptacle will include at least $25 in coins. Similarly, the same principle applies to the bills, by applying a bill upper limit and a bill lower limit. Alternatively, instead of limits, the coin and bill limits can be presented as percentages or ratios. For example, the operator can provide a desired bill and/or coin percentage, e.g., 40% coins, and the system 50 will calculate the appropriate amounts.
In another embodiment, the system 50 can process cash one denomination at a time. Processing cash amounts that include only a single denomination can be useful in places such as casinos where business may be generally transacted by using a particular denomination, e.g., quarters. Another benefit of processing cash by denomination is that an operator can prepare a plurality of cash tills generally simultaneously for the next work-shift.
A large retail store, for example, can have tens of cash registers and several work-shifts during a single day. To decrease the down-time associated with the countdown and preparation of the cash tills, an operator can prepare a plurality of cash tills with minimal effort in a short time. For example, an operator might have to prepare ten empty cash tills for use in a next work-shift. The operator will bring storage bags containing coins and/or cash for each denomination. Assuming that the target amount is preselected for each denomination, the operator loads the system 50 with a first denomination and then places a first cash till in the appropriate location for receiving the first denomination, e.g., using a manifold such as the manifold 230 described above in reference to
According to one embodiment the software for performing any one of the functions described above in reference to
Referring now to
According to the illustrated embodiment, the coin scale 350 includes an operator interface 352 having an LCD display for displaying information to an operator and a keypad for receiving input from an operator. To determine the value of the coins processed, the operator, using the operator interface 352, inputs information indicative of the denomination of coins about to be weighed.
According to one embodiment, a plurality of denomination-specific algorithms are stored in a memory of the coin scale 350 for calculating the aggregate value of coins based upon the weight of the coins. For example, if it is desired to determine the aggregate dollar-amount of a plurality of quarters, the operator places the quarters on a tray 354 of the coin scale 350 and inputs via the operator interface 352 that quarters are to be processed. Then, the coin scale 350 determines the aggregate dollar amount of the quarters, based upon their weight, and displays the determined amount to the operator. The coins placed on the tray 354 can comprise bagged coins, loose coins, and rolled coins. In addition to government issued coins, the coin scale 350 can be programmed to weigh and process other types of “coins” including casino tokens, transit tokens, and other types of tokens.
According to another embodiment, it is unnecessary for the operator to input the coin denomination to be weighed; rather, the coin scale 350 automatically prompts the operator to weigh coins of a specific denomination and sequentially prompts the operator to weigh another specific coin denomination. The coin scale 350 prompts the operator, after the previous denomination has been weighed, while the coin scale 350 checks through a list of coin denominations stored in a memory. For example, upon activation, the coin scale 350 instructs the operator, via the operator interface 352, that pennies are to be placed on the tray 354. The coin scale 350 weighs the pennies and determines the penny total, which is added to a running total. After the penny total is determined, the coin scale indicates to the operator to place nickels on the coin tray 354. If the operator does not have any nickels for weighing, the operator can indicate so via the operator interface 352 by pressing a continue button. After each coin denomination is weighed, the coin scale 350 prompts the operator to weigh the next coin denomination until the predetermined list (e.g., the coins in the U.S. coin set) is exhausted. The coin scale 350 checks through the list in a logical sequence (e.g., in increasing or decreasing order of denomination value) or in a different preprogrammed manner.
According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the coin scale 350 is capable of determining a total dollar amount of a batch of rolled coins of mixed denominations. For example, according to such an embodiment, the coin scale 350 can determine that a roll of quarters (typically having forty quarters) and a roll of dimes (typically having fifty dimes), both placed on the tray 354 simultaneously, has a collective value of fifteen dollars.
According to one embodiment, when counting loose coins of several denominations with the coin scale 350, each coin denomination is processed by itself. Thus, it is first necessary to segregate the coins by denomination. Often, in the retail or banking environment, coins are already segregated in a cash till drawer according to denomination. The operator must input the denomination of other coins to be processed via the operator interface 352, or allow the coin scale to advance to subsequent denominations according to a preprogrammed sequence of coin denominations. As each coin denomination is counted, the determined total corresponding to each denomination is stored in a memory of the coin scale 350 or a memory of the currency bill and coin processing system 50. The totals are then summed after all coin denominations have been counted. Alternatively, a running total is maintained as the different coin denominations are being processed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the coin scale 350 includes a “zeroing option” which resets the weight on the scale account for the weight of a container into which loose coins are placed. Put another way, the zeroing option accounts for the tare weight. For example, a dish may be placed on the tray 354 and then a zeroing button on an operator interface is depressed, which sets the scale back to zero so that the weight of the dish is not included in the weight of coins to be placed in the dish.
According to alternative embodiments of the present invention, the coin scale 350 is capable of weighing and processing loose currency or strapped, banded, bundled or clipped stacks of currency. The coin scale 350 weighs the currency and determines a corresponding dollar amount. In addition to government issued currency, the coin scale 350 can be programmed to weigh and processes other types of “currency” including casino script, bar coded tickets, coupons, food stamps, postage stamp, etc.
According to one embodiment, the coin scale 350 is a compact device which can be rested on a tabletop. A coin scale that can be used in one embodiment of the currency bill and coin processing system 50 is commercially available from Digi Matex, Inc. (Model No. DMC-688). Another coin scale that can be used is a TellerMate scale, which is made by Percell Group PLC.
While particular embodiments and applications of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction and compositions disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes, and variations may be apparent from the foregoing descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
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|---|---|---|---|
| 3246658 | Buchholz et al. | Apr 1966 | A |
| 4359062 | Uecker et al. | Nov 1982 | A |
| 4682288 | Taipale et al. | Jul 1987 | A |
| 4883158 | Kobayashi et al. | Nov 1989 | A |
| 5954576 | Coulter et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20050077142 A1 | Apr 2005 | US |
