Coin intake mechanism for self-service cash redemption machine and method

{
  "publication_number": "US2006144670A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Coin intake mechanism for self-service cash redemption machine and method",
  "abstract": "A self-service change redemption machine (10) has a coin hopper area (41) for receiving batches of mixed coinage and a powered mechanism (43) for transporting them to an intake opening (44) into the machine (10) for sorting, counting and directing coins into a plurality of coin receptacles. The transport mechanism has a pivotable cover (46, 46 a) for preventing access to a portion of the feed path leading into the machine (10) and, if the cover (46, 46 a) is lifted, the powered mechanism (43) will be stopped. The mechanism (43, 46) is designed to prevent jamming of the coins in the hopper area (41) or along the feed path (45).",
  "claims": [
    "1. A coin intake mechanism for a cash redemption machine for receiving a batch of coinage from a user, for totaling a value for the batch of coinage and for dispensing a voucher or a form of credit to the user, the coin intake mechanism comprising: a coin hopper area for receiving a batch of coins which are put into the machine by a user; a motorized feeding mechanism for receiving the batch of coins in the coin hopper area and for moving the coins to an intake opening into a body of the cash redemption machine; wherein the coins are moved along an inclined coin path; and a cover disposed over a portion of the inclined coin path to prevent access to the intake opening in the machine and to prevent access to coins in a vicinity of the intake opening.",
    "2. The coin intake mechanism of claim 1, wherein the coin path is inclined at about twenty degrees from horizontal.",
    "3. The coin intake mechanism of claim 1, wherein the cover is provided by a grid member.",
    "4. The coin intake mechanism of claim 1, wherein the cover is a planar member that is pivotable at an end facing towards a body of the machine and opposite an end for receiving the coins.",
    "5. The coin intake mechanism of claim 4, wherein the cover is solid and transparent.",
    "6. The coin intake mechanism of claim 5, wherein the intake opening into a body of the machine has a transparent window member positioned above the intake opening to allow a view into an interior of the cash redemption machine.",
    "7. The coin intake mechanism of claim 5, wherein the cover is disposed above the inclined coin path and wherein the cover is disposed in a plane that converges toward the coin hopper area at an acute angle.",
    "8. The coin intake mechanism of claim 7, wherein the cover has an edge facing towards the coin intake area, the edge being disposed at an acute angle relative to the direction of travel of the coins so as to provide a lateral opening across the coin path that becomes wider as the angled edge recedes toward an intake opening into a body of the cash redemption machine.",
    "9. The coin intake mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sloped surfaces for directing the coins into the intake area.",
    "10. The coin intake mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for sensing placement of coins on a coin sorting mechanism in the cash redemption machine; and means responsive to the sensor for controlling the starting and stopping of the transport of coins towards the intake opening.",
    "11. The coin intake mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for sensing pivoting of the cover; and wherein the motorized feeding mechanism is responsive to the second sensor for stopping the transport of coins toward the intake opening.",
    "12. The coin intake mechanism of claim 11, wherein the sensor includes a sensing switch that is electrically connected in a circuit with the motorized feeding mechanism.",
    "13. The coin intake mechanism of claim 1, wherein the feed mechanism includes a conveyor belt running on rollers, the conveyor belt having a longitudinal rib running along an underside and running in a groove in the rollers to assist lateral stability of the conveyor belt.",
    "14. A cash redemption machine for receiving a batch of coinage from a user, for totaling a value for the batch of coinage and for dispensing a voucher or a form of credit to the user, the cash redemption machine having a coin counting mechanism and having a coin intake mechanism for feeding coins to the coin counting mechanism, in which the coin intake mechanism further comprises: a coin hopper area for receiving a batch of unsorted coins which are put into the machine by a user; a motorized feeding mechanism for receiving the batch of coins in the coin hopper area and for conveying the coins through an intake opening into a body of the cash redemption machine; wherein the coins are conveyed along an inclined coin path; and a cover disposed over a portion of the inclined path to prevent access to the intake opening and to coins in a vicinity of the intake opening.",
    "15. The cash redemption machine of claim 14, wherein the cover is a planar member that is pivotable at an end facing towards a body of the machine and opposite an end for receiving the coins.",
    "16. The cash redemption machine of claim 15, wherein the cover is transparent.",
    "17. The cash redemption machine of claim 16, wherein the intake opening into a body of the machine has a transparent window member positioned above the intake opening to allow a view into an interior of the cash redemption machine.",
    "18. The cash redemption machine of claim 16, wherein the cover is disposed above the inclined coin path and wherein cover is disposed in a plane that converges toward the coin intake area at an acute angle.",
    "19. The cash redemption machine of claim 18, wherein the cover has an edge facing towards the coin intake area, the edge being disposed at an acute angle relative to the direction of travel of the coins so as to provide a lateral opening across the coin path that becomes wider as the angled edge recedes toward an intake opening into a body of the cash redemption machine.",
    "20. A method for receiving a batch of coinage from a user, for totaling a value for the batch of coinage and for dispensing a voucher or a form of credit to the user, the method further comprising: receiving a batch of coins in a coin hopper area; conveying the coins through an intake opening into a body of a voucher dispensing machine; wherein the coins are moved along an inclined coin path prior to entering the intake opening; and blocking access to a portion of the inclined coin path and to the intake opening to prevent access to the intake opening and to prevent access to coins in a vicinity of the intake opening.",
    "21. The method of claim 20, further comprising sensing an attempt to access to the portion of the inclined coin path that is blocked; and stopping movement of coins along the inclined coin path until the attempt to access is terminated.",
    "22. The method of claim 21, further comprising sensing the placement of coins in the coin hopper area; and starting conveying of the coins along the inclined coin feeding path."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "G07D 9/008"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "DE LA RUE CASH SYSTEMS INC"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2004-12-06",
  "publication_date": "2006-07-06",
  "priority_date": "2004-12-06",
  "application_number": "US-525104-A",
  "family_id": "36084336",
  "citations": [
    "US2004124062A1",
    "US3258099A",
    "US3709145A",
    "US5398798A",
    "US5531640A",
    "US6109427A",
    "US6554694B2"
  ]
}