US 10,068,406 B1Granted

Systems, methods and devices for processing coins with linear array of coin imaging sensors

AssigneeCummins-Allison Corp.

InventorsTomasz M. Jagielinski, Mathew Tomor, Araz Yacoubian, David J. Mecklenburg, Danny D. Yang

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Abstract

Currency processing systems, coin processing machines, and methods of imaging coins are presented herein. A currency processing system is disclosed which includes a housing with a coin input area for receiving coins and coin receptacles for stowing processed coins. A disk-type coin processing unit is coupled to the coin input area and coin receptacles. The disk-type coin processing unit includes a rotatable disk for imparting motion to the coins, and a sorting head having a lower surface adjacent the rotatable disk. The lower surface forms various shaped regions for guiding the coins, under the motion imparted by the rotatable disk, to exit channels through which the coins are discharged to the coin receptacles. A linear array of sensors is mounted to the sorting head and/or the rotatable disk. The sensors examine each coin on the rotatable disk and output a signal indicative of coin image information for processing the coin.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A currency processing system comprising:

a housing with a coin input area configured to receive a batch of coins;
one or more coin receptacles operatively coupled to the housing;
a disk-type coin processing unit operatively coupled to the coin input area and the one or more coin receptacles to transfer coins therebetween, the coin processing unit including:
a rotatable disk configured to impart motion to a plurality of the coins,
a sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and adjacent the rotatable disk, the lower surface forming a plurality of shaped regions configured to guide the coins, responsive to motion imparted by the rotatable disk, to a plurality of exit stations through which the coins are discharged from the coin processing unit to the one or more coin receptacles, and
a linear array of sensors mounted to, adjacent or within the sorting head adjacent the rotatable disk, the linear array of sensors being configured to sense each of the coins on the rotatable disk and output a signal indicative of coin image information for processing the coin;
wherein the disk-type coin processing unit and the linear array of sensors process coins at a rate of at least approximately 10,000 coins per minute (cpm).

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/835,989Filed 8 Dec 2017 · continuation
Priority: 25 Jul 2014
Granted: 4 Sep 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

G07D 5/08
Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of coins, e.g. for segregating coins which are unacceptable or alien to a…
G06V 10/10
Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding: image acquisition
G06V 10/147
Optical characteristics of the device performing the acquisition or on the illumination arrangements: details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses
G06V 10/70
Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding: using pattern recognition or machine learning

Family

Application62/029,195Us provisional application · filed 25 Jul 2014
Application14/804,670Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Jul 2015
Application15/360,004Parent of this continuation · filed 23 Nov 2016
US 9,508,208 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Nov 2016
US 9,870,668 B1Parent of this continuation
US 10,068,406 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.