Method and apparatus for varying coin-processing machine receptacle limits

A coin-processing system comprising:

• a coin processing machine comprising a coin input area, a coin processing module configured to process a plurality of randomly oriented mixed denomination coins input into said coin input area, and a coin receptacle configured to receive and store all coins of one or more recognized denominations processed by said coin processing module;
• at least one sensor or switch disposed proximate said coin receptacle to sense a condition representing a status of said coin receptacle and to output a signal in response to said condition;
• means for updating a variable upper limit of a maximum number of coins which may be received within said coin receptacle,
• wherein the coin receptacle is configured to accept, but not dispense, deposited coins and configured to securely store the coins in the coin receptacle until removal of the coin receptacle from the coin-processing device.

A coin-processing system comprising:

• a coin processing machine comprising a coin processing module configured to denominate input mixed denomination coins, to count said denominated coins, and to output said denominated coins into a coin receptacle, said coin receptacle configured to receive said coins output by said coin processing module;
• and
• a controller configured to calculate an upper limit of a maximum number of additional coins permitted to be processed by said coin processing machine, said upper limit responsive to said output of said denominated coins into said coin receptacle, said controller further configured to prevent input of additional coins into said coin processing machine when a total number of coins stored in said coin receptacle is substantially equivalent with said upper limit,
• wherein the coin receptacle is configured to accept, but not dispense, deposited coins and configured to securely store the coins in the coin receptacle until removal of the coin receptacle from the coin-processing device.