Coin input apparatuses and associated methods and systems
AssigneeOuterwall Inc.
InventorDouglas A. Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Automatic coin input apparatuses for use with consumer coin counting machines and/or other coin processing machines are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a coin bowl structure includes a rotatable disk configured to support a plurality of randomly oriented coins deposited thereon. In operation, rotation of the disk in a first direction can automatically drive a first portion of the coins deposited thereon out of the bowl structure through a first coin passage, and rotation of the disk in a second direction opposite to the first direction can automatically drive a second portion of the coins deposited thereon out of the bowl structure through a second coin passage different than the first coin passage.
Claims30
-23. (canceled)
A consumer-operated kiosk for processing coins, the kiosk comprising:
- a housing;
- a coin counting apparatus positioned within the housing;
- an access panel operably coupled to the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the access panel is in the closed position the coin counting apparatus is enclosed within the housing and is generally inaccessible from outside the housing, and wherein when the access panel is in the open position the coin counting apparatus is exposed within the housing and is generally accessible from outside the housing;
- and
- a coin input apparatus mounted to the access panel and configured to receive a plurality of randomly oriented coins, wherein when the access panel is in the open position, the coin input apparatus is spaced apart from the coin counting apparatus, and wherein when the access panel is in the closed position, the coin input apparatus is operable to drive the plurality of randomly oriented coins received therein into the coin counting apparatus.
An automatic coin input apparatus for use with a coin counting and/or sorting machine, the automatic coin input apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable disk configured to support a plurality of randomly oriented coins deposited thereon;
- a coin outlet having an opening positioned proximate the rotatable disk, wherein the opening has a width from a left boundary to a right boundary of from about 1 inch to about 6 inches, and a height from a lower boundary to an upper boundary of from about 0.25 inch to about 1 inch;
- and
- a coin deflector extending vertically across a mid-portion of the coin outlet opening, wherein rotation of the rotatable disk in a first direction automatically drives a first portion of coins deposited thereon outwardly through the coin outlet, and wherein rotation of the rotatable disk in a second direction opposite to the first direction automatically drives a second portion of coins deposited thereon outwardly through the coin outlet, wherein the first portion of coins passes between the coin deflector and the left boundary of the opening, and wherein the second portion of coins passes between the coin deflector and the right boundary of the opening.
A coin input apparatus for use with a consumer-operated kiosk, the coin input apparatus comprising:
- a coin receptacle including
- a rotatable disk forming a bottom portion of the coin receptacle, wherein the rotatable disk is configured to support a plurality of randomly oriented coins deposited thereon and rotate in a fixed plane;
- a sidewall having a cylindrical portion and an annular support surface, wherein the cylindrical portion extends upwardly around at least a portion of the rotatable disk, and wherein the annular support surface extends inwardly from the cylindrical portion and slideably contacts an outer peripheral portion of the rotatable disk during rotation thereof;
- and
- a coin outlet opening disposed proximate the rotatable disk and adjacent the sidewall;
- a motor operably coupled to the rotatable disk;
- and
- a controller operably connected to the motor, wherein the motor is configured to automatically rotate the disk in at least a first direction to drive the plurality of randomly oriented coins deposited thereon outwardly through the coin opening in response to a signal from the controller.
A computer-implemented method for controlling the flow of coins from a coin input apparatus to a coin counting and/or sorting machine, the coin input apparatus including a rotatable coin disk configured to support a plurality of coins deposited thereon, the method comprising:
- rotating the coin disk in at least a first direction to drive the coins deposited thereon out of the coin input apparatus and into the coin counting and/or sorting machine;
- and
- detecting whether there is a jam associated with the coin counting and/or sorting machine, wherein when there is a jam associated with the coin counting and/or sorting machine, stopping rotation of the coin disk, and wherein when there is not a jam associated with the coin counting and/or sorting machine, continuing rotation of the coin disk.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.