US 4,707,843 AGranted

Relating to microprocessor controlled cash counting apparatus

AssigneeAmerican Coin Currency Equipment Corporation

InventorsRonald McDonald, John A. Hengeveld

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Abstract

A cash counting machine including a bill feed mechanism that transfers bills individually from an input hopper to an output tray including a microprocessor control system. The machine operates in two modes, including a batch mode in which it transfers a selected number of bills, as selected by an operator, to the output tray, and a count mode in which it transfers all of the bills to the output tray and keeps a running count of the number of bills, as well as the total value of money if the operator has entered a denomination value. The microprocessor also determines whether the bills are of the proper size. In an alternate embodiment, for use with currencies in which the different denominations have different sizes, the microprocessor determines the size of the bills and their respective denominations.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A control system for a cash counting machine including bill feed means comprising an input hopper for receiving a stack of bills, an output tray and transfer means for transferring each bill individually from said input hopper to said output tray to define a bill feed path, bill sensing means proximate said bill feed path for generating a bill feed signal in response to the passage of the leading edge of a bill thereby, and for negating said bill feed signal in response to the passage of the trailing edge of the bill thereby, said control system including:

A. timing signal generating means for generating a timing signal;
B. length storage means including minimum length entry means for storing a length value and tolerance entry means for storing a tolerance value;
C. length counter means connected to said timing signal generating means for incrementing in response to the receipt of said timing signal;
D. comparison means for iteratively comparing the value of said length counter means selectively to the contents of either said minimum length entry means or said tolerance entry means;
E. means for resetting said length counter means after said comparison means determines that the value of said length counter means equals the contents of the selected minimum counter means or said tolerance storage means;
F. comparison control means for controlling the selection of the minimum length entry means and said tolerance entry means by said comparison means, said comparison control means initially selecting said minimum length entry means and, when said resetting means resets the length counter means, thereafter selecting said tolerance storage means;
and
G. detecting means for detecting the state of said bill feed signal after said comparison means determines that the value of said length counter means equals the contents of said minimum counter means or said tolerance storage means and for enabling said control means to perform predetermined operations in response thereto.

5 more elements

A cash counting machine including:

A. bill feed means comprising:
i. an input hopper for receiving a stack of bills;
ii. an output tray;
and
iii. transfer means for transferring each bill individually from said input hopper to said output tray to define a bill feed path;
B. bill sensing means proximate said bill feed path for generating a bill feed signal in response to the passage of the leading edge of a bill thereby, and for negating said bill feed signal in response to the passage of the trailing edge of the bill thereby;
C. control means including:
i. timing signal generating means for generating a timing signal;
ii. length storage means including minimum length entry means for storing a length value and tolerance entry means for storing a tolerance value;
iii. length counter means connected to said timing signal generating means for incrementing in response to the receipt of said timing signal;
iv. comparison means for iteratively comparing the value of said length counter means selectively to the contents of either said minimum length entry means or said tolerance entry means;
v. means for resetting said length counter means after said comparison means determines that the value of said length counter means equals the contents of the selected minimum counter means or said tolerance storage means;
vi. comparison control means for controlling the selection of the minimum length entry means and said tolerance entry means by said comparison means, said comparison control means initially selecting said minimum length entry means and, when said resetting means resets the length counter means, thereafter selecting said tolerance storage means;
and
vii. detecting means for detecting the state of said bill feed signal after said comparison means determines that the value of said length counter means equals the contents of said minimum counter means or said tolerance storage means and for enabling said control means to perform predetermined operations in response thereto.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.