Abstract:
A bill acceptor system for accepting bills, vouchers, scrip, tickets and/or currency into an electronic gaming machine or alternative type of customer service device. The system includes a validator assembly capable of identifying acceptable notes and discriminating between currency and non-currency notes. The system also includes a transport assembly for transporting notes from the validator to a dual section cash box. The dual section cash box is configured to receive and hold notes received from the bill acceptor in different compartments.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a currency and ticket validator apparatus that can automatically separate currency from non-currency and store each in a separate compartment of a dual section cash box for intended use in electronic gaming machines, vending machines and the like.  
           [0003]    2. General Background and State of the Art  
           [0004]    In the early 1990&#39;s there was a fundamental change in the performance and capability of gaming machines initiated by the incorporation of bill acceptors into such machines. Bill acceptors are devices which receive paper currency (“currency”) and, using a validator having both hardware and software components, the received currency is scanned with a variety of sensors and the sensor information is analyzed to determine (1) authenticity and (2) denomination of the currency from the scanned data. If the scanned currency is determined to be authentic currency, e.g. a United States $1, $5, $10, $20, $50 or $100 bill or other legal tender currency, it is transported to a cash box within the bill acceptor for storage.  
           [0005]    Based upon the denomination of the accepted currency, a signal is sent from the validator to the host machine&#39;s controller or processor to cause the machine to accumulate a corresponding amount of credits within the machine&#39;s credit meter representing the cash value or credits available for purchasing products or wagering, in the case of a gaming machine. As the user purchases products from or plays the machine, the purchase price or wager is debited from the credit meter. In the case of a gaming machine, wins are either accumulated as credits or paid out in coins. Acceptors of this type are known and are discussed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,039 issued Jan. 26, 1999 to Suzuki.  
           [0006]    Until recently, gaming machines paid out all winnings in coins. This disadvantaged both the player and the casino. First, if the hopper did not have enough coins to pay out the winnings, the machine locked up and remained so until an authorized person reset it. This reduced the amount of time that a machine was in play, resulting in lost business to the casino. Second, the player had to wait for the casino to reset the machine and manually “hand-pay” the player the winnings before the player could start playing on that machine again. Addressing both concerns, a second generation bill acceptor has been developed which can store paper currency and can function as a “recycler” of currency, accepting any type of currency from a customer and returning for payouts a selected denomination of currency to the customer. Machines using these new validators can pay out larger winnings in combinations of paper currency and coins without locking up and requiring a hand-pay. However, not all casinos have chosen to utilize the recycling feature of these new bill acceptors in all of their machines. To achieve similar goals, some casinos are contemplating the use of non-currency tickets unique to the casino.  
           [0007]    Casinos are introducing such tickets or coupons to increase the retention rates and make the machines more self-sufficient. The tickets substitute as cash within the casino and on most other gaming machines in that casino. When a player wins a large sum of money, the machine will return tickets printed in various denominations, supplemented by coins, to equal the amount of winnings. The player can exchange the ticket for cash at a cashier&#39;s window or use the ticket in other machines in that casino. Because the gaming machines may also be able to print the tickets if necessary, the need for human resources is further limited. Casinos have benefitted from increased player retention as a result of the use of non-currency tickets.  
           [0008]    Casinos that use these tickets, however, are facing problems integrating the tickets into their current counting systems. Generally, gaming machines store the valid tickets along with the valid paper currency in a single hopper or note box. As needed, casino staff will replace the note box filled with tickets and currency with an empty note box. The filled note box is taken to a counting room where the note box&#39;s contents are counted and sorted. The cash counting and sorting equipment in the counting rooms are limited to counting and sorting a maximum of six different “notes.” This limits, for example, the counting machine to separately stacking the $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills. Tickets, a seventh type of note accepted by the second generation types of validators, are thus counted and sorted as “suspect notes” by the sorting equipment. In general, a “suspect notes” classification was created primarily to separate out counterfeit currency. Because the sorting machines are not designed to handle a large volume of suspect notes, the suspect notes bin of the counting machine was made comparatively small. As a result, when tickets are incorporated as an accepted currency, the suspect notes bin fills up very quickly. This slows down the reconciliation process.  
           [0009]    Accordingly, a system allowing continuous play and rapid counting and sorting would be beneficial to the gaming industry. A change in the method of ticket collection and sorting in the gaming machine would ensure that the operations in the counting and sorting room are not affected. Other devices such as vending machines and pay-point service stations having bill and ticket acceptors can suffer the same problems of increased cost to manually separate out the tickets from the currency when the money in the note box is counted and separated. All these devices could benefit from an improved separator mechanism within the validator assembly and a dual storage note and ticket hopper system.  
           [0010]    The above described and many other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The present invention is directed to a bill acceptor and a method for its operation. Due to the expansion of the types of acceptable paper which are accepted by the bill acceptor placed in gaming machines, bills, vouchers, script, tickets, and currency will be hereinafter collectively referred to as “notes.” The bill acceptor of the present invention is adapted to provide for a more efficient way to integrate non-currency notes, such as tickets, bills, vouchers and script (collectively “tickets”) into the circulation of currency. The bill acceptor discriminates tickets from currency and then directs the currency and the tickets to different hoppers which can be accommodated by the counters and sorters in the counting rooms of a casino or other establishment. Accordingly, a bill acceptor system for accepting and separating tickets and currency in an electronic gaming machine or alternative type of customer service device is set forth which includes a validator assembly to be mounted in or on the machine, the validator assembly having a currency and ticket discriminator to sense the authenticity, denomination, amount and type of the currency or ticket passing through and issue a signal corresponding to the currency or ticket type to the transportation assembly. The transportation assembly contains a deflector that can move into one of at least two positions depending on the signal received. A cash box with two sections is provided to receive deposited currency and tickets into either the bill hopper or the ticket hopper.  
           [0012]    When a player inserts a note into a bill acceptor of the present invention, the discriminator determines whether the note is a ticket or currency. The discriminator sends a signal to both the interface with the machine for the accumulation of a corresponding amount of credits and to the transportation assembly to guide the note into the proper hopper. Upon receiving the signal, the drive mechanism in the transportation assembly switches the deflector into the proper position, depending on whether the validator received currency or a ticket. In a first embodiment, the deflector has two positions that can guide the note into either the bill hopper or the ticket hopper. Once the note is inside either hopper, a spring loaded mechanism keeps all notes tightly pressed against one another to allow an orderly and efficient stacking of the notes.  
           [0013]    The above described and many other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    A detailed description of the invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a bill acceptor including a validator assembly and a dual section cash box according to the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the validator assembly portion of the bill acceptor of FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a dual section cash box with a bill hopper and a ticket hopper for the bill acceptor of FIG. 1; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the flow and direction of an accepted note or ticket through the validator and into the cash box. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 shows a bill acceptor  10  with a validator assembly  12  and a dual section cash box  18  according to the present invention. The validator assembly  12  contains a note discriminator  14  and a transportation assembly  16 . The present exemplary embodiment of the bill acceptor  10  is for casino gaming machines, such as slot machines, video slot or poker machines, video keno machines and the like. The present invention can also be used in vending machines and pay point machines, where customers have the option to pay with a combination of currency and tickets. For purposes of detailing the invention, the description herein is tailored to the application of the invention in a gaming machine.  
         [0020]    Casinos are introducing tickets into circulation as a substitute for currency within the casino. The tickets should be acceptable to the note discriminator  14  of gaming machines to allow a player to obtain credits on various gaming machines without the use or transfer of paper currency. To ensure that the introduction of tickets does not interfere with the currency counting and sorting functions conducted in the counting rooms, the gaming machines having the bill acceptor  10  are able to both validate tickets and currency and separate the tickets from the currency.  
         [0021]    As illustrated in FIG. 2, the bill acceptor  10  is intended to sequentially receive a note  11 , which can be either a ticket or a bill, into the note discriminator  14  to initiate play of the gaming machine (not shown). The note discriminator  14  scans each note  11  inserted into an opening  24  of the note discriminator  14  to determine the authenticity, type (legal tender or ticket), denomination and condition (whether the note is worn) of the note  11 . Once the note  11  is inserted into the opening  24  of the note discriminator  14 , rollers  26  and  28  draw the note  11  into the note discriminator  14 . Then rollers  30 ,  32  and rollers  34 ,  26 , each acting in parity with one another, further draw the note  11  past various sensors (not shown) to examine and validate the note  11 . As the note  11  is captured and transported past the optical and magnetic sensors, the sensors typically sense light reflected by and/or transmitted through the note  11 , reflectivity and transmission patterns, size of the note  11  and the magnetic characteristics of the inserted note  11 .  
         [0022]    Inside the note discriminator  14 , the sensors provide signals to a circuit board mounted validator processor  38  which is also connected to the processor of the gaming machine. In addition, the validator processor  38  has various processing capabilities which are known in the art. The various sensors output sensed data output signals, which are compared by the validator processor  38  to stored data representative of the range of sensor readings corresponding to authentic notes. A note is determined valid and authentic based on the comparison with the stored data for authentic notes. If the note is not determined valid, the drive assembly of the note discriminator  14  is reversed and the note is ejected through the opening  24  to the customer. If the note  11  is determined valid, it is passed through the note discriminator  14  and directed to the transportation assembly  16 . Upon receipt of a note  11  and determination of validity, a signal is sent to the host or gaming machine processor (not shown) signifying receipt as well as the denomination of the note for accumulation of a like value amount of credits in the gaming machine for gaming.  
         [0023]    The transportation assembly  16  and the note discriminator  14  are electrically connected so that the note discriminator  14  can instruct the transportation assembly  16  to operate to transport the note  11 . The transportation assembly  16  can direct the note into either a bill hopper  20  or a ticket hopper  22  of the dual section cash box  18 . The transportation assembly  16  includes a deflector  52 , controlled by the note discriminator  14 , to select which hopper is appropriate.  
         [0024]    As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, if the note  11  meets all of the validation criteria, the note  11  proceeds to a drive belt  40  of the transportation assembly  16 . The note  11 , due to frictional forces, stays on the drive belt  40  through rollers  42  and  44 . A motor (not shown) powers the drive belt  40  and a drive belt  46 . The drive belt  40  and the drive belt  46  tangentially touch one another along an idler wheel  54 . The note  11  has, so far, followed a path  60  from the opening  24  to the transportation assembly  16 . The note  11  then enters a meeting point of the drive belt  40  and the drive belt  46  before the note  11  is deflected by a deflector  52 . The deflector  52  selectively directs the note  11  from the path  60  onto either a path  62  or a path  64 . The path  62  leads to the bill hopper  20 , whereas the path  64  terminates in the ticket hopper  22 .  
         [0025]    A decision by the note discriminator  14  that the note  11  is a valid ticket will cause the deflector  52  to move into a closed position  56 a. The deflector  52  will peel the note  11  from the drive belt  20  and send the note  11  along the drive belt  46 , wherein the note  11  will follow the path  64  as seen in FIG. 4. The note  11  will travel along the drive belt  46  and pass a roller  50  from which the note  11  is guided into the ticket hopper  22 . If the note discriminator  14  decides the note  11  is valid currency, the deflector  52  will remain in an open position  56 b, wherein the note  11  will continue along the drive belt  46  on the path  62 . The note  11  will first travel horizontally and then vertically down on the path  62  until the note  11  is directed past a roller  68  and into the bill hopper  20 , as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and  4 .  
         [0026]    As depicted in FIG. 3, the note  11 , if it is currency, enters the bill hopper  20  through rollers  80  and  82 . Either side of the cash box  18  can be used for currency, but the note discriminator  14  and the transportation assembly  16  have to be programmed accordingly. FIG. 3 shows one embodiment, wherein the bill hopper  20  is situated on the front side of the cash box  18  proximate the handle  72  and the ticket hopper  22  is on the rear side of the cash box  18 .  
         [0027]    To store the note  11  in the bill hopper  20 , the note  11  is guided into a placer area  108  created between plates  76  and  86 . The note stays in the placer area  108  until it is moved into a stacker area  78 . Once the note  11  is within the placer area  108 , a drive wheel  84  and cantilever arm  88  operate to push plate  86  through an opening (not shown) in plate  76 , which transports the bill from the placer area  108  into the stacker area  78 . As the number of bills in the stacker area  78  increases, the plate  76  pushes the stacked notes against a plate  74  and against springs  70  to create additional storage space. Springs  70  are connected to the cash box  18  on one end and to the plate  74  on the other end.  
         [0028]    The ticket hopper  22  works in an identical manner as the bill hopper  20 . The note  11 , if deemed a ticket, is directed by rollers  92  and  98  into a placer area  106 , where the ticket is held until it is moved into a stacker area  96 . Once a ticket is within the placer area  106 , a drive wheel  90  and cantilever arm  94  push a plate  100  through an opening (not shown) in a plate  102 . This forces the ticket in the placer area  106  into the stacker area  96 . The stacked tickets and the plate  104  move away from the plate  102  to accommodate the new ticket, and the plate  104  pushes back on springs  70  to create additional storage space. Springs  110  are connected to the cash box  18  on one end and to the plate  104  on the other end.  
         [0029]    To remove and transport the cash box  18  from its position in FIG. 1, an authorized person must first unlock the cash box  18  and then pull on a handle  72 . To allow for secure removal, the cash box  18  should preferably have a secure lid enclosing the cash box  18  with two slits big enough for notes to enter each hopper. This lid should have a second locking mechanism so that access to the contents can be controlled and limited to those with proper authorization. After a filled cash box  18  is removed, an empty cash box  18  can be put into its former position. The bill acceptor  10  may include sensors and mechanisms to recognize whether the replacement cash box  18  has been preauthorized to accept currency and tickets. This security feature ensures that only authorized cash boxes with the proper security mechanisms are being used.  
         [0030]    The filled cash box  18  is then taken to the counting room after the cash box  18  has been removed from the gaming machine. The cash box  18  may also have flash memory that can store exactly how many notes entered the cash box  18  while the cash box  18  was in use inside the gaming machine. When the cash box  18  is emptied into the counting and sorting machine, the information in the flash memory should be downloaded to a computer and compared with the actual number of notes that exited from the cash box  18  into the counting and sorting machines. This redundant system will help ensure accuracy in the counting process.  
         [0031]    As can be appreciated, the dual section cash box note and ticket validator and the method of the present invention provide several benefits. One benefit is that it increases the efficiency of the counting and sorting functions carried on in the counting rooms to keep accurate accounts of the money flowing in and out of the individual gaming machines. Whereas in previous devices the cashbox stacked tickets with currency, the tickets are now stored in a separate compartment, allowing easy separation of the tickets. Another advantage is that casinos can easily increase the number of tickets in their circulation of currency without slowing down any other function, which in turn decreases the amount of cash transported into and out of the casino floor. As another advantage, the cash box can be configured to hold all tickets or all currency. In addition, the casino can alter which compartment holds tickets and which one holds currency.  
         [0032]    The present invention can also be used for various vending machines where tickets are available in lieu of currency. For example, at a theme park, a customer could purchase tickets using a credit card and use the tickets in vending machines in the park. This would save the customer the many surcharges and dangers often associated with withdrawing and carrying currency from ATM machines.  
         [0033]    As an example of an alternative embodiment of the contemplated invention which would be readily apparent to those skilled in the art following review of the foregoing detailed description, the stacking of the notes can be changed to accommodate varying usages of tickets and currency. In the present embodiment, notes enter vertically into the placer areas  78  and  96 . Other embodiments can include a horizontal stacking of notes, vertical stacking of tickets; horizontal stacking of notes and tickets, one above the other; and vertical stacking of notes and tickets, one behind the other. These arrangements may have the benefit of maximizing the utilization of space within the cash box and minimizing the number of times the cash box has to be emptied and replaced.  
         [0034]    Having thus described different embodiments of the invention, other variations and embodiments that do not depart from the spirit of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope of the present invention is thus not limited to any one particular embodiment, but is instead set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.