Drawerless point of sale system and associated methods

A drawerless point of sale system includes a point of sale terminal and a currency changer device in communication with the point of sale terminal. The currency changer device is adapted to accept cash in bulk for a cash transaction and includes a housing, a coin accepting tray, a coin sorter, a plurality of respective coin bins, and a coin dispenser. The currency changer also includes a bill accepter/dispenser carried by the housing for accepting, sorting and dispensing bills, and a plurality of bill cassettes carried by the housing and in communication with the bill accepter/dispenser for receiving a respective plurality of similar bills from the bill accepter and for dispensing a respective plurality of bills responsive to said point of sale terminal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of point of sale systems and, more particularly, to the field of point of sale systems having drawerless currency changer devices, and related methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Existing point of sale retail management systems accept many methods of payment including cash, credit card, gift card, and even checks. With respect to cash transactions, access to a cash drawer may be problematic with respect to security. More particularly, the opening of a cash drawer exposes cash intake to a cashier, or other user, in order to perform the steps of physically accepting cash and removing currency to provide change to the user.

In systems that do not utilize a cashier, i.e., self check-out systems, this is not as much of a problem. An example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,505 to Mason, et al. Such a self-service check out terminal may be operated by a customer without the aid of a check-out clerk. Accordingly, during operation of the self-service check-out terminal, the customer may scan individual items for purchase across a scanner and then place the items for purchase into a bag or other transporting device. The customer may then pay for the purchase at the check-out terminal or at a central payment area staffed by an employee. The system includes a currency dispenser that dispenses an amount of change due to a customer in response to a dispenser control signal received from the processing unit. Such a unit, however, requires currency to be deposited in a sorted fashion. In other words, a customer must insert bills into the currency dispenser one at a time.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,157 to Awatsu, et al, discloses a cash processing system for automatically performing cash handling operations. Such a system is generally used in connection with automated teller machines (ATM's). The system includes a detachable cash safe that holds bills for a cash transaction. The system fails, however, to allow for cash bills to be deposited in bulk and separated accordingly.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,664 to Nordqvist, et al, discloses a payment processing system that enables retrofitting of an existing cash register with an automatic payment processing device. The system includes a payment processing device having a currency dispenser and a data port for assessing bank notes and coins and for supplying the proper amount of change to a user. This device also suffers from the deficiency of not being able to accept cash in bulk. In other words, a user must insert bills one at a time so that the bills can be identified and routed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,079 to Brown discloses a cash register that prevents theft by restricting access to currency. The system includes a key pad for entering sales information, a currency receiving slot for receiving currency directly from a customer, an enclosed cash drawer coupled with the currency receiving slot for depositing the received currency and a currency dispensing tray responsive to the sales computing device for dispensing currency directly to the customer when the received currency amount exceeds the sales amount. Again, however, such a system does not allow a customer to deposit cash in bulk. Instead, the customer must deposit the currency individually, i.e., each bill must be deposited individually.

A point of sale terminal that accepts bank notes is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,885 to Azcua, et al. This system includes a plurality of bill trays so that a user may separate and sort bank notes prior to inserting the bank notes into the point of sale terminal. U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,016 discloses an apparatus for dispensing and receiving bank notes. Such an apparatus, however, only accepts the bank notes one at a time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a drawerless point of sale system having enhanced efficiency. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a drawerless point of sale system that advantageously accepts currency in bulk. It is further an object of the present invention to provide a drawerless point of sale system that restricts access to cash. It is still further an object of the present invention to provide a drawerless point of sale system that is self replenishing.

These and other objects, features, and advantages in accordance with the present invention are provided by a drawerless point of sale system comprising a point of sale terminal and a currency changer device in communication with the point of sale terminal. The currency changer device is adapted to accept cash in bulk for a cash transaction, and to dispense change in a cash transaction responsive to commands received from the point of sale terminal.

The currency changer device comprises a housing, a coin accepting tray carried by the housing for accepting a plurality of coins in bulk, and a coin sorter carried by the housing and in communication with the coin accepting tray. The currency changer device also comprises a plurality of respective coin bins carried by the housing in communication with the coin sorter for receiving a respective plurality of similar coins from the sorted coins, and a coin dispenser carried by the housing and in communication with the plurality of respective coin bins to dispense coins in bulk responsive to the point of sale terminal.

The currency changer device further includes a bill accepter/dispenser carried by the housing for accepting and sorting a plurality of bills in bulk, and a plurality of bill cassettes carried by the housing and in communication with the bill accepter for receiving a respective plurality of similar bills from the bill accepter and for dispensing a respective plurality of bills responsive to the point of sale terminal. The currency changer device further includes a bill dispenser carried by the housing for dispensing a plurality of bills. Accordingly, the currency changer device advantageously allows a user to insert a plurality of unsorted coins in bulk and a plurality of unsorted bills in bulk, and sorts the coins and the bills into respective bins and bill cassettes, and dispenses change responsive to a command received from the point of sale terminal.

The point of sale terminal advantageously provides a signal to activate the currency changer device. Further, the point of sale terminal may provide data to the currency changer device. The data may include a predetermined amount of cash required to be tendered for a cash transaction and a predetermined amount of cash to be provided to a user as change.

The currency changer device may be adapted to be connected to at least one power supply carried by the housing. A communications link may be positioned between the point of sale terminal and the currency changer device.

The currency changer device may also include an indicator light and provide an indication to a user that the currency changer device is ready to accept currency. The system may include a pair of point of sale terminals in communication with the currency changer device. Further, the currency changer device may be self replenishing. Accordingly, the system may advantageously continue to operate without the need of a person accessing the cash held by the currency changer device to replenish it. A method aspect of the present invention is for using a drawerless point of sale system. The method may include determining a total amount of cash due in a cash transaction. The method may also include accepting cash in bulk responsive to commands received from the point of sale terminal. The method may further comprise dispensing change to a user responsive to commands received from the point of sale terminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially toFIG. 1, a drawerless point of sale system10is now described in greater detail. The drawerless point of sale system10includes a point of sale terminal12and a currency changer device14. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the drawerless point of sale system10may include more than one point of sale terminal12. Accordingly, and as illustrated, a pair of point of sale terminals12may be connected to a single currency changer device14. The system10of the present invention therefore advantageously enhances efficiency of point of sale retail management systems while simultaneously enhancing security of cash during cash transactions by preventing access to the cash.

The currency changer device14is preferably in communication with the point of sale terminals12. More specifically, a communications link16extends from the currency changer device14to each point of sale terminal12. The communications link16may, for example, be provided by a USB cable, or any other similar type of communications link suitable for enabling the currency changer device14to communicate with the point of sale terminal12.

The currency changer device14is adapted to accept cash in bulk for a cash transaction. The currency changer device14is also adapted to dispense change in a cash transaction responsive to commands received from the point of sale terminal12. The currency changer device14includes a housing18. The housing18may be similar to a housing for a computer processing unit (CPU) or any other type of housing as understood by those skilled in the art.

The currency changer device14may also include a coin accepting tray20carried by the housing18. The coin accepting tray20accepts a plurality of coins in bulk in a cash transaction. The currency changer device14may also include a coin sorter22carried by the housing18. The coin sorter22is in communication with the coin accepting tray20. More specifically, the coin sorter22sorts the plurality of coins that are deposited in bulk into the coin accepting tray20by a user. The coins are preferably sorted by denomination. After the coins are sorted in the coin sorter22, the coins are deposited into a respective plurality of coin bins24.

The coin bins24are preferably individual coin bins carried by the housing18in communication with the coin sorter22for receiving a respective plurality of similar denomination coins. The coin bins24preferably include a first coin bin24afor pennies, a second coin bin24bfor nickels, a third coin bin24cfor dimes, and a fourth coin bin24dfor quarters. Those skilled in the art, however, will appreciate that any type of coin bins may be included for any type of currency, i.e., U.S., or other currency. Further, additional coin bins may be included to accept other types of coins, such as 50-cent pieces, and dollar coins, as understood by those skilled in the art.

The currency changer device14may also include a coin rejection dispenser26in communication with the coin accepting tray20. The coin rejection dispenser advantageously dispenses coins rejected by the currency changer device. Such coins are likely invalid coins, or coins not accepted as currency by the currency changer device14. Accordingly, the currency changer device14of the present invention advantageously prevents fraudulent coins from being deposited as payment in a cash transaction.

The currency changer device14also includes a coin dispenser28carried by the housing18. The coin dispenser28is in communication with the plurality of respective coin bins24to dispense coins responsive to the point of sale terminal12. More particularly, the coin dispenser28dispenses the proper amount of coins as determined by a point of sale terminal12. In other words, during a cash transaction, the point of sale terminal12determines the amount of change due to a user after the user deposits cash for payment of the cash transaction. Therefore, after the amount of change is calculated by the point of sale terminal12, the proper number of coins necessary for dispensing the proper amount of change is dispensed through the coin dispenser28.

The currency changer device14also includes a bill accepter30carried by the housing18for accepting and sorting a plurality of bills in bulk. In other words, the bill accepter30allows a user to deposit a plurality of unsorted bills into the currency changer device14in a cash transaction. After the plurality of unsorted bills are deposited into the bill accepter30, the plurality of unsorted bills are sorted and routed to a plurality of bill cassettes32carried by the housing18in communication with the bill accepter30. The plurality of bill cassettes32receive a respective plurality of similar denomination bills from the bill accepter30. The bill cassettes32may include a plurality of bill cassettes for receiving different denomination bills that have been sorted. More particularly, the bill cassettes may include a $1 bill cassette32afor receiving $1 bills, a $5 bill cassette32bfor receiving $5 bills, a $10 bill cassette32cfor receiving $10 bills, and a $20 bill cassette32dfor receiving $20 bills.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the currency changer device14may also be adapted to receive $50 bills and $100 bills. These bills may, for example, be stacked in separate cassettes. It is preferable, however, that these denomination bills are not dispensed to users. Accordingly, security of cash stored within the currency changer device14is advantageously enhanced. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that the currency changer device14is illustrated as having four bill cassettes, but may also include any number of bill cassettes for accepting any denomination bills, and any type of bills, i.e., U.S. bills and foreign bills.

The currency changer device14also includes a bill dispenser34in communication with each of the plurality of bill cassettes32and carried by the housing18. The bill dispenser34dispenses a plurality of bills in response to the point of sale terminal. In other words, and similar to the process of accepting and dispensing coins described above, the point of sale terminal12determines the cost of merchandise, and the amount of change due in a cash transaction depending on the amount of cash deposited by a user. Upon a determination by the point of sale terminal12of the amount of change due to a user, the proper number of bills from each denomination may be dispensed from the bill cassettes through the bill dispenser34.

Therefore, the currency changer device14of the drawerless point of sale system10of the present invention advantageously prevents access to cash by a user. This is advantageous for any type of user in any type of point of sale retail management system. In other words, the drawerless point of sale system10may advantageously be used in situations where an attendant is checking out goods, or it may also be used in a situation such as self-checkout. In any type of situation where a cash transaction is involved, the drawerless point of sale system10of the present invention advantageously prevents access to the cash held by the currency changer device14.

Referring now additionally toFIGS. 2-6, additional aspects of the drawerless point of sale system10according to the present invention are now described in greater detail. More specifically, and as described above, a communications link16extends between the currency changer device14and the point of sale terminals12. The communications link16advantageously allows the currency changer device14to communicate with the point of sale terminal12. For example, the point of sale terminal12provides a signal to activate the currency changer device14upon a determination that cash will be used to process the sales transaction. Further, the communications link16is also used to provide data from the point of sale terminal12to the currency changer device14. The data may, for example, include a predetermined amount of cash required to be tendered for a cash transaction and a predetermined amount of cash required to be dispensed to a user as change in the cash transaction.

Referring now more specifically toFIG. 6, a power supply36for the currency changer device14is now described in greater detail. The power supply36may be provided, for example, by either an AC power supply, i.e., plugged into a standard outlet, or a DC power supply, i.e., a self-contained power supply carried by the housing18. Although the power supply36is illustrated inFIG. 6as an AC power supply to be plugged into a wall, those having skill in the art will appreciate that the currency changer device14may include a self-contained power supply. Further, a plurality of power supplies36may be carried by the housing18to provide power to various components of the currency changer device14. For example, a first power supply36amay be provided to supply power to the coin sorter, coin dispenser, bill accepter, bill dispenser, and bill cassettes. The second power supply36bmay be used to supply power to the coin accepter. The third power supply36cmay be used to supply power to the communications router38carried by the housing18and in communication with the communications link16to the point of sale terminal12.

Referring now more specifically toFIG. 3, additional details of the coin accepting, sorting, and dispensing process are provided in greater detail. More specifically, as previously discussed above, the currency changer device14includes a coin accepting tray20. The coin accepting tray20is illustratively provided by a hopper to allow a user to drop unsorted coins therein. The coin accepting tray20is in communication with a coin sorter22provided by a plurality of rails. The coin sorter22routes sorted coins to the coin bins24.

Accordingly, similar denomination coins are positioned in the similar denomination coin bins24a-24d. The coin bins are in communication with an internal coin dispenser40. More specifically, the internal coin dispenser40is preferably characterized as an outlet for coins to be dispensed from the individual coin bins24a-24d. The internal coin dispenser40is in communication with an internal coin cup42. The internal coin cup42receives coins dispensed from the internal coin dispenser40. The internal coin cup42is connected to a coin cup shaft44that allows for lifting and rotation of the internal coin cup to thereby dispense the coins into the cup of the coin dispenser28that is carried by the housing18of the currency changer device14. More specifically, the coin cup shaft44is connected to a coin cup access pin which is positioned in communication with a linear actuator servo motor46. A coin cup rotation initiation bar48is positioned to start the rotation of the coin cup shaft44until a linear actuator hits a top limit sensor and reverses direction to move back to an originating home position. Accordingly, as coins are dispensed from the internal coin dispenser40to the internal coin cup42, the internal coin cup may be rotated to allow for the coins in the internal coin cup to be dispensed into the coin dispenser28.

Referring now more specifically toFIG. 4, additional details of the process of accepting and dispensing bills in the currency changer device14are now described in greater detail. As illustrated, the currency changer device14includes a bill accepter30and a bill dispenser34. The bill accepter30is in communication with a bill sorter50. Upon insertion of a plurality of bills, i.e., bank notes, in bulk, into the bill accepter30, the plurality of bills are sorted in the bill sorter50. More specifically, the plurality of bills are sorted and positioned in bill cassettes32.

As illustrated, the bill cassettes32may include four separate bill cassettes32a,32b,32c,32d. As described above, the cassettes may be adapted to receive any type of currency, but when used for a cash transaction in the U.S., the bill cassettes are preferably adapted as a $1 bill cassette32a, a $5 bill cassette32b, a $10 bill cassette32c, and a $20 bill cassette32d. As also mentioned above, those having skill in the art will appreciate that the bill cassettes32may also advantageously include a $50 bill cassette and a $100 bill cassette (not shown), that are used to collect $50 bills and $100 bills, but adapted to prevent the $50 bills and the $100 bills from being dispensed.

The currency changer device14may also include a communications router38. The communications router38is preferably in communication with the coin bins24. More specifically, the communications router38is in communication with the communications link16to position the components of the currency changer device14in communication with the point of sale terminal12. The currency changer device14also illustratively includes the communications interface controller52positioned in communication with the communications router38. The communications interface controller52preferably obtains power from a power supply36b, and a communications link exists between the communications interface controller52and all of the coin bins24a-24d. In more simple terms, the communications link16between the point of sale terminal12and the currency changer device14uses communications protocol commands to command the currency changer device to perform various tasks, e.g., accept currency and dispense currency as change in a cash transaction.

As perhaps best illustrated inFIGS. 1-3, the currency changer device14also includes an indicator light54to provide an indication to a user that the currency changer device14is ready to accept currency. The indicator light54is preferably positioned adjacent a top surface18of the housing. Accordingly, the indicator light54may be readily visible by a user standing over the currency changer device14.

The indicator light54may include a plurality of lights for providing a plurality of indications to a user. For example, a first light may be a red light indicating that the currency changer device14is not ready to receive currency, and a second light may be a green light indicating that the currency changer device14is ready to accept currency. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any combination of indicator lights may be used to achieve the objects, features and advantages of the present invention.

The drawerless point of sale system may advantageously include a respective plurality of pressure pads (not shown) positioned on the floor adjacent the currency changer device14. The plurality of pressure pads may be positioned in communication with the currency changer device14. The plurality of pressure pads sense the presence of a user, such as an attendant at a point of sale terminal12or a user of a self checkout system. Accordingly, the pressure pads advantageously prevent the possibility of out-of-line cash insertion scenario. This mechanism prevents untrained attendants to make possible mistakes.

Referring now more specifically toFIG. 5, the electrical layout of the components of the drawerless point of sale system10are now described in greater detail. The point of sale terminal12may include a power supply56to provide power thereto. The power supply56for the point of sale terminal12is preferably an AC power connection. Those skilled in the art, however, will appreciate that any other type of power supply may be used to provide power to the point of sale terminal12.

The point of sale terminal12is connected to the currency charger device14. As illustrated, a plurality of communications links16send information between the point of sale terminal12and the currency changer device14. More particularly, a USB interface may be positioned to extend between the point of sale terminal12and the communications router38carried by the housing18of the currency changer device14. This USB interface link16is preferably used to provide commands to the coin dispenser. Further, an RS 232 currency management interface link16may be positioned to extend between the point of sale terminal12and the coin accepter/sorter20Another RS 232 interface16may extend from the point of sale terminal12to the bill sorter50.

A communications interface controller52is positioned in communication with the communications router38using another interface link. The interface link between the communications router38and the communications interface controller52is preferably a CCTALK interface link. The communications interface controller52is also preferably positioned in communication with each of the coin bins24a-24dvia CCTALK interface links. More specifically, the communications interface controller52may be a CCTALK splitter53to provide the CCTALK connection between the communications interface controller52and the coin bins24a-24d. Accordingly, the interconnections between the various devices are used to control operation of the coin dispensing features of the present invention.

The housing18of the currency changer device14also includes an AC power supply36connected to a paylink communications power supply, i.e., the communications router power supply36c. The AC power supply36may be connected to the coin dispenser28and also to the communications router at the communications router power supply36c. The system10of the present invention contemplates the use of software to control the operation of the currency changer device14. More specifically, and as perhaps best illustrated inFIGS. 2-3, coins may be initially accepted and sorted by coin accepter20and the coin sorter22. The coins may then be routed mechanically to the individual coin bins24a-24dvia the coin routing system22. Software is preferably used to keep track of the quantity and denomination of coins deposited and keeps a running tally of the total number of coins in each coin bin. The power supply36bfor the coin bins24a-24dis preferably in communication with the communications interface controller52.

The currency changer device14also includes a motion controller module58and a plurality of motion controller relays60. The motion controller module58and motion controller relays60are in communication with the communications router38and the coin lift mechanism39. As discussed above, the coin lift mechanism39includes the internal coin cup42, the coin cup shaft44, the servo motor46, and the coin cup rotation initiation bar48to tilt the internal coin cup so the coins are spilled into the external coin cup28to dispense coins. The motion controller relays60are positioned in communication with the communications router using a control logic link.

FIG. 6illustrates the drawerless point of sale system10and the links between the point of sale terminal12and the currency changer device14. The communications links between the point of sale terminal12and the currency changer device14, as well as the power supplies36to the currency changer device14have been discussed in greater detail above.

As discussed above, the drawerless point of sale system10is preferably self-replenishing. In other words, as a user inserts currency into the currency changer device14, the currency self replenishes in the coin bins24and the bill cassettes32. Those skilled in the art will appreciate, however, that the currency changer device14will need to be initially stocked with currency. Further, there may be instances when a particular denomination of currency may run short. For example, the currency changer device14may run out of $1 bills being held in the $1 bill cassette32a. Accordingly, an indication may be provided at the point of sale terminal12that the $1 bills need to be replenished. In a case when the currency changer device14is connected to a pair of point of sale terminals12, as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 1, an indication needs to be provided to a user when the currency changer device14is ready to accept cash for their particular transaction.

For example, the point of sale terminals12may include a left side point of sale terminal and a right side point of sale terminal. When the currency changer device14is ready to receive currency from the left side point of sale terminal, for example, an indication may be provided on the point of sale terminal12so that the user is informed as to the status of the currency changer device. This indication is also advantageously enhanced using the indicator light54on the currency changer device. In other words, the indicator light54may provide another indication to the user that the currency changer device is ready to accept currency.

The indicator light54may, for example, be provided by a light emitting diode. More particularly, and as perhaps best illustrated inFIG. 3, the indicator light54may include a pair of indicator lights. The pair of indicator lights54may be used to provide indications to the respective pair of point of sale terminals12that are connected to the currency changer device14. Therefore, a left side indicator light54amay be used to provide an indication to a left side point of sale terminal, and a right side indicator light54bmay be used to provide an indication to the right side point of sale terminal.

The indicator light54may be adapted to provide different types of indications. For example, the indicator light may be illuminated red, for example, after the currency changer device14has been activated, but is not yet ready to accept currency. Further, the indicator light54may be illuminated green in a case where the currency changer device14is ready to accept currency. In a case where currency has been deposited into the currency changer device14, and the currency changer device is busy, the indicator light54may be illuminated yellow. Those having skill in the art will appreciate that the indicator light54may be illuminated using a constant illumination, may be a flashing illumination, or any combination thereof.

Those having skill in the art will appreciate that the drawerless point of sale system10may also include a manual mode. In other words, the point of sale terminals12may, for example, include a cash drawer that may only be opened should the currency changer device14fail to properly operate. Of course, the manual mode would only be available for systems that use an attendant. In other words, there would be no accessibility to a cash drawer in a self check out system.

Referring now additionally to the flow chart62ofFIG. 7, a method aspect of the present invention is now described in greater detail. From the start (block64), items are scanned in at the point of sale terminal12at block66. At block68, the amount due from the user is determined. At block70, it is determined whether or not the transaction is a cash transaction. If it is determined that the transaction is not a cash transaction at block70, then the method is ended at block96. If, however, it is determined that the transaction is a cash transaction at block70, then the user is prompted to insert cash at block72.

At block74, a signal is sent from the point of sale terminal12to the currency changer device14to activate the currency changer device. At block76, it is determined whether the currency changer device is activated. If it is determined at block76that the currency changer device has not been activated, then the signal to activate the currency changer device is again sent at block74. If, however, it is determined at block76that the currency changer device14has been activated, then the indicator light54is activated to provide an indication that the currency changer device14is ready to receive cash in bulk at block78.

At block80, currency is accepted in bulk. In other words, a plurality of unsorted coins and a plurality of unsorted bills are accepted into the currency changer device14in bulk. Therefore, there advantageously is no need for a user to separate in individually insert currency. Instead, the user may insert a plurality of unsorted currency simultaneously. Further, it is not necessary for a user to insert currency in any particular order. In other words, the user of the system10of the present invention may insert coins before bills, bills before coins, or bills and coins simultaneously.

At block82, the currency that is deposited into the currency changer device14is sorted. More particularly, the coins and bills are sorted simultaneously. Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there is no priority to sorting coins over bills or bills over coins. The coins and bills are sorted simultaneously.

At block84, the amount of currency inserted by the user is determined. At block86, it is determined whether enough currency was deposited by the user. If it is determined at block86that enough currency was not deposited by the user, then the user is prompted to insert additional currency at block94. Thereafter, currency is accepted in bulk at block80, the currency is sorted at block82, and it is again determined whether or not enough currency was received at block86.

If it is determined at block86that enough currency was deposited into the currency changer device14by the user, then the amount of change due to the user, if applicable, is determined at the point of sale terminal12at block88. At block90, the change is dispensed by the currency changer device14to the user. The currency changer device is deactivated at block92, and the method is ended at block96.