Abstract:
A control system and method for operating a coin redemption machine includes a coin redemption machine functioning as a peripheral device to a separate computer linked to the coin redemption machine through a communications link for reciprocal communication between the coin redemption machine and the computer. The computer controls the activating and deactivating of the coin redemption machine; and the computer and coin redemption machine communicate through commands from the computer, followed by responses from the coin redemption machine.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a system and method for the operation of coin redemption machines. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0002]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic flow chart of an embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0003]      FIG. 2  is a composite block diagram/flow chart of an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0004]     Reference now should be made to the drawings in which the same reference numbers are used in both figures to designate the same or similar components or steps.  
         [0005]     Coin redemption machines generally are designed with an ability to receive coins of mixed denominations from a consumer, to count the coins, to detect and reject foreign coins and non-coin substitutes, and finally, to produce a receipt for the consumer which may be exchanged for cash or some other form of credit from the entity controlling the coin redemption machine. Such known coin redemption machines include a computer or firmware for processing the count of coins and calculating the value of such coins, along with a printer for producing a coupon, receipt or some form of data transfer following the computation of the amount to be paid or credited to the user of the machine.  
         [0006]     The system and method for controlling a coin redemption machine which is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is one which employs a coin redemption machine which does not have a data processing computer or printer in it, but simply includes mechanisms for determining the denomination of the coins and for providing a count of the denominations. The coin redemption machine  12  which is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is operated as a slave or peripheral device only to a computer, such as the personal computer  14  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0007]     The computer  14  controls the activation and deactivation and stopping of the coin redemption machine  12 , and maintains a constant “command and response” communications link through a cable or wireless communications link to the coin redemption machine to monitor the status of the coin redemption machine  12  and to send specific sequential instructions from the computer  14  to the coin. redemption machine  12  in accordance with a program residing in the computer  14 .  
         [0008]     While the discussion above refers to the computer  14  as a personal computer, it should be noted that the computer  14  may be a point-of-sale computer located at the cash register location of a retail store, or a point-of-sale kiosk already in place in a store or other establishment. The computer  14  also could be a computer used in conjunction with a banking teller representative, a banking transaction ATM, or teller system host computer to link the transaction which is being effected by use of the coin redemption machine to a consumer&#39;s bank account or other designated account.  
         [0009]     Essentially, the coin redemption machine  12  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is operated as an adjunct or peripheral device to the point-of-sale system of a retail establishment, or teller system or ATM system for a bank. The transaction which is effected is controlled by the computer  14 , and not by the user depositing coins into the coin redemption machine. The transaction operates with the coin redemption machine  12  operating essentially as a “slave” to the computer  14  and, the system functions as a “command and response” system via serial communication between the computer  14  and the coin redemption machine  12 .  
         [0010]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , whenever an end user  10 , such as a customer of the store or bank, or user of the ATM, wishes to deposit and receive credit for the coins, the customer either presses a start button  16  located on the PC, or touches a command on a kiosk screen, or completes a command at a point-of-sale location, activates the program which allows the computer  14  to control the operation of the coin redemption machine  12 . Whichever way this occurs, the “command and response” program in the computer  14  then commences to supply the first command to activate the coin redemption machine  12  via the “activate” command at  18 , shown in  FIG. 1 . This command activates the coin redemption machine  12 . After this has been accomplished, a response is sent to the computer  14  from the coin machine  12  that it is “ready” via  20 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . This “ready” status of the coin redemption machine also may be effected by means of a light or other signal on the coin redemption machine itself, or may be effected through a display on the computer  14  to indicate to the end user  10  that the coin redemption machine  12  is ready to receive coins deposited into its hopper or receptacle.  
         [0011]     At this time, the end user  10  deposits coins at  22  ( FIG. 1 ) into the hopper or coin receiving receptacle for counting and redemption by the coin redemption machine  12 . The computer  14  supplies a “start” command  24  to the coin redemption machine, which responds that it is “okay” at  26  back to the computer  14 . The computer then commands, at  28 , the coin redemption machine to read the denominations; and the coin redemption machine reports the denominations back to the computer at  30 . Once the counting of the different coins has been completed, the computer sends a signal to the coin redemption machine at  32  to read the final count. In response to this signal, the machine  12  then reports back to the computer the final count at  34 . Once the final count is reported, the computer  14  sends a signal to the coin redemption machine at  36  to turn off the machine  12 .  
         [0012]     The count of the different denominations and the computation as to the value of those denominations, along with any deduction of fees to be collected by the owner and controller of the system for the use of the coin redemption machine  12  is calculated by the computer  14 . When the computer  14  is the point-of-sale computer at a retail establishment, the net calculated redemption amount may be used directly as a payment or deduction from the tally of other items which are being purchased by the end user  10  who deposited the coins into the coin redemption machine  12  at the time of the overall transaction being effected at the point-of-sale location.  
         [0013]     When the computer  14  is associated with an ATM or a teller platform system for example, the net calculated redemption amount of the coins (less any service fee) may be directly credited to the end user&#39;s bank account(s) without requiring the printing and handling of a paper receipt or some type of electronic coupon for subsequent redemption. By operating the coin redemption machine  12  as a slave peripheral device, the machine  12  may be simplified, since it does not require its own separate printer or computer for calculating the value of the various coins deposited into it, along with the corresponding service fee. The coin machine  12  simply needs to include the apparatus which is normally used for counting, and as an option, sorting coins of different denominations. All of the calculating and/or printing functions are handled by means of the computer  14 , which already includes the capability of performing such functions. The result is a coin redemption machine  12  which is more simple to operate than a machine operated as a stand alone device.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a-schematic diagram/flow chart illustrating the system and method of  FIG. 1  in a different format from the one used in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 2 , a user  10  initiates the operation of the system by means of a start button or start switch, which is shown as “start  16 ” to signal a computer  14  to activate a coin machine program. The computer  14  then activates a coin redemption machine  18 . The coin redemption machine  12  is activated and supplies a signal through the computer at  20  that it is “ready”. The coin redemption machine  12  also may separately supply a signal at  19  to alert the user  10  that the coin redemption machine is ready for operation. The signal at  19  may be a simple “ready” lamp which is turned on when the machine  12  is turned on, or it may be any other appropriate signal determined by the parameters of the particular system involved. For example, in the case of an ATM, the signal may appear on the screen of the ATM machine.  
         [0015]     Once the user  10  has been alerted that the coin redemption machine  12  is ready, coins are deposited at  22  into the coin redemption machine in a conventional manner. The coin redemption machine then proceeds with processing of the coins to provide a final count at  34  back to the computer  14  in a manner similar to that which has been described previously in conjunction with  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]     The foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention is to be considered as illustrative and not as limiting. Various changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art for performing substantially the same function, in substantially the same way, to achieve substantially the same result without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.