GB2411277A

GB2411277A - Banknote receiving and dispensing apparatus for a gaming machine

Info

Publication number: GB2411277A
Application number: GB0501815A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Lewis; Nicholas Veitch
Original assignee: ASTROSYS INTERNAT Ltd; EUROCOIN Ltd; Astrosys International Ltd
Current assignee: ASTROSYS INTERNAT Ltd; EUROCOIN Ltd; Astrosys International Ltd
Priority date: 2004-01-28
Filing date: 2005-01-28
Publication date: 2005-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2025-01-28
Also published as: GB0501815D0; GB2411277B; GB0401881D0; EP1560169A1

Abstract

Apparatus for receiving and validating banknotes 8 or similar financial instruments such as coupons or vouchers and capable of paying out notes, e.g. as prizes in a gaming machine, comprises an intermediate temporary holding station 200 to which notes are delivered from a validator having sensors 20, 22. If the value of winnings from the gaming machine is equal to or greater than the value of a note held in the holding station 200 this note is returned as part of the pay out. Otherwise the note is sent to a permanent store.

Description

241 1 277 PROCESSING FINANCIAL, INSTRUMENTS

Field of the Invention

This application relates to the processing of financial instruments such as S banknotes and involves a function that can be usefully incorporated into a banknote valldator, especially where it is usecl in an AWP or similar "reward for play' game machine The validator may be one that scans any financial instrument such ask conventional banknotes, coupons, her coded coupons or any other printed material that is visually ident f able as a source of credit.

Background Art

In an AWP (Amusement With Payout) machine or any other machine incorporating a cash payout' the player pays stake to play game involving a degree of skill.

Players can therefore win more from the game than their original stake, and receive a payout of their winnings.

Traditionally such machines rely upon holding float in coins within a payout hopper, in order to pay out winnings from the game. Then the machines accepted only coins as payment, these coins were added to the float. Hence' statistically, the float could be relied on to last for long periods of time.

llowever, more recently such machines are also being fitted with banknote validators or similar coupon reading systems. This is done to offer players greater flexibility in paying their stakes. On these machines, currently all winnings are still paid in coins. If the float falls below a certain level it is no longer feasible to accept notes and be confident that the float Is sufficient to cover all winnings.

Simulations of such systems show how the coin float is used up because some custorr ers present notes instead of chins. which cannot be addecl to the float. At present the practice is for the machine to disable the banknote validator once the float in the win hopper Ells below preset level. Tlis loses the operator potential custom, 3$ customem who only have banknotes will then not use the machine.

It is an object of the invention. at least in the application under discussion, to at least alleviate these disadvantages arising when such machines accept banknotes as stake payments.

Summary of the Invention

The invention entails a concept of securely holding single financial instrument in temporary or intermediate storage, and selectively either employing it as payout or transferring it to bulk storage in response to one or more input signals. In one or more embodiments, the temporarily stored financial instrument can be satcl to be held in escrow.

In one aspect, the invention provides an apparatus for processing flnancial instruments. comprising.

a receiving station for receiving a financial instrument delivered from an external source and scanning the financial instrurr ent to identity it; a holding station at or separate from said receiving station for securely holding the financial instrument in temporary storage; and respective means to convey the financial instrument to the holding station and then to selectively move the temporarily stored instrument out of the holding, station to either direct it to a stack or other bulk storage device or to return the instrument to the extemat source; and controller responsive to one or more import signals to effect said selective movement of a financial instrument temporarily stored at said holding station.

In another aspect of the invention. there is provided a method of processing a financial instrument, comprising: receiving the financial instrnent delivered by an external source at a note receiving station and scanning the instrument to identify it; securely holding the financial instrument as a single Instrument in temporary serape; and selectively moving the temporarily stored financial instrument out of said temporary storage in response to one or more input signals to either direr the instrument to a stack or other bulk storage device or to return it to the extemal Source.

The input signal(s3 may include one or more of the following signals: 10. signet indicative that the extemal source is entitled to receive payout equal to or greater than the Clue of the temporarily stored financial instrument, whereupon the temporarily stored instrument is mtumed to the external source.

* a signal indicative that the external source is entitled to receive a payout less than the value of the temporarily stored financial instrument, whereupon tile instrument is directed to the stack or other bulk storage device.

a signal indicative that a furtler financial instrument or other object has been detected at said first station whereupon the mporanly stored financial instrument is directed to the stack or other bulk storage device.

Preferably. the apparatus is arranged to issue a credit signal when a single financial instrument has been received at said holding station.

Advantageously, the apparatus comprises validator of financial fnstrurnents.

The financial instrument may be a banknote.

In a particularly useful application, the apparatus is provided in combination with game machine on which persan compnsing said extemal source can play a game potentially resulting in a payment to the person.

Brief Description of the Draurings

The invention will now be further clescribed by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross sectional diagram depicting the note path and principal associated components of a banknote validator lotted to a game machine and programmed with functionality to provide an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a block flow diagram setting out the functionality of the validator illustrated in Figure 1.

Description of Embodiments of the Invention

The illustrated banknote validator 10 includes housing 12 with closespaced upper and lower flat walls 13, 14 and side walls 33 that define, in the conventional manner, a note path 11 from a note entry opening 16 at a presentation position 19 to an exit 17. The note path is stepped or onset in the longitudinal axis at 15 to prevent tampering with foreign objects and to reduce the effect of ambient light shining into the note path. A banknote 8 presented at note entry opening 16 is engaged by a note transport system such as a friction belt or series of rollers 25 (not all shown) which propels the note along the path 11 to exit 17.

Sensor arrays 20, 22 are positioned above and below the note path. Thinned transparent webs 13a, 14a of walls 13, 14 separate sensor arrays 20, 22 from the passing note. The validator has a transmissive trigger sensor 30 in front of the sensor head position which is used to trigger the entry of a note and actuate the aforementioned drive means 25. The longitudinal position of the note is tracked by a laser movement sensor 4G, which is mounted before the tnernissive trigger sensor 30.

Validator 10 is equipped with a controller 50 including logic circuits that receives inputs from the various sensors, manages note movement' and identifies notes presented to the device.

An inserted note 8 is moved past the sensors of arrays 20, 22 and each sensor records a response trace for the note as it passes These traces are then compared in controller 100 with a bank of reference traces for valid notes. In conventional practice, a note validated in this way is propelled on to storage at exit 17. and its value may trigger an operation or may be recorded as a credit towards an operation. A note not validated is typically propelled back out the entry opening 17 by reversal of the transport system 25.

In accorclance with an embodiment of me present Invention. the portion of the note path 11 from entry opening 16 to me 'downstream" side of sensor arrays 20, 22 constitutes a first station 100 for receiving a banknote and scanning the note to identify it. lither downstream of sensor arrays 20, 22 prior to exit 17 is a second or holding station 200 for receiving a single banknote from the first station 100 and securely holding it in temporary storage. The rollers 25 provide means to convey the banknote from first station 100 to second station 200, and then to selectively move the temporarily stored banknote out of second station 200 and either to direct it through exit 17 to sock or bulk storage device, or to reverse the banknote and retum it along note path 11 to the external source beyond entry opening 16.

In aItemative embodiments, holding station 200 may be at station 100, for example at the region of sensor arrays 20, 22, or in a separate unit downstream of the sensor arrays or of exit 17. In the former case, the temporary storage might be in note path 11 between sensor arrays 2O, 22.

Controller 50 is prograrnned to be responsive to one or more input signals to effect selective movement of a banknote temporarily stored in the second station.

Figure 2 is a block flour diagram setting out the principal operational and control steps during the course of use of a genre machine flttecl with a banknote validator according to the embodiment of Figure 1. A preferred embodiment of the method of the invention includes number of significant features managed by controller 50, as follows: 1. When a note is presented to the validator 10, and the note has been scanned and recognized as genuine, controller 50 issues the appropriate credit to the host genre machine and physically holds the note in an ''escrows in secure Intermediate station 200. From here the note can be either moved to permanent storage (em. a stacker or cash hnx) or returned as part of the pay out, as so instructed lay an input signal from the host controller.

2. The validator controller 50 advises the host machine controller of what note value it has, and that it is being held in "escrow" (the intermediate station), 3. If the client's winnings are greater than or equal to the value of the held note' the host controller then has the option of returning that note as part of the clientts winnings, thus reducing the money removed from the coin float.

4. Alternatively. if, at the end of the gerne, the client's winnings are less than the value of Me held note. then Mat note is permanently stored and the payout made in coins 5' If the client presents a second note while first note is almady held, the vatidator will scan the second note while at the same time feeding the First note into permanent storage. The host; controller is then told by the validator controller that the first note has been stored perrnanenkly and that a new note is now held in the intermediate station. This allows the client to maintain a level of Credit with the machine. and continue playing.

6. If there is any problem with the semnd note. for instance i! it is not valid note or some oft er fraud is suspected, then that note will be returned once the first note is securely stored 7. If power is cut to the machine while a note is temporarily held in the intermediate station Me validator will endeavour to safely stack that note. either when pourer is restored or by use of a back-up PSU. It will advise the host controller of this when power and communication is restored, To this end, it will retain a memory of what note tif any) uvas last held in "escrow" when power was lost.

8 The intermediate holding station, whether is in the location illustrated, or within station 100, or separate unit downstream of exit 17, is preferably secure and configured so as not to 8110W a client to retrieve a note without consent from the host machine This may be achieved, e by detecting the presence of any crevice (strings, Fin or the like) attached to the held note for the purpose of retrieving it from the secure holding area. Also security is achieved bar immediately advancing the note in the "secure holding areas to permanent storage upon detection of any object, be it a second note or any other object, presented to Me validator.

An advantageous feature Is for the validator controller 50 to recognise an unscheduled power-down event and have the ability to immediately dove a held note Into secure storage before complete loss of popover. This may involve the integration of an un-interruptable power supply and the validator. Upon recovery, a record of the held note prior to loss of power may be on hand, for advising the host machine accordingly.

The apparatus aIso preferably provides for other communication signals between validator and host roqohine which allow for constant monitoring of the position of a note as it moves from first station to secure holding station, then return as part of pay out or to permanent storage.

The disclosed apparatus gives the machine owner or operator the advantage that a given float will last longer. Hence he may attract further clients who will be able to pay using bank notes. If the operator refile the machine on a fixed schedule.

2S then the float can be smaller, or the period between refills An be extended for fixed float ie "hopper stan,ation can be prevented.

Claims

CLAlh1S 1. Apparatusforprocessing financialinstnrnents,conprising: a

receiving station for receiving a financial instrument delivered from an external source and scanning the financial instrument to identify it: a holding station at or separate from said receiving station for securely holding the financial instrument in temporary storage; and respective means to convey the financial instrument to the holding station and then to selectively move the l;emporarily stored instrument out of the holding station to either direct it to stack or other bulk storage crevice or to return the instnrnent to the external source; and a controller responsive to one or nature import signals to effect said selective movement of a financial instrument temporarily stored at said holding station.
2 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said input signal(s) include a signal indicative that the external source is entitled to receive a payout equal to or greater than the value of the temporarily stored financial instrument, Whereupon the temporarily stored instrument is returned to the external source.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or wherein said input signal(s) include a signal indicative that the external source is enticed to receive a payment less than the value of the temporarily stored financial instrument. whereupon the instrument Is directed to the stack or other bulk storage device.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1. 2 or 3 wherein said input signal(s) include signal indicative that a further financial instrument or other object has been detected at said first station, whereupon the temporarily stored financial instrument is directed to the stack or other bulk storage device.
5. Apparatus aorcling to any preceding claim arranged to issue a credit signal When single financial instrument has been received at said holding station.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising validator of financial instnrnents.
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said financial instrument is banknote.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding cluing, in combination with a game machine on which a person wrnprising said external source can play game potentially resulting in a payout to the person
9. A method of processing a financial instrument, comprising: receiving the financial instnment delivered by an external source at a note receiving station and scanning the Instrument to identify it; securely holding the financial instrument as a single instrument in temporary storage; and selectively noosing the temporarily stored hnaneial instrument out of said tenporary storage in response to one or more input signals to either direct the instrument to a stack or other bulk storage device or to return it to the external soureer
10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the financial instrument is a banknote.