Abstract:
A sheet cartridge, e.g. a bill cartridge, is designed for storing sheets in an automatic machine. The sheet cartridge has a housing and separators for defining a temporary space and a storage space. The housing has one or more patterned openings corresponding to pushing blocks of the automatic machine outside the sheet cartridge. The pushing blocks pushes sheets in the temporary space across the separators into the storage space via the corresponding openings so that the sheets are safe when the sheet cartridge is removed from the automatic machine.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Taiwan Application Serial Number 93118349, filed Jun. 24, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0003]     The invention relates to a sheet cartridge in an automatic machine and, in particular, to a sheet cartridge ensuring that stored sheets do not get lost when the sheet cartridge is removed form the automatic machine.  
         [0004]     2. Related Art  
         [0005]     With advances in electronic and mechanical technologies, there are more automatic machines being invented to improve human life. The industrial development also increases the costs for manpower. Many simple routine jobs are done automatically. For example, vending machines originally invented for selling drinks and snacks have been developed to sell tickets, exchange money, save money, pay parking fees, and even the electronic banking that has become popular nowadays.  
         [0006]     Due to the variety of in the application of automatic machines, more high-prices merchandises or services are also used in automatic machines. Aside from coins, bills with high values play more important roles in daily life. However, bills, checks, tickets or other valued certificates have huge differences from coins in use. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a mechanism on automatic machines that can process bills to satisfy different needs.  
         [0007]     The automatic machine for processing bills is often made of several parts. For example, determining the value of a bill, recognizing whether a bill is true or fake, moving bills, and storing bills are common important mechanisms. Since bills have a physical size. After a certain time, somebody has to pick up these valued certificates from the automatic machine.  
         [0008]     To prevent the collecting personnel from stealing, losing, or other possible disputes during the collection process, many mechanisms have been invented. One of them is the sheet cartridge with a lock. The collecting personnel obtain a locked sheet cartridge from the automatic machine and cannot access the bills contained therein.  
         [0009]     However, there are many problems in the sheet cartridge to be solved. For example, if the design is not accurate enough or the structure is too complicated, the cost of the sheet cartridge may be too high. Moreover, one has to take into account the compatibility and security between the sheet cartridge and automatic machines.  
         [0010]     Therefore, it would be highly desirable if a sheet cartridge with low cost and high compatibility with the automatic machine can be invented. It will greatly increase the use of automatic machines and improve human life.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     An objective of the invention is to provide a sheet cartridge for storing sheets of paper. The sheet cartridge can be stored in an automatic machine or taken off from it. When the sheet cartridge is taken off from the automatic machine, its structure can protect the sheets stored therein.  
         [0012]     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a sheet cartridge is provided for an automatic processing device, such as an automatic vending machine, to store a certain type of sheets such as bills. The automatic processing device has a pushing block and a sheet feeding track. The pushing block has at least one protruding block to push sheets forward or backward according to a control command. Moreover, the sheet feeding track allows the certain type of sheets to move within the automatic processing device. The sheet cartridge is stored in a removable way inside the automatic device.  
         [0013]     The sheet cartridge has a first housing, at least one stop block, and a second housing. The first housing contains a sheet feeding part and an accepting part. The sheet feeding part has a sheet entrance. The accepting part has at least one patterned opening. When the sheet cartridge is stored in the automatic device, the sheet entrance faces the sheet feeding track to receive the certain type of sheets. The patterned opening faces and corresponds to the protruding block.  
         [0014]     The stop block is connected to the first housing. One surface of the stop block and the first housing together form a temporary space for accommodating the certain type of sheets entering from the sheet entrance.  
         [0015]     The second housing is connected to the stop block. Part of the second housing and the other surface of the stop block together form a storage space. The storage space is in connection with the temporary space.  
         [0016]     When the control command is enabled, the protruding block move in the sheet pushing direction and goes through the patterned opening, pushing the certain type of sheets in the temporary space into the storage space.  
         [0017]     The sheet cartridge can be locked while still being able to operate with the automatic processing device, i.e. sending sheets into the storage space. Therefore, the invention indeed provides a sheet cartridge with a high compatibility with automatic machines.  
         [0018]     In accord with the above description, the invention has at least the following advantages. First, the sheet cartridge can operate with an automatic processing device to achieve the basic functions of a sheet cartridge. Secondly, the sheet cartridge has a simple structure and low cost. Moreover, when the sheet cartridge is locked, it can protect sheet, such as bills, stored therein. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the invention, and wherein:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an automatic machine;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of feeding sheets into an automatic machine;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a sheet storage module according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a three-dimensional schematic view of the sheet cartridge in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5 ( a ) is a cross-sectional view of a state during the operation of the sheet cartridge;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5 ( b ) is a cross-sectional view of another state during the operation of the sheet cartridge;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6 ( a ) is a cross-sectional view of the interaction between the sheet cartridge and the pushing block in a first stage;  
         [0027]      FIG. 6 ( b ) is a cross-sectional view of the interaction between the sheet cartridge and the pushing block in a second stage;  
         [0028]      FIG. 6 ( c ) is a cross-sectional view of the interaction between the sheet cartridge and the pushing block in a third stage;  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the interaction between the sheet cartridge and the pushing block;  
         [0030]      FIG. 8 ( a ) is a schematic view showing the relation among the temporary space, the storage space, and the stop block;  
         [0031]      FIG. 8 ( b ) is a schematic view showing the relative relation between one stop block shape embodiment and the sheets;  
         [0032]      FIG. 8 ( c ) is a schematic view showing the relative relation between another stop block shape embodiment and the sheets;  
         [0033]      FIG. 9 ( a ) shows an embodiment of the patterned openings; and  
         [0034]      FIG. 9 ( b ) shows another embodiment of the patterned openings. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     Preferred Embodiment  
       [0035]     Please refer to  FIG. 1 , which shows an automatic machine  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The automatic machine  10  has a sheet entrance  101  and a coin inlet  102 . Examples of such an automatic machine  10  include automatic vending machines, monetary trading machine such as ATM and bill exchangers. The sheets received at the sheet entrance  101  include flat sheets such as bills, tickets, and various kinds of valued certificates.  
         [0036]     With reference to  FIG. 2 , sheets  202  such as bills enter via a sheet inserting mechanism  204 , such as an inlet and the connected transmitting track, into the automatic machine  10 . The sheets  204  are then examined by a checking mechanism  206  to determine whether they are of a predetermined type of sheets, e.g. checking their face values or whether they are fake. The checking is done by employing such techniques as magnetic ink, hidden magnetic stripes, or optical recognition. Finally, the qualified certain type of sheets are moved from the sheet feeding track to a storing mechanism  208 . The above-mentioned action is controlled by a controller  210 , which provides control commands to a stepping motor for driving the sheet feeding track or to a program for executing optical recognition.  
         [0037]     The storing module  208  in  FIG. 2  is further explained with reference to  FIG. 3 . In the drawing, the storing module  30  contains a pushing block  302  and a sheet cartridge  304 . The pushing block  302  has a pushing device  3020 , an axle  3025 , a base  3024 , and several protruding blocks  3026 . In addition, the pushing device  3020  has a stepping motor and a control circuit. The control circuit receives a control signal from the automatic machine to control the stepping motor, thereby driving the axle  3025 , the base  3024 , and the protruding blocks  3026  for moving in the direction of feeding sheets  3028 .  
         [0038]     Moreover, the sheet cartridge  304  has a first housing  3042 , a separator comprised of at least one stop block  3044 , and a second housing  3046 . The first housing  3042  has a sheet feeding part and an accepting part corresponding to the protruding blocks  3026 . The sheet feeding part has a sheet entrance  3043 . The accepting part has patterned openings  3041  corresponding to the protruding blocks  3026 .  
         [0039]     The sheet cartridge  304  is applicable in the automatic machine  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . Normally, the sheet cartridge  304  is installed inside the automatic machine. In this case, the sheet entrance  3043  faces the sheet feeding track of the automatic device to receive sheets, and the patterned openings  3041  face and correspond to the protruding blocks  3026 . When the sheets are loaded full, an operator takes the sheet cartridge  304  off the automatic machine  10  and brings it back to the company to retrieve the sheets stored therein.  
         [0040]     A three-dimensional view of the sheet cartridge  304  is shown in  FIG. 4 , where the numerals refer to the same matters as in  FIG. 3 . By comparing  FIG. 4  with  FIG. 3 , one can clearly understand the structure of the sheet cartridge  304 . To avoid the operator to touch the sheets stored in the sheet cartridge  304 , a lock can be installed on the sheet cartridge  304 .  
         [0041]     With reference to FIGS.  5 ( a ) and  5 ( b ), which show cross-sectional views of  FIG. 4  in two different states, with the numerals referring to the same matters in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5 ( a ) shows the normal use state of the sheet cartridge  304 . From the drawing, one sees that the first housing  3042  and one surface of the stop block  3044  form a temporary space  30421 . The second housing  3046  and the other surface of the stop block  3044  form a storage space  30461 . The sheets  3047  are normally stored in the storage space  30461 .  
         [0042]     For the convenience of collecting sheets, an elastic device  30462  is connected between the second housing  3046  and a stop board  30463 , the structure of which presses the sheets  3047  between the stop block  3044  and the stop board  30463 .  
         [0043]     With reference to  FIG. 5 ( b ), to protect the sheets stored in the sheet cartridge  304 , a lock device  305  is often installed on the sheet cartridge  304 . Once the sheet cartridge  304  is brought back to the company and unlocked, it is in the opened state shown in the drawing. In this case, the manager can readily take out neatly collected sheets  3047 .  
         [0044]     The cooperation between the pushing block  302  and the sheet cartridge  304  is shown in FIGS.  6 ( a ) to  6 ( c ) and  FIG. 7 . FIGS.  6 ( a ) to  6 ( c ) illustrate three states of interactions between the sheet cartridge  304  and the pushing block  302 .  FIG. 7  is a schematic flowchart of the process. The same numerals refer to the same or similar structures as in the previous figures and are not described again.  
         [0045]     In  FIG. 6 ( a ), a sheet  30471  is moved from the sheet entrance of the sheet cartridge  304  to the temporary space  3041  via the sheet feeding track of the automatic machine (step  702 ). In  FIG. 6 ( b ), the protruding blocks  3026  of the pushing block move in the direction of feeding sheets  3028  according to the control command sent out by the controller  210 . Since the sheet cartridge  304  has the patterned openings  3041  corresponding to the protruding blocks  3026 , the protruding blocks  3026  go through the patterned openings  3041  into the temporary space  3041  as they proceed, pushing the sheets  30471  stored in the temporary space  3041  past the stop block  34  into the storage space  30461  (step  704 ). At this moment, the sheets  3047  originally between the stop board  30463  and the stop block  3044  are pushed further back.  
         [0046]     Afterwards, the protruding blocks  3026  of the pushing block return to their original positions according to a control command. The elastic device  30462  presses against the stop board  30463 , pushing the sheets  30471  and other sheets  3047  in the direction opposite to feeding. In this way, the sheets  30471  are smoothly moved from the temporary space  30421  to the storage space  30461  (step  706 ).  
         [0047]     In the following, we use FIGS.  8 ( a ) to  8 ( c ) to describe the structure of the stop block  3044 . The same numerals refer to the same or similar structures as in the previous figures and are not described again.  
         [0048]     With reference to  FIG. 8 ( a ), the stop block  3044  is between the temporary space  30421  and the storage space  30461 . After the sheets  30471  enter the temporary space  30421 , the protruding blocks  3026  push the sheets  30471  in the sheet feeding direction  3028  to the storage space  30461 . The action of the stop block  3044  can be clearly seen in the drawing.  
         [0049]     Please refer to FIGS.  8 ( b ) and  8 ( c ), which describe the shape of the stop block from another perspective and the relation between the stop block  3026  and the sheets  30471 . In  FIG. 8 ( b ), the stop block  3044  is made of two separate plates. In  FIG. 8 ( c ), the stop block  3044  is made of three separate plates. In other words, the primary purpose of the stop block  3044  is to let the sheets  30471  stay in the temporary space  30421  or the storage space  30461  when they are not pushed by the protruding blocks  3026 . That is, any stop block  3044  in a combination of any shape and any number belongs to the scope of the invention.  
         [0050]     Please refer to FIGS.  9 ( a ) and  9 ( b ). Aside from many different variations of the stop block  3044 , the patterned openings  3041  may have many different variations too. As long as the patterned openings  3041  match the shapes of the protruding blocks  3026  and are smaller than the size of the sheets, so that the sheets do not move out of the sheet cartridge  304 , all the possible modifications belong to the scope of the invention. For example, in  FIG. 9 ( a ), the patterned opening  902  of the accepting part of the first housing is a rectangle. In  FIG. 9 ( b ), however, the patterned openings  3041  on the accepting part  91  have several geometric shapes or stripes.  
         [0051]     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.