Abstract:
A banknote cassette advantageously uses injection molded endcaps to capture and secure a connecting sleeve to collectively form a generally rectangular housing of the banknote cassette. A movable access lid cooperates with the endcaps and connecting sleeve for locking of the cassette. Preferably, a banknote slot is formed as part of one of the endcaps to provide precision in the size of position of the banknote slot. The endcaps can be used with different sized connecting sleeves to simplify the manufacture of different capacity banknote cassettes. Preferably, the connecting sleeve is of a metal material.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present application relates to a banknote validator system and in particular, relates to an improved banknote cassette used with the banknote validator system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is now common place to have unattended payment terminals where a customer provides payment in the form of banknotes to a banknote validator system that confirms the validity of the banknotes as part of the payment process. Typically, the banknote validators are associated with vending equipment, gaming machines or other payment terminals. 
         [0003]    The actual banknote validator system can be quite sophisticated and include a banknote accumulator which allows the recycling of banknotes as necessary, to provide change for a particular transaction. In other applications, the system merely includes a banknote validator and an associated banknote cassette for storing and stacking of received banknotes. The banknote cassette is removable from the system by an operator. Typically, a banknote cassette is removed and a new empty banknote cassette is inserted. The banknote cassettes are typically locked and the contents thereof are not accessible without additional security provisions being met. 
         [0004]    Banknote cassettes have traditionally been made of a number of different materials and designs. The cassettes are typically of a rectangular configuration and initially were metal boxes with an access door provided in the bottom thereof. One side of the banknote cassette includes an interior stacker mechanism and the opposite side of the banknote cassette includes a large storage area for receiving stacked banknotes. A banknote slot and guide arrangement is provided adjacent the stacker mechanism that receives banknotes from the validator. The stacker mechanism forces a received banknote through the guide arrangement and into a storage area provided to one side of the guide arrangement where the banknotes are maintained in a stack. A pressure plate was provided in the storage arrangement for engaging the first banknote to be added to the storage arrangement and a spring bias arrangement urges the pressure plate against the stack of banknotes. 
         [0005]    Power for moving of the stacker arrangement from an initial compressed state to one side of the guide arrangement to an extended state pushing the banknote through the guide arrangement and into the storage area is provided by a transfer mechanism or drive member exposed to the exterior of the banknote cassette. Many of these banknote cassettes are made of a metal construction that allows the walls of the banknote cassette to be relatively thin while providing excellent security. As can be appreciated, the structural integrity of the banknote cassette is important as service personnel will be removing these cassettes and transporting them to a distant secure environment. The possibility of tampering with the banknote cassette remains high and thus, security is critical. 
         [0006]    In some environments such as the gaming environment, the possibility of physically damaging of the banknote cassette is less, however, the cassette must provide a system where it is not possible to withdraw the banknotes without authorized opening of the access door. Some banknote cassettes also include a removable memory device to record the number and amount of the banknotes stored in the cassette. 
         [0007]    There are applications for banknote cassettes where security is somewhat less important. In this case it has been known to produce banknote cassettes with a plastic housing while the cassette remains lockable. More recently, it has been proposed to produce a banknote cassette where the actual box of the cassette is a single molded plastic component with a hinged lockable access door. Allegedly, plastic cassettes are more durable and resistant to damage caused by dropping of the cassette. 
         [0008]    Banknote cassettes are not necessarily of the same capacity. Basically, the banknote cassette is designed to store a certain number of banknotes before service is required. A small capacity banknote cassette may store 100 banknotes whereas other applications require storage of several hundred banknotes. Basically, the depth of the banknote cassette changes with the capacity thereof. 
         [0009]    Plastic molded cassettes have certain advantages with respect to resiliency and are less prone to damage if the cassette is dropped. Metal cassettes are typically more secure but somewhat more prone to damage if dropped. 
         [0010]    It would be desirable to provide a banknote cassette design which is economical to manufacture and easily varied to accommodate a particular capacity. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    A banknote cassette for receiving and stacking of banknotes according to the present invention comprises a rectangular housing selectively closed at one end by a movable access lid. The rectangular housing includes two plastic molded endcaps forming opposite walls of the housing and cooperating with a sleeve defining three connected walls of the housing. The plastic molded endcaps interconnect with the sleeve portion to provide the rectangular housing with the interior thereof being accessible through the access lid. 
         [0012]    According to an aspect of the invention, one endcap of the banknote cassette is a stacker endcap having an interior surface adapted to receive a stacker mechanism to one side of a banknote slot provided in said cassette. 
         [0013]    According to a further aspect of the invention, the other endcap is a storage endcap adapted to hingedly engage the access lid. 
         [0014]    In a preferred aspect of the invention, each end cap includes recessed walls receiving and locking with securing portions of said sleeve interior to said endcaps. 
         [0015]    According to a different aspect of the invention, the storage end cap includes an interior molded spring retainer that engages and retains a bias spring connected to a movable banknote pressure plate. 
         [0016]    In a further aspect of the invention, the sleeve is mechanically secured to the storage endcap and the stacker endcap. 
         [0017]    In a further aspect of the invention, the stacker endcap is elongate and includes a recessed end wall that receives a drive portion of said stacker mechanism exposed on the exterior of the cassette. 
         [0018]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, the exposed drive portion of the stacker includes a banknote slot for receiving banknotes into said cassette. 
         [0019]    In a further aspect of the invention, the exposed drive portion includes drive rollers on opposite sides of the banknote slot. 
         [0020]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, the exposed drive portion includes a drive gear of the stacker mechanism. 
         [0021]    In a different aspect of the invention, the stacker endcap includes alignment slots on one end thereof and latching recesses in sidewalls and an end wall of the stacker endcap. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a banknote validator system with a banknote cassette about to be received therein; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  with the banknote received in a banknote validator system; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the banknote cassette with the access door in an open configuration; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the banknote cassette; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the banknote cassette showing additional details of the stacker mechanism received in the stacker end cap; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the banknote cassette showing the closed end thereof; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view through the banknote cassette; 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view through the banknote showing details of the stacker mechanism and the pressure plate provided in the storage arrangement; 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view showing the cooperation between the stacker mechanism and the stacker end cap; 
           [0032]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the assembled stacker end cap and stacker mechanism; 
           [0033]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the banknote cassette and a retaining latch arrangement of the validator system; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the latch arrangement retaining the banknote cassette. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]      FIG. 1  shows a banknote validator system  2  having a banknote validator  4  which releasably receives the banknote cassette  6 . Banknotes are received through the banknote slot  5  of the validator and are analyzed for authenticity. If the validator  4  determines a banknote to be acceptable, it is processed through the validator and passed into the banknote cassette  6  through the banknote slot generally shown as  7 . In more sophisticated validator systems, the banknote cassette may be separated from the validator by further components. 
         [0036]    The banknote cassette  6  has a generally rectangular housing  8  defined by the plastic molded stacker endcap  10 , the plastic molded storage endcap  12 , and the interconnecting sleeve  14 . These components cooperate to define five sides of the rectangular housing  8  and the hinged access lid  16  forms the sixth side to allow selective closure of the rectangular housing. Preferably the interconnecting sleeve is of a stamped metal component and the access lid  16  is of a molded plastic construction. 
         [0037]    The molding of the stacker endcap  10  and the storage endcap  12  is relatively straightforward as these components are relatively shallow and each endcap is generally open to the interior thereof. The stacker endcap  14  also receives a stacker mechanism  28 . The stacker mechanism  28  cooperates with the stacker endcap  14  to define locking recesses  24  and  26  which accommodate the lock cylinders  20  and  22  provided at the free end  18  of the access lid  14 . Suitable latching arrangements are provided on the lock cylinders for engaging latching surfaces of the molded stacker endcap  14 . 
         [0038]    In  FIG. 3 , the banknote cassette  6  is shown with the access lid  16  open such that the storage area  30  is accessible. This storage area receives and stacks banknotes between a backface  32  of the stacker mechanism  30  and a spring biased pressured plate  34 . The pressure plate  34  is biased by the spring member  36  retained within securing recess  38 , molded into the storage endcap  12 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  shows the general principles of assembly of the interconnecting sleeve  14  with the storage endcap  12  and the stacker endcap  10 . The interconnecting sleeve  14  has opposed side walls  40  and  42  joined by the connecting end wall  44 . This sleeve is preferably a stamped metal component with suitable reinforcing channels provided in the side walls  40  and  42 . Each side wall  40  and  42  includes downwardly extending securing hooks  46  for engaging locking recesses  54  provided on each side of the storage endcap  12 . The side walls  40  and  42  include upwardly extending securing hooks  48  for engaging locking recesses provided on the interior edges of the stacking endcap  10 . The securement of the interconnecting sleeve  14  to the storage endcap  12  and the stacker endcap  10  are illustrated in the sectional view of  FIG. 7 . The securing hooks  46  can be received within the recess cavity  55  in the side wall of the storage endcap  12  and then moved downwardly into the locking recess  54 . The sleeve  14  is then positively retained in the storage endcap and securing rivets  62  pass through holes  63  in the connecting end wall  44  and are held in the securing flanges  64  of the storage endcap  12 . 
         [0040]    The upwardly extending hooks  48  have a similar cooperation with locking recesses provided in the storage endcap  12  as shown in  FIG. 7 . In this case, securing rivets  52  pass through the locking tabs  50  and are engaged and retained in the stacker endcap  10 . This particular locking arrangement provides a secure rectangular housing  8  that is selectively closed on the one end by the access lid  16 . The access lid  16  includes outwardly extending flange portions  17  either side of the lid that extend over and cover the exposed edges  19  of the interconnecting sleeve  14 . 
         [0041]    The stacker endcap  10  includes exposed alignment ribs  85  that act as guide surfaces for registering the banknote cassette with the frame of the banknote validating system  2 . The storage endcap  12  includes a recess  89  in an exterior surface that receives and retains the foldaway handle  91 . 
         [0042]    The stacker mechanism  28  as shown in  FIG. 5  includes a first end  31  which cooperates with the stacker endcap  10  to provide the recesses  24  and  26  for receiving the locking cylinders  20  and  22  of the lid  16 . The end  29  of the stacker mechanism  28  is provided at the opposite end of the stacker endcap  10  and closes the inwardly directed recess  33 . Basically, the stacker mechanism which is releasably held in the stacker endcap  10 , defines the banknote slot through which banknotes are received for storage in the banknote cassette  6 . In addition, it includes the mechanism for moving a pusher mechanism through the guide arrangement to add a banknote received in the banknote slot to the stack of banknotes provided in the banknote cassette. With this arrangement, the assembly of the stacker mechanism is completed before connection to the stacker endcap  10 . As shown in the cross sectional view of  FIG. 8 , the stacker mechanism  28  includes a series of gears and levers and thus the separate assembly of this component is desired. It also includes various rollers and gears provided at the exposed end of the stacker endcap which receives the banknotes. The use of a separate stacker assembly simplifies the manufacture and assures an accurate arrangement for receiving of banknotes into the banknote cassette. 
         [0043]    As can be appreciated from a review of  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 3 , the stacker mechanism  28  forms part of the ends of the stacker endcap  10 . The access lid  16  covers the stacker mechanism  28  when it is closed whereas the banknote slot of the stacker mechanism and the various drive components are exposed at the opposite end of the stacker endcap  10 . 
         [0044]    Assembly of the stacker mechanism  28  to the stacker endcap  10  is shown in  FIG. 9 . The various linkages for the stacker mechanism  28  are provided in a central portion of the stacker mechanism  28  and various slide arrangements are provided for retaining of the stacker mechanism  28  in the stacker endcap  10 . Suitable securing pins  71  can be provided securing of the stacker mechanism in the stacker endcap. 
         [0045]    The assembled stacker mechanism  28  and stacker endcap  10  are shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 11  illustrates the banknote cassette  6  about to be received by the opposed latches  100  that would be secured in a frame of the banknote validator system. Each latch includes a spring loaded toggle  102  shown in the release position in  FIG. 11  and in an engaged position in  FIG. 12 . Coil spring bias  104  urges the toggle  102  to either the release position of  FIG. 11  or the engaged position of  FIG. 12 . 
         [0047]    The forward edge  106  of the toggle strikes face  108  when the banknote cassette is inserted and causes the toggle to rotate about pivot axis  110 . The curved surface  112  of the cassette cooperates with the spring bias to move the cassette to a consistent received position. 
         [0048]    The lower surface  114  of the latch can include a switch  116  with an actuating arm  118 . The actuating arm  118  is moved upwardly by the cassette closing the switch when the cassette is properly received. Logic of the validator is used to process the signal as part of the banknote cassette loading confirmation. This signal can also be used to actuate an alarm if the cassette is removed without authorization. 
         [0049]    This particular arrangement for a banknote cassette advantageously uses shallow endcaps  10  and  12  in combination with an interconnecting sleeve  14  preferably of a metal construction for defining of the rectangular housing  8 . A suitable access lid  16  is provided at the open end of the container. With this arrangement, the endcaps can remain the same for banknote cassettes of different capacities. As can be appreciated, the interconnecting sleeve  14  can be made of additional depth to thereby define a banknote cassette of additional capacity. In some cases, if the capacity becomes large enough, an additional biasing arrangement may be required. Typically the stacker endcap  10  and the stacker mechanism remain the same, regardless of the capacity. This arrangement provides a structure where the tooling for the endcaps can be justified based on the manufacture of essentially a number of different capacity banknote cassettes. The actual endcaps and stacking mechanism can have significant detail and undercutting as the endcaps are not particularly deep and the higher cost of any movable portions of the mold are easily justified. Different interconnecting sleeves are required for different capacities but these components are relatively inexpensive and the tooling is relatively simple. The edge profile of the sleeves remains the same. The interconnecting sleeve is preferably of metal and produced by a metal stamping operation. 
         [0050]    The sidewalls of the connecting sleeve can include viewing ports  87  for providing an indication of the number of banknotes stored, and the remaining capacity. 
         [0051]    Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.