Cash drawer and weighing module

A cash drawer has a weighing module comprising a plurality of cups; the cash drawer has a front and a rear. The cups are arranged such that four prone note cups, five coin cups and two vertical note cups are provided. The four prone note cups are arranged rearwards of the five coin cups and forwards of the two vertical note cups. A weighing module for a cash drawer is also provided, which comprises a plurality of note cups and coin cups arranged on respective load cells. At least some of the cups are movable relative to respective load cells on which they are arranged.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present technology relates to a cash drawer and a weighing module therefor, and especially, although not exclusively a cash drawer for a cash drawer unit for use with a separate Electronic Point Of Sale (EPOS) device. The cash drawer may also be for a cash register and in either case is most suitably a sliding cash drawer.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Cash registers with sliding cash drawers have been well known for many years. More recently separate cash drawer units with sliding cash drawers or with flip top lids which reveal the cash drawer, for use with associated EPOS units have become increasingly widespread.

Cash drawers incorporating weighing modules are also known, for example, Tellermate Limited sell such cash drawers under the trade mark T-ICE. These drawers include a series of coin cups to receive different denominations of coins, together with vertically oriented note cups, to receive different denominations of notes. These vertically oriented note cups are considered suitable for countries where notes are easily distinguished without seeing their faces, for example by virtue of being different sizes and/or different colours. Vertical storage for notes is generally preferred because it can obviate the need for note clips and can take less space in the X and Y axes, allowing for narrow and/or less deep (front to back) drawers, sometimes at the expense of height (Z-axis).

Such an arrangement is, however, not considered suitable for other countries, such as USA, where notes of different denominations are the same size and colour, because it is too difficult to distinguish which notes should go in which of the different note cups without seeing the faces of the notes stored therein.

Typically in USA banknotes are arranged in a tray having five prone note cups each having its long axis extending front to back and having a clip to retain the notes therein. Coins are stored in 5 coin cups, one in front of each note cup. There are currently seven denominations of banknote in production and five denominations of coin. Consequently, whilst there is space for each coin to be stored separately, there is not space for each note. Accordingly, the most frequently used, and less valuable notes $1, $5, $10, $20 are generally stored in the cups in the tray and the more valuable, less frequently used notes ($100) are stored underneath the tray. $2 notes are so rare that provision is not normally made for them—if encountered, they can be stored with the $1 notes (or refused).

Such an arrangement cannot work with a cash drawer having a weighing module therein, because each cup is separate and fixedly attached to a load cell beneath it in order to ensure accurate weighing. In any case, for accurate weighing (and hence accurate determination of the value of currency stored in the drawer) it is necessary for each denomination of note to be stored in a respective cup.

This fixed attachment of each cup to its associated load cell has another disadvantage, in that, especially in a sliding drawer, the cups can be deliberately or inadvertently pulled by operators and this can damage the load cells leading to incorrect results or even the necessity to repair the drawer.

An object of the present technology is to provide an improved cash drawer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present technology there is provided a cash drawer having a weighing module comprising a plurality of cups; wherein the cash drawer has a front and a rear; the cups arranged such that four prone note cups, five coin cups and two vertical note cups are provided; the prone note cups being provided rearwards of the five coin cups and forwards of the two vertical note cups.

A prone note cup is a note cup intended and designed to receive notes lying flat (with their plane substantially horizontal). Each prone note cup may comprise a clip to clip down the notes. There may be only four prone note cups.

The prone note cups may have a long axis running perpendicular to the front and rear of the cash drawer.

A coin cup is intended and designed to receive coins. There may be only five coin cups.

A vertical note cup is intended and designed to receive notes with their plane substantially vertical, generally having their long axes substantially horizontal and their short axes substantially vertical. Typically a vertical note cup is taller than it is wide and longer than it is tall. There may be only two vertical note cups.

The vertical note cups may have a long axis extending parallel with the front and rear of the cash drawer.

The provision of vertical note cups towards the rear of the drawer means that a user tends to view the notes within the cups at a less acute angle than the cups towards the front or in the middle. Consequently, it is easier to see the contents of those cups. The vertical note cups are intended to receive high value, less frequently used notes, such as $50 and $100 notes. Consequently, they do not need to fit many notes in. Moreover, since most of the note cups, for most of the more frequently used denominations ($1, $5, $10 and $20) remain prone, in the event that the user cannot immediately see which of the notes goes in which vertical cup, he/she only has to remember which denominations go into two cups, which is a relatively straightforward task (no provision is made for $2 notes in view of their rarity). Additionally, since the high value denominations are infrequently used, it will be rare to have to spend extra time checking, if a user forgets which vertical note cup to place them into. A still further advantage of vertical cups is that it is more difficult for a would-be thief to grab notes from such cups (as they are thin) than from prone note cups and a yet further advantage is that placement of the vertical note cups at the rear of the drawer makes it more difficult for a would-be thief to reach in, and more obvious if a dishonest employee attempts to take out notes from these cups.

One perceived disadvantage of vertical note cups is that they have to be higher than traditional prone note cups (since the height is not merely determined by the highest stack of notes that will be received, but the width of a note); this means that the drawer containing the note must generally be higher. The inventor has determined that as a consequence of this greater depth, although the prone note cups must remain of a fixed width (sufficient to fit the width of the note therein), the coin cups can be adapted to fit the same number of coins in, whilst being narrower. Consequently, the width of the drawer can be reduced as five (narrower) coin cups can fit within a smaller space and the total width is determined by the width of the four prone note cups. Thus a more compact drawer can be produced, whilst still including a cup for each note (apart from the very rarely seen $2 note) and a cup for each coin.

According to a second aspect of the present technology there is provided a weighing module for a cash drawer comprising a plurality of note cups and coin cups arranged on respective load cells, where at least some of the cups are movable relative to respective load cells on which they are arranged.

The cups may be arranged as set out in relation to the first aspect of the present technology, including any of the optional features or combination of optional features.

Each cup may have a base and each respective load cell may be fixedly attached to a cup holder. Fixed attachment of the cup holder allows the location on which the weight will bear on the load cell to be accurately determined, despite the cup itself being moveable.

The weighing module may comprise a tray having cavities in which each cup is seated and apertures in the base, through which the cups are attached to their respective load cells. The tray may be arranged such that the cavities receive cups, but the cups do not touch the tray once seated on respective cup holders.

At least some of the cups, preferably coin cups, may be removable from respective load cells.

The base of each removable cup may have a formation mating with a formation on the cup holder.

The fit between the formations may be a transition fit or an interference fit. It is vital to accurate weighing that the interface between the coin cup and the load cell, hence between the removable cup and the removable cup holder and between the removable cup holder and the load cell, is reliable and consistent. Hence a close fit between the mating formations is advantageous.

Each removable cup holder may comprise a platform with a formation extending therefrom. The platform may provide a stable surface, whilst the formation may provide for a close fit when the cup is seated thereon. The formation on the coin cup holder may fit within the formation on the coin cup.

Providing a movable cup reduces the potential for users to pull on (and thereby damage) the respective load cell. Providing a removable cup allows for the cup to be removed without damage and allows for its contents to be weighed on a separate machine if required (e.g. for verification of the contents).

At least some of the cups, preferably the vertical note cups, may be movable relative to, but irremovable from their respective load cells.

It will be understood that an irremovably attached cup is neither intended nor suitable for removal and damage may be caused by removal. However, irremovable attachment, is not to be interpreted as permanent attachment, e.g. with a permanent bond.

The base of each irremovable cup may be attached to, but movable relative to the respective cup holder.

Each irremovable cup holder may comprise a platform on which the cup may be seated having one or more aperture therethrough and the irremovable cups may comprise one or more projections extending through the one or more apertures. The projections may be provided with clips to irremovably secure the irremovable cups to the respective cup holder whilst allowing relative movement.

The interface between the one or more projection and its respective aperture may be loose-fitting, but close fitting. This allows easy relative movement, but ensures accurate location.

This allows the cup holder to be pulled, without pulling on (and damaging) the load cell, whilst the irremovable connection keeps the cup attached to the holder, so that once pulling ceases it returns to the correct position, seated on the platform.

Each cup, cup holder and load cell may be arranged perpendicular to each other. The cup holder may be arranged to hold the primary axis of each cup perpendicular to the primary axis of the load cell, e.g. the (in-normal-use horizontal axis of the) beam of a strain gauge load cell may be held perpendicular to the (vertical in use) axis of the cup, in which currency is introduced).

This obviates any error at the base of the component stack (i.e. between load cell and holder, or cup and holder, being amplified and leading to the cup touching the tray in which it is held (which would lead to inaccurate measurement of the weight (and hence value) of the currency within).

The present technology extends to a cash drawer comprising the weighing module of the second aspect of the present technology including any optional features or combination of optional features, and any combination of features/optional features from the first and second aspects. The present technology further extends to a cash drawer unit (in particular a sliding cash drawer unit or a flip top cash drawer unit), or a cash register, comprising the cash drawer of the first aspect, and/or the weighing module of the second aspect optionally including and any optional feature, or combination of optional features.

With reference to the figures, in particularFIG. 1, a cash drawer1is provided with a number of cups2a,2b,3a,3b,3c,3d,4a,4b,4c,4d,4earranged within a tray5. The cash drawer1is intended to be held in a slidable cradle, so as to slide in and out of a cash drawer unit6(shown inFIGS. 6 and 7) for use with a separate EPOS (not shown), but could equally slide out of an integrated cash register (not shown), or be provided in a cash drawer unit having a flip top lid as a separate flip-top cash drawer unit. The cash drawer has a front7which advances foremost, sliding out of the cash drawer unit6and a rear8, which is closest to the housing of the cash drawer unit6when the drawer slides out. The drawer1has two sides9and a base10; the top being open to allow currency to be placed in cups2a,2b,3a,3b,3c,3d,4a,4b,4c,4d,4e, which form part of the weighing module.

The casing of the cash drawer1of this embodiment of the present technology is in metal, but of course other suitable materials are available (metal has the advantage of shielding components (e.g. load cells and the PCB discussed below) from electrical noise). Various mechanisms for carrying the cash drawer1and sliding it out of the cash register6will be well known to those skilled in the art, so they are not described in any detail here. The tray5and cups2a,2b,3a,3b,3c,3d,4a,4b,4c,4d,4eof weighing module in this embodiment are formed from ABS plastic material, e.g. by injection moulding, but of course, other plastics materials, or even other different non-plastics materials could be used.

As can be seen most easily fromFIG. 1, the cups2a,2b,3a,3b,3c,3d,4a,4b,4c,4d,4eare not all the same and their arrangement in the cash drawer1has been carefully determined. Towards the rear8of the cash drawer1two vertical note cups2a,2bare provided. These vertical note cups2a,2bare intended and designed to receive notes with their plane substantially vertical, having their long axes horizontal and their short axes vertical. Consequently, the vertical note cups2a,2bare taller than they are wide and longer than they are tall. The vertical note cups2a,2bhave their long axes extending parallel to the front and rear of the cash drawer.

Each vertical cup2a,2bhas a pair of cut-outs26at the upper end of each of its long sides, to aid the user in pulling out notes.

One vertical note cup2ais arranged at the rear of the cash drawer1on the left hand side, with the other vertical note cup2barranged on the right hand side. Their long axes are co-linear. The vertical note cups are intended to receive high-value denominations of banknotes, for example, $50 notes may be placed in the left hand vertical note cup2aand $100 notes in the right hand vertical note cup2b. Indicia may be provided on the vertical note cups2a,2b, or adjacent to the vertical note cups2a,2b, on the tray5to indicate the notes intended to be received. It is, of course, vital to accurately recording the value of notes in the cash drawer1that the user places currency in the correct cup.

Forward of the vertical note cups2a,2b, four prone note cups3a,3b,3c,3dare provided. Each prone note cup3a,3b,3c,3dis a note cup intended and designed to receive notes lying flat (with their plane substantially horizontal). Each prone note cup3a,3b,3c,3dcomprises a clip11to clip down the notes. The construction of clips is well known to those skilled in the art and hence not described here in detail.

The prone note cups3a,3b,3c,3dare arranged parallel to one another and to the sides8, with their long axes running perpendicular to the front7and rear8of the cash drawer1. The prone note cups are intended to receive lower value banknotes, and they, or the tray, may be provided with indicia noting which notes they are intended to receive. For example $1 bills may be housed in the leftmost cup3a, with $5 bills in the cup3bto the right of it, $10 bills in the right-of-centre cup3cand $20 bills in the rightmost prone note cup3d. No provision is made for $2 bills as they are very rarely used.

Towards the front7of the cash drawer1, five coin cups4a,4b,4c,4d,4eare provided. The coin cups are intended and designed to receive coins. Unconventionally, these coin cups4a,4b,4c,4d,4eare less wide than the prone note cups3a,3b,3c,3din front of which they are arranged, and they are not arranged in in line with respective prone note cups3a,3b,3c,3d. The width of the coin cups4a,4b,4c,4d,4eis determined such that when they are arranged in the tray5, their total width (i.e. from the extreme left hand side of the left-most coin cup4ato the extreme right hand side of the right-most coin cup4e) is substantially equal to the total width of the prone note cups3a,3b,3c,3d(i.e. from the extreme left hand side of the left-most prone note cup3ato the extreme right hand side of the right-most prone note cup3d). The coin cups are intended to each receive a specific denomination of coin and the tray5may be provided with indicia showing for example 1 cent in the leftmost coin cup4a,5 cent in the next leftmost cup4b,10 cent in the central cup4c,50 cent in the centre-right cup4d, and $1 in the far right coin cup4e.

The height of the vertical note cups2a,2bis substantially equal to the height of the coin cups4a-4e, and is in the region of 2.64 inches (67 mm) internally, compared to 2.17 inches (55 mm) for the coin cup (internally), whilst the height of the prone note cups3a-3dis shallower, e.g. 1.26 inches (32 mm) internally. Those skilled in the art will of course realise that this is merely one suitable size and that in light of this description, appropriate height can be determined by reference to the height of notes intended to be stored in the vertical note cups and by trial and error if necessary.

As shown inFIG. 4, since the prone note cups3a-dneed not be as high as the vertical note cups2a,2bor the coin cups4a-e, the tray5in which they are housed can be shallower in the region of the prone note cups3a-3d. Accordingly, other components of the weighing module, such as the analogue-to-digital converter (ADC)12can be housed beneath a plinth13, on which load cells14(seeFIGS. 2 and 3) for the prone note cups3a-3dare provided.

The prone note cups3a-dof this embodiment are immovably attached to their respective load cells14in the conventional manner (not shown), because their shape, their position in the drawer1and the way in which notes are introduced and removed from them (in particular the orientation of the notes) means they are less likely to be pulled. However, they could be secured in a manner similar to that of the vertical note cups21,2b, or the coin cups4a-eas discussed below.

The arrangement of the cups2a-b,3a-d,4a-ein the drawer1is determined by the tray5visible inFIGS. 1, 2 and 4and shown isolated inFIG. 5. The tray5is secured to the casing of the cash drawer1via (preferably tamper proof) fastenings, which secure the tray at fastening points22which in this embodiment are provided in an upper surface23its corners and arranged centrally towards the front and the rear. The tray5is also provided with feet24, which space its lower surface25from the bottom of the casing of cash drawer1, in order that the analogue-to-digital converter (ADC)12, or any other parts of the weighing module may be arranged beneath the tray5.

The tray5comprises a plurality of cavities extending between the upper surface23and the lower surface25, the cavities being sized, shaped and arranged to receive the cups2a-b,3a-d,4a-e.

Consequently, at the rear, two co-linear long, deep and narrow cavities27are provided. These cavities27each have a substantially rectangular lateral cross section, with co-linear long axes, each slightly longer than the length of the vertical note cups2a,2band slightly wider than the width of those vertical note cups2a,2b. The long axes of the cavities27extend laterally across the tray5, parallel with the front and rear of the cash drawer1. Recesses28are provided in the rear surfaces of the long, deep and narrow cavities27, which correspond in location to the cut outs26in the cups2a,2b, so that notes can be more easily removed from the vertical note cups2a,2b.

In this embodiment, the cavities27for the vertical note cups2a,2bare slightly less deep than the height of the vertical note cups2a,2b, so that the vertical note cups2a,2bextend slightly out of the top. As most easily seen fromFIG. 4, the bottom of the cavities27for the vertical note cups2a,2bare open, (i.e. an aperture is provided across the entire base) to allow for the vertical note cups2a,2bto be supported via holders (discussed below) on load cells29.

As a result of the slightly larger size of the narrow cavities27than the vertical note cups2a,2b, when the note cups2a,2bare installed, there is always a gap between them and the tray5.

Forward of the two co-linear long, deep and narrow cavities27for the vertical note cups2a,2bfour further cavities30extend. These further cavities30once again have a rectangular cross section, but are long, shallow, and relatively wide compared to the narrow cavities27. The long axis of each of the long, shallow and relatively wide cavities30extends perpendicular to the front7and rear8of the cash drawer, parallel to the sides9.

Owing to their shallowness, the bottom surface25of the tray5in the regions of these shallow cavities30is higher than the bottom surface in the other regions. Consequently more space is provided under the tray5in this region and, as shown inFIG. 2, and shown best inFIGS. 3 and 4, a plinth13is provided, on the underneath of which is an ADC12(provided on a PCB), and on the upper side of which the load cells14for the prone note cups3a-3dare provided.

As will of course be recognised, these shallow cavities30are each sized, shaped and arranged to receive one of the prone note cups3a-dand in consequence, are each slightly longer and slightly wider than the prone note cups3a-d. Each shallow cavity30has an aperture31in its base through which, as best seen inFIG. 2, the load cells14for the prone note cups3a-3dextend. The prone note cups3a-3dare attached to the load cells14in a manner whereby they will not touch the sides, or the bottom of the cavities30in use.

Forward of the shallow cavities30, between their front ends and the front of the tray5, five further cavities32are provided, each intended to receive a coin cup4a-e. These coin-cup-cavities32are relatively deep, being of slightly greater depth than the main body of coin cups4a-e, and each is slightly longer and wider than a coin cup4a-e, such that once installed in respective cavities, the top of the coin cups4a-eare substantially flush with the upper surface23of the tray5, but in ordinary use, the cups4a-edo not touch the sides of the cavity. Again an aperture33is provided in each cavity (best seen inFIG. 2), through which the base of each coin cup4a-eis removably attached to a respective coin cup holder34best shown inFIG. 4, so as to be supported on a respective load cell35as discussed in greater detail below.

It will be appreciated that the cups2a,2b,3a,3b,3c,3d,4a,4b,4c,4d,4eare completely isolated from the cavities27,30,32in which they are arranged and in use do not touch any part of the tray5. Any touching between cup2a,2b,3a,3b,3c,3d,4a,4b,4c,4d,4eand cavity27,30,32would cause incorrect operation of the respective load cells14,29,35and inaccurate readings to be delivered from them.

Accordingly, the reliability and consistency of the interface between the movable cups2a,2b,4a-eand the load cells29,35which weigh them, is of importance. As set out above, the prone note cups3dare immovably attached to the load cells14which support them, so misalignment on the load cell14, or movement to touch the tray5is not a concern.

The coin cups4a-e, on the other hand, are not only movable with respect to the load cells35, on which they are supported, but removable from them. Consequently, as described with reference toFIGS. 8-10an arrangement is provided which ensures that each coin cup4a-eis reliably and consistently aligned on its respective load cell35.

Load cells35are conventional strain gauge load cells and not described in detail (obviously other types of load cells could be used). As is normal, they each comprise a beam36that deforms when weight is applied, changing the resistance, so that a different output is supplied to the ADC12. It is essential that weight bears consistently in the same place on the beam36. Accordingly, a coin cup holder34is provided between each coin cup4a-eand its respective load cell35. Each coin cup holder34comprises a load-cell attachment portion37sized and shaped for permanent attachment to the free end of the beam36of the load cell35. The beam36in this embodiment is generally cuboid, so load cell attachment portion37, is therefore provided with a generally cuboid space38having two open sides, which fits to the end of the beam. The generally cuboid space of this embodiment is provided with aligning ribs39to ensure precise alignment, such that the platform40from which the load-cell attachment portion37depends is exactly parallel with the plane of the upper side of the beam36of the load cell35.

The coin cup holder34is fixedly attached (via the load-cell attachment portion37) in the same manner as a coin cup would be conventionally permanently attached; for example with adhesive or a bolt and washer (not shown).

Whilst the load-cell attachment portion37of the coin cup holder34depends from the underside of the platform40, the upper side of the platform40is provided with a formation41which mates with a corresponding formation42on the base of each coin cup4a-e. The shapes and sizes of the mating formations41,42are designed such that there is a close fit between each coin cup4a-eand its respective coin cup holder34; the fit being a transition fit or light interference fit. In the present embodiment, each formation41on the upper side of the platform34is generally square and the platform40itself is generally circular. The shape of the platform40may easily be changed with little or no effect, and the shape of the formation41is readily changeable provided that it interfaces accurately with the corresponding formation42on the base of the coin cup4a-e. The formation42on the base of the coin cup4a-eis, therefore, also square, forming a square recess sized to receive the formation41on the coin cup holder34as a transition or light interference fit. The recess formed by the formation42is deeper than the height of the formation41, consequently, the base of the formation42bears on the platform40, and accordingly, it is important that the base of the formation42is accurately perpendicular to the axis of the coin cup4a-ewhich will be substantially vertical in use, because that bearing surface defines the orientation of the cup4a-erelative to the coin cup holder34(hence to the load cell35, hence to the weighing module, hence to the drawer1as a whole). In this embodiment, gaps43are provided between parts of the upstanding formation41, and depressions44are formed in the underside of the formation42; this allows air to escape from within the formations, so as to aid attachment and removal of the coin cup4a-efrom the coin cup holder34.

The platform40sits beneath the aperture33in the tray5(as shown inFIG. 2), with the formations41,42extending through the aperture33, so that the main body of the coin cup4aremains above the base of its respective cavity32. Of course, the height of the formations41,42is determined such that even with a full load, there will always be a gap between the cup4a-eand the cavity32.

In this embodiment, each coin cup4a-ehas the same shaped formation42on its base and can therefore be used on any cup holder34. With such interchangability, it is important that the coin cups each weigh the same (e.g. 33.6 g+/−0.3 g), in order that they can be replaced in different positions without the need for recalibration.

As best understood fromFIGS. 11-13, the vertical note cups2a,2bare movable with respect to the load cells29on which they are supported, but not removable from those load cells29.

Consequently, an arrangement is provided which ensures that each vertical note cup2a,2bis reliably and consistently aligned on its respective load cell29.

Load cells29are also conventional strain gauge load cells and not described in detail (obviously other types of load cells could be used). As is normal, they each comprise a beam45that deforms when weight is applied, changing the resistance, so that a different output is supplied to the ADC12. It is essential that weight bears consistently in the same place on the beam45. Accordingly, a vertical note cup holder46is provided between each vertical note cup2a,2band its respective load cell29. Each vertical note cup holder46comprises a load-cell attachment portion47sized and shaped for permanent attachment to the free end of the beam45of the load cell29. The beam45in this embodiment is again generally cuboid, so load cell attachment portion47, is therefore provided with a generally cuboid space48having two open sides, which fits to the end of the beam. The generally cuboid space of this embodiment is provided with aligning ribs49to ensure precise alignment, such that the platform50from which the load-cell attachment portion47depends is exactly parallel with the plane of the upper side of the beam45of the load cell29.

The vertical note cup holder46is fixedly attached (via the load-cell attachment portion47) in the same manner as a note/coin cup would be conventionally permanently attached and the same way as the coin cup holders34are attached to their respective load cells35; for example with adhesive—or a bolt and washer (not shown).

Whilst the load-cell attachment portion47of the vertical note cup holder46depends from the underside of the platform50, the upper side of the platform50of the vertical note holder has no formations and provides a flat surface on which the flat base51of each vertical note cup2a,2bcan rest. Two apertures52extend through the platform50of the vertical note cup holders46, arranged near each of its ends (the vertical note cup holder46being long and thin so as to match the shape of the underside of each vertical note cup2a,2b). Additional perforations53are also provided to allow access to the load cell fixing positions, in case any adjustment is required. Holes are provided on either side, in order to retain the symmetrical balance of the component.

Two projections54extend from the bottom of each vertical note holder2a,2band in use, extend through the apertures52arranged near the ends of the vertical note cup holders46. The interface between the projections54and the apertures51, sets the alignment of the vertical note cups2a,2bon the vertical note cup holders46, so that they cannot slide or twist laterally.

However, the vertical note cups2a,2b, are able to move vertically and to pivot to some extent out of the vertical plane, towards the horizontal, by a few degrees at least. Each projection is provided with a pair of clips55at its distal end (furthest from the base of the vertical note cup holder2a,2b), in order to limit vertical movement. The clips55are arrow-head shaped, so that they can squeeze inwards as the projections are introduced through the apertures51, during assembly, but then return to their original shape and prevent the vertical note cups2a,2bbeing removed from the vertical note cup holders50, whilst allowing the limited movement discussed above, which prevents the load cells29being pulled when the vertical note cups2a,2bare pulled to a certain degree.

The shape and size of the mating projections54and apertures51(and the location of the clips55) is designed such that there is a close, but loose fit between each vertical note cup2a,2band its respective vertical note cup holder46; the fit allowing the sliding and pivoting mentioned above, whilst keeping the alignment. In the present embodiment, each aperture51and each projection54is generally circular, but of course that is not essential.

The entire underside of the vertical note cup2a,2bextends through the apertures in the bottom of the cavities27in the tray5(as shown inFIG. 4), so as to sit atop of the platform50, parallel thereto, such that in normal use the vertical axis of the vertical note cup holder2ais perpendicular to the axis of the load cell29(but can pivot slightly owing to the connection via the apertures51and projections54, in the event that the vertical note cup2a,2bis pulled). Only a slight degree of pivoting is necessary, because after a few degrees, the vertical note cup2a,2bwould come into contact with the wall of the cavity27preventing further pivoting. In normal use, with the bottom of the vertical note cups2a,2bsitting flush with the platform50, the distance between the clips55and the bottom edge of the apertures51is in the region of 8 mm A relatively short distance, combined with the limited ability to pivot, means that when a pulling force is removed from the vertical note cups2a,2b, they will self-right, returning, naturally, to the correct vertical stance after being moved.

The cash drawer1is assembled by attaching the ADC PCB12to the base of the plinth13and connecting it to a communications module (not shown); connecting and attaching the load cells29,14,35via connections (not shown) and fixing them and the plinth13in position; then fixedly attaching the vertical note cup holders46to respective load cells29and coin cup holders34to respective load cells35, before introducing the tray5into position and attaching it to the casing of the cash drawer1with tamper resistant fastenings. The cups2a,2b,3a,3b,3c,3d,4a,4b,4c,4d,4eare then attached by pushing the vertical note cups2a,2b, onto their holders46such that they clip in; fixing (e.g. by adhering or with a bolt and washer) the prone note cups3a-dto their load cells14, and pushing the coin cups4a-einto engagement with their respective holders34.

With the cash drawer1calibrated in the conventional manner, and connected (e.g. directly or via the cloud) to an EPOS, it can then weigh the notes and coins placed into the cups2a,2b,3a,3b,3c,3d,4a,4b,4c,4d,4eand determine (based on setting the denominations to be received in each cup2a,2b,3a,3b,3c,3d,4a,4b,4c,4d,4e) the value of currency placed into the drawer1and transmit corresponding data to the EPOS (or any other connected device). Of course, data could be transmitted raw, as an indication of the weight in each cup2a,2b,3a,3b,3c,3d,4a,4b,4c,4d,4e, or even the weight on each load cell29,14,35, and the calculation of the value could be calculated on another device (e.g. an EPOS).

When the cash drawer unit6is opened, the cash drawer1will slide out front first, so the vertical note cups2a,2bintended for high-value denominations will be at the rear and most inconvenient to extract cash from, and if the coin cups4a-eare pulled, they will not directly transmit that load to the load cell35, but will disconnect from their holders34; similarly, if the vertical note cups2a,2bare pulled forward they are able to pivot, and can even be pulled upward to a degree (although pulling forward is the more likely motion).

The above embodiment is described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.