Tray unit assembly

A tray unit assembly includes a housing, a separating/stacking unit, a tray unit and an elevating member. The separating/stacking unit includes a separating roller unit and a stacking roller unit provided in the housing. The tray unit is provided to be inserted into the housing and includes a first tray body fixed to the housing when the tray unit is inserted into the housing, and a second tray body connected to the first tray body to be slidable in a vertical direction and having a media stacking space formed therein. The elevating member is disposed to be movable up and down and configured to be in contact with a bottom surface of the second tray body to move the second tray body toward the stacking roller unit or the separating roller unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0033721, filed on Mar. 23, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a tray unit assembly.

BACKGROUND

In general, an automated teller machine (ATM) is an automation device that can provide unmanned financial services such as cash/check deposits and withdrawals through the use of a card or a bankbook without bank employees regardless of time or place.

Recently, the use of automated teller machines has been expanding not only in financial institutions such as banks or the like but also in convenience stores, department stores and public places. The automated teller machines may be divided into a withdrawal machine, a deposit machine and a withdrawal/deposit machine depending on whether or not to deposit or withdraw money. In recent years, the automated teller machines have been used for various purposes such as cash deposit/withdrawal, check deposit/withdrawal, bankbook update, fee payment, ticket issuance and the like

Among the deposit/withdrawal machines, there is a machine that receives and automatically processes an inputted medium such as cash or check. Such a deposit/withdrawal machine checks the authenticity of the inputted medium and accepts the inputted medium only in the case where inputted medium is normal. In other words, the medium introduced through a deposit/withdrawal unit is authenticated by means of scanning or other methods, and is finally accepted only when there is no abnormality. If there is an abnormality, the medium is returned.

Such a deposit/withdrawal machine requires a tray unit for conveying and separating the medium introduced through the deposit/withdrawal unit. Therefore, there is a need for research on a tray unit capable of conveying media in a more efficient manner.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a tray unit assembly capable of separating and stacking introduced media.

In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a tray unit assembly comprising: a housing; a separating/stacking unit including a separating roller unit and a stacking roller unit provided in the housing; a tray unit provided to be inserted into the housing, the tray unit including a first tray body fixed to the housing when the tray unit is inserted into the housing, and a second tray body connected to the first tray body to be slidable in a vertical direction and having a media stacking space formed therein; and an elevating member disposed to be movable up and down and configured to be in contact with a bottom surface of the second tray body to move the second tray body toward the stacking roller unit or the separating roller unit.

When the elevating member is raised, the second tray body may be connected to the stacking roller unit, and when the elevating member is lowered, the second tray body may be connected to the separating roller unit.

At least one first slit into which at least a part of the separating roller unit is selectively inserted may be formed on a bottom surface of the second tray body, a second slit which communicates with the first slit may be formed in a portion of the elevating member corresponding to each of the at least one first slit, and when the elevating member is lowered, at least a part of the separating roller unit may be inserted into the first slit and the second slit.

Guide grooves extending in a vertical direction may be formed on inner surfaces of both side walls of the first tray body, and guide bosses extending in the vertical direction may be formed on outer surfaces of both side walls of the second tray body and may be fitted in and moved along the guide grooves.

The tray unit may further include a clamping plate slidably connected to the second tray body, and a link driving unit connected to the first tray body and the clamping plate to linearly move the clamping plate in a vertical direction or rotate the clamping plate.

In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a tray unit assembly comprising: a housing; a separating/stacking unit including a separating roller unit and a stacking roller unit provided in the housing; and a tray unit provided to be inserted into the housing, the tray unit having a media stacking space formed therein, wherein the tray unit includes a first tray body configured to horizontally reciprocate between the housing and a deposit/withdrawal unit for receiving an inputted medium, a second tray body vertically movably installed on the first tray body and configured to reciprocate between the separating roller unit and the stacking roller unit, and a clamping plate vertically movably installed on the second tray body, and wherein when the clamping plate is raised, the media stacking space is defined between the clamping plate and the second tray body and, when the clamping plate is lowered, the clamping plate presses media stacked in the media stacking space.

When the second tray body and the clamping plate are lowered, the tray unit may be connected to the separating roller unit and, when the second tray body and the clamping plate are raised, the tray unit may be connected to the stacking roller unit.

The tray unit assembly may further comprise: an elevating member disposed to be movable up and down, wherein the second tray body is moved up and down in conjunction with the elevating member.

The tray unit assembly may further comprise: a link driving unit installed at the first tray body and configured to move up and down the clamping plate.

The tray unit assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure can easily convey, separate and stack introduced media.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, configurations and operations of embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is one of various patentable aspects of the present disclosure and may form a part of the detailed description of the present disclosure.

However, in describing the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of known configurations or functions that make the present disclosure obscure may be omitted.

The present disclosure may be modified and include various embodiments. Specific embodiments will be exemplarily illustrated in the drawings and described in the detailed description of the embodiments. However, it should be understood that they are not intended to limit the present disclosure to specific embodiments but rather to cover all modifications, similarities, and alternatives that are included in the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

The terms used herein, including ordinal numbers such as “first” and “second” may be used to describe, and not to limit, various components. The terms simply distinguish the components from one another.

When it is said that a component is “connected” or “linked” to another component, it should be understood that the former component may be directly connected or linked to the latter component or a third component may be interposed between the two components.

Specific terms in the present disclosure are used simply to describe specific embodiments without limiting the present disclosure. An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of the plural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context.

FIG. 1is a schematic configuration diagram of an automated teller machine1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 1, the automated teller machine1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a main body10constituting an outer shape, a deposit/withdrawal unit20provided on one side of the main body10and provided to receive an inputted medium, and a tray unit assembly30configured to convey, separate and stack the medium supplied to the deposit/withdrawal unit20. The expression “includes (including) the above-listed components” in the embodiment of the present disclosure does not mean that the embodiment of the present disclosure consists of only these components, but means that the embodiment of the present disclosure basically includes these components. The embodiment of the present disclosure may further include other components (components well-known in the field of the automated teller machine, e.g., a discrimination unit connected to the above-described components via a conveyance path to discriminate the medium, a temporary storage unit configured to temporarily store the medium, a storage cassette configured to store the medium, and the like). However, the well-known components will not be described in detail because such a description may obscure the gist of the present disclosure.

The main body10may constitute the external shape of the automated teller machine1. The deposit/withdrawal unit20may be provided on one side of the main body10. The deposit/withdrawal unit20may be provided to receive an inputted medium such as a bill or a check. The deposit/withdrawal unit20may be provided in front of the main body10to facilitate the deposit or withdrawal.

The deposit/withdrawal unit20may be provided with a deposit/withdrawal shutter21so that the medium can be inserted into or discharged from the automated teller machine1. The deposit/withdrawal shutter21may be opened or closed by an external control signal.

The main body10may be provided with a display unit40. The display unit40may be provided so that a customer can visually confirm the deposit/withdrawal state. For example, the display unit40may be provided at a front upper portion of the main body10.

Meanwhile, the tray unit assembly30may be provided in the main body10. The tray unit assembly30may convey, separate and store the medium introduced through the deposit/withdrawal unit20, or may discharge the medium to the deposit/withdrawal unit20. Hereinafter, the detailed configuration of the tray unit assembly30will be described.

FIG. 2is a perspective view of the tray unit assembly30according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3is a perspective view showing a tray unit330detached from a housing310of the tray unit assembly30according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

ReferringFIGS. 1 to 3, the tray unit assembly30according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a housing310; a separating/stacking unit320including a separating roller unit321provided on one side in the housing310and a stacking roller unit322disposed on the other side in the housing310; a tray unit330provided so as to be inserted into the housing310and having a media stacking space S formed therein; and an elevating member340disposed on a bottom of the tray unit330so as to be movable up and down.

The housing310may be provided inside the main body10and may define the external shape of the tray unit assembly30. The housing310may be provided with a tray unit insertion portion311into which the tray unit330is inserted. The tray unit330may be inserted into the tray unit insertion portion311, and the media accommodated in the tray unit330may be separated or stacked in a state where the tray unit330is inserted. In addition, when the tray unit330is inserted, the medium to be withdrawn from a separate cassette module (not shown) may be introduced into the media stacking space S of the tray unit330. The housing310may be provided with the separating roller unit321and the stacking roller unit322. The separating roller unit321may be provided to separate the medium conveyed by the tray unit330, and may be disposed at one side in the housing310, for example, at a lower side in the housing310. The separating roller unit321may separate the media stored in the tray unit330one by one and may convey the media to another place. For example, the separating roller unit321may convey the medium to a discrimination unit (not shown).

The stacking roller unit322may be provided to stack a part of the media separated from the separating roller unit321or a medium conveyed for withdrawal in the tray unit330. The stacking roller unit322may be disposed at the other side in the housing310, for example, at an upper side in the housing310. The stacking roller unit322may stack a part of the media separated by the separating roller unit321or the medium conveyed for withdrawal. For example, the separating roller unit321may convey to the tray unit330a rejected medium, which has been discriminated as an abnormal medium while passing through a discrimination unit (not shown), among the media separated by the separating roller unit321, or may convey to the tray unit330a medium withdrawn from a separate cassette module (not shown) that stores media.

Referring toFIGS. 4 to 6, the tray unit330may be provided to convey a medium. The tray unit330may convey a medium while reciprocating between the deposit/withdrawal unit20and the housing310. For example, the tray unit330may receive a medium from a customer at the deposit/withdrawal unit20and may move to the housing310to separate and stack the medium. Furthermore, the tray unit330may receive a withdrawal target medium from the housing310and may convey the medium to the deposit/withdrawal unit20to allow the customer to take the medium.

The tray unit330may be fixed to the housing310, for example, when the tray unit330is inserted into the housing310. The tray unit330may include: a first tray body331configured to horizontally reciprocate between the housing310and the deposit/withdrawal unit20for reception of an inputted medium; a second tray body332connected to the first tray body331so as to be slidable in a vertical direction and having a media stacking space S formed therein; a clamping plate333slidably connected to the second tray body332; and a link driving unit334connected to the first tray body331and the clamping plate333to linearly move the clamping plate333in a vertical direction or rotate the clamping plate333.

The second tray body332may be coupled to the first tray body331so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. For example, vertically extending guide grooves331amay be formed on the inner surfaces of both side walls of the first tray body331, and vertically extending guide bosses332amay be provided on the outer surfaces of both side walls of the second tray body332. The guide bosses332amay be fitted in and moved along the respective guide grooves331a. The second tray body332may move up and down with respect to the first tray body331in a state in which the guide bosses332aare inserted into the guide groove331a. Accordingly, when the tray unit330is inserted into the tray unit insertion portion311of the housing310, the first tray body331may be fixed to the tray unit insertion portion311and the second tray body332may move up and down.

A first slit332bmay be formed on the bottom surface of the second tray body332. At least a part of the separating roller unit321may be inserted into the first slit332bto make contact with the medium accommodated in the second tray body332.

The clamping plate333may be slidably connected to the second tray body332. For example, at least one guide slit332chaving a linear shape in the vertical direction may be formed on each of both side walls of the second tray body332, and at least one guide protrusion333ainserted into the guide slit332cmay be provided on each of both side portions of the clamping plate333. Furthermore, the guide protrusion333amay be rotatably connected to the clamping plate333. When the clamping plate333moves in a state in which the guide protrusion333ais inserted into the guide slit332c, the clamping plate333may linearly move in the vertical direction along the guide slit332c. At this time, if the guide protrusion333aof the clamping plate333is disengaged from the guide slit332c, the clamping plate333may make rotational movement. A detailed description thereof will be made later.

The clamping plate333may be raised or lowered or rotated in conjunction with the link driving unit334. In other words, the link driving unit334may be provided to linearly move or rotate the clamping plate333. The link driving part334and the guide protrusion333aof the clamping plate333may be connected to each other. For example, the guide protrusion333aof the clamping plate333may be rotatably connected to a connector333b, and the connector333bmay be connected to the link driving unit334.

The guide protrusion333aof the clamping plate333may protrude outside the second tray body332. The connector333bmay be connected to the protruding end of the guide protrusion333a. At this time, the connector333bmay be pivotally connected to the link driving unit334.

The link driving unit334may include, for example, a rod334ahaving a slot334a-1into which the connector333bis inserted to rotate and slide; and an actuator334bcoupled to the first tray body331and engaged with the rod334athrough gears to rotate the rod334a.

Meanwhile, the elevating member340may be provided inside the housing310. For example, the elevating member340may be disposed at the bottom of the tray unit330. The second tray body332may be raised and lowered in conjunction with the elevating member340. In other words, the elevating member340may make contact with the bottom surface of the second tray body332of the tray unit330to move the second tray body332toward the separating roller unit321or the stacking roller unit322. For example, the elevating member340may be connected to a driving power source341such as a belt or the like and may be raised or lowered.

The elevating member340may be moved downward to connect the second tray body332to the separating roller unit321, or may be moved upward to connect the second tray body332to the stacking roller unit322. As used herein, the expression “the second tray body332is connected to the separating roller unit321or the stacking roller unit322of the separating/stacking unit320” means a state in which the medium staked in the second tray body332can move to the outside through the separating/stacking unit320, or a state in which an external medium can move to the second tray body332through the stacking roller unit322.

A second slit340amay be formed in a part of the elevating member340corresponding to the first slit332bin a shape corresponding to the first slit332b. Therefore, when the tray unit330is seated on the elevating member340, the first slit332band the second slit340amay communicate with each other. In addition, when the elevating member340is moved down, at least a part of the separating roller unit321is inserted into the space defined by the first slit332band the second slit340ato make contact with the medium stacked in the media stacking space S of the second tray body332.

Hereinafter, an operating process of the clamping plate333and a driving process of the second tray body332in the tray unit assembly30according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the following description, the clockwise direction, the counterclockwise direction, the left direction and the right direction are defined with reference to the illustration in the drawings.

FIGS. 7A and 7Bare schematic side sectional views showing the states in which the clamping plate333is moved in the tray unit330according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 7A, when the actuator334brotates the rod334acounterclockwise, the clamping plate333moves upward due to the rotation of the rod334a. At this time, the clamping plate333linearly moves upward because the guide protrusion333aof the clamping plate333is guided along the guide slit332c. Referring toFIG. 7B, when the rod334acontinuously rotates and the guide protrusion333agets out of the guide slit332c, the right end of the clamping plate333comes into engagement with a separate stopper (not shown) so that the upward movement thereof is limited. Thus, only the left end of the clamping plate333can move upward. Accordingly, the clamping plate333may be rotated clockwise to be inclined.

The upward linear movement and the rotational movement of the clamping plate333may be performed when the tray unit330is inserted into the tray unit insertion portion311. When the upward linear movement and the rotational movement of the clamping plate333are completed, the clamping plate333may function as a guide plate so that the medium introduced through the stacking roller unit322is not dispersed.

On the other hand, the rotational movement and the downward linear movement of the clamping plate333may be performed in the reverse order of the above-described driving operation, and may be performed before the tray unit330reciprocates. In other words, the tray unit330may reciprocate between the deposit/withdrawal unit20and the housing310to convey the medium. During the movement of the tray unit330, it is necessary to fix the medium stacked on the tray unit330.

Therefore, by lowering the clamping plate333and bringing it into contact with the medium, it is possible to fix the medium during the movement of the tray unit330.

FIGS. 8A and 8Bare schematic side sectional views showing the states in which the second tray body332of the tray unit330according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is moved by the elevating member340. Referring toFIG. 8A, when the elevating member340is lowered, the second tray body332may be moved downward while being seated on the elevating member340. Then, if the lowering of the elevating member340is completed, the second tray body332may be connected to the separating roller unit321. The expression “the second tray body332is connected to the separating roller unit321means that the medium accommodated in the media stacking space S of the second tray body332can be conveyed to the outside by the separating roller unit321. When the elevating member340is lowered together with the second tray body332, at least a part of the separating roller unit321is inserted into the first slit332band the second slit340aso as to make contact with the medium in the media stacking space S.

Referring toFIG. 8B, when the elevating member340is raised, the second tray body332may move upward while being seated on the elevating member340. When the elevating member340is raised so that the first tray body331and the second tray body332are aligned with each other, the tray unit330may be moved toward the deposit/withdrawal unit20.

FIGS. 9A to 9Care schematic configuration diagrams showing the states in which the medium is deposited, separated and stacked in the automated teller machine1according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 9A, the tray unit330may receive a medium M from the customer at the deposit/withdrawal unit20. Referring toFIG. 9B, the tray unit330supplied with the medium M may be moved toward and inserted into the housing310. Referring toFIG. 9C, when the insertion of the tray unit330is completed, the clamping plate333may be rotated upward. The second tray body332may be lowered by the elevating member340and may be connected to the separating roller unit321. Subsequently, the medium M in the second tray body332may be conveyed in contact with the separating roller unit321.

While the present disclosure has been described above using the preferred embodiments, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. A person having ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical field will be able to replace or modify the constituent elements. Such replacement or modification should be construed to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.