Guide means for conveying sheet-shaped media

Abstract: The present invention describes a guide means for connecting two separately arranged transfer units (1, 2), in particular currency transfer units in banking machines, which are shiftable relative to each other. The guide means preferably consists of a non-resilient (5) and a resilient guide element (15) forming a guide channel (11, 20) between the transfer units. The guide channel is conically tapered both in and opposite to the transfer direction. This allows transferring the sheet-shaped media forward and backward. The resilient element (15) interacting with the non-resilient guide element (5) leads to self-alignment of the transfer units (1, 2) by engagement. In addition, distance tolerances between the transfer units occurring during their manufacture are compensated for.

Description: The invention relates to a guide means for conveying sheet-shaped media, in particular bank notes, between two transfer units which are independent of and arranged to be shiftable relative to each other, comprising at least two guide elements positioned between the transfer units and forming a conically tapered channel in the transfer direction for guiding sheet-shaped media. Guide means of this type are employed in banking machines, such as IBM 4731 (see, for example, Parts Catalog "IBM 4731" Personal Banking Machine Form No. SY19-6189-06). For conveying bank notes from the transfer unit mounted in a safe to the transfer unit arranged outside said safe, a guide means is required for accurately handling the currency. A rigid connection between the inner and the outer transfer unit is not expedient, as the safe-mounted transfer unit has to be horizontally displaced for loading the currency cassettes. In addition, vertical height differences may occur between the safe and the outer and the inner transfer unit, which have to be compensated for. The guide means currently used in IBM banking machines are fitted at the bottom and the top end of the transfer path of the inner and the outer transfer unit with a channel which is conically tapered in the transfer direction (see also US-A-4 355 711). A disadvantage of this is that the conically tapered channel allows the bank notes to be moved forward only. Another disadvantage is that such guide means are incapable of compensating for vertical height differences caused by faulty manufacturing tolerances between the transfer units. As a result, the bank notes become trapped between the transfer units, thus rendering the banking machine unserviceable. In order to prevent this, a foil is arranged between the transfer units. However, such foils have the disadvantage of becoming damaged or destroyed in the course of time, as the machine has to be horizontally displaced for loading the currency cassettes. Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to design a guide means between separately arranged transfer units, which are shiftable relative to each other, such that the sheet-shaped media may be transferred both forward and backward and that the transfer units are automatically alignable relative to each other. This object is basically accomplished by the features specified in claim 1. Special embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. The advantages obtained by the invention are in particular that the backward transfer feature allows the bank notes to be reliably returned to the safe. This eliminates expensive containers for storing the hank notes outside the safe. The resilient and the non-resilient guide means are designed such that the associated transfer units are reliably automatically aligned without any manual intervention. In addition, the resilient guide means compensates for space differences, so that the currency is accurately conveyed between the associated transfer units. Additional foils for guiding the currency are thus dispensed with. One way of carrying out the invention is described in detail below with reference to drawings which illustrate only one specific embodiment in conjunction with a banking machine, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the associated transfer units with the guide means according to the invention in the forward transfer mode; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the associated transfer units with the guide means according to the invention in the backward transfer mode; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the associated transfer units with the guide means according to the invention at a stage where the transfer units are not aligned relative to each other, and According to Fig. 1, the two transfer units 1 and 2 are in their operating position. A bank note stack 3 is positioned in the safe-mounted unit 7 such that it may be taken over by transfer unit 1. Friction drives are preferably used. The transfer rollers 9 in the lower portion of the friction drive are positioned to withdraw against spring tension, withdrawal taking place by the rollers being moved about a pivot or being horizontally displaced. The note stack 3 is guided by transfer rollers 9 in a conically tapered channel 11 of the non-resilient guide element 5. As the bank notes tend to drift apart upon leaving the transfer rollers 9, the conical channel 11 of the guide element 5 must extend at least into the area of the transfer rollers 9. This prevents the individual notes from becoming wrapped around the transfer rollers 9 or from escaping in the area between rollers 9 and non-resilient guide element 5. The non-resilient guide element 5 is positioned relative to transfer units 1, 2 such that the conical channel 11 in the non-resilient guide element 5 is tapered in the transfer direction A. Adjacent to the conically tapered channel 11 in the non-resilient guide element 5, a ramp-shaped detent 13, protruding from channel 11, is arranged on either side and horizontally to transfer direction A. This detent is subsequently lowered in ramp shape. A resilient guide element 15 preferably consists of two separately acting resilient elements 16, 17 which are fixed to a common holding means 19. The individual resilient elements 16, 17 consist of two legs which are preferably arranged in V-shape relative to each other. The resilient elements 16, 17 are arranged vertically to transfer direction A such that facing legs 16b, 17b form a conically tapered channel 20 opposite to the transfer direction A. The legs 16a, 17a of the elements 16 and 17, which are averted from each other, are resiliently supported on the holding means at an angle α. The averted resilient legs 16a, 17a act as resilient stop levers which become engaged only after guide elements 5, 15 are in alignment. When the two transfer units 1, 2 are aligned to each other, the averted legs 16a, 17a rest on the ramp-shaped detent 13 of the non-resilient guide element 5, normally exerting a back-up force on the ramp-shaped detent 13. The facing legs 16b, 17b extend into the area of the transfer rollers 23 of the top transfer unit 2, preventing bank notes from escaping between transfer rollers 23 and resilient guide elements 16, 17. The averted resilient legs 16a, 17a act as resilient stop levers which become engaged only after the guide elements 5, 15 are in alignment. Fig. 2 shows the inventive means during the backward transfer of a note stack 3. Bank notes that are not picked up by the customer are returned to the safe. Transfer unit 2, by which the currency to be dispensed is transferred forward, also handles the backward transfer. The conically tapered channel 20, which is formed by the two resilient elements 16, 17, ensures that the individual backward-transferred bank notes of stack 3 do not drift apart or become entangled in channel 20, which, as a rule, would interfere with the function of the banking machine. As the individual legs 16b, 17b of the resilient elements 16, 17 extend into the area of the transfer rollers 23 of the transfer unit 2, the individual bank notes are prevented from laterally escaping while they are being conveyed from transfer unit 2 to the resilient guide element 15. Fig. 3 shows the guide means according to the invention in a position where the transfer units 1, 2 are not aligned to each other. This position is assumed whenever unit 7 is loaded with currency. As unit 7 resumes an aligned position in which transfer of the currency is guaranteed by the guide means according to the invention, the non-resilient guide element 5 by its ramp-shaped detent 13 urges the resilient guide element 15 in the transfer direction A, so that a bias is exerted on the non-resilient guide element 5. This bias causes the averted legs 16a, 17a to become engaged on detent 13 of the non-resilient guide element 5 when the transfer units 1, 2 are in alignment with each other. Another embodiment provides for the guide elements 5, 15 to be resiliently designed, with their spring constants differing, so that the guide elements 5, 15 are capable of engagement. Yet another embodiment provides for the guide elements 5, 15 to be non-resiliently designed. For this purpose, at least one guide element must be supported by one or several springs. The resilient elements 16, 17 adapt to different spacings, thus ensuring that channel 11 and channel 20 form a largely enclosed guide channel for guiding the currency between the transfer units 1, 2, without manual adjustment being required. Guide elements 5, 15 are preferably made of stainless steel to minimize their wear resulting from currency led past them.

Claims: Guide means for conveying sheet-shaped media (3), in particular bank notes, between two transfer units (1, 2) which are independent of and arranged to be shiftable relative to each other, comprising at least two guide elements (5, 15) positioned between the transfer units and forming a conically tapered channel (11) in the transfer direction (A) for guiding sheet-shaped media, characterized in that another channel (20) is provided between the transfer units which is conically tapered opposite to the transfer direction, the channel (20) is preferably formed by the guide elements (5, 15), and at least one of the channels is resiliently designed or arranged. Guide means according to claim 1, characterized in that one guide element (5) forms a conically tapered channel (11) in the transfer direction and the other guide element (15) a conically tapered channel (20) opposite to the transfer direction, and both guide elements are arranged to each other such that a largely enclosed guide channel is formed between the transfer units. Guide means according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one guide element (5) is non-resiliently designed. Guide means according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the resilient guide element (15) preferably consists of two individual resilient elements (16, 17) which are arranged relative to each other such that a channel is formed. Guide means according to claim 4, characterized in that the individual resilient elements have two legs (16a, 16b; 17a, 17b) which are preferably arranged in V-shape relative to each other, the legs (16b, 17b) facing each other forming the channel (20) and the legs (16a, 17a) averted from each other, which are resiliently arranged and act as a resilient stop lever, defining an aligned position of the other guide element (5) relative to the associated transfer unit (2) by engagement. Guide means according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one guide element (5) on the side facing the other guide element (15) is provided on either side or around channel (11) with a detent (13) projecting from said channel, detent (13) being preferably ramp-shaped and surrounding the resilient legs (16a, 17a) in the aligned state. Guide means according to claim 6, characterized in that the guide element (5) with the detent (13) is designed to be non-resilient. Guide means according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the resilient legs (16a, 17a) preferably rest against the detent (13) at a predetermined bias when the transfer units are aligned to each other. Guide means according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the guide elements are made of a metallic material, preferably stainless steel. Banking machine comprising at least two transfer units (1, 2) with a guide (5, 15) positioned between the transfer units, characterized in that the guide is designed according to any one or a combination of the claims 1 to 9.

Inventors: ABENDSCHEIN ULRICH ING, SCHLEGEL FRIEDRICH, ABENDSCHEIN, ULRICH, ING., SCHLEGEL, FRIEDRICH
Applicants: IBM, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G07D1
IPC codes: B65H5