Abstract:
A banknote counting device includes a banknote input mechanism, a banknote output mechanism, and an endless belt. The banknote input mechanism includes a banknote input shaft, a driving wheel, and a motor. The driving wheel rotates the banknote input shaft and the banknote input shaft itself rotates the banknote output mechanism via the endless belt, to utilize a single motor to drive both the input and output stages, and to ensure a constant and exact proportionality of speeds as between the input and output stages.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to banknote counting structures, and more particularly to a banknote counting device with a simple structure. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Banknote counting devices are used in the finance industry. Usually, the banknote counting device includes a banknote input shaft and a banknote output shaft. The banknote input shaft and the banknote output shaft are driven by two separate motors, which is costly. Additionally, the banknote input shaft rotational speed may not synchronize with the banknote output shaft rotational speed, to cause miscounting and maybe loss of control of the banknote. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a banknote counting device in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a pinned sleeve of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an assembled view of the banknote counting device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the banknote counting structure, taken along the line IV-IV of  FIG. 3 , a motor not shown. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.” 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a banknote counting device in accordance with an embodiment includes a banknote input mechanism  20 , a banknote output mechanism  30 , and a endless belt  40  connecting the banknote input mechanism  20  and the banknote output mechanism  30 . 
         [0013]    The banknote input mechanism  20  includes a banknote input shaft  21 , a driving wheel  23 , and a motor  25 . A locking portion  211  is located on an end of the banknote input shaft  21 , for engaging with, and preventing slippage of, the driving wheel  23 . A first circumferential slot  213  is defined in a distal end of the locking portion  211 , for receiving a first snap ring  27 . In one embodment, the banknote input shaft  21  is a substantially elongated rod, and the locking portion  211  cross-section is substantially semicircular. 
         [0014]    The driving wheel  23  includes a first gear  231  and a second gear  233  integrated with the first gear  231 . The first gear  231  has a first number of teeth, and the second gear  233  has a second number of teeth. The ratio between the first number of teeth and the second number of teeth is about 5:1. In one embodiment, the first number of teeth is about 60 in number, and the second number of teeth is about 12 in number. The motor  25  has a rotating shaft  251  with a plurality of teeth (not shown) meshing with the first gear  231 . 
         [0015]    The banknote output mechanism  30  includes a banknote output shaft  31 , a pinned sleeve  32 , two banknote counting wheels  33 , and a driven wheel  34 . The banknote output shaft  31  defines a securing hole  311  located on a middle portion of the banknote output shaft  31 . Two second circumferential slot  313  are defined in the banknote output shaft  31  and located on two opposite sides of the securing hole  311 , for receiving two second snap rings  37 . A receiving slot  315  is defined in one end of the banknote output shaft  31 , for reciving a third snap ring  39 . In one embodiment, the banknote output shaft  31  is a substantially elongated rod. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows that, the pinned sleeve  32  includes a sleeve portion  321  and two pairs of resilient prongs  323 . The sleeve portion  321  surrounds the banknote output shaft  31  and defines a locking hole  3211  corresponding to the securing hole  311 . The two pairs of resilient prongs  323  extend from two opposite ends of the sleeve portion  321  and engage with the two banknote counting wheels  33 . Each of the two pairs of resilient prongs  323  maintain the same orientation in relation to each other. 
         [0017]    The driven wheel  34  surrounds the banknote output shaft  31  and is engaged with the banknote output shaft  31 , and has a third number of teeth. The ratio between the second number of teeth and the third number of teeth is about 3:1, and the ratio between the first number of teeth and the third number of teeth is about 5:3. In one embodiment, the third number of teeth is about 36 in number. 
         [0018]    Each of the two banknote counting wheels  33  includes a rotating pan  331  and a plurality of banknote counting pieces  333  located on the periphery of the rotating pan  331 . The rotating pan  331  defines an engaging hole  337  for receiving the banknote output shaft  31  and one pair of resilient prongs  323 . The engaging hole  337  includes a wide portion  3371  and two narrow portions  3373  in communication with the wide portion  3371 . Each pair of resilient prongs  323  extends through the two narrow portions  3373  to engage in the wide portion  3371 . A flange  339  is located on the rotating pan  331 , surrounding edges of the engaging hole  337  of each of the two banknote counting wheels  33 . 
         [0019]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate that, in assembly, the sleeve portion  321  of the pinned sleeve  32  is slid over the banknote output shaft  31 , and the locking hole  3211  is aligned with the securing hole  311  of the banknote output shaft  31 . A locking pin  50  is locked into the locking hole  3211  and the securing hole  311 , to secure the pinned sleeve  32  to the banknote output shaft  31 . Each of the banknote counting wheels  33  surrounds the banknote output shaft  31 , and each of the two pairs of resilient prongs  323  are resiliently deformable for insertion into the two narrow portions  3373  of each of the two banknote counting wheels  33 . Each of the two banknote counting wheels  33  is rotated about the banknote output shaft  31 , until the two pairs of resilient prongs  323  are received in the narrow portion  3373  of each of the two banknote counting wheels  33 . Each of the two pairs of resilient prongs  323  clips the banknote output shaft  31  in opposite directions and resists the flange  339 . Each of the two second snap rings  37  is engaged in each of the two second circumferential slot  313  and abuts the flange  339  of each of the two banknote counting wheels  33 , to prevent each of the two banknote counting wheels  33  from moving axially away from each other. 
         [0020]    The driven wheel  34  surrounds one end of the banknote output shaft  31  and is engaged with it, thus the banknote output shaft  31  rotates with the driven wheel  34 . The third snap ring  39  is engaged in the receiving slot  315  and abuts the driven wheel  34 , to prevent the driven wheel  34  from disengaging from the banknote output shaft  31 . 
         [0021]    The driving wheel  23  surrounds the locking portion  211  of the banknote input shaft  21  and engages with the locking portion  211 , thus the banknote input shaft  21  rotates with the driving wheel  23 . The first snap ring  27  is engaged in the first circumferential slot  213  and abuts the first gear  231 , to prevent the driving wheel  23  from disengaging from the locking portion  211 . The rotating shaft  251  of the motor  25  is meshed with the first gear  231 . The endless belt  40  surrounds the driven wheel  34  and the second gear  233  to require the rotation of both. The banknote counting device is secured to an enclosure in one embodiment. 
         [0022]    In use, the motor  25  actuates the first gear  231  to rotate, and the second gear  233  rotates with the first gear  231 . The first gear  231  rotates the banknote input shaft  21  to delivery a plurality of banknotes to the two banknote counting wheels  33 . The second gear  233  rotates the driven wheel  34  via the endless belt  40 . The driven wheel  34  rotates the banknote output shaft  31 , and the two banknote counting wheels  33  rotate with the banknote output shaft  31 , to count banknotes. Thus the banknote output shaft  31  is rotated by the driving wheel  23  without a motor, to save cost, and the endless belt  40  also rotates the banknote output shaft  31 , at a speed which is in a constant and exact proportion of the speed of the banknote input shaft  21 . 
         [0023]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.