Abstract:
Disclosed is an automated teller machine (ATM) configured to selectively make a driving roller and a driven roller which transfer banknotes along a predetermined path in the ATM come into or out of contact with each other. In the ATM, a plurality of driven rollers are rotatably installed in a cover plate to make the driven rollers contact corresponding driving rollers by rotating the cover plate toward the driving rollers, or to make the driven rollers separate from the driving rollers by rotating the cover plate in the opposite direction. Thus, even if a banknote moving between a pair of a driving roller and a driven roller comes to a stop due to a jam, the banknote can be easily removed from the pair of rollers just by making the pair of rollers be spaced apart from each other. Therefore, prompt and simplified repair and maintenance are allowed and the ATM can be prevented from malfunctioning due to a banknote jam.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an automated teller machine, and more particularly, to an automated teller machine (hereinafter, referred to as “ATM”) configured to selectively make a driving roller and a driven roller which transfer banknotes along a predetermined path in the ATM come into or out of contact with each other.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    ATMs are convenient automated banking machines in widespread use which allow a user to easily withdraw or deposit money from or into his or her account anytime. An ATM is constructed such that a banknote storage cassette containing banknotes is installed at a certain location within the machine and a plurality of sets of driving rollers and driven rollers are driven to discharge banknotes stacked within the storage cassette to the outside.  
           [0005]    The driving rollers and the driven rollers are each fixed to driving shafts and driven shafts, respectively, and parallel to and contact each other so that banknotes are allowed to move along a traveling path provided by the driving rollers and the driven rollers.  
           [0006]    The plurality of driving shafts spaced apart from each other are supported by a frame and rotate by rotational force transferred from a motor. The driving shafts are connected to each other by power transmission mechanism such as gears or a belt. Also, the plurality of driven shafts are provided to correspond to the plurality of driving shafts in pairs and are supported by the frame.  
           [0007]    The conventional ATM having the above-described configuration has a disadvantage that the driven rollers cannot be separated apart from the driving rollers. Thus, the banknotes are not smoothly transferred so that two or more banknotes may be overlapped, resulting in a banknote jam. In this case, it is not easy to extract the overlapped banknotes, that is, it is quite a time-consuming and bothersome task to make the ATM return to normal operation.  
           [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection mechanism of driving rollers and driven rollers of a conventional ATM. As shown in FIG. 1, the ATM includes a plurality of pairs of driving and driven rollers  12  and  14  forming a transfer path along which banknotes move in a direction indicated by an arrow a.  
           [0009]    The driving rollers  12  are fixed to corresponding driving shafts  22 , respectively. Either end of each of the driving shafts  22  is supported to the frame  10 , and the driving shafts  22  rotate the driving rollers  12  by a rotational driving force transferred from a motor (not shown).  
           [0010]    Fixed shafts  25  may be provided between every two neighboring driving shafts  22 , or may be provided between selected pairs of neighboring driving shafts  22  only as shown in FIG. 1. Both ends of each of the fixed shafts  25  are fixed to the frame  10 , and the fixed shafts  25  are parallel to the driving shafts  22 . A banknote guide rail  16  is supported by the fixed shaft  25 . The banknote guide rail  16  provides a plane outward, that is, at a place where the driven rollers  14  are disposed, to guide movement of banknotes such that the banknotes currently moving may not escape from a normal transfer path.  
           [0011]    The driven rollers  14  closely contact outer surfaces of the driving rollers  12  and rotate as the driving rollers  12  rotate, so that the banknotes are transferred. Each of the driven shafts  24  supporting the driven rollers  14  is supported by the frame  10  at both ends thereof. A driven roller bracket  18  is provided between each of the driven shafts  24 .  
           [0012]    Like the banknote guide rail  16 , the driven roller bracket  18  also serves to guide banknotes to be transferred and prevents the banknotes from escaping from the transfer path while being transferred. The driven roller bracket  18  is fixed to the frame  10  along with the driven shaft  24 .  
           [0013]    In the conventional ATM having the above-described configuration, however, it is quite difficult to make the ATM function properly in any event where a banknote jam occurs between the banknote guide rail  16  and the driven roller bracket  18 .  
           [0014]    A gap between the banknote guide rail  16  and the driven roller bracket  18  is too small to leave a space enough to remove banknotes jammed between the banknote guide rail  16  and the driven roller bracket  18 . That is, the jammed banknotes are barely removed even by using a spit or hook-shaped stick. This means that removal of the banknote jam condition is an inconvenient and bothersome work and it takes some time for the ATM to returned to normal operation.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    To solve the above-described problems, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an automated teller machine (ATM) configured to allow prompt and simplified repair and maintenance and to prevent the ATM from malfunctioning due to a jam such that even if a banknote moving between a pair of a driving roller and a driven roller comes to a stop due to the jam, the banknote is easily removed from the pair of rollers just by making the pair of rollers be spaced apart from each other.  
           [0016]    In order to accomplish the above objective of the present invention, there is provided an automated teller machine (ATM) including a plurality of pairs of driving rollers and driven rollers supported to a frame defining an internal space and installed in the frame to allow banknotes to be transferred in a predetermined path, wherein the respective driven rollers are installed in a cover plate rotatably installed in the frame so as to contact or separate from the corresponding driving rollers.  
           [0017]    Roller apertures are preferably formed in the cover plate, the driven rollers may contact the driving rollers via the roller apertures, and the cover plate preferably has an elastic means for elastically supporting the driven rollers toward the driving rollers.  
           [0018]    The driven rollers are preferably hollow rollers each having a hollow portion in its central rotation axis, and the elastic means may include roller supporting shafts each inserted into the hollow portion of the rotation axis and plate springs for supporting both ends of each roller supporting shaft and fixed to the cover plate.  
           [0019]    Alternatively, the driven rollers are preferably hollow rollers each having a hollow portion in its central rotation axis, linear projections are preferably formed at sides of each of the roller apertures, and the elastic means includes roller supporting shafts each inserted into the hollow portion of the rotation axis and coil springs each fitted into the roller supporting shaft in a state in which it is supported to the linear projections to provide elasticity to the roller supporting shaft.  
           [0020]    The cover plate may include an opening means for rotating the cover plate toward the driving rollers to be supported to the frame or separating the cover plate fixed to the frame to separate the driven rollers from the driving rollers.  
           [0021]    The opening means may include a power-driven shaft supported to the cover plate so as to be axially rotatable and having both ends extending to exterior sides of the cover member, a pair of locking members each fixed to both ends of the power-driven shaft, rotating by axial rotation of the power-driven shaft, and projecting from the interior surface of the cover plate facing the driving rollers, the projecting portion having a sloping plane and a groove, a torsion spring connecting the locking members with the cover plate, and providing elasticity to the locking members so that the locking members are retained perpendicular to the cover plate, a knob fixed to the outer surface of the power-driven shaft so as to axially rotate the power-driven shaft, and a fixed shaft provided in the frame and connected to the locking members so that the cover plate rotates toward the driving rollers to be fixed to the frame.  
           [0022]    The cover plate preferably include a vertical cover plate vertically provided at sides of the frame and rotating up and down with its upper end used as a rotation axis, and an upper cover plate provided in the upper portion of the frame and rotating with its one end used as a rotation axis. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection mechanism of driving rollers and driven rollers in a conventional ATM;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ATM with a driven roller supporting device according to the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary, exploded views of a driven roller supporting means;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary, exploded views of another driven roller supporting means;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which a vertical cover plate of the ATM according to the present invention is rotated upward;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which an upper cover plate of the ATM according to the present invention is rotated upward; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the ATM according to the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]    Hereinafter, the present invention will be in detail described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0032]    It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms, “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ATM with a driven roller supporting device according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the driven roller supporting device according to the present invention includes a vertical cover plate  51  having a plurality of driven rollers  53  and an upper cover plate  63  having a plurality of driven rollers  57 , both plates  51  and  63  being rotatable with respect to a frame  10 .  
         [0034]    The vertical cover plate  51  includes a rectangular cover member  58  for rotatably supporting the plurality of driven rollers  53 , a power-driven shaft  56  provided at the cover member  58  and having both ends extending to exterior sides of the cover member  58 , a knob  55  pivotally rotating the power-driven shaft  56 , and an a locking member  59  fixed to both ends of the power-driven shaft  56  to be connected to a fixed shaft  72 .  
         [0035]    The cover member  58  has its upper end rotatably supported to the frame  10  by a supporting shaft  52 . When the locking member  59  installed at both ends of the cover member  58  is connected to the fixed shaft  72 , the cover member  58  stands upright. The support shaft  52  is parallel to the fixed shaft  72  and a driving shaft ( 74  shown in FIG. 7) to be disposed at right angle with respect to a traveling path of banknotes.  
         [0036]    The cover member  58  has a plurality of roller apertures ( 66  shown in FIG. 3), and each of the driven rollers  53  is rotatably installed in each roller aperture  66 . Thus, the driven roller  53  comes into contact with a driving roller ( 12  shown in FIG. 4) via the roller aperture  66  and rotates when the driving rollers  12  rotate. As will be described later, the driven roller  53  is elastically supported to the driving roller  12  by a plate spring  54 .  
         [0037]    The power-driven shaft  56  is parallel to the supporting shaft  52 . Also, the power-driven shaft  56  has a substantially semi-circular cross-section and has the knob  55  fixed at its center. If necessary, the knob  55  is lifted in a direction indicated by an arrow b to pivotally rotate the power-driven shaft  56 .  
         [0038]    As the knob  55  is lifted in the direction indicated by an arrow b, the locking member  59  fixed to both end of the power-driven shaft  56  rotates in a direction  5  indicated by an arrow d to then be connected to the cover member  58  via a torsion spring  60 . The torsion spring  60  pulls the locking member  59  in a direction opposite to the arrow d, and has one end fixed to a supporting projection  61  formed on the lateral side of the cover member  58  and the other end connected to the locking member  59 .  
         [0039]    When the cover member  58  rotates downward to stand upright, the locking member  59  is connected to the fixed shaft  72  so that the cover member  58  is maintained at the upright standing state. Then, each of the driven rollers  53  comes into contact with each corresponding driving roller  12  to thus elastically press down the outer surface of the driving roller  12  by the action of the plate spring  54 .  
         [0040]    In order to perform such a function, the locking member  59  is provided with a sloping plane ( 73  shown in FIG. 7), a locking flange ( 71  shown in FIG. 7) and a groove ( 75  shown in FIG. 7). The shape of the locking member  59  will be described below.  
         [0041]    The upper cover plate  63  provided at an upper portion of the frame  10  covers the plurality of driving rollers  12  providing a sloping transfer path upward with respect to the frame  10 , and has the same shape with the vertical cover plate  51 .  
         [0042]    The upper cover plate  63  includes a cover member  64 , a plurality of driven rollers  57  installed in a plurality of roller apertures  66  in the cover member  64 , a power-driven shaft  80  and elastically supported to the driving rollers  12  by a plate spring  82 , the power-driven shaft  80  capable of pivotally rotating at an exterior side of the cover member  64  and having both ends passing through both sides of the cover member and extending outward, and a locking member  83  provided at both ends of the power-driven shaft  80 .  
         [0043]    The cover member  64  is rotatably supported to the frame  10  by a supporting shaft  65 . If the cover member  64  rotates upward, the driving roller  12  and the driven roller  57  are spaced apart from each other. Conversely, the cover member  64  rotates downward to be mounted on the frame  10 , each of the driven rollers  57  comes into contact with each corresponding driving roller  12 . Then, the driven roller  57  is elastically pressed down toward the driving roller  12  by the action of a plate spring  82 .  
         [0044]    The locking member  83  rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow e as the power-driven shaft  80  pivotally rotates, and is connected with a fixed shaft  76  fixed to the frame  10  so that an upper cover plate  63  is seated on the frame  10 . The locking member  83  has the same shape with the locking member  59  provided in the vertical cover plate  51 , and is pulled by a torsion spring  60  in a direction opposite to the arrow e. The torsion spring  60  connects a supporting projection  61  formed at either side of the cover member  64  with the locking member  83 .  
         [0045]    A knob  81  fixed at the center of the power-driven shaft  80  rotates the locking member  80  in a direction indicated by an arrow e. If the knob  81  is pulled up in a direction indicated by an arrow c, the locking member  83  rotates in the direction indicated by arrow e.  
         [0046]    As described above, as the vertical cover plate  51  and the upper cover plate  63  pivotally move with respect to the frame  10 , the driven rollers  53  and  57  can be spaced apart from the driving rollers  12 . Thus, even when the ATM malfunctions due to a banknote jam occurring between each of the driving rollers and the driven rollers, the malfunctioning problem can be simply solved by lifting the knobs  55  and  81   
         [0047]    [0047]FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary, exploded views of a driven roller supporting means. Referring to FIG. 3, a rectangular throughhole is formed in each of the respective cover members  58  and  64 . The throughholes, referred to as roller apertures  66  herein, are provided for bringing the driven rollers  53 ,  57  partially passed therethrough into contact with the driving rollers  12 , and are formed widely enough to allow the driven rollers  53 ,  57  to rotate within the roller apertures  66 .  
         [0048]    Female screw holes  68  each having a female screw formed in its internal surface are provided at one side of each of the roller apertures  66 . Screws  70  passed through the plate springs  54 ,  82  are inserted into the female screw holes  68 . The plate springs  54 ,  82  rotatably supports the driven rollers  53 ,  74  and are made of thin metal plates having elasticity to be fixed to the cover member  58 ,  64  by the screws  70 . To this end, throughholes  69  through which the screws  70  penetrate are formed in the plate springs  54 ,  82 .  
         [0049]    The driven rollers  53 ,  57  positioned in the roller apertures  66  are rollers each having a hollow portion in its central rotation axis. A roller supporting shaft  67  is inserted into the hollow portion of the rotation axis. The roller supporting shaft  67  is a rod having a circular section and both ends thereof are fixed to the plate springs  54 ,  82 .  
         [0050]    Consequently, in a state the driven rollers  53 ,  57  are supported to the plate springs  54 ,  82 , they contact the driving rollers  12  through the roller apertures  66  and then elastically press down the driving rollers  12  in a direction indicated by an arrow F, as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary, exploded views of another driven roller supporting means. The same reference numerals as those shown in the above drawings denote the same functional elements.  
         [0052]    Referring to FIG. 5, linear projections  91  having a predetermined height are formed at opposite sides of each of the roller aperture  66  formed in the cover member  58  ( 64 ). The linear projections  91  are opposite to and are parallel to each other The linear projections  91  may also be formed at four sides of the roller aperture  66 .  
         [0053]    The linear projections  91  function to support both ends of each coil spring  77 , which will be described later. To this end, two spring mounting holes  79  are formed on each of opposite sides of the linear projection  91 . Ends of the coil spring  77  are fixedly inserted into the spring mounting holes  79 . Then, the roller supporting shaft  67  fitted into a central coiled portion  93  of the coil spring  77  can be elastically positioned in the roller aperture  66 .  
         [0054]    The coil spring  77  is a known spring having a central coiled axis portion to form the coiled portion  93  and having both ends deflected and substantially guided into the spring mounting holes  79 . The coiled portion  93  has a round, pipe-like shape and allows the roller supporting shaft  67  to penetrate into the hollow portion thereof. The coiled portion  93  and the roller supporting shaft  67  are fixed to prevent the roller supporting shaft  67  from wearing away against the coiled portion  93  (???). The roller supporting shaft  67  is fixed to the coiled portion  93  at its both ends to rotatably support the driven rollers  53 ,  57 .  
         [0055]    As a result, the coil spring  77  provided at both ends of each of the driven rollers  53 ,  57 , allows the driven rollers  53 ,  57  to elastically contact the driving rollers  12  in the roller apertures  66 .  
         [0056]    Referring to FIG. 6, opposite ends of the coil spring  77  are supported to the linear projections  91  and the roller supporting shaft  67  is fitted into the central coiled portion. Also, the driven rollers  53 ,  57  supply the driving rollers  12  with elasticity by the coil spring  77  in a direction indicated by arrow F and contact the driving rollers  12 .  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which a vertical cover plate  51  of the ATM according to the present invention is rotated upward. Referring to FIG. 7, a plurality of driving shafts  74  are horizontally installed in a frame  10 . The respective driving shafts  74  are capable of rotating in a state in which they are supported to the frame  10 . The plurality of driving shafts  74  are mutually connected by a power transmission means, such as gears (not shown) or a belt (not shown), and axially rotate at the same time.  
         [0058]    Each two driving rollers  12  are fixed to each driving shaft  74 . As the driving rollers  12  correspondingly contact driven rollers  53  provided in a vertical cover plate  51  and the driving shafts  74  rotate, banknotes are transferred upward by the driving rollers  12  in cooperation with the driven rollers  53 . Fixed shafts  72  are provided between each of the driving shafts  74 . The fixed shafts  72  are parallel to the driving shafts  74 , and both ends of each of the fixed shafts  72  are fixed to the frame  10  so that the fixed shafts  72  do not axially rotate. The fixed shafts  72  support a plurality of banknote guide rails  16  in a vertical direction.  
         [0059]    The banknote guide rail  16 , which is known in the art, extends along a banknote transfer path and provides a plane outward. The banknote guide rail guides movement of banknotes such that the banknotes currently moving may not escape from a normal transfer path. The inward surface of the vertical cover plate  51  facing the driving rollers  12  provides a flat supporting plane, and a plurality of driven rollers  53  project therefrom. Thus, when the vertical cover plate  51  rotates downward to stand upright, the respective driven rollers  53  elastically contact the corresponding driving rollers  12  so that banknotes are allowed to pass therebetween.  
         [0060]    The locking member  59 , which is an iron piece having a predetermined thickness, is connected to the fixed shaft  72 , and has a sloping plane  73 , a locking flange  71  and a groove  75 . The sloping plane  73  contacts the fixed shaft  72  to then be pressed down when the vertical cover plate  51  is pressed toward the fixed shaft  72 .  
         [0061]    Also, the groove  75  receives the fixed shaft  72  in a state in which the vertical cover plate  51  is completely pressed toward the fixed shaft  72 . If the vertical cover plate  51  is pressed toward the fixed shaft  72 , the fixed shaft  72  passes through the sloping plane  73  to then be received in the groove  75 . This is possible because the locking member  59  is pulled by a torsion spring  60 .  
         [0062]    In such a state in which the fixed shaft  72  is received in the groove  75 , the trailing edge of the sloping plane  73  serves as a locking flange  71  so that the fixed shaft  72  does not deviate from the groove  75  unless the locking member  59  rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow d.  
         [0063]    Eventually, as the vertical cover plate  51  rotates downward, the locking member  59  is locked and supported to the fixed shaft  72  so that the vertical cover plate  51  is fixed to the frame  10 .  
         [0064]    In order to lift the vertical cover plate  51  upward, a knob  55  is lifted in a direction indicated by an arrow b, as shown in FIG. 2, to make the fixed shaft  72  deviate from the groove  75 , and then the cover member  58  rotates upward.  
         [0065]    In other words, in the event that a jam occurs between the vertical cover plate  51  and the driving rollers  12 , a banknote jammed inside the vertical cover plate  51  can be simply eliminated by lifting the knob  55  in the direction indicated by an arrow b.  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which an upper cover plate  63  of the ATM according to the present invention is rotated upward. Referring to FIG. 8, a plurality of driving shafts  74  and a plurality of fixed shafts  76  are alternately provided at the upper portion of a frame  10  so as to parallel to each other. The driving shafts  74  and the fixed shafts  76  are positioned successively higher with respect to the frame  10  to form a sloping transfer path along which banknotes are transferred upward.  
         [0067]    The driving shafts  74  are capable of rotating with respect to the frame  10 , and the fixed shafts  76  each fixed to the frame  10  at both ends thereof do not rotate. The driving shafts  74  are mutually connected by a power transmission means, such as gears or a belt, and rotate at the same rotation speed by applying external power thereto.  
         [0068]    As described above, each two driving rollers  12  are fixed to each driving shaft  74 . The fixed shafts  76  fixedly support a plurality of banknote guide rails  16 . The banknote guide rail  16  providing a bottom plane along which banknotes are transferred are sloping upward in a direction in which the banknotes are transferred.  
         [0069]    The upper cover plate  63  is capable of rotating about a supporting shaft  78 . A plurality of driven rollers  53  provided in a cover member  64  of the upper cover plate  63  project from the bottom plane of the cover member  64 , and contact the corresponding driving rollers  12  when the upper cover plate  63  rotates downward to reach a close state.  
         [0070]    Locking members  83  provided at both sides of the cover member  64  are fittingly connected to the fixed shaft  76 , and the connection mechanism is the same as that of the locking members  59  shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0071]    [0071]FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of a driven roller supporting device in the ATM according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the vertical cover plate  51  rotates in front of the driving rollers  12  arranged vertically in a direction indicated by an arrow a, and the upper cover plate  73  rotates in the upper portion of the frame  10  in a direction indicated by an arrow b. The rotation axis of the vertical cover plate  51  corresponds to the supporting shaft  52 , and the rotation axis of the upper cover plate  63  corresponds to the supporting shaft  78 .  
         [0072]    The cover member  58  of the vertical cover plate  51  parallels to the banknote guide rails  16  and allows banknotes to be transferred between the cover member  58  and the banknote guide rail  16 . Likewise, the bottom plane of the cover member  64  parallels to the banknote guide rails  16  and allows banknotes to be transferred between the cover member  64  and the banknote guide rail  16 .  
         [0073]    As described above, in the ATM according to this embodiment, in the case where banknotes are jammed between the banknote guide rail  16  and the vertical cover plate  51  or the upper cover plate  63  and stop moving, the knob  55  or  81  is pulled upward.  
         [0074]    As the cover plate is lifted upward, driving rollers and driven rollers are separated from each other and a banknote transfer path is opened, so that jammed banknotes can be easily extracted. After extracting the jammed banknotes, the ATM can be actuated again just by pulling the opened vertical cover plate or the upper cover plate toward a frame to be restored into its original state.  
         [0075]    While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, such description is for illustrative purpose only, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, permutations and equivalents may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the appended claims.