Abstract:
A media cassette comprises: a base on which a stack of media items may be placed, a pusher plate biased towards the base and a plurality of drive rollers located beneath the profiled surface and partially protruding through apertures defined in the profiled surface. The base includes a profiled surface extending from a central low region disposed along an axis of the base to higher regions on opposing sides of the central low region. The pusher plate is operable to urge a stack of media items onto the profiled surface. The plurality of drive rollers are operable to drive a media item in contact with the profiled surface out of the media cassette.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to a media cassette. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    A well-known type of media cassette is a currency cassette. A currency cassette is used for storing a neat array of banknotes, and can be inserted into a currency dispenser. A currency dispenser withdraws banknotes, one at a time, from a currency cassette to fulfill a customer transaction. 
         [0003]    It is desirable to be able to dispense reliably all conditions of banknotes, from new, crisp banknotes to old, limp banknotes. It is also desirable to be able to provide a low-cost currency dispenser that is able to do this. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0004]    Accordingly, the invention generally provides methods, systems, and apparatus for a media cassette comprising a profiled base for imparting a profile to a media item to be dispensed. 
         [0005]    In addition to the Summary of Invention provided above and the subject matter disclosed below in the Detailed Description, the following paragraphs of this section are intended to provide further basis for alternative claim language for possible use during prosecution of this application, if required. If this application is granted, some aspects may relate to claims added during prosecution of this application, other aspects may relate to claims deleted during prosecution, other aspects may relate to subject matter never claimed. Furthermore, the various aspects detailed hereinafter are independent of each other, except where stated otherwise. Any claim corresponding to one aspect should not be construed as incorporating any element or feature of the other aspects unless explicitly stated in that claim. 
         [0006]    According to a first aspect there is provided a media cassette comprising: 
         [0007]    a base on which a stack of media items may be placed, the base including a profiled surface extending from a central low region disposed along an axis of the base to higher regions on opposing sides of the central low region; 
         [0008]    a pusher plate biased towards the base and operable to urge a stack of media items onto the profiled surface; and 
         [0009]    a plurality of drive rollers located beneath the profiled surface and partially protruding through apertures defined in the profiled surface, the plurality of drive rollers being operable to drive a media item in contact with the profiled surface out of the media cassette. 
         [0010]    The profiled surface may comprise a first surface extending from the central low region to one of the higher regions, and a second surface extending from the central low region (on the opposite side of the axis of the base to the first surface) to another of the higher regions. 
         [0011]    Alternatively, the profiled surface may comprise a curved surface. The curved surface may extend from a first high region, down to the central low region, and then back up to a second high region opposite the first high region. 
         [0012]    The pusher plate may include an urging surface defining a profile corresponding to the shape of the profiled surface, thereby urging media items into the shape of the profiled surface. 
         [0013]    The pusher plate may be biased towards the base by a resilient member, such as a spring. Alternatively, or additionally, the pusher plate may include a weight, and may be biased towards the base by the force of gravity acting on the weight. The weight may be incorporated into the pusher plate. 
         [0014]    The plurality of drive rollers may each define a frusto-conical outer surface. 
         [0015]    The plurality of drive rollers may be mounted on an axle located beneath the profiled surface and transverse to the axis of the base. The plurality of drive rollers may be mounted on two axles, each axle located beneath the profiled surface and each axle being disposed transverse to the axis of the base. 
         [0016]    Each axle may include a pair of drive rollers on each side of the axis of the base. 
         [0017]    A smaller diameter of each frusto-conical outer surface may be located nearer the axis of the base than a larger diameter of that frusto-conical outer surface. 
         [0018]    The media cassette may further comprise a media withdrawing mechanism. 
         [0019]    The media withdrawing mechanism may include a feed roller for withdrawing a media item from the base of the cassette. 
         [0020]    The media withdrawing mechanism may further include a retard block having a profiled lower edge corresponding to the shape of the profiled surface and maintained in close proximity to the feed roller. 
         [0021]    The retard block may be maintained in close proximity to the feed roller using adjustable static fixtures (such as screws, bolts, or the like). Alternatively, the retard block may be maintained in close proximity to the feed roller by a resilient member, such as a coil spring, a leaf spring, or the like. 
         [0022]    Alternatively, the media withdrawing mechanism may further include a retard roller (instead of a retard block). The retard roller may comprise an undulating outer surface, with the radially furthest out portions of the undulating surface conforming to the shape of the profiled surface. The feed roller may also comprise an undulating outer surface (alternating large and small radial dimensions), complementary to, and aligned with, the undulating outer surface of the retard roller so that radially large portions of the retard roller are aligned with radially small portions of the feed roller, and vice versa, so that portions of the retard roller overlap portions of the feed roller when no media item is present. 
         [0023]    One of the axles (or the axle, where only one is used) located beneath the profiled surface and transverse to the axis of the base may comprise a drive axle. Some of the drive rollers may be mounted on the drive axle and others of the drive rollers may be mounted on an auxiliary axle parallel to the drive axle. 
         [0024]    The drive axle may include a power gear accessible from outside the media cassette. The power gear may be rotated by a corresponding gear located in a media dispenser. The power gear may also rotate the auxiliary axle either directly or via the drive axle. 
         [0025]    The media cassette may define an exit port in the vicinity of the feed roller through which media items may be dispensed. 
         [0026]    The media items may comprise banknotes, stamps, vouchers, coupons, tickets, receipts, or the like. 
         [0027]    According to a second aspect there is provided a media dispenser including the media cassette according to the first aspect. 
         [0028]    The media dispenser may include a transfer gear for engaging with the power gear in the media cassette. The transfer gear may be coupled to a dispenser chassis by a resilient member, such as a spring. Providing a resilient coupling for the transfer gear facilitates intermeshing between the transfer gear and the power gear when the media cassette is inserted into the media dispenser. 
         [0029]    The media dispenser may comprise a plurality of cassette bays, each cassette bay being operable to receive a media cassette. 
         [0030]    Each cassette bay may include a power gear. 
         [0031]    According to a third aspect there is provided a self-service terminal including the media dispenser according to the second aspect. 
         [0032]    The self-service terminal may be an automated teller machine (ATM), an information kiosk, a financial services centre, a bill payment kiosk, a lottery kiosk, a postal services machine, a check-in and/or check-out terminal such as those used in the retail, hotel, car rental, gaming, healthcare, and airline industries, and the like. 
         [0033]    According to a fourth aspect there is provided a method of dispensing a media item from a media cassette, the method comprising: 
         [0034]    deforming the media item within the media cassette into a profiled, non-flat, shape; and 
         [0035]    urging the deformed media item out of the media cassette using rollers having a profiled outer surface matching the profiled shape of the deformed media item. 
         [0036]    According to a fifth aspect there is provided a media cassette comprising a base defining a profiled surface on which a stack of media items may be placed prior to dispensing. 
         [0037]    The profiled surface may have a central region that is higher than surrounding regions, lower than surrounding regions, or higher than some surrounding regions but lower than other surrounding regions. 
         [0038]    For clarity and simplicity of description, not all combinations of elements provided in the aspects recited above have been set forth expressly. Notwithstanding this, the skilled person will directly and unambiguously recognize that unless it is not technically possible, or it is explicitly stated to the contrary, the consistory clauses referring to one aspect are intended to apply mutatis mutandis as optional features of every other aspect to which those consistory clauses could possibly relate. 
         [0039]    These and other aspects will be apparent from the following specific description, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0040]      FIG. 1  is a cut-away perspective view of a media cassette according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 2  is a cut-away perspective view similar to  FIG. 1 , but from a slightly different angle; 
           [0042]      FIG. 3  is a perspective sectional view showing part (a base and drive rollers) of the media cassette of  FIG. 1  in more detail; 
           [0043]      FIG. 4  is a simplified side view of the media cassette of  FIG. 1 , illustrating another part (a pusher plate) of the media cassette mounted above the cassette base and drive rollers of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 5  is a simplified perspective view of a portion (a media withdrawing mechanism) of the media cassette of  FIG. 1  during a media withdrawing operation; 
           [0045]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are perspective views of part (a cassette drive mechanism) of a media dispenser for use with the currency cassette of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 8  is a simplified upper perspective view illustrating an alternative media withdrawing mechanism to the mechanism of  FIG. 7 ; and 
           [0047]      FIG. 9  is a simplified front view illustrating the alternative media withdrawing mechanism of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
       [0048]    It should be appreciated that some of the drawings provided are based on computer renderings from which actual physical embodiments can be produced. As such, some of these drawings contain intricate details that are not essential for an understanding of these embodiments but will convey useful information to one of skill in the art. Therefore, not all parts shown in the drawings will be referenced specifically. Furthermore, to aid clarity and to avoid numerous leader lines from cluttering the drawings, not all reference numerals will be shown in all of the drawings. In addition, some of the features are removed from some views to further aid clarity. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0049]    Reference is first made to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which are cut-away perspective views of a media cassette  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The media cassette  10  is in the form of a currency cassette  10  that stores banknotes so that they can be removed short-edge first. 
         [0050]    The currency cassette  10  comprises a housing  12  defining opposing long edge sidewalls  14 , 16 , short edge sidewalls  18 , 20  extending between the long edge sidewalls  14 , 16 , and a floor  22  coupled to the long edge sidewalls  14 , 16  and the short edge sidewalls  18 , 20 . 
         [0051]    The first short edge sidewall  18  is referred to as a handle end sidewall; the second short edge sidewall  20  is referred to as a pick end sidewall. 
         [0052]    The currency cassette  10  also comprises a pusher plate  24  urged downwards by a pair of springs  26  coupled between the pusher plate  24  and the floor  22 . 
         [0053]    The currency cassette  10  also includes an internal block mount wall  28  coupled to the long edge sidewalls  14 , 16  near the pick end sidewall  20 . 
         [0054]    Reference will now also be made to  FIG. 3 , which is a perspective sectional view showing part of the media cassette currency cassette  10  in more detail. 
         [0055]    The currency cassette  10  further comprises a base  30  (or support platform), which is mounted at a lower part thereof resting on the floor  22 . The base  30  defines a longitudinal axis (illustrated by broken line  32  in  FIG. 3 ) extending centrally along the currency cassette  10 . 
         [0056]    The base  30  comprises a profiled surface  34  having a low region  36  at the longitudinal axis  32  and a pair of high regions  38 , 40  on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis  32 . 
         [0057]    The base  30  defines banknote width slots  42  into which upstanding banknote guides  44  can be inserted. These banknote guides  44  are provided so that the currency cassette  10  can be reconfigured for use with different currencies (since some currencies have wider banknotes than other currencies). 
         [0058]    The base  30  also defines four apertures (best seen in  FIG. 2 ): the first pair of apertures  54  are transverse to the longitudinal axis  32  and nearer to the pick end sidewall  20  than the second pair of apertures  56 , which are parallel to the first pair of apertures  56 . 
         [0059]    The base  30  further comprises a drive axle  60  and an auxiliary axle  61  (best seen in  FIG. 2 ) mounted in parallel relation transverse to the long edge sidewalls  14 , 16  and beneath the profiled surface  34 . Each of these axles  60 , 61  has two drive rollers  62   a,b  and  64   a,b  mounted thereon. The four apertures  54 , 56  are configured to align with the four drive rollers  62 , 64  mounted beneath the profiled surface  34 . The four drive rollers  62 , 64  protrude through the four apertures  54 , 56 . 
         [0060]    Reference is now also made to  FIG. 4 , which illustrates part of the pusher plate  24  mounted above the profiled surface  34 . 
         [0061]    The pusher plate  24  comprises a lower surface (the urging surface)  68  having a shape corresponding generally to the shape of the profiled surface  34  so that any banknotes located on the profiled surface  34  are deflected into a shape corresponding to the shape of the profile surface  34 . 
         [0062]    Reference is now also made to  FIG. 5 , which is a simplified perspective view of a media withdrawing mechanism  70  (also shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) withdrawing a banknote  71 . 
         [0063]    The media withdrawing mechanism  70  comprises a feed roller  72  mounted on a feed axle  74  and a retard block  76  vertically offset from the feed roller  72  and mounted on the internal block mount wall  28 . The feed roller  72  is centrally mounted relative to the longitudinal axis  32 . In this embodiment, both the feed roller  72  and retard block  76  are made from elastomeric material. 
         [0064]    The feed roller  72  defines a castellated outer circumference and has a central cylindrical portion, and extends away from the central cylindrical portion towards each long edge sidewall  14 , 16  with an increasing radius in each direction, thereby providing an outer surface that matches the shape of the profiled surface  34 . 
         [0065]    The feed axle  74  supports a transfer gear  78  that is used to impart rotational power to the feed roller  72 , as will be described in more detail below. 
         [0066]    The retard block  76  defines a lower surface  80  that matches the shape of the profiled surface  34 . The lower surface  80  has a high coefficient of friction. 
         [0067]    The retard block  76  is coupled to the internal block mount wall  28  via a bolt  82  mounted in a slot  84 , and also via a resilient member  86  (in the form of a coil spring) coupled to a bracket  88 . The coil spring  86  ensures that the retard block lower surface  80  is urged towards the feed roller  72  at all times. By using the coil spring  86 , the need to calibrate the position of the retard block  76  accurately with respect to the feed roller  72  is avoided. 
         [0068]    Reference will now be made to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , which are perspective views of part of a currency dispenser  100  for use with the currency cassette  10 . 
         [0069]    The currency dispenser  100  comprises a sidewall  102  on which is mounted a pulley  104  via a pulley shaft  106 . The pulley  104  is coupled to a drive shaft  108 . The drive shaft  108  supports a support bracket  110 , which is pivotably coupled to a pivot shaft  112 . The support bracket  110  is coupled to a lug  114  on the dispenser sidewall  102  by a resilient member  116  in the form of a coil spring. The drive shaft  108  is also coupled to a drive gear  118  (best seen in  FIG. 6 ). The pivoting support bracket  110  enables the drive gear  118  to move as it is brought into contact with the transfer gear  78 . This enables the drive gear  118  to mesh with the transfer gear  78  because the coil spring  116  urges the two gears  78 , 118  into, and maintains them in, intermeshing engagement. 
         [0070]    To withdraw the banknote  71  from the currency cassette  10 , the pulley  104  rotates, causing the transfer gear  78  to rotate. Rotation of the transfer gear  78  causes the drive and auxiliary axles  60 , 61  to rotate. This rotates the drive rollers  62 , 64 , which urge the banknote  71  towards the feed roller  72  and the retard block  76 . 
         [0071]    The retard block  76  (specifically the retard block lower surface  80 ) serves to push back any banknote withdrawn simultaneously with the banknote  71 . This prevents multi-picks (that is, multiple banknotes being picked as a single banknote). The retard block  76  ensures that if two banknotes  71  are transported as a single item, then the retard block lower surface  80  retards the upper banknote, so that only the lower banknote  71  is ejected from the currency cassette  10 . This occurs because the friction between the upper banknote and the retard block lower surface  80  is higher than the friction between adjacent banknotes. 
         [0072]    The shape of the base  30 , the profiled surface  34 , the pusher plate urging surface  68 , the drive rollers  62 , 64 , the feed roller  72 , and the retard block lower surface  80  ensure that the banknote  71  is stored within the currency cassette  10 , and transported out of the currency cassette  10 , with a profiled shape (that is, in this embodiment the leading short edge has a curved shape). This greatly increases the structural rigidity of the banknote  71 , so that limp banknotes can be reliably removed from the currency cassette  10 . 
         [0073]    Once inside the currency dispenser  100 , the banknote  71  is transported in a conventional manner. 
         [0074]    Reference will now be made to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , which illustrate an alternative media withdrawing mechanism  170  according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0075]    The media withdrawing mechanism  170  comprises a feed roller  172  mounted on a feed axle  174  and a retard roller  176  vertically offset from the feed roller  172  and mounted on a retard axle  178 . The feed roller  172  and retard roller  176  are centrally mounted relative to the longitudinal axis  32 . In this embodiment, both the feed roller  172  and retard roller  176  are made from elastomeric material. 
         [0076]    The feed roller  172  has an undulating outer profile that matches the shape of the profiled surface  34 . The feed roller  172  defines a core  180  having a uniform radius and four discs  182   a,b,c,d  axially spaced along the core  180 . The feed roller  172  is moulded as an integral unit. Each of the four discs  182  has a radius greater than the core  180 , and the inner two discs  182   b,c  each has a radius slightly smaller than each of the outer two discs  182   a,d . In fact, each disc  182  is not strictly a disc but has a frusto-conical shape, with a slightly smaller radius at an edge proximal to the longitudinal axis  32  than the radius of the edge distal from the longitudinal axis  32 . This ensures that the four discs  182  combine to present a profile that matches the shape of the profiled surface  34 . 
         [0077]    The retard roller  176  also has an undulating outer profile that matches the shape of the profiled surface  34  and is complementary to the shape of the feed roller  172 . 
         [0078]    The retard roller  174  defines a core  186  having a uniform radius and three discs  188   a,b,c  axially spaced along the core  186  so that they are axially offset from the four feed roller discs  182 . The central disc  188   b  has a larger radius than each of the two outer discs  188   a,c . The retard roller  176  is moulded as an integral unit. In a similar way to the feed roller discs  182 , the two outer retard roller discs  188   a,c  are actually frusto-conical in shape, but with a slightly larger radius at an edge proximal to the longitudinal axis  32  than the radius of the edge distal from the longitudinal axis  32 . 
         [0079]    When no banknote  71  is present between the feed roller  172  and the retard roller  176  then the feed roller discs  182  and the retard roller discs  188  interlace without touching each other as their cores  180 , 186  rotate. This results in less torque, and less wear to the parts, than if the feed roller and retard roller were in contact when no banknote is present. 
         [0080]    When a banknote  71  is withdrawn from the profiled surface  34  by the feed roller  172 , then the retard roller  176  (which is rotated in the same direction as the feed roller  172 ) serves to push back any banknote withdrawn simultaneously with the banknote  71 . This prevents multi-picks (that is, multiple banknotes being picked as a single banknote). 
         [0081]    Both of these embodiments (that is, both of the media withdrawing mechanisms  70 , 170 ) have the advantage that a media item (such as a banknote) has a profiled shape imparted to it both when it is stored and when it is withdrawn (or picked) from the media cassette. This reduces the effect of limpness on a banknote (or other media item) because the profiled shape of the banknote imparts structural rigidity to the banknote, thereby increasing the reliability of the picking operation. 
         [0082]    Various modifications may be made to the above described embodiment within the scope of the invention, for example, in other embodiments, the media item may comprise a ticket, a voucher, a stamp, a pass, or the like. 
         [0083]    In other embodiments, the retard block may comprise a different shape than that described in the first embodiment above. 
         [0084]    In other embodiments the profiled surface  34  may define a different shape to that described above. For example, the profiled surface  34  may comprise a U-shape, a flattened U-shape, an undulating U-shape, a W-shape, or the like. The particular shape that is used is not critical, providing the shape that is selected imparts structural rigidity to the media item to be picked from the media cassette. 
         [0085]    In other embodiments, more or fewer drive rollers may be used than those described above. 
         [0086]    In this embodiment, the feed roller  172  and retard roller  176  may be made from polymeric material. 
         [0087]    The steps of the methods described herein may be carried out in any suitable order, or simultaneously where appropriate. 
         [0088]    The terms “comprising”, “including”, “incorporating”, and “having” are used herein to recite an open-ended list of one or more elements or steps, not a closed list. When such terms are used, those elements or steps recited in the list are not exclusive of other elements or steps that may be added to the list. 
         [0089]    Unless otherwise indicated by the context, the terms “a” and “an” are used herein to denote at least one of the elements, integers, steps, features, operations, or components mentioned thereafter, but do not exclude additional elements, integers, steps, features, operations, or components. 
         [0090]    The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other similar phrases in some instances does not mean, and should not be construed as meaning, that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases are not used.