Abstract:
The invention relates to a device and a method for storing banknotes, having at least two banknote storage containers ( 26  to  40 ). Each of the banknote storage containers ( 26  to  40 ) has at least one banknote withdrawal and/or feed opening. Further, a first receiving unit ( 14 ) for receiving at least the first banknote storage container ( 26  to  32 ) is provided. Moreover, a second receiving unit ( 16 ) for receiving at least the second banknote storage container ( 34  to  40 ) is provided. The second receiving unit ( 16 ) is arranged horizontally offset relative to the first receiving unit ( 14 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2008/065908, filed Nov. 20, 2008. This application claims the benefit and priority of German application 10 2007 060 803.0 filed Dec. 18, 2007. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0003]    The invention relates to a device and a method for storing banknotes, in which at least two banknote storage containers are provided, each of which has at least one banknote withdrawal and/or banknote feed opening. Further, the invention relates to an automated teller machine for the deposit and withdrawal of banknotes. 
       DISCUSSION 
       [0004]    A large number of known automated teller machines have banknote storage containers for storing banknotes, in which storage containers the banknotes are stored either as banknote stacks with banknotes being arranged one after the other or in winding storages. Banknote storage containers of this type are in particular known from documents WO 01/54078 A2 and DE 3042566 C. Usually, these banknote storage containers are used to store banknotes of a denomination of the same currency so that the number of different banknotes which can be stored in an automated teller machine, in particular of banknotes of different denominations is limited. 
         [0005]    Due to the limited storage capacity of a banknote storage container, also the storage of the total amount of banknotes which can be stored in the automated teller machine is limited so that in particular in the case of automated teller machines with relatively high daily withdrawal amounts a daily replenishment is necessary in order to reliably provide the required withdrawal amounts. The banknote storage containers can be inserted into known automated teller machines and again be removed therefrom. The banknote storage containers are also used for the transport of banknotes from and to the automated teller machine. Banknote storages are generally also referred to as banknote cassettes. 
         [0006]    Known automated teller machines offer the possibility of receiving four, maximum five banknote storage containers stacked on top of one another. By arranging the banknote storage containers under the control panel of the automated teller machine, by which a man-machine interface for a user of the automated teller machine is provided, the number of banknote storage containers cannot be increased further in an arbitrary manner. Similar problems exist with known automatic cash safes which output a requested amount to a bank clerk as well as with automatic cash systems in the retail trade. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is the object of the invention to specify a device and a method for storing banknotes, by which the storage capacity of banknotes which can be stored is increased in an easy manner. 
         [0008]    This object is solved by a device for storing banknotes having the features of claim  1 . Further, the object is solved by a method specified in the claims and an automated teller machine specified in the claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. 
         [0009]    What is achieved by a device having the features of claim  1  is that at least a first banknote storage container is received by a first receiving unit and at least a second banknote storage container is received by at least a second receiving unit. The receiving units are arranged horizontally offset so that only a relatively small space is required for arranging the two receiving units. In particular, both receiving units can be arranged one after the other in a safety area, such as a safe, the safety area being provided with a closable opening through which the receiving units together with the banknote storage containers arranged in the receiving units can be pushed in or pulled out. 
         [0010]    In one development, the receiving units are arranged such that the banknote storage containers received by them are oriented identically so that the banknote withdrawal and/or banknote feed openings of the banknote storage containers face in the same direction in an operating position. As a result thereof, the banknote storage containers can be relatively easily removed from the receiving units when these were moved from the operating position into a service position. In particular, the banknote storage containers can be removed from the receiving units after at least one of the receiving units was moved out of a safety area in which the receiving units are arranged in the operating position. 
         [0011]    In another development of the invention, the banknote storage containers have, on the side opposite to the banknote withdrawal and/or banknote feed opening, a recess and/or a handle by which the pulling of the respective banknote storage container out of a receiving unit is facilitated. Further, each banknote storage container and/or each receiving unit can have at least one locking element by means of which each of the banknote storage containers can be locked in the respective receiving unit. Preferably, this locking element can be integrated in the handle and/or recess or can be engaged therewith such that upon turning the handle and/or upon actuating an actuation element an unlocking of the banknote storage container takes place. 
         [0012]    To each receiving unit preferably at least one transport element for the removal of banknotes from at least one banknote storage container, for the feed of banknotes into a banknote storage container, for the transport of banknotes to a banknote storage container and/or for the transport of banknotes removed from a banknote storage container is assigned. The transport elements are at least in part fixed to the receiving unit and each of them forms at least one transport path of the receiving unit. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the device has a transfer point via which banknotes for the storage in one of the banknote storage containers are fed to the device and/or via which the banknotes removed from one of the banknote storage containers are output from the device. The transfer interface can have a sorting gate. In addition or alternatively, the device can have a sorting gate which is arranged downstream of the transfer point in deposit direction. With the aid of at least one of these sorting gates, fed-in banknotes to be stored in one of the banknote storage containers can be supplied optionally to a first transport path assigned to the first receiving unit or to a second transport path assigned to the second transport unit depending on the position of the sorting gate. Alternatively or in addition, with the aid of the sorting gate the banknotes removed from the banknote storage containers and transported via the transport elements to the transfer interface can be output by the device via the transfer interface. 
         [0014]    If the receiving units with the banknote storage containers are arranged in an operating position in a closed safety area which can be accessed from the outside via at least one closable access opening, it is advantageous if at least the first receiving unit with the at least one banknote storage container can be pulled out from the opening of the safety area into a service position. As a result thereof, an easy access to the banknote storage containers arranged in the first receiving unit and in the second receiving unit is made possible. 
         [0015]    It is particularly advantageous if the first receiving unit and at least the second receiving unit can be pulled out of the safety area. At least one of the receiving units can be swiveled or rotated in the pulled-out state so that as a result thereof a removal of the banknote storage containers from the second receiving unit is likewise easily possible. The distance provided between the receiving units in the operating position is preferably automatically increased during pulling out. Alternatively or in addition, the distance provided between the receiving units in the operating position can be increased after pulling out. Increasing the distance during pulling out or after pulling out can take place in particular with the aid of a lever system and/or a slotted-link control. In addition or alternatively, at least one of the receiving units can be automatically rotated about a rotation axis during pulling out. Alternatively or in addition, at least one receiving unit is rotatable about a rotation axis after pulling out. The rotation axis is preferably arranged such that during rotation substantially only a perpendicular force in the direction of the rotation axis and no or only a small lateral force orthogonal to the rotation axis is exerted. 
         [0016]    The device can have pull-out rails with the aid of which the first receiving unit and/or the second receiving unit can be pulled out from the opening of the safety area. As a result thereof, an easy access to the receiving units and the banknote storage containers arranged therein is possible so that in particular an easy replacement of the banknote storage containers is possible. 
         [0017]    In an advantageous embodiment, each of the receiving units has the possibility of receiving at least two, preferably at least four or five banknote storage containers each, wherein the banknote storage containers are stacked on top of one another in each of the receiving units and are preferably identically oriented. 
         [0018]    When arranging four banknote storage containers each in each of the receiving units thus altogether eight banknote storage containers can be provided. Instead of a banknote storage container also a cassette having a printing device for printing additional receipts or vouchers, in particular admission tickets, can be provided, which can then be output in the same manner as banknotes via an output bin of an automated teller machine. Alternatively or additionally, these printouts can also be output from an automatic cash system or a self-service cash system in the retail trade. 
         [0019]    The banknote storage containers can comprise a winding storage or a stack storage which are both suited for storing banknotes. 
         [0020]    It is advantageous if the device comprises a slotted-link control or a lever system, which is engaged with a pull-out system for pulling out the receiving units from the opening of the safety area such that the distance between the first receiving unit and the second receiving unit is increased during pulling out and/or that the second receiving unit which is arranged behind the first receiving unit is moreover swiveled or rotated into a service position. Alternatively or additionally, the slotted-link control and/or the lever system can be engaged with a further element that moves relative to the receiving units when the receiving unit is pulled out such that the distance between the first receiving unit and the second receiving unit is increased during pulling out and/or that the second receiving unit arranged behind the first receiving unit is swiveled from the operating position into a service position. As a result thereof, a comfortable arrangement of the receiving units in a service position is made possible merely by pulling out the receiving units, wherein in the service position an easy replacement of the banknote storage containers is possible without installation work or other operating actions being necessary for it. 
         [0021]    It is pointed out that the claimed method, too, can be developed with features which have been disclosed above or are disclosed in the following description in connection with the inventive device. In particular, the claimed method can be developed with the features included in the dependent claims or with respective method features. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description which in connection with the enclosed Figures explains the invention in more detail with reference to an embodiment. 
           [0023]    The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a device for storing banknotes in which a safe is illustrated in cross-section. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows the device according to  FIG. 1 , wherein the receiving units for receiving banknotes to be stored as well as a part of the transport elements for the transport of banknotes are illustrated in cross-section. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of receiving units of the device according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , wherein the receiving units are illustrated as being pulled out of the safe. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional illustration of an automated teller machine having a device for storing banknotes according to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . 
       
    
    
       [0028]    Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 1 , a device  10  for storing banknotes is illustrated, which has two receiving units  14 ,  16 , arranged in a safe  12 , for receiving banknote cassettes. Into each of the receiving units  14 ,  16  four banknote storage cassettes are inserted, of which in  FIG. 1  only a part of the handle being visible each time. Further, the device  10  comprises a banknote handling unit  18  to which the banknotes removed from the banknote cassettes of the receiving units  14 ,  16  are fed and which feeds the banknotes to be stored in the banknote cassettes to the receiving units  14 ,  16 . Further, the banknote handling unit  18  has another banknote storage cassette, a so-called reject cassette, the handle of which has the reference sign  20 . Into this reject cassette banknotes are fed which are not to be fed to the banknote cassettes arranged in the receiving units, in particular banknotes that have not been taken out of an output bin. In other embodiments of the invention, the reject cassette is arranged in one of the receiving units instead of one of the banknote cassettes arranged therein, wherein the reject cassette preferably only distinguishes itself from the other banknote storage cassettes in its specific function. 
         [0031]    The receiving units  14 ,  16  and the handling unit  18  can be pulled out from the opening of the safe  12  which is closable by a safe door  22  so that an easy access to all banknote cassettes present in the receiving units  14 ,  16  or to the cassette receptacles provided by the receiving units  14 ,  16  is made possible. The open state of the safe door  22  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  with a broken line. For the output of banknotes by the device  10  and for the feed of banknotes to the device  10  a transfer point  24  is provided via which banknotes can be output in particular for the further transport to an output bin of an automated teller machine or an automatic cash safe. The safe  12  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  without a side wall so that in the side view of the device  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  the receiving units  14 ,  16  arranged in an operating position within the safe  12  as well as the handling unit  18  are visible. The transport path of the banknotes from the transfer point  24  to the handling unit  18  and vice versa is indicated by a broken line and is provided by means of suitable transport elements. 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 2 , the device  10  according to  FIG. 1  is illustrated, wherein the receiving units  14 ,  16  as well as the banknote cassettes  26  to  40  present therein are illustrated in cross-section. Each of the receiving units  14 ,  16  further comprises transport elements for the transport of banknotes to the cassettes  26  to  40  as well as sorting gates and actuating means for the removal of individual banknotes from a cassette  26  to  40  as well as for the feed of individual banknotes into a cassette  26  to  40 . The sorting gates for feeding individual banknotes to a cassette  26  to  40  as well as from a cassette  26  to  40  to a transport path  42 ,  44  formed by the transport elements mentioned are schematically illustrated in  FIG. 2  as triangles. The handling unit  18  includes several sorting gates, of which the sorting gates  46 ,  48  are illustrated and which allow for the transport of banknotes for a desired action. In addition to the reject cassette  52  already mentioned in connection with  FIG. 1 , the handling unit  18  includes a stacking wheel  50  which stacks the banknotes individually removed from the cassettes  26  to  40 , the banknote stack created being output from the device  10  via the transfer interface  24 . In other embodiments of the invention, individual elements such as the stacking wheel  50  and the reject cassette  52  can also be arranged outside of the safe  12 . Preferably, however, transport elements which make a substantially horizontal transport of banknotes between the receiving units  14 ,  16  possible are provided in the safe  12 . These transport elements are preferably not components parts of the receiving units  14 ,  16  but are contained in a separate transport or handling unit  18 . As a result thereof, it is possible that the device  10  has only one transfer point  24  to further elements of an automated teller machine. As a result thereof, known devices can easily be replaced by the device  10 . Such known devices only have several banknote cassettes arranged on top of each other and no banknote cassette stacks arranged one after the other, such as the device  10  according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The feed and withdrawal openings of the banknote cassettes  26  to  40  are arranged opposite to the handles and are engaged with suitable transport elements and withdrawal and feed elements, respectively, when the banknote cassettes  26  to  40  are inserted into the receiving units  14 ,  16 . When they are inserted and arranged in the receiving units  14 ,  16  in the operating position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the banknote cassettes  26  to  40  are oriented such that the feed and withdrawal openings of all banknote cassettes  26  to  40  of the banknote cassettes  26  to  40  present in the receiving units  14 ,  16  face in the same direction. It is particularly advantageous when, in the operating position illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the handles lying opposite to the feed and withdrawal openings face in the direction of the opening of the safe  12  closable by the safe door  22 . As a result thereof, when the safe door  22  is open, an easy removal of the banknote cassettes  34  to  40  from the second receiving unit  16  as well as after pulling out the receiving unit  16  and/or after pulling out the receiving unit  14  also an easy handling of the cassettes  26  to  32  as well as their replacement is made possible. 
         [0033]    In  FIG. 3 , the receiving units  14 ,  16  as well as the handling unit  18  are illustrated in a state where they are pulled out of the safe  12  with the safe door  22  being open. 
         [0034]    To the side of the banknote handling unit  18 , one pull-out rail each for pulling out the banknote handling unit  18  and the receiving units  14 ,  16  is provided, of which the pull-out rail  54  is visible in  FIG. 3 . During pulling out of the receiving units  14 ,  16  from the safe  12  the distance between the receiving units  14 ,  16  has been increased. After the distance between the receiving units  14 ,  16  has been sufficiently increased, the receiving unit  14  is rotated so that a lateral replacement of the banknote cassettes  26  to  32  is possible. The rotation or swivel axis for rotating or swiveling the receiving unit  14  preferably runs perpendicular through the center of gravity of the receiving unit  14  so that only little or no lateral load is caused during rotation of the receiving unit  14  and the pull-out rails  54  are not or only slightly loaded by the rotation. 
         [0035]    In  FIG. 4 , a combination of the device  10  and an operating terminal  60  to form an automated teller machine is shown, wherein the operating terminal  60  has a display and operating unit  62 , preferably with a display unit, preferably a touch screen, freely programmable input keys, a numeric keypad, a card reader, possibly with devices for detecting biometric information of an operator as well as a cash output bin  64 . Further, both the operating terminal  60  and the device  10  have non-illustrated control units for controlling the deposit and withdrawal operations of banknotes as well as authentication operations and authorization operations. As already mentioned, in the present embodiment a banknote stack is provided by the handling unit  18  and output to the output bin  64  via the transfer point  24 . In other embodiments, the banknotes are individually transferred between the operating terminal  60  and the safe  12 , wherein the stacking and separating then takes place in the operating terminal  60 , for example with a stacking wheel  50 . Further, the reject cassette can also be arranged in the operating terminal. In a front view of the automated teller machine, the receiving units  14 ,  16  are arranged one after the other so that only a relatively small overall width for the safe  12  of the device  10  as well as for the automated teller machine illustrated in  FIG. 4  is required. In other embodiments, also more than two receiving units  14 ,  16  can be arranged one after the other, each of which can receive at least one, preferably several banknote cassettes. 
         [0036]    In the embodiment, an automated teller machine for cash deposit and cash withdrawal is shown and described. Automated teller machines of this type are also referred to as recyclers if deposited banknotes are again used for pay-out. The invention can however also be used in the same manner with mere cash withdrawal machines and mere cash deposit machines, as well as automatic cash safes and automatic cash systems in the retail trade. 
         [0037]    The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.