Abstract:
The present invention relates to a paper money guide apparatus of an ATM, and more particularly, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a paper money guide apparatus of an ATM that can adjustably guide various kinds of paper money having different widths by a simple structure. 
     In order to achieve the object, according to an aspect of the present invention, a paper money guide apparatus of an automatic teller machine guides ends of paper money when paper money stacked in a paper money stacking space is moved by a transfer plate. The paper money guide apparatus includes paper money guide plates that each include a guide piece guiding an end of the paper money and a positioning part being detachably positioned in a width direction of the paper money depending on the width of the paper money.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a paper money guide apparatus of an ATM (automatic teller machine), and more particularly, to a paper money guide apparatus that can adjustably guide various kinds of paper money having different widths. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, a cash dispenser unit (CDU) and a billing recycling machine (BRM) have been used as automatic teller machines that quickly and conveniently provide various financial services at anytime without consulting with a person. The CDU has been used since the financial services have been computerized, and is used to withdraw only cash. The BRM has a deposit function in addition to a cash dispensing function. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing a structure of a known ATM, and  FIGS. 2A and 2B  are schematic side and plan views of a deposit/withdrawal unit. 
     An automatic teller machine includes a deposit/withdrawal unit  10  into/from which a client puts or withdraws paper money, a conveyance path  20  on which the paper money to be put into or withdrawn from the deposit/withdrawal unit  10  is transferred, a discriminating unit  30  that is provided on the conveyance path  20  and discriminates paper money, a temporary storing unit  40  in which paper money deposited through the discriminating unit  30  is temporarily loaded, and a plurality of recycleboxes  50  where paper money deposited by a client is loaded and withdrawn to be circulated. 
     Each of the deposit/withdrawal unit  10  and the temporary storing unit  40  has a paper money stacking space  12  in which paper money is stacked. The paper money stacking space  12  is divided into a first paper money stacking space  12   a  and a second paper money stacking space  12   b , which are formed on right and left sides of a stack plate  13 , and a transfer plate  14  is provided on the right side of the second paper money stacking space  12   b . 
     When paper money is deposited, paper money deposited by a client is stacked in the first paper money stacking space  12   a  of the deposit/withdrawal unit  10 . When the transfer plate  14  is moved by a driving unit and pushes the paper money against a front guide plate  15 , an elevation plate  16  descends to move the deposited paper money to an upper portion of a separating unit  17 . Then, the paper money is separated one by one. 
     Further, when the paper money is stacked in the second paper money stacking space  12   b  of the deposit/withdrawal unit  10  and the temporary storing unit  40  by stacking wheels  18 , the transfer plate  14  is moved to push the paper money against the front guide plate  15 . 
     When the paper money is stacked in the paper money stacking space  12  and moved by the transfer plate  14  as described above, there is a demand for a guide apparatus that guides the paper money so as to correspond to a width difference of paper money depending on the kinds of the paper money. 
     That is, paper money has different widths depending on the kinds thereof. If paper money having a small width is stacked and moved when the transfer plate  14  or the front guide plate  15  corresponds to paper money having a large width, as shown in  FIG. 2B , both ends of paper money are not aligned with each other. Therefore, when the paper money is separated from each other by the separating unit  17 , there is a problem in separating the paper money. 
     Further, when the transfer plate  14  or the front guide plate  15  corresponds to paper money having a small width, paper money having a large width cannot be stacked. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not possible to adjustably guide various kinds of paper money. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a paper money guide apparatus of an ATM that can adjustably guide various kinds of paper money having different widths by a simple structure. 
     In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to an aspect of the present invention, a paper money guide apparatus of an automatic teller machine guides ends of paper money when paper money stacked in a paper money stacking space is moved by a transfer plate. The paper money guide apparatus includes paper money guide plates that each include a guide piece guiding an end of the paper money and a positioning part being detachably positioned in a width direction of the paper money depending on the width of the paper money. 
     In the above-mentioned apparatus, the positioning part may include an insertion portion, which protrudes forward to have a predetermined width. Further, the insertion portion may be selectively inserted into a plurality of positioning grooves arrayed at an interval corresponding to a width difference of paper money, which depends on the kinds of paper money. 
     Furthermore, the positioning part may include a fastening portion which is provided with fastening holes and protrudes in a direction crossing a movement direction of paper money. In addition, the fastening portion may be fixed to a side frame so that the fastening holes selectively correspond to the positioning holes. 
     Further, each of the paper money guide plates may include an inclined piece, which guides paper money stacked in the paper money stacking space to the guide piece. 
     In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to another aspect of the present invention, a paper money guide apparatus of an automatic teller machine guides ends of paper money stacked in a paper money stacking space. The paper money guide apparatus includes paper money guide members that each include protrusions protruding in a width direction of the paper money and insertion grooves each having a shape corresponding to the protrusions. The paper money guide members adjustably guide various kinds of paper money having different widths by detachably fixing the protrusions to insertion grooves that are formed on a side of a front guide plate or a transfer plate. 
     In the above-mentioned apparatus, each of the paper money guide members may include locking protrusions for preventing the separation of the paper money guide member, and locking portions into which the locking protrusions are locked. 
     Further, each of the paper money guide members may include a positioning protrusion that protrudes in a width direction of the paper money, and a positioning groove that has a shape corresponding to the positioning protrusion. 
     Furthermore, each of the protrusions may be detachably inserted into an insertion groove, which is opened at one side thereof, in a movement direction of the paper money. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing structure of a general ATM (automatic teller machine); 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are schematic side and plan views of a deposit/withdrawal unit; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a paper money guide apparatus of a temporary storing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the paper money guide apparatus shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are schematic plan views showing that the position of a paper money guide plate is changed in the paper money guide apparatus shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a deposit/withdrawal unit of a paper money guide apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a paper money guide member to be fixed to the transfer plate shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the paper money guide apparatus provided in the transfer plate shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a paper money guide member to be fixed to a front guide plate shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the paper money guide apparatus provided in the front guide plate shown in  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 11  is a view illustrating a process where paper money is moved by a transfer plate in a deposit/withdrawal unit. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The structure and operation of a paper money guide apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to accompanying drawings. Elements shown in each drawing are indicated by reference numerals in this specification. Although shown in different drawings, it should be noted that the same elements are indicated by the same reference numerals if possible. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a paper money guide apparatus of a temporary storing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the paper money guide apparatus shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIGS. 5A and 5B  are schematic plan views showing that the position of a paper money guide plate is changed in the paper money guide apparatus shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     A paper money guide apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may be provided in a temporary storing unit  40 . Paper money, which is put into a deposit/withdrawal unit  10  by a client, is conveyed through a discriminating unit  30  and the temporarily stored in the temporary storing unit  40 . If the client inputs a deposit confirmation signal to an ATM after the paper money is stored in the temporary storing unit  40 , the paper money is conveyed to a recyclebox  50 . In contrast, if the client inputs a deposit cancellation signal to an ATM after the paper money is stored in the temporary storing unit, the paper money is returned to the deposit/withdrawal unit  10 . 
     The temporary storing unit  40  includes stacking wheels  180 , a transfer plate  140 , and a stack plate  130 . The stacking wheels  180  stack paper money into a paper money stacking space  120 . The transfer plate  140  moves the paper money, which is stacked by the stacking wheels  180 , toward a front guide plate  150 . A paper money stacking space  120  is formed the stack plate  130  and between the transfer plate  140 . 
     When the transfer plate  140  is driven by a driving unit, the paper money stacked into the paper money stacking space  120  is moved toward the front guide plate  150 . In this case, paper money guide plates  110 , which guide both ends of the paper money to be moved, are provided in the temporary storing unit. 
     Each of the paper money guide plates  110  has a guide piece  111  that guides the end of the paper money, and a positioning part that is used to position the paper money guide plate according to the width of the paper money. 
     In this case, the positioning part may selectively include an insertion portion  112  and a fastening portion  113 , or may include both the insertion portion  112  and the fastening portion  113 . The insertion portion  112  protrudes forward from the guide piece in a movement direction of paper money and has a predetermined width. The fastening portion  113  has fastening holes  113   a  and protrudes from the guide piece in a direction crossing the movement direction of paper money. 
     The insertion portion  112  is inserted into one of positioning grooves  150   a  formed in the front guide plate  150 . Each of the positioning grooves  150   a  is formed to have an elongated shape in a vertical direction. Further, the positioning grooves  150   a  are arrayed at an interval corresponding to a width difference of paper money, which depends on the kinds of paper money. Accordingly, it is possible to change the position of each of the paper money guide plate  110  by selectively inserting the insertion portion  112  into one of the positioning grooves  150   a.    
     Two fastening holes  113   a  are formed in the fastening portion  113 . Further, two positioning holes  160   a  corresponding to the fastening holes  113   a  are formed in a side frame  160  coming in contact with the lower surface of the fastening portion  113  so as to be arrayed at an interval corresponding to a width difference of paper money, which depends on the kinds of paper money. Accordingly, the fastening portion  113  is fixed to the side frame  160  by fasteners so that the fastening holes  113   a  selectively correspond to the positioning holes  160   a . Therefore, it is possible to change the position of the paper money guide plate  110 . 
     Meanwhile, an inclined piece  114  is formed on one side of the guide piece  111  of the paper money guide plate  110  so as to be inclined with respect to the guide piece  111 . When the paper money stacked in the paper money stacking space  120  is moved toward the front guide plate  150  by the transfer plate  140 , the paper money is guided by the inclined pieces  114  even though the ends of the stacked paper money are not aligned with each other. As a result, the paper money is smoothly aligned with each other. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a deposit/withdrawal unit of a paper money guide apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a paper money guide member to be fixed to the transfer plate shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the paper money guide apparatus provided in the transfer plate shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a paper money guide member to be fixed to a front guide plate shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the paper money guide apparatus provided in the front guide plate shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 11  is a view illustrating a process where paper money is moved by a transfer plate in a deposit/withdrawal unit. 
     A paper money guide apparatus provided in the deposit/withdrawal unit  10  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6 to 8 . 
     A deposit/withdrawal unit  10  is provided with a transfer plate  240  for moving paper money, which is stacked in a paper money stacking space  220  by stacking wheels (not shown), toward a front guide plate  250 . 
     When the transfer plate  240  is driven by a driving unit, the paper money stacked into the paper money stacking space  220  is moved toward the front guide plate  250 . In this case, paper money guide plates  210 , which guide both ends of the paper money to be moved, are provided in a temporary storing unit. 
     Since each of the paper money guide plates  210  has substantially the same shape as the paper money guide plate  110  provided in the temporary storing unit  40 , the position of the paper money guide plate  210  can be changed in a width direction of the paper money so as to correspond to a width difference of paper money, which depends on the kinds of paper money. 
     Paper money guide members  241 , which are easily attached and detached so as to correspond to the width of paper money, are provided on the side transfer plate  240 . Each of the paper money guide members  241  has a width of, for example, 5 mm. When the width of the paper money is changed, the paper money guide members  241 , of which the number corresponds to the changed width of the paper money, are provided on the side of the transfer plate  240 . Accordingly, even though the kind of paper money is changed, it is possible to adjustably guide the paper money. 
     An example of the paper money guide member  241  will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . The paper money guide member  241  includes two protrusions  241   a  that protrude in a width direction of the paper money and each have a quadrangular cross-section, and two insertion grooves  241   b  that each have a shape corresponding to the protrusion  241   a . The protrusions  241   a  are inserted into insertion grooves  240   a  which are formed on the side of the transfer plate  240 . 
     Further, locking protrusions  241   c  are formed on the outer side of the protrusions  241   a  in a longitudinal direction of the paper money guide member  241  in order to prevent the paper money guide member  241  from being separated from the transfer plate  240 . The locking protrusions  241   c  are locked to locking portions  240   b  of the transfer plate  240 , or locking portions  241   d  of another paper money guide member  241 . 
     Meanwhile, the paper money guide member  241  includes a positioning protrusion  241   e  that protrudes from the paper money guide member  241  in a width direction of the paper money, and a positioning groove  241   f  that has a shape corresponding to the positioning protrusion  241   e . Accordingly, it is possible to easily fix the paper money guide member  241  fixed to the transfer plate  240  or another paper money guide member  241 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , when the width of the paper money to be processed is changed, the paper money guide members  241  are fixed to the transfer plate  240  so as to correspond to the changed width of the paper money. The transfer plate  240  includes insertion grooves  240   a  into which the protrusions  241   a  of the paper money guide member  241  are inserted, a locking portion  240   b  to which the locking protrusion  241   c  of the paper money guide member  241  is locked, and a positioning protrusion  240   c  to be inserted into the positioning groove  241   f.    
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , paper money guide members  251  are provided on the side of the front guide plate  250 . 
     Each of the paper money guide members  251  includes protrusions  251   a  that protrude in a width direction of the paper money and each have a trapezoid shape, and insertion grooves  251   b  that each have a shape corresponding to the protrusion  251   a . Meanwhile, the front guide plate  250  also includes insertion grooves  250   a.    
     Each of the insertion grooves  251   b  is opened at one side thereof. The protrusion  251   a  is inserted into the opened side of the insertion groove and separated from the insertion groove through the opened side. The paper money guide member can be attached to and detached from the front guide plate  250  or another money guide member  251 . 
     The paper money guide members  241  and  251  can be attached and detached as described above. Accordingly, even when the width of the paper money is small or large, it is possible to adjustably guide the paper money. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , as shown in  FIG. 11A , paper money having a large width is stacked in a stacking space  220 , which is formed between the transfer plate  240  and a stack plate  230 . The end of the paper money is guided by the paper money guide plate  210 . The paper money guide plate  210  is fixed to the side frame  260  by fasteners (not shown) so that fastening holes  213   a  formed in the paper money guide plate correspond to positioning holes  260   a  of the side frame. Therefore, it is possible to change the position of the paper money guide plate  210 . In this case, the paper money guide member  241  is provided on one side of the transfer plate  240 , and the paper money guide member  251  is also provided on one side of the front guide plate  250 . 
     When the width of the paper money stacked in the paper money stacking space  220  is small, the paper money guide members  241  and  251 , which are provided on the sides of the transfer plate  240  and the front guide plate  250 , are removed as shown in  FIG. 11B . Then, the paper money guide plate  210  is positioned to correspond to other positioning hole  260   a  so that the position of the paper money guide plate is changed. 
     As described above, the paper money guide apparatus of an ATM according to the embodiment of the present invention, makes it possible to adjustably guide various kinds of paper money having different widths by a simple structure in a deposit/withdrawal unit or a temporary storing unit. Further, even when the width of the paper money is small or large, it is possible to adjustably guide the paper money. As a result, it is possible to efficiently use an ATM.