Abstract:
The invention relates to an apparatus for stacking vouchers that has at least one circumferential stacking belt ( 82 ). The stacking belt ( 82 ) has a circumferential belt body and at least one tongue pair ( 86   a  to  86   c ) provided outwardly on the belt body. The tongue pair ( 86   a  to  86   c ) has a transport tongue ( 90   a  to  90   c ) and a pressure tongue ( 88   a  to  88   c ). The pressure tongue ( 88   a  to  88   c ) and the transport tongue ( 90   a  to  90   c ) are configured and disposed such that the pressure tongue ( 88   a  to  88   c ) applies contact pressure to the transport tongue ( 90   a  to  90   c ) in the direction of the belt body at least in a circumferential area of the stacking belt ( 82 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a voucher stacking apparatus having at least one circumferential stacking belt that has a circumferential belt body and a transport tongue for accommodating at least one part of the voucher. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion 
         [0004]    A plurality of stacking systems for vouchers is known in which stacking belts are used. A system for stacking banknotes in banknote cassettes with the aid of a stacker and singulator module is known, for example, from the previously unpublished German patent application DE 10 2008 018 935.9. However, with known stacking belts only a relatively low contact pressure can be applied to the banknote located in the transport tongue, resulting in the banknote possibly slipping at least partially from the transport tongue. As a result, an uneven stack can be created or a paper jam can occur, caused by the banknote that was partially pulled from the transport tongue. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An object of the invention is to propose an apparatus for stacking vouchers that enables notes to be transported reliably and in a simple manner. 
         [0006]    Contact pressure suitable for transporting the voucher is generated specifically by the tongue pair provided on the body of the circumferential belt with at least one transport tongue and at least one pressure tongue, said pressure being specifically dependent on the type and shape of the pressure tongue. Furthermore, a space is created between the belt body and a stack already consisting of at least one voucher as a result of the tongues lying partially on top of each other in the direction the stacking belt circulates and the shape of the tongues, so that a feed area, or feed slot, is created for feeding the voucher located in the transport tongue to the at least one voucher already forming a stack. In addition, the stacking belt can be used to transport the stack created further by pressing the side of the stack facing the belt against the belt, in particular in an area where no tongue pair is present on the belt. Stacking belts have the essential advantage that a relatively small space is needed for a stacking apparatus using stacking belts. In contrast, the stacking wheels that can be used as an alternative for stacking require a relatively large space. 
         [0007]    In an advantageous aspect of the invention, the transport tongue is lifted from the circumferential belt, and thus opened, by a voucher introduced into the transport tongue. In this open state of the transport tongue, the pressure tongue applies contact pressure to the transport tongue in the direction of the belt so that the voucher is pressed against the body of the circumferential belt by the transport tongue. As the result of this pressure, at least the adhesive friction between transport tongue and voucher is increased. In areas in which the stacking belt with the tongues on the body of the belt is radially deflected, the pressure tongue does not apply any contact pressure to the transport tongue. Rather, the pressure tongue can be lifted from the transport tongue and/or the transport tongue can be lifted from the voucher. As a result, it is possible to feed the voucher easily into the transport tongue as well as to extract the voucher easily from the transport tongue when the pressure tongue does not apply any contact pressure to the transport tongue, and/or when the transport tongue is lifted from the voucher. 
         [0008]    In another aspect of the invention, at least two jockey rollers are provided to deflect the stacking belt radially. The stacking belt is guided over the at least two jockey rollers. As a result, it is a simple matter to effectuate lifting of at least one of the tongues, that is to say the pressure tongue is lifted from the transport tongue, or the transport tongue is lifted from the voucher or from the body of the belt. It is advantageous in this respect to connect at least one of the jockey rollers, secured against rotation, to a drive shaft for the purpose of driving the stacking belt. It is further advantageous to dispose several stacking belts adjacent one another across the width of the narrowest banknote that is to be stacked. Specifically, three stacking belts can be provided adjacent one another. It is advantageous in this regard if the stacking belts are disposed parallel to one another and are spaced equidistant from one another. The stacking belt, or the stacking belts respectively, preferably have three tongue pairs, wherein the tongue pairs are disposed at the same angular distance on the outer surface of the belt body. It is preferable if the inside of the stacking belt has serrations similar to the serrations of a cog belt. The slippage between a jockey roller configured as a drive roller and the stacking belt can thereby be reduced. Further, the jockey roller can have complementary serrations on its outer surface so that a positive connection exists between cog belt and jockey roller or drive roller. 
         [0009]    The stacking belt is preferably produced from polyurethane or a polyurethane compound, or contains polyurethane. Specifically, a reinforcement can additionally be provided in the stacking belt, specifically a mesh or a cord, specifically a textile, fiberglass or metal mesh or cord. It is particularly advantageous if the stacking belt contains para-phenylene diisocyanate. 
         [0010]    It is advantageous to produce several stacking belts in one piece as a continuous tube, together with the tongue pairs disposed externally on the belt body. In this way, several stacking belts with almost identical properties can be produced after the tube is manufactured if the stacking belts are cut from said tube and are of the same width. Specifically, the stacking belts produced in this fashion have the same diameter. It is particularly advantageous if the retaining and pressure tongue and the transport tongue are respectively attached at different locations to the body of the stacking belt so that the area for attaching the retaining and pressure tongue to the belt body and the area for attaching the transport tongue to the belt body are spaced apart from each other in the direction in which the stacking belt circulates. It is advantageous in this regard to locate the retaining and pressure tongue downstream from the transport tongue when viewed in the direction of circulation. 
         [0011]    It is further advantageous if at least the retaining and pressure tongue in the tongue pair has a curved shape projecting concavely from the surface of the stacking belt. The forward end in the direction of circulation of the retaining and pressure tongue is solidly attached to the stacking belt, or to the body of the stacking belt respectively, perpendicular to the direction of circulation of the stacking belt. The back end of the pressure tongue, the opposite end in the direction of circulation, rests preferably under preload on the transport tongue when the tongue pair is located on a straight side of a stacking belt system as the result of the circulation of the stacking belt. A straight side is the area between two points for deflecting the stacking belt between which a section of the stacking belt is tensioned. 
         [0012]    The vouchers can specifically be banknotes, where the apparatus for stacking the banknotes is located preferably in an automated teller machine or in an automated safe. With the aid of the stacking apparatus, the vouchers are preferably stacked into a bundle in order to dispense several vouchers. 
         [0013]    It is particularly advantageous if the apparatus has at least one stop that halts the movement of the voucher occasioned by the stacking belts while the stacking belt continues to run. The voucher is withdrawn from the transport tongue. The retaining and pressure tongue of the tongue pair on the stacking belt is shaped such that, while the voucher is being transported with the aid of the stacking belt, a stack formed from the vouchers already deposited is kept at a distance by the retaining and pressure tongue. Through the contact of the retaining and pressure tongue with the top side of the stack, the retaining and pressure tongue is additionally pressed against the transport tongue, and a space is created between the voucher located in the transport tongue and the voucher located on the face of the stack facing the stacking belt. The feed of the voucher located in the transport tongue is not hampered as a result, and contact pressure on the voucher is increased. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which, in conjunction with the appended Figures, explains the invention in more detail using an embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic vertical section through an automated teller machine; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  shows a side elevation of a stacking unit of the automated teller machine from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of a stacking belt in the installed position for use in the stacking unit from  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  shows the stacking belt from  FIG. 3  in delivery mode; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  shows a three-dimensional view of the stacking belt from  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  shows a plan view of the stacking unit from  FIG. 2  with three stacking belts. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    A vertical section through an automated teller machine  10  is shown in  FIG. 1  with a housing generally identified with the numeral  11 . The housing encompasses a cabinet-like lower part  12  and a housing upper part  14  set upon said lower part  12 . 
         [0022]    The functional units required for processing and for depositing and dispensing banknotes as well as for operating the automated teller machine  10  are located in the housing upper part  14 . Said units encompass a display unit (not shown) and an input unit (also not shown) in addition to a dispensing drawer  16 . 
         [0023]    A safe  18  is located in the housing lower part  12  that has a box-shaped safe container  20  and a safe door  22  connected to said container. The safe door  22  is attached to the safe container  20  by a hinge  24 , and can be pivoted into an open position and into a closed position and secured by a lock  26 . 
         [0024]    In the embodiment shown, a total of three banknote cassettes  28 ,  29 ,  30  are located in the safe  18 , where cassettes  28  and  29  are dispensing cassettes and cassette  30  is a collection cassette. Of course, the number and configuration of cassettes  28 ,  29   30  can vary in other embodiments of the invention. Collection cassette  30  is also designated as a retraction cassette and serves to receive banknotes that were prepared for the customer for a dispensing transaction and have not been removed from the dispensing drawer  16  within a preset time period. Cassettes  28  to  30  can be moved into and out of said drawer along the double arrow A on guide rails  32  provided for this purpose through the door opening into the safe  18 . 
         [0025]    Dispensing cassettes  28 ,  29  serve respectively to receive a stack of banknotes  34 , the forward end of which, when dispensing cassette  28 ,  29  is completely inserted, abuts a draw-off and singulator device  36 , with the aid of which individual banknotes can be withdrawn from the stack of banknotes  34 . When collection cassette  30  is fully inserted into safe  18 , the feed slot of collection cassette  30  abuts a banknote feed device with the aid of which individual banknotes are transported into the collection cassette  30  and deposited in the storage area of the collection cassette  30  as a stack. The draw-off and singulator devices  36  and the banknote feed unit of the collection cassette  30  are connected respectively to a vertical transport system  38  on the side facing away from the banknote stacks  34  that transports the banknotes at a transfer point through a pass-through slot  40  in the safe container  20  and further into the housing upper part  14 , or in the opposite direction. To do this, the transport direction of the vertical transport system  38  is reversible, so that banknotes that are transported by way of the pass-through slot  40  into the safe  18  can be transported via a diverter  42  into the collection cassette  30 . 
         [0026]    A pressure tray  44  is provided in the banknote receiving area of each cassette  28 ,  29 ,  30  that pushes the banknote stack  34  towards the draw-off and singulator device  36  and enlarges the stacking area for the banknote stack in the collection cassette  30  before, while or after banknotes are brought in. The traversing of the pressure tray  44  is performed by an electric motor  46  located on the tray  44  by which pinion gears can be driven that mesh with a rack  48  provided on the lateral bounding walls of the banknote receiving area. 
         [0027]    In addition, a control unit  50  is located in the safe  18  that controls the draw-off and singulator devices  36 , the banknote feed unit for the collection cassette  30 , the vertical transport system  38 , and the diverter  42 . The control unit  50  is connected to a second control unit  60  in the housing upper part  14  via a plug connector (not shown). 
         [0028]    In addition, further transport routes  62  are provided in the housing upper part  14  that comprise transport elements (not shown) and connect the pass-through slot  40  to the dispensing drawer  16 . A stacking unit  64  is located in one branch of the transport route  62  in accordance with the embodiment of the invention that will be explained in greater detail hereinafter in conjunction with  FIG. 2 . The stacking unit  64  stacks the individual banknotes, which were removed by means of the draw-off and singulator devices  36  from the withdrawal units  28 ,  29  for the dispensing transaction, into a bundle. This bundle is then prepared in the dispensing drawer  16  for a customer for removal. A section of the transport route  62  bordering the output drawer  16  is formed by a belt drive  66  with oppositely disposed transport belts. The banknote stacks prepared by the stacking unit  64  can be transported between the transport belts to the output drawer  16  and, if required, away from the output drawer  16 . 
         [0029]    The transport route  62  can further encompass an additional transport path  68  via which banknotes that have been prepared for the customer in the dispensing drawer  16 , but not removed by him, are transported back again after a preset time and deposited in the collection cassette  30 . A singulator device  70  is integrated in the transport path  68  that singulates the banknotes of a returned bundle again. The banknotes of the returned bundle are then transported through the pass-through slot  40  and, with the aid of the vertical transport system  38  and the diverter  42 , further into the collection cassette  30 . In the same way, stacks of banknotes deposited by the customer can be singulated again with the aid of the singulating device  70  and taken to the collection cassettes  30  for deposit in said cassettes in an orderly form as stacks. This can be accomplished either by a device, not shown, for feeding banknotes or by a feed and stacking function of the draw-off and singulating devices  36  by way of said device. Automated banking machines in which banknotes deposited are taken to the cassettes provided for dispensing are also designated as automated cash recycling machines. 
         [0030]    The side view of stacking unit  64  is shown in  FIG. 2 . Elements with the same structure or the same function are identified with the same reference numeral. A banknote  72  transported over transport route  62  to stacking unit  64  to be deposited in a stack is transported past a detection unit  74  for detecting the leading edge of banknote  72  brought to it and transported with the aid of a transport roller pair  75  with drive roller  76  and pressure roller  77  towards a stacking belt system  78 . 
         [0031]    Stacking belt system  78  encompasses two jockey rollers  83 ,  84 , in the style of a pulley, over which a circumferential stacking belt  82  is carried that is shown in detail in  FIGS. 3 to 5 . One of the pulleys is connected to a drive shaft, secured against rotation, so that stacking belt  82  can be driven by way of the drive shaft and pulley  83 ,  84 . The inside of stacking belt  82  has serrations similar to a cog belt that engage complementary serrations on pulley  83 ,  84  connected to the drive shaft. 
         [0032]    Further, stacking belt  82  encompasses three tongue pairs  86   a,    86   b,    86   c  disposed at the same angular distance on the surface of said belt. Of course, depending on the design of stacking unit  64 , stacking belts  82  with more or fewer tongue pairs  86   a  to  86   c  can be used. Stacking belt  82  and tongue pairs  86   a  to  86   c  are cast of PDDI polyester polyurethane in one piece as a continuous tube. In this way, seams of any kind are avoided, creating a very smooth, homogenous texture and preventing banknotes from becoming stuck. Each tongue pair  86   a  to  86   c  comprises a front retaining and pressure tongue  88   a  to  88   c,  indicated by arrow B viewed in the direction that stacking belt  82  circulates, and a transport tongue  90   a  to  90   c  located at a specified distance behind retaining and pressure tongue  88   a  to  88   c.  Retaining and pressure tongue  88   a  to  88   c  has a curved shape projecting concavely from the outside surface of the stacking belt. The front end of retaining and pressure tongue  88   a  to  88   c,  viewed in transport direction B, is solidly attached to stacking belt  82  perpendicular to the direction of circulation of said belt. The opposite end of retaining and pressure tongue  88   a  to  88   c,  located at the back in the direction of transport B, rests preferably under preload on transport tongue  90   a  to  92   c,  while tongue pair  86   a  to  88   c  is located on one of the straight sides of the stacking belt system  78  as stacking belt  82  is circulating. As a result, retaining and pressure tongue  88   a  to  88   c  then presses transport tongue  90   a  to  90   c  at least towards the outer surface of stacking belt  82  when transport tongue  90   a  to  90   c  is pushed away from the outer surface of stacking belt  82 . Transport tongue  90   a  to  90   c,  on the other hand, has an almost parallel course to the outer surface of stacking belt  82  in a banknote receiving and retaining area. An infeed section  93   a  to  93   c  of transport tongue  90   a  to  90   c  adjoins the banknote receiving and holding area of transport tongue  90   a  to  90   c  and stands out at an acute angle from the outer surface of stacking belt  82  while tongue pair  86   a  is located, as stacking belt  82  circulates, on one of the straight sides of stacking belt system  78 . 
         [0033]    When banknote  72  reaches stacking belt system  78 , a transport tongue  90   b  of the stacking belt  82  is disposed in a basic stacking position to receive banknote  72  taken to stacking unit  64 . In this basic stacking position, the transition point from transport tongue  90   b  to stacking belt  82  is at, or immediately after, the transition from the semicircular curvature of the outer surface of stacking belt  82  at jockey roller  83  facing transport roller pair  75  to the lower straight side of stacking belt  82 , and thus, together with the outer surface of stacking belt  82 , forms an open feed slot in which a forward area of banknote  72  can be received. 
         [0034]    After banknote  72  has been transported into transport tongue  90   b  and has reached the forward edge of the banknote receiving and retaining area of transport tongue  90   b,  stacking belt  82  has been accelerated with the aid of a drive unit, not shown, via one of the pulleys  83 ,  84  to the transport speed of banknote  72 , wherein the feed slot is closed by the movement of stacking belt  82 , and banknote  72  is firmly wedged in transport tongue  90   b.  This wedging of banknote  72  in transport tongue  90   b  is assisted by the contact pressure applied by pressure tongue  88   b  to transport tongue  90   b.  In this firmly wedged condition, banknote  72  is transported fully into a position in which its front, or rear, side is located in front of the surface of a stack of banknotes already stacked in a stacking drawer  92 . If banknote  72  is the first banknote  72  to be transported into a collecting drawer  92  in which banknotes  72  are stacked, banknote  72  is disposed in a position opposite the floor of the collecting drawer. 
         [0035]    Thus, banknote  72  is transported over the entire length of the collecting drawer  92  until it is halted in its movement at a stop  94  projecting laterally next to stacking belt  82 . The longitudinal axis of stop  94  runs orthogonally to stacking belt system  78  through the center of curvature of the semi-circle of stacking belt system  78  facing away from transport route  62  and preferably orthogonally to the lower straight side of stacking belt  82 . 
         [0036]    During the transport of banknote  72  with the aid of stacking belt  82 , note stack  96  composed of the banknotes already deposited is pressed down by retaining and pressure tongue  88   b.  Tangling of banknote  72  with the banknotes of note stack  96  and any banknote jam resulting therefrom is thereby avoided, even with poor note quality and increasing height of note stack  96  during transport by stacking belt  82 . Moreover, through its contact with the upper side of note stack  96 , retaining and pressure tongue  88   b  is additionally pressed against transport tongue  90   b.    
         [0037]    As a result, the contact pressure applied by transport flap  90   b  to banknote  72  and the restraining force effected thereby are further increased. At the end of collecting drawer  92 , as the result of the curvature of stacking belt system  78 , both the downforce, or the contact pressure, of retaining and pressure tongue  88   c  on transport tongue  90   c  as well as the adhesive friction of banknote  72  with the underside and topside of transport tongue  90   c  is released so that banknote  72  can be stripped without damage by stop  94  at a further circulating movement of stacking belt  92 . Banknotes  72  are thus stacked with their forward edge at a lateral delimiting element  94  of collecting drawer  92 . 
         [0038]    Collecting drawer  92  is bounded in a downward direction by a support unit  98  lying opposite stacking belt system  78  and inclined slightly towards delimiting element  94  that comprises a delimiting frame  100  not further shown and three rollers  102 . 
         [0039]    A side elevation of a stacking belt  82  in the installation position in stacking unit  64  from  FIG. 2  is shown in  FIG. 3 , where only stacking belt  82  and the axes of rotation of pulleys  83 ,  84  are shown, without further elements of stacking unit  64 . 
         [0040]    Stacking belt  82  from  FIG. 3  is shown in  FIG. 4  in the delivery mode. 
         [0041]    A three-dimensional view of stacking belt  82  from  FIGS. 3 and 4  is shown in  FIG. 5  in the installation position, without further elements of stacking unit  64 . 
         [0042]    A plan view of a stacking unit  64  from  FIG. 2  with three stacking belts disposed next to each other  82   a  to  82   c  is show in  FIG. 6 . In the embodiment shown, two adjacent stacking belts  82   a  to  82   c  are equidistant from each other. The maximum distance between the outer edges  106   a,    106   c  of outer stacking belts  82   a,    82   c  is advantageously as large as, preferably smaller than, the length of the long sides of the smallest banknote  72  to be stacked. 
         [0043]    Stacking belts  83   a  to  83   c  are connected to a drive shaft  104 , secured against rotation. Drive shaft  104  is driven, for example, by a electric motor, not shown.