Abstract:
The present inventionrelates to the field of cash handling, and in particularly handling of coins. More specifically, the present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus for dispensing coin bags.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates to the field of cash handling, and in particularly handling of coins. More specifically, the present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus for dispensing coin bags. 
       TECHNICAL BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Today, coins may be distributed from institutions such as banks to end users such as stores, shops, markets, companies and private persons, in units such as coin rolls or coin bags. The dispensing of such coin units is typically carried out by dispensing machines or in bank offices where users buy rolls or bags and pays with cash or cards. There is a general trend towards using automatic dispensing machines rather than expensive manual cash handling. Cash-in-transit companies are also often interested in providing automatic dispensing machines in cash-handling offices of stores, shops etc. 
         [0003]    As already mentioned, it is quite common in some countries to distribute coins in rolls wrapped in paper. Coin rolls are compact, stable and easy to mark with information. However, it may be difficult to open a densely wrapped coin roll. 
         [0004]    Coin bags constitute an alternative to coin rolls. A coin bag is normally a heat-sealed plastic bag containing a specific amount, typically 20-100 coins. The advantages of using coin bags are primarily associated with production as it is much easier and up to 50% cheaper to fill up a coin bag than producing a coin roll. Other advantages with coin bags are that they are easy to open and that it is possible to remove some but not all of the coins therein. 
         [0005]    Coin bags are, however, also associated with some drawbacks. A bag filled with coins does not have any specific three-dimensional shape. Accordingly, it is difficult to pile up and store a multitude of such bags. It is also very difficult to estimate the amount of bags in a pile without counting the bags. Moreover, compared with the coin rolls solution, it is much more complex to manufacture a cash dispenser for bags of coins since each bag may have a different shape. Indeed, there is no efficient available automatic dispensing solution which could facilitate dispensing of the bags and cut the costs thereof. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for an improved system for distributing coin bags to end users. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention aims at solving the above mentioned problems by providing, in a first aspect a dispensing apparatus for dispensing coin bags, the dispensing apparatus comprising: a dispense aperture through which coin bags are dispensed; a cutting device for cutting of a coin bag from a chain of a plurality of interconnected coin bags, a bag storage compartment adapted for receiving a first and a second container, each containing a chain of a plurality of interconnected coin bags, the bag storage compartment having a first storage position and a second storage position, the bag storage compartment further comprising a first conveyor belt for transporting a container in the second storage position to the first storage position, a bag transporting device adapted for guiding the chain of a plurality of interconnected coin bags to said cutting device followed by said dispense aperture, a transition area located at the interface between the bag storage compartment and the bag transporting device, an output compartment for receiving and putting out empty containers, wherein the dispensing apparatus further comprises a container removing device adapted for transferring the first container at the first storage position to the output department when all interconnected bags of the chain originally enclosed therein have been transported out therefrom, and wherein the first conveyor belt is adapted for transporting the second container from the second storage position to the first storage position subsequent to the removal of the first container by the container removing device. 
         [0008]    As disclosed herein, the term “container” relates to a structure suitable for enclosing a plurality of coin bags. It must have an upper opening enabling coin bags to enter and exit. It must be broader than the coin bags that are to be stored therein. The container may have many different shapes. A circular or hexagonal vertical cross-section is possible. However, the container shape is typically an essentially rectangular block having a bottom side, two short sides, two long sides and an upper side comprising an opening. For practical reasons, the weight of a container filled with coin bags should not exceed 20 kg, preferably not exceed 15 kg, and most preferably not 10 kg. 
         [0009]    As disclosed herein, the terms “chain of a plurality interconnected coin bags” or “chain of interconnected coin bags” relates to a chain of plastic bags containing coins. Typically, such a chain has been obtained by filling coins into a plastic tube and closing the space occupied by the coins by heat-sealing. Suitable plastic materials are heat-sealable and sufficiently strong to be able to enclose heavy metal coins. Polypropylene is an example of a suitable plastic material. It is easy for a skilled person to find more suitable such materials. The chain furthermore has a first end and a second end. These ends preferably consist of heat-sealed portions. The ends of the chain are adapted for being releasably attached to the clamping devices of the container. 
         [0010]    As disclosed herein, the term “seal” relates to an elongated sheet, or otherwise shaped sheet depending on the shape of a container to be sealed, adapted for being attached to the container in order to indicate that the container contains a chain of interconnected coin bags and to provide further information, such as the specific amount of coin bags in the container and the amount and type of coins in the bags. The seal comprises an information part and two end parts at the short sides of the elongated sheet. There are anti-tamper seals at both end parts. Furthermore, there is a double-adhesive part releasably attached to the lower side of the main part in vicinity of one or both the end parts. 
         [0011]    As disclosed herein, the term “anti-tamper seal” relates to a part that adheres to a surface. When the part is removed from the surface, there is a display on the part itself and/or the surface to which it has adhered indicating that the seal has been manipulated and/or opened. Such anti-tamper seals are commercially available. The anti-tamper seal is firmly attached to the main part of the seal, typically by a glue. 
         [0012]    As disclosed herein, the term “double-adhesive part” relates to a sheet structure having an adhesive on both sides. Typically, the double-adhesive part is arranged on the lower side of the main part of the seal in vicinity of an end part. Both sides of the double-adhesive part are intended to adhere to ends of chains of interconnected coin bags. The side of a double-adhesive part on a seal facing away from the main part is intended to adhere to an end part of a chain of interconnected coin bags that has been arranged inside a container to be sealed. When a seal of a container is removed, the other side of the double-adhesive part is exposed and may be used for adhering to an end part of another chain of interconnected coin bags. It is important to note that the double-adhesive part also may be fastened on the chain of interconnected coin bags without using the above described seal. For example, the double-adhesive part may comprise a protective film which can manually be peeled off to expose the other side of the double-adhesive part and then used for adhering to an end part of another chain of interconnected coin bags. 
         [0013]    As disclosed herein, the term “press area” relates to an area on the upper short side of a container adapted for receiving an end part of a chain of interconnected coin bags. The press area may either protrude out from said upper short side or be at the same level as the rest of the short side. The function of the press area is to provide support to the double-adhesive parts when two chains of interconnected coin bags are joined. 
         [0014]    As disclosed herein, the term “clamping device” relates to a device adapted for sticking or attaching one of the ends of a chain of interconnected coin bags, typically a clamp or a clip. In some embodiments, the end of said chain is only loosely attached to the clamping device and may be pulled out from it. 
         [0015]    As disclosed herein, the term “actuation means” relates to a means located on a short side of the container for releasing the clamping device when short sides of two different containers are pressed against each other. Accordingly, a suitable actuation means may be a push button on the surface, in a cavity or on a protruding part. In one embodiment one surface of a short side may comprise a protruding part whereas the other short side surface may comprise a cavity receiving the protruding part. The actuation means may also comprise a proximity sensor sensing if an object, for example a second container, is in the vicinity. According to some embodiments, the actuation means may comprise a sensor which only actuates if it senses a certain object, typically an object on the second container. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the output compartment includes a declining surface and container removing device is adapted for transferring the first container to the declining surface. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the bag storage compartment also comprises a third storage position for receiving a third container, and a second conveyor belt adapted for transporting the third container from the third storage position to the second storage position subsequent to the removal of the second container from the second storage position by the first conveyor belt. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the first storage position and the second storage position are immediately adjacent to each other in such a way that the second short side of a container in the first storage position is in contact with the first short side of a container in the second storage position. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the second storage position and the third storage position are immediately adjacent to each other in such a way that the second short side of a container in the second storage position is in contact with the first short side of a container in the third storage position. 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprising a means for counting the amount of coin bags that has been transferred from the storage compartment. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprising a means for obtaining amount information about the coins and/or coin bags to be dispensed, selected from the group of 
         [0022]    a) a QR code reader adapted for reading information on a container, or a coin bag or on the information part of a seal; 
         [0023]    b) a RFID reader adapted for reading information on a container, or a coin bag or on the information part of a seal; and 
         [0024]    c) a means for manually entering information such as a key pad. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprising a sensor for detecting the position of the chain of a plurality of interconnected coin bags in the transition area. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a means for receiving a sensor signal from a container in said first storage position, said signal indicating presence of a chain of interconnected coin bags in said container. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a control system for controlling at least the cutting device, first conveyor belt, bag transporting device, and the container removing device. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, said control system is adapted for receiving information about the amount of interconnected coin bags of a chain in a container in the first storage position, said control system being adapted to determining in real time whether there are any interconnected coin bags left in the container, and if the control system has determined that there are no remaining interconnected coin bags in the container, the control system is adapted to instruct the container removing device to transfer the container to the output compartment. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the control system determines whether there are any interconnected coin bags left in the container based one or more of the following input data: 
         [0030]    i) information from a means for obtaining amount information about the coins and/or coin bags to be dispensed in accordance with above; 
         [0031]    ii) information from a sensor for detecting the position of the chain of a plurality of interconnected coin bags in the transition area in accordance with above; 
         [0032]    iii) information from a means for receiving a sensor signal from a container in said first storage position, said signal indicating presence of a chain of interconnected coin bags in said container; and 
         [0033]    iv) information from the cutting device and/or the bag transporting device about the amount of bags that have been transported away from the bag storage compartment. 
         [0034]    In some embodiments, said control system is adapted for instructing the first conveyor belt to forward a container in the bag storage compartment to the first storage position in case there is no container in the first storage position. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE ENCLOSED FIGURES 
         [0035]    The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerals will be used for similar elements, wherein: 
           [0036]      FIG. 1  shows a dispensing apparatus according to embodiments of the invention, 
           [0037]      FIG. 2  shows a container comprising a plurality of interconnected bags for coins, 
           [0038]      FIG. 3  shows a close up of a clamp of  FIG. 2 , 
           [0039]      FIG. 4  describes a fastening procedure for an end of the plurality of interconnected bags for coins using the clamp of  FIG. 3 , 
           [0040]      FIG. 5 a    shows an upper side of a sealing suitable for sealing an opening of a container of claim  1 , 
           [0041]      FIG. 5 b    shows a side view of the sealing of  FIG. 5 a   , 
           [0042]      FIG. 5 c    shows a cut out of an end portion of the sealing of  FIG. 5   b,    
           [0043]      FIG. 6 a    shows the sealing of  FIGS. 5 a - c    when covering an opening of the container of  FIG. 2 , 
           [0044]      FIG. 6 b    describes an opening procedure of the container of  FIG. 6   a,    
           [0045]      FIGS. 7 a - b    describe a method for forming an uninterrupted chain of coin bags according to embodiments of the invention, 
           [0046]      FIG. 8  shows the dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 1  when receiving the container of  FIG. 2 , 
           [0047]      FIGS. 9 a - d    describe the process of dispensing bags for coins according to embodiments of the invention, 
           [0048]      FIG. 10  schematically shows the dispensing concept of bags for coins, 
           [0049]      FIG. 11 a    shows by way of example a structure of a lifting device for lifting the interconnected bags from a bag storage compartment of the dispenser, 
           [0050]      FIGS. 11 b - c    show how the chain of interconnected bags are lifted with the lifting device of  FIG. 11   a,    
           [0051]      FIG. 12  shows a bag transporting device according to embodiments of the invention, 
           [0052]      FIGS. 13 a - b    show a loading operation of the dispenser according to embodiments of the invention, 
           [0053]      FIGS. 14 a - b    describe a process of separating the bag to be dispensed from the chain of interconnected bags using a cutting device according to embodiments of the invention, 
           [0054]      FIGS. 15 a - c    describe a process of rejecting a bag to be dispensed, 
           [0055]      FIG. 16  shows by way of example a cash handling system comprising four dispensing apparatus as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0056]    A container for holding a plurality of interconnected bags for coins is disclosed. Such a container  200  can be seen in  FIG. 2 . The container  200  may be shaped as a rectangular block, with lower part or bottom  201 , an upper opening  209 , a short side  204  and a long side  202 . Further shapes are equally possible, such as a hexagon shape. The container  200  shown in  FIG. 2  comprises a bottom side  201  and four sidewalls  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208  extending upwardly from the bottom. It may be noted that the four sidewalls  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208  according to another embodiment may be formed as a single continuous sidewall with curved corner portions and straight portions between the corners. The container may advantageously comprise a first short side  204 , a second short side  206  and two long sides  202 ,  208 . 
         [0057]    In the following, the invention will be described in terms of bags of coins, but it should be noted that the invention is not limited to bags containing coins. The invention could be used for bags of other items, such as candy, jewellery, bank-notes or any other item suitable for being enclosed in a bag 
         [0058]    The bags of coins contained in the container  200  are interconnected such that all bags of coins  212   a . . . n  in a container are attached in a long chain  211  of bags. Each bag is sealed by for example heat sealing. Consequently, there is a portion of material  214  between each bag of coins which is not part of any bag, hereinafter called sealing portion  214 . This portion  214  may for example be a portion of heat sealed plastic. The ends of the first  212   a  and the last  212   n  bag in this row of bags of coins  212  are fixed to the container. The first end  216  is fastened on an outside of a first sidewall  204 , e.g. one of the sidewalls of the short side of the container. The second end  218  is fastened on an outside of a second sidewall  206  opposite to the first sidewall. The portions  216 ,  218  fastened to the sidewalls of the container advantageously consist of material not being part of any bag  212   a . . . n , for example the above described sealing portion  214  and according to some embodiments, further non-bag material. Consequently, no coins will be placed outside the sidewalls  204 ,  206 , since the portions fastened on the outside of the sidewalls are not parts of any bag. Moreover, no coin will be placed on the edge of the sidewalls  204 ,  206  over which the first end  216  and the second end  218  is extending. This is advantageous since the risk of tearing the first  216  or second  218  ends may be reduced. More specifically, the end parts  216 ,  218  are arranged over press areas  217 ,  219  and releasably attached to clamping devices  222  on each short side  204 ,  206 . The clamping device  222  will be further described below. Consequently, the container  200  and specifically the clamping device(s)  222  and the press area(s)  217 ,  219  are adapted for giving firm support for a part of a chain end  216 ,  218  when such an end is stretched over the press area  217 ,  219 . The press area  217 ,  219  may be a protruding block as described in  FIG. 2 . This may facilitate the opening of the clamping device  222  when two containers  200  are pressed towards each other as described below. The dimensions of the press area  217 ,  219  may be varied in any suitable way. According to other embodiments, the press area  217 ,  219  may be level with the rest of the short side  204 ,  206 , i.e. not protruding at all. This may simplify the manufacturing process of the container  200 . 
         [0059]    By employing such clamping devices, the ends of the interconnected chain of coin bags are easily reachable. By stretching the interconnected bags over the edges of the first  204  and second  206  short sides, the stackability of the container  200  may be improved. 
         [0060]    Since the weight and the size of coins may vary greatly, the size of a bag of coins may also advantageously vary. In order to allow for ergonomic handling of a container of such bags, the weight of the bags of coins  212   a . . . n  contained in the container  200  should not be too large. According to some embodiments, the total weight of the container  200  and the bags of coins  212   a . . . n  contained in the container  200  should not exceed a limit weight, for example 10 kilograms. The limit weight can according to other embodiments be any other suitable value such that 11, 13 or 15 kilograms. The container  200  is advantageously shaped such that it can be carried by a person using only one hand. Consequently, the person can carry two containers  200 , one in each hand, for increased ergonomic handling. Consequently, the container  200  should not be too wide. According to some embodiments, the width of the container  200  is within the range of 6-40 centimetres, preferably 10-30 centimetres. The size of the container may typically amount to 40 cm×30 cm×15 cm but these measurements may be varied considerably. What is important is that the weight of a container containing coin bags is not too large for an average person to carry by one hand, for example exceeding 20 kg. 
         [0061]    The number of bags of coins  212   a . . . n  contained in the container may thus be limited by such a weight limit of the container  200 . If the container  200  is made out of a light material, such as aluminium or plastic, the number of bags of coins  212   a . . . n  may be increased. The material of the container  200  should thus advantageously be both light and durable, in order to allow for an increased number of bags of coins  212   a . . . n  in a single container  200 , and in order to be durable against wear out. Using steel as material, these advantages may be achieved. It may be noted that the container  200  can be made of any other suitable material, such as aluminium or any polymer-based material. 
         [0062]    Another limit for the number of bags of coins  212   a . . . n  may be the volume of the container  200 . According to some embodiments, the bags of coins  212   a . . . n  should not reach above the upper boundary of the container  200 . According to other embodiments, the bags of coins  212   a . . . n  can reach above the upper boundary of the container to some extent, as long as a second container could be stacked above the container having the bags of coins  212   a . . . n  reaching above the upper boundary of the container  200 . A feature of the container  200  according to the present invention is that it is stackable. For that reason, any handle(s) of the container  200 , used when carrying the container  200  by a user as described above, may be foldable or removable (not shown in the figures). Consequently, when stacking or de-stacking a container, the handles can be retracted or extended accordingly. 
         [0063]    The container  200  is designed for easy and safe stacking. For example, the container  200  may be designed such that a locking between a first container and another container stacked above the first container can be achieved. Features facilitating stacking are not shown in the figures. 
         [0064]    The bags  212   a . . . n  for holding the coins may be made of any plastic material such that polypropylene. The bags  212   a . . . n  are advantageously transparent in order to allow the currency and denomination of the coin contained by a bag to be easily visible. 
         [0065]    The bags of coins are advantageously put in the container in a zigzag pattern, as visualised for example in  FIGS. 9 a - d   . This may advantageous when removing the bags of coins  212   a . . . n  from the container  200 , for example, when dispensing the bags  212   a . . . n  through a dispenser. Such a dispenser will be explained in detail below. By placing the bags of coins  212   a . . . n  in such a zigzag pattern, the risk of entanglement of the chain  211  of bags of coins when dispensing a bag of coins is reduced. 
         [0066]    According to embodiments, the first end  216  is fastened on an outside of an upper portion of the first sidewall  204  and the second end  218  is fastened an outside of an upper portion of the second sidewall  206 . This reduces the amount of excess material, i.e. material not part of any bag  212   a . . . n , which is needed for the first  216  and second  218  ends. 
         [0067]    Both the ends  216 ,  218  may be fastened using a clamping device  222 .  FIG. 3  shows by way of example a possible design of such a clamping device  222 . The clamping device  222  may be fastened by a hinge to the container  200 . The clamping device may for example comprise a through hole  302  for a hinge axis provided at the container  200 . The hinge is advantageously a self closing hinge such that force is needed to open the clamping device for input of the first  216  and second  218  ends of the interconnected bags  212   a . . . n . The tension in the hinge should be large enough such that the clamping device will retain the ends  216 ,  218  of the interconnected bags  212   a . . . n  when they are not influenced by external forces, i.e. when the interconnected bags  212   a . . . n  is just stored in the container  200 . The external forces that may act on the interconnected bags  212   a . . . n  will be described in detail below. The clamping device may further comprise elements  304 ,  306  which, in addition to the tension of the self closing hinge, will help the clamp to retain the ends  216 ,  218 . These elements may be designed to match corresponding elements (not shown) in the container  200 . For example, the bowl-shaped element  306  of the clamping device  222  may be matched by a pipe-shaped element in the container  200  such that the ends  216 ,  218  may be clamped between the two elements. Similarly, the pipe-shaped element  304  may be matched by a bowl-shaped element in the container  200 . 
         [0068]    The clamping device  222  may according to some embodiments be opened, or released, by a connected actuating means  207  shown is  FIG. 2 . 
         [0069]    The actuating means may be a mechanical actuating means, e.g. a push button on the surface, in a cavity or on a protruding part of the short side  204 ,  206  of the container  200 . The actuating means  207  may also be electrical, for example a proximity sensor configured to release the clamping device  222  when sensing an object in the vicinity of the sensor. According to embodiments, the actuating means on a first container may be actuated when in contact with a, or being nearby a, corresponding means on a second container. For example, if the actuating means is a button located in a cavity on the first container, the corresponding means on the second container may be a protruding part that will activate (e.g. push) the button on the first container when the first and the second container is pushed together in the correct way. 
         [0070]    The first end  216  is provided with a double-adhesive part  220  which is adhering to the first end on the outside of the first short sidewall  204 , on a side of the first end  216  which is not touching the first short sidewall  204 . Consequently, the double-adhesive part  220  is free to be adhered to an object to which it is pressed against. Such a double-adhesive part may according to embodiment also be located on the outside of the second sidewall  206  on a side of the second end  218  which is not touching the second short sidewall  206 . The double-adhesive part  220  is according to embodiments located between an upper edge of the first short sidewall  204  and the clamp  222  holding the first end  216  and additionally or alternatively similarly provided on the second short sidewall  206 . 
         [0071]    As shown, for example in  FIG. 2 , the present invention provides a kit for storing and dispensing coin bags, comprising a container  200  as described above, and a chain  211  of a plurality of interconnected coin bags  212   a - 212   n  having a first end  216  and a second end  218 , said chain  211  being made of a plastic film tube, the tube comprises a plurality of heat-sealed portions  214 , wherein each of the plurality of interconnected coin bags  212   a - 212   n  is defined by two heat-sealed portions  214 . Such a kit provides an improved system for distributing coin bags to end users. 
         [0072]      FIG. 4  shows by way of example a fastening procedure of the first end  216  of the interconnected bags  212   a . . . n  by the clamp  222 . As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , according to some embodiments, the double-adhesive part  220  may comprise a protective film  402  which can be peeled off to uncover an adhesive material  404 . The protective film  402  will protect the adhesive material  404 , for example when the container  200  is brought from a place to another, or while the container  200  is stored at a safe deposit. The protective film  402  may be part of a larger sealing covering the entire opening of the container  200  as explained below. The first and second ends  216 ,  218  may be fastened directly after the container  200  has been filled with interconnected bags  212   a . . . n , or they may be fastened before placing the container  200  into a dispenser for dispensing the bags. 
         [0073]    The first  216  and second  218  end is advantageously fastened equally far from an upper edge of the first  204  and the second  206  sidewall respectively. This may provide a symmetric design of the container  200 , which may be advantageously since the filling process and fastening procedure of the container  200  may be more efficient if the direction of the container  200  is of no concern while performing the filling process and fastening procedure. 
         [0074]      FIGS. 7 a - b    describe a method for joining two chains  211 ,  711  of a plurality of interconnected coin bags comprising the plurality of interconnected bags  212   a . . . n  of a first container  200 , for example as described in conjunction with  FIG. 2-4  and the plurality of interconnected bags  712   a . . . n  of a second container  700 , for example as described in conjunction with  FIG. 2-4 . In  FIG. 7 a   , the second container  700  is brought towards, and pressed towards, the first container  200  such that the double-adhesive part  720  of the first end  716  of the plurality of interconnected bags  712   a . . . n  of the second container  700  is adhering, as shown in  FIG. 7 b   , to the second end  218  of the plurality of interconnected bags  212   a . . . n  of the first container  200 . In other words, the method comprises contacting the second short side  206  of the first container  200  with the first short side  704  of the second container  700 , whereby the second end  218  of the chain  211  arranged in the first container  200  is pressed against the first end  716  of the chain  711  arranged in the second container  700 , one of these ends being attached to a double-adhesive part, whereby the two chains  211 ,  711  of a plurality of interconnected coin bags are joined. If the double-adhesive part  716  comprised a protective film, as described above, this film needs to be peeled or otherwise removed before bringing the two containers  200 ,  700  together. By the method described in  FIGS. 7 a - b   , an uninterrupted chain of bags comprising the plurality of interconnected bags  212   a . . . n  of the first container  200  and the plurality of interconnected bags  712   a . . . n  of the second container  700  are formed. 
         [0075]    Since the double-adhesive part  720  is located between the upper edge of the first sidewall  704  and the clamp  722  holding the first end  716 , the double-adhesive part  720  is fastened on a stretched surface, i.e. on a stretched part of the first end  716 , which may improve the adhering between the plurality of interconnected bags  212   a . . . n  of the first container  200  and the plurality of interconnected bags  712   a . . . n  of the second container  700 . Likewise, the portion of the second end  218  of the interconnected bags  212   a . . . n  of the first container  200 , which may or may not comprise an double-adhesive part of its own, to which the double-adhesive part  720  is adhering, is stretched in the same manner. 
         [0076]    In order to improve the releasing functionality of the above described uninterrupted chain of bags, the method may further comprise the step of, after the step of pressing the first sidewall of the second container against the second sidewall of the first container as shown in  FIG. 7 b   , separating the first sidewall  704  of the second container  700  from the second sidewall  206  of the first container  200 . As described above, the first and second container  200 ,  700  may comprise actuation means which releases the clamping device  222  (not shown),  722  when actuated, i.e. when the two containers are pressed towards each other or in vicinity of each other. In other words, the contacting step between the containers  200 ,  700  causes the actuation means (not shown) of each of the second short side  206  of the first container  200  and the first shirt short side  704  of the second container  700  to release the clamping devices  222  (not shown),  722  of these particular short sides  206 ,  704 . 
         [0077]    Since the double-adhesive part  720  should be strong enough to hold the two pluralities of interconnected bags  212   a . . . n ,  712   a . . . n , together, the tacky properties of the double-adhesive part  720  is of importance. The double-adhesive part may for example be made from an adhesive very high bond (VHB) tape manufactured by 3M. Any other adhesive material with enough tacky properties is equally possible, for example a double-sided, pressure sensitive, closed-cell acrylic foam tape. 
         [0078]    In order to improve security and provide identification of the content of a container, the container may be provided with a sealing. Such a sealing is described by way of example in  FIGS. 5 a - c   .  FIG. 5 a    shows an example of a sealing  500  seen from above, i.e. showing the upper side  508 , or information part, of the sealing  500 . The information part  508  may have an elongated shape and may comprise a visual identification area  502  which shows information pertaining to the content of a container sealed by the sealing  500 . The information part  508  further comprises an upper side  530 , a lower side  532 , two opposite long sides  538 ,  540  and two end parts  534 ,  536  in vicinity of two opposite short sides. In  FIG. 5 a   , the visual identification area  502  comprises an area  522  indicating that the sealing  500  is sealing a container comprising 1 Euro coins. The identification area  502  may further comprise an area  520  which shows information pertaining to the content of a container sealed by the sealing  500  coded as a colour or a pattern. The information part  508  may further comprise a computer readable identification means  506 , such as a QR-code  506  or a RFID or any other identification chip. 
         [0079]    As can be seen in  FIG. 6 a   , the sealing  500  is adapted for covering an opening of the container  200 . It may be advantageous if the sealing  500  is placed over the opening of the container such that the area  520  can be seen from the side of the container, as shown in  FIG. 6 a   . This may simplify stocktaking when several containers  200  are stacked above each other. In this case, the area  520  may still be visible for a container stacked underneath another container and indicating the content of the lower container. 
         [0080]      FIG. 5 b    shows the sealing  500  seen from the side, and  FIG. 5 c    shows an enlargement of an end portion of the sealing  500 . The sealing  500  comprises a double-adhesive part  220  being adhesive on a top side and a bottom side. The double-adhesive part  220  is positioned at an end portion of the information part  508 , on a bottom side of the information part. The sealing further comprises a release liner, or a release layer,  518  positioned between the information part  508  and the double-adhesive part  220 , i.e. on the the lower side  532  of an end part  534  of the information part  508 . As can be seen in  FIG. 6 a   , the sealing  500  is designed such that when applied to the container  200  for covering the opening of the container  200 , the double-adhesive part  220  adheres to an outside of a first sidewall  204  of the container  200 . When removed from the container  200 , as shown in  FIG. 6 b   , the functionality of the release liner  518  makes the double-adhesive part  220  to stay adhered to the container and thereby providing the first end  216  with an double-adhesive part  220  as described above. In other words, the double-adhesive portion is loosely adhered to said release layer  518  and the surface of the double-adhesive portion  220  facing away from the release layer  518  is adapted for adhering to a chain  211  of a plurality of interconnected coin bags as best seen in  FIG. 6   b.    
         [0081]    As described in  FIG. 6 a    in conjunction with  FIGS. 5 a - c   , the present invention provides a kit for storing and dispensing coin bags which comprises a seal having two end parts  534 ,  536  and anti-tamper seals  512  having adhesive lower layers  513  at each end part  534 ,  536  as well as a double-adhesive part  220  in vicinity of at least one of said anti-tamper seals  512 . The anti-tamper seals  512  may be adapted for being firmly attached to the one of the short sides  204 ,  206  of the container  200 . According to embodiments, there is a release liner  518  between the double-adhesive part  220  and the seal  500  for easy removal of the seal and such that the double-adhesive part  220  stays adhered to the one of the first  216  and the second  218  end of the chain  211  of interconnected coin bags  212   a - 212   n.    
         [0082]    The sealing of the container may be performed with a method comprising three steps. In step one, the kit of parts are provided. Step two comprises arranging the chain  211  of interconnected coin bags  212   a - 212   n  in the container  200  in such a way that all of the bags  212   a - 212   n  are inside the container, the first end  216  is arranged over the press area  217  and attached by the clamping device  222  of the first short side  204 , and that the second end  218  is arranged over the press area  219  and attached by the clamping device  222  of the second short side  206 . The third step comprises attaching a seal  500  to the container  200  obtained in step two in such a way that the seal  500  covers the upper opening  209  of the container, whereby the double-adhesive part  220  adheres to one of said first  216  or second  218  ends and anti-tamper seals  512  at each end part  534 ,  536  adheres to said first and second short sides  204 ,  206 . 
         [0083]    Going into more details of the third step, the attaching of the seal  500  to the container  200  may be done in such a way that the seal  500  covers said upper opening  209  of the container  200 , the surface of the double-adhesive portion  220  facing away from the release layer  518  of the seal  500  adheres to one of said first  216  or second  218  ends of said chain  211  adjacent to a press area  217 ,  219 , and the adhesive parts  512  at each end part  534 ,  536  adheres to the first and second short sides  204 ,  206  of the container  200 . 
         [0084]    When the containers  200 ,  700  shown in  FIGS. 7 a - b    are sealed with such a seal  500 , the method joining two chains  211 ,  711  of a plurality of interconnected coin bags  212   a - 212   n ,  712   a - 712   n  comprises removing the seals  500  of the sealed containers  200 , 700  thereby also removing the release liners  518  from the double-adhesive parts  220 . Thereafter the method continues as shown in  FIG. 7 b    with the step of contacting the second short side  206  of the first container  200  with the first short side  704  of the second container  700 , whereby the second end  218  of the chain  211  arranged in the first container is pressed against the first end  716  of the chain  711  arranged in the second container  700 , one of these ends being attached to a double-adhesive part, whereby the two chains  211 ,  711  of a plurality of interconnected coin bags are joined. 
         [0085]    In other words, the sealing  500  may be used for covering the opening of a container which comprises a plurality of interconnected bags  212   a . . . n  for coins. The container  200  may have a bottom and four sidewalls  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208  extending upwardly from the bottom. The plurality of interconnected bags  212   a . . . n  may have a first end  216  and a second end  218 , wherein the first end  216  is being fastened on the outside of the first sidewall  204 , the second end being fastened on the outside of the second sidewall  206 , such that when the sealing  500  is applied to the container  200  for covering the opening of the container and subsequently removed, the first end  216  is provided with an double-adhesive part  220  being the double-adhesive part  220  of the sealing  500 . The double-adhesive part  220  provided to the first end  216  is thus located on the outside of the first sidewall  204  on the side of the first end  216  of the plurality of interconnected bags  212   a . . . n  which is not touching the first sidewall. 
         [0086]    As described above, the sealing  500  may further comprise adhesive parts  512  adapted for adhering to the surface of a container. According to some embodiments, the adhesive parts may be anti-tamper seals  512  positioned at each end of the information part. The anti-tamper seal has an adhesive layer  513  and is firmly attached to the main portion  508  by adhesive  514 . In case someone has opened the anti-tamper seal  512  by using the finger lift  510 , the anti-tamper seal will display some visual information regarding the fact that the seal  512  has been opened, i.e. showing a first appearance when adhered to a surface and a second appearance when having been torn away from the surface. The anti-tamper seal  512  may for example show the word “STOP” as a first appearance, as visualized in  FIG. 5   a.    
         [0087]    As described above, the container  200 , which the sealing  500  is covering the opening of, may comprise a plurality of interconnected bags which each contains coins. According to embodiments, the information part  508  may in this case comprise information regarding at least one of the currency of the coins, the denomination of the coins, the number of coins in each bag, the number of bags, and the total number of coins in the container. The area  520  may be color coded depending on at least one of the currency of the coins and the denomination of the coins. The computer readable identification means  506 , such as the QR-code  506  or a RFID, may in this case comprise at least portions of the same information. 
         [0088]    A dispensing apparatus  100  adapted for dispensing a bag for coins will now be described.  FIG. 1  shows the dispensing apparatus  100 , where parts of a case  102  of the dispensing apparatus  100  have been removed. 
         [0089]    The dispenser apparatus comprises a bag storage compartment  104 . The bag storage compartment  104  is adapted for storing the bags for coins before they are being dispensed. The bag storage compartment  104  may according to embodiments be adapted for holding container(s) comprising a plurality of interconnected bags for coins, as described above. According to other embodiments, the bag storage compartment may be adapted for storing any suitable container comprising a plurality of interconnected bags for coins. 
         [0090]    According to embodiments, the bag storage department  104  is adapted for holding a first container at a first storage position  106 , and a second container at a second storage position  108 . The bag storage department  104  may further be adapted for holding a third container at a third storage position  110 . The bag storage department  104  may according to embodiments be adapted for holding even further containers. 
         [0091]    The bag storage compartment  104  in  FIG. 1  comprises a first conveyer belt  112  for transporting a container from the second storage position  108  to the first storage position  106 . The bag storage compartment  104  may further comprise a second conveyer  114  belt for transporting a container from the third storage position  110  to the second storage position  108 . According to embodiments, the bag storage compartment may comprise any other suitable means for transporting a container within the bag storage compartment  104 , replacing the conveyer belts  112 ,  114 , such as a container pushing device or pulling device. 
         [0092]    The bag storage compartment  104  may further comprise guiding means  116  for guiding a container to a correct position for further handling of the interconnected bags of the container in the dispensing apparatus  100 . 
         [0093]    The dispensing apparatus  100  further comprises a container removing device  118  adapted to remove a container at the first position  106  from the bag storage department  104 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the container removing device  118  may be an elevator-like device, which in its first position, shown in  FIG. 1 , is adapted for holding a container at the first storage position  106  in the bag storage compartment  104 . The container removing device  118  comprises two container supporting structures  122  and two structures  120  for moving the container supporting structures  122  from and to the first position  106 . The two structures  120  may for example be a screw lifting mechanism as shown in  FIG. 9 c   . The container removing device  118  may according to embodiments be implemented such that the supporting structures  122  are moved by compressed air, or by a belt or in any other suitable way. Moreover, according to embodiments, the container removing device  118  comprises only one container supporting structure  122  and one structure  120  for moving the container supporting structure  122  from and to the first position  106 . Since the dispensing apparatus is designed such that a container held at the first position  106  cannot tilt, or cannot substantially tilt, one container supporting structure  122  and thus one structure  120  for moving the container supporting structure  122  from and to the first position  106  may be enough. Other ways of implementing the container removing device  118  are left to the skilled person to implement. The functionality of the container removing device  118  will be described in detail further below. 
         [0094]    The dispenser apparatus  100  further comprises a container output compartment  124  which is separate from the bag storage compartment. This allows for easy access of a container which has been moved by the container removing device  118  from the first position  106  of the bag storage department  104  to the container output compartment  124 . The container output compartment  124  advantageously comprises a declining surface  126  such that a container will be moved by gravity from the container removing device  118  when it is in its second position and holding the container. The second position of the container removing device  118  is when the two container supporting structures  122  has been lowered by the two structures  120  for moving the container supporting structures  122 . According to other embodiments, the container output compartment  124  comprises a horizontal belt, such as a conveyer belt, for moving a container from the container removing device  118  when it is in its second position and holding the container. Other ways of implementing the container removing device  118  are left to the skilled person to implement. 
         [0095]    The container output compartment  104  may further comprise guiding means  128  for guiding a container down the declining surface  126 . 
         [0096]    The dispensing apparatus further comprises a bag transporting device  130  for transporting the interconnected bags from a container in the bag storage compartment  104 . The bag transporting device  130  comprises a lifting device  134  for lifting the interconnected bags from the bag storage compartment  104  through a transition area  129  located at the interface between the bag storage compartment  104  and the bag transporting device  130 . The bag transporting device may further comprise a friction providing device  136 .The bag transporting device  130  is adapted to deliver a bag to be dispensed to a cutting device  132  which is adapted for separating the bag to be dispensed from the interconnected bags. The bag transporting device  130  and the cutting device  132  are described in detail below. 
         [0097]    The case  102  of the dispensing apparatus  100  comprises a dispense aperture  138  through which the bag to be dispensed is outputted from the dispensing apparatus  100 . The case  102  further comprises a reject aperture  142  leading into a reject compartment  140  where a rejected bag is outputted from the dispensing apparatus  100 . The dispensing and reject functionality will be described in detail below. 
         [0098]    The bag transporting device  130  is thus adapted for guiding the chain  211  of a plurality of interconnected coin bags to the cutting device  132  followed by said dispense aperture  138 . The dispensing apparatus  100  further comprises at least one motor (not shown) for driving the various moving parts of the dispensing apparatus, such as the conveyer belt(s)  108 ,  110 , the lifting device  134 , the cutting device  132  and the container removing device  118 . The at least one motor may according to embodiments be an electric motor. The dispensing apparatus further comprises a control system  160  for controlling different parts of the dispensing apparatus and thus the dispensing process. Generally, the control system  160  is adapted for controlling at least the cutting device  132 , first conveyor belt  112 , bag transporting device  130 , and the container removing device  118 . In case additional conveyor belts exist in the dispensing apparatus  100 , the control system  160  is adapted for controlling the additional conveyor belts as well. 
         [0099]    It may be noted that the control system  160  may be a computer including a screen which may show information to an operator of the dispensing apparatus  100 . The screen may according to some embodiments be omitted. The control system  100  may also communicate with the operator using other means such as lamps or sound. The control system  160  may comprise a device adapted to receive user input, such as a keyboard. The control system may or may not have a memory for storing and logging information. In its simplest form, the control system  160  is merely a chip controlling the different motors of the dispensing apparatus  100  depending on input from sensors of the apparatus  100 . It may also be noted that the control system can in some embodiments be located separately from the dispensing apparatus  100  and wired or wireless connected to the dispensing apparatus  100 . 
         [0100]    The movement of containers comprising a plurality of interconnected bags for coins in the dispensing process will now be described in conjunction with  FIGS. 8, 9   a - d  and  10 . 
         [0101]    The bag storage compartment  104  of the dispensing apparatus  100  is adapted to receive a container  200 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The container  200  is inputted to the dispensing apparatus  100  through an opening of the case  102 . Subsequently, the conveyer belt, reference  114  in  FIG. 8 , closest to the opening may be started for moving the container  200  into the bag storage compartment  104 . The opening may be designed such that only a specific type of containers can be used, for example the opening may comprise surfaces complementary to surfaces on the allowed type of container. Moreover, the opening may be designed such that if a handle (not shown) of the allowed type of container is not folded or removed, the container will not be received by the bag storage compartment, for example since the container with unfolded handles does not fit under parts  802  of the case  102  near the opening. In the case the container is not received by the dispensing apparatus  100 , the control system  160  may be adapted to warn an operator of the dispensing apparatus  100  that a loading operation of the dispensing apparatus  100  has failed. This warning may be presented to the operator through a computer or by flashing lamps on or nearby the dispensing apparatus  100 . 
         [0102]    Moreover, the bag storage compartment  104  may not be adapted to receive a container when the container output compartment  124  comprises a container. This may be realized, for example by the control system  160  controlling the motor not to start the conveyer belt  114  when the container  200  is positioned in the opening of the case  102  if a container is present in the container output compartment  124 . The user may be notified by the control system  160  as described above. This is advantageous since the dispensing apparatus could malfunction if the container output compartment  124  comprised so many containers such that a container just removed from the first storage position  106  of the bag storage department  104  by the container removing device  118  could not slide down the declining surface  126  and away from the container removing device  118 . According to other embodiments, the dispensing apparatus  100  stops if the container output compartment  124  has no room for a further container. 
         [0103]    The dispensing apparatus  100  may further comprise means (not shown) for obtaining amount information about the coins and/or coin bags to be dispensed. This means may for example be a QR code reader adapted for reading information on a coin bag or on the information part  508  of a seal  500  of the containers to be received by the apparatus. Further, the means may be a RFID reader adapted for reading information on a coin bag or on the information part  508  of the seal  500  the containers to be received by the apparatus. The means may be a scanner which can be used by the operator of the dispensing apparatus for scanning the QR code or RFID of the seal  500  before removing the seal and putting the container in the dispensing apparatus  100 . The means may also be a means for manually entering information such as a key pad. These means are advantageously coupled to the control system  160  of the dispensing apparatus  100 . 
         [0104]    The dispensing apparatus  100  may further comprise a sensor (not shown) for sensing a number of interconnected bags contained in a container  200  received by the dispensing apparatus. This information may for example be included in an identifier placed on the container  200 , for example underneath it. The identifier may thus comprise an identifier comprising information relating to the number of interconnected bags contained in the container  200 . The identifier, or information bearer, comprises information pertaining to content of the container such as currency of coins, coin type, amount of coins, amount of coin bags, amount of coins in each coin bag and/or filling address of the container. The information bearer may be a RFID chip or a QR code. The information relating to the number of interconnected bags may be used by the control system  160  of the dispensing apparatus  100 , for example for keeping track of when a container is empty since all the bags has been transported from the container by the bag transporting device  130 . For this reason, the dispensing apparatus  100  may further comprise a sensor (not shown) for sensing when an interconnected bag is transported from a container in the bag storage compartment  104 . This sensor may for example be a camera, wherein the control system  160  comprises algorithms for recognizing when a bag is transported from the container. In case each bag in the container comprises an identifier, for example a QR code, or a RFID, the sensor may be adapted for recognizing this identifier and thus sensing when an interconnected bag is transported from a container in the bag storage compartment  104 . According to embodiments, the dispensing apparatus  100  may further be adapted to overwrite the information on the above mentioned identifier placed on the container relating to the number of interconnected bags contained in the container when the bag transporting device  130  is transporting an interconnected bag from the container. This may be advantageous in that it simplifies stocktaking of how many bags are stored in the bag storage compartment  104 , without examining each container by counting all bags contained in the container at the given moment. This may further reduce the risk of theft of bags, since the control system  160  as well as the identifier of each container may keep track of the number of bags stored in the container. 
         [0105]    The dispensing apparatus  100  and the container  200 , as described in conjunction with  FIGS. 2-6 , adapted to be received by the dispensing apparatus  100  facilitate increased security and decreased risk of theft when handling coins to be dispensed. Since the container  200  is sealed up to the point when it is inserted to the dispensing apparatus  100 , and then locked inside the dispensing apparatus  100  wherein the control system  160  as well as the identifier of each container  200  may keep track of the number of bags stored in the container  200  inside the dispensing apparatus, the risk of theft may be dramatically decreased compared to prior art. Moreover, since the container  200  comprises a interconnected chain of bags which in turn is fixed to the container by means of clamping, it is much more difficult to steal a single bag of coins, since each bag in the container  200  is 
         [0106]    In the case the bags in the container  200  comprises coins, the identifier placed on the container  200  may further comprise information regarding at least one of the currency of the coins, the denomination of the coins and the number of coins in each bag. The control system  160  may in this case be adapted to not allow a container  200  comprising coins of the wrong currency and/or wrong denomination and/or wrong number of coins in each bag. The operator may be informed if this happens according to above. 
         [0107]    When successfully received by the bag storage compartment  104 , the dispensing apparatus is adapted to transport the container  200  into the bag storage department  104  and further to the first storage position  106  by means of the conveyer belt(s)  114 ,  112 . 
         [0108]    In  FIG. 9 a   , three containers  200 ,  700 ,  900  have been received by the dispensing apparatus  100 . As described previously, in conjunction with  FIGS. 7 a   -b, the container  200 ,  700 ,  900  has been pressed towards each other such that an uninterrupted chain of bags  902  comprising the plurality of interconnected bags of the first container  200 , the plurality of interconnected bags of the second container  700  and the plurality of interconnected bags of the third container  900  has been formed. In other words, the first storage position  106  and the second storage position  108  are immediately adjacent to each other in such a way that the second short side  206  of the first container  200  in the first storage position  106  is in contact with the first short side  704  of the second container  700  in the second storage position  108 . Further, the second storage position  108  and the third storage position  110  are immediately adjacent to each other in such a way that the second short side  706  of a container  700  in the second storage position  108  is in contact with the first short side of the third container  900  in the third storage position  110 . The bag storage compartment  104  is thus adapted for creating and storing an uninterrupted chain  902  of a plurality of interconnected coin bags. In  FIG. 9 a   , the chain  902  comprises the interconnected coin bags contained in the containers  200 ,  700 ,  900  at the first, second and third storage position  106 ,  108 ,  110 . Obviously, in case more or fewer containers are stored in the bag storage compartment  104 , the chain  902  comprises the interconnected coin bags from these more or fewer containers. The control system  160  controlling the motor running the conveyer belts is advantageously arranged such that enough pressure for forming the uninterrupted chain of bags  902  is achieved when the container  200 ,  700 ,  900  are transported and thus pushed together in the bag storage department  104 . In other words, when the bag storage compartment is holding the first container  200  at the first storage position, and the bag storage compartment is receiving a second container  700 , the motor is adapted to drive the first conveyer belt  112  such that contact is made between the first and the second containers  200 ,  700 , such that the double-adhesive part of the first end of the plurality of interconnected bags of the second container  700  is adhering to the second end of the plurality of interconnected bags of the first container  200  as described above in conjunction with  FIGS. 7 a - b   . The same goes for the interconnection between the bags of the second container  700  with the bags of the third container  900 . 
         [0109]    The bag transporting device  130  is adapted for guiding the chain  902  of a plurality of interconnected coin bags from the bag storage compartment  104  to the cutting device  132  followed by said dispense aperture  138 . In  FIG. 9 a   , the plurality of interconnected bags of the first container  200  is being transported by the bag transporting device  130  from the first container  200  in the bag storage compartment  104 . The bag transporting device  130  comprises a lifting device  134  for guiding the chain  902  over said lifting device  134  and to the cutting device  132  from above so that bags of the chain  902  are drawn into the cutting device  132  by gravity. The cutting device will be further described in conjunction with  FIGS. 14 a - d   . The cutting device  132  has just separated the bag  904  to be dispensed from the chain of interconnected coin bags. 
         [0110]    In  FIG. 9 b   , the container  200  has been emptied, i.e. all bags have been transported out from, or away from, the container  200  by the bag transporting device  130 . The connection  912 , i.e. the bond between the first end of the plurality of interconnected bags of the second container  700  and the second end of the plurality of interconnected bags of the first container  200 , is strong enough for holding the two pluralities together. As can be seen in  FIG. 9 b   , the dispensing apparatus  100  may be adapted to continue dispensing bags even though the container at the first storage position is currently empty. In other words, all interconnected bags  212   a - 212   n  of the chain originally enclosed in the container  200  have been transported out therefrom. According to embodiments, the dispensing apparatus  100  comprises a sensor for detecting the position of the chain  902  of a plurality of interconnected coin bags  212   a - 212   n  in the transition area  129 . Consequently it can be determined if the container at the first storage position is empty or not. As best seen in  FIGS. 9 a  and 9 b   , the position of the chain of coin bags  902  changes when the container  200  is emptied. According to some embodiments, the container  200  comprises a sensor means  910  for detecting the presence of a chain  902  extending through the upper opening  209  (as best seen in  FIG. 2 ) of the container  200 . The sensor may be adapted for being connected to an external controller, e.g. the control system  160  of the dispensing apparatus  100 , and for keeping track of when the container  200  is empty. The control system  160  thus receives a sensor signal from the container in said first storage position  106 , wherein the signal indicating presence of a chain  902  of interconnected coin bags  212   a - 212   n  in the container at the first storage position  106 . According to other embodiments, the container  200  may be perceived as empty when the connection  912  has been lifted from the area between the first container  200  and the second container  900 , as can be seen in  FIG. 9 b   . This may be sensed by means of a camera in the dispensing apparatus, or by any other suitable sensing means. 
         [0111]    The control system  160  may thus be adapted for receiving information about the amount of interconnected coin bags  212   a - 212   n  of a chain  902  in a container, e.g. the first container  200  in  FIG. 9 a - b    and the second container  700  in  FIG. 9 d   , in the first storage position  106 . The control system  160  may be adapted to determining in real time whether there are any interconnected coin bags left in the container in the first storage position  106 , and if the control system  160  has determined that there are no remaining interconnected coin bags in the container, the control system  160  is adapted to instruct the container removing device  118  to transfer the container to the output compartment  124 . 
         [0112]    The control device  160  may thus determine whether there are any interconnected coin bags left in the container based one or more input data. The input data may come from one or more sensors according to what have been described above, for example: 
         [0113]    i) information from a scanner reading data from the seal of the container before entered in the dispensing apparatus  100  or from data manually inputted by the operator of the dispensing apparatus  100 , 
         [0114]    ii) information from a sensor for detecting the position of the chain  902  of a plurality of interconnected coin bags  212   a - 212   n  in the transition area  129 ; 
         [0115]    iii) information from the sensor  910  in a container as described above, 
         [0116]    iv) information from the cutting device  132  and/or the bag transporting device  130  about the amount of bags that have been transported away from the bag storage compartment  104 . 
         [0117]    In other words, in  FIG. 9 b   , the control system is aware of that the first container  200  is empty and can thus initiate the process of removing the first container  200  at the first storage position  106  from the bag storage department  104  by means of the container removing device  118 . The control system  160  is thus adapted to instruct the container removing device  118  to transfer the container to the output compartment  124 . This process is shown in  FIG. 9 c   . As can be seen in  FIG. 9 c   , the dispensing apparatus  100  may be adapted to continue dispensing bags while the process of removing the first container  200  at the first storage position  106  from the bag storage department  104  is ongoing. The two container supporting structures  122  has been lowered from the first position to the second position, as described above in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , by the two structures  120  for moving the container supporting structures  122 . When the container supporting structures  122  are lowered, the container  200  is also lowered and finally it contacts the declining surface  126  of the container output compartment  124 . Gravity will thus make the first container  200  to move away from the container supporting structures  122  as can be seen in  FIG. 9   d.    
         [0118]    In  FIG. 9 d   , the first container  200  has moved away from the container supporting structures  122 , which in turn have been returned to their first position. As can be seen in  FIG. 9 d   , the first storage position  106  of the bag storage compartment  104  now holds the second container  700  and the second storage position  108  now holds the third container  900 . This is due to the fact that the first conveyer belt  112  is adapted to transport the second container  700  from the second storage position  108  to the first storage position  106  subsequent to the removal of the first container  200  by the container removing device  118 . Further, the second conveyer belt  114  is adapted to transport the third container  900  from the third storage position  110  to the second storage position  108  subsequent to the removal of the second container  700  from the second storage position  108  by the first conveyor belt  112 . 
         [0119]    The control system  160  of the dispensing apparatus  100  is thus adapted instruct the dispensing apparatus  100  to remove an empty container from the bag storage compartment and further for instructing the first conveyor belt to forward a container, e.g. the second container  700  in  FIG. 9 c   , in the bag storage compartment  104  to the first storage position  106  in case there is no container in the first storage position  106 . The dispenser apparatus  100  thus has room for a further container (not shown) which can be inserted by an operator and received by the bag storage compartment  104 . When this further container is received by the bag storage compartment  104 , the interconnected bags contained in the further container will adhere to the interconnected bags of the third container  900  as described above. Consequently, the dispensing apparatus  100  is adapted to easily form an uninterrupted chain of bags and further to add on new interconnected bags contained in a further container to the uninterrupted chain of bags. 
         [0120]    The dispensing apparatus  100  further comprises an opening (not shown in  FIG. 9 d   ) in the case  102  for removing the empty container  200  from the container output compartment  124 . 
         [0121]    The process of forming, and add on to, an uninterrupted chain of bags, and feeding the chain to the bag transporting device  130  for delivering the bag to be dispensed  904  to the cutting device  132 , where it is separated from the uninterrupted chain of bags, is schematically shown in  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 10  further schematically shows how an empty container  200  is removed from the bag storage compartment  104  by the container removing device  118 , which transports the empty container to the container output compartment  124  where gravity is used to transport the container away from the container removing device to further be removed from the container output compartment  124  by an operator of the dispensing apparatus  100 .  FIG. 10  further schematically shows how containers in the bag storage compartment are forwarded by using conveyer belt(s)  112 ,  114 . 
         [0122]    The process of transporting the interconnected bags from the bag storage compartment to the cutting device for separating the bag to be dispensed from the interconnected bags will now be described in detail in conjunction with  FIGS. 11-14 . 
         [0123]    It may be noted that a bag transporting device described in  FIGS. 11-12  is just an example embodiment and that other types of bag transporting devices may be used in the dispenser apparatus  100 . Moreover, it should be noted that a cutting device described in  FIGS. 14 a - d    may be used in the dispenser apparatus  100  with a different bag transporting device than the one described in  FIGS. 11-12 . Further, it may be noted that a different cutting device than the one described in  FIGS. 14 a - d    may be employed in the dispenser apparatus  100 . The different parts of the dispenser apparatus  100  and processes described in the  FIGS. 1-15  may thus be seen as separate inventions which may or may not be used in an apparatus for dispensing bags for coins. 
         [0124]      FIG. 11 a    shows by way of example a bag transporting device  130  for transporting interconnected bags from the bag storage compartment  104  described above. The bag transporting device  130  comprises a lifting device  134  for lifting the interconnected bags from the bag storage compartment. Optionally, the bag transporting device  130  may comprise a friction providing device  136 . The lifting device  130  is according to an embodiment wheel shaped, and adapted to rotate around a center  1104  of the wheel. According to other embodiments, the lifting device may be shaped as an oval, a triangle, a hexagon or any other suitable shape. 
         [0125]    The lifting device is powered and arranged at a higher level than the cutting device  132 , such that it can deliver the bag to be dispensed from above, which will be described in conjunction with  FIGS. 14 a - d    below. Moreover, the lifting device  134  is adapted to conform to shapes of bags of a chain of a plurality of interconnected coin bags in contact with the lifting device  134  in order to exert a pulling force on the chain  902  out of the bag storage compartment. For this reason, the lifting device  134  comprises movable parts  1102  arranged to move in a direction towards the center  1104  of the lifting device  134 . The movable parts  1102  are thus arranged to move radially back and forth in conformation to shapes of the chain  902 . Each movable part may thus move from an outer position, furthest away from the center, or axis,  1104  of the lifting device, and all the way to an inner position, closes to the center of the lifting device. Each movable part may be a spring-suspended spoke and will thus be in its outer position when no weight, i.e. bag, is in contact with it. Consequently, the area  1106  of the lifting wheel, which during operation may be in contact with the interconnected bags for coins, is flexible in a radial direction and may thus conform to the shape of each bag. Since, as described above and will be further described in conjunction with  FIGS. 11 b - c   , each bag may have a different shape compared to the other bags, and the movable parts  1102  improves the ability of the lifting device  134  to exert a pulling force on the interconnected bags out from the bag storage compartment which in turn increases a lifting ability of the lifting device  134 . The number of movable parts  1102  in the lifting device  134  is optional and depends on the possible sizes of the bags as will be understood from the below. 
         [0126]    The lifting device  134  may optionally comprise a flexible outer belt  1106 , tightly wrapped around the movable parts  1102 . In other words, the lifting device  134  may comprise a cover material  1106  covering a contact surface between the lifting device  134  and the interconnected bags when lifting the interconnected bags from the bag storage compartment. In yet other words, the lifting device  134  further comprises a cover material  1106  in communication with the movable parts  1102  and adapted for being in communication with a chain  902  of a plurality of interconnected coin bags. The flexible belt  1106  is thus covering the outer edges of the movable parts  1102  and is advantageously made out of a high friction material, such as a high friction rubber material, to further improve the pulling force exerted on the interconnected bags out from the bag storage compartment. The flexible outer belt  1106 , i.e. the cover material  1106 , may thus increase the friction between the lifting device and bags in contact with the lifting device. The flexible properties of the belt  1106  may ensure that the belt will move along with the movable parts  1102  towards the center  1104  of the lifting device  134  when in contact with a bag. According to other embodiments, an outer part  1124  of each movable part  1102  comprises a separate portion of such a cover material  1106 . 
         [0127]      FIG. 11 b    shows the bag transporting device  130  in the process of transporting a chain of interconnected bags  902 . Going into details of an exemplary embodiment of the movable parts  1102 , each movable part, or spoke,  1102  may comprise a spring part  1120  connected to the center, or axis,  1104 , an inner part  1122  connected the spring part  1122 , and the outer part  1124  connected to the inner part  1122 . As can be seen in the figure, the lifting device  134  is adapted to conform to shapes of bags in contact with the lifting device since the movable parts  1102  will are arranged to move in a direction towards the center, or axis,  1104  of the lifting device and may thus exert a pulling force on the bags. For example, the movable parts  1102   a ,  1102   b  which are in contact with parts of the bags that not contains coins or very little coins will be closer to their outer position and this exert a pulling force on the chain of interconnected bags  902 . Moreover, since the direction towards the center  1104  for each movable part  1102  is substantially perpendicular to the transporting direction of a bag in contact with the movable part, the pulling force may be further increased. It may also be noted how the semi-circular portion of outer tip of each outer part  1124 , for example of the movable parts  1102   a - c , provides a smooth contact surface between the movable parts and the chain of bags  902 . Each movable part  1102  may thus according to embodiment comprises a semi-circular portion  1124  extending along the contact surface between the moving part  1102  and the interconnected bags. The risk of tearing or otherwise damaging a bag in contact with the lifting device may thus be reduced. 
         [0128]    Moreover, the functionality of the friction providing device  136  may be seen in  FIG. 11 b   . The friction providing device  136  is adapted to push a bag transported by the lifting device  134  towards the lifting device  134  and thus increase the friction between the lifting device  134  and the chain of bags  902 . The friction providing device  136  comprises a wheel  1128  acting as a counterpart to the lifting device. 
         [0129]    Moreover, the friction providing device may according to embodiments be used for checking the thickness of bags lifted by the lifting device  134 . The max size that the dispenser apparatus  100  can handle is predetermined in the distance between the friction providing device  136  and the closest moving part  1102   c  in its inner position. In case a larger bag is transported by the bag transporting device  130 , the dispenser apparatus  100  may be stopped. Alternatively or additionally, in case such a larger bag is transported by the bag transporting device  130 , the operator of the dispenser apparatus may be notified and warned according to above. According to embodiments, the sensor  1130 , connected to the control system  160 , is configured for measuring the angle of a pivotable arm  1126 , wherein an angle value above a certain value, i.e. when a too large bag is transported by the bag transporting device  130 , induces the control system  160  to interrupt dispensing of coin bags and/or to warn the operator. 
         [0130]      FIG. 11 c    shows how the wheel shaped lifting device  134  is adapted for lifting the chain of interconnected bags  902  from the bag storage compartment (not shown)and delivering the bag to be dispensed (not shown) to the cutting device (not shown) by rotation of the wheel shaped lifting device  134 . 
         [0131]      FIG. 12  shows a  3   d  view of the bag transporting device  130  in the process of transporting the chain of interconnected bags  902 . 
         [0132]      FIGS. 13 a - b    show an embodiment of a loading operation of the dispenser apparatus  100 . According to this embodiment, the friction providing device  136  may be folded away from, or tilted away from, the lifting device  134  using a handle  1302 . According to other embodiments, the folding operation of the friction providing device may be controlled by the control system  160  of the dispenser apparatus  100 . When folded away, an operator of the dispenser apparatus  100  can insert the interconnected bags  1100  over the lifting device  134  and under the friction providing device  136 . The dispenser apparatus  100 , or the friction providing device  136  itself, may comprise a sensor  1130  that senses if the friction providing device  136  has been lifted away, i.e. folded, from the lifting device. The control system  160  may then be adapted, using the information from the sensor  1130 , such that the dispenser apparatus  100  cannot be started or that it is stopped if it already is running. According to embodiments, the sensor  1130 , connected to the control system  160 , is configured for measuring the angle of the pivotable arm  1126 , wherein an angle value above a certain value, i.e. when the pivotable arm is folded away from the bag transporting device, induces the control system  160  to interrupt dispensing of coin bags. According to other embodiments, the sensor  1130  is a simple mechanical or electronic on/off switch which is turned on or off at a certain angle and connected to the control system  160  as described above. 
         [0133]    In  FIG. 13 b   , the friction providing device  136  is folded towards the lifting device  134  again. The sensor may then tell the control system  160  that the dispenser apparatus  100  is loaded, and the control system  160  may then allow the dispenser apparatus  100  to be used for dispensing bags. 
         [0134]    The dispenser apparatus may additionally or alternatively comprise a sensor (not shown) for sensing that bags are in contact with the lifting device, and the control system  160  may be adapted such that the dispenser apparatus  100  cannot be started if this is not the case. 
         [0135]      FIGS. 14 a - d    show by way of example the cutting process in the dispensing apparatus  100 . As can be seen in  FIG. 14 a   , the interconnected bags  1100  are advantageously delivered to the cutting device  132  from above the cutting device  132 . Consequently, gravity helps in the delivery. The control system  160  of the dispensing apparatus  100  is advantageously adapted to deliver one bag at the time to the cutting device  132  for separation from the chain of interconnected bags  902 . According to other embodiments, several bags may be delivered to the cutting device for separation from the chain of interconnected bags  902 . 
         [0136]    As described above, each bag of the chain of interconnected bags  902  may be defined by a sealing portion  1404  on each side of the bag  1402   a  This is shown in  FIG. 14 b   . The cutting device  132  may comprise a sensor  1410  adapted to sense a position of a content of a bag  1402   b  interconnected to the bag  1402   c  to be dispensed. Since the bag  1402   c  to be dispensed is delivered from above the cutting device  132 , so is the bag  1402   b  interconnected to the bag  1402   c  to be dispensed. Consequently, the content of the bag  1402   b  will accumulate in a lower part of the bag  1402   b . The position of this lower part of the bag  1402   b  will thus be sensed by the sensor  1410 . In case the content of the bag  1402   b  interconnected to the bag  1402   c  to be dispensed is metallic, the sensor  1410  may be an inductive sensor  1410 . According to other embodiments, a camera may be used as the sensor  1410 , and image analysis can be used for sensing the position of the content of the bag  1402   b  interconnected to the bag to be dispensed  1402   c . 
         [0137]    The position sensed by the sensor may then be used by the control system  160  controlling the cutting device  132  for determining a cutting position such that the cutting device separates the bag to be dispensed  1402   c  at the sealing portion  1404  between the bag  1402   c  to be dispensed and the bag  1402   b  interconnected to the bag  1402   c  to be dispensed using the sensed position of the content. 
         [0138]    In other words, the sensor  1410  is adapted to detect positions of content of bags in a chain  902  of a plurality of interconnected coin bags and to forward data corresponding to the positions to the control system  160 . The control system  160  is adapted to calculate whether said chain  902  has been fed into a position where a coin bag  1402   c  could be cut off from the chain. If that is the case, the control system is adapted to instruct the cutting device  132  to cut off the coin bag  1402   c  which can be seen in  FIG. 14   c.    
         [0139]      FIG. 14 c    describe how the cutting device  132  is separating the bag to be dispensed (not shown) from the chain of interconnected bags  902 . The cutting device  132  comprises a cutting blade (not shown) which the cutting device  132  is adapted to push against the determined cutting position. According to embodiments, the cutting blade is further adapted to cut a slit in the sealing portion of the separated bag to facilitate opening of the separated bag  1402   c . The slit may be perpendicular to the end of the sealing portion where the cutting blade just separated the bag to be dispensed from the chain of interconnected bags  902 .  FIG. 14 d    shows how the cutting blade is retracted from the chain of interconnected bags  902  when the separation of the bag  1402   c  to be dispensed is completed. 
         [0140]    In case the separation fails, i.e. the bag  1402   c  to be dispensed is not separated from the interconnected bags  902 , the cutting device may be adapted to retry to separate the bag  1402   c  to be dispensed a threshold number of times. The threshold may be 1, 2, 5 or any suitable number. This means that the process shown in  FIGS. 14 c - d    is redone e.g. 5 times. In case the bag  1402   c  to be dispensed is still connected with the chain of interconnected bags  902 , the dispensing apparatus may change from a dispense mode to a reject mode. This is shown in  FIGS. 15 a   - b.    
         [0141]    In  FIG. 15 a   , the bag  1402   c  to be dispensed is not separated from the chain of interconnected bags  902 . According to embodiments, the cutting device comprises a reject sensor  1502 , which in one embodiments is a pressure sensor, located just below the cutting blade that senses that the bag  1402   c  to be dispensed has not been separated from the chain of interconnected bags  902  since the bag  1402   c  is still putting pressure against it. The reject sensor  1502  may be any suitable type of sensor, for example an inductive sensor sensing the content in the not separated bag  1402   c . The reject sensor may also be provided in the cutting blade of the cutting device, and configured to sense if the cut did not succeed, for example by sensing the position of the tip of the cutting blade. The reject sensor  1502  is according to embodiments adapted for sending a signal to the control system  160  when the cutting device has failed to cut off a coin bag from said chain  902 . When the reject sensor  1502  senses that a separation failed, i.e. when the cutting device  132  has failed to cut off the coin bag to be dispensed from the chain  902  of interconnected coin bags, the control system  160  is configured to open a reject aperture  142  upon receipt of the above described signal from the reject sensor  1502 . It may be noted that the control system  160  may be configured to open the reject aperture  142  only after above described threshold amount of attempts. The opening of the reject aperture  142  is shown in  FIG. 15 b   . The reject aperture  142  is adapted to open and close the reject compartment  140 . The dispensing apparatus is thus put in the reject mode. This means that the bag will not fall through the dispense aperture  138  and to be dispensed but instead will fall through the reject aperture  142  and into the reject compartment  140  and to be rejected. The reject compartment  140  if further shown in  FIG. 15 c   . The rejected bag(s) may be collected by a box beneath the exit of the reject compartment  140 . The reject aperture  142  is further adapted to be closed after the bag to be dispensed  1402   c  have been separated from the interconnected bags by the cutting device when the dispenser is in a reject mode 
         [0142]    When in the reject mode, since the bag  1402   c  to be dispensed was not separated, despite several attempts by the cutting device, the dispensing apparatus is adapted to feed forward another bag, e.g. the bag  1402   b  (shown in  FIG. 14 b   ) interconnected to the bag  1402   c  to be dispensed. The cutting device  132  is then adapted to try to separate these two bags from the chain of interconnected bags  902 . This procedure is repeated until the cutting device successfully separates the bags to be rejected. When this is done, the reject aperture  142  is adapted to be closed and the dispensing apparatus  100  will yet again be in the dispense mode. The number of rejected bags may be logged by the control system  160 . 
         [0143]      FIG. 16  shows by way of example a cash handling system  1600 . The cash handling system  1600  may comprise a plurality of dispensing apparatuses  100 . According to some embodiment, the cash handling system  1600  comprises four dispensing apparatuses  100 . According to other embodiments, the cash handling system  1600  may comprise other numbers of dispensing apparatuses  100  such as 1, 2, 6 or 8. When handling the Euro currency, it may be advantageously if the number of dispensing apparatuses  100  is eight, one for each denomination of coins that exist for the Euro currency. The cash handling system in  FIG. 16  further comprises a cash and banknote handling unit  1602 . According to some embodiments, the cash and banknote handling unit  1602  comprises means  1606  for controlling the cash handling system  1600 , for example a pressure sensitive display  1606 . According to other embodiment, the cash and banknote handling unit  1600  comprises other types of input means such as a keyboard or soft keys on the side of the display  1606 . The cash and banknote handling unit  1602  may further have means  1604  for inserting a credit card and means  1604  for input of bank notes. The cash and banknote handling unit  1602  may further have means  1608  for output of bank notes. The cash and banknote handling unit  1602  may further comprise means (not shown) for input and/or output of loose coins. A user of the cash handling system  1600  may receive a receipt of a performed cash withdrawal/deposition/exchange operation through a receipt printer  1610 . According to embodiments, the cash and banknote handling unit  1602  comprises means for handling credit card and/or means for handling coins and/or means for handling notes according to above. The cash handling system  1600  may thus support at least one of the following exchange options:
       Credit card to coin bags   Bank notes to coin bags   Coins to coin bags   Coins to bank notes   Coins to coins   Bank notes to bank notes   Credit card to coins   Credit card to bank notes.       
 
         [0152]    A user of the cash handling system  1600  may receive coin bags from the dispensing apparatuses  100  through an aperture  1612  of the housing of the cash handling system  1600 . Moreover, an operator of the cash handling system  1600  may reach the dispensing apparatuses  100  and the cash and banknote handling unit  1602  thorough doors  1614  on a rear side of the cash handling system  1600 . The operator may for example input a container comprising interconnected coin bags as described above into the dispensing apparatuses  100 , or refill or empty the cash and banknote handling unit  1602 . The rear side of the cash handling system  1600  may also comprise a user interface (not shown) for controlling the cash handling system  1600 , for example a touch sensitive display or any other suitable user interfaces. The cash handling system  1600  may further comprise a control system (not shown) controlling all the separate units  100 ,  1602 . The control system may thus be connected to the control systems  160  of the dispensing apparatuses  100  and a similar control system of the cash and bank note handling unit  1602 . The rear side is usually no reachable for a regular user of the cash handling system  1600 , e.g. a cashier that want to exchange bank notes for coin bags. 
         [0153]    The overall process of producing bags of coins and deliver these to a dispenser for further dispensing of each bag to an end consumer such as a cashier in a warehouse may be as in the following. 
         [0154]    The process of filling each bag that can be done with standardized volumes and types of coins in each bag or bags that are filled according to customer requirements, both with several denominations in each bag and varied number of coins. The content of each bag may be recorded in a server. The process of filling each bag may be linked to a unique RFID code that is located on the container and stored on the server. This data can be retrieved later from the server, for example when the container is entered in the dispensing apparatus. Consequently it can be verified that the correct customer gets the each container. 
         [0155]    By having a RFID chip on each container may make it possible to enter information directly on the chip during the filling process and then make this information available during distribution or storage to easily identify the contents or stock location without having access to the server. 
         [0156]    Each bag can be provided with a barcode or QRC which makes it possible to track every bag from production until it have been distributed to the end user, the code can be stored in the server and/or on the RFID chip of the container. It may thus be very easy to follow up what has been delivered and also identify if there is a loss while the container is delivered to the dispenser apparatus. A reader of the barcode or QRC may be available in the filling machine and the dispenser apparatus. 
         [0157]    With these solutions, it is easy for the person responsible for the distribution to monitor the delivery via the server.