Abstract:
A banknote validator ( 1 ) including a banknote transport mechanism ( 9 ) and a detachable printer module ( 3 ), said printer module comprising: a media printer device ( 10 ); a print media transport passage ( 11 ) interconnecting a print media input aperture ( 12 ) and the banknote transport mechanism ( 9 ) via the media printer device ( 10 ). A first wall section ( 13 ) of the print media passage disposed between the media printer device and the banknote transport mechanism is moveable to create a vent ( 14 ) that opens to the exterior of the banknote validator.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of Great Britain Application No. 14 212 88.0, filed 1 Dec. 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a device for handling and validating flexible sheets or documents. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for validating banknotes that also includes the capability to print and dispense flexible documents such as coupons, vouchers or tickets. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Prior Art 
         [0005]    Various types of banknote validators are known in the art. A conventional banknote validator is disclosed in EP-B-1,415,281. 
         [0006]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , EP-B-1,415,281 describes a banknote validator  100  comprising a cash box  101 , a banknote transport mechanism  102 , and a hingedly attached lid  103 . The upper front portion of the lid  3  supports a bezel  104  that includes a banknote aperture  105  for receiving banknotes requiring validation. 
         [0007]    A banknote  107  input through the banknote aperture  105  is transported in an infeed direction  108  via operation of a pair of flexible continuous drive belts  106 . The note path traversed by the banknote  107  continues to the underside of the banknote transport mechanism  102  from where it may be deposited into the cash box  101  via a pusher mechanism (not shown). 
         [0008]    It is common for devices such as gaming machines or vending machines, which typically host a banknote validator as shown in  FIG. 1 , to print vouchers or tickets to be dispensed to a user of the machine. Such tickets can be of a promotional type or they can be printed with a barcode that represents a prize or a cash value redeemable from either the machine from which it was printed or from a remote location. 
         [0009]    Conventionally, host machines will include a device for the printing of vouchers or tickets in combination with a separate device for accepting/dispensing banknotes. 
         [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a device which combines banknote validation with voucher printing. The illustrated banknote validator  1  comprises a validator module  2 , a printer module  3 , a cash box  4 , and a bezel  5 . The printer module  3  includes a print media holder  6  in which a roll of print media  7  is accommodated. Here, the roll of print media  7  provides a continuous supply of paper onto which a media printer device [not shown] prints the required information. This information can be in the form of a barcode, promotional advertising, or any such other printable information. Once printed upon, the print media is cut to form a ticket or voucher which is dispensed to a user. 
         [0011]    As schematically shown in  FIG. 4 , the printed ticket  7 ′ is transported to an input/output aperture  5 ′ located on a user accessible front face of the bezel  5 . The ticket  7 ′ is transported by a banknote transport mechanism  9  operating in a reverse direction to that employed when a banknote is being received from a user. 
         [0012]    A problem exists with the arrangement shown in  FIG. 4  in that the length of the ticket  7 ′, and hence the amount of information printable upon it, is limited by the physical length of the banknote transport mechanism  9 , since to print a ticket which exits the input/output aperture  5 ′ before the print operation is complete makes possible the situation in which the user can attempt to withdraw the ticket by pulling it in a direction indicated by arrow  8 ′ [see  FIG. 5 ]. In this event it is likely that the printing process will be compromised by, for example, smudging due to the recipient tugging on the leading edge of the ticket protruding from the bezel  5  and/or the ticket tearing or breaking at some point along its length due to the applied tugging force. The present invention arose from attempts to overcome this problem. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    According to an aspect of the present invention there is provide a banknote validator including a banknote transport mechanism and a detachable printer module, said printer module comprising: a media printer device; a print media transport passage interconnecting a print media input aperture and the banknote transport mechanism via the media printer device; wherein a first wall section of the print media passage disposed between the media printer device and the banknote transport mechanism includes a print media exit. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the print media exit comprises a flap in the first wall section moveable to expose a vent that opens to the exterior of the banknote validator. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the flap is pivotably moveable between an open and a closed position, and it is biased in the closed position. 
         [0016]    Advantageously, a second wall section of the print media transport passage proximal to the banknote transport mechanism is moveable between a first position in which communication between the print media transport passage and the banknote transport mechanism is open, and a second position in which communication between the print media transport passage and the banknote transport mechanism is closed. 
         [0017]    When the second wall section is in the first position, print media input from a print media holder via the print media input aperture is feedable to the banknote transport mechanism via the print media transport passage. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the printer module includes a sensor configured to detect the ingress of print media into the banknote transport mechanism, and detection of print media ingress ceases operation of the banknote transport mechanism until a media printer device print operation has ceased. 
         [0019]    Advantageously, media printer device print operations requiring a length of print media greater than a length of the print media transport passage causes said print media to coil in a space proximal to the outer wall section such that pressure exerted onto said wall section by said print media causes the outer wall section to move into the open position so as to expose the vent allowing egress of the print media into the exterior of the banknote validator. 
         [0020]    In a preferred embodiment the length of the print media transport passage is delimited by the print media input aperture and the banknote transport mechanism, and the printer module is configured to releasably connect to the banknote validator and operatively engage with the banknote transport mechanism. 
         [0021]    The banknote transport mechanism preferably includes a banknote transport path, and wherein a section of the banknote transport path is formed by an underside portion of the printer module, said underside portion configured to mate with the banknote transport mechanism. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a prior art banknote validator; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  shows the banknote transport mechanism of the banknote validator shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  shows an elevation view of a combination banknote validator; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  shows the banknote transport mechanism of the combination banknote validator shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  shows further details of the combination banknote validator; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  shows a sectional elevation view of the banknote validator of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIGS. 7A to 7C  show partial sectional views of the operation of the banknote validator of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  shows a further partial sectional view of the banknote validator of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  is an underside perspective view of a printer module of the present invention; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 10  is an exploded sectional view of the banknote validator showing the constituent modular components which comprise the banknote validator. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the banknote validator includes a banknote transport path  17  interconnecting the input/output aperture  5 ′ with a media printer device  10  housed within the printer module  3 . Print media  7 , which in a preferred embodiment is a continuous roll of paper supported and accommodated by a print media holder  6 , is fed into the printer module  3  via a print media input aperture  12  located in an upper surface of the printer module  3 . From the input aperture  12  the print media  7  (hereinafter referred to as ‘paper ticket’) is fed through the printer device  10  and from there it passes into a print media transport passage  11  disposed within the interior of the printer module  3 . 
         [0034]    With reference to  FIGS. 7A to 7C , the print media transport path  11  communicates with the banknote transport mechanism  9  through a closeable aperture  11 ′ located at a point in the print media transport path  11  distal from the printer device  10 . 
         [0035]    In an ‘accept’ mode, the banknote transport mechanism  9 , once activated, travels in a clockwise direction so as to receive and transfer banknotes from the input/output aperture  5 ′. 
         [0036]    When a ‘print’ mode is instigated, the banknote validator  1  reverses the banknote transport mechanism  9  such that it is travelling in an anticlockwise direction (reject′ mode), and the media printer device  10  commences a print operation. The rate at which the paper ticket  7  is fed into the printer module  3  is synchronised with the print mechanism of the printer device  10  such that a continuous ticket is printed until a print cessation command is received by the media printer device  10 . 
         [0037]    As the printed ticket progresses downstream from the printer device  10  through the print media transport passage  11 , the leading edge of the ticket  20  encounters a junction between the transport mechanism drive belt  18  and a pinch wheel  19 . Since the banknote transport mechanism  9  is travelling in the anticlockwise ‘print’ mode, the leading edge of the ticket is fed through into the banknote transport path  17  until it is detected by the optical sensor  16 . 
         [0038]    Light reflected from the leading edge  20  of the ticket is received by the optical sensor  16  activating a ‘stop’ mode in which the banknote transport mechanism  9  is halted and held in a stationary position. In a preferred embodiment, light is transmitted and received by the optical sensor  16  through a single light pipe. However, it should be noted that any detection method, of which there are numerous known in the art, can be used to detect the leading edge  20  of the printed ticket. 
         [0039]    Activation of the ‘stop’ mode creates a pinch point between the transport mechanism drive belts  18  (only one is shown) and the pinch wheels  19  (only one is shown) by contact friction between these elements. The pinch point prevents further downstream progress of the paper ticket  7  into the banknote transport path  17 , resulting in the paper ticket  7  being forced to recoil backwards into the upstream path section of the print media transport passage  11 . 
         [0040]    As the print operation continues the length of paper ticket  7  fed into the print media transport passage  11  increases and, as a result of this, the recoiling paper ticket  7  retreating backwards into the print media transport passage  11  comes into contact with a first wall section  13  of the print media transport passage  11  [see  FIGS. 7A and 7B ]. The first wall section  13  forms the inner wall of a hingedly attached rear flap  21  of the printer module  3 . 
         [0041]    As the length of the paper ticket  7  entering the print media transport passage  11  continues to increase, there is a commensurate increase in the quantity of coiled paper accumulating in the print media passage  11 . This build-up of coiling paper pushing on the first wall section  13  ultimately leads (unless the print operation ceases) to the rear flap  13  pivoting outwards to reveal a vent  14 . 
         [0042]    As the build-up of paper continues due to the ongoing print operation, the vent  14  increases in size as the rear flap  13  continues to pivot outwards into the space behind the rear of the banknote validator  1 . In practice this space will be a void within the machine hosting the banknote validator. The vent  14  continues to increase in size until the opening is sufficiently large enough to allow the coiled paper ticket  7  to spool outwards into the void behind the banknote validator  1 . This process continues until the media printer device  10  ceases the print operation. 
         [0043]    When the print operation ceases, the upstream trailing edge of the ticket is severed from the supply of paper by operation of a paper cutting device integral to the media printer device  10  [not shown]. The paper ticket  7  then has a finite length delimited by the leading edge  20  positioned proximal to the optical sensor  16  and the severed end positioned proximal to the paper cutting device. The majority of the length of ticket disposed therebetween has spooled out into the adjacent void behind the banknote validator  1 . 
         [0044]    When the print operation ceases and the ticket has been severed from the paper supply, the validator switches the banknote transport mechanism  9  into ‘reject’ mode, i.e. the drive belts  18  are driven in an anticlockwise fashion. 
         [0045]    In the ‘reject’ mode the leading edge  20  of the paper ticket  7  is fed into the banknote transport path  17  and dispensed out from the input/output aperture  5 ′. The banknote transport mechanism  9  continues to operate in the ‘reject’ mode until it has been detected that the trailing edge of the printed paper ticket  7  is proximal to the input/output aperture  5 ′. From this point the recipient of the paper ticket simply pulls the remaining section from the banknote validator. In this way, the banknote validator of the present invention is advantageously able to print tickets of varying length, and the length of these tickets is not dependent upon the internal dimensions of the banknote transport mechanism  9  or the banknote transport path  17 . 
         [0046]    In an ‘accept’ mode, and as shown in  FIG. 8 , an inner second wall section  15  of the print media transport passage  11  is driven rearwards towards the first wall section  13  by a diverter mechanism [not shown] to close the aperture  11 ′. Closing the aperture  11 ′ blocks communication between the banknote transport mechanism  9  and the media transport passage  11 , thus diverting incoming banknotes [not shown] downwards to the underside of the banknote transport mechanism  9  from where they can be processed. 
         [0047]      FIG. 9  shows an underside perspective view of the printer module  3 . The rear face  22  of the printer module  3  is shown in an open position. The “rear face” of the printed module is defined as that face which is opposed to, and distal from, the face of the bezel  5  that includes the input/output aperture  5 ′. It should be noted that the rear face  22  is pivotable between an open and a closed position and, when in a closed position, the rear face  22  is secured in this position by interaction between locking lugs  25  and push-release buttons  26  (only one is shown in  FIG. 9 ). When in a closed position, the rear face  22  may be pivotally opened by a user depressing both push-release buttons  26  such that the rear face disengages with the pair of locking lugs  25 . Advantageously, this allows for the inspection and removal of any paper jams occurring within the printer module  3 . 
         [0048]    It should be understood that the above discussed rear flap  21  is an integral element of the rear face  22 , but it is a separate element that is moveable independently of the rear face  22 ; the rear face  22  is kept in a closed position during normal operation. 
         [0049]    Also shown in  FIG. 9  is the second wall section  15  which acts as a diverter mechanism moveable in a reciprocating manner as indicated by arrow  27 . Consequently, when the rear face  22  is in a closed position, the second wall section  15  can reciprocate between a position where the aperture  11 ′ [see  FIGS. 7A to 7C ] between the first wall section  13  and the second wall section  15  is at a maximum (i.e. open), and a position in which the aperture  11 ′ is closed [see  FIG. 8 ]. 
         [0050]    Advantageously, the printer module  3  also includes a barcode reader  24  positioned downstream from the aperture  11 ′. Consequently, printed tickets, vouchers or the like emanating from the printer module can be scanned for an appropriate barcode allowing for the recordation and verification of printed tickets etc. 
         [0051]    The printer module  3  also includes engagement arms  23  which mate with corresponding receiving portions positioned to the rear of the validator module  2 . In this way, the printer module  3  can be releasably locked to the body of the validator module  2 . 
         [0052]    With reference to  FIG. 10 , the banknote validator of the present invention is modular and comprises four separate removable and interlocking parts: a validator module  2 ; a printer module  3 ; a cash box  4 ; and a bezel  5 .