Abstract:
An automatic adjusting device for a bank note holding member is provided. The bank note holding member can be inserted into a safe for the dispensing of bank notes. The holding member can have relatively movable side and end walls which can automatically and mechanically adjust to the particular size of the stack of bank notes that are inserted therein. When the bank note holding member is removed, the walls can be automatically extended to open the space to receive bank notes. When the bank note holding member is inserted into a safe, the respective walls can close on the stack of bank notes and assert a predetermined force to align the bank notes stored therein.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a bank note storing device which can be used in a vending machine or a moneychanger, and more particularly, relates to an automatic adjusting-device for a bank note holding frame which can automatically adjust the position of the holder frame to accommodate different size bank notes. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     “Bank note” as used in this specification embraces a check, a certificate, coupon ticket or exchange ticket like a bank note. It also can be any stack of rectangular sheets. 
     A small bank note storing device that includes a bank note holder which encloses bank notes and has a holder frame is known. The position of the holder frame can be adjusted to the size of a bank note. The adjusting work is carried out manually by an operator or a holder is used having a holder frame which is fixed for a particular size of the bank note. Therefore, the adjusting work can be a tedious ordeal. Also, when the fixed holder frame is used, there are many different kinds of fixed holders. Therefore, the required storage space becomes large. 
     Thus, the prior art is still seeking an improved adjusting bank note holding frame with an automatic capability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A purpose of this invention is to provide an automatically adjustable bank note holder to adapt to different sizes of bank notes. 
     An automatic adjusting device for a bank note holding frame comprises a width holder frame, which can be moved to accommodate the width of a bank note in the bank note holder, a link device, which is operatively linked to the width holder frame, and an operating device which is located at one side of the bank note storing device and is operatively linked to the link device. 
     In this structure, bank notes are put into the bank note holder which is enclosed by the holder frame. Afterwards, the bank note holder is moved into the bank note storing device. During the moving process, the link device is located at the side of the holder frame and is operatively linked to the operating device which is attached in the bank note storing device. Therefore, the width holder frame can be moved to accommodate the width of a bank note, and to push the bank notes together. 
     As a result, the bank notes are automatically arrayed to the position of the width of the bank notes. Also, when different bank notes with different widths are placed into the bank note holder, the width position of the bank notes is automatically changed to adapt to the different bank note. Therefore, the operative position of the holder frame is automatically adjusted. 
     The present invention permits the automatic adjustment of the width of the holder frame to reduce the overall size of the bank note holder. A width holder holds the width holder frame at a position that is wider than the bank note width, while a releasing device releases the width holder. When the bank note holder is moved into the bank note storing device, it has contact with the width holder, a link device which is operatively linked to the width holder frame, and an operating device which is located at the side of bank note storing device, and is operatively linked to the link device to adjust the width. 
     In this structure, bank notes are put into the bank note holder which is enclosed by the holder frame. Afterwards, the bank note holder is moved into the bank note storing device. In the moving process, the releasing device releases the width holder. Therefore the width holder frame is urged towards the width direction of the bank notes and is moved in the same direction. As a result, the bank notes are arrayed by the width holder frame primary in the width direction. 
     Next, the bank note holder goes into the bank note storing device. In this situation, the link device is attached at the bank note holder and is operatively linked to the operating device. Therefore, the width holder frame moves in the width direction through the link device and pushes the bank notes. 
     As a result, the bank notes in the bank note holder are automatically arrayed. At the first arraying, the bank notes initial volume is reduced and the bank notes are arrayed together. In a second process, the bank notes are pushed together even closer. Therefore, the bank notes are arrayed in a tight stack. Finally, if the size of the bank notes are changed, the position of the holder frame is automatically changed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bank note storing device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bank note storing device without an outer cover and with the bank note holder drawn out; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bank note storing device without an outer cover; 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevation perspective view of the bank note storing device; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the bank note storing device; 
     FIG. 6 is a plane view of the bank note storing device without the outer cover; and 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the bank note storing device without the outer cover. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and user the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventors of carrying out their invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide an automatic bank note adjusting device for aligning the position of bank notes. 
     Firstly, bank note storing device  1  is explained (as shown in FIG.  1 ). Bank note storing device  1  has a case  2  which is box-like in shape and a lid  3  which is hinged at a lower section of the case  2 . The bank note storing device  1  can be closed or opened by lid  3 . A lock member  4  is provided at the upper section of lid  3 . Therefore, lid  3  can be locked on case  2 . 
     Handle  5  is gate like in shape and is fixed on lid  3 . Therefore, the bank note storing device  1  can be transported by an operator. The storing section  6  of the bank note storing device  1  (shown in FIG. 2) is defined by a separating board  7 . A bank note transporting device  9  is attached at separating board  7  and has driving rollers  8  for transporting the lower most bank note for dispensing. 
     Next bank note holder H is explained (as shown in FIG.  4 ). Right side board H 11  and front side board H 12  are fixed at base H 10  to extend vertically upward. Bank note exit H 13  is rectangular in shape and is located at the lower section of front side board H 12 . Width holder frame H 16  includes a horizontal board H 14  which is rectangular and a vertical board H 15  which is L-shaped. 
     Horizontal board H 14  is inserted into a concave space H 17  which is channel like in shape and permits board H 14  to be slidable. Elongated hole H 35  extends across the width of the bank notes and is located at base H 10 . Guiding rollers H 36  and H 37  are attached at the rear of horizontal board H 14  (shown in FIG.  5 ). 
     Guiding rollers H 36  and H 37  are inserted into elongate hole H 35  and are slidable therein. Elongated hole H 18  extends horizontally and is located at the upper section of front side board H 12 . Bar H 19  also extends horizontally along the front side board H 12  from the upper section of vertical board H 15 . Guiding rollers H 20  and H 21  are attached at bar H 19  and are slidably inserted into the elongated hole H 18  to permit adjustment of the position of the side vertical board H 15 . 
     Elongated hole H 23  also extends horizontally and is located at the lower portion of rear wall H 22  which, in turn, is vertical to the base  10 . Bar H 24  extends horizontally along rear wall H 22  from the rear section of vertical board H 15 . Guiding rollers H 25  and H 26  are attached at bar H 24  and they are slidably inserted into elongated hole H 23  to further support the adjustment of vertical board H 15 . Width holder frame H 16  is guided by the respective elongated holes H 18 , H 23  and H 35 , and they can be moved closer or further away from the right side board H 11 . 
     In other words, width holder frame H 16  can move laterally. Projection H 27  extends horizontally and is located at the upper section of front side board H 12 . Projection H 28  extends horizontally and is located at the upper section of bar H 19 . Spring H 29  is hooked between the projections H 27  and H 28 . Therefore, width holder frame H 16  is urged towards the right side board H 11  by spring H 29 . 
     Swing board H 31  is attached at the upper section of the side of rear wall H 22  by a hinge H 30 . Swing board H 31  is biased to pivot towards the side of right side board H 11  by spring H 32 . When swing board H 31  pivots towards the side of right side board H 11 , swing board H 31  is stopped by the upper section of vertical board H 15  and is kept vertical. 
     Spring H 32  is hooked between projection H 33  of bar H 24  and projection H 34  which extends towards the side of right side board H 11 . When swing board H 31  pivots towards the side of right side board H 11  more than a predetermined angle, swing board H 31  will be forced to pivot in the clockwise direction by a snap-action-mechanism (shown in FIG.  4 ). 
     Next width holder H 40  is explained (as shown in FIG.  5 ). Hook H 42  can swing about fixed shaft H 41  which protrudes downwards from the rear of base  10 . Hook H 42  is biased to pivot in the clockwise direction by a spring (not shown). As shown in FIG. 5, hook H 42  has an indented portion stopped by the end of the opening H 44  of base H 10 . 
     Slanting surface H 45  is the end portion of hook H 42 . When hook H 42  is stopped by the end of opening H 44 , the hook H 42  is located opposite the elongated hole H 43 . Pin H 46  is fixed at the rear of horizontal board H 14  and is inserted into elongated hole H 43  which extends in the same direction as elongated hole H 35  and is slidable relative to the elongated hole H 43 . 
     When pin H 46  is moved towards the side of hook H 42 , it pushes the slanting surface H 45 . Therefore hook H 42  pivots in the counterclockwise direction and pin H 46  is hooked by hook H 42 . Pusher  10  (shown in FIG. 3) of the bank note storing device  1  can push end H 42  of hook H 47  (shown in FIG.  4 ). When pusher  10  pushes end H 47 , hook H 42  releases pin H 46 . Pusher  10  acts as the releasing device. 
     Next, link device L is explained with reference to FIG.  5 . Lever L 11  is boomerang-like in shape and can pivot on fixed shaft L 10  which is fixed at the rear of base H 10 . Pin L 13  is fixed at the rear of horizontal board H 14  and is inserted into elongated hole L 12 . Pin L 14  is fixed downwards at one end of lever L 11 . 
     Next, operating device R is explained (as shown in FIGS.  6  and  7 ). Concave space R 10  is rectangle and is located both in the front side board H 12  and extends inward from the rear edge of separating board  7 . Elongated holes R 11 , R 12  and R 18  extend horizontally in the width direction and are located at separating hoard  7 . Cam board R 13  is located at the rear of separating board  7 . Pins R 14 , R 15  and R 19  are fixed on cam board R 13  and are inserted separately in elongated holes R 11 , R 12  and R 18  and are slidable therein. 
     Cam board R 13  is urged towards vertical board H 15  by spring R 16  (shown in FIG.  6 ). Spring R 16  is hooked between projection R 21  which is fixed at the rear of separating board  7  and projection R 22  of cam board R 13 . Slanting cam R 17  is located at the side on the rear of cam board R 13 . Straight section R 20  continues longitudinally to slanting cam R 17 . 
     When bank note holder H is moved into storing section  6 , pin L 14  pushes slanting cam R 17 . Therefore, lever L 11  pivots in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG.  5 . As a result, horizontal board H 14  moves towards the side of right side board H 11  through contact with pin L 13 . Vertical board H 15  moves in the same direction together with horizontal board H 14 . 
     When the moving resistance of vertical board H 15  increases, spring R 16  is extended and pin L 14  has contact with the straight section R 20 . Therefore, vertical board H 15  keeps its position. 
     Next, longitudinal holding device N is explained (as shown in FIG.  7 ). A pair of rollers N 11  and N 12  are attached at right side board H 11  and are located parallel to the separating board  7 . Roller N 13  is located above roller N 12 . Elongated holes N 14  and N 15  are located to extend parallel in sliding board N 16 . 
     Rollers N 11  and N 12  are inserted into elongated hole N 14 , and roller N 13  is inserted into elongated hole N 15 . Therefore, sliding board N 16  can move towards the longitudinal direction of the bank notes and along the right side board H 11 . Longitudinal holding frame N 17  is fixed opposite to the front side board H 12  at sliding board N 16 . 
     Spring N 20  is hooked between projection N 18  of front side board H 12  and hole N 19  of sliding board N 16 . Therefore, longitudinal holding frame N 17  is urged to move towards the side of front side board H 12  by spring N 20 . 
     Next, holding device P of longitudinal holding device N is explained (as shown in FIG.  7 ). Lever P 11  can pivot on fixed shaft P 10  which extends horizontally towards the rear upper section of right side board H 11 . Hook P 13  of lever P 11  can hook the projection P 12  of sliding board N 16 . 
     Slanting surface P 15  is located at the side of front side board H 12  at lever P 11  and can have contact with projection P 12 . Projection P 14  extends horizontal towards the other end of lever P 11  and is located opposite to projection P 16  of lid  3 . 
     Bank note storing section H 50  includes a front side board H 12 , a longitudinal holding frame N 17 , a right side board H 11  and a vertical board H 15 . Bank note holder H locates the longitudinal position of a bank note by front side board H 12  and longitudinal holding frame N 17  and locates the width position of a bank note by right side board H 11  and vertical board H 15 . 
     Next, guiding device G of bank note holder H is explained (as shown in FIG.  6 ). Guiding device G is guide rails  11  and  12  which both have an L shape. The upper surfaces of guide rails  11  and  12  guide the left and right edges of base H 10 . Therefore, bank note holder H can go into and out of the storing section  6 . Guide rails  11  and  12  are fixed at the left and right edges adjacent separating board  7  (the upper and lower edges shown in FIG.  6 ). 
     Next rocking device K of bank note holder H is explained (as shown in FIG.  6 ). Lever K 11  is F-like in shape and can pivot on fixed shaft K 10  which is located at the upper surface of separating board  7 . Lever K 11  is biased to pivot in the counterclockwise direction by a spring K 14  which is hooked between projection K 12  and K 13 . 
     Hook K 15  is integrally formed on lever K 11 . Hook K 15  can hook to pin K 16  (see FIG. 5) which is located at the rear of base H 10 . When operator member K 17  is pushed, lever K 11  pivots in the clockwise direction. Therefore, hook K 15  disengages from pin K 16 . Slanting surface K 18  is located at lever K 11  and can be engaged with pin K 16 . 
     Next, an operation of this embodiment of the invention is explained. Firstly, the bank notes are supplied for storage. Lock  4  is unlocked and afterwards lid  3  is opened. Operator K 17  is pushed towards the front side board H 12 . Therefore, lever K 11  pivots in the clockwise direction shown in FIG.  6  and hook K 15  disengages from pin K 16  on base H 10 . 
     Next, rear wall H 22  is drawn out from the storing section  6 . At this process, pin L 14  disengages from the cam board R 13 . Therefore, width holder frame H 16  is moved towards the right side board H 11  by the force from spring H 29 . 
     When there are no bank notes in the storing section, the end of right side board H 11  is stopped by the end of concave space H 17 . Therefore, width holder frame H 16  is stopped. Longitudinal holding frame N 17  is moved towards the side of the front side board H 12  by spring N 20  from the sliding board N 16  and is stopped by the guide rollers N 12  and N 13 . 
     Next, width holder frame H 16  and longitudinal holding frame N 17  are moved to permit the bank notes to be put into storing section  6  easily. In other words, vertical board H 15  is moved opposite to vertical board H 11 . At this process, pin H 46  pushes slanting surface H 45  of hook H 42 . Therefore, hook H 42  pivots in the counterclockwise direction. When slanting surface H 45  disengages from pin N 46 , hook H 42  pivots in the clockwise direction by a spring (not shown). As a result, hook H 42  hooks pin H 46 . 
     Therefore, width holder frame H 16  is held at an extended position from right side board H 11  by width holder H 40 . Next, longitudinal holding frame N 17  is moved in the opposite direction to front side board H 12 . During this process, pin P 12  pushes slanting surface P 15 . Therefore lever P 11  pivots in the clockwise direction (as shown in FIG.  7 ). 
     When pin P 12  passes through the slanting surface P 15 , lever P 11  is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction by a spring (not shown). Therefore, hook P 13  hooks pin P 12 . As a result, longitudinal holding frame N 17  is kept further away from front side board H 12 . 
     Next, the bank notes are inserted into bank note storing section H 50  by a user. When the bank notes are put into bank note storing section H 50 , swing board H 31  can pivot in the clockwise direction away from vertical wall H 11  to make the insertion operation easy to accomplish. 
     Lever P 11  is pivoted in the clockwise direction by an operator. Therefore, hook P 13  unhooks projection P 12 . Longitudinal holding frame N 17  is moved towards front side board H 12  by the force of spring N 20 . As a result, any displaced bank notes are moved towards the front side board H 12  and are forced to be arrayed together in a stack. 
     Next, bank note holder H is moved into storing section  6  along guide rail  11  and  12 . During this process, end H 47  of hook H 42  has contact with pusher  10 , and hook H 42  pivots, and hook H 42  disengages from pin H 46  (as shown in FIG.  5 ). Therefore width holder frame H 16  is moved towards the right side board H 11  by spring H 29 . Afterwards, the width holder frame H 16  is moved forcibly by the link device L and the width holder frame H 16  is continually biased by the spring H 29  to exert a predetermined force on the stack of bank notes. 
     Bank notes which are not lined up in the width direction are therefor moved towards to the right side board H 11  by the force of spring H 29  and are primarily arrayed. Next, pin L 14  has contact with cam surface R 17  of cam R 13 . Therefore, pin L 14  is moved towards the right at FIG.  5 . Lever  11  is now pivoted in the clockwise direction. 
     Pin L 13  is moved towards the left by lever L 11  as shown in FIG.  5 . Vertical board H 15  is moved towards the right side board H 11 . As a result, the bank notes which are not lined up in the width direction are moved towards the right side board H 11 , and are secondarily arrayed. 
     During this process, when vertical board H 15  doesn&#39;t move towards the right side board H 11 , cam board R 13  is moved by pin L 14 , because the force of spring R 16  is small. Afterwards pin L 14  has contact with straight section R 20  of cam R 13  and the position is maintained. 
     Before bank note holder H moves into the predetermined position, pin K 16  pushes slanting surface K 18  of lever K 11 . Therefore, lever K 11  pivots in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG.  6 . When bank note holder H is moved to a predetermined position, pin K 16  disengages from slanting surface K 18  and is hooked by hook K 15 . As a result, bank note holder H is locked in the bank note storing device  1  by lock device K. 
     Next, lid  3  is closed and is locked by lock  4 . Therefore, projection P 16  is located near projection P 14  and lever P 11  is kept at the release position. As a result, the re-supply of bank note storing device  1  is finished. Afterwards, bank note storing device  1  is put into vending machines, etc. 
     In this specification, “horizontal” and “vertical” are conveniently used to define relative positions but should not be interpreted as limiting to the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.