Abstract:
A side open-and-close type cash transaction machine is provided. A cash transaction machine includes: a body including an opening on a side of the body; a door being mounted on the body to open and close the opening; a first financial module being integrally formed with the door in the door to be externally exposed when the door is opened; and a second financial module being provided in the body, separate from the door to move toward the opening when the door is opened. Since the second financial module may be provided and be exposed separate from the first financial module, it is possible to easily manage the financial modules and also reduce the size of the side open-and-close type cash transaction machine.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0113938, filed on Nov. 8, 2007, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a cash transaction machine, and more particularly, to a cash transaction machine that includes a door on a side of the cash transaction machine. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Generally, a cash transaction machine can be installed in a financial institution such as a bank in order to provide convenient financial services for banking customers. Also, the cash transaction machine may be installed in a convenient store, a public place, and the like. Therefore, banking customers may readily deposit and withdraw money using the cash transaction machine. Also, the banking customers may use various types of financial services such as checking of the balance, a transfer service, and the like. 
     The cash transaction machine includes various types of modules, such as a dispensing module, a depositing module, a card reader, a bankbook arrangement module, a main controller, and the like. The independently installed modules may be electrically connected to the main controller and perform cooperative functions. 
     A door is provided to open and provide access to the inside of the cash transaction machine. Generally, the door is provided on a front surface or a rear surface of the cash transaction machine. However, when sufficient space is not provided in the front and the rear of the cash transaction machine, the door needs to be provided on a side of the cash transaction machine. The cash transaction machine that includes the door on the side of the cash transaction machine may be referred to as a side open-and-close type cash transaction machine. 
     In a conventional side open-and-close type cash transaction machine, the dispensing module and the depositing module are integrally formed with the door. In this case, when the door is opened, both the dispensing module and the depositing module may be simultaneously exposed. Specifically, the conventional side open-and-close type cash transaction machine includes the dispensing module that is disposed inside the door and the depositing module that is disposed inside the dispensing module. Therefore, both the dispensing module and the depositing module are provided in the door. When the door is opened, both modules are turned together with the door and are externally exposed. Conversely, when the door is closed, both the modules move into the cash transaction machine to designated internal mounting locations. 
     Since the dispensing module and the depositing module are attached to the door, various types of problems may occur. For example, since the dispensing module and the depositing module are attached to the door, disadvantages may occur in maintenance and repair. When the dispensing module needs to be repaired and maintained, the depositing module that is attached to the dispensing module must be separated from the dispensing module. Also, since the dispensing module and the depositing module are attached together, the width of the door must be larger than the size of the dispensing module or the size of the depositing module in order to open the door while preventing the depositing module from becoming caught on the door. Therefore, it may be difficult to reduce the front and rear length of the cash transaction machine. Also, the weight of the dispensing module and the depositing module may damage a hinge of the door. When the door is opened, the dispensing module and the depositing module may deviate from the centroid. In this case, the weight distribution may be unbalanced in the cash transaction machine. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of the present invention provides a cash transaction machine that can independently include a plurality of modules and thus can effectively manage each of the modules. 
     Another aspect of the present invention also provides a cash transaction machine that does not need an increase in the size and length of the front and rear of the cash transaction machine, and that can be manufactured within a predetermined size. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cash transaction machine including: a body including an opening on a side of the body; a door being mounted on the body to open and close the opening; a first financial module being integrally formed with the door in the door to be externally exposed when the door is opened; and a second financial module being provided in the body, separate from the door to move toward the opening when the door is opened. 
     In an aspect of the present invention, the body may be referred as a type of housing that receives a plurality of modules in the cash transaction machine. The opening may be formed on the side of the body and may be opened and closed by the door. The plurality of financial modules may be disposed in the body. The financial modules may include a dispensing module, a depositing module, a main controller, a card reader, a bankbook arrangement module, and the like. Specifically, the financial modules may be independently provided in the cash transaction machine. 
     The first financial module is disposed on the inner surface of the door. Therefore, when the door is opened, the first financial module may be externally exposed together with the door. However, the second financial module is provided in the body, separate from the door. Also, the second financial module may move toward an outside, that is, the opening, depending on the necessity of an operator. Therefore, the operator does not need to separate the second financial module in order to repair or maintain the first financial module. Since a side surface of the first financial module is directly exposed, the first financial module may be more variously designed. Also, when the door is opened, only the first financial module is exposed and thus it is possible to reduce the load to the door. The operator may easily open and close the door. 
     When the door is opened, the first financial module is also externally exposed. However, a separate operation is needed to take out the second financial module from the cash transaction machine. Generally, the operator may directly move the second financial module to the outside using a knob formed on the second financial module. Depending on embodiments, it is possible to construct the second financial module to automatically move. The second financial module may move toward the outside by a predetermined guide member. Also, the second financial module may be slidable with respect to the guide member and thereby additionally move to the outside. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a cash transaction machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a state where a door of the cash transaction machine of  FIG. 1  is opened; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view illustrating the displacement of a first financial module and a second financial module in the cash transaction machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view for describing a portion IV-IV of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 5 through 7  are top views for describing the movement mechanism of the first financial module and the second financial module of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a partially enlarged perspective view for describing a temporary fixing member of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are cross-sectional views for describing the operating mechanism of the temporary fixing member of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The exemplary embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a cash transaction machine  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a state where a door  140  of the cash transaction machine  100  is opened. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cash transaction machine  100  includes a body  120  that includes an opening on a side of the body  120 , the door  140  that opens and closes the opening, a first financial module  220  that is integrally provided formed with the door  140  in the door  140  to be externally exposed when the door  140  is opened, and a second financial module  240  that is provided in the body  120 , separate from the door  140  to move toward the opening and thereby be externally exposed when the door is opened  140 . 
     A manipulation portion  160 , a dispensing portion  182 , and a depositing portion  184  are formed on an external surface of the body  120 . A user may enter an amount of withdrawal, a password, and the like using the manipulation portion  160 . The user may withdraw or deposit bills via the dispensing portion  182  and the depositing portion  184 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the first financial module  220  and the second financial module  240  may denote a dispensing module and a depositing module respectively. Corresponding thereto, the dispensing portion  182  and the depositing portion  184  are formed on the body  120 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Therefore, the first financial module  220  and the second financial module  240  may replace the above-described other modules and be variously modified depending on embodiments. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the opening is formed on the side of the body  120  to pass the first financial module  220  and the second financial module  240 . The door  140  is provided on one side of the opening. The door  140  may be movably provided on the left or right side of the opening. Preferably, the door  140  may be provided adjacent to the side where the dispensing portion  182  is formed. This is because an outlet of the first financial module  220  must be positioned adjacent to the dispensing portion  182  when the door  140  is closed. Also, a lock assembly  142  may be mounted onto the door  140  to lock the door  140 . 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, only one second financial module  240  is provided separate from the body  240 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Specifically, at least two second financial modules may be provided in the body  120 . Also, separate equipments may be installed in the first financial module  220 . 
     The first financial module  220  is integrally formed with the door  140  on the inner surface of the door  140 . When the door  140  is opened, the first financial module  220  may be externally exposed together with the door  140 . Also, the second financial module  240  may be further provided in the body  120 . The second financial module  240  is provided in the body  120  in parallel with the first financial module  220 . The second financial module  240  may move, separate from the first financial module  220 , to be externally exposed. 
     The second financial module  240  is provided separate from the first financial module  220 . Therefore, when the first financial module  220  or the second financial module  240  needs to be repaired or replaced, it is possible to separately repair or replace the first financial module  220  and the second financial module  240 . Specifically, each of the first financial module  220  and the second financial module  240  may be independently exposed to the outside. Therefore, depending on the necessity of an operator, it is possible to externally expose, and repair or replace each of the first financial module  220  and the second financial module  240 . Each of the first financial module  220  and the second financial module  240  may be formed as a module capable of providing various types of financial services, such as a bill depositing/dispensing portion, a card reader, and the like. The present invention is not limited to or restricted by the type of the financial module that is provided in the body  120 . 
     A guide member  260  may be provided to enable the second financial module  240  to move separately from the first financial module  220  as described above. The guide member  260  may function to guide the second financial module  240  to move between an internal mounting location and an opening location. For this, the guide member  260  includes a guide rail  262  and a guide coupling portion  264 . The guide coupling portion  264  is formed on a top surface of the second financial module  240 . The guide rail  262  is formed in an inner ceiling  132  of the body  120  and restricts a travel route of the second financial module  240  using the guide coupling portion  264 . Hereinafter, the guide member  260  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top view illustrating the displacement of the first financial module  220  and the second financial module  240  in the cash transaction machine  100  of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view for describing a portion IV-IV of  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first financial module  220  and the second financial module  240  are provided in parallel. When the second financial module  240  is positioned in a location enabling performance of operations in the body  120 , the location may be referred to as “an inner mounting location”. Also, when the second financial module  240  moves to the opening and thereby is positioned in a location for maintenance and repair, the location may be referred to as “an opening location”. 
     As described above, the guide member  260  may be provided to externally move the second financial module  240  from the body  120 . The guide member  260  includes the guide rail  262  and the guide coupling portion  264 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the guide rail  262  consists of four slits that are formed on the inner ceiling  132  of the body  120 . The four slits are formed in correspondence to protrusions  266  that are formed in the guide coupling portion  264 . The guide coupling portion  264  receives a top portion of the second financial module  240 . The second financial module  240  may be slidably connected to the guide coupling portion  264  via a rail  244 . Also, in the present exemplary embodiment, the guide member  260  is formed on the ceiling of the body  120 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Specifically, the guide member  260  may be formed on an inner floor of the body  120 , or on the ceiling and the floor of the body  120 . Also, the guide coupling portion  264  may be formed on the inner floor of the body  120 , or on the inner ceiling  132  and the inner floor of the body  120 . 
     The guide rail  262  is coupled with the protrusion  266 . The guide rail  262  may guide the movement of the second financial module  240  while the second financial module  240  moves from the inner mounting location to the opening location. More specifically, the slit-shaped guide rail  262  may be formed in a curved shape. The guide rails  262  may be formed in the same shape or in different shapes in correspondence to the travel route of the second financial module  240 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the guide rail  262  is formed in the slit shape. However, the guide rail  262  may be provided on the inner ceiling of the body  120  as a separate rail member. 
     The guide coupling portion  264  may include the protrusion  266  to physically couple with the guide rail  262 . The protrusion  266  may be formed to be larger than the slit-width of the guide rail  262 . For smooth movement, lubricating oil, a bearing, and the like may be disposed between the guide rail  262  and the protrusion  266 . Also, the structure of the protrusion  266  and the guide rail  262  may be variously modified based on the required condition, the design specification, and the like. 
       FIGS. 5 through 7  are top views for describing the movement mechanism of the first financial module  220  and the second financial module  240  of  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the door  140  may be opened for the management of the first financial module  220  and the second financial module  240 , or other purposes. In this instance, the first financial module  220  is integrally formed with the door  140  and thus may be externally exposed along with the door  140  when the door  140  is opened. The second financial module  240  is movably provided in the body  120 , separate from the first financial module  220 . Since the second financial module  240  is not provided with the door  140 , it is possible to maintain a small width of the door  140 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the operator may move the second financial module  240  to the outside. The operator may initially move the second financial module  240  to the opening location adjacent to the opening and subsequently slide the second financial module  240  from the guide coupling portion  264  to be additionally exposed. 
     The second financial module  240  is fixed to a temporary fixing member  280  in the inner mounting location. In order to move the second financial module  240  to the opening location, the operator may temporarily release the temporary fixing member  280  and then move the guide coupling portion  264  and the second financial module  240  to the outside. The temporary fixing member  280  will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the operator may grab a knob  242  formed on the second financial module  240  and externally move the second financial module  240 . In this instance, each protrusion  266  of the guide coupling portion  264  moves along each guide rail  262  and may change the location and the posture of the second financial module  240 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the guide rails  262  are formed in the curved shape and thus may guide the location of the second financial module  240  and also turn the posture of the second financial module  240  to about 60 degrees. For the change of the posture, the guide rails  262  are formed in different shapes. 
     Also, in the cash transaction machine  100  that includes the door  140  on the side of the body  120 , an inner space is restricted. Therefore, the curved motion may be more desirable than the linear motion in order to move the second financial module  240  in the restricted inner space. 
     The guide rail  262  may be formed in a region where the second financial module  240  may be externally exposed. Depending on the number of protrusions  266  formed on the guide coupling portion  264 , the length and the shape of the guide rail  262  may be determined. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the operator may pull the knob  242  and thereby additionally move the second financial module  240  after pushing a release button  243  next to the knob  242 . In this case, the second financial module  240  moves toward an inclined direction, separate from the first financial module  220 . Therefore, it is possible to repair and maintain the second financial module  240 , separate from the first financial module  220 . The second financial module  240  may be designed to face various directions from the opening location. Desirably, the second financial module  240  may be designed to face an opposite direction to the hinge of the door  140 . 
     For smooth sliding between the second financial module  240  and the guide coupling portion  264 , the second financial module  240  and the guide coupling portion  264  may be connected to each other using a rail, and the like. For example, the rail  244  moving in multi-steps may be used. 
     The second financial module  240  may be pushed back into the body  120  to be below the guide coupling portion  264 . Specifically, the second financial module  240  may move from the opening location to the inner mounting location together with the guide coupling portion  264 . In this instance, the temporary fixing member  280  may be used to relatively fix the guide coupling portion  264  with respect to the body  120 . Also, the guide coupling portion  264  may be released from the body  120  using the temporary fixing member  280 . 
       FIG. 8  is a partially enlarged perspective view for describing the temporary fixing member  280  of  FIG. 6 , and  FIGS. 9A and 9B  are cross-sectional views for describing the operating mechanism of the temporary fixing member  280  of  FIG. 8 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 ,  9 A and  9 B, the temporary fixing member  280  includes an operating bracket  282  and a fixing pin  286 . A fixing hole  134  may be formed in the inner ceiling  132  of the body  120  in correspondence to the fixing pin  286 . The temporary fixing member  280  is used to temporarily fix the second financial module  240  in the inner mounting location and the opening location. Specifically, the temporary fixing member  280  may enable the second financial module  240  to stably perform operations in the inner mounting location. Also, the temporary fixing member  280  may prevent the second financial module  240  from unintentionally moving toward the inside in the opening location. 
     The operating bracket  282  is provided on the side of the guide coupling portion  264  to be upwardly and downwardly movable with respect to the second financial module  240 . The fixing pin  286  is vertically provided on one side of the operating bracket  282  to be upwardly and downwardly movable with the operating bracket  282 . Also, the operating bracket  282  is connected to one end of a spring  284 . The guide coupling portion  264  is connected to another end of the spring  284 . Therefore, the operating bracket  282  may elastically move. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the fixing hole  134  may be formed in the inner ceiling  132  of the body  120  in correspondence to the fixing pin  286  of the temporary fixing member  280 . The fixing hole  134  may be respectively formed corresponding to when the second financial module  240  is positioned in the inner mounting location as shown in  FIG. 3 , and when the second financial module is positioned in the opening location as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9A , when no external force is given, the operating bracket  282  is elastically pulled by the spring  284  and the fixing pin  286  is positioned in a location coupled with the inner ceiling  132 . Referring to  FIG. 9B , when the operator pushes the operating bracket  282  to temporarily move, the fixing pin  286  may be separated from the fixing hole  134 . The operator may move the second financial module  240  from the inner mounting location to the opening location, or conversely from the opening location to the inner mounting location. 
     Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described exemplary embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.