Patent Publication Number: US-9898883-B1

Title: Dual-bill passage auto-search bill acceptor

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan patent application number 105134085, filed on Oct. 21, 2016. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to bill acceptor technology and more particularly, to a dual-passage auto-search bill acceptor, which comprises an acceptor housing, a cash box mounted at the back side of the acceptor housing, and a bill dispenser mounted at the top side of the acceptor housing and adapted for controlling a control gate to switch the bill-transfer passage between a storage module and a register module, achieving the function of picking up a specific bill from mixed bills. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Fast development of modern technology accelerates the pace of people&#39;s lives and brings convenience and rapidness to people. Nowadays, various automated trading machines, such as automatic vending machines, card dispensers, automated teller machines, ticket machines, game machines, bill exchange machines, etc. are used everywhere to receive and recycle bills, securities, coupons or other valuable documents and to sell different products and/or to provide different services without serviceman. These machines are highly appreciated for the advantage of saving much labor and bringing convenience to people. Further, these machines are commonly equipped with a bill acceptor for receiving bills, and a bill recognition device for identifying the authenticity and value of inserted bills before receiving them. Thus, these machines can achieve unmanned operation and self-service purposes, saving the operation cost. Nowadays, advanced vending machines have been continuously created for selling a variety of products and providing versatile services. 
     Further, in order to sell more items and more expensive products or to accept higher denomination of bills, automatic vending machines or automated teller machines must be equipped with a bill dispenser for dispensing bills after recognized by a bill recognition device so that received bills of maximum denomination can be transferred to a cash box for storage, and received bills under a predetermined face value can be temporarily stored in a storage device for giving change or for exchange, reducing the frequency and cost of manual replenishment of bills increasing the service time. 
     Two methods are commonly used in commercial automatic vending machines, automated teller machines and other automated trading machines for dispensing assorted bills and giving change. The first method is the use of one single bill dispenser. In this case, when picking up specific bills from mixed bills, the bill dispenser needs to deliver nonspecific bills to the cash box for storage so that specific bills can be picked up and delivered to the bill-outlet slot for giving change or making an exchange. However, the bills that have been transferred to the cash box can no longer be picked up for giving change. The second method is the use of two or more bill dispensers. In this case, bills of different values are separately stored in respective storages devices in the bill dispensers. When giving change or making an exchange, the system main unit drives the bill dispensers to release bills one after another in a proper order, and the desired specific bills will be transferred to the bill-outlet slot only when they have all been picked up. However, this multiple bill dispenser design requires a long bill passage and multiple electromagnetic valves for controlling multiple gates to achieve the desired dispensing operation. In consequence, the machine of this multiple bill dispenser design has drawbacks of large size, complicated structure and high manufacturing cost. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a measure that eliminates the drawbacks of the aforesaid prior art design. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a dual-passage auto-search bill acceptor, which is capable of controlling a control gate to close or open the bill-transfer passage between a storage module and a register module, achieving the function of picking up a specific bill from mixed bills. 
     To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a dual-passage auto-search bill acceptor comprises an acceptor housing, a cash box, and a bill dispenser. The acceptor housing comprises a base, a bill-inlet passage defined in the base for receiving a bill inserted by a user, a bill-outlet passage defined in the base and extended upwardly from a rear end of the bill-inlet passage, a bill-transfer mechanism mounted in the base for transferring a bill through the bill-inlet passage for bill intake or bill return and also for transferring a bill through the bill-outlet passage for giving change, and a bill-presser mounted in the base below the bill-transfer mechanism. The cash box comprises a box body mounted at a rear bottom side of the base of the acceptor housing and defining therein a bill accommodation chamber for receiving bills being pressed by the bill-presser. The bill dispenser comprises a dispenser housing mounted at a top side of the base, a bill-return passage defined in the dispenser housing in communication with the bill-inlet passage and the bill-outlet passage, a storage module with a first bill-receiving wheel, a register module with a second bill-receiving wheel, and a control gate biasable to open and close a bill passage between the storage module and the register module. The bill dispenser is adapted for performing a bill-collection process and a giving-change process selectively. When performing the bill collection process, the bill-transfer mechanism is controlled to transfer a bill from the bill-return passage to the storage module for enabling the bill to be rolled up onto the first bill-receiving wheel. When performing the giving-change process, the first bill-receiving wheel is controlled to transfer specific bills from mixed bills through the bill-return passage into the bill-outlet passage for giving change to the user, enabling the bills coming before the specific bills to be transferred over the control gate into the register module and rolled up onto the second bill-receiving wheel for temporary storage and then delivered back to the storage module for storage after completion of the procedure of giving change. Since this one single bill dispenser is capable of achieving the above-described operation, it does not occupy much installation space in the acceptor housing, simplifying the overall structure of the bill acceptor, minimizing the amount of component parts, facilitating installation and reducing the manufacturing cost. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the acceptor housing further comprises a bill recognition device mounted in the base to face toward the bill-inlet passage and adapted for recognizing the authenticity of each bill being transferred by the bill-transfer mechanism so that if a bill is recognized by the bill recognition device to be a true bill of the maximum denomination, the bill-transfer mechanism is controlled to transfer the bill to the bill-presser, and then the bill-presser is controlled to press the bill into the box body of the cash box; if a bill is recognized by the bill recognition device to be a counterfeit or the user cancels the trading, the bill-transfer mechanism is controlled to transfer the bill backwardly through the bill-inlet passage for returning to the user. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, when the bill recognition device judges that an inserted bill is usable for giving change, the bill-presser is controlled to transfer the bill upwardly through the bill-inlet passage toward the bill-return passage of the bill dispenser for collection. Thus, the bill dispenser can control the control gate to close or open the bill passage between the storage module and the register module for the selection of specific bills from mixed bills and bill dispenser, enabling the bills that can be used for giving change and come before the specific bills to be transferred over the control gate into the register module and rolled up onto the second bill-receiving wheel for temporary storage and then delivered back to the storage module for storage after completion of the procedure of giving change. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, the acceptor housing further comprises a recessed portion located in the base and facing toward the bill-outlet slot, and a fence-like auto-return safety gate pivotally mounted in the recessed portion for prohibiting movement of a bill from the bill-outlet slot into the bill-outlet passage and allowing movement of a bill from the bill-outlet passage toward the bill-outlet slot. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dual-bill passage auto-search bill acceptor in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic sectional side view of the dual-bill passage auto-search bill acceptor in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a part of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional side view of the dual-bill passage auto-search bill acceptor in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the path of the delivery of bills into the cash box. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional side view of the dual-bill passage auto-search bill acceptor in accordance with the present invention, illustrating a bill returned through the bill-inlet passage to the bill-inlet slot. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic sectional side view of the dual-bill passage auto-search bill acceptor in accordance with the present invention, illustrating a bill collection operation of the bill dispenser. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic sectional side view of the dual-bill passage auto-search bill acceptor in accordance with the present invention, illustrating a giving-change operation of the bill dispenser (I). 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic sectional side view of the dual-bill passage auto-search bill acceptor in accordance with the present invention, illustrating a giving-change operation of the bill dispenser (II). 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic sectional side view of a part of the dual-bill passage auto-search bill acceptor in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the bill dispenser transferred a bill into the bill-outlet passage for giving change to the user. 
         FIG. 10  corresponds to  FIG. 9 , illustrating the bill transferred out of the bill-outlet passage and the bill-outlet slot of the acceptor housing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a dual-bill passage auto-search bill acceptor in accordance with the present invention is shown. The dual-bill passage auto-search bill acceptor comprises an acceptor housing  1 , and a cash box  2 , and a bill dispenser  3 . 
     The acceptor housing  1  comprises a base  11 , a face panel  110  mounted at a front side of the base  11  and defining therein a bill-inlet slot  1101  and a bill-outlet slot  1102 , a bill-inlet passage  111  and a bill-outlet passage  112  defined in the base  11  and respectively backwardly extended from the bill-inlet slot  1101  and the bill-outlet slot  1102 , a control system (not shown), a first bill-transfer roller set  121  of a bill-transfer mechanism  12  and a bill recognition device  13  mounted in the base  11  in a proper order to face toward the bill-inlet passage  111 , a bill-presser  14  mounted in the base  11  below the bill-transfer mechanism  12 , and a second bill-transfer roller set  122  of the bill-transfer mechanism  12  mounted in the base  11  to face toward the bill-outlet passage  112 . The bill recognition device  13  comprises a light transmitter  131  and a light receiver  132  respectively disposed at the same side or two opposite sides relative to the bill-inlet passage  111 . 
     Further, a bill-pressing passage  140  is longitudinally defined in the base  11  at a back side of the bill-presser  14  and connected to an inner end of the bill-inlet passage  111 . The bill-presser  14  comprises a first motor  141 , a transmission wheel set  142  rotatably by the first motor  141 , a second motor  143 , a linkage  144  coupled between the second motor  143  and a bill-pressing plate  145  and drivable by the second motor  143  to move the bill-pressing plate  145 . Further, the bill-inlet passage  111  comprises a front section  111   a  connected to the bill-inlet slot  1101 , a curved section  111   b  curved downwardly from an inner end of the front section  111   a  remote from the bill-inlet slot  1101  and terminating in the bill-pressing passage  140 , and a shunt section  111   c  upwardly extended from the curved section  111   b  and terminating in the bill-outlet passage  112 . Further, an anti-theft hook  15  is pivotally mounted in the curved section  111   b  of the bill-inlet passage  111 ; an anti-backflow gate  16  is pivotally mounted in the connection area between the shunt section  111   c  and the bill-outlet passage  112 . 
     The cash box  2  comprises a box body  21  detachably mounted in a rear lower side of the base  11  to face toward the bill-presser  14  and defining therein a bill accommodation chamber  20  and an opening  201  in a front side of the bill accommodation chamber  20 , a bearing plate  22  placed in the bill accommodation chamber  20  of the box body  21  and pressable by the bill-pressing plate  145  to move in the bill accommodation chamber  20  in direction away from the opening  201 , and a plurality of spring members  23  mounted in a bottom side of the bill accommodation chamber  20  and abutted against a bottom wall of the bearing plate  22  to support the bearing plate  22  in the bill accommodation chamber  20  in balance and adapted for imparting an elastic restoring force to the bearing plate  22  toward the opening  201 . 
     The bill dispenser  3  is mounted at a top side of the base  11  comprising a dispenser housing  31 , a bill-return passage  311  defined in the dispenser housing  31  in communication with the bill-inlet passage  111  and the bill-outlet passage  112 , a first bill-receiving wheel  321  of a storage module  32 , a second bill-receiving wheel  331  of a register module  33  respectively mounted in the dispenser housing  31  and disposed to face toward the bill-return passage  311 , a control gate  34  mounted in the dispenser housing  31  and adapted for switching the passage between the storage module  32  and the register module  33 , at least one motor  312  mounted in the dispenser housing  31 , and a gear transmission mechanism  313  mounted in the dispenser housing  31  and drivable by the motor  312  to rotate the first bill-receiving wheel  321  and the second bill-receiving wheel  331 . Further, the control gate  34  can be a panel or grating mounted between the storage module  32  and the register module  33  and movable by an electromagnetic valve through a link. 
     In application, the dual-bill passage auto-search bill acceptor can be used in an automatic vending machine, automatic teller machine, game machine, or any other automated trading machine that provides exchange, purchase of goods, consumer services. After installation of the acceptor housing  1  in an automated trading machine, the control system of the acceptor housing  1  and the driving mechanism of the bill dispenser  3  are electrically connected to the host unit of the automated trading machine for data and power transmission. In actual application, the dual-bill passage auto-search bill acceptor can be used independently, enabling the driving mechanism of the bill dispenser  3  to be electrically connected to the control system of the acceptor housing  1  for data and power transmission. After installation of the dual-bill passage auto-search bill acceptor in the automatic vending machine, automatic teller machine, game machine or automated trading machine, the dual-bill passage auto-search bill acceptor provides the automatic vending machine, automatic teller machine, game machine or automated trading machine with exchange, purchase of goods, consumer services and other functions. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when a user inserts a bill  4  into the bill-inlet slot  1101  of the acceptor housing  1  toward the bill-inlet passage  111 , a sensor of the control system will detect the presence of the inserted bill  4  in the bill-inlet passage  111  and activate the motor of the bill-transfer mechanism  12  to rotate the first bill-transfer roller set  121 , thereby transferring the bill  4  to the bill recognition device  13  where the light transmitter  131  and the light receiver  132  of the bill recognition device  13  are activated to detect the authenticity of the bill  4  subject to the control of the control system. If the bill recognition device  13  detected that the bill  4  is a true bill, the first bill-transfer roller set  121  will be driven to transfer the bill  4  from the front section  111   a  of the bill-inlet passage  111  to the curved section  111   b  to bias the anti-theft hook  15  and to continuously transfer the bill  4  downwardly through the curved section  111   b  into the bill-pressing passage  140  of the bill-presser  14 , and the first motor  141  will then be controlled to rotate the transmission wheel set  142 , thereby carrying the bill  4  to a predetermined position where the bill  4  faces toward the opening  201  of the cash box  2 . At this time, the first motor  141  will be stopped, awaiting the user to proceed to a follow-up procedure for exchange, purchase of goods, consumer services. 
     When the control system confirms the execution of the trading order, the control system will judge whether or not the bill  4  can be used for giving change. If the bill  4  is of the maximum denomination and cannot be used for giving change, the transmission wheel set  142  of the bill-presser  14  will be driven to carry the bill  4  continuously forward. After the bill  4  is completely moved over the anti-theft hook  15 , the anti-theft hook  15  will automatically return to its previous position, and the second motor  143  of the bill-presser  14  will be controlled to move the bill-pressing plate  145  through the linkage  144 , causing the bill-pressing plate  145  to push the bill  4  through the opening  201  of the cash box  2  onto the bearing plate  22  and to further force the bearing plate  22  against the spring members  23  and enabling the bill  4  to be received in the bill accommodation chamber  20  of the cash box  2 . Thereafter, the bill-pressing plate  145  is returned to its previous position, and the bearing plate  22  is pushed back toward the opening  201  by the elastic restoring energy of the spring members  23 , enabling the received bill  4  to be secured in place between the bearing plate  22  and an inner edge of the box body  21  around the opening  201 . In application, the aforesaid procedure is repeated again and again, and thus, a plurality of bills  4  are properly received and stored in the cash box  2  in a stack. Further, if the user cancel the trading or the bill recognition device  13  recognizes the inserted bill  4  to be a counterfeit, the first bill-transfer roller set  121  of the bill-transfer mechanism  12  will be operated to mate with the operation of the transmission wheel set  142  of the bill-presser  14  for a bill return process, carrying the inserted counterfeit bill  4  reversely along the bill-inlet passage  111  to the bill-inlet slot  1101  to return the counterfeit bill  4  to the user. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the bill intake and bill return processes of the acceptor housing  1  are same as conventional bill acceptors with the exception of the action after confirmed the trading. When the control system confirms the execution of the trading order, the control system will judge whether or not the bill  4  can be used for giving change. If the bill  4  can be used for giving change, the transmission wheel set  142  of the bill-presser  14  will be driven to carry the bill  4  from the position adjacent to the cash box  2  along the bill-pressing passage  140  upwardly over the anti-theft hook  15  to the shunt section  111   c  of the bill-inlet passage  111  to push the anti-backflow gate  16  to bias, allowing the bill  4  to be moved into the bill-return passage  311  of the dispenser housing  31  of the bill dispenser  3  for a bill collection process. After the bill  4  completely passed over the bill-return passage  311 , the anti-backflow gate  16  automatically returns to its previous position to stop the bill  4  from being moved back, avoiding blockage or jamming. Further, the arrangement of the anti-theft hook  15  prevents the inserted bill  4  from being pulled back by a tool by an evil user. 
     When the control system of the acceptor housing  1  controls the bill dispenser  3  to run the bill collection process, the motor  312  of the dispenser housing  31  drives the gear transmission mechanism  313  to rotate the first bill-receiving wheel  321  of the storage module  32 , circulating transmission means of drive and drive rollers and an endless belt thereof and carrying the bill  4  through the bill-return passage  311  into the storage module  32 , and the bill  4  can then be rolled up and secured to the periphery of the first bill-receiving wheel  321 ; the motor  312  can also drive the gear transmission mechanism  313  to rotate the second bill-receiving wheel  331  of the register module  33 , circulating transmission means of drive and drive rollers and an endless belt thereof and carrying the bill  4  through the control gate  34  into the register module  33 , enabling the bill  4  to be rolled up and secured to the periphery of the second bill-receiving wheel  331 . 
     As stated above, after the control system confirms the trading, the inserted bill  4  has reached a specific area in the bill dispenser  3 . If the trading is needed to give change, the control system will pick up the specific bill  4  from the mixed bills  4  in the storage module  32 . The procedure of giving change is as follows: Assuming that the first bill-receiving wheel  321  of the storage module  32  has 7 pieces of bills  4  wound thereon, if the result of the trade calculation made by the control system is to give the client the third bill  4 , the fourth bill  4  the seventh bill  4  on the first bill-receiving wheel  321  for change, the control system will control the first bill-receiving wheel  321  to rotate reversely, returning the first bill  4 , the second bill  4 , the fifth bill  4  and the sixth bill  4  back to the bill-return passage  311  of the dispenser housing  31 , and will control the electromagnetic valve of the control gate  34  to bias the control gate  34  toward the bill-outlet passage  112 , switching the bill-transfer passage from the storage module  32  to the register module  33 , so that the selected bills  4  can be delivered to the register module  33  and wound around the second bill-receiving wheel  331  for temporary storage. The aforesaid third, fourth and seventh bills  4  can then be transferred over the control gate  34  into the bill-outlet passage  112  as the control gate  34  closes the bill-transfer passage between the storage module  32  and the register module  33 . Thereafter, the first bill-transfer roller set  121  of the bill-transfer mechanism  12  will be rotated to transfer these bills  4  toward the outside of the bill-outlet slot  1102 . After give the change to the client, the second bill-receiving wheel  331  will then be rotated to release the first, second, fifth and sixth bills  4 , enabling these bills  4  to be moved over the control gate  34  along the bill-return passage  311  to the storage module  32  and then rolled up onto the first bill-receiving wheel  321  for further dispensing or accumulation in the follow-up trade calculation. 
     Further, if the control system judges that the trading is needed to give change and if the first few bills  4  of the mixed bills  4  in the storage module  32  are in the sequence for giving change, the first bill-receiving wheel  321  will be reversed to release these bills  4 , and the control gate  34  will be biased to close the bill-transfer passage between the storage module  32  and the register module  33 , prohibiting these bills  4  from being transferred to the register module  33  for temporary storage, and enabling these bills  4  to be directly transferred over the control gate  34  along the bill-outlet passage  112  toward the outside of the bill-outlet slot  1102  to complete the procedure of giving change. 
     In this embodiment, after confirmed the trading, if the control system of the acceptor housing  1  judges according to the detection of the bill recognition device  13  that the inserted bill  4  is a true bill of the maximum denomination, the bill-transfer mechanism  12  will be driven to transfer the inserted bill  4  along the bill-inlet passage  111  in the base  11  to the bill-presser  14  for pressing by the bill-presser  14  into the cash box  2 . In case the bill  4  can be used for giving change, the will  4  will be transferred through the bill-return passage  31  in the dispenser housing  31  of the bill dispenser  3  and then rolled up onto the first bill-receiving wheel  321  of the storage module  32 . If the result of the trading calculation needs to give change, the bills  4  to be given to the user for change will then be transferred through the bill-return passage  31  into the bill-outlet passage  112  above the bill-inlet passage  111  for giving to the user; the other bills  4  that need not to be used for giving change will be transferred through the bill-transfer passage between the storage module  32  and the register module  33  subject to the control of the control gate  34 , and then rolled up onto the second bill-receiving wheel  331  of the register module  33 . After giving change to the user, the other bills  4  that can be used for giving change are sent back to the storage module  32  subject to the control of the control gate  34 , and then rolled up onto the first bill-receiving wheel  321  for further use. 
     As stated above, the bill dispenser  3  of the invention can control an electromagnetic valve or other electric driving device (not shown) to move the control gate  34  between an open position and a close position, switching the bill-transfer passage between the storage module  32  and the register module  33 , so that the bill dispenser  3  can pick up the specific bills  4  from the mixed bills  4  and directly transfer the non-specific bills  4  to the register module  33  for temporary storage, and then transfer these non-specific bills  4  back to the storage module  32  for storage after finished the procedure of giving change, and these non-specific bills  4  can be used for giving change in a further operation. Since this one single bill dispenser  3  is capable of achieving the above-described operation, it does not occupy much installation space in the acceptor housing  1 , simplifying the overall structure of the bill acceptor, minimizing the amount of component parts, facilitating installation and reducing the manufacturing cost. Further, the dual-bill passage design of the bill-inlet passage  111  and the bill-outlet passage  112  of the acceptor housing  1  eliminates the problem of jammed bill in a complicated multi-gate structural design of one single bill passage, providing clients with convenience and practicality in trading. 
     However, many methods can be applied to the control system of the acceptor housing  1  and the bill dispenser  3  for controlling the storage module  32  and the register module  33  to dispense and store the bills  4  for giving change, for example, controlling the motor  312  to drive the gear transmission mechanism  313  in rotating the first bill-receiving wheel  321  and the second bill-receiving wheel  331  so as to cycle an endless belt and to adjust its tension, enabling the bills  4  to be rolled up onto the first bill-receiving wheel  321  or the second bill-receiving wheel  331  accurately for storage, and the control gate  34  can be controlled to open or close the bill passage between the storage module  32  and the register module  33  for allowing transfer of bills  4  between the storage module  32  and the register module  33  subject to the detection of sensor means in detecting the position of the control gate  34 . In actual application, any other measures or structural designs can be selectively used as a substitute to achieve the control of the position of the control gate  34  and the control of the operation of the first bill-receiving wheel  321  of the storage module  32  and the control of the operation of the second bill-receiving wheel  331  of the register module  33 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the acceptor housing  1  further comprises a recessed portion  113  located in the base  11  and facing toward the bill-outlet slot  1102  of the face panel  110  and the bill-outlet passage  112 , and a fence-like auto-return safety gate  17  pivotally mounted in the recessed portion  113 . When the bill dispenser  3  transfers the bill  4  into the bill-outlet passage  112  for giving change to the user, the fence-like auto-return safety gate  17  will be biased toward the recessed portion  113  by the bill  4  so that the bill  4  can pass over the fence-like auto-return safety gate  17 . After the bill  4  passed over the fence-like safety gate  17 , the fence-like auto-return safety gate  17  is automatically returned to its previous position. If a user inserts the bill  4  or any other object through the bill-outlet slot  1102  of the face panel  110  toward the bill-outlet passage  112  in the base  11 , the inserted bill or object will be stopped outside the bill-outlet passage  112  by the fence-like auto-return safety gate  17 , preventing the inserted bill  4  or object from blocking the bill-outlet passage  112 . 
     Further, the anti-theft hook  15 , the anti-backflow gate  16  and the fence-like auto-return safety gate  17  are respectively loaded with a spring such that the anti-theft hook  15 , the anti-backflow gate  16  and the fence-like auto-return safety gate  17  are respectively biasable by moving the bill  4  for enabling the bill  4  to pass, and will be automatically returned to their respective previous position after the bill  4  passed. In an alternate form of the present invention, an electromagnetic valve or any other suitable electric control device can be used for moving the fence-like auto-return safety gate  17  through a linkage to close or open the bill-outlet passage  112  subject to the detection of a sensor. 
     In conclusion, the invention provides a dual-passage auto-search bill acceptor, which comprises an acceptor housing  1 , a cash box  2  mounted at the back side of the acceptor housing  1  that comprises a base  11 , a bill-inlet passage  111  and a bill-outlet passage  112  defined in the base  11  at different elevations, a bill-presser  14  mounted in the base  11  at a bottom side and a bill-transfer mechanism  12  mounted in the base  11  and adapted for transferring each inserted bill  4  of the maximum denomination from the bill-inlet passage  111  to the bill-presser  14 , the cash box  2  mounted in a rear bottom side of the acceptor housing  1  for receiving each bill  4  of the maximum denomination from the bill-presser  14 , and a bill dispenser  3  mounted at the top side of the acceptor housing  1 . The bill dispenser  3  comprises a storage module  32  with a first bill-receiving wheel  321 , a register module  33  with a second bill-receiving wheel  331  and a control gate  34  for switching the bill passage between the storage module  32  and the register module  33 , and is adapted for performing a bill-collection process and a giving-change process. When performing the bill-collection process, to take up the bills  4  from the bill-presser  14  that can be used for giving change, and giving-change process selectively. When performing the bill collection process, the second bill-receiving wheel  331  of the storage module  32  is rotated to take up the bills  4  that can be used for giving change and that are transferred from the bill-presser  14 . When performing the giving-change process, the bill dispenser  3  picks up the specific bills  4  from the mixed bills  4  on the first bill-receiving wheel  321 , and transfers these specific bills  4  into the bill-outlet passage  112  for giving change to the user, enabling the bills  4  coming before the specific bills  4  to be transferred over the control gate  34  into the register module  33  and rolled up onto the second bill-receiving wheel  331  for temporary storage and then delivered back to the storage module  32  for storage after completion of the procedure of giving change. 
     Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.