Patent Publication Number: US-8534441-B2

Title: Paper money transmission and storage device

Description:
The present application is a U.S. National Stage Patent Application of PCT Application Number PCT/CN2010/077135, filed on Sep. 20, 2010, which application claims the benefit of priority to Chinese patent application No. 200910193047, filed with the Chinese State Intellectual Property Office on Oct. 13, 2009. The entire disclosures thereof are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a paper money transporting and storing device, and more particular to a paper money transporting passage and a storing device having a locking mechanism used in a financial instrument. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Existing financial self-service terminal includes the cash deposit machine, the automatic teller machine and the automatic depositing and withdrawing system. In these machines which may directly deal with paper currency, in order to achieve the exchange of paper money between the user and the machine, it is necessary to install a paper money transporting passage device in these machines. The device is used to transport paper money to be deposited into the self-service instrument by user to the terminal cashbox and/or transport paper money in the terminal cashbox to the user. 
     Particularly, the paper money transporting passage device in the automatic depositing and withdrawing system is used to transport the notes dispensed by an upper machine mechanism and store the notes into the cashbox, or transport the paper money storing in the cashbox to the upper machine mechanism to be dispensed. The upper machine mechanism includes a paper money identifying device, a paper money temporarily storing device and a paper money collecting device. The paper money collecting device allows the user to take out paper money or put in paper money. A lower machine mechanism includes a cashbox assembly for storing paper money. A paper money transporting passage is provided between the upper machine mechanism and the cashbox assembly of the lower machine mechanism. Generally, the paper money transporting passage covers and is pressed on the cashbox so as to achieve a precise positioning and aligning between the transporting passage and a paper money inlet/outlet of the cashbox, thereby ensuring the smooth transportation of paper money. 
     The conventional method for fixing the paper money transporting passage device to the cashbox assembly of the lower machine mechanism is generally that the transporting passage device is pressed by the upper machine mechanism and then closed with the side walls of the cashbox assembly bracket for the lower machine mechanism, so as to position and fix the transporting passage. In this method, the positioning between the transporting passage and the cashbox is achieved by the cooperation between bearings installed on the passage and a floating elastic sheet installed on an associated safe cabinet. When the lower machine mechanism is pushed into, the transporting passage is pressed by the floating elastic sheet and tightly fitted with the side walls of the cashbox assembly bracket for the lower machine mechanism. 
     In view of the above fixing method, the fastening of the transporting passage is achieved by a clamp force formed from the downward pressure of the floating elastic sheet on the safe cabinet towards the components below the transporting passage. However, the cashbox below the transporting passage is not applicable to support the transporting passage. Thus, the transporting passage is needed to be supported by side walls of an additional cashbox bracket. Therefore, it is required to lift the cashbox by a large height when replacing the cashbox, which increases the labor intensity of the operator and is inconvenient for use. 
     In addition, the transporting passage is fastened by cooperation between bearings installed on the passage and the floating elastic sheet installed on associated safe cabinet. When the lower machine mechanism is pushed into, the passage is pressed in position, which certainly influences the independency of the lower machine mechanism. Besides, the structure of the opening-closing mechanism of this transporting passage is relatively complex, and is inconvenient for use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the problems of non-independency, inconvenient operation of the transporting passage and the problem of insufficient reliability in positioning between the transporting passage and the cashbox, the present invention provides a paper money transporting and storing device having a long locking mechanism. 
     The object of the present invention is achieved by the following solutions. 
     The paper money transporting and storing device includes a paper money transporting passage and a cashbox assembly for storing paper money. The cashbox assembly is disposed within a cashbox assembly bracket. The cashbox assembly bracket is a box body, one surface of which may be covered by turning the paper money transporting passage. One end of the paper money transporting passage is pivoted to a side wall of the cashbox assembly bracket. A locking mechanism is provided at the other end of the paper money transporting passage opposite to the pivoted end. The locking mechanism includes: a fixed bracket, which is fixed to the other end of the paper money transporting passage in order to install and support components necessary for locking; a long locking member, which includes a rotation shaft extending across opposite end surfaces of the fixed bracket and locking hooks fixed to both ends of the rotation shaft, wherein an openable connection is formed between the locking hooks and locking pins correspondingly provided on side walls of the cashbox assembly bracket; and an unlocking handle, which is fixed to the rotation shaft in order to drive the rotation shaft to freely rotate so that the locking hooks are driven to be engaged with or disengaged from corresponding locking pins. 
     Preferably, a return torsion spring is provided on the rotation shaft. One end of the return torsion spring is fixed to the fixed bracket, and the other end of the return torsion spring is fixed relative to the rotation shaft, so as to provide return force after the locking hooks are disengaged from an engagement position. 
     Preferably, a positioning assistant member having a positioning hole is provided on the side wall of the paper money transporting passage, and a positioning pin corresponding to the positioning hole is provided on corresponding side wall of the cashbox assembly bracket. 
     Preferably, a gas spring is provided between the paper money transporting passage and the cashbox assembly bracket. One end of the gas spring is pivoted to the side wall of the paper money transporting passage, and the other end of the gas spring is pivoted to corresponding side wall of the cashbox assembly bracket. 
     Preferably, a turning stop mechanism is provided between the paper money transporting passage and the cashbox assembly bracket. The turning stop mechanism includes a stop sheet. One end of the stop sheet is pivoted to the side wall of the cashbox assembly bracket. A stop pin is provided on a surface of the other end of the stop sheet facing the paper money transporting passage. A sliding groove is provided on the side wall of the paper money transporting passage corresponding to the stop pin and is parallel to the plane of the transporting passage. An upward angled location groove is formed at the end of the sliding groove near the pivot shaft of the transporting passage and used to reliably stop the transporting passage when the transporting passage is opened in position. 
     Preferably, a transporting passage closed in-position detecting mechanism is provided on the side wall of the cashbox assembly bracket. 
     Further, the detecting mechanism includes a U-shape sensor, a rotation member and a return torsion spring for returning the rotation member. The rotation member has a check plate capable of entering into the U-shape sensor. 
     Further, the rotation member is pivoted to the side wall of the cashbox assembly bracket through a pivot shaft. The return torsion spring is surroundingly connected to the pivot shaft. One end of the return torsion spring is fixed to the rotation member, and the other end of the return torsion spring is fixed to the pivot shaft or a fixing mechanism of the pivot shaft. 
     Further, a paper money transporting passage pressing handle is provided at one end of the rotation member opposite to the sensor check plate. The pressing handle and the sensor check plate form a V-shape rotation member. When the paper money transporting passage is closed in position, the transporting passage presses the pressing handle so as to rotate the V-shape rotation member around the pivot shaft, such that the sensor check plate departs from the U-shape sensor. After the paper money transporting passage is opened, the V-shape rotation member is rotated in a reverse direction by the return torsion spring, such that the sensor check plate enters into the U-shape sensor. 
     Preferably, the cashbox assembly bracket is configured to be open at an upper portion of the side wall thereof corresponding to the locking mechanism. 
     Therefore, compared with the prior art, the paper money transporting and storing device according to the present invention has the following advantages: 
     First, the cashbox may be easily drawn out when replacing owning to the open design of the side wall of the cashbox assembly bracket, which reduces the labor intensity and is conveniently used. 
     Second, the paper money transporting passage may be entirely positioned by the cashbox assembly bracket, such that the paper money transporting passage and the storing device become independent modules, which reduces the requirements of the cooperation between them and the other modules and is conveniently installed. 
     Third, it is more convenient and safe to open or close the paper money transporting passage by using the assistant gas spring and the turning stop mechanism. 
     Fourth, the transporting passage closed in-position detecting mechanism may ensure that the passage is closed in position, so as to engage smoothly between the cashbox and the transporting passage, thereby ensuring the smooth transportation of paper money. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing the opening and closing of the paper money transporting and storing device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the locking mechanism in the paper money transporting and storing device; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial enlarged view of part A in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a right view of the paper money transporting and storing device showing the closed state of the passage; 
         FIG. 5  is a right view of the paper money transporting and storing device showing the open state of the passage; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing the operating of the assistant positioning mechanism between the paper money transporting passage and the cashbox assembly in the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the rotation stop sheet assembly between the paper money transporting passage and the cashbox assembly according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of the detecting mechanism for detecting whether the transporting passage is closed in position relative to the cashbox assembly in the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, the technical solutions in embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely with reference to drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. It is apparent that the embodiments to be described are merely a portion of embodiments of the present invention, but not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all of other embodiments made by those skilled in the art without inventive effort fall into the protection scope of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  5 , schematic views of a paper money transporting and storing device are shown. The paper money transporting and storing device includes a paper money transporting passage  1  and a cashbox assembly  2  for storing paper money. The cashbox assembly  2  is disposed within a cashbox assembly bracket  21 . The cashbox assembly bracket  21  is a box body, one surface of which may be covered by turning the paper money transporting passage  1 . One end of the paper money transporting passage  1  is pivoted to a side wall  211  of the cashbox assembly bracket  21  through a pivot shaft  11 . A locking mechanism  3  is provided at an end of the paper money transporting passage  1  opposite to the pivoted end. The upper portion of a side wall  213  of the cashbox assembly bracket  21  corresponding to the locking mechanism  3  is open. The open side wall  213  of the cashbox assembly bracket  21  is designed such that a cashbox  22  may be drawn out easily when replacing the cashbox  22  so as to reduce the labor intensity, which is conveniently used. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the locking mechanism  3  includes: a fixed bracket  31  which is fixed to the end of the paper money transporting passage in order to install and support components necessary for locking; a long locking member which includes a rotation shaft  32  extending across the opposite end surfaces of the fixed bracket  31  and locking hooks  33  fixed to both ends of the rotation shaft  32 , wherein an openable connection is formed between the locking hooks  33  and locking pins  2121  provided on side walls  212  of the cashbox assembly bracket  21 ; an unlocking handle  34  which is fixed to the rotation shaft  32  in order to drive the rotation shaft  32  to freely rotate so that the locking hooks  33  are driven to be engaged with or disengaged from corresponding locking pins  2121 . In the embodiment, since the locking member has a relatively long span, support members  35  are provided at appropriate positions of middle portion of the rotation shaft and properly support the rotation shaft  32  so as to allow the rotation shaft to become more stable. In order that the locking mechanism  3  may be self-locked, return torsion springs  36  for providing return force after the locking hooks  33  are disengaged from the engagement position are disposed on the rotation shaft  32  and configured to surround the rotation shaft  32 . One end of each return torsion spring is fixed to the fixed bracket  31  and the other end is fixed to the locking hook  33 . In addition, in order to easily turn and open the paper money transporting passage, a passage handle  37  is provided on the locking mechanism, so as to facilitate the opening and closing operation of the paper money transporting passage. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a schematic view showing the operating of the assistant positioning mechanism between the paper money transporting passage and the cashbox assembly in the present invention is shown. In order to achieve a precise positioning between the paper money transporting passage  1  and the cashbox assembly  2 , a positioning hole  121  is provided in the side wall  12  of the paper money transporting passage  1 , and a positioning pin  2122  corresponding to the positioning hole  121  is provided on the corresponding side wall  212  of the cashbox assembly bracket  21 . When the paper money transporting passage  1  is closed relative to the cashbox assembly bracket  21 , the positioning pin  2122  precisely passes through the positioning hole  121 , such that the paper money transporting passage  1  is closed in position relative to the cashbox assembly bracket  21 . Therefore, a precise connection is achieved between the paper money transporting passage  1  and the cashbox assembly so as to ensure the smooth transportation of paper money. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , since the paper money transporting passage  1  is relatively heavy, gas springs  4  for assisting to open the paper money transporting passage are provided between the paper money transporting passage  1  and the cashbox assembly bracket  21  in order to easily open the paper money transporting passage. One end  41  of each gas spring is pivoted to the side wall of the paper money transporting passage  1  and the other end  42  is pivoted to corresponding side wall  212  of the cashbox assembly bracket. When the paper money transporting passage  1  is to be opened, the unlocking handle  34  on the rotation shaft  32  of the locking mechanism  3  is drawn, and the rotation shaft  32  is rotated and then drives the locking hooks  33  to rotate, as a result, the locking hooks  33  are disengaged from the locking pins  2121 . At this moment, the paper money transporting passage  1  is opened around the pivot shaft  14  under a lifting elastic force of the gas spring  4 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  7 , in order to limit the opening stroke of the paper money transporting passage  1 , a turning stop mechanism is provided between the paper money transporting passage  1  and the cashbox assembly bracket  21 . The turning stop mechanism includes a stop sheet  5 . An end  51  of the stop sheet  5  is pivoted to the side wall  212  of the cashbox assembly bracket. A stop pin  53  is provided on the surface of the other end  52  of the stop sheet  5  facing the paper money transporting passage  1 . A sliding groove  14  is provided on the side wall of the paper money transporting passage  1  corresponding to the stop pin  53  and is parallel to the plane of the transporting passage. An upward angled location groove  141  is formed at the end of the sliding groove  14  near the pivot shaft  11  of the transporting passage, and used to reliably stop the transporting passage  1  when the transporting passage  1  is opened in position. In addition, a releasing manipulator  54  is provided at the end of the stop sheet near the stop pin  53  to easily release the stop sheet when the paper money transporting passage  1  is to be closed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  8 , in order to detect whether the paper money transporting passage  1  is closed in position relative to the cashbox assembly, a transporting passage closed in-position detecting mechanism  6  is provided on the side wall  212  of the cashbox assembly bracket  21 . The detecting mechanism  6  includes a U-shape sensor  61 , a rotation member  62  and a return torsion spring  63  for automatically returning the rotation member  62 . The rotation member  62  includes a check plate  621  capable of entering into the U-shape sensor  61 . The rotation member  62  is pivoted to a sensor supporter  65  through a pivot shaft  64 . The whole sensor is fixed to the side wall  212  of the cashbox assembly bracket by way of the supporter  65 . The return torsion spring  63  is configured to surround the pivot shaft  64 . One end of the return torsion spring  63  is fixed to the rotation member  62 , and the other end is fixed to the sensor supporter  65 . A paper money transporting passage pressing handle  622  is provided at one end of the rotation member  62  opposite to the sensor check plate  621 . The pressing handle  622  and the sensor check plate  621  forms a V-shape rotation member. When the paper money transporting passage  1  is closed in position, the transporting passage presses the pressing handle  622  so as to rotate the V-shape rotation member around the pivot shaft  64 , such that the sensor check plate  621  departs from the U-shape sensor  61 . After the paper money transporting passage  1  is opened, the V-shape rotation member is rotated in a reverse direction by the return torsion spring  63 , such that the sensor check plate  621  enters into the U-shape sensor  61 . According to information whether the U-shape sensor is blocked, a control centre of the system (not shown) may determine whether the paper money transporting passage is closed in position. In the embodiment, when the U-shape sensor is blocked, it is determined that the paper money transporting passage isn&#39;t closed, and when the U-shape sensor isn&#39;t blocked, it is determined that the paper money transporting passage is closed in position. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, various equivalent variations made by those skilled in the art based on the contents described in the Description and illustrated in drawings of the present invention are deemed to fall into the protection scope of the present invention.