Patent Publication Number: US-7722024-B2

Title: Apparatus and method for detecting positions of stack guide and stack roller

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for detecting positions of a stack roller and a stack guide, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for detecting positions of a stack roller and a stack guide that are positioned on a conveyance path of paper money to perform a paper money deposit operation in a recyclebox where paper money is deposited and withdrawn. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A recyclebox is a circulatory box that is provided in an automatic teller machine and stores paper money to be withdrawn and deposited. The recyclebox is provided in an automatic teller machine where paper money can be deposited and withdrawn, among automatic teller machines. 
   For example, a recyclebox includes a push plate, a plurality of money withdrawing rollers, and a plurality of money depositing rollers. The push plate ascends and descends, and paper money is stacked on the push plate. The plurality of money withdrawing rollers is provided above the push plate and withdraws the paper money stacked on the push plate. The plurality of money depositing rollers conveys and stacks paper money, which is to be deposited, into the upper portion of the recyclebox. 
   The recyclebox further includes a stack guide and a stack roller, so that a stable money deposit operation is performed. The stack guide allows the paper money, which is to be deposited during a money deposit operation, not to come in contact with the money withdrawing rollers. Further, the stack guide is swung downward to guide paper money, which is to be deposited, along a conveyance path of paper money. Wings of the stack roller are positioned on the conveyance path of paper money, and push the end of the paper money to be conveyed along the stack guide so that the paper money is aligned and stacked. 
   Specifically, the push plate descends during a paper money deposit operation in order to secure a money deposit space in the recyclebox. Then, paper money to be deposited is conveyed to the money deposit space by the money depositing rollers, and is stacked on the push plate. Further, the stack guide and the stack roller facilitate the stacking of the paper money, and the push plate ascends during a paper money withdrawal operation so that the paper money stacked on the push plate comes in contact with and presses the money withdrawing rollers. Accordingly, the stacked paper money is separated and withdrawn one-by-one. 
   Meanwhile, the stack guide is swung upward during the money withdrawal operation so that the push plate comes in contact with and presses the money withdrawing rollers. For this reason, the money withdrawing rollers comes in contact with the paper money stacked on the push plate. As a result, the stacked paper money is separated and withdrawn one-by-one. 
   Further, the stack roller is also swung downward during the money withdrawal operation so as to recede from the conveyance path of the paper money. Accordingly, the money withdrawal operation is smoothly performed. 
   In this case, there is required an apparatus for performing a control so that the money deposit and withdrawal operations are smoothly performed by detecting the positions of the stack guide and the stack roller that are swung upward and downward. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for detecting positions of a stack roller and a stack guide that can stably perform money deposit and withdrawal operations in a recyclebox by detecting the positions of a stack guide and a stack roller. 
   In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for detecting the positions of a stack guide and a stack roller includes a stack roller positioned below a feed roller to come in contact with the outer periphery of the feed roller so that a plurality of wings thereof pushes the end of the paper money to be deposited when money is deposited in order to align and stack the paper money, and the wings recede from a conveyance path of paper money when money is withdrawn; a stack guide fixed to a rotating shaft of the feed roller; and a position detecting unit detecting positions of the stack roller and the stack guide when the money is deposited/withdrawn. The stack guide is swung downward to guide the paper money to be deposited when money is deposited and is swung upward when money is withdrawn so that a pickup roller comes in contact with the paper money. 
   In the above-mentioned apparatus, the position detecting unit may include a withdrawal detecting sensor that detects the positions of the stack guide and the stack roller when money is withdrawn, a depositing detecting sensor that detects the positions of the stack guide and the stack roller when money is deposited, and a detection plate that is positioned between a light emitting part and a light receiving part of the withdrawal detecting sensor or the depositing detecting sensor. 
   In this case, the apparatus may further include a stack roller pivot provided to be spaced apart from the stack roller, a rod horizontally provided on a rear side of the stack guide so as to swing the stack guide, a gear that includes a guide protrusion formed on one surface thereof and is rotated by a rotational driving force transmitted from a driving motor, and a slide bar that is fixed to the stack roller pivot at one end thereof and has a slide slot formed at the other end thereof in a longitudinal direction. The guide protrusion is inserted into the slide slot. Accordingly, as the gear is rotated, the slide bar is slidably swung to swing the rod. The detection plate may be interlocked with a driving motor so as to correspond to when a driving motor is driven. 
   Further, in the above-mentioned apparatus, the position detecting unit may include a shaft having one end fitted to a fixing groove formed in the gear, the other end of the shaft may be fixed to the detection plate, and each of the both ends of the shaft may have a D-shaped cross section. 
   In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, a method of detecting positions of a stack guide and a stack roller includes receiving a paper money deposit signal, which is input by a client, using a control unit; sending a driving signal to a driving motor, which changes positions of a stack guide and a stack roller, from the control unit that has received the signal; sending a signal indicating that the stack guide and the stack roller are positioned at money depositing positions to the control unit from a depositing detecting sensor, when the stack guide and the stack roller are positioned at the money depositing positions by the driving motor; and controlling a deposit/withdrawal unit so that paper money is deposited in a recyclebox, when the control unit receives the signal indicating that the stack guide and the stack roller are positioned at the money depositing positions. 
   Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, a method of detecting positions of a stack guide and a stack roller includes receiving a paper money withdrawal signal, which is input by a client, using a control unit; sending a driving signal to a driving motor, which changes positions of a stack guide and a stack roller, from the control unit that has received the signal; sending a signal indicating that the stack guide and the stack roller are positioned at money withdrawal positions to the control unit from a withdrawal detecting sensor, when the stack guide and the stack roller are positioned at the money withdrawal positions by the driving motor; and controlling a deposit/withdrawal unit so that paper money is deposited in a recyclebox, when the control unit receives the signal indicating that the stack guide and the stack roller are positioned at the money withdrawal positions. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a recyclebox that is provided with an apparatus for detecting positions of a stack guide and a stack roller according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2A  is a view schematically illustrating a money deposit operation of the recyclebox where the stack guide and the stack roller according to the embodiment of the present invention recede from a conveyance path of paper money; 
       FIG. 2B  is a view schematically illustrating a money withdrawal operation of the recyclebox where the stack guide and the stack roller according to the embodiment of the present invention recede from a conveyance path of paper money; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing that a housing is removed from the recyclebox shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of components of a deposit/withdrawal unit of the recyclebox shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of components used to allow the stack guide and stack roller to recede in the recyclebox that is provided with the apparatus for detecting the positions of the stack guide and the stack roller according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  are perspective views of the apparatus for detecting the positions of the stack guide and the stack roller according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are views illustrating the operation of the recyclebox that is provided with the apparatus for detecting the positions of the stack guide and the stack roller according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The structure and operation of an apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a recyclebox that is provided with an apparatus for detecting positions of a stack guide and a stack roller according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2A  is a view schematically illustrating a money deposit operation of the recyclebox where the stack guide and the stack roller according to the embodiment of the present invention recede from a conveyance path of paper money.  FIG. 2B  is a view schematically illustrating a money withdrawal operation of the recyclebox where the stack guide and the stack roller according to the embodiment of the present invention recede from a conveyance path of paper money. 
   A recyclebox, which is provided with an apparatus for detecting the positions of a stack guide and a stack roller according to an embodiment of the present invention, includes a stack unit  100 , a housing  200 , and a deposit/withdrawal unit  300 . The stack unit  100  is provided with a push plate  110  that ascends and descends. Paper money  1  is stacked on the push plate. The housing  200  for the recyclebox surrounds the stack unit  100  and is opened/closed by a door  210 . The deposit/withdrawal unit  300  is provided on the upper portion of the stack unit  100 . 
   The deposit/withdrawal unit  300  includes a withdrawal port  301 , a deposit port  302 , a pickup roller  310 , a feed roller  320 , and a guide roller  330 . Paper money  1  to be withdrawn is withdrawn from the box through the withdrawal port  301 . Paper money  1  to be deposited enters the box through the deposit port  302 . The pickup roller  310  separates paper money  1  stacked on the push plate  110  one-by-one. The feed roller  320  conveys paper money  1  that is separated one-by-one by the pickup roller  310 , or conveys paper money  1  that enters the box through the deposit port  302  onto the push plate  110 . The guide roller  330  is rotatably supported by a guide roller bracket  331  provided below the feed roller  320 , and the outer periphery of the guide roller comes in contact with the feed roller  320 . 
   Further, it is preferable that the deposit/withdrawal unit  300  further include a conveying roller  360 , a withdrawal unit pinch roller  361 , and a deposit unit pinch roller  362 . The conveying roller  360  facilitates to smoothly deposit and withdraw paper money  1  during the money deposit and withdrawal operations. The withdrawal unit pinch roller  361  is provided on one side of the conveying roller  360  facing the withdrawal port  301 , and comes in contact with the outer periphery of the conveying roller  360  to press the paper money  1  to be withdrawn against the conveying roller  360 . The deposit unit pinch roller  362  is provided on the other side of the conveying roller  360  facing the deposit port  302 , and comes in contact with the outer periphery of the conveying roller  360  to press the paper money  1  to be deposited against the conveying roller  360 . 
   According to the above-mentioned structure, paper money  1  can be deposited into or withdrawn from the recyclebox by the normal and reverse rotation of the feed roller  320  and the conveying roller  360 . 
   The money deposit operation of the recyclebox will be described with reference to  FIG. 2A . The paper money  1 , which is to enter an automatic teller machine through the deposit port  302  along a main conveyance path (not shown) of the automatic teller machine, enters the recyclebox by the counterclockwise rotation of the conveying roller  360 . Then, the paper money  1  passes between the feed roller  320  that is rotated in a clockwise direction and the guide roller  330  that comes in contact with the outer periphery of the feed roller  320  and is rotated together with the feed roller, and is stacked on the push plate  110 . 
   In this case, the push plate  110  descends so that a money deposit space is secured in the recyclebox. Further, a stack guide  20  is swung downward and positioned on a conveyance path of paper money  1 . Accordingly, the stack guide guides paper money  1  to be deposited, and the pickup roller  310  does not interfere with the paper money  1  that is moving along the conveyance path of paper money  1 . In addition, a stack roller  10  should be positioned on the conveyance path of paper money  1  so that wings  10   a  of the stack roller push the end of the paper money  1  to be conveyed, causing the paper money  1  to be aligned and stacked. 
   Further, the money withdrawal operation of the recyclebox will be described with reference to  FIG. 2B . Paper money  1  stacked on the push plate  110  comes in contact with and presses the pickup roller  310 . Accordingly, as the pickup roller  310  is periodically rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the paper money  1  is separated one-by-one. After that, the paper money  1  passes between the feed roller  320  that is rotated in the counterclockwise direction and the guide roller  330 , passes by the conveying roller  360  that is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, and is then withdrawn through the withdrawal port  301  to the main conveyance path (not shown) of the automatic teller machine. 
   In this case, the stack guide  20  is swung upward, and the push plate  110  ascends so that the paper money  1  comes in contact with and presses the pickup roller  310 . Further, the wings  10   a  of the stack roller  10  should recede from the conveyance path of paper money  1 . 
     FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing that a housing is removed from the recyclebox shown in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the components of the deposit/withdrawal unit of the recyclebox shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the components used to allow the stack guide and stack roller to recede in the recyclebox that is provided with the apparatus for detecting the positions of the stack guide and the stack roller according to the embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 6A and 6B  are perspective views of the apparatus for detecting the positions of the stack guide and the stack roller according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
   According to the embodiment of the present invention, the stack guide  20  and the stack roller  10  facilitating the money deposit and withdrawal operations, which are performed in the recyclebox, are positioned on the conveyance path of paper money  1  during the money deposit operation. However, since the stack guide  20  and the stack roller  10  recede from the conveyance path of paper money  1  during the money withdrawal operation, it is possible to stably perform the money deposit and withdrawal operations. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the stack roller  10  is provided to be spaced apart from a center axis of a stack roller pivot  11  that passes through the guide roller bracket  331 , and the outer periphery of the stack roller  10  comes in contact with the outer periphery of the feed roller  320 . Accordingly, when the feed roller  320  is rotated to deposit paper money  1 , the stack roller is also rotated. 
   The stack guide  20  is fixed to a feed roller rotating shaft  321 . A rod  70  horizontally provided on the rear side of the stack guide is swung, so that the stack guide  20  is swung downward during the money deposit operation and is swung upward when money is withdrawn. 
   For example, a stack guide hook  21  that is bent to have an L shape is provided on the rear surface of the stack guide  20 , and the rod  70  is horizontally provided on the stack guide hook  21 . As the rod  70  is swung, the stack guide  20  is also swung. The rod  70  is swung due to the rotation of a first link bar pivot  64  to be described below. The first link bar pivot  64  is rotatably supported by a rod supporting bracket  69 , which is formed on one side of the deposit/withdrawal unit  300 . 
   Meanwhile, a gear  30  is provided on one surface of the stack unit  100 . The gear  30  includes a guide protrusion  31  formed on one surface thereof, and is rotated in a normal or reverse direction by a rotational driving force transmitted from a driving motor  40 . 
   Although not shown, it is preferable that the driving motor  40  be provided at the back of the stack unit  100 . It is more preferable that the driving motor  40  be used only to rotate the gear  30  in a normal or reverse direction. Further, the driving motor  40  may be directly connected to the gear  30 , or may be connected to the gear  30  via a driving gear  41  as shown in the drawings so as to be able to decelerate due to the change of a gear ratio between the driving gear  41  and the gear  30 . 
   In addition, the stack unit is provided with a slide bar  50 . One end of the slide bar  50  is fixed to the stack roller pivot  11 , and a slide slot  51  is formed at the other end of the slide bar  50  in a longitudinal direction of the slide bar. The guide protrusion  31  of the gear  30  is inserted into the slide slot  51  of the slide bar  50 . Accordingly, as the gear  30  is rotated, the slide bar  50  is swung. 
   Meanwhile, a coupling protrusion  52  protrudes from one end of the slide bar  50  as shown in  FIG. 5 , and has a groove (not shown). One end of the stack roller pivot  11 , which is cut to have a D-shaped cross section as shown in  FIG. 4 , is inserted into the groove. 
   Further, the rod  70  is horizontally provided at the rear side of the stack guide  20  as described above, so as to be used to swing the stack guide  20 . 
   A link connection unit  60  is provided so that the stack roller  10  and the stack guide  20  are positioned on or recede from the conveyance path of paper money  1  depending on the normal or reverse rotation of the gear  30 . The link connection unit  60  includes a plurality of link bars  61 ,  62 , and  63  between the slide bar  50  and the rod  70 . 
   The link connection unit  60  includes a first link bar  61 , a first link bar pivot  64 , a second link bar  62 , and a third link bar  63 . The rod  70  is fixed to one end of the first link bar  61 . The first link bar pivot  64  is fixed to the other end of the first link bar  61 , and is rotated in a normal or reverse direction so as to swing the first link bar  61 . The first link bar pivot  64  is fixed to one end of the second link bar  62 . One end of the third link bar  63  is connected to the other end of the second link bar  62  by a hinge, and the other end of the third link bar  63  is connected to one side of the slide bar  50  by a hinge. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , a position detecting unit  80  is provided near the gear  30  so as to detect the positions of the stack roller  10  and the stack guide  20  when money is deposited and withdrawn. The position detecting unit  80  includes a detection plate  82 , a withdrawal detecting sensor  83   a , and a depositing detecting sensor  83   b . The detection plate  82  is interlocked with the driving motor  40  so as to correspond to when a driving motor is driven. The withdrawal detecting sensor  83   a  and the depositing detecting sensor  83   b  detect the position of the detection plate  82  to detect the positions of the stack roller  10  and the stack guide  20  when money is deposited and withdrawn. 
   In this case, the detection plate  82  is connected to the gear  30  by a shaft  81 , and is thus interlocked with the driving motor  40  so as to correspond to when the driving motor is driven. For this purpose, a fixing groove  32  is formed in the gear  30 . In addition, one end of the shaft  81  is inserted into the fixing groove  32 , and the other end of the shaft  81  is fixed to the detection plate  82 . Each of the shaft  81  and the fixing groove  32  has a D-shaped cross section and a hole having a D-shaped cross section is formed in the detection plate  82 , so as to be fitted to each other. 
   The withdrawal detecting sensor  83   a  and the depositing detecting sensor  83   b  are fixed to a sensor supporting bracket  84  fixed to the stack unit  100 . When the detection plate  82  is positioned between a light emitting part and a light receiving part of each of the withdrawal detecting sensor  83   a  and the depositing detecting sensor  83   b , the withdrawal detecting sensor  83   a  and the depositing detecting sensor  83   b  determine the money withdrawal position and the money depositing position of each of the stack roller  10  and the stack guide  20 . Then, the sensors send signals to a control unit (not shown), and the control unit sends control signals to the deposit/withdrawal unit  300  such that the deposit/withdrawal unit  300  perform money deposit or withdrawal processes. 
     FIG. 7  is a view illustrating the operation of the recyclebox that is provided with the apparatus for detecting the positions of the stack guide and the stack roller according to the embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7A  is a view showing that the gear  30 , the slide bar  50 , and the link connection unit  60  are connected with each other when the stack guide  20  and the stack roller  10  are positioned on the conveyance path of paper money  1  during the money deposit operation of the recyclebox.  FIG. 7B  is a view showing that the gear  30 , the slide bar  50 , and the link connection unit  60  are connected with each other when the stack guide  20  and the stack roller  10  recede from the conveyance path of paper money  1  during the money withdrawal operation of the recyclebox. 
   Operations, where the stack roller and the stack guide according to the embodiment of the present invention are positioned on and recede from the conveyance path of paper money  1  when money is deposited/withdrawn, will be described with reference to  FIGS. 2A to 2B . 
     FIG. 7A  shows the stack guide  20  and the stack roller  10 , which correspond to  FIG. 2A . 
   A money depositing process will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . First, the control unit receives a paper money  1  depositing signal that is input by a client. The control unit that has received the signal sends a driving signal to the driving motor  40  in order to operate the stack guide  20  and the stack roller  10 . 
   When the driving motor  40  that has received the driving signal is driven, the gear  30  is rotated and the detection plate  82  is positioned between the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the depositing detecting sensor  83   b . In this case, the control unit that has received the signal from the depositing detecting sensor  83   b  determines that the stack roller  10  and the stack guide  20  are positioned at the money depositing position. Then, a money depositing process where paper money  1  is deposited in the recyclebox is performed. 
   As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to set the money depositing positions of the stack roller  10  and the stack guide  20  by driving one driving motor  40 . Accordingly, it is possible to detect two interlocked operations (operations of the stack roller and the stack guide) by one depositing detecting sensor  83   b  that detects the detection plate  82  interlocked with the driving motor  40 . 
     FIG. 7B  shows the stack guide  20  and the stack roller  10 , which correspond to  FIG. 2B . 
   The control unit receives a paper money  1  withdrawing signal that is input by a client. The control unit that has received the signal sends a driving signal to the driving motor  40  in order to operate the stack guide  20  and the stack roller  10 . 
   The stack guide  20  and the stack roller  10  are positioned at a money withdrawal position by the driving motor  40  that has received the driving signal. That is, when the gear  30  is rotated in a clockwise direction from a position of  FIG. 7A  to a position of  FIG. 7B , the stack roller pivot  11  fitted to the coupling protrusion  52  of the slide bar  50  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. For this reason, the stack roller  10  that is eccentrically fixed to the stack roller pivot  11  is also swung downward to recede from the conveyance path of paper money  1 . Further, the first link bar  61 , the second link bar  62 , the third link bar  63 , and the first link bar pivot  64 , which are linked to the slide bar  50 , also operate relative to each other, so that the rod  70  is swung. As a result, the stack guide  20  also recedes from the conveyance path of paper money  1 . 
   In this case, as the gear  30  is rotated, the detection plate  82  is also rotated and positioned between the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the withdrawal detecting sensor  83   a . Further, the control unit determines that the stack roller  10  and the stack guide  20  are positioned at the money withdrawal position. Then, a money withdrawing process is performed. 
   In contrast, when the gear  30  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction from a position of  FIG. 7B  to a position of  FIG. 7A , the stack roller  10  and the stack guide  20  are positioned on the conveyance path of paper money  1  in a reverse order of the above-mentioned order. Further, the detection plate  82  is positioned between the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the depositing detecting sensor  83   b . Accordingly, the control unit performs the money depositing process. 
   As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to smoothly control money deposit/withdrawal operations by detecting the positions of a stack guide and a stack roller in a recyclebox when money is deposited/withdrawn. Further, since the stack guide and the stack roller are controlled by one driving motor, it is advantageous in that controlling an ATM can be simplified.