Patent Publication Number: US-6698751-B2

Title: Compact stacker for notes of various widths

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention herein resides in the art of currency validators or acceptors. More particularly, the invention relates to stackers for currency validators, such stackers being adapted to receive, stack and maintain currency or notes determined to be valid. More particularly, the invention relates to stackers for currency validators which are space efficient and capable of accommodating notes or currency of various widths. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Currency validators or note acceptors are now widely know and used. Oftentimes, such currency validators are free standing, providing the opportunity to change paper currency into coins. Other currency validators are incorporated into vending machines and the like to aid in effecting transactions. There, a note or paper currency may be tendered for effecting a purchase. The currency validator determines the validity of the tendered paper and, if determined to be invalid, rejects the same and denies the transaction. Otherwise, if determined to be valid, the paper currency is escrowed until the transaction is completed and then the currency is transported to a stacker where it is maintained with other genuine currency or notes. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the total system of a note acceptor includes a validation portion where paper tendered as currency is validated and/or rejected, and a stacker, which receives and stacks the valid currency so received. 
     Stackers require a certain amount of space. A first portion of the space is required for actually maintaining the bills or paper currency actually received as authentic. Other space is required for movement of the punch which typically characterizes such stackers. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the punch of a stacker may be actuated by scissors, a screw, or any other of various means. Typically, the operative mechanism of a stacker employs on the order of 1.5 inches of dead space to effectuate the stacking motion. This is 1.5 inches of space unavailable for receiving and stacking currency and, in systems where space is at a premium, greatly reduces the number of bills that may be accommodated by the stacker. Such a situation increases the frequency of service calls to the currency validator and, accordingly, reduces the efficiency of its operation. 
     It is also known in the art that the physical size of paper currency often varies from country to country and among the various denominations in any particular country. Accordingly, the inlet slot, note path and receiving rails of note acceptors must typically be able to accommodate all widths of notes that might be tendered thereto. In order to accommodate such various widths of notes, the inlet slot of some currency validators is typically justified or registered at one edge thereof, requiring that the currency enter the validator flush with that side or edge. As a consequence, the punch of the associated stacker does not symmetrically engage the note, allowing the note to “walk” across the punch, often resulting in a skewed note being maintained within the stack. The result may often be a denigration of the integrity of the stack which may ultimately jam or otherwise incapacitate further operation of the currency validator. 
     In light of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a compact stacker adapted to receive and stack notes or currency of various widths. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     In view of the above, it is a first aspect of the invention to provide a stacker for currency validators which is of a compact nature. 
     Another aspect of the invention is the provision of a stacker for currency validators which is capable of accommodating notes of various widths. 
     Still a further aspect of the invention is the provision of a stacker for currency validators which employs a stationary “punch.” 
     Yet a further aspect of the invention is the provision of a stacker for currency validators in which note receiving rails move through a stationary “punch.” 
     Yet another aspect of the invention is the provision of a stacker for currency validators in which the stationary punch has an arched or radiused top surface for deflecting notes into the stack. 
     Still a further aspect of the invention is the provision of a stacker for currency validators in which the stationary punch is provided with frictional gripping edges along each side of the arched top surface for engaging and securing the note as it is added to the stack. 
     A still further aspect of the invention is the provision of a stacker for currency validators which is reliable and durable, easy to use, and conducive to manufacture with state of the art elements and techniques. 
     The foregoing and other aspects of the invention which will become apparent as the detailed description proceeds are achieved by a note stacker for a currency validator, comprising: first and second oppositely positioned rails, said rails being spaced apart to define a gap, said rails being reciprocatingly movable together and being adapted to receive a note therebetween; a fixed plate in registration with said gap on a first side of said note when said note is received between said rails; and a movable plate biased toward said rails from a second side of said note when said note is received between said rails. 
     Other aspects of the invention which will become apparent herein are attained by a note stacker for a currency validator, comprising: a fixed housing; a pair of rails having a gap therebetween, said pair of rails being reciprocatingly movable over said fixed housing to alternatingly receive a top portion of said fixed housing within said gap and release said top portion from said gap. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a complete understanding of the objects, techniques and structure of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the note stacker made in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of a portion of the stacker of the invention, showing certain parts thereof removed to effect an appropriate view; 
     FIG. 3 is the illustrative view of FIG. 2, showing the stationary punch and transport wheels present; 
     FIG. 4 is the illustrative view of FIG. 3 with the shutter and transition teeth present; and 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the stacker of the invention with the control housing and both movable rails present. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, it can be seen that a note stacker made in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the numeral  10 . The note stacker  10  is maintained within a housing  12  having a top  14 , base  16 , and sides  18 ,  20 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the housing  12  may be of any suitable nature. Maintained within the housing  12  is a control housing  22  which, as will become apparent later herein, contains motors, drive wheels, gears and the like to effectuate the desired stacking of currency or bills received. 
     The control housing  22  is characterized by an arched or radiused top plate  24 . While the radius of the top plate  24  may vary, it is contemplated to be on the order of 3.5-4.5 inches, and most preferably 4 inches. As will become apparent herein, the arched top plate  24  of the control housing  22  serves as a stationary punch for the note stacker  10 . In that regard, the radius or arch of the plate  24  is such as to maintain the normal curvature of contact with the currency or bills being stacked by the stacker  10  during the stacking operation. Further, to assure that the bills maintain fixed contact with the plate  24  during the stacking operation, and to further assure that they do not walk or slide therefrom, inserts  26  of durable frictional material such as RTV or the like may be positioned longitudinally along the edges of the top plate  24 , as shown. This frictional material engages the note or currency during the stacking operation and, in combination with the arched or curved surface thereof, assures that the note or currency does not walk or slide during the stacking operation. Accordingly, all bills or notes are consistently and uniformly stacked. 
     With continued reference to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the control housing  22  is positioned within a gap  28  defined between vertically movable side rails  30 ,  32 . It is desired that the control housing  22  and top plate  24  be centrally positioned within the movable gap  28  to effectuate the “punching” or stacking of notes as will become apparent later herein. Moreover, it is preferred that the rail  30  have a minor slot  34  extending longitudinally therealong while the rail  32  have a major slot  36  so extending. As shown, the major slot  36  extends into the rail  28  a greater depth than the slot  34  into the rail  30 . As shown, a note or paper currency  38  is received by the slots  34 ,  36  as placed therein by transport rollers to be discussed later herein. The notes  38  are justified against the wall of the slot  34 , with the opposite edge of the note  38  being received within the slot  36 , which is of sufficient depth as to accommodate any width of note intended to be received by the stacker  10 . Accordingly, the resultant stack  40  of notes of various sizes is uniform along the left side of the stack as shown in FIG. 1, but is staggered on the right side, as a result of the various widths of notes received and maintained thereby. A stacking plate  42 , generally of the size of the largest bill to be received by the stacker  10 , is biased by a spring  44  interposed between the top  14  of the housing  12  and the plate  42  to maintain the bill stack  40  against the top surface of the movable rails  30 ,  32 . The biasing by the spring  44  allows for the stack  40  to be maintained as the rails  30 ,  32  move during a stacking operation. 
     With reference now to FIGS. 2-5, it can be seen that the rail  30  is vertically movable upon a track  46  secured to wall  20 . The track  46  may be of any suitable nature. It will also be appreciated that a similar track is provided upon the wall  18  in association with the rail  32  for such vertical movement. The rails  30 ,  32  are provided with support blocks  48 ,  50  (FIGS. 2 and 5) having forward and rearward slots  52  therein for receipt of pins  54  to be driven by drive wheels  56 ,  58  to effect the reciprocating upward and downward movement thereof. The support blocks  48 ,  50  are interconnected by a cross member  60  to maintain appropriate space and unity of operation. Such simultaneous movement of rails  30 ,  32  is further effected by the simultaneous driving of such wheels by a common motor  62  through appropriate fore and aft gear drives  64 . Of course, the motor  66  is preferably a reversible motor, and may be a servo or stepper motor, as desired. 
     As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a second reversible motor  66  is provided with a gear drive  68  to effectuate rotation of transport rollers  70  passing through appropriate slots  74  in arched top plate  24 . As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the transport rollers  70  move a bill or piece of currency authenticated by the validator through the slots  34 ,  36  of the rails  30 ,  32 . The drive or transport rollers  70  may work against idler rollers (not shown) in somewhat common fashion to effectuate the necessary bite to achieve the desired transport. 
     As further shown in FIG. 3 the arched top plate  24  is characterized by formed edges  72  to receive durable frictional material inserts  26 , shown in FIG.  1 . Any suitable material such as RTV or the like may be placed into the machined edge portions  72  for the desired purpose. Further, the front or leading edge of the plate  24  may be characterized by teeth or serrations  76  to assist in defeating “stringing” mechanisms by those who might seek to retrieve their currency once it has been validated and accepted. The teeth or serrations  76  operate in conjunction with a shutter or gate  80  as shown in FIG. 4 to defeat the attachment of any “stringing” type element that might otherwise be attached to the currency being validated. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shutter or gate  80  is connected to and movable with the rails  30 ,  32  at front edges thereof to pass in proximity to the teeth or serrations  76  of the top plate  24  to define any retrieval path across the teeth or serrations  76  during the stacking operation, thus assuring that any stringing mechanism is torn or broken if retrieval is attempted. 
     Also shown in FIG. 4 are teeth or serrations  78  which are provided as a part of the housing  12  to interface with the validator or acceptor with which the stacker  10  is employed. The teeth or serrations  78  mate with corresponding teeth or serrations on the validator or acceptor to assure a smooth transition therebetween. 
     In use, a note or bill is transported from the validating portion of a note acceptor to the stacker  10  and into the slots  34 ,  36  of the side rails  30 ,  32 . The motor  66  operates the transport rollers  70  to position the note so received immediately above the arched top plate  24  of the control housing  22 . The bill is justified against the inside edge of the slot  34 , with the slot  36  accommodating the opposite edge of the bill or note  38 , of whatever acceptable width it might be. Once so received, operation of the motor  66  is terminated and operation of the motor  62  commenced. At this time, the wheels  56 ,  58  rotate such that the associated pins  54  operate within the slots  52  of the rail support blocks  48 ,  50  to move the rails  30 ,  32  and the note stack  40  downwardly such that the gap  28  having the note  38  therein passes over the top plate  24 , with the top plate  24  making contacting engagement with the note  38 . The curvature of the top plate  24  is preferably the natural curvature of the note  28  as it is drawn out of slots  34 ,  36  such that no acute bending or deflection of the note  38  is experienced. The note  38  is held upon the surface of the top plate  24  by the frictional strips  36  presented along the edges thereof. The stroke of rails  30 ,  32  is sufficient for the side edges of the note  38  to be fully extracted from the slots  34 ,  36  and to pass into the stack  40  in a left-justified manner. Once that travel has been made, operation of the motor  62  reverses and the rails return to their static position as generally shown in FIG. 1, awaiting receipt of the next bill. 
     As can be seen, the punch plate  24  is stationary, making no movement whatsoever during the stacking operation. Accordingly significant space savings is realized. The top of the punch may be arched or curved to the normal deflection arch of the paper currency to be stacked, and the slots  34 ,  36  of the moving rails  30 ,  32  are justified to one side (in alignment with a corresponding edge of the inlet slot to the validator) and are adapted to accommodate notes of various widths. The note stacker  10  in the housing  12  may be of a cassette nature such that the entire housing  12  and the components and cash therein may be simply replaced with an empty stacker  10  and housing  12  during routine servicing. Alternatively, the housing  12  may be provided with a door which may be opened such that the stack  40  of currency may be retrieved on site, or the housing  12  may be removable for such purpose. 
     Thus it can be seen that the objects of the invention have been satisfied by the structure presented above. While in accordance with the patent statutes only the best mode and preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented and described in detail, the invention is not limited thereto or thereby. Accordingly, for an appreciation of the true scope and breadth of the invention reference should be made to the following claims.