Patent Description:
In general, an automated teller machine (ATM) is a device that allows a user to make deposit/withdrawal of cash or check, account transfer, and balance inquiries without restriction of time using a cash card or passbook issued by a financial institution, and an unmanned terminal widely used in the financial industry due to its rapid processing.

The automated teller machine includes a deposit/withdrawal unit through which a user inputs or receives medium for deposit and withdrawal, a conveyance path through which mediums deposited and withdrawn through the deposit/withdrawal unit is transferred, and an identification provided on the conveyance path to identify whether there is an abnormality in the medium and a type of banknote, a temporary storage unit for temporarily storing the deposited medium after passing through the identification unit, a reject banknote storage unit in which a medium identified as having an abnormality among withdrawal mediums is stored, and a medium storage unit for performing a reflux function so that the medium is accommodated or withdrawn.

In addition, a gate provided in the conveyance path is generally formed in a blade shape which is installed at a location where the conveyance path is branched to be rotatable about a rotary shaft, so that the medium transferred from any one conveyance path in response to the deposit/withdrawal process is transferred to any one conveyance path among the remaining conveyance paths. The conveyance path is provided with a medium conveyance path switching device configured to switch the conveyance path so that the medium is transferred to multi-directional conveyance paths in accordance with the deposit/withdrawal process.

The conventional medium conveyance path switching device is generally formed in a triangular blade shape which is rotatably installed at a location where three-way conveyance paths are branched, so that the medium transferred from any one conveyance path in response to the deposit/withdrawal process is transferred to any one of the remaining two conveyance paths.

However, since the conventional medium conveyance path switching device requires a relatively large installation space for an actuator for driving the blade, it may be difficult to arrange the parts in a space-intensive manner in the device.

In addition, since the conventional medium conveyance path switching device is limited to the conveyance path branching in three directions, it may not be able to actively cope with the increase in the number of branching directions of the conveyance path due to the diversified cassette arrangement.

<CIT> discloses a conveyance path switching module including a main body and a switching mechanism. The main body has first, second and third conveyance paths. The switching mechanism includes a first switching assembly and a second switching assembly. The first switching assembly and the second switching assembly are pivoted to the main body. By pivotally turning of the first switching assembly and the second switching assembly, the switching mechanism is adapted to be switched to a first state to open the first conveyance path and close the second conveyance path and the third conveyance path, adapted to be switched to a second state to open the second conveyance path and close the first conveyance path and the third conveyance path, and adapted to be switched to a third state to open the third conveyance path and close the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path.

In view of the above, the present disclosure provides an automated teller machine comprising a medium conveyance path switching device, which has a structure that allows medium conveying direction to be accurately and quickly switched when a medium is deposited/withdrawn.

In addition, the present disclosure provides an automated teller machine comprising a medium conveyance path switching device capable of reducing a medium jam phenomenon by variably adjusting thickness of a bending connection part connecting different support pieces.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an automated teller machine comprising a medium conveyance path switching device, said medium conveyance path switching device comprising:
a support unit located at a branch point of a conveyance path at which a conveying direction for a medium converges from three directions; a gate assembly including a plurality of gates to guide the medium to different conveyance paths at the branch point; and a rotation mechanism configured to selectively rotate the plurality of gates, wherein the support unit includes: a first support piece having a first through-hole portion; a second support piece having a second through-hole portion and disposed on one side of the first support piece; a third support piece having a third through-hole portion and disposed on the other side of the first support piece; a first bending connection part pivotably connecting one end of the first support piece and the second support piece; and a second bending connection part pivotably connecting the other end of the first support piece and the third support piece, and wherein the first bending connection part has different thicknesses in a direction connecting the one end of the first support piece and the second support piece, and the second bending connection part has different thicknesses in a direction connecting the other end of the first support piece and the third support piece.

The first bending connection part may include, on an inner surface thereof, a first main convex surface convexly rounded toward an inside direction of the first bending connection part, and a first sub-concave surface concavely recessed with respect to the inner surface of the first bending connection part, the first sub-concave surface continuously extending from the first main convex surface to inner surfaces of the first support piece and the second support piece. The inner surface of the second bending connection part may include, on an inner surface thereof, a second main convex surface convexly rounded toward an inside direction of the second bending connection part, and a second sub-concave surface concavely recessed with respect to the inner surface of the second bending connection part, the second sub-concave surface continuously extending from in the second main convex surface to the inner surface of the first support piece and an inner surface of the third support piece.

The first bending connection part may include, on an inner surface thereof, a first bending concave surface concavely recessed with respect to the inner surface of the first bending connection part and extending continuously to inner surfaces of the first support piece and the second support piece, and the second bending connection part may include, on an inner surface thereof, a second bending concave surface concavely recessed with respect to the inner surface of the second bending connection part and extending continuously to the inner surface of the first support piece and an inner surface of the third support piece.

The plurality of gates may include: a first gate for guiding a conveying direction of the medium from a first conveyance path to a second conveyance path or a third conveyance path in the conveyance path; a second gate for guiding a conveying direction of the medium from the second conveyance path to the first conveyance path or the third conveyance path; and a third gate for guiding a conveying direction of the medium from the third conveyance path to the first conveyance path or the second conveyance path.

At least one of the first bending connection part and the second bending connection part may include a flexible material.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, since three support pieces are connected to each other as one unit through the bending connection part, assemblability of the conveyance path switching device can be improved, and the conveying direction of the medium can be accurately and quickly changed when a medium is deposited/withdrawn.

In addition, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the bending connection part connecting the different support pieces is formed to have a recessed central portion of a thin thickness, and when the bending connection part is folded, the central portion of the bending connection part becomes sharp and both end portions of the bending connection part become smooth, which enables an angle of incidence of the entering medium (paper sheet) to be small.

Further, according to one embodiments of the present disclosure, the bending connection part connecting the different support pieces is formed thin to have a thick central portion and recessed end portions, and the bend at the both end portions of the bending connection part is large such that the central portion is depressed smoothly, which enables to reduce the medium jam phenomenon.

Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, since a multipurpose product can be produced by changing only the thickness of a part, e.g., the bending connection part of the mold, the cost of the mold can be reduced.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure for implementing the spirit of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

However, in describing the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of known configurations or functions may be omitted to clarify the present disclosure.

When an element is referred to as being 'connected' to, 'supported' by, or 'accessed' by another element, it should be understood that the element may be directly connected to, supported by, or accessed by the other element, but that other elements may exist in the middle.

The terms used in the present disclosure are only used for describing specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first and second, may be used for describing various elements, but the corresponding elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used for the purpose of distinguishing one element from another element.

In the present specification, it is to be understood that the terms such as "including" are intended to indicate the existence of the certain features, areas, integers, steps, actions, elements and/or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other certain features, areas, integers, steps, actions, elements and/or combinations thereof may exist or may be added.

Furthermore, in the present disclosure, it is to be noted that expressions, such as the upper side and the lower side, are described based on the illustration of drawings, but may be modified if directions of corresponding objects are changed.

Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of a medium conveyance path switching device of an automated teller machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the automated teller machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a frame/housing <NUM>, a deposit/withdrawal unit <NUM>, a conveyance path <NUM>, a medium conveyance path switching device <NUM>, an identification unit <NUM>, a temporary holding unit <NUM>, and a reflux cassette <NUM>.

The frame/housing <NUM> may provide a storage space for storing mediums. In the present disclosure, the frame/housing <NUM> is not limited to a storage space for the mediums (papers, checks, etc.), and the frame/housing <NUM> may provide an overall appearance of the automated teller machine.

The deposit/withdrawal unit <NUM> may provide a deposit/withdrawal space for inputting or receiving a medium. The deposit/withdrawal unit <NUM> may be provided with a belt, a roller, a motor, and the like for transferring a medium. Since the configurations of the belt, the roller, the motor, and the like are general matters in conveying a medium, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The conveyance path <NUM> may provide a conveyance path of a medium in an inner space of the frame/housing <NUM>. Specifically, the conveyance path <NUM> may provide a conveyance path of a medium that is deposited or withdrawn through the deposit/withdrawal unit <NUM>. For example, the conveyance path <NUM> may guide the medium deposited through the deposit/withdrawal unit <NUM> to the identification unit <NUM>, the temporary holding unit <NUM>, and the reflux cassette <NUM> through the conveyance path, or guide the medium discharged from the reflux cassette <NUM> to the identification unit <NUM> and the deposit/withdrawal unit <NUM> through the conveyance path.

The medium conveyance path switching device <NUM> may be installed on the conveyance path <NUM>. The medium conveyance path switching device <NUM> may branch the conveyance path to guide the moving direction of the medium. A detailed description of the medium conveyance path switching device <NUM> will be described later.

The identification unit <NUM> may be installed on the conveyance path <NUM>. The identification unit <NUM> may identify types of mediums passing through the conveyance path <NUM> and whether there is an abnormality in the mediums. When the deposited mediums are counted, the normal medium identified as a medium having no abnormality by the identification unit <NUM> may be temporarily accommodated in the temporary holding unit <NUM>, and the suspected medium identified as having an abnormality by the identification unit <NUM> may be returned to a customer through the deposit/withdrawal unit <NUM>.

The temporary holding unit <NUM> may provide a storage space for temporarily accommodating the medium identified by the identification unit <NUM>. The temporary holding unit <NUM> may receive the medium identified through the identification unit <NUM> through the conveyance path <NUM>.

The reflux cassette <NUM> may provide a stack space for storing deposited mediums. The reflux cassette <NUM> may discharge the medium stored in the stack space at the time of withdrawal. The reflux cassette <NUM> may include a plurality of cassettes having different sizes depending on the types of banknotes.

The configuration of the automated teller machine described above is illustrated to help understanding of the present embodiment. Accordingly, other components may be added thereto as necessary, and the configuration and structure may be modified and changed as needed.

As shown in <FIG>, the medium conveyance path switching device <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a support unit <NUM>, a gate assembly <NUM>, and a rotation mechanism.

Specifically, the support unit <NUM> is located at a branch point of the conveyance path <NUM> where the conveyance path for the medium converges from three directions. The medium transferred through the conveyance path <NUM> may be supported by guide rollers <NUM> (see <FIG>). In the case of the three-way conveyance path <NUM>, for convenience and understanding of the description, the conveyance path located at the lower side in <FIG> is defined as a first conveyance path <NUM>, the conveyance path located at the left side in <FIG> is defined as a second conveyance path <NUM>, and the conveyance path located at the right side in <FIG> is defined as a third conveyance path <NUM>. The support unit <NUM> may be located at a point where the conveyance path branches to a switching path <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The support unit <NUM> includes a first support piece <NUM>, a second support piece <NUM>, a third support piece <NUM>, may include a fixed shaft <NUM>, and further includes a first bending connection part <NUM>, and a second bending connection part <NUM>.

The first support piece <NUM> is pivotably connected to the second support piece <NUM> and the third support piece <NUM>. In detail, one end of the first support piece <NUM> ispivotably connected to the second support piece <NUM> through the first bending connection part <NUM>, and the other end of the first support piece <NUM> is pivotably connected to the third support piece <NUM> through the second bending connection part <NUM>.

The first bending connection part <NUM> and the second bending connection part <NUM> may be bent without being folded or notched to pivot the second support piece <NUM> and the third support piece <NUM> with respect to the first support piece <NUM>. The first bending connection part <NUM> and the second bending connection part <NUM> may include a flexible material that can be bent without being folded or notched. In addition, the first support piece <NUM>, the second support piece <NUM>, and the third support piece <NUM> may be integrally formed, and the first bending connection part <NUM> and the second bending connection part <NUM> may also be integrally formed with the first support piece <NUM>, the second support piece <NUM>, and the third support piece <NUM>.

Both side walls of the first support piece <NUM> may be in close contact with a side wall of the second support piece <NUM> and a side wall of the third support piece <NUM>. A first through-hole portion 111a may be formed at a lower edge of the first support piece <NUM>. When assembling the support unit <NUM>, the fixed shaft <NUM> may be inserted into and fixed to the first through-hole portion 111a of the first support piece <NUM> in a state where the first support piece <NUM> is in close contact with the second support piece <NUM> and the third support piece <NUM>.

The first support piece <NUM> may include a first one-side shaft groove 111d supporting at least a portion of a second rotary shaft <NUM>, a first other-side shaft groove 111e supporting at least a portion of a third rotary shaft <NUM>, and a first fixed shaft groove 111f supporting at least a portion of the fixed shaft <NUM>.

The second support piece <NUM> may be connected to the first support piece <NUM> through the first bending connection part <NUM> so as to be bendable without being folded or notched. When assembling the support unit <NUM>, the second support piece <NUM> may be folded toward the first support piece <NUM> with respect to the first bending connection part <NUM> and may be in close contact with the sidewall of the first support piece <NUM>.

Both side portions of the second support piece <NUM> may be in close contact with the sidewall of the first support piece <NUM> and the sidewall of the third support piece113. A second through-hole portion 112a may be formed at a side edge portion of the second support piece <NUM>. When assembling the support unit <NUM>, the fixed shaft <NUM> may be inserted into and fixed to the second through-hole portion112a of the second support piece <NUM> in a state where the second support piece <NUM> is in close contact with the first support piece <NUM> and the third support piece <NUM>.

The second support piece <NUM> may include a second one-side shaft groove 112d supporting at least a portion of the second rotary shaft <NUM>, a second other-side shaft groove 112e supporting at least a portion of a first rotary shaft <NUM>, and a second fixed shaft groove 112f supporting at least a portion of the fixed shaft <NUM>.

The third support piece <NUM> may be connected to the first support piece <NUM> through the second bending connection part <NUM> so as to be bendable without being folded or notched. When assembling the support unit <NUM>, the third support piece <NUM> is folded toward the first support piece <NUM> with respect to the second bending connection part <NUM> without being folded or notched and may be in close contact with the sidewall of the first support piece <NUM>.

Both side portions of the third support piece <NUM> may be in close contact with the sidewall of the second support piece <NUM> and the sidewall of the first support piece <NUM>. A third through-hole portion 113a may be formed at a side edge portion of the third support piece <NUM>. When assembling the support unit <NUM>, in a state in which the third support piece <NUM> is in close contact with the first support piece <NUM> and the second support piece <NUM>, a fixed shaft <NUM> may be inserted into and fixed to the third through-hole portion 113a of the third support piece <NUM>.

In addition, the third support piece <NUM> may include a third one-side shaft groove 113d supporting at least a portion of the third rotary shaft <NUM>, a third other-side shaft groove 113e supporting at least a portion of the first rotary shaft <NUM>, and a third fixed shaft groove 113f supporting at least a portion of the fixed shaft <NUM>.

The first support piece <NUM>, the second support piece <NUM>, and the third support piece <NUM> may be disposed symmetrically with respect to the fixed shaft <NUM>.

The fixed shaft <NUM> may be inserted through the first through-hole portion 111a, the second through-hole portion 112a, and the third through-hole portion 113a in a state where the first support piece <NUM>, the second support piece <NUM>, and the third support piece <NUM> are in close contact with each other. The fixed shaft <NUM> may fix the first through-hole portion 111a, the second through-hole portion 112a, and the third through-hole portion 113a to prevent the first support piece <NUM>, the second support piece <NUM>, and the third support piece <NUM> from being separated from each other. The first through-hole portion 111a, the second through-hole portion 112a, and the third through-hole portion 113a may be alternately disposed by a predetermined rule. For example, the first through-hole portion 111a, the second through-hole portion 112a, and the third through-hole portion 113a may be alternately disposed in the order of the first through-hole portion 111a, the second through-hole portion 112a, and the third through-hole portion 113a.

The first bending connection part <NUM> may connect the first support piece <NUM> and the second support piece <NUM> to be bendable without being folded and notched. The first bending connection part <NUM> may include a typical soft material which is bendable at a predetermined angle.

The first bending connection part <NUM> has different thicknesses in a direction connecting one end of the first support piece <NUM> and the second support piece <NUM>. For example, a first main convex surface 115a and a first sub-concave surface 115b may be formed on an inner surface of the first bending connection part <NUM>. The first main convex surface 115a may be positioned at a central portion of the first bending connection part <NUM>, and the first sub-concave surface 115b may be positioned at both end sides of the first bending connection part <NUM> with the first main convex surface 115a interposed therebetween.

The first main convex surface 115a may be rounded convexly at the central portion of the first bending connection part <NUM> toward an inside direction of the first bending connection part <NUM>. The first sub-concave surface 115b may continuously extend from the first main convex surface 115a to the inner surfaces of the first support piece <NUM> and the second support piece <NUM>. The first sub-concave surface 115b may be concavely recessed from both ends of the first main convex surface 115a with respect to the inner surface of the first bending connection part <NUM>.

The second bending connection part <NUM> may connect the first support piece <NUM> and the third support piece <NUM> to be bendable without being folded and notched. The second bending connection part <NUM> may include a typical soft material which is bendable at a predetermined angle without being folded and notched.

The second bending connection part <NUM> has different thicknesses in a direction connecting the other end of the first support piece <NUM> and the third support piece <NUM>. For example, a second main convex surface 116a and a second sub-concave surface 116b may be formed on an inner surface of the second bending connection part <NUM>. The second main convex surface 116a may be positioned at the center of the second bending connection part <NUM>, and the second sub-concave surface 116b may be positioned at both end sides of the second bending connection part <NUM> with the second main convex surface 116a interposed therebetween.

The second main convex surface 116a may be formed to be rounded convexly toward an inside direction of the second bending connection part <NUM>. The second sub-concave surface 116b may extend continuously from the second main convex surface 116a to the inner surfaces of the first support piece <NUM> and the third support piece <NUM>. The second sub-concave surface 116b may be concavely recessed from both ends of the second main convex surface 116a with respect to the inner surface of the second bending connection part <NUM>.

In this way, since each of the first bending connection part <NUM> and the second bending connection part <NUM> has a thick central portion and thin end portions that are concave, bending at both ends of the first bending connection part <NUM> and the second bending connection part <NUM> is made smooth, which can reduce a medium jam phenomenon.

The gate assembly <NUM> may guide the moving direction of the medium transferred in the three-way conveyance path. To this end, the gate assembly <NUM> may include a plurality of gates rotatably installed on the support unit <NUM>. One end of the gate rotates at the point where the conveyance path branches to the switching path <NUM>, and the other end of the gate may selectively open or block the switching path <NUM>.

The gate assembly <NUM> may include a first gate <NUM>, a second gate <NUM>, and a third gate <NUM> respectively positioned at the sides of the first conveyance path <NUM>, the second conveyance path <NUM>, and the third conveyance path <NUM>.

The first gate <NUM> may guide the conveying direction of the medium from the first conveyance path <NUM> to the second conveyance path <NUM> or the third conveyance path <NUM>. The first gate <NUM> may include the first rotary shaft <NUM> rotatably mounted to the support unit <NUM> and a plurality of first gate pieces arranged on one side of the first rotary shaft <NUM> to be spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction thereof. The first rotary shaft <NUM> is a rotary shaft of the first gate <NUM> and may be rotatably installed at a lower side portion of the support unit <NUM>.

The second gate <NUM> may guide the conveying direction of the medium from the second conveyance path <NUM> to the first conveyance path <NUM> or the third conveyance path <NUM>. The second gate <NUM> may include the second rotary shaft <NUM> rotatably mounted to the support unit <NUM> and a plurality of second gate pieces arranged on one side of the second rotary shaft <NUM> to be spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction thereof. The second rotary shaft <NUM> is a rotary shaft of the second gate <NUM> and may be rotatably installed at one side portion of the support unit <NUM>.

The third gate <NUM> may guide the conveying direction of the medium from the third conveyance path <NUM> to the first conveyance path <NUM> or the second conveyance path <NUM>. The third gate <NUM> may include the third rotary shaft <NUM> rotatably mounted to the support unit <NUM> and a plurality of third gate pieces arranged on one side of the third rotary shaft <NUM> to be spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction thereof. The third rotary shaft <NUM> is a rotary shaft of the third gate <NUM> and may be rotatably installed at the other side portion of the support unit <NUM>.

The rotation mechanism may include a driving shaft of an actuator connected to at least one of the first rotary shaft <NUM>, the second rotary shaft <NUM>, and the third rotary shaft <NUM>, and a transmission gear (not shown) for transferring a driving force of the actuator to the other rotary shafts.

For example, in case that the first rotary shaft <NUM> is connected to the driving shaft of the actuator, the second rotary shaft <NUM> and the third rotary shaft <NUM> may be connected to the first rotary shaft <NUM> through the transmission gear (e.g., a drive gear, a driven gear, and the like) to receive the driving force of the actuator through the first rotary shaft <NUM>.

Meanwhile, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in a medium conveyance path switching device <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the first bending connection part <NUM> may include a first bending concave surface 115c, and the second bending connection part <NUM> may include a second bending concave surface 116c.

The first bending concave surface 115c of the first bending connection part <NUM> may be concavely recessed with respect to the inner surface of the first bending connection part <NUM>. The first bending concave surface 115c may extend continuously with the inner surfaces of the first support piece <NUM> and the second support piece <NUM>.

The second bending concave surface 116c of the second bending connection part <NUM> may be concavely recessed with respect to the inner surface of the second bending connection part <NUM>. The second bending concave surface 116c may extend continuously with the inner surfaces of the first support piece <NUM> and the third support piece <NUM>.

In this way, as each of the first bending connection part <NUM> and the second bending connection part <NUM> has a thin central portion, when the first bending connection part <NUM> and the second bending connection part <NUM> are folded, the centers of the first bending connection part <NUM> and the second bending connection part <NUM> may become sharp and both end portions of the first bending connection part <NUM> and the second bending connection part <NUM> may be made smooth, which enables an angle of incidence of the entering medium (paper sheet) to be small.

Hereinafter, an operation of the medium conveyance path switching device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure having the above-described configuration will be described.

As shown in <FIG>, in order to guide the medium transferred from the conveyance path in one direction to the conveyance path in other directions, a plurality of switching paths <NUM> for branch may be provided in the conveyance path. For example, the plurality of switching paths <NUM> may include a first switching path <NUM>, a second switching path <NUM>, and a third switching path <NUM> interconnecting three-way conveyance paths.

The first switching path <NUM> may connect the second conveyance path <NUM> and the third conveyance path <NUM>. The second switching path <NUM> may connect the first conveyance path <NUM> and the third conveyance path <NUM>. The third switching path <NUM> may connect the first conveyance path <NUM> and the second conveyance path <NUM>. In this case, the first conveyance path <NUM> may be branched into the second switching path <NUM> and the third switching path <NUM>. The second conveyance path <NUM> may be branched into the first switching path <NUM> and the third switching path <NUM>. The third conveyance path <NUM> may be branched into the first switching path <NUM> and the second switching path <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, by the operation of the actuator, when the first rotary shaft <NUM> of <FIG> rotates clockwise in <FIG>, the second rotary shaft <NUM> of <FIG> rotates clockwise in <FIG>, and the third rotary shaft <NUM> of <FIG> rotates counterclockwise in <FIG>, the first gate <NUM> rotates clockwise in <FIG>, the second gate <NUM> rotates clockwise in <FIG>, the third gate <NUM> rotates counterclockwise in <FIG>, and the first gate <NUM> and the third gate <NUM> may open the second switching path <NUM>.

Accordingly, the medium moved through the first conveyance path <NUM> is guided to the third conveyance path <NUM> through the second switching path <NUM>, or the medium moved through the third conveyance path <NUM> may be guided to the first conveyance path <NUM> through the second switching path <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, when the first rotary shaft <NUM> of <FIG> rotates counterclockwise in <FIG> by the operation of the actuator, the first gate <NUM> rotates counterclockwise in <FIG>, and the first gate <NUM> and the second gate <NUM> may open the third switching path <NUM>.

Accordingly, the medium moved through the first conveyance path <NUM> is guided to the second conveyance path <NUM> through the third switching path <NUM>, or the medium moved through the second conveyance path <NUM> may be guided to the first conveyance path <NUM> through the third switching path <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, by the operation of the actuator, when the third rotary shaft <NUM> of <FIG> rotates clockwise in <FIG>, and the second rotary shaft <NUM> of <FIG> rotates counterclockwise in <FIG>, the third gate <NUM> is rotated clockwise in <FIG>, the second gate <NUM> rotates counterclockwise in <FIG>, and the second gate <NUM> and the third gate <NUM> may open the first switching path <NUM>.

Accordingly, the medium moved through the second conveyance path <NUM> is guided to the third conveyance path <NUM> through the first switching path <NUM>, or the medium moved through the third conveyance path <NUM> may be guided to the second conveyance path <NUM> through the first switching path <NUM>.

As described above, the conveyance path switching device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure has a structure that accurately and quickly changes the conveying direction of the medium when a medium is deposited/withdrawn, reduces the installation space of the actuator that drives the gate to realize space-intensive component arrangement in the device, increases the branching direction of the conveyance path in response to the diversified arrangement of the medium cassettes, and connects the three support pieces as one unit, which improves the assemblability of the conveyance path switching device.

Claim 1:
An automated teller machine comprising a medium conveyance path switching device (<NUM>), said medium conveyance path switching device (<NUM>), comprising:
a support unit (<NUM>) located at a branch point of a conveyance path at which a conveying direction for a medium converges from three directions;
a gate assembly (<NUM>) including a plurality of gates to guide the medium to different conveyance paths at the branch point; and
a rotation mechanism configured to selectively rotate the plurality of gates, characterized in that the support unit (<NUM>) includes:
a first support piece (<NUM>) having a first through-hole portion (111a);
a second support piece (<NUM>) having a second through-hole portion (112a) and disposed on one side of the first support piece (<NUM>);
a third support piece (<NUM>) having a third through-hole portion and disposed on the other side of the first support piece (<NUM>);
a first bending connection part (<NUM>) pivotably connecting one end of the first support piece (<NUM>) and the second support piece (<NUM>); and
a second bending connection part (<NUM>) pivotably connecting the other end of the first support piece (<NUM>) and the third support piece (<NUM>), and
wherein the first bending connection part (<NUM>) has different thicknesses in a direction connecting the one end of the first support piece (<NUM>) and the second support piece (<NUM>), and the second bending connection part (<NUM>) has different thicknesses in a direction connecting the other end of the first support piece (<NUM>) and the third support piece (<NUM>).