Patent ID: 12240721

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a schematic illustration of a device10for handling notes of value. The device10comprises a head module12and a safe module14. The head module12comprises a value note output unit16for the output of notes of value to be dispensed to a user.

Via a transfer opening18, the notes of value are transported from the safe module14into the head module12. The safe module14comprises four value note boxes20to26which serve to store and to transport notes of value.

The notes of value are deposited in the value note boxes20to26in the form of a stack. One of these stacks is exemplarily indicated in the first value note box26. One of the notes of value of this value note stack is exemplarily identified with the reference sign28. In the operating position of the value note boxes20to26shown inFIG.1, the notes of value28are arranged upright on one of their edges in the value note boxes20to26. Each value note box20to26has a non-illustrated opening for the removal of notes of value28. In front of the opening of each value note box20to26, a separating unit30to36is arranged, with the aid of which the notes of value28stored in the value note boxes20to26may be taken from the value note boxes20to26individually and can thus be separated.

As soon as a user initiates a withdrawal operation, notes of value28to be dispensed are taken from the respective value note boxes20to26and, after separation, are fed to a transport path40. A sensor unit42is arranged along the transport path40and detects at least one feature of each note of value28to be dispensed. This feature may be a geometric feature, such as the thickness or the dimension of the note of value28, with the aid of which in particular a double pull-off is detected. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor unit42may detect at least one safety feature of the note of value28, in particular an optical safety feature, preferably an infrared color, a watermark, a safety thread, a serial number, and/or a microprinting. As a result, in particular counterfeit notes of value and/or notes of value of an invalid currency are detected.

The sensor unit42transmits a measuring value of the detected feature to a control unit44which is designed to determine depending on the detected feature whether the note of value28is a first note of value48approved for withdrawal or a second note of value50not approved for withdrawal. The control unit44controls the switch unit46such that the note of value48is fed to the value note output unit16when the note of value is a note of value48approved for withdrawal. If, however, the note of value is a note of value50that is not approved for withdrawal, the control unit44controls the switch unit46such that the note of value50is fed to an intermediate storage52.

If, during a withdrawal operation, notes of value50that are not approved for withdrawal are detected with the aid of the sensor unit42, only a part of the notes of value48removed from the value note boxes20to26is fed to the value note output unit16and the remainder of the notes of value50is fed to the intermediate storage52. In order not to unnecessarily delay the withdrawal operation for the user, replacement notes of value are taken from the value note boxes20to26for the notes of value50that are not approved for withdrawal and, provided that these are approved for withdrawal, they are transported to the value note output unit16. Thus, the desired total amount may be output to the user without interrupting the withdrawal operation. After termination of the withdrawal operation, the notes of value50that are not approved for withdrawal are fed via a further transport path56to a container54, in particular a so-called reject container, which is preferably designed in the form of a further value note box.

Instead of the retract container54, the device10may comprise a reject and retract container. The reject and retract container in particular comprises a first compartment for storing the sorted-out notes of value (so-called rejects) and a second compartment, that is separate from the first compartment, for storing notes of value that have not been removed from the output compartment (so-called retracts). Thus, the rejects and the retracts may be stored separately, as a result whereof note tracking is easier.

In an alternative embodiment, the device10may be designed as a recycling automated teller machine, i.e. as a device10for dispensing and depositing notes of value28. In this embodiment, the sensor unit42also checks the features of the notes of value28which a user feeds via a value note output and input unit of the device10. Notes of value28that are approved for deposit are fed to the value note boxes20to26, notes of value that are not approved for deposit are fed to the intermediate storage52in accordance with the above-described method. In other embodiments, the device10may comprise more or less value note boxes20to26, as well as separate reject and retract containers54.

FIG.2shows a detailed view of the intermediate storage52and a part of the transport path40for notes of value28of the device10. Elements having the same function or the same structure are identified with the same reference signs. After passing through the sensor unit42described in connection withFIG.1, the notes of value48,50are fed to the switch unit46via the transport path40in the direction T1. The illustrated part of the transport path40is formed by two driven belts60,62, which are deflected over two rollers64,68,71,72, each serving as deflecting elements. The rollers68and64are in particular drivable with the aid of a non-illustrated drive unit in the direction T8and in a second direction T5opposite to the direction T8. Driving the rollers68,64in the direction T5causes a transport of the notes of value48,50in the transport direction T1, driving the rollers68,64in the direction T8causes a transport of the notes of value48,50in the transport direction T3. Two press-on rollers70,72are arranged opposite to the belts60,62such that the notes of value48,50are transported between the belts60,62and the press-on rollers70,72. The press-on rollers70,72guarantee that the notes of value48,50are pressed against the belts60,62during the transport along the transport path40in the area of the belts60,62.

The switch unit46comprises a shaft74and a switch body76connected to the shaft74in a rotationally fixed manner. The switch body76comprises a plurality of switch fingers, one of which is exemplarily identified with the reference sign78. When the note of value28fed to the switch unit46is a note of value48that is approved for withdrawal, the control unit44controls the switch unit46into a first switch body position such that the note of value48is transported in the direction T2with the aid of a non-illustrated transport unit and is fed to the value note output unit16. When, on the other hand, the note of value50is not approved for withdrawal, the control unit44controls the switch unit46into a second switch body position such that the note of value50is transported into the direction T1and is fed to the intermediate storage52. The change in the switch body position in particular takes place by the activation of a lifting magnet not illustrated inFIG.2, which magnet is engaged with a shaft74such that given a movement of the armature of the lifting magnet the shaft74is rotated about its own longitudinal axis by a predetermined angle.

When activating the switch unit46into the second switch body position, the control unit44further activates a drive unit90which drives a shaft88via a drive belt120. Two transport rollers80,82and two vane wheels84,86are arranged on the shaft88in a rotationally fixed manner, with the aid of which the note of value50is fed to the intermediate storage52. In the illustration ofFIG.2, one vane85,87each of altogether three vanes of each vane wheel84,86is visible. The vanes85,87in particular project perpendicularly from a hub of the respective vane wheel84,86. Opposite to each transport roller80,82, a non-driven counter pressure roller96,98is arranged. It is guaranteed by the counter pressure rollers96,98that the note of value50is pressed against the transport rollers during the transport with the aid of the transport rollers80,82so that a safe transport of the note of value50into the intermediate storage52and out of the intermediate storage52is possible.

Via a gear arrangement92, the shaft88is engaged with a further shaft94such that when the shaft88is driven, the shaft94rotates as well. Further transport rollers110to116are arranged on the shaft94in a rotationally fixed manner. The drive unit90is in particular designed such that the shaft88and thus also the shaft94may be driven in a direction T6and in a second direction T7, wherein the drive is in the direction T7when feeding the note of value50into the intermediate storage52.

When feeding the notes of value50into the intermediate storage52, the note of value50is guided between the transport rollers80,82and the counter pressure rollers96,98and deposited on a deposit surface100when no note of value50has been stored in the intermediate storage52yet. When, on the other hand, already at least one note of value50is deposited on the deposit surface100with its front or back, the newly fed note of value50is deposited on the note of value50or the notes of value50already deposited on the deposit surface100such that together with these notes of value50it forms a value note stack.

The vanes85,87of the vane wheels84,86are configured to exert a press-on force toward the deposit surface100on the note of value50stored in the intermediate storage52or on the value note stack stored in the intermediate storage52when the vane wheels84,86are rotated in a direction T7. Further, two press-on elements102,104are provided, which are pivotably connected to a cover element130illustrated inFIG.4and exert a press-on force on a note of value50or a value note stack stored in the intermediate storage52with the aid of elastically deformable elements106,108. The press-on elements102,104in particular have the shape of a skid or a lever. The press-on elements102,104are in particular arranged opposite to the transport rollers112,114and contact these when no note of value50is deposited in the intermediate storage52. With the aid of the press-on elements102,104, it is achieved that the notes of value50stored in the intermediate storage52are pressed in deposit direction T4so that subsequent notes of value50may safely slide over an already deposited note of value50or value note stack.

FIG.3shows a view of individual elements of the detailed view ofFIG.2, which are provided for feeding the notes of value50in the direction T1and for removing the note of value50or the value note stack from the intermediate storage52in the direction T3. As soon as the withdrawal operation of the user is terminated, the note of value50or value note stack deposited in the intermediate storage52is transported from the intermediate storage52into the retract container54. For this back transport of the note of value50or the value note stack, the drive unit90is driven such that the shaft88and thus also the shaft94are driven in the direction T6.

The rotation of the shaft88in the direction T6causes that the vanes of the vane wheels84,86, of which the vanes with reference signs81,83,87as well as85,89are visible in the illustration ofFIG.3, lift the note of value50or the value note stack against the press-on force of the press-on elements102,104away from the deposit surface100. At the same time, the notes of value50are transported with the aid of the transport rollers110to116and80,82in the direction T3out of the intermediate storage52, the transport speed or the circumferential speed of the transport rollers80,82being slower than the transport speed or the circumferential speed of the transport rollers110to116.

FIG.4shows a further detailed view of the intermediate storage52and the transport unit40ofFIG.2, which differs from the illustration ofFIG.1in that a cover element130is arranged above the transport path and above the deposit surface100of the intermediate storage52.FIG.4in particular shows the pivotable connections134,136between the press-on elements102,104and the cover element130, as well as the connection of the elastic elements106,108to the cover element130.

In an alternative embodiment, the notes of value50are transported back from the intermediate storage52into the value note boxes20to26so that they are available for further withdrawal. In this embodiment, in front of each separating unit30to36one switch each is arranged, with the aid of which a note of value50to be fed to the value note boxes20to26is directed out of the transport path40and fed to a separating and feeding unit which is arranged in front of that value note box20to26into which the note of value50is to be transported.

FIG.5shows a further detailed view of the intermediate storage52and the transport unit40ofFIG.2, in which the cover element130is pivoted relative to the deposit surface100. The pivoting enables easy access to the intermediate storage52in particular during maintenance work and malfunctions.

FIG.6shows a schematic sectional illustration of the intermediate storage52. In the illustration ofFIG.6, in particular no notes of value50are stored in the intermediate storage52.FIG.7shows a further schematic sectional illustration of the intermediate storage52, wherein in the illustration ofFIG.7a value note stack is stored in the intermediate storage52. When driving the shafts88and94in the direction T7, a further note of value50may be fed to the intermediate storage52. When driven in the direction T6, the value note stack stored in the intermediate storage52is conveyed out of the intermediate storage52according to the method described in connection withFIG.3.

The perspective of view ofFIGS.6and6Ais a first plane normal to a first central longitudinal axis138of the first shaft88and to a second central longitudinal axis140of the second shaft94.FIGS.6and6Ashow the deposit surface100extending from a first edge142, in the direction T1, away from the first central longitudinal axis138, and past the second central longitudinal axis140, to a second edge144at a wall146defined by the deposit element in the first plane.FIGS.6and6Aalso show the cover element130defining a downwardly facing surface148in the first plane extending between a third edge150and a fourth edge152in the direction T1. The downwardly facing surface148confronts the deposit surface100between the first edge142and the second edge144along the direction T1.FIGS.6and6Aalso show the wall146and the deposit surface100and the downwardly facing surface148are three sides of a volume154defined by the intermediate storage52for holding note(s) of value. The vanes81,83,85,87,89pass through the volume154when the first shaft88rotates.

FIGS.6and6Aalso show the downwardly facing surface148and the deposit surface100diverge away from one another in the first plane from the wall146in the direction T3, which is opposite to the direction T1.

FIGS.6and6Aalso show the downwardly facing surface148extends in a second plane normal to the first plane (148is thus an edge inFIGS.6and6A).FIGS.6and6Aalso show the first central longitudinal axis138is closer to the second plane than the second central longitudinal axis140.FIGS.6and6Aalso show the first central longitudinal axis138is further from the wall146than the second central longitudinal axis140.

FIGS.6and6Aalso the second central longitudinal axis140is closer to the wall146than to the first central longitudinal axis138.

FIGS.6and6Aalso show the first central longitudinal axis138and the second central longitudinal axis140are disposed outside of the volume154and, between the first transport roller82and the second transport roller114, only the second transport roller114projects into the volume154.

FIG.3shows the vane wheels84,86each extend a first distance along the first shaft88, defining respective widths of each vane wheel84,86.FIG.3also shows the first transport rollers80,82each extend a second distance along the first shaft88, defining respective widths of each roller80,82.FIG.3also shows adjacent pairs of vane wheel and roller (84-80and86-82) are spaced from one another third distance along the first shaft88that is less than a sum of the first distance and the second distance.

FIG.3also shows the transport rollers80,82are both positioned between the vane wheels84and86along the first shaft88.

FIG.3also shows the press-on element102aligned with the roller114and the press-on element104aligned with the roller112aso that the second note50of value, when positioned in the intermediate storage52, is disposed between the transport roller112aand the press-on element102and also between the roller114and the press-on element104.