Patent Document

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    The disclosure relates to a device for preventing unauthorized removal of currency from a currency handling apparatus. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a security gate mechanism to prevent removal of currency from within a currency handling apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Various machines and devices are known for accepting items of currency in exchange for goods and services. In devices that accept items of currency there is often a validation component for determining the type and validity of the inserted currency, for example a bill validator as known in the art. An example of a bill validator apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,352, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some devices, there is a need to store the accepted currency that has been determined to be valid within the machine for either collection at a later time or for dispensing as part of a subsequent transaction. Storage of accepted currency often takes the form of a cashbox or currency storage container. 
         [0003]    When a machine or device stores currency, there are often concerns with the security and accessibility of the stored currency to prevent theft. Various measures have been developed to minimize theft from such storage areas for example, locks or tamper evident markers. Systems also have been developed to prevent the extraction of an item of currency, for example a bill or banknote, once the machine has issued credit for the inserted bill. 
         [0004]    An example of a system for preventing the extraction of a bill from a bill validation device is disclosed in issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,589. The system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,589 utilizes a rotary type gate to prevent a user from extracting an accepted banknote from a machine using a string attached thereto. Particularly, once the bill validator has accepted the banknote, a user may attempt to extract the accepted banknote using the attached string. However the rotary gate can be actuated so as to block the transportation path and thus prevent extraction of the banknote. 
         [0005]    Another example of a device to prevent the extraction of a banknote from a bill validator using a rotary gate is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,110. The device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,110 utilizes a rotary type gate positioned along the transportation path of a banknote validator. In particular, the disclosed device has a driving device for rotating the rotary gate from a position allowing passage of a banknote there through to at least one position preventing passage of a banknote along the transportation path. Other features of the device disclosed in the foregoing patent include a bill validator with a rotator and driving device of the rotator which can be prevented from being damaged by inertial force of the rotator motor when the rotator is stopped in a position. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Various aspects of the invention are set forth in the claims. 
         [0007]    The disclosure relates to a currency handling apparatus. For the purposes of the disclosure currency includes, but is not limited to, bills, banknotes, security papers, documents, sheets, coins, tokens, certificates or coupons. The currency handling apparatus of the disclosure includes a passageway through which currency travels within the device. In some implementations, the passageway begins at an inlet where currency is inserted into the device, and passes through a validation section to an outlet. In some implementations, the currency handling apparatus includes a validation component, and a currency storage component. The validation component can include sensors for determining the type and validity of an inserted item of currency. 
         [0008]    The validation component can be arranged to sense various features or aspects of an inserted currency item as commonly known in the art, for example reflection and/or transmission of light from a banknote. Other forms of validation techniques known in the art can be used as well. 
         [0009]    The storage component can take the form of a cashbox as commonly known in the arts. In some implementations, the cashbox is a removable container arranged to store a plurality of items of currency (e.g., stacked banknotes) in an enclosure. The storage component can include a stacking mechanism integrated within the storage component for stacking currency therein. However, such a stacking mechanism need not be integrated into the cashbox itself in order to fall within the scope of the disclosure. The stored currency can be arranged within the storage component in a stacked (i.e., a face to face) relationship or in other manners such as in bulk or wound around a storage drum. 
         [0010]    The currency handling device further includes a security gate mechanism operable to prevent unauthorized extraction (or removal) of an inserted currency item from within the device. The security gate includes a rotating gate structure operatively coupled to a drive wheel for actuating the rotary gate. In some implementations, the drive wheel is drivingly coupled to the rotating gate by a driving gear having teeth meshingly engaged with teeth formed on the rotating gate. In other implementations the drive wheel is drivingly engaged with the rotating gate by other driving means, for example a drive wheel, roller or belt. 
         [0011]    The drive wheel is arranged so as to be capable of driving the rotating gate in a first direction (e.g., clockwise) or a second direction (e.g., counterclockwise) or both. In some implementations, the drive wheel is arranged to be coupled to the actuation mechanism of the stacker mechanism. In such an implementation the rotating gate is actuated by the drive wheel when the stacker mechanism is actuated. In other implementations the drive wheel is an independent component and is controlled to perform the necessary functions of the security gate mechanism. 
         [0012]    The rotating gate includes a slit that is aligned with the passageway of the currency handling device when the rotating gate is in an initial position. The slit in the rotating gate is configured so as to be capable of allowing items of currency to travel through the rotating gate when in the initial position. In some implementations, the slit formed in the rotating gate is of certain dimension so that a banknote can pass through; however, other dimensions and configurations can be used as well. 
         [0013]    In some implementations, the security gate mechanism includes a positioning member selectively engagable with the drive wheel for positioning the rotating gate in the initial position. In some implementations the positioning member is slidingly moveable between a blocking position and a non blocking position. The positioning member can be biased in a direction urging contact between the drive wheel and the positioning member. In other implementations the positioning member can be pivotally movable between a blocking position and a non-blocking position. In some implementations, the drive wheel includes an engaging surface for engagement with the positioning member. In some implementations, the engaging surface is a variable cam surface having an abutment surface for engaging the positioning member such that the rotating gate can be positioned in an initial position. 
         [0014]    The security gate mechanism can be configured so as to allow the rotating gate to rotate in a first direction (e.g., clockwise) while the positioning member slidingly moves along a cam type engagement surface. As the security gate mechanism is actuated, the rotating gate continues to rotate in a first direction. In some implementations, the actuation of the security gate can cause the rotating gate to move in a first direction through multiple full rotations or a portion of a full rotation. As the rotating gate rotates in a first direction, the positioning member is displaced between a blocking position and a non-blocking position and back to a blocking position. 
         [0015]    In some implementations, the rotating gate further includes a sensing feature formed on the peripheral edge and operatively engagable with a sensing mechanism. In some implementations, the sensing feature is configured as a recess at a periphery of the rotating gate. In other implementations, the sensing feature is configured as a protrusion at a periphery of the rotating gate. The sensing feature coupled with the sensing mechanism allows for the position of the rotating gate to be measured and or monitored. 
         [0016]    In some implementations, the sensing mechanism includes a sliding member operatively coupled to the rotating gate. The sliding member can include a sensor coupling member (e.g., a prism) operatively coupled to a sensor for sensing the position of the sliding member, and thus sensing whether the rotating gate in the initial position or not. In some implementations, a prism is arranged so as to complete a light path between a source and detector of the sensing mechanism when the rotating gate is in the initial position. Alternatively, the sensing mechanism senses the rotating gate in the initial position when the sensor coupling member blocks the light path between a source and detector of the sensing mechanism. 
         [0017]    Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a currency handling apparatus. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates the interconnection of various components of a currency handling apparatus. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example of the coupling of a validation unit and stacking mechanism according to the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example of the security gate mechanism interconnected with a stacking mechanism in an initial position according to the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  illustrates the stacking mechanism and security gate mechanism, including the sensing system after actuation of the drive wheel in a first direction. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  illustrates the stacking mechanism extended during a stacking motion. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  illustrates the stacking mechanism and security mechanism in an initial position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  illustrates the security mechanism after actuation of drive wheel in a first direction. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  illustrates the security mechanism when the stacking mechanism is in an extended position during a stacking cycle. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  illustrates the positioning member in a non-blocking position. 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  illustrates the security mechanism in a position having the positioning member in a blocking position and indicating the second direction of motion to return the rotating gate to an initial position. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  illustrates an example of a position sensing system when the rotating gate is in its initial position. 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  illustrates further details of the position sensing system of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  illustrates the position sensing system when the rotating gate is in a subsequent position. 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  illustrates the position sensing system when the rotating gate is in yet another position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    As illustrated in the example of  FIGS. 1-3 , a currency handling apparatus  10  includes a validation module  20 , a removable storage unit  30 , passageway  300 , and a chassis  40 . In some implementations validation module  20  is removably coupled to chassis  40 . Validation module  20  can be configured to receive a item of currency  5  at inlet  25  and transport currency item  5  past a sensing component to determine the type and validity of currency item  5 . In some implementations, validation module  20  further includes a transportation mechanism (not shown) for transporting currency item  5  through the validation module. 
         [0034]    In some implementations, storage unit  30  includes a stacking mechanism  50  operatively coupled to a stacking drive assembly  22  of validation module  20 . In other implementations, stacking mechanism  50  is arranged such that it is a separate component from storage unit  30 . Stacking mechanism  50  can be configured, for example, as a plunger type stacking mechanism as is commonly known in the art. Other configurations of stacking mechanism  50  can be used as well. In the illustrated example, stacking mechanism  50  includes actuation assembly  58 , which includes a drive train including a series of gears and which includes plunger extension means  59  including a scissor arrangement pivotally and slidingly coupled to plunger  55 . Actuation assembly  58  includes a stacker coupling gear  52  for meshing engagement with a validator unit coupling gear  28  of stacking drive assembly  22 . 
         [0035]    In the illustrated example, currency storage unit  30  include a pressure plate  39  and biasing spring  38  for storing items of currency in a stacked (e.g., face to face) relationship within a cavity  35  defined by the perimeter of storage unit  30 . Storage unit  30  can be configured for removable coupling to chassis  40  as known in the art. 
         [0036]    Currency handling unit  10  includes a security gate mechanism. As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 3 , the security gate mechanism includes rotating gate  100  with a slit  115  there through, and further includes drive wheel  60  operatively coupled to rotating gate  100 . In some implementations, drive wheel  60  is configured as a toothed gear for meshing engagement with rotating gate  100 . In other implementations, drive wheel  60  is coupled to rotating gate  100  using a belt configuration or through rolling contact. In some implementations, drive wheel  60  is further coupled to actuation assembly  58 . In other implementations, drive wheel  60  is driven and controller by a separate and independent actuator (e.g., a drive motor). Such an implementation allows for the security gate mechanism to be implemented at any position along passageway  300  for a desired application. 
         [0037]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6  and  12 - 15 , the security gate mechanism can include a position sensing system  200  for monitoring and determining the position of rotating gate  100 . In some implementations, rotating gate  100  includes a sensing feature  110  on its periphery. As shown in the illustrated example, position sensing system  200  includes a sliding member  210  operatively coupled to rotating gate  100  by roller  220 . Roller  220  is arranged for rolling contact with a periphery of rotating gate  100  so as to be displaced by sensing feature as rotating gate  100  rotates. In some implementations, the position sensing system  200  is operatively coupled to rotating gate  100  via sliding contact or an electrical flag such as an encoder. 
         [0038]    In the illustrated example, sliding member  210  of sensing system  200  further includes a sensor coupling component  230  for operative coupling with a position sensor  250  of sensing system  200 . In some implementations, sensor coupling component  230  is a portion of a light pipe  260  operatively coupling position sensor  250  with sensor coupling component  230 . Sensor  250  can be arranged to include a source at first end of light pipe  260  and a detector at a second end of light pipe  260  as shown in  FIG. 13 . Sensor coupling component  230  is arranged at a far end of sliding member  210  relative to roller  220  so that a light path is completed between the source and the detector when rotating gate  100  is in an initial position as shown in  FIG. 12 . In other implementations, sensor coupling component  230  and sensor  250  can be arranged to form a Hall effect sensing system. 
         [0039]    In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 7-11 , the security gate mechanism further includes a positioning member  80  for selective engagement with drive wheel  60 . In some configurations, the security gate mechanism further includes a positioning gear  150  operatively coupled between drive wheel  60  and positioning member  80 . Drive wheel  60  can include a compound gear  62  located thereon for meshing engagement with positioning gear  150 . Use of a compound gear  62  for coupling drive wheel  60  and positioning gear  150  is an example to attain a desired gear ratio; however, positioning gear  150  and drive wheel  60  can be coupled through standard meshing engagement of gears. In the illustrated example, positioning gear  150  includes a variable cam surface  155  and positioning gear abutment surface  158  operatively coupled with positioning member  80 . Positioning member  80  includes a cam follower surface  82  and locator abutment surface  86 . The positioning member  80  is biased in a direction towards variable cam surface  155  via biasing spring  85 . In other implementations, positioning member  80  is pivotally configured so as to engage drive wheel  60 . 
         [0040]    The operation of currency handling apparatus  10  and the security gate mechanism is now described. An item of currency  5  is inserted into currency handling apparatus  10  at inlet  25  (see  FIG. 1 ). The transportation mechanism (not shown) of validation module  20  transports currency item  5  past a sensing component (not shown) to determine the type and validity of currency item  5 . Once a determination of validity of currency item  5  is made by validation module  20 , the transportation mechanism of validation module  20  continues to transport currency item  5  along passageway  300 , through slit  115  of rotating gate  100 , and into a position adjacent stacking mechanism  50 . Once currency item  5  is located in a position adjacent stacking mechanism  50 , stacking drive assembly  22  (see  FIG. 3 ) is actuated to stack currency item  5  into storage unit  30  as is described in more detail below. 
         [0041]    Actuation of stacking drive assembly  22  causes validator unit coupling gear  28  to rotate. Rotation of validator coupling gear  28  causes complementary rotation of stacker coupling gear  52  as a result of the meshing engagement between the gears. Stacker coupling gear  52 , through meshing engagement with drive wheel  60 , causes rotation of member  60  in a first rotational direction A. Through meshing engagement of positioning gear  150  with step gear  62  of drive wheel  60 , positioning gear  150  rotates in a direction indicated by X, which is opposite to direction A. 
         [0042]    Prior to actuation of stacker driving assembly  22 , positioning gear  150  and rotating gate  100  are positioned in an initial position as shown in  FIG. 7 . In the initial position, positioning member  80  is positioned in a blocking position whereby positioning gear abutment surface  158  and locator abutment surface  86  are in abutment. As drive wheel  60  begins to rotate in direction A, complementary rotation of positioning gear  150  begins to rotate in direction X thereby moving positioning gear abutment surface  158  and locator abutment surface  86  out of abutment. Additionally, as positioning gear  150  rotates in direction X, positioning member  80  slides along cam surface  155  at cam follower surface  82 . Movement of positioning gear  150  causes cam surface  155  to slide relative to cam follower surface  82 . As a result of the variable radius of positioning gear cam surface  155 , positioning member  80  begins to be displaced linearly relative to the rotational axis of positioning gear  150  and thus begins to move out of a blocking position. Movement of positioning member  80  from a blocking position to a non-blocking position compresses a biasing member  85 . 
         [0043]    In conjunction with the rotation of drive wheel  60 , the meshing engagement of rotating gate  100  with drive wheel  60  causes gate  100  to rotate. Prior to actuation of stacking drive assembly  22 , rotating gate  100  is positioned in an initial position whereby slit  115  is aligned with passageway  300  such that an item of currency can pass there through. As drive wheel  60  causes rotation of rotating gate  100  (see  FIG. 8 ), slit  115  moves from an initial position allowing passage of a currency item, to a position whereby slit  115  is no longer aligned with passageway  300  ( FIG. 9 ). 
         [0044]    In some implementations, drive wheel  60  is meshingly engaged with rotating gate  200  having gear teeth arranged at a far end of the body of rotating gate. In other implementations, as shown in the figures, the gear teeth of rotating gate  100  are arranged within the body of rotating gate  100  in a manner whereby slit  115  bisects the circumference of the toothed pattern of rotating gate  100 . 
         [0045]    Continued actuation of stacking drive assembly  22 , and thus rotation of positioning gear  150 , causes cam surface  155  to continue to slide past and along cam follower surface  82  and further displacing positioning member  80  from a blocking position. Because the security gate mechanism in integrated into stacker mechanism  50  in the illustrated example, rotating gate  100  will continue to rotate in the first direction as plunger  55  cycles through the stacking motion. As plunger  55  approaches the return position, positioning gear abutment surface  158  approaches locator abutment surface  86  as shown in  FIG. 10 . As plunger  55  returns to a home position, positioning member  80  returns to a blocking position as shown in  FIG. 7 . Stacking drive assembly  22  continues to rotate positioning gear  150  in direction X past the initial position allowing positioning member  80  to return to a blocking position. At this point stacking drive assembly  22  is stopped from rotating positioning gear  150  in the first direction X resulting in a separation between positioning gear abutment surface  158  and locator abutment surface  86  as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0046]    To position rotating gate  100  back into the initial position, stacking drive assembly  22  is actuated in a reverse direction resulting in rotation of drive wheel  60  in a second direction B, which is opposite the first direction A. As a result of operating stacking drive assembly  22  in a reverse direction, positioning gear  150 , via meshing engagement with drive wheel  60 , also rotates in a second direction Y, opposite of the first direction X. Rotation of positioning gear  150  in a second direction Y causes positioning gear abutment surface  158  and locator abutment surface  86  to come into abutment at the initial position. Concurrently, due to the meshing engagement of rotating gate  100  with driving gear  60 , rotating gate  100  also rotates in a second direction (i.e., reverse or opposite the first direction). Therefore once abutment between surfaces  158  and  86  is achieved, rotating gate  100  has been returned to an initial position whereby slit  115  is again aligned with passageway  300 . 
         [0047]    The operation of position sensing system  200  is described next. Starting from the initial position with rotating gate  100  aligned with passageway  300 , sliding member  210  and roller  220  are in rolling contact with sensing feature  110  as shown in  FIG. 12 . In implementations in which sensing feature  110  is a protrusion at the periphery of rotating gate  100 , roller  220  and sliding member  210  are displaced linearly relative to the rotation axis of rotating gate  100 . As stacking drive assembly  22  is actuated in a first direction A, rotating gate  100  begins complementary rotation in a first direction. As rotating gate  100  rotates, roller  220  moves along and the surface of sensing feature  110  allowing linear displacement of sliding member  210  in a direction towards the periphery surface of rotating gate  100  (via a sensing biasing member) as shown in  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 . When roller  220  is no longer in contact with sensing feature  110 , sliding member is urged towards rotating gate  100  and held in an extended position by a physical stop (e.g., a travel limit) preventing further movement towards rotating gate. The physical stop prevents roller  220  from contacting the remaining periphery of rotating gate  100  once roller  220  and sensing feature  110  are no longer in contact, as shown in  FIG. 15 . Continued rotation of rotating gate  100  allows roller  220 , and thus sliding member  210 , to remain in an extended position relative to the initial position, until sensing feature  110  again comes into rolling contact with roller  220 . 
         [0048]    When sliding member  210  is in a position contacting sensing feature  110 , sensor coupling component  230  is in a position completing the light path of light pipe  260  such that sensor  250  senses that slit  115  is in a position aligned with passageway  300 . In some implementations, during a full stacking cycle of stacking mechanism  50 , sensing system  200  may sense rotating gate  100  becoming aligned with passageway  300  multiple times. The number of rotations rotating gate  100  moves through depends on specific configurations (e.g., gear train ratios) of actuation assembly  58 . 
         [0049]    In the forgoing implementations, the security gate mechanism has been described as an integrated unit of stacking mechanism  50 . However the security gate mechanism can be configured as a separate unit operatively coupled to passageway  300  at any point to facilitate the prevent of a fraudulent attempt to remove an item of currency from currency handling apparatus  10 . For example security gate mechanism can be configured to be driven by an actuator (not shown) operatively coupled to driving gear  60  and controlled separate from other transportation event and and/or stacking events of currency handling apparatus  10 . An advantage of the disclosed security gate mechanism is that attempts to fraudulently remove a currency item  5  from handling apparatus  10  (e.g., by a string attached thereto) can be prevented by actuating drive gear  60  so as to rotate rotating gate  100  resulting in any string attached to currency item  5  becoming wound around rotating gate  100 . If an attempt to remove a currency item  5  having a string attached thereto occurs, reverse rotation of rotating gate  100  will be prevented by the abutment between positioning member  80  and drive wheel  60  as described herein. 
         [0050]    In the implementations described above, the position sensing system  200 , the security gate mechanism, and the stacking mechanism  50  are actuated simultaneously as a result of the security gate mechanism being integrated and actuated by stacking drive assembly  22 . In other implementations, the security gate mechanism can be actuated and controlled independently of stacking mechanism  50 , stacking drive assembly  22 , or the position sensing system. An example of currency handling apparatus  10  having an independently actuated and controlled security gate mechanism is a stackerless configuration in which currency handling apparatus  10  does not have a currency storage unit  30  for stacking accepted currency. In such an apparatus, the security gate mechanism is integrated into apparatus  10  such that it is arranged along passageway  300 . 
         [0051]    An additional feature of the security gate mechanism is that if a “fishing” element is attached to an item of currency inserted into currency handling apparatus, the presence of the “fishing” element can be recognized when rotating gate  100  rotates. If the “fishing” element is a string attached to the currency item, rotation of rotating gate  100  causes the string to become wound around rotating gate  100 . If the “fishing” element is a more rigid substance (e.g., tape or thin plastic sheet), rotation of rotating gate will impact the “fishing” element and cause the current required to continue rotation of rotating gate  100  will exceed predetermined thresholds (e.g., current draw limits) and thus signal that an element is present in passageway  300 . 
         [0052]    Other implementations are within the scope of the claims.

Technology Category: 3