Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 09/275,970 filed Mar. 25, 1999 and patented on Feb. 13, 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,339 B1. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to devices for accepting of bills and accumulating bills in a manner to allow dispensing of selected bills. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are known validators devices for bills or other paper means of payment which devices store the accepted bills in a removable cassette or process accepted bills for temporary storage and subsequent dispensing. It is desirable to store as many bills as possible in a storage arrangement for subsequent dispensing. The stored bills are all of the same value and are typically wound on a drum in a serial manner. This serial manner accommodates dispensing of bills, one bill at a time. 
     It is desirable to make these devices as adaptable for different currencies as possible. This general adaptation of the device is made more difficult due to different sizes of banknotes from currency to currency and from denomination to denomination. 
     The present invention enables bills of different values and size to be accepted and appropriately processed. The arrangement has the capability of storing for subsequent dispensing, two different banknote denominations. In addition, the device has a stacking cassette for receiving and storing of bills that are not to be subsequently dispensed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A device for validating and accepting paper currency comprises a validator that evaluates selected properties of the paper currency and determines whether the paper currency should be accepted or rejected. The validator rejects the paper currency if it is determined that paper currency is not acceptable. 
     The validator has associated therewith a bill processing junction into which accepted paper currency is fed one bill at a time. The processing junction includes at least three processing paths including first and second paths for accumulating paper currency for later dispensing and a third path for storage of accepted paper currency. The device includes a drive arrangement associated with the processing junction for selectively driving an accepted bill along any of said three paths. 
     According to an aspect of the invention the processing junction longitudinally receives accepted paper currency and the first and second paths for accumulating paper currency cause the paper currency to move in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the accepted paper currency. 
     According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the third path moves the currency in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the accepted currency and stores the currency in a removable stacking arrangement. 
     According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the third dispensing path is located on a side of said processing junction opposite an inlet path to the processing junction. 
     According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the device includes an accumulator and dispensing unit associated with each of the first and second paths and the accumulator and dispensing units have a common dispensing outlet through which accumulated paper currency can be dispensed. 
     According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the common dispensing outlet accumulates bills to be dispensed and dispenses accumulated bills as a stack of bills. 
     According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the processing junction includes a drive arrangement which is movable for driving a received paper currency along any of said three paths. 
     According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the drive arrangement includes drive rollers on either side of a longitudinal center line of the processing junction and the drive rollers are rotatable from a first orientation for moving a bill longitudinally in said junction to a second orientation for moving said bill transversely in said junction along either of said first and second paths. 
     According to yet a further aspect of the invention, each dispensing arrangement serially receives the paper currency and winds said paper currency transversely onto a cylinder drum, and each drum includes flexible separating tapes located either side of a received paper currency with said tape also being wound on said respective drum. 
     According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the tapes are spaced along the length of said respective drum to be non overlapping with adjacent tapes. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing the general components of the device and the possible processing paths for accepted paper currency; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing the paper currency dispensing units and currency separating tapes thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view illustrating various components of the system; 
     FIGS. 3 a,    3   b  and  3   c  are illustrative views of an accumulating and dispensing arrangement; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the separating tapes wound on the drum and in position to receive an accepted banknote therebetween; 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a banknote being received and about to be processed between two tapes; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view showing a drive arrangement for the drive rollers of the device; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing one of the drive roll arrangements; 
     FIG. 8 shows the drive roll arrangements of the processing junction arranged for longitudinal movement of a received banknote; 
     FIG. 9 shows the drive rollers positioned for transverse or lateral movement within the processing junction; and 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of a modified arrangement. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The bill processing device  1  of FIG. 1 includes a validator  2  having an inlet  4  into which a bill  6  is to be inserted. The bill  6  is used in this application as representative of any paper currency, banknote or other form of payment involving the exchange of paper substrates. 
     The validator  2  performs various tests on a received bill and assuming the bill is accepted, it passes the accepted bill  6   a  to the processing junction  10 . The processing junction  10  has a first bill accumulator  20  located to one side of the processing junction and a second bill accumulator  22  located to the opposite side of the processing junction. If the accepted banknote  6   b,  situated in the processing junction  10 , is to be accumulated for later dispensing, it will be moved laterally to either the first accumulator  20  or the second accumulator  22 . Each accumulator typically accumulates bills of the same denomination. For example, accumulator  20  could be dedicated to accumulating $5 bills and accumulator  22  could be dedicated to accumulating $1 bills. Thus, all the bills wound on one of the accumulators will be of the same denomination. The validator has previously determined the denomination of the bill. Depending upon the particular application, the denomination of the bills wound onto each accumulator will be different, although there may be applications where both accumulators store the same denomination. This would provide additional capacity. 
     The processing junction  10  also provides a path for moving of a banknote in the direction of arrow  11  for receipt of the bill  6   c  in the bill storage cassette  30 . These bills are stacked within the banknote cassette and are not available for subsequent dispensing. The processing junction  10 , and in particular the accumulators  20  and  22 , store bills for later dispensing. Accumulated bills are dispensed by driving the accumulators in the opposite direction and allowing dispensing of bills along the path indicated by arrow  14 . Bills to be dispensed are accumulated in a stack and dispensed as a group  41  through a common outlet for stacked bills indicated as  40 . This stack  41  of banknotes can be bills from one accumulator or a mixture of bills from the accumulators  20  and  22 . 
     It should be noted with reference to FIG. 1, that the banknotes are accumulated with their longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder on which they are rolled. This orientation of the banknotes allows more banknotes to be rolled onto the cylinder as each accumulated bill is not rolled in the longitudinal direction. This also has the additional benefit of reducing the extent of the curl which is imparted to the banknote during its storage on the cylinder. The diameter of the accumulator continues to increase as more bills are stored, and there is a size limitation based on the physical size of the device. The lateral winding increases the number of bills that can be stored. The tapes include markings such as a metal band that is detected and used to generate a signal to stop any additional storage of bills on that accumulator. Any further bills are transported to the storage cassette. The lateral storage of a bill on the accumulator reduces the space required to store bills on a given diameter cylinder and is more efficient relative to longitudinal winding of the bills on the same size cylinder. 
     FIG.  2  and FIG. 3 show details of the thin pliable film tapes that are used to separate accumulated bills on the accumulating cylinders  24 . Magnetic recording type tape can be used. These tapes  26  are positioned to contact the back face of the banknote and tapes  28  are positioned to contact the front face of the banknote located between the banknote and the accumulating cylinder  24 . Thus, each banknote is located between tapes  26  and  28 . FIG. 2 also illustrates how the tapes are longitudinally spaced in the length of the received banknote and in the length of the longitudinal axis of the accumulating cylinder. The tapes are offset and non-overlapping and increase the thickness required to store a banknote on the cylinder approximately a single thickness of the tape. With this arrangement, the two tapes ensure that banknotes are separated one from the other and are serially wound and serially dispensed from the accumulator  24 . 
     In the drawing of FIG. 2, tapes  26  are wound onto the spools  27  located on shaft  31 . Tapes  28  are wound onto spools  29  attached to shaft  33 . The tapes of spools  27  and  29  are drawn by the accumulated cylinder as a banknote is wound onto the accumulator cylinder  24 . The power for drawing the tape is provided by the cylinder  24  and the spools provide some rotational resistance such that only sufficient tape is unwound as is necessary. In contrast, during dispensing of a banknote, these spools  27  and  29  are over driven by the drive arrangement generally shown as  35  and include a friction type clutch arrangement to allow for slippage. The overdriving of these spools assures that the tapes are wound onto the spools  27  and  29  and any excess tape is accumulated. Each of the tapes  26  and  28  is physically attached to the accumulator cylinder  24  and guides  37  are spring loaded at the back of the accumulating cylinder  24  to maintain the general alignment of the tapes  26  and  28 . The drive arrangement  35  also causes rotation of the drive wheels generally shown as  39  on shaft  31  and drive wheels  41  on shaft  33 . These are attached to the drive arrangement  35  and rotate with the rotation of the shafts  31  and  33 . 
     The processing junction  10  shown in FIG. 2 also includes repositional drive rollers  50  which are positioned for advancing of a banknote along the longitudinal axis of the processing junction  10 . The drive wheels  50  are opposite the spring loaded contact balls  52  on the opposite side of the processing junction  10 . The repositional drive rollers  50  are rotatable 90 degrees to allow driving of a banknote laterally into the accumulator  20  or the accumulator  22 . The one way finger levers  61  allow feeding of a banknote from the processing junction into the respective accumulator and when the accumulator is rotated in the direction to dispense a stored banknote it causes the banknote to follow a dispensing path  65 . This aspect is more clearly understood from a review of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a slightly different arrangement for accumulating of the tapes  26  and tapes  28 . In this case, the spools  26  and  27  have been relocated and the tapes trained around rollers for the appropriate positioning, either side of a banknote. The tape  28  of the left hand accumulator  20  is associated with the processing junction  10  to receive a banknote and move the banknote past the finger lever  61 . The banknote is driven by the drive wheels  50  and the banknote will have sufficient width to meet the additional drive wheel arrangement represented by rollers  57  and  59 . As can be seen, the tape  28  is between the accumulating cylinder  24  and a banknote and tape  26  is applied to the outside of the banknote. Finger levers  61  are spring loaded and are moved by the banknote to allow the banknote to pass by these levers as it is driven from the processing junction  10  to the accumulating cylinder  24 . 
     When the direction of the accumulating cylinder  24  is reversed, a received and stored banknote on the accumulating cylinder  24  will be unwound from the cylinder and fed between driven wheels  57  and  59 . The tapes on the far side of wheels  57  and  59  separate from the banknote. The banknote is redirected by the curved section  63  of lever  61  to move through the slot  65  to the drive wheel  83  and the idler wheel  85 . Guide  81  directs the driven banknote to the accumulating arrangement  67 . 
     The banknote is fed through the revolving guide  162  which is located between the drive wheel  83  and the separate drive arrangement  69  of the accumulating arrangement  67 . The drive arrangement  69  has two wheels  169  with an endless belt  164  being trained about the wheels. A gap is defined between the plate  163  and the opposed surface of the belt  164 . This slot accumulates banknotes to be dispensed. Plate  163  is forced by spring  166  towards the drive arrangement  69 . Idler wheels  165  and  167  are placed opposite the drive wheels  169  of the drive arrangement  69 . 
     The first banknote  180  shown in FIG. 3 a  has passed the drive wheel  83  and is now being driven by drive wheel  169  and belt  164  into the accumulating arrangement  67 . The trailing part of the banknote is still partially received in the revolving guide  162 . When the back edge of the banknote appears in the middle of the revolving guide  162 , the drive wheel  83  and the drive arrangement  69  stop. The trailing portion of the banknote will still be partially received in the revolving guide  162 . The platform  163  is forced by spring  166  towards the drive arrangement  67 . Idler wheels  165  and  167  are located opposite the drive wheels  169  of the drive arrangement  69 . The advance of the banknote  180  is stopped with the trailing edge of the banknote still partially in the revolving guide  162  as shown in FIG. 3 a.    
     The revolving guide  162  is then rotated 180 degrees. FIG. 3 b  shows the revolving guide  162  partially rotated and the trailing edge of the banknote  180  has been stripped from the guide and is positioned to one side. The guide then assumes the position shown in FIG. 3 c  with the first banknote located in the gap between roller  167  and the revolving guide  162 . The next bill  182  can then be fed into the accumulating arrangement  67  as shown in FIG. 3 c.  The back edge of bill  180  has been pulled out of the way and therefore, bill  182  can slide over the face of bill  180 . Once this second banknote has been received, revolving guide  162  is then rotated to force both of the trailing edges of banknotes  180  and  182  to the one side of the guide. 
     In this way, a series of banknotes can be accumulated between the plate  163  and the belt  164 . It can also be seen that there is a moveable shutter  161  closing the outlet slot  40 . A solenoid  160  allows the shutter to move to a clear position whereby the banknotes can be fed out through the slot  40 . The shutter effectively acts as a stop for all of the banknotes and allows the drive arrangement  69  to bring the next banknote into the accumulating arrangement  67 . Once the required number of banknotes are collected in the accumulated arrangement  67 , solenoid  160  moves the shutter  161  and opens the outlet  40 . The drive arrangement  69  is then activated and feeds the accumulated banknotes out of the accumulating arrangement  67  as a group. 
     Each drive roller  50  of FIG. 3 includes a drive arrangement  100  which have a crank arm  102  connected to a drive link  104  which is driven by crank arm  106  of the drive motor  108 . With this arrangement, the drive rollers  50  are synchronized as they are commonly driven by the drive arrangement. Each of the drive arrangements  100  are also rotatable 90 degrees as generally shown in FIGS. 7,  8  and  9 . A separate link  110  connects the drive arrangements  100  and is attached to the drive arrangements  100  by crank arms  112 . Movement of the link  110  through an appropriate rotation causes the drive wheels  50  to rotate 90 degrees as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. With this arrangement, the drive wheels  50  pivot on the contact balls  52  and a received banknote trapped between these components. Once the drive wheels  50  are rotated 90 degrees, the drive wheels  50  can be rotated in a first direction for accumulation in accumulator  20  and in a second direction for accumulation in accumulator  22 . If the drive wheels are orientated in the direction as indicated in FIG. 3, the received banknote is driven into a stacker  30  located below the processing channel  10 . 
     The link  104  shown in FIG. 7, is attached to the crank arm,  102  which rotates shaft  120 . A gear train  150  causes shaft  122  to rotate with rotation of shaft  120 . Shaft  122  rotates the bevel gear  124  in contact with the bevel gear  126  on shaft  128  of the drive roller  50 . Each drive arrangement  100  can be rotated 90 degrees as indicated by arrow  60  controlled by appropriate movement of the link  110 . This movement causes the drive arrangement  100  to move due to the interaction of the crank  112  with the link  110 . 
     The motor  108 , as shown in FIG. 6 via its crank arm  106  and link  104  additionally rotates drive wheel  115  via the pin connection  117 . Roller  121  moves as indication by arrow  123  from the drive position shown to a non drive position. In the drive position, roller  121  is driven by drive wheel  115  and in turn, drives wheel  125 . Drive wheel  125  is connected by pin  127  to link  110  and causes movement thereof. Wheel  125  basically freely rotates on the shaft  118 . With member  121  in a non drive position, (not in contact with drive wheel  115 ), then link  110  is essentially fixed in position. When wheel  121  is in the drive position, link  110  can be driven to rotate the drive arrangements  100  about their drive shaft  120  and about the bearing generally indicated as  131  in the processing junction  10 . 
     With this arrangement, each of the drive arrangements  100  drive a drive wheel  50  at a common rate and with a common position controlled by drive linkages. These linkages are preferrably a parallelogram type linkage, such that the four drive wheels  50  are driven by the common motor  108 . Synchronization of the drive wheels is maintained due to the common motor and repositioning is easily accomplished for driving of the banknote laterally into the accumulators and subsequently reversed for receiving a banknote in the processing junction or moving a banknote through the junction to a stacking arrangement as described. 
     FIG. 10 shows a modification of a banknote stacker. In this case, three banknote accumulating devices have been mounted on a rotary carousel for selective registration with an inlet  200 . Banknotes to be accumulated are passed through the inlet  200  to the individual accumulators. In this case, there are three accumulators shown and as such, three separate denominations can be accumulated. The accumulating arrangement  67   a  is off to one side and has its own inlet  210 . With this arrangement, the rotary carousel can be rotated for proper association with the inlet  200  or the inlet  210 . With this arrangement, three different denominations can be separately accumulated in the three different accumulators and the dispensing of bills can be the combination of any of the three stored denominations. 
     The validator of FIG. 1 also shows a slot  200  for receiving a bankcard. In this case, the device can obtain bankcard authorization for payment of goods associated with the device, or to receive cash from the device. It can also be appreciated that the validator could accept banknotes and credit the accepted banknotes to the bankcard. 
     Although various-preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Category: 7