Patent Application
20220398889
This specification relates to a money item handling system and a method of handling money items.
Money item handling equipment is often used to feed money items, such as coins, from an internal storage region to an outlet. There are technical challenges to producing such equipment, for example when the system is required to feed money items of different sizes and/or denominations from a mixed storage region to an outlet in response to demand and without undue delay.
This specification provides a money item handling system, comprising a mixed denomination money item storage region comprising at least one money item outlet routing; at least one money item collection zone arranged to receive mixed denomination money items outlet through the at least one money item outlet routing; at least one money item conveyor arranged to collect money items from the at least one money item collection zone and to convey money items collected from the at least one money item collection zone around a path of the at least one money item conveyor; at least one money item flow control apparatus; and at least one actuator configured to controllably actuate the at least one money item flow control apparatus to selectively control movement of money items from the mixed denomination money item storage region to the at least one money item collection zone.
The specification also provides a method of operating a money item handling system, comprising actuating at least one money item flow control apparatus to feed, from a mixed denomination money item storage region, money items to a collection zone of a money item conveyor via a first money item outlet routing between the mixed denomination money item storage region and the money item conveyor; conveying, on the money item conveyor, a plurality of money items from the collection zone to at least one money item sensor; denominating, at the at least one money item sensor, the plurality of money items; selecting, from the denominated money items on the conveyor, at least one money item for output from the money item conveyor; routing, in a money item outlet zone of the money item conveyor, the selected at least one money item off the money item conveyor.
The specification also provides a money item handling system, comprising a money item storage region; a money item feed in which at least one money item routing is arranged to feed money items out of the money item storage region;
a rotatable apparatus comprising at least one gate element; and at least one actuator configured to controllably rotate the rotatable apparatus between at least first and second flow control positions to control movement of money items from the money item storage region through the at least one money item routing.
The specification also provides a money item handling system, comprising: a first money item conveyor configured to rotate in a first plane; at least one first money item sensor configured to denominate money items on the first conveyor; a second money item conveyor configured to rotate in a second plane different to the first plane; at least one second money item sensor configured to denominate money items on the second conveyor; a money item storage region; and a money item feed in which a first routing feeds money items from the money item storage region to the first money item conveyor and a second routing feeds money items from the money item storage region to the second money item conveyor.
The specification also provides a method of operating a money item handling system, comprising: feeding, from a money item storage region, a first plurality of money items to a first conveyor via a first routing between the money item storage region and the first conveyor, wherein the first money item conveyor is configured to rotate in a first plane; feeding, from the money item storage region, a second plurality of money items to a second conveyor via a second routing between the money item storage region and the second conveyor, wherein the second money item conveyor is configured to rotate in a second plane different from the first plane; conveying the first plurality of money items on the first conveyor to at least one first money item sensor and denominating the first plurality of money items at the at least one first money item sensor to create a first magazine of denominated money items on the first conveyor; conveying the second plurality of money items on the second conveyor to at least one second money item sensor and denominating the second plurality of money items at the at least one second money item sensor to create a second magazine of denominated money items on the second conveyor; selecting, from a combination of the first and second magazines of denominated money items on the first and second conveyors, at least one money item for output; and outputting the selected at least one money item from the money item handling system.
The specification also provides a money item handling system, comprising
a money item storage region; a money item feed in which at least one money item routing is arranged to feed money items out of the money item storage region; a rotatable apparatus, arranged to rotate in a plane of rotation inside the money item storage region, comprising at least one gate element which is selectively alignable with the at least one money item routing; at least one actuator configured to controllably rotate the rotatable apparatus to selectively vary a degree of alignment between the at least one gate element and the at least one money item routing to control movement of money items from the money item storage region through the at least one money item routing.
Example implementations are described below with reference to the accompanying figures.
A money item handling system which is able to output money items, such as coins, in response to demand is described below. Aspects of the system have the capability to respond and output such money items, in accordance with the demand, at a very high rate. The system is also efficient, at least in terms of its use of space, meaning that it can be accommodated in a small space envelope. Aspects of the system also operate to reduce and manage the manner in which mechanical loads are placed on moving elements of the system. This improves system reliability and may also improve the longevity of system components.
As shown in
The looped path of each conveyor 200, 300 has a plurality of zones. For example, referring again to the first conveyor 200 illustrated in
The first, second and third zones 207-209 of the first conveyor 200 described above may be replicated by corresponding first, second and third zones of the second conveyor 300. The zones 207-209 are positioned one after another in a direction of rotation of the looped tracks 201, 301 so that money items moving around the conveyor paths on the tracks 201, 301 are denominated at the sensing zone 208 before reaching the outlet zone 209. This allows the one or more outlet gates 209a-c of the respective conveyors 200, 300 to be selectively opened to route particular known denominations of money item, as denominated at the sensing zone 208, off the tracks 201, 301. Operation of the outlet gates 209a-c is controlled by an electronic computing apparatus 1200 of the money item handling system 100, as described in more detail further below.
The track 201 of the first conveyor 200 is arranged to move around its looped path in a plane of rotation which is different to, and separated from, the plane of rotation of the track 301 of the second conveyor 300. For example, as illustrated in
In the money item handling system 100, the region between the rotation plane of the first conveyor 200 and the rotation plane of the second conveyor 300 may be occupied, at least partially, by the money item storage region 400. For example, as shown in
A money item receiving apparatus 600, such as a bulk coin entry apparatus, may be located at an exterior of the housing 500. The money item receiving apparatus 600 is configured to validate money items fed into the apparatus 600 for authenticity. Money items which are determined to be non-authentic may be directed by the receiving apparatus 600 back to the exterior of the housing 500, via a money item reject path, for collection by a user of the system 100. On the other hand, money items which are determined to be authentic are fed into the system 100.
For example, the receiving apparatus 600 may feed validated money items directly to the money item storage region 400 via a feed routing 602 between the receiving apparatus 600 and an entrance of the storage container 401 mentioned above. The entrance of the money item storage container 401 may be located, for example, at the top of the container 401 so that money items entering the container 401 from the receiving apparatus 600 naturally fall towards the bottom of the container 401 under gravity. The passage of money items towards the bottom of the container 401 may be guided to some extent by a narrowing width of the container 401 towards its base. This is illustrated in
In some implementations of the system 100, it may be possible for authorized personnel to access the feed routing 602 from the exterior of the housing 500 in a manner which bypasses the money item receiving apparatus 600. In such implementations, a hinge or other articulation apparatus may be present on the receiving apparatus 600 to allow the receiving apparatus 600 to be moved, relative to the housing 500, in order to reveal the feed routing 602 and allow money items to be deposited directly into it from the exterior of the housing 500. This direct access may be useful, for example, for the purposes of bulk-filling the storage region 400 with money items as part of a general service or maintenance operation by authorized personnel. Such authorized personnel may be in possession of keys to one or more locks which otherwise prevent movement of the money item receiving apparatus 600 relative to the housing 500.
In addition or as an alternative to the above, the money item receiving apparatus 600 may be configured to feed money items directly to the collection zones 207 of the first and/or second conveyors 201, 202 via further feed routings 603 between the receiving apparatus 600 and the respective collection zones 207. These further routings allow money items to be selectively sent straight to one or both of the conveyor collection zones without first passing through the money item storage region 400. An outlet of such a further feed routing 603 between the receiving apparatus 600 and the collection zone 207 of the first conveyor 201 is illustrated in
A record of validated money items deposited in the system 100 via the money item receiving apparatus 600 may be maintained by the computing apparatus 1200, discussed further below, based on data received from the receiving apparatus 600. In implementations where the money item receiving apparatus 600 is not configured to validate incoming money items, validation of money items may be performed on the conveyor(s) 200, 300 as mentioned above.
As mentioned above, the money item handling system 100 is configured to feed money items from the money item storage region 400 to the track 201 of the first conveyor 200. In some implementations, the money item handling system 100 is also configured to feed money items from the money item storage region 400 to the track 301 of the second conveyor 300. In order to facilitate this, the system 100 comprises a first routing from the storage region 400 to the first conveyor 200 and may comprise a second routing from the storage region 400 to the second conveyor 300. An example of such a first routing 700 is illustrated in
A corresponding arrangement to that described above with respect to the first routing 700 may be provided also for the second routing. In particular, the second routing may comprise a second outlet aperture in a second side wall of the money item storage/feed container 401. The second side wall is on the opposite side of the storage/feed container to the first side wall 401a. The second outlet aperture is adjacent to the second conveyor 300 so that money items which move out of the storage region 400 through the second outlet aperture may be transported away on the track 301 of the second conveyor 300. In particular, the outlet aperture of the second routing is located adjacent to the money item collection zone of the second conveyor 300, so that money items which move through the second routing can be collected by the track 301, e.g. by pick-up regions of the articulated conveying elements 302, as the track 301 is driven through the collection zone. As described above with respect to the first routing 700, if multiple money items move through the second routing they may pool in the collection zone of the second conveyor 300 before being carried away, one by one, on the moving track 301.
Movement of money items from the storage region 400 to the first and second conveyors 200, 300 may be controlled by a money item flow control apparatus of the system 100. The money item flow control apparatus may be actuatable to selectively start, stop and/or vary the flow of money items to the first conveyor 200 and/or the second conveyor 300. As discussed in more detail below, a powered actuator may be provided in the system to facilitate movement of the flow control apparatus, as required, in order to selectively cause money items from the storage region 400 to flow to the first and/or second conveyors. For example, movement of money items through the first and second routings towards the first and second conveyors 200, 300 may be controlled by individual gate elements located at the first and second routings. In particular, flow of money items from the storage region 400 through the first routing may be selectively permitted by actuation of a first gate element, whereas flow of money items from the storage region 400 through the second routing may be selectively permitted by actuation of a second gate element. Examples of this are described below, again using the first routing 700 as an illustrative example. In general, the money item flow control apparatus is discussed in the remaining description principally in the context of individual gate elements although, as mentioned below, other implementations are also possible.
An example first gate element 800, which is selectively moveable relative to the first routing 700 to selectively open and close the first routing 700, is illustrated in
The plurality of positions for the gate element 800 may be selectively adopted to increase or decrease a rate of flow of money items through the first routing 700. In a first flow control position, the gate element 800 is positioned relative to the routing 700 so as to fully block the routing 700 and thereby prevent money items from moving past the gate element 800 towards the conveyor 200. In second, intermediate, flow control positions, the gate element 800 partially blocks the routing 700 but allows a restricted flow of money items past the gate element 800 towards the conveyor 200. In a third flow control position, the gate element 800 does not block the routing 700 and thereby allows a full flow of money items past the gate element 800 towards the conveyor 200.
An example of the first flow control position of the gate element 800 is illustrated in
The rotatable apparatus 1000 can be rotated relative to the container 401 of the storage region 400 so as to adjust the position of the gate element 800 relative to the first routing 700. As shown in
An example of a second, intermediate flow control position of the gate element 800 is illustrated in
An example of the third flow control position of the gate element 800 is illustrated in
A corresponding arrangement to that described above with respect to the first gate element 800 and first routing 700 may also be provided for the second routing. In particular, as briefly mentioned above, the money item handling system 100 may also comprise a second gate element 1100 which is selectively moveable relative to the second routing to control and/or vary the rate of flow of money items from the money item storage region 400 to the second conveyor 300.
In a similar manner to the first gate element discussed above with respect to
Movement of the second gate element 1100 relative to the second routing may be caused by the same one or more actuators 900 mentioned above with respect to the first gate element 800. Alternatively, one or more different actuators may be used if, for example, the second gate element 1100 is implemented on a separate wheel to the first gate element 800. Movement of the second gate element 1100 may be controllably and selectively actuated to each of the plurality of possible flow control positions discussed above for the first gate element 800 (but relative to the second routing rather than the first routing). In a corresponding fashion to the first gate element 800, the plurality of possible positions for the second gate element 1100 may be selectively adopted to increase or decrease a rate of flow of money items through the second routing to the second conveyor 300.
The outlet aperture of the second routing may correspond in position, shape and size to the outlet aperture 701 of the first routing 700, e.g. in the second sidewall 401b referred to above. Alternatively, the outlet aperture of the second routing may have a different shape and/or size to the outlet aperture 701 of the first routing 700. In this latter configuration, the different outlet apertures may be specifically optimised for the passage of different sizes and/or denominations of money item from the storage region 400 to the first and second conveyors 200, 300, respectively. This may be particularly effective in implementations of the system 100 in which the different outlet apertures are fed by different, e.g. partitioned, areas of the money item storage region 400 containing differently sized/shaped denominations of money item.
In addition to the circumferential wall region 1003, the wheel 1001 may further comprise a first side wall region 1004 on a first side of the wheel 1001 and a second side wall region 1005 on a second side of the wheel 1001. The first and second side wall regions 1004, 1005 shown in
The distance to which the side wall regions 1004, 1005 extend radially (or, in other words, the height of the wall regions 1004, 1005) varies around the circumference of the wheel 1001 and, as discussed further below, there may be areas of the circumference of the wheel 1001 in which the side wall regions 1004, 1005 are not present.
The presence/absence (or variation in the height) of the side wall regions 1004, 1005 is one manner in which the gate elements 800, 1100 at the first and second routings may be implemented. Movement of the wheel 1001 relative to the first and second routings causes sections of the side wall regions 1004, 1005 to become aligned/misaligned with the first and second routings as the wheel 1001 turns in the storage region 400, thereby closing/opening the routings as shown in
Referring to
On the other hand, when the central section of the first side wall region 1004 is not fully aligned with the outlet aperture 701 of the first routing 700, the outlet aperture 701 is not completely blocked. For example, in the first and second end sections of the side wall region 1004, the reducing height of the side wall region 1004 means that, when the first or second end sections of the side wall region 1004 are aligned with the outlet aperture 701, the outlet aperture 701 is only partially blocked. This is an example of the second flow control position of the gate element 800 shown in
In the remaining section of the circumference of the wheel 1001, i.e. between the first and second end sections of the side wall region 1004 but opposite the central section, the side wall region 1004 is not present or has a height which is too low to prevent money items from sliding over it through the outlet aperture 701. Therefore, when this remaining section of the wheel 1001 is fully aligned with the outlet aperture 701 (and the central and end sections of the side wall region 1004 are fully misaligned with outlet aperture 701), the outlet aperture 701 is not blocked at all. This is the third flow control position of the gate element 800 shown, for example, in
As illustrated by
The angled nature of the end sections of the gate elements 800, 1100, i.e. at the ends of the first and second side wall regions 1004, 1005, helps to prevent money items from becoming trapped in the outlet apertures of the first and second routings as the first and second gate elements 800, 1100 move from open to closed positions. In particular, the angle produced by the reducing height of the gate elements 800, 1100 in the end sections of the first and second side wall regions 1004, 1005 helps to lift money items out of the outlet apertures as the gate elements close.
It should be noted that the first gate element 800 and the second gate element 1100 are not necessarily aligned on the circumference of the wheel 1001. An example of this is shown in
Referring again to
As shown in
Upon start-up of the system 100, for example following bulk-loading of money items into the storage region 400, the rotatable apparatus 1000 may be rotated to a position in which one or both of the first and second routings are fully open for an extended period of time. During this time, the first and/or second conveyor tracks 201, 301 may be rotated continuously to collect money items from the collection zone(s) adjacent to the open routing(s). At the outlet zone(s) 209, all money items on the track(s) 201, 301 may be directed off the track(s) 201, 301 and back into the storage region 400. This process mixes money items inside the storage region 400 so as to improve the even distribution of different types and/or values of money items throughout the storage region 400. This mixing of money items can be especially helpful when a service person has bulk-loaded money items into the storage region 400 one denomination after another. The degree of layering of money items within the storage region 400 that can result from this bulk-loading process can be alleviated by the presence of the stirring elements 1015 of the rotatable apparatus 1000, which mix the money items and cause redistribution within the storage region 400.
As an alternative to the rotatable apparatus(es) described above, the first and/or second gate elements of the system 100 may be implemented in other manners (e.g. without the rotatable apparatus(es)). For example, either or both of the first and second gate elements may be implemented as a separate sliding door which is independently actuatable back and forth, across the respective first/second routing, to selectively adopt the different flow control positions discussed above (including configurations 1)-6)). Such sliding doors may be angled at their ends in the manner described above with respect to the first and second side wall regions 1004, 1005 so as to help prevent money items from becoming trapped in the outlet apertures of the first and second routings.
A further example of the flow control apparatus is described below with respect to
An example of the first gate element 2000 is illustrated in
As shown in
In order to control movement of money items to the first conveyor 200, the money item accommodating region of the gate element 2000 is configured to selectively change orientation. An example of this is illustrated in
Therefore, actuation of the gate element 2000 between the first flow control position and the second flow control position causes money items inside the cup 2001 to be tipped out of the cup 2001 and onto the conveyor 207. As will be explained in more detail below, each time the gate element 2000 is moved between the first and second flow control positions, the volume of money items which are transferred to the collection zone 207 of the conveyor 200 may be approximately the same. In other words, each time the cup 2001 is tipped under the control of the computing apparatus 1200, approximately the same volume of money items is deposited into the collection zone 207 of the conveyor 200. The number of money items which transfer from the cup 2001 to the collection zone 207 of the conveyor 200 may be related to a number of factors, such as the size and type of the money items, the capacity of the cup 2001, the degree to which money items flow into the cup 2001 in the first flow control position, and the frequency with which the gate element 2000 moves from the first control position to the second control position and back again.
In
As shown in
As outlined above, the gate element 2000 is operable to selectively adopt first and second flow control positions. Examples of the gate element 2000 in these first and second flow control positions are further illustrated in
In the first flow control position of the gate element 2000, shown in
The gate element 2000 also comprises an inner retaining wall 2005. In contrast to the outer retaining wall 2002, the principal function of which is to retain money items inside the cup 2001 in the first flow control position of the gate element 2000, the inner retaining wall 2005 is configured to prevent money items from moving from the storage region 400 into the cup 2001. In particular, the inner retaining wall 2005 is configured to prevent money items from moving into the cup 2001 when the gate element 2000 is in the second flow control position. When the gate element 2000 is in the first flow control position, on the other hand, the inner retaining wall 2005 does not prevent money items from moving into the cup 2001. Instead, in the first flow control position, money items flow into the cup 2001 from the storage region 400.
This functionality is achieved by movement of the inner retaining wall 2005, relative to the outlet aperture 701 of the storage region 400, to selectively block and unblock the aperture 701 by alignment and non-alignment of the inner wall 2005 with the bottom of the outlet aperture 701. As illustrated in
As can be seen from the figures, at the base of the cup 2001 the inner retaining wall 2005 is not present (or has minimal height). As such, in this portion of the cup 2001, there is no physical barrier between the outlet aperture 701 of the storage region 400 and the accommodating region of the cup 2001. In the first flow control position, when the cup 2001 is in an upright orientation, money items may therefore move freely through the bottom of the aperture 701 and into the cup 2001. However, in the outlet region 2004 of the cup 2001, the inner retaining wall 2005 is present and forms a physical barrier between the between the outlet aperture 701 and the accommodating region of the cup 2001. In the second flow control position, when the cup 2001 is in a non-upright, tilted orientation, this region of the inner retaining wall 2005 is aligned with the bottom of the outlet aperture 701 and thus prevents money items from flowing through the bottom of the aperture 701 and into the cup 2001.
The inner retaining wall 2005 is illustrated in the figures as extending radially inwardly in the direction of the centre of the gate element 2000. However, it is not necessary for either of the outer or inner retaining walls 2005, 2003 to form an exact right-angle with the part circumferential wall 2003. For example, the walls 2002, 2003, 2005 may instead, together, form a concave inner surface on which the inner and/or outer retaining walls 2005, 2002 join the part circumferential wall 2003.
As illustrated in
As mentioned above, the part circumferential wall 2003 may end at a point which is flush with the top of the outer retaining wall 2002, thereby forming an outlet region 2004 of the cup 2001. An example of the outlet region 2004 is well illustrated in
The gate element 2000 is therefore configured, when in the first flow control position, to allow money items to flow into the cup 2001 from the money item storage region 400 but to prevent money items in the cup 2001 from reaching the collection zone 207 of the conveyor 200. In the second flow control position, the opposite is true. In the second position, the gate element is configured to transfer money items out of the cup 2001 into the collection zone 207 of the conveyor, but to prevent further money items from entering the cup 2001 from the storage region 400. In the first position, the cup 2001 is filled with money items whereas in the second position the cup 2001 is emptied of money items. If the gate element 2000 is repeatedly actuated between the first position and the second position, the cup 2001 may be repeatedly filled with batches of money items which are then emptied into the conveyor collection zone 207. As part of this process, the flow of money items both into and out of the cup 2001 is controlled by actuation of the gate element 2000 between different positions.
The first flow control position of the gate element is further illustrated in
Whilst other money item hoppers are often designed to specifically avoid ‘bridging’ effects in masses of money items, such as coins, so as to prevent disruptions in the flow of money items through the hopper, the equipment described and illustrated here may be configured to specifically create the temporary ‘bridging’ effect described above in order to control the flow of money items to the cup 2001 when the gate element 2000 is in the second flow control position. Movement of the gate element 2000 back to the first flow control position, e.g. as illustrated in
As mentioned above, the inner retaining wall 2005 may have a helical shape. The helical shape of the inner retaining wall 2005 has the effect that, as the gate element 2000 moves from the first flow control position to the second flow control position discussed above and shown, respectively, in
Correspondingly, as the gate element 2000 moves from the second flow control position to the first flow control position, the inner retaining wall 2005 may squeeze the money items inside the storage region 400 as it retracts across the lower part of the outlet aperture 701. In particular, the inner retaining wall 2005 may squeeze against the money items which moved into the volume of space opened out behind the inner retaining wall 2005 as it previously moved from the first flow control position to the second flow control position. This act of squeezing the money items inside the storage region 400 in the final moments before the retaining wall 2005 is fully withdrawn from the lower part of the outlet aperture 701 (
The helical shape of the inner retaining wall 2005 may be associated with the varying height of the part circumferential wall 2003, as best shown in
The inner retaining wall 2005, and its effects outlined above, is one way in which the flow control apparatus may be configured to dispense an approximately equal volume of money items each time it is moved to the second flow control position. This consistent metering of money items onto the conveyor 200 may be advantageous at least because it may reduce the likelihood of money items building up and overloading the conveyor 200 in the collection region 207. Furthermore, it may allow for smoother running of the conveyor 200.
As best shown in
As has been explained above, the equipment described here and illustrated in the figures may be configured to specifically create a temporary ‘bridging’ effect when the gate element 2000 is in the second flow control position. The creation of this effect may be assisted by the narrower part of the cup 2001, on the opposite side of the cup 2001 to the outlet region 2004, by optimising the location at which the temporary bridging effect is created in the mass of money items. In particular, the narrower part of the cup 2001 may encourage the bridging effect to occur inside the storage region 400, close to the aperture 701, rather than inside the cup 2001 itself.
This optimisation of the temporary bridging effect is best described with reference to
A further effect of the step 2006 in the outer retaining wall 2002 is to produce an abrupt transition (rather than a more gradual transition) between the narrower and wider parts of the cup 2001. This abrupt transition has the benefit of creating the wider part of the cup 2001 while at the same time ensuring that the temporary bridging effect is encouraged, by the narrower part of the cup 2001, to occur inside the storage region 400, as discussed above. As the gate element 2000 is actuated from the first flow control position to the second flow control position, passage of money items across the step 2006 from the narrower part of the cup 2001 causes the money items to move suddenly to a much less constrained part of the cup 2001 and, as such, flow more freely out of the cup 2001 and onto the conveyor below.
As mentioned above, a corresponding arrangement to that described above with respect to the first gate element 2000 and first routing 700 may also be provided for the second handling system 100 may also comprise a second gate element which is selectively moveable relative to the second routing to control and/or vary the rate of flow of money items from the money item storage region 400 to the second conveyor 300. The outlet aperture of the second routing may correspond in position, shape and size to the outlet aperture 701 of the first routing 700, e.g. in the second sidewall 401b referred to above. Alternatively, the outlet aperture of the second routing may have a different shape and/or size to the outlet aperture 701 of the first routing 700.
Further illustrations of aspects of the flow control apparatus discussed above are present in
The flow control apparatus discussed with respect to
Correspondingly, the second guide surface 403 extends downwards at an angle from the central region of the base of the money item storage container 401 towards the outlet aperture in the second side wall 401b of the container 401. Money items on the second guide surface 403 naturally slide down the second guide surface 403, under gravity, towards the outlet aperture of the second routing and thereafter into the collection zone of the second conveyor 300. The angles of the first and second guide surfaces 402, 403 may be opposite (or substantially opposite) to one another. As illustrated in
As an alternative to forming part of the base of the storage container 401 shown in
The money item handling system 100 may comprise a money item supply apparatus 1500 which is separate to the first and second conveyors 200, 300 discussed above. The separate money item supply apparatus 1500 is configured to retain a plurality of money items, such as coins, in a manner which permits the apparatus 1500 to very rapidly dispense the money items to another region of system 100. The money item supply apparatus 1500 may be configured, for example, to dispense money items to a payout cup or other money item collection region at the exterior of the system housing 500.
The supply apparatus 1500 may be equipped to store individual denominations of money items in a manner which makes the individual denominations rapidly dispensable, without any hunting operation, in response to demand. In particular, the supply apparatus 1500 may be arranged to store a plurality of different denominations of money items, simultaneously, in a manner which makes each of the different denominations selectively dispensable, separately from other denominations present in the supply apparatus 1500.
The money item supply apparatus 1500 is located inside the housing 500 of the system 100. The specific location of the supply apparatus 1500 within the housing 500 may be chosen so as to be particularly efficient in terms of its use of space within the housing 500, thereby contributing towards the housing 500 and system 100 as a whole being relatively small in size. As mentioned above, a small overall system size may be advantageous—for example when packaging the system 100 in a small space envelope inside a larger overall machine.
The money item supply apparatus 1500 may receive money items from either of the first and second money item conveyors 200, 300 described above. In particular, for either or both of the conveyors 200, 300, money items which have been conveyed from the collection zone 207 and denominated in the sensing zone 208 may be selectively directed off the track 201, 301, in the outlet zone 209 (e.g. via outlet gate 209b), and into the money item supply apparatus 1500. In the money item supply apparatus 1500, money items received from the conveyor track(s) 201, 301 are stored in one of a plurality of single-denomination storage regions 1502 so as to make individual denominations of money items rapidly dispensable, from the respective storage regions 1502, in response to demand.
The supply apparatus 1500 may comprise at least one storage region 1502 for each denomination of money item used in the system 100. For example, money items of a first denomination may be automatically sorted into, and stored in, a first storage region 1502a of the supply apparatus 1500, whilst money items of second to fourth denominations may be correspondingly sorted into, and stored in, second to fourth storage regions 1502b-d of the supply apparatus 1500. An alternative implementation is for each individual money item to be sorted into, and stored in, an individual money item storage region 1502. For example, the money item supply apparatus 1500 may comprise a plurality of slots or other compartments in which individual money items such as individual coins are accommodated on a one money item per compartment basis.
In response to a demand for particular denominations of the money item, for example as part of payout operation, the supply apparatus 1500 can be instructed by the computing apparatus 1200 of the system 100 to immediately eject or otherwise release the particular denominations of money item that are required to make up the amount of the payout. In this way, the supply apparatus 1500 contributes to ensuring that there is no delay in paying-out money items, as required, in response to a demand. The supply apparatus 1500 may be considered as a pre-discriminated buffer zone between the multi-denomination storage region 400, in which different denominations of money items may be mixed in a chamber, and the payout cup or other money item collection region at the exterior of the system housing 500.
The supply of money items from the conveyor(s) 200, 300 to the money item supply apparatus 1500, via the outlet zone(s) 209, may be managed under the control of the computing apparatus 1200 of the system 100. The computing apparatus 1200 may, for example, selectively open and close one or more outlet gates 209b of the conveyor(s) 200, 300 so as to route particular denominated money items from the track(s) 201, 301 to the money item supply apparatus 1500 whilst not doing so for others of the denominated money items on the track(s) 201, 301. In selecting which money items to route to the supply apparatus 1500 from the conveyor(s) 200, 300, the computing apparatus 1200 may seek to ensure that the plurality of money item storage regions 1502 of the supply apparatus 1500 are filled with appropriate money items. For example, if the supply apparatus 1500 has recently been used to dispense money items of particular denomination(s) to a payout/collection region of the system 100, the computing apparatus 1200 may route replacement money items, of the same denomination(s), into the supply apparatus 1500 upon such denominations of money item being denominated in the sensing region(s) 208 of the conveyor track(s) 201, 301.
An example of the money item supply apparatus 1500 is illustrated in
A more detailed explanation of the money item canister 101 is set out below. It should be appreciated, however, that the money item canister 101 is explained here only as an example implementation of the money item supply apparatus 1500. The functionality of the money item canister 101 described below applies generally to other possible implementations of the money item supply apparatus 1500, such as those in which individual money items are sorted into, and stored in, individual money item storage regions 1502 on a one-to-one basis.
Referring to
For example, the cylindrical body 103 of the money item canister 101 may rotate with the rotatable shaft 106 about the bored center 104 in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction. As the cylindrical body 103 rotates, a position of each tube 102 of the plurality of tubes 102 changes with respect to the static bottom 108 of the canister 101. Thus, a tube 102 may be moved into position to allow money items to be dispensed from the tube 102. For example, a rotation of the cylindrical body 103 of the canister 101 may move a tube 102 into position with a hopping disc 318 and/or out of position with the hopping disc 318.
The canister 101 includes one or more money item releasers, in the form of ejectors 202, disposed underneath the tubes 102. The ejectors 202 selectively release money items from the canister 101 by rotating and pushing a bottom money item in a tube 102 out of the tube 102 and out of the canister 101. In certain embodiments, a single tube 102 may be paired with an ejector 202 such that the single tube 102 rotates with and is disposed over the ejector 202. For example, an ejector 202 may be able to eject a money item from only a single tube 102 associated with the ejector 202 by rotating and pushing a bottom money item out of the tube 102 when the single tube is positioned above a payout position (e.g., positioned with a hopping disc 318). In certain embodiments, the ejectors 202 may have paths 207 to rotate in the canister base 107. The paths 207 may be created by cavities in the canister base 107. For example, the canister base 107 may have at least two sections, such as a first section 107a and a second section 107b. The first section 107a may be a horizontal section that supports money items retained in each of the tubes 102. The second section 107b may be an angled section that provides a path for ejected money items to move from the tubes 102 for payout.
The tubes 102 may be paired such that two tubes 102 are disposed over and rotate with an associated ejector 202 that is able to eject from either one of the two associated tubes 102 depending on which of the two associated tubes 102 is above a payout position. For example, as illustrated in
In the further discussion below, the canister 101 is described in the context of a coin canister and the money items are described in the context of coins. Similarly, the money item ejectors 202 are described in the context of coin ejectors.
Referring now to
The coin canister 101 may include two payout positions. For example, in
It should be understood that each tube 102 of the plurality of tubes 102 may have only one payout position. For example, the first tube 102a, the third tube 102c, and the fifth tube 102e may be moved into a first payout position (e.g., moved into position with a first hopping disc) while the second tube 102b, the fourth tube 102d, and the sixth tube 102f may be moved into a second payout position (e.g., moved into position with a second hopping disc). One or more additional payout positions may be provided for one or more tubes 102 of the plurality of tubes 102. For example, the first tube 102a, the third tube 102c, and the fifth tube 102e may have two payout positions (e.g., two hopping discs). Optionally, all the tubes 102 may share a same payout position. For example, each tube 102 of the plurality of tubes 102 may have an unshared coin ejector 202. In this case, each tube 102 may move into position at the same payout position to dispense a coin.
Referring now to
Each of the coin ejectors 202 may have a substantially similar shape and configuration. For example, as shown with respect to at least the first coin ejector 202a, the first coin ejector 202a includes a rectangular body 302. At a first end 304 of the rectangular body 302, the first coin ejector 202a may have an arcuate surface 306 extending up from the first end 304 of the rectangular body 302 such that a wall 308 is formed at the first end 304 of the rectangular body 302. The arcuate surface 306 may extend out on each side of the rectangular body 302, arcing in and toward the rectangular body 302. The arcuate surface 306 may further have a coin ledge 310 that is a surface extending above the arcuate surface 306 at the same angle as the arcuate surface 306. The coin ledge 310 may have a shorter arc than the arc of the arcuate surface 306, extending the width of the first end 304 of the rectangular body 302 of the coin ejector 202a. A second end 312 of the rectangular body 302 may be rotatably fixed to the coin canister 101 by a single fixation device 314, such as a pin or bolt, at a point around the perimeter 316 of and near the bottom 108 of the coin canister 101. For example, as illustrated in
The money item supply apparatus 1500 may include at least one mechanism for operating the at least one coin ejector 202 in order to eject a coin from a coin tube 102. In particular, one or more hopping discs 318 may be rotatably installed at positions below the coin ejectors 202. As illustrated in
As shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
It should be understood that a coin ejector 202 may be associated with and disposed beneath a pair of tubes 102. Thus, when a coin canister 101 includes a configuration as illustrated in
Referring now to
Referring now to
For example, as shown in
The first hopping disc 318a is associated with the first payout motor 614 and the second hopping disc 318b is associated with the second payout motor 616. The first hopping disc 318a and the second hopping disc 318b are disposed at the top of a first rotatable gear shaft 622 and a second rotatable gear shaft 624, respectively. The first rotatable gear shaft 622 extends up from a base 623 of the motor assembly 600 in front of the first payout motor 614. The first gear shaft 622 (e.g., gear teeth of the first gear shaft 622) meshes with first intermediate gear 626. The first intermediate gear 626 meshes with a first worm gear 628 coupled to the first payout motor 614. Thus, the first payout motor 614 drives the rotation of the first hopping disc 318a, via the first worm gear 628, the first intermediate gear 626, and the first rotatable gear shaft 622. Similarly, the second rotatable gear shaft 624 similarly extends up from the base of the motor assembly 600 in front of the second payout motor 616. The second gear shaft 624 (e.g., gear teeth of the second gear shaft 624) meshes with second intermediate gear 630. The second intermediate gear 630 meshes with a second worm gear 632 coupled to the second payout motor 616. Thus, the second payout motor 616 drives the rotation of the second hopping disc 318b, via the second worm gear 632, the second intermediate gear 630, and the second rotatable gear shaft 624. During operation of the motor assembly 600, the first hopping disc 318a may rotate clockwise while the second hopping disc 318b may rotate counter-clockwise. This causes the coin ejectors 202 situated over the first hopping disc 318a and the second hopping disc 318b to rotate in opposite directions and eject coins at the two payout positions. For example, when the position of the fourth tube 102d and the fifth tube 102e are as illustrated in
Example operations of the money item handling system 100 and the rotatable apparatus 1000, 3000 are discussed further below. These operations may take place after the system start-up actions discussed above, i.e. with respect to the mixing of money items so as to improve the even distribution of money items inside the storage region 400.
Referring to
In a third stage S3, rotation of the first conveyor 200 around its looped path causes money items in the collection zone 207 of the first conveyor 200 to be collected by the articulated conveying elements 202 of the conveyor track 201 and transported around the looped path of the conveyor 200. Further rotation of the conveyor causes more money items to be collected from the collection zone 207. Rotation of the conveyor 200 in the third stage S3 may commence before, after or at the same time as the first gate element 800, 2000 is actuated to an open or partially open position in the first stage S1. Money items on the track 201 of the conveyor 200 are transported to the money item sensing zone 208 of the conveyor path, at which the money items are denominated by the one or more money item sensors 208a located adjacent to the track 201.
Money items which have been denominated on the track 201 of the first conveyor 200 form part of a first magazine of money items in the system 100. This first magazine of money items is available to the money item handling system 100 for rapid money item dispensing operations, as discussed below.
In a fourth stage S4, rotation of the second conveyor 300 around its looped path causes money items in the collection zone of the second conveyor 300 to be collected by the articulated conveying elements 302 of the conveyor track 301 and transported around the looped path of the conveyor 300. As with the first conveyor 200, further rotation of the second conveyor 300 causes more money items to be collected from the collection zone. Money items on the track 301 of the conveyor 300 are transported to the money item sensing zone of the conveyor path, at which the money items are denominated by the one or more money item sensors located adjacent to the track 301.
Money items which have been denominated on the second conveyor track 301 form part of a second magazine of money items in the system 100. As with the first magazine mentioned above, this second magazine of money items is available to the money item handling system 100 for rapid money item dispensing operations. The fourth stage S4 of operations may, for example, occur simultaneously with the third stage S3. Alternatively (or additionally), the fourth stage S4 may occur before or after the third stage S3, including independently of the third stage S3.
In a fifth stage S5, the operations comprise selecting, from the denominated magazines of money items on the first and/or second conveyors 200, 300, at least one money item for output from the conveyors 200, 300. This may comprise assessing all denominated money items on one or both conveyor tracks 201, 301, in combination, and selecting individual money items, located on particular conveying elements 202, 302 of the first and/or second tracks 201, 301 for output from the conveyors 200, 300. Selection of the money items for output may be made in response to a need to dispense a particular value of money items to an exterior outlet of the system 100 or, for example, a need to dispense particular denominations or types of money item to the exterior outlet of the system 100. Alternatively, particular values or denominations of money items may be selected for output to another internal region of the system 100 (e.g. within the system housing 500). Examples of such internal regions of the system 100 include the money item supply apparatus 1500, the money item storage region 400 and the money item collection zone(s) 207 of the first and/or second conveyors 200, 300. In this respect, the system 100 may include a money item diverting apparatus which operates in cooperation with the gates 209a-c of the money item outlet zone(s) 209, under the control of the computing apparatus 1200, to divert money items routed off the conveyor track(s) 201, 301 into respective internal regions of the system 100. Each of these respective internal regions of the system 100 may be directly connected to at least one gate 209a-c of the money item outlet zone(s) 209 by a respective money item channel.
The respective money item channels referred to above mean that money items routed off the conveyor track(s) 201, 301 can be selectively channelled directly into the mixed denomination money item storage region 400. Additionally or alternatively, money items routed off the conveyor track(s) 201, 301 can be selectively channelled directly into the money item supply apparatus 1500 for stocking the storage regions 1502 of the supply apparatus 1500 with different denominations of money items. For this purpose, in order to ensure that money items routed to the supply apparatus 1500 from the outlet zone 209 enter the appropriate storage region 1502, the money item supply apparatus 1500 may be rotated or otherwise actively moved by the system 100 so as to align the appropriate money item storage region(s) 1502 with the channel from the outlet zone 209.
Similarly, money items routed off the conveyor track(s) 201, 301 in the outlet zone(s) 209 can be selectively channelled directly into the money item collection zone(s) 207 without passing through the money item storage region 400 on-route. In scenarios where it is advantageous or required that particular money items are moved off the conveyor track(s) 201, 301 to make room for other money items to be picked-up by the track(s) 201, 301 in the collection zone(s) 207, for example in order to refresh the mix of money items in the money item magazine(s), the direct channelling of money items from the outlet zone(s) 209 to the collection zone(s) 207 allows such money items to be retained within the relatively small quantity of money items present in the collection zone(s) 207 and conveyor track(s) 201, 301 (in combination). In other words, such money items do not need to be routed back to the potentially large mix of money items present in the money item storage region 400. This action of retaining particular (e.g. short supply) money items as part of the relatively small pool of items present in the collection zone(s) 207/on the conveyor track(s) 201, 301 means that the money items remain more accessible for use by the system 100 as part of a future dispensing operation.
Due to the presence of dual money item conveyors 200, 300 and the corresponding first and second magazines of denominated money items on the conveyor tracks 201, 3o1, the probability that the system 100 is able to respond to an immediate demand for particular values/denominations/types of money items by selecting appropriate money items already present on at least one of the tracks 201, 301 is high. Where included, the money item supply apparatus 1500 discussed above may increase this probability still further.
The demand referred to above may correspond to, or be dictated by, a request for money items to be transported to another region of the money item handling system, as discussed above. For example, a transactional process may require a particular value of money items to be transported to an exterior outlet of the system 100, such as the payout cup or other collection region mentioned above, where a person outside the housing 500 can access the money items. However, as mentioned above, there may alternatively be a demand for particular denominations of money item at another internal region of the system 100.
Where the money item supply apparatus 1500 is present, payout operations may ultimately be actioned by releasing required denominations of money items from the supply apparatus 1500 to the payout cup or other collection region of the system 100. Where the money item supply apparatus 1500 is not present, payout operations may instead be actioned by routing required denominations of money items directly from the magazine(s) of money items on the conveyor(s) 200, 300 to the payout cup or other collection region.
The assembly of the first and second magazines may take place at any time, i.e. not necessarily in response to the demand. For example, the magazines may be assembled, or partially assembled, during time when the system's conveyors 200, 300 would otherwise be inactive, so that once a request for money items is received at, or determined by, the computing apparatus 1200, the computing apparatus 1200 may immediately determine a suitable combination of denominated money items already present in the first and/or second magazines. The computing apparatus 1200 may then issue instructions to cause these money items to be routed off the conveyor(s) 200, 300 in order to meet the demand. For example, as discussed above, money items may be routed to the collection region in order to fulfil a required payout and/or may be routed to the money item supply apparatus 1500 in order to fill the money item storage regions 1502 of the supply apparatus 1500 with selected denominations of money items.
In a sixth stage S6, the selected money item or items are selectively routed off the track(s) 201, 301 of the first and/or second conveyors 200, 300 through one or more of the outlet gates 209a, 209b, 209c of the first and/or second conveyors 200, 300. For example, once the money item or money items have been selected, the track(s) 201, 301 on which they are present is/are rotated until the selected money item(s), and the conveying element(s) 202, 302 on which they are sitting, are in the money item outlet zone(s) 209 of the conveyor(s) 200, 300 and are aligned with the one or more outlet gates 209a-c of the zone(s) 209. The outlet gate(s) 209a-c are then opened, as required, in order to route the selected money item(s) off the conveyor track(s) 201, 301.
The system 100 has been described above predominately in the context of a system 100 comprising first and second money item conveyors 200, 300 and also first and second money item routings which, respectively, route money items from a mixed denomination storage region 400 to the first and second conveyors 200, 300. However, as has been made clear, the system 100 can alternatively be implemented without the second conveyor 300 and without the second money item routing. Such implementations of the system 100 also do not comprise the second money item gate element 1100 discussed above in the context of the second money item routing. Instead, the opening in the wall of the storage container 401 of the storage region 400 for the second routing is not present. Money items are routed from the storage region 400 to the first conveyor 200 only, via the first routing 700. It will be appreciated that in this implementation, the second money item collection zone, second money item sensing zone and second money item outlet zone, all of which are directly associated with the second conveyor 300, are also not present. In all other respects, the system 100 operates in the manner described above. This naturally follows from the manner in which the system 100 has been explained, in which the first conveyor 200, first routing 700 and first money item gate element 800, 2000 have been used as the primary examples for describing the operation of the system 100.
In implementations of the system 100 where the second conveyor 300 and other associated elements, as discussed above, are not present, it should be understood that the first conveyor 200, first routing 700 and first money item gate element 800, 2000 may retain all of the functionality previously described. For example, money items collected by the track 201 of the first conveyor 200, from the money item collection zone 207, are carried around the path of the conveyor 200 and denominated in the money item sensing region 208. The denominated money items on the track 201 may form a magazine of money items and individual ones of the denominated money items in the magazine can be selectively routed off the conveyor track 201, using the gates 209a-c in the money item outlet zone 209, in order to be dispensed to other regions of the system 100, including the money item supply apparatus 1500 and other possibilities previously described.
Further example operations of the money item handling system 100 are discussed further below. As with stages S1-S6, these operations may take place after the system start-up actions described above.
Referring to
In a third stage M3, rotation of the first conveyor 200 around its looped path causes money items in the collection zone 207 of the first conveyor 200 to be collected by the articulated conveying elements 202 of the conveyor track 201 and transported around the looped path of the conveyor 200. Further rotation of the conveyor causes more money items to be collected from the collection zone 207. Rotation of the conveyor 200 in the third stage M3 may commence before, after or at the same time as the first gate element 800 is actuated to an open or partially open position in the first stage M1.
Money items on the track 201 of the conveyor 200 are transported to the money item sensing zone 208 of the conveyor path, at which the money items are denominated by the one or more money item sensors 208a located adjacent to the track 201. Money items which have been denominated on the track 201 of the first conveyor 200 form part of a first magazine of money items in the system 100. This first magazine of money items is available to the money item handling system 100 for rapid money item dispensing operations.
In an optional fourth stage M4, in implementations of the system 100 which include the second conveyor 300, rotation of the second conveyor 300 around its looped path causes money items in the collection zone of the second conveyor 300 to be collected by the articulated conveying elements 302 of the conveyor track 301 and transported around the looped path of the conveyor 300. As with the first conveyor 200, further rotation of the second conveyor 300 causes more money items to be collected from the collection zone. Money items on the track 301 of the conveyor 300 are transported to the money item sensing zone of the conveyor path, at which the money items are denominated by the one or more money item sensors located adjacent to the track 301. Money items which have been denominated on the second conveyor track 301 form part of a second magazine of money items in the system 100. As with the first magazine mentioned above, this second magazine of money items is available to the money item handling system 100 for rapid money item dispensing operations. Where performed, the fourth stage M4 of operations may, for example, occur simultaneously with the third stage M3. Alternatively (or additionally), the fourth stage M4 may occur before or after the third stage M3, including independently of the third stage M3.
In a fifth stage M5, the operations may comprise actuating the first gate element 800 to a closed position to stop feeding money items from the storage region 400 through the first routing 700 to the first money item collection zone 207. Meanwhile, the track 201 of the first conveyor 200 continues to rotate through the first collection zone 207 so as to continue to pick up money items from the first collection zone 207 and convey the money items around the path of the conveyor 200.
In an optional sixth stage M6, in implementations of the system 100 which include the second conveyor 300, the operations may comprise actuating the second gate element to a closed position to stop feeding money items from the storage region 400 through the second routing to the second money item collection zone. Meanwhile, the track 301 of the second conveyor 300 continues to rotate through the second collection zone so as to continue to pick up money items from the second collection zone and convey the money items around the path of the second conveyor 300. The sixth stage M6 may occur simultaneously with the fifth stage M5, or may be offset from the fifth stage M5.
The first to sixth stages M1-M6 may be repeated one or more times as the first and, where present, the second gate elements are actuated back and forth to feed a controlled flow of money items into the collection zone(s) for pick-up by the conveyor track(s).
In a seventh stage M7, the operations comprise selecting, from the denominated magazine of money items on the first conveyor 200 at least one money item for output from the conveyor 200. Optionally, in implementations of the system 100 which include the second conveyor 300, this stage M7 may also comprise selecting, from the denominated magazine of money items on the second conveyor 300, at least one money item for output from the second conveyor 300 This selection process may comprise assessing all denominated money items on the first conveyor track 201, and optionally also the second conveyor track 301, and selecting individual money items, located on particular conveying elements 202, 302 for output from the conveyor(s) 200, 300. Selection of the money items for output may be made in response to a need to dispense a particular value of money items to an exterior outlet (e.g. a collection region) of the system 100 or, for example, a need to dispense particular denominations or types of money item to the exterior outlet of the system 100. Alternatively, particular values or denominations of money items may be selected for output to another internal region of the system 100 (e.g. within the system housing 500). Examples of such internal regions of the system 100, and the manner in which money items may be diverted into such internal/external regions of the system 100, are discussed above in the context of operational stages S1-S6. That discussion applies equally here also, including for implementations of the system 100 in which the second conveyor 300 and associated system elements such as the second routing and second gate element are not present.
In an eighth stage M8, the selected money item or items are selectively routed off the track(s) 201 of the first conveyor 200 through one or more of the outlet gates 209a, 209b, 209c of the first conveyor 200. For example, once the money item or money items have been selected, the track 201 is rotated until the selected money item(s), and the conveying element(s) 202 on which the selected money item(s) are sitting, are in the money item outlet zone 209 of the conveyor 200 and are aligned with the one or more outlet gates 209a-c of the zone 209. The outlet gate(s) 209a-c are then selectively opened, as required, in order to route the selected money item(s) off the conveyor track 201.
In implementations of the system 300100 in which the second money item conveyor 300 and its associated elements, including the second routing and second money item gate element, are present, the operations may also comprise a ninth stage M9 in which the eighth stage M8 operations described above in relation to the first conveyor 200 are carried out with respect to the second conveyor 300 also.
In an optional tenth stage M10, the operations may comprise dispensing money items from the money item supply apparatus 1500 to an outlet of the system 100, such as an exterior money item collection region, in response to a demand for money items being determined at the computing apparatus 1200. As described above, the money item supply apparatus 1500 is operable to selectively dispense individual or multiple money items of single or varying denominations, from one or more of the money item storage regions 1502 of the supply apparatus 1500, in order to fulfil a demand for a particular value of money items, or for particular denominations of money items.
The following discussion is applicable equally to implementations of the system 100 which comprise both the first and second conveyors 200, 300 and to implementations of the system 100 which comprise the first conveyor 200 but not the second conveyor 300. Referring back to
As money items leave either or both of the track(s) 201, 301 of the first and second conveyors 200, 300, the track(s) 201, 301 are replenished with further money items from the money item storage region 400. This occurs as the track(s) 201, 301 of the money item conveyor(s) 200, 300 are moved through the collection zones described above. At the collection zones, conveying elements 202, 302 which are empty (i.e. those on which a money item is not present) may collect money items from pools of money items which have moved from the storage region 400, through the first and second routings described above, to the collection zones. Money items arriving in each collection zone via the first and second routings rest on a static floor of the collection zone in a position from which they may be physically picked-up by the conveying elements 202, 302. The pool of money items in the collection zone of each conveyor 200, 300 effectively acts as a float from which money items may be sourced by the track(s) 201, 301 of each conveyor 200, 300 in order to prepare for, and complete, future dispensing operations such as those described above with respect to the sixth stage S6 of
The pool of money items in the collection zone of each conveyor 200, 300 may be controlled by selective actuation of the first and second gate elements 800, 1100. For example, using the first conveyor 200 for illustration, as outlined above in relation to the operational stages M1-M6, the first gate element 800 may initially be moved to a position which allows money items to move through the first routing 700 from the storage region 400 to the first conveyor 200. This position may be the second or third flow control position of the gate element 800 discussed above. The first routing 700 may be held open, or partially open, for a first time period, for example so as to allow a particular number of money items to pool in the collection zone 207, before the first gate element 800 is moved to reduce or stop the rate of flow of money items from the storage region 400 through the first routing 700. This may involve actuating the gate element 800 to the second or first flow control position.
At a later time, for example after a further second period of time, the gate element 800 may be actuated back in the opposite direction to the third (or second) flow control position to restart or increase the flow of money items through the first routing 700 to the collection zone 207, thereby adding to the float of money items available for collection by the conveyor track 201 as it moves through the collection zone 207. After a still further period of time, such as a third period of time, the first gate element 800 may be actuated back to the first (or second) flow control position to again stop or reduce the rate of flow of money items from the storage region 400 through the first routing 700.
These operational movements of the first gate element 800 may be repeated in a cycle, in which the gate element 800 is repeatedly moved to fully open, partially open and closed positions relative to the outlet aperture 701 in order to control the flow of money items from the storage region 400 to the collection zone 207 of the first conveyor 200. It will be appreciated that the first, second and third time periods may vary from cycle to cycle in order to allow the system 100 to refill the collection zone 207 as required by the conditions in the system 100. For example, the rate and/or degree to which the collection zone 207 is refilled (under the control of the computing apparatus 1200) from the money item storage region 400 may depend on the rate at which money items in the collection zone 207 are being picked-up and carried away by the conveying elements 202 of the conveyor track 201. The rate of pick-up will vary depending on the number of empty conveying elements 202 on the track 201, which will in turn depend on the rate at which money items are being routed off the track in the money item outlet zone 209.
The system 100 may, for example, seek to keep the number of money items in the collection zone 207 within a predetermined range—such as 25 to 35 money items. In order to do this, the system 100 may monitor money items leaving the conveyor track 201 via the outlet gate(s) 209a-c at the outlet zone 209 and, using the selectively moveable gate element 800, vary the rate at which replacement money items are fed into the collection zone 207 from the money item storage 400. The system 100 may do this so that the combined number of money items on the track 201 and in the collection zone 207 remains substantially constant or within a predetermined range.
In one example implementation of the above process S1-S6 or the process M1-M10, the first gate element 800 is, in the first stage S1, M1, moved to an open or partially open position in order to facilitate a flow of money items from the storage region 400 to the collection zone 207. The first gate element 800 is held in this position for a first period of time, such as five seconds, before being moved to a closed position. During the time for which the first gate element is open or partially open, a limited quantity of money items, such as 20-30 money items, move through the first routing into the collection zone 207. As the conveyor track 201 moves through the collection zone 207, these money items are collected, as described above, by the conveying elements of the conveyor track 201 and carried around the conveyor path towards the sensing zone 208.
The limited period for which the first gate element 800 is held in an open or partially open position, before being returned back to a closed position (e.g. at stages M5 and M6), means that the total number of money items present in the collection zone 207 at any one particular time does not reach an undesirably high level. In particular, the limited number of money items allowed to pass through the first routing during any particular open or partially open period of the first gate element 800 prevents the pool of money items in the collection zone 207 from placing too high a load on the moving conveyor track 201 as it passes through the collection zone 207. Instead, the load placed on the conveyor 200 is managed at a level which keeps the operation of the conveyor efficient (e.g. from a power perspective) and which prevents a high rate of wear on the drive actuators and other mechanical components of the track 201. Furthermore, the possibility of the conveyor track 201 being jammed by money items in the collection zone 207 is reduced and the probability of money items being successfully picked up by empty conveying elements 202 moving through the collection zone 207 is increased.
In order to fill the conveyor track 201 from a state in which it is empty or substantially empty of money items, the process described in the preceding two paragraphs may be repeated for a number of times so that the first gate element is repeatedly actuated between open and closed positions. This is mentioned above in the context of stages M1-M6 of
This conveyor-filling process may cease upon it being detected, based on data from the sensors in the sensing zone 208, that at least a threshold proportion of the conveying elements 202 on the track 201 are occupied by money items collected from the collection zone 207. At this time, the track 201 is caused to stop rotating and the first gate element 800 is held in a closed position with respect to the first routing at least until there is a need or demand to dispense money items off the conveyor 200 via the outlet zone 209.
The system 100 may optionally adjust the distribution of money items on the conveyor track 201 by selectively directing individual money items on the track 201 back into the money item storage region 400 via the appropriate gate 209a in the outlet zone 209, as discussed above. This action frees-up one or more individual conveying elements of the track 201 so that they may collect further money items from the collection zone 207 as the track 201 is rotated. If data from the sensing zone 208 indicates that no further money items have been collected by rotation of the track 201, the system 100 actuates the first gate element 800 to an open (or partially open) position to facilitate a flow of further money items into the collection zone 207 from the storage region 400.
By selectively retaining certain money items on the conveyor track 201, such as certain denominations of money item, whilst directing others back into the storage region 400, the system 100 is able to assemble on the track 201 a range of money items in accordance with particular parameters (e.g. so as to include at least one money item of each of multiple denominations initially present in the storage region 400 or system 100 as a whole). This management of the distribution of money items on the track 201 increases the likelihood that the system 100 will be able to rapidly dispense any given value of money items to the exterior of the housing, as required, directly from money items already present on the track 201. Additionally or alternatively, the management of the distribution of money items on the track 201 increases the likelihood that the track 201 will be able to rapidly dispense any given value or denomination(s) of money items into the money item supply apparatus 1500, as required, in order to stock or restock the plurality of storage regions 1502 of the supply apparatus 1500.
Following such a dispensing operation, one or more conveying elements 202 of the track 201 are likely to be empty of money items (the money items having been dispensed off the track 201 in order to e.g. fulfil a payout requirement or meet a demand for money items in another region of the system 100 such as the money item dispensing apparatus 1500). The locations of any such empty conveying elements 202 are known to the system 100 (the system 100 having selectively dispensed money items off those elements 202 following denomination of money items in the sensing zone 208) and the conveyor track 201 is, in response, rotated through the collection zone 207 in order fill the empty elements 202. As part of this process, if insufficient money items are being collected on the empty elements 202 by rotation of the track 201, the first gate element 800 is actuated to an open or partially open position for a limited time period in order to allow more money items to enter the collection zone 207 from the storage region 400.
The operational steps discussed above with respect to the first gate element 800, the first routing 700 and the collection zone 207 of the first conveyor 200 are equally applicable with respect to the second gate element 1100, the second routing and the collection zone of the second conveyor 300 in implementations of the system 100 which include the second conveyor 300. The second gate element 1100 may be selectively moved with respect to the outlet aperture of the second routing, in the same manner as the first gate element 800, so as to fill and subsequently replenish the pool of money items in the collection zone of the second conveyor 300. The system 100 may do this so that the combined number of money items on the track 301 and in the collection zone of the second conveyor 300 remains constant or within a predetermined range. Additionally or alternatively, the system 100 may seek to keep the combined number of money items on the first track 201, on the second track 301 and in the collection zones of the two conveyors 300 constant or within a predetermined range.
As outlined above, the functional control of the first and second gate elements 800, 1100, including movement of the gate elements 800, 1100 to the first, second and third flow control positions discussed above, is controlled by the computing apparatus 1200 of the money item handling system 100. This is shown in
Another set of example operations of a money item handling system is shown in
In a first stage P1, the operations comprise actuating the first gate element 2000 to a position which allows money items to move through the first routing 700 from the storage region 400 to the accommodating region of the gate element 2000. This position may be the first flow control position of the gate element 2000 discussed above. In an optional second stage P2, in implementations of the system which include the second conveyor 300, the operations comprise actuating the second gate element (not shown) to a corresponding position so that money items move through the second routing from the storage region 400 to the accommodating region of the second gate element. Where performed, the second stage P2 may occur simultaneously with the first stage P1. Alternatively, the second stage P2 may occur before or after the first stage P1, or independently of the first stage P1.
In a third stage P3, after a first period of time, the first gate element 2000 may then be actuated to a position which causes the money items in the accommodating region to transfer to the collection zone 207 of the first conveyor 200. This position may be the second flow control position of the gate element 2000 discussed above. In an optional fourth stage P4, in implementations of the system which include the second conveyor 300, the second gate element may also be actuated to a corresponding position, thereby causing the money items in the accommodating region of the second gate element to transfer to the collection zone of the second conveyor 200300. Where performed, the fourth stage P4 may occur simultaneously with the third stage P3. Alternatively, the fourth stage P4 may occur before or after the third stage P3, or entirely independently of the third stage P3.
In a fifth stage P5, rotation of the first conveyor 200 around its looped path causes money items in the collection zone 207 of the first conveyor 200 to be collected by the articulated conveying elements 202 of the conveyor track 201 and transported around the looped path of the conveyor 200. Further rotation of the conveyor 200 causes more money items to be collected from the collection zone 207. Rotation of the conveyor 200 in the fifth stage P5 may commence before, after or at the same time as the first gate element 2000 is actuated to transfer money items from the accommodating region to the collection zone 207 of the conveyor 200.
Money items on the track 201 of the conveyor 200 are transported to the money item sensing zone 208 of the conveyor path, at which the money items are denominated by the one or more money item sensors 208a located adjacent to the track 201. Money items which have been denominated on the track 201 of the first conveyor 200 form part of a first magazine of money items in the system. This first magazine of money items is available to the money item handling system for rapid money item dispensing operations.
In an optional sixth stage P6, in implementations of the system which include the second conveyor 300, rotation of the second conveyor 300 around its looped path causes money items in the collection zone of the second conveyor 300 to be collected by the articulated conveying elements 302 of the conveyor track 301 and transported around the looped path of the conveyor 300. As with the first conveyor 200, further rotation of the second conveyor 300 causes more money items to be collected from the collection zone. Money items on the track 301 of the conveyor 300 are transported to the money item sensing zone of the conveyor path, at which the money items are denominated by the one or more money item sensors located adjacent to the track 301. Money items which have been denominated on the second conveyor track 301 form part of a second magazine of money items in the system. As with the first magazine mentioned above, this second magazine of money items is available to the money item handling system 100 for rapid money item dispensing operations. Where performed, the sixth stage P6 of operations may, for example, occur simultaneously with the fifth stage P5. Alternatively, the sixth stage P6 may occur before or after the fifth stage P5, including independently of the fifth stage P5.
In a seventh stage P7, the operations may comprise actuating the first gate element 2000 back to its first flow control position. This may occur after a further predefined period of time, following actuation of the gate element to the second position referred to above, and may be after the contents of the accommodating region have been tipped or otherwise emptied into the collection zone 207 of the first conveyor 200. Meanwhile, the track 201 of the first conveyor 200 continues to rotate through the first collection zone 207 so as to continue to pick up money items from the first collection zone 207 and convey the money items around the path of the conveyor 200.
In an optional eighth stage P8, in implementations of the system which include the second conveyor 300, the operations may comprise actuating the second gate element to the first flow control position also. Meanwhile, the track 301 of the second conveyor 300 continues to rotate through the second collection zone so as to continue to pick up money items from the second collection zone and convey the money items around the path of the second conveyor 300. The eighth stage P8 may occur simultaneously with the seventh stage P7, or may be offset from the seventh stage P7.
The first to eighth stages P1-P8 may be repeated one or more times as the first and, where present, second gate elements are actuated back and forth between the first and second flow control positions to feed successive groups of money items into the collection zone(s) for pick-up by the conveyor track(s).
In a ninth stage P9, the operations comprise selecting, from the denominated magazine of money items on the first conveyor 200 at least one money item for output from the conveyor 200. Optionally, in implementations of the system which include the second conveyor 300, this stage P9 may also comprise selecting, from the denominated magazine of money items on the second conveyor 300, at least one money item for output from the second conveyor 300. This selection process may comprise assessing all denominated money items on the first conveyor track 201, and optionally also the second conveyor track 301, and selecting individual money items, located on particular conveying elements 202, 302 for output from the conveyor(s) 200, 300. Selection of the money items for output may be made in response to a need to dispense a particular value of money items to an exterior outlet (e.g. a collection region) of the system or, for example, a need to dispense particular denominations or types of money item to the exterior outlet of the system. Alternatively, particular values or denominations of money items may be selected for output to another internal region of the system (e.g. within the system housing 500). Examples of such internal regions of the system, and the manner in which money items may be diverted into such internal/external regions of the system, are discussed above in the context of operational stages P1-P8. That discussion applies equally here also, including for implementations of the system in which the second conveyor 300 and associated system elements such as the second routing and second gate element are not present.
In a tenth stage P10, the selected money item or items are selectively routed off the track(s) 201 of the first conveyor 200 through one or more of the outlet gates 209a, 209b, 209c of the first conveyor 200. For example, once the money item or money items have been selected, the track 201 is rotated until the selected money item(s), and the conveying element(s) 202 on which the selected money item(s) are sitting, are in the money item outlet zone 209 of the conveyor 200 and are aligned with the one or more outlet gates 209a-c of the zone 209. The outlet gate(s) 209a-c are then selectively opened, as required, in order to route the selected money item(s) off the conveyor track 201.
In implementations of the system in which the second money item conveyor 300 and its associated elements, including the second routing and second money item gate element, are present, the tenth stage P10 operations described above in relation to the first conveyor 200 are carried out with respect to the second conveyor 300 also.
In an optional eleventh stage P11, the operations may comprise dispensing money items from the money item supply apparatus 1500 to an outlet of the system, such as an exterior money item collection region, in response to a demand for money items being determined at the computing apparatus 1200. As described above, the money item supply apparatus 1500 is operable to selectively dispense individual or multiple money items of single or varying denominations, from one or more of the money item storage regions 1502 of the supply apparatus 1500, in order to fulfil a demand for a particular value of money items, or for particular denominations of money items.
As has already been discussed above with respect to the operational steps M1-M10, the first outlet gate 209a of either or both of the money item conveyors 200, 300 may, for example, lead directly to the storage region 400 so that money items on the conveyor track(s) 201, 301 can be directed back into the mixed denomination money item storage when required. The second outlet gate 209b of either or both of the tracks 201, 301 may lead to a further money item storage region, such as the money item supply apparatus 1500 discussed above or, for example, an external storage chamber. The third outlet gate 209c of either or both of the tracks 201, 301 may lead to a money item exit routing, through which money items which have been directed off the conveyor track(s) 201, 301 at the third outlet gate(s) 209c are routed to the exterior of the housing 500 for collection by e.g. a person using the system. The location of this third outlet gate 209c, which is furthest away from the sensing zone 208, means that a relatively large number of denominated money items may be accommodated on the track(s) 201, 301 in the region between the money item sensor(s) 208a and the outlet gate 209c through which money items can be directed for external collection. These denominated money items form at least part of the magazines and can be very rapidly and selectively dispensed to the exterior of the housing, as required, when the system determines that there is a need to payout particular values or denominations of money items from the magazine(s).
As money items leave either or both of the track(s) 201, 301 of the first and second conveyors 200, 300, the track(s) 201, 301 may be replenished with further money items from the money item storage region 400. This occurs as the track(s) 201, 301 of the money item conveyor(s) 200, 300 are moved through the collection zones described above. At the collection zones, conveying elements 202, 302 which are empty (i.e. those on which a money item is not present) may collect money items from pools of money items which have moved from the storage region 400, through the first and/or second routings described above, to the collection zone(s). Money items arriving in each collection zone via the first and second routings may rest on a static floor of the collection zone in a position from which they may be physically picked-up by the conveying elements 202, 302. The pool of money items in the collection zone of each conveyor 200, 300 effectively acts as a float from which money items may be sourced by the track(s) 201, 301 of each conveyor 200, 300 in order to prepare for, and complete, future dispensing operations such as those described above with respect to the tenth to twelfth stages P10-P12 of
The pool of money items in the collection zone of each conveyor 200, 300 may be controlled by selective actuation of the first gate element 2000 and, where present, corresponding second gate element 2000. For example, using the first conveyor 200 for illustration, as outlined above in relation to the operational stages P1-P8, the first gate element 2000 may initially be moved to a position which allows money items to move through the first routing 700 from the storage region 400 into the cup 2001 of the gate element 2000. This position may be the first flow control position of the gate element 2000 discussed above. The gate element 2000 may be held in this orientation for a first time period, for example so as to allow money items the cup 2001 to fill with money items. The first gate element 2000 may then be moved to a position which causes money items in the cup 2001 to transfer into the collection zone 207 of the first conveyor 200. As has been described with respect to
At a later time, for example after a further period of time, the gate element 2000 may be actuated back in the opposite direction to the second flow control position to restart the flow of money items to the collection zone 207, thereby adding to the float of money items available for collection by the conveyor track 201 as it moves through the collection zone 207. After a still further period of time, the gate element 2000 may be actuated back to the first flow control position to again.
These operational movements of the first gate element 2000 may be repeated in a cycle, in which the orientation of the gate element 2000 is repeatedly changed between the first and second flow control positions shown, for example, in
As has been described above, the system may, for example, seek to keep the number of money items in the collection zone 207 within a predetermined range—such as 25 to 35 money items. In order to do this, the system 100 may monitor money items leaving the conveyor track 201 via the outlet gate(s) 209a-c at the outlet zone 209 and, using the selectively moveable gate element 2000, vary the rate at which replacement money items are fed into the collection zone 207 from the money item storage 400. The system may do this so that the combined number of money items on the track 201 and in the collection zone 207 remains substantially constant or within a predetermined range.
As has been mentioned above, controlling the flow of money items through the first gate element 2000 in this manner can ensure that the total number of money items present in the collection zone 207 at any one particular time does not reach an undesirably high level. In particular, the limited number of money items dispensed by the gate element 2000 each time it is moved to the second flow control position prevents the pool of money items in the collection zone 207 from placing too high a load on the moving conveyor track 201 as it passes through the collection zone 207. Instead, the load placed on the conveyor 200 is managed at a level which keeps the operation of the conveyor efficient (e.g. from a power perspective) and which prevents a high rate of wear on the drive actuators and other mechanical components of the track 201. Furthermore, the possibility of the conveyor track 201 being jammed by money items in the collection zone 207 is reduced and the probability of money items being successfully picked up by empty conveying elements 202 moving through the collection zone 207 is increased.
In order to fill the conveyor track 201 from a state in which it is empty or substantially empty of money items, the first gate element may be repeatedly actuated back and forth. During such a cycle, the duration of time for which the gate element 2000 is held in the first flow control position, before being actuated again to allow more money items to enter the collection zone 207, is selected so as to allow at least a majority of the money items previously metered into the collection zone 207 to be collected by the moving conveyor track 201. This ‘closed’ time duration may be pre-stored in memory of the computing apparatus 1200, or may be actively determined in the system by assessing, at the sensing region 208, whether the rotating conveyor track 201 is still picking up new money items from the collection zone 207. If no new money items are being sensed at the sensing zone 208 (e.g. since the last full rotation of the track 201), this indicates that the number of money items in the collection zone 207 is low or zero. In response to such an indication, the gate element 2000 may be re-actuated to an open or partially open position to allow more money items to enter the collection zone 207. As has been mentioned above, the conveyor-filling process may cease upon it being detected, based on data from the sensors in the sensing zone 208, that at least a threshold proportion of the conveying elements 202 on the track 201 are occupied by money items collected from the collection zone 207.
The system may adjust the distribution of money items on the conveyor track 201 by selectively directing individual money items on the track 201 back into the money item storage region 400 via the appropriate gate 209a in the outlet zone 209, as discussed above. This action frees-up one or more individual conveying elements of the track 201 so that they may collect further money items from the collection zone 207 as the track 201 is rotated. If data from the sensing zone 208 indicates that no further money items have been collected by rotation of the track 201, the system actuates the first gate element 2000 to facilitate a flow of further money items into the collection zone 207.
By selectively retaining certain money items on the conveyor track 201, such as certain denominations of money item, whilst directing others back into the storage region 400, the system is able to assemble on the track 201 a range of money items in accordance with particular parameters (e.g. so as to include at least one money item of each of multiple denominations initially present in the storage region 400 or system 100 as a whole), with the same benefits as those already mentioned above. When money items are dispensed off the track 201, the track 201 may be empty conveying elements 202 on the track 201 may be refilled by further actuation of the gate element 2000.
The discussion above with respect to the first gate element 2000, the first routing 700 and the collection zone 207 of the first conveyor 200 are equally applicable with respect to the second gate element, the second routing and the collection zone of the second conveyor 300 in implementations of the system which include the second conveyor 300.
As outlined above, the actuation of the gate element(s) 2000, is controlled by the computing apparatus 1200 of the money item handling system.
For all implementations of the flow control apparatus, the computing apparatus 1200 also selectively controls movement of the tracks 201, 301 of the first and second conveyors 200, 300, for example in order to cause the conveyor tracks 201, 301 to pick-up further money items from the collection zones and/or to move money items which have been selected for output into positions from which they may be routed off the conveyor tracks 201, 301 in the outlet zones of the conveyors 200, 300. As discussed above, this may involve causing the electrical motors 203 positioned adjacent to the first and second conveyor tracks 201, 301 to rotate the tracks 201, 301 around their looped paths.
The computing apparatus 1200 may also control other aspects of the money item handling system 100, such as the outlet gates 209a-c at each conveyor 200, 300. In particular, the computing apparatus 1200 may cause actuators of the outlet gates 209a-c to selectively actuate the gates 209a-c to open positions when money items are to be diverted off the conveying tracks 201, 301 through the gates 209a-c. The actuators will then return the gates 209a-c to a closed position.
As shown in
The computing apparatus 1200 comprises at least one computer processor 1201 and at least one computer memory 1202. The processor 1201 executes computer-readable instructions stored in the memory 1202 to cause the movement and functional control of the system 100, including that of the elements specifically mentioned above. For the avoidance of doubt, the computing apparatus 1200 may include a single processor or may comprise one or more architectures employing multiple processor designs for increased computing capability.
The computer memory 1202 may comprise, for example, one or more read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, Flash memories, magnetic or optical cards or application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Additionally or alternatively, the computer memory 1202 may comprise any type of storage disk, such as one or more floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs and/or magnetic-optical disks, or any other type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions which can be executed by the processor 1201. The memory 1202 is coupled to the processor 1201 and other elements of the computing apparatus architecture via a computer system bus. The processor 1201 is configured to implement the instructions under the control of the computer-readable instructions to operate the system 100.
As previously explained, money items which are collected by the conveyor tracks 201, 301 are denominated in the money item sensing zones 208 of the conveyors 200, 300 so that, once a money item on either track 201, 301 has passed the sensing zone 208 at least once, its denomination and position on the track 201, 301 is known to the system 100. Once money items have passed the sensing zone 208, the denomination and position of each money item on the tracks 201, 301 may, for example, be stored in a memory of the system 100 to create the magazines referred to above.
It will be appreciated that there are various modifications and adaptations that can be made to the specific aspects of the system 100 described above. For example, the money item storage region 400 may comprise first and second money item storage sub regions so that a sub region is provided for each of the first and second conveyors 200, 300 and its associated routing. These sub regions may each be in the form of a money item storage container. In such a system 100, money items fed to the first conveyor 200 come from a first storage container and money items fed to the second conveyor 300 come from a second storage container. The first and second storage containers are physically divided from one another. For example, the storage containers may be separated from one another by an internal partition in a central region of a larger container of the type illustrated in
In a system in which the money item storage region 400 is provided by separate first and second storage containers, as outlined above, there may also be more than one rotatable apparatus to control the flow of money items from the storage region 400 to the first and second conveyors 200, 300. For example, a first wheel may be provided inside the first container to control a flow of money items through a first routing from the first container to the first conveyor, whilst a second wheel may be provided inside the second container to control a flow of money items through a second routing from the second container to the second conveyor. Each of these wheels may comprise a gate element of the type discussed above with respect to
The aspects described above may be used either singly or in combination. For example, the flow control apparatus, including the rotatable apparatuses 1000, 3000 explained above, is not inextricably linked to all other aspects of the particular money item handling system 100 shown in the figures and described above. In this specification, the term “money items” refers, for example, to coins or other tokens of a monetary value.
The specification includes the following examples:
A money item handling system, comprising:
a mixed denomination money item storage region comprising at least one money item outlet routing;
at least one money item collection zone arranged to receive mixed denomination money items outlet through the at least one money item outlet routing;
at least one money item conveyor arranged to collect money items from the at least one money item collection zone and to convey money items collected from the at least one money item collection zone around a path of the at least one money item conveyor;
at least one money item flow control apparatus; and
at least one actuator configured to controllably actuate the at least one money item flow control apparatus to selectively control movement of money items from the mixed denomination money item storage region to the at least one money item collection zone.
2. The money item handling system of example 1, wherein the at least one flow control apparatus comprises at least one gate element having a money item accommodating region configured to receive money items via the at least one money item outlet routing.
3. The money item handling system of example 2, wherein in a first orientation the money item accommodating region is configured to retain money items inside the at least one gate element and wherein in a second orientation the money item accommodating region is configured to release the money items to the at least one money item conveyor.
4. The money item handling system of example 3, wherein in the first orientation retaining walls of the at least one gate element are arranged to allow money items to enter the accommodating region from the money item storage region but to prevent money items from leaving the accommodating region for the at least one money item conveyor.
5. The money item handling system of example 3 or 4, wherein in the second orientation retaining walls of the at least one gate element are arranged to prevent money items from entering the accommodating region from the money item storage region but to allow money items to leave the accommodating region for the at least one money item conveyor.
6. The system of any of examples 3-5, wherein the gate element comprises a step in an outer retaining wall, and wherein a first narrower part of the accommodating region is separated from a second wider part of the accommodating region by the step.
7. The system of example 6, wherein the second wider part of the accommodating region comprises a money item outlet region via which money items leave the second wider part of the accommodating region for the at least one money item conveyor.
8. The system of example 6 or 7, wherein the outer retaining wall in the narrower part of the accommodating region is configured to restrict money item access to the narrower part of the accommodating region from the mixed denomination money item storage region.
9. The system of any of examples 3-8, wherein the gate element comprises a helically formed inner retaining wall.
10. The system of example 9, wherein the helically formed inner retaining wall is arranged to open out space for money items in the mixed denomination money item storage region upon movement of the accommodating region from the first orientation to the second orientation.
11. The system of example 9 or 10, wherein the helically formed inner retaining wall is arranged to disrupt money items in the mixed denomination money item storage region upon movement of the accommodating region from the second orientation to the first orientation.
12. The system of example 11, wherein the disruption of the money items in the mixed denomination money item storage region by the helically formed inner retaining wall causes a flow of money items from the mixed denomination money item storage region to the accommodating region in the first orientation.
13. The system of any of examples 2-12, wherein the money item accommodating region comprises a cup in the at least one gate element.
14. The money item handling system of example 1, wherein:
the at least one money item flow control apparatus comprises at least one gate element which is selectively alignable with the at least one money item outlet routing; and
the at least one actuator is configured to controllably move the at least one gate element to selectively vary a degree of alignment between the at least one gate element and the at least one money item outlet routing to thereby selectively control movement of money items from the mixed denomination money item storage region through the at least one money item outlet routing to the at least one money item collection zone.
15. The money item handling system of example 14, wherein the at least one gate element is selectively moveable relative to the at least one money item outlet routing to selectively open and close the at least one outlet routing.
16. The money item handling system of example 14 or 15, wherein the at least one gate element is selectively moveable to a plurality of flow control positions relative to the at least one money item outlet routing, including at least one of:
a first flow control position in which the at least one gate element fully blocks the at least one outlet routing and prevents money items from moving past the at least one gate element to the at least one money item collection zone;
a second flow control position in which the at least one gate element partially blocks the at least one outlet routing but allows a restricted flow of money items past the at least one gate element to the at least one money item collection zone; and
a third flow control position in which the at least one gate element does not block the at least one outlet routing and thereby allows a full flow of money items past the at least one gate element to the at least one money item collection zone.
17. The money item handling system of any of examples 2-16, comprising a rotatable apparatus configured to receive money items from the at least one money item storage region, wherein the rotatable apparatus comprises the at least one gate element.
18. The money item handling system of example 17, wherein the at least one gate element comprises at least a section of a first side wall region of the rotatable apparatus to prevent money items from moving out of a plane of the rotatable apparatus.
19. The money item handling system of example 17 or 18, wherein rotation of the rotatable apparatus by the at least one actuator causes the at least one gate element to move relative to the at least one outlet routing to selectively align and not align the at least one gate element with the at least one outlet routing.
20. The money item handling system of example 19, wherein when the at least one gate element is aligned with the at least one outlet routing money items in the rotatable apparatus are prevented by the at least one gate element from moving through the at least one outlet routing.
21. The money item handling system of example 20, wherein when the at least one gate element is not aligned with the at least one outlet routing money items in the rotatable apparatus are not prevented from moving through the at least one outlet routing.
22. The money item handling system of any of examples 17-21, wherein the rotatable apparatus is configured to rotate in a plane different from a plane of rotation of the at least one money item conveyor.
23. The money item handling system of example 22, wherein the plane of the rotatable apparatus is parallel to the plane of the at least one money item conveyor.
24. The money item handling system of any preceding example, wherein the money item storage region is located adjacent to the at least one money item conveyor.
25. The money item handling system of any preceding example, wherein the at least one actuator comprises a motor-driven actuator.
26. The money item handling system of any preceding example, comprising:
at least one money item sensor configured to denominate money items in the system; and
at least one money item supply apparatus arranged to receive money items denominated by the at least one money item sensor;
wherein the system is configured to sort money items denominated by the at least one money item sensor into a plurality of money item storage regions of the at least one money item supply apparatus.
27. The money item handling system of example 26, wherein the at least one money item sensor is configured to denominate money items on the at least one money item conveyor as the money items collected from the at least one money item collection zone are conveyed around the path of the at least one money item conveyor.
28. The money item handling system of example 27, wherein the at least one money item sensor is positioned in a money item sensing zone of the at least one money item conveyor.
29. The money item handling system of any of examples 26-28, comprising at least one money item outlet gate configured to selectively divert money items denominated by the at least one money item sensor into the at least one money item supply apparatus.
30. The money item handling system of example 29, wherein the at least one money item outlet gate is positioned in a money item outlet zone of the at least one money item conveyor.
31. The money item handling system of any of examples 26-30, wherein the system is configured to sort individual money items denominated by the at least one money item sensor into different ones of the plurality of money item storage regions of the at least one money item supply apparatus in dependence of the denominations of the individual money items.
32. The money item handling system of any of examples 26-31, wherein each of the plurality of money item storage regions of the at least one money item supply apparatus is a single denomination money item storage region.
33. The money item handling system of any of examples 26-32, wherein the plurality of storage regions of the at least one money item supply apparatus each comprise a money item compartment to accommodate a plurality of money items of the same denomination.
34. The money item handling system of any of examples 26-32, wherein the plurality of storage regions of the at least one money item supply apparatus each comprise a money item compartment to accommodate a single money item only.
35. The money item handling system of any of examples 26-34, wherein the at least one money item supply apparatus comprises at least one money item releasor operable to selectively release money items from at least one of the plurality of money item storage regions of the at least one money item supply apparatus.
36. The money item handling system of example 35, wherein the at least one money item releasor is operable to selectively and individually release money items from each of the plurality of money item storage regions of the at least one money item supply apparatus.
37. The money item handling system of any of examples 26-36, wherein the system is arranged to dispense money items released from the at least one money item supply apparatus to a money item collection region accessible from the exterior of the apparatus.
38. The money item handling system of any of examples 26-37, wherein the at least one money item supply apparatus is operable to selectively release particular denominations of money items from the plurality of money item storage regions in response to a demand for the particular denominations of money items.
39. The money item handling system of any of examples 26-38, wherein the at least one money item supply apparatus is operable to selectively release particular denominations of money items from the plurality of money item storage regions in response to a demand for a particular value of money items.
40. A method of operating a money item handling system, comprising:
actuating at least one money item flow control apparatus to feed, from a mixed denomination money item storage region, money items to a collection zone of a money item conveyor via a first money item outlet routing between the mixed denomination money item storage region and the money item conveyor;
conveying, on the money item conveyor, a plurality of money items from the collection zone to at least one money item sensor;
denominating, at the at least one money item sensor, the plurality of money items;
selecting, from the denominated money items on the conveyor, at least one money item for output from the money item conveyor;
routing, in a money item outlet zone of the money item conveyor, the selected at least one money item off the money item conveyor.
41. The method of example 40, wherein the at least one money item flow control apparatus comprises at least one gate element.
42. The method of example 41, wherein the at least one gate element comprises a money item accommodating region configured to receive money items via the at least one money item outlet routing.
43. The method of example 42, comprising:
actuating the at least one gate element to a first orientation in which the money item accommodating region is arranged to retain money items inside the at least one gate element; and actuating the at least one gate element to a second orientation in which the money item accommodating region is configured to release the money items to the money item conveyor.
44. The method of example 43, comprising:
following actuation of the at least one gate element to the second orientation, actuating the at least one gate element back to the first orientation.
45. The method of example 43 or 44, wherein in the first orientation retaining walls of the at least one gate element are arranged to allow money items to enter the accommodating region from the money item storage region but to prevent money items from leaving the accommodating region for the money item conveyor.
46. The method of any of examples 43-45, wherein in the second orientation retaining walls of the at least one gate element are arranged to prevent money items from entering the accommodating region from the money item storage region but to allow money items to leave the accommodating region for the money item conveyor.
47. The method of example 41, comprising selectively moving the at least one gate element relative to the first money item outlet routing to selectively open and close the first money item outlet routing.
48. The method of example 41 or 47, wherein the at least one gate element is selectively moveable to a plurality of flow control positions relative to the first money item outlet routing, including at least one of:
a first flow control position in which the at least one gate element fully blocks the first outlet routing and prevents money items from moving past the at least one gate element to the at least one money item collection zone;
a second flow control position in which the at least one gate element partially blocks the first outlet routing but allows a restricted flow of money items past the at least one gate element to the at least one money item collection zone; and
a third flow control position in which the at least one gate element does not block the first outlet routing and thereby allows a full flow of money items past the at least one gate element to the at least one money item collection zone.
49. The method of any of examples 40-49, comprising:
actuating the at least one money item flow control apparatus to stop feeding, from the mixed denomination money item storage region, money items to the collection zone of the money item conveyor via the first routing.
50. The method of example 49, wherein actuating the at least one money item flow control apparatus to stop feeding money items to the collection zone of the money item conveyor occurs a predetermined period of time after actuating the at least one money item flow control apparatus to feed, from the mixed denomination money item storage region, money items to the collection zone of the money item conveyor.
51. The method of example 49, wherein actuating the at least one money item flow control apparatus to stop feeding money items to the collection zone of the money item conveyor occurs in response to a determination, by the system, that no further money items are required in the money item collection zone.
52. The method of example 51, comprising determining, using the at least one money item sensor, that the money item conveyor comprises a plurality of money items of predetermined denominations.
53. The method of example 52, comprising determining that no further money items are required in the money item collection zone in response to the determination that the money item conveyor comprises a plurality of money items of predetermined denominations.
54. The method of any of examples 40-53, wherein actuating the at least one money item flow control apparatus to feed, from the mixed denomination money item storage region, money items to the collection zone of the money item conveyor occurs in response to a determination, by the system, that further money items are required in the money item collection zone.
55. The method of example 54, comprising determining, using the at least one money item sensor, that the money item conveyor does not comprise a plurality of money items of predetermined denominations.
56. The method of example 55, comprising determining that further money items are required in the money item collection zone in response to the determination that the money item conveyor does not comprises the plurality of money items of predetermined denominations.
57. The method of any of examples 40-56, wherein routing, in the money item outlet zone of the money item conveyor, the selected at least one money item off the money item conveyor comprises routing the selected at least one money item to a money item supply apparatus of the system.
58. The method of example 57, wherein the money item supply apparatus comprises a plurality of money item storage regions.
59. The method of example 58, wherein routing the selected at least one money item to a money item supply apparatus of the system comprises routing the selected at least one money item to a particular one of the plurality of money item storage regions of the money item supply apparatus.
60. The method of example 59, wherein the particular one of the plurality of money item storage regions is selected for the selected at least one money item on the basis that the denomination of the selected at least one money item matches the denomination associated with the particular one of the plurality of money item storage regions.
61. The method of any of examples 57-60, comprising dispensing, in response to a demand for money items, at least one money item from the money item supply apparatus.
62. The method of example 61, wherein the demand for money items is a demand for money items to be paid to a money item collection region at an exterior of the system and dispensing the at least one money item comprises dispensing the at least one money item to the money item collection region.
63. The method of any of examples 40-62, wherein routing, in the money item outlet zone of the money item conveyor, the selected at least one money item off the money item conveyor comprises routing the selected at least one money item to the mixed denomination money item storage region.
64. The method of any of examples 40-63, wherein routing, in the money item outlet zone of the money item conveyor, the selected at least one money item off the money item conveyor comprises routing the selected at least one money item directly to a money item collection region at an exterior of the system.
65. The method of any of examples 40-62, wherein routing, in the money item outlet zone of the money item conveyor, the selected at least one money item off the money item conveyor comprises routing the selected at least one money item directly to the collection zone of the money item conveyor.
66. The method of example 65, wherein routing the selected at least one money item directly to the collection zone of the money item conveyor occurs in response to a determination that a denomination of the at least one money item should be retained outside of the mixed denomination money item storage region.
67. A money item handling system, comprising:
a money item storage region;
a money item feed in which at least one money item routing is arranged to feed money items out of the money item storage region;
a rotatable apparatus comprising at least one gate element; and
at least one actuator configured to controllably rotate the rotatable apparatus between at least first and second flow control positions to control movement of money items from the money item storage region through the at least one money item routing.
68. The money item handling system of example 67, wherein the at least one gate element comprises a money item accommodating region configured to receive money items via the at least one money item outlet routing.
69. The money item handling system of example 68, wherein the money item accommodating region comprises a cup in the at least one gate element.
70. The money item handling system of example 67 or 68, wherein the first flow control position corresponds to a first orientation of the money item accommodating region in which the money item accommodating region is configured to retain money items received from the money item storage region.
71. The money item handling system of example 70, wherein the second flow control position corresponds to a second orientation the money item accommodating region in which the money item accommodating region is configured to release the money items.
72. The money item handling system of example 71, wherein in the first orientation retaining walls of the at least one gate element are arranged to allow money items to enter the accommodating region from the money item storage region but to prevent money items from leaving the accommodating region.
73. The money item handling system of example 71 or 72, wherein in the second orientation retaining walls of the at least one gate element are arranged to prevent money items from entering the accommodating region from the money item storage region but to allow money items to leave the accommodating region.
74. The money item handling system of any of examples 70-73, wherein:
the at least one actuator is configured to actuate the at least one gate element to the first orientation in which the money item accommodating region is arranged to retain money items; and
subsequently, the at least one actuator is configured to actuate the at least one gate element to the second orientation in which the money item accommodating region is configured to release the money items.
75. The money item handling system of example 74, wherein:
following actuation of the at least one gate element to the second orientation, the at least one actuator is configured to actuate the at least one gate element back to the first orientation to receive, from the money item storage region, further money items in the accommodating region.
76. The money item handling system of any of examples 70-75, wherein:
the at least one actuator is configured to controllably rotate the rotatable apparatus to selectively align an inner retaining wall of the at least one gate element with the at least one money item routing to prevent movement of money items through the at least one money item routing; and
the at least one actuator is further configured to controllably rotate the rotatable apparatus to selectively misalign the inner retaining wall of the at least one gate element with the at least one money item routing to permit movement of money items through the at least one money item routing.
77. The money item handling system of any of examples 70-76, wherein:
the at least one actuator is configured to controllably rotate the rotatable apparatus to selectively tip the accommodating region to cause money items in the accommodating region to fall out of the accommodating region.
78. The money item handling system of any of examples 67-77, comprising:
a first money item conveyor and a first money item collection zone associated with the first money item conveyor, wherein money items which move out of the money item storage region through the at least one money item routing are collected from the first money item collection zone by the first money item conveyor.
79. The system of example 78, wherein the plane of rotation of the rotatable apparatus is substantially parallel with a plane of rotation of the first money item conveyor.
80. The system of any of examples 67-79, wherein the at least one money item routing is located out of the plane of rotation of the rotatable apparatus.
81. A money item handling system, comprising:
a first money item conveyor configured to rotate in a first plane;
at least one first money item sensor configured to denominate money items on the first conveyor;
a second money item conveyor configured to rotate in a second plane different to the first plane;
at least one second money item sensor configured to denominate money items on the second conveyor;
a money item storage region; and
a money item feed in which a first routing feeds money items from the money item storage region to the first money item conveyor and a second routing feeds money items from the money item storage region to the second money item conveyor.
82. The system of example 81, wherein the first plane is parallel to the second plane.
83. The system of example 81 or 82, comprising a first money item collection zone arranged to receive money items from the money item storage region via the first routing, and a second money item collection zone arranged to receive money items from the money item storage region via the second routing.
84. The system of example 83, wherein the first conveyor is configured to collect and convey money items from the first money item collection zone and the second conveyor is configured to collect and convey money items from the second money item collection zone.
85. The system of example 83 or 84, wherein the first routing comprises a first guide surface which is angled downwards towards the first collection zone to cause money items to move down the first guide surface towards the first money item conveyor.
86. The system of example 85, wherein the second routing comprises a second guide surface which is angled downwards towards the second collection zone to cause money items to move down the second guide surface towards the second money item conveyor.
87. The system of example 86, wherein the first and second guide surfaces are located at a base of the money item storage region.
88. The system of example 87, wherein a junction between the first and second guide surfaces forms a ridge in the base of the money item storage region.
89. The system of any of examples 81-88, wherein the first routing comprise at least one first outlet aperture on a first side of the money item storage region and the second routing comprises at least one second outlet aperture on a second side of the money item storage region.
90. The system of example 89, wherein the first side of the storage region is opposite to the second side of the storage region.
91. The system of example 89 or 90, wherein the at least one first outlet aperture is of a first shape and size, and the at least one second outlet aperture is of a different second shape and size to the at least one first outlet aperture.
92. The system of any of examples 81-91, wherein the money item storage region comprises a first sub-region and a second sub-region physically divided from the first sub region to prevent money items moving directly between the first and second sub-regions.
93. The system of example 92, wherein the first routing feeds money items to the first money item conveyor from the first-sub region and the second routing feeds money items to the second money item conveyor from the second sub-region.
94. The system of example 92 or 93, wherein the first sub-region is located closer to the first money item conveyor on a first side of the money item storage region and the second sub region is located closer to the second money item conveyor on a second side of the money item storage region.
95. The system of any of examples 81-94, wherein the first money item conveyor and the second money item conveyor are each endless loop conveyors comprising a track of articulated money item conveying elements.
96. The system of any of examples 81-95, comprising at least one first money item outlet gate configured to selectively open to direct money items off the first money item conveyor into at least one first outlet path of the system.
97. The system of example 96, wherein the at least one first money item outlet gate is located, in a direction of rotation of the first money item conveyor, at a location of the first money item conveyor which is past the at least one first money item sensor.
98. The system of example 96 or 97, comprising at least one second money item outlet gate configured to selectively open to direct money items off the second money item conveyor into at least one second outlet path of the system.
99. The system of example 98, wherein the at least one second money item outlet gate is located, in a direction of rotation of the second money item conveyor, at a location of the second money item conveyor which is past the at least one second money item sensor.
100. The system of any of examples 81-99, comprising a bulk money item feed apparatus configured to feed money items deposited in the bulk feed apparatus from an exterior of the system to the money item storage region.
101. The system of any of examples 81-100, comprising:
a first money item flow control apparatus to selectively control movement of money items via the first routing to the first money item conveyor; and/or
a second money item flow control apparatus to selectively control movement of money items via the second routing to the second money item conveyor.
102. The system of example 101, wherein:
the first money item flow control apparatus comprises a first gate element which is selectively moveable relative to the first routing to selectively open and close the first routing to control movement of money items via the first routing to the first money item conveyor; and/or
the second money item flow control apparatus comprises a second gate element which is selectively moveable relative to the second routing to selectively open and close the first routing to control movement of money items via the second routing to the second money item conveyor.
103. The system of example 102, wherein the first gate element is selectively moveable to a plurality of flow control positions relative to the first routing, including at least one of:
a first flow control position in which the first gate element fully blocks the first routing and prevents money items from moving past the first gate element to the first money item conveyor;
a second flow control position in which the first gate element partially blocks the first routing but allows a restricted flow of money items past the first gate element to the first money item conveyor; and
a third flow control position in which the first gate element does not block the first routing and thereby allows a full flow of money items past the first gate element to the first money item conveyor.
104. The system of example 102 or 103, wherein the second gate element is selectively moveable to a plurality of flow control positions relative to the second routing, including at least one of:
a first flow control position in which the second gate element fully blocks the second routing and prevents money items from moving past the second gate element to the second money item conveyor;
a second flow control position in which the second gate element partially blocks the second routing but allows a restricted flow of money items past the second gate element to the second money item conveyor; and
a third flow control position in which the second gate element does not block the second routing and thereby allows a full flow of money items past the second gate element to the second money item conveyor.
105. The system of example 102, wherein the first gate element comprises a money item accommodating region configured to receive money items via the first routing, wherein in a first orientation the money item accommodating region is configured to retain money items inside the gate element and wherein in a second orientation the money item accommodating region is configured to release the money items to the first conveyor.
106. The system of example 105, wherein in the first orientation retaining walls of the first gate element are arranged to allow money items to enter the accommodating region from the money item storage region but to prevent money items from leaving the accommodating region for the first conveyor.
107. The system of example 105 or 106, wherein in the second orientation retaining walls of the first gate element are arranged to prevent money items from entering the accommodating region from the money item storage region but to allow money items to leave the accommodating region for the first conveyor.
108. The system of any of examples 105-107, wherein the money item accommodating region comprises a cup in the first gate element.
109. The system of any of examples 102-108, comprising at least one actuator to controllably actuate movement of the first gate element relative to the first routing and/or the second gate element relative to the second routing.
110. The system of example 109, wherein the at least one actuator comprises a motor-driven actuator.
111. The system of any of examples 102-110, comprising a rotatable apparatus configured to receive money items from the money item storage region and comprising at least the first gate element.
112. The system of example 111, wherein the first gate element comprises at least a section of a first side wall region of the rotatable apparatus to prevent money items from moving out of a plane of the rotatable apparatus.
113. The system of example 111 or 112, wherein rotation of the rotatable apparatus by the at least one actuator causes the first gate element to move relative to the first routing to selectively align and not align the first gate element with the first routing.
114. The system of example 113, wherein when the first gate element is aligned with the first routing money items in the rotatable apparatus are prevented by the first gate element from moving through the first routing.
115. The system of example 114, wherein when the first gate element is not aligned with the first routing money items in the rotatable apparatus are not prevented from moving through the first routing.
116. The system of any of examples 111-115, wherein the rotatable apparatus comprises the second gate element.
117. The system of example 116, wherein the second gate element comprises at least a section of a second side wall region of the rotatable apparatus to prevent money items from moving out of a plane of the rotatable apparatus.
118. The system of example 116 or 117, wherein rotation of the rotatable apparatus by the at least one actuator causes the second gate element to move relative to the second routing to selectively align and not align the second gate element with the second routing.
119. The system of example 118, wherein when the second gate element is aligned with the second routing money items in the rotatable apparatus are prevented by the second gate element from moving through the second routing.
120. The system of example 119, wherein when the second gate element is not aligned with the second routing money items in the rotatable apparatus are not prevented from moving through the second routing.
121. The system of any of examples 111-120, wherein the rotatable apparatus is configured to rotate in a third plane different from the first and second planes.
122. The system of example 121, wherein the third plane is parallel to the first and second planes.
123. The system of any of examples 81-122, wherein the money item storage region is located at least partially between the first money item conveyor and the second money item conveyor.
124. A method of operating a money item handling system, comprising:
feeding, from a money item storage region, a first plurality of money items to a first conveyor via a first routing between the money item storage region and the first conveyor, wherein the first money item conveyor is configured to rotate in a first plane;
feeding, from the money item storage region, a second plurality of money items to a second conveyor via a second routing between the money item storage region and the second conveyor, wherein the second money item conveyor is configured to rotate in a second plane different from the first plane;
conveying the first plurality of money items on the first conveyor to at least one first money item sensor and denominating the first plurality of money items at the at least one first money item sensor to create a first magazine of denominated money items on the first conveyor;
conveying the second plurality of money items on the second conveyor to at least one second money item sensor and denominating the second plurality of money items at the at least one second money item sensor to create a second magazine of denominated money items on the second conveyor;
selecting, from a combination of the first and second magazines of denominated money items on the first and second conveyors, at least one money item for output; and
outputting the selected at least one money item from the money item handling system.
125. The method of example 124, wherein conveying the first plurality of money items on the first conveyor to the at least one first money item sensor comprises collecting the first plurality of money items from a money item collection zone of the first conveyor.
126. The method of example 124 or 125, wherein conveying the second plurality of money items on the second conveyor to the at least one second money item sensor comprises collecting the second plurality of money items from a money item collection zone of the second conveyor.
127. The method of any of examples 124-126, wherein the first plane is parallel to the second plane.
128. The method of any of examples 124-127, wherein feeding the first plurality of money items to the first conveyor via the first routing comprises selectively actuating at least one first money item flow control apparatus.
129. The method of example 128, comprising determining parameters for a distribution of money items in the first magazine, and selectively actuating the at least one first money item flow control apparatus to selectively feed money items to the first conveyor in response to determining that the money items in the first magazine are not in accordance with the determined parameters.
130. The method of example 129, comprising selectively actuating the at least one first money item flow control apparatus to selectively stop feeding money items to the first conveyor in response to determining that the money items in the first magazine are in accordance with the determined parameters.
131. The method of example 128, wherein:
the at least one first money item flow control apparatus comprises at least one first gate element; and
feeding the first plurality of money items to the first conveyor via the first routing comprises selectively actuating the at least one first gate element to selectively open the first routing.
132. The method of example 131, comprising selectively actuating the at least one first gate element to selectively close the first routing and thereby prevent money items from being fed to the first conveyor via the first routing.
133. The method of example 131 or 132, wherein the first routing comprises an outlet aperture and wherein actuating the at least one first gate element comprises moving the at least one first gate element relative to the outlet aperture.
134. The method of any of examples 131-133, comprising determining parameters for a distribution of money items in the first magazine, and selectively actuating the at least one first gate element to selectively open the first routing in response to determining that the money items in the first magazine are not in accordance with the determined parameters.
135. The method of example 134, comprising selectively actuating the at least one first gate element to selectively close the first routing in response to determining that the money items in the first magazine are in accordance with the determined parameters.
136. The method of any of examples 131-135, comprising determining parameters for a distribution of money items across a combination of the first and second magazines, and selectively actuating the at least one first gate element to selectively open the first routing in response to determining that a combination of the money items in the first and second magazines is not in accordance with the determined parameters.
137. The method of example 136, comprising selectively actuating the at least one first gate element to selectively close the first routing in response to determining that the money items in the combination of the money items in the first and second magazines is in accordance with the determined parameters.
138. The method of any of examples 134-137, wherein feeding the second plurality of money items to the second conveyor via the second routing comprises selectively actuating at least one second money item flow control apparatus.
139. The method of example 138, comprising determining parameters for a distribution of money items in the second magazine, and selectively actuating the at least one second money item flow control apparatus to selectively feed money items to the second conveyor in response to determining that the money items in the second magazine are not in accordance with the determined parameters.
140. The method of example 139, comprising selectively actuating the at least one second money item flow control apparatus to selectively stop feeding money items to the second conveyor in response to determining that the money items in the second magazine are in accordance with the determined parameters.
141. The method of example 138, wherein:
the at least one second money item flow control apparatus comprises at least one second gate element; and
feeding the second plurality of money items to the second conveyor via the second routing comprises selectively actuating the at least one second gate element to selectively open the second routing.
142. The method of example 141, comprising selectively actuating the at least one second gate element to selectively close the second routing and thereby prevent money items from being fed to the second conveyor via the second routing.
143. The method of example 141 or 142, wherein the second routing comprises an outlet aperture and wherein actuating the at least one second gate element comprises moving the at least one second gate element relative to the outlet aperture.
144. The method of any of examples 141-143, comprising determining parameters for a distribution of money items in the second magazine, and selectively actuating the at least one second gate element to selectively open the second routing in response to determining that the money items in the second magazine are not in accordance with the determined parameters.
145. The method of example 144, comprising selectively actuating the at least one second gate element to selectively close the second routing in response to determining that the money items in the second magazine are in accordance with the determined parameters.
146. The method of any of examples 141-143, comprising determining parameters for a distribution of money items across a combination of the first and second magazines, and selectively actuating the at least one second gate element to selectively open the second routing in response to determining that a combination of the money items in the first and second magazines is not in accordance with the determined parameters.
147. The method of example 146, comprising selectively actuating the at least one second gate element to selectively close the second routing in response to determining that the money items in the combination of the money items in the first and second magazines is in accordance with the determined parameters.
148. The method of any of examples 144-147, wherein the money item storage region is located at least partially between the first money item conveyor and the second money item conveyor.
149. A money item handling system, comprising:
a money item storage region;
a money item feed in which at least one money item routing is arranged to feed money items out of the money item storage region;
a rotatable apparatus, arranged to rotate in a plane of rotation inside the money item storage region, comprising at least one gate element which is selectively alignable with the at least one money item routing;
at least one actuator configured to controllably rotate the rotatable apparatus to selectively vary a degree of alignment between the at least one gate element and the at least one money item routing to control movement of money items from the money item storage region through the at least one money item routing.
150. The system of example 149, wherein the at least one gate element comprises a first gate element and the at least one money item routing comprises a first money item routing to feed money items out of the money item storage region.
151. The system of example 150, wherein:
the at least one actuator is configured to controllably rotate the rotatable apparatus to selectively align the first gate element with the first money item routing to prevent movement of money items through the first money item routing; and
the at least one actuator is further configured to controllably rotate the rotatable apparatus to selectively misalign the first gate element with the first money item routing to permit movement of money items through the first money item routing.
152. The system of example 150, wherein the at least one actuator is configured to rotate the rotatable apparatus to selectively adopt a plurality of flow control positions of the first gate element, including:
a first flow control position in which the first gate element fully blocks the first routing and prevents money items from moving past the first gate element out of the money item storage region;
a second flow control position in which the first gate element partially blocks the first routing but allows a restricted flow of money items past the first gate element out of the money item storage region; and
a third flow control position in which the first gate element does not block the first routing and thereby allows a full flow of money items past the first gate element out of the money item storage region.
153. The system of any of examples 150-152, comprising:
a first money item conveyor and a first money item collection zone associated with the first money item conveyor, wherein money items which move out of the money item storage region through the first money item routing are collected from the first money item collection zone by the first money item conveyor.
154. The system of example 153, wherein the plane of rotation of the rotatable apparatus is substantially parallel with a plane of rotation of the first money item conveyor.
155. The system of any of examples 150-154, wherein the first money item routing is located out of the plane of rotation of the rotatable apparatus.
156. The system of any of examples 150-155, wherein the at least one gate element further comprises a second gate element and the at least one money item routing further comprises a second money item routing to feed money items out of the money item storage region.
157. The system of example 156, wherein the first money item routing exits the money item storage region on a first side of the money item storage region and the second money item routing exits the money item storage region on a second side of the money item storage region.
158. The system of example 156 or 157, wherein:
the at least one actuator is configured to controllably rotate the rotatable apparatus to selectively align the second gate element with the second money item routing to prevent movement of money items through the second money item routing; and
the at least one actuator is further configured to controllably rotate the rotatable apparatus to selectively misalign the second gate element with the second money item routing to permit movement of money items through the second money item routing.
159. The system of example 156 or 157, wherein the at least one actuator is configured to rotate the rotatable apparatus to selectively adopt a plurality of flow control positions of the second gate element, including:
a first flow control position in which the second gate element fully blocks the second routing and prevents money items from moving past the second gate element out of the money item storage region;
a second flow control position in which the second gate element partially blocks the second routing but allows a restricted flow of money items past the second gate element out of the money item storage region; and
a third flow control position in which the second gate element does not block the second routing and thereby allows a full flow of money items past the second gate element out of the money item storage region.
160. The system of any of examples 156-159, comprising:
a second money item conveyor and a second money item collection zone associated with the second money item conveyor, wherein money items which move out of the money item storage region through the second money item routing are collected from the second money item collection zone by the second money item conveyor.
161. The system of example 160, wherein the plane of rotation of the second money item conveyor is substantially parallel with the plane of rotation of the rotatable apparatus.
162. The system of any of examples 156-161, wherein the second money item routing is located out of the plane of rotation of the rotatable apparatus.
163. The system of any of examples 156-162, wherein the first gate element is formed by a first side wall region of the rotatable apparatus and the second gate element is formed by a second side wall region of the rotatable apparatus.
164. The system of example 163, wherein the first and second side wall regions of the rotatable apparatus are substantially parallel with each other.
165. The system of any of examples 156-164, wherein:
the first gate element extends around only a first partial region of a circumference of the rotatable apparatus; and
the second gate element extends around only a second partial region of the circumference of the rotatable apparatus.
166. The system of example 165, wherein the first and second partial regions of the circumference of the rotatable apparatus are partially, but not fully, aligned with one another.
167. The system of any of examples 149-166, wherein the rotatable apparatus comprises at least one stirring element to disrupt money items in the money item storage region upon rotation of the rotatable apparatus.
168. The system of example 167, wherein the at least one stirring element is located on an internal circumferential face of the rotatable apparatus.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1915439.2 | Oct 2019 | GB | national |
This application is a 371 National Stage of International Application No. PCT/GB2020/052709, filed Oct. 26, 2020, which claims priority to United Kingdom Patent Application No. GB1915439.2, filed Oct. 24, 2019, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB2020/052709 | 10/26/2020 | WO |
