Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6241150
-
Patent Number
6,241,150
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, June 2, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 5, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 235 379
- 902 12
- 902 13
- 902 14
- 902 15
- 902 16
- 902 17
- 902 18
- 902 19
-
International Classifications
-
-
Disclaimer
Terminal disclaimer
Abstract
A cash dispensing mechanism of an automated teller machine (ATM) includes a safe inside which are housed first and second units. The first unit includes currency cassettes and an associated pick mechanism. Bills are transported from the pick mechanism to a bill validator included in the first unit. If a bill is rejected then a divert gate directs the into a purge bin also included in the first unit. The second unit is mounted on the first unit in one of two possible positions depending on whether the cash dispensing mechanism has a front loading or a rear loading configuration. Bills accepted by the validator are transported upwardly out of the first unit and into the second unit via a single transfer station, regardless of whether the cash dispensing mechanism has a front or rear loading configuration. The second unit transports bills individually to a bill dispensing port of the safe from where the bills are deposited in a tray for collection by a user.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sheet dispensing mechanism.
The invention has application, for example, to a cash dispensing mechanism of an automated teller machine (ATM). An ATM has a user console to allow a customer to operate the machine. The cash dispensing mechanism typically includes at least one bill picking mechanism for extracting bills one by one from an associated currency cassette, and a presenting mechanism for presenting bills to an exit slot in the ATM.
A cash dispensing mechanism of an ATM may be of the rear loading type in which currency cassettes are removed from, and replaced in, the dispensing mechanism from the rear of the ATM, that is on the side opposite the user console, or it may be of the front loading type in which currency cassettes are removed from, and replaced in, the dispensing mechanism from the front of the ATM. Normally, a through-the-wall ATM, in which the user console is mounted in a wall of a bank or other building, includes a cash dispensing mechanism of the rear loading type, while an in-lobby ATM located inside a bank or other building may include a cash dispensing mechanism of either the rear loading or front loading type.
The present invention has particular application to a dispensing mechanism of an ATM which is of the type that delivers bills one by one in a non-bundled manner (known as a spray dispenser).
From U.K. Patent Application 2106687A there is known a cash dispensing mechanism which can be modified so as to have either a front loading or a rear loading configuration. This known mechanism comprises upper and lower units, the upper unit housing stacking means and transport means for feeding a stack of currency bills to an exit port and for feeding rejected bills to a rejected bill container positioned at the rear of the mechanism, and the lower unit housing currency bill dispensing compartments and transport means for feeding bills to the upper unit. The whole of the lower unit is rotatable through 180° with respect to the upperunit during installation, whereby the installed cash dispenser unit can be either front loading or rear loading. This arrangement has the potential advantage of increasing the manufacturer's productivity, since it is not necessary to manufacture two different types of cash dispensing mechanisms for front loading and rear loading operations. However, this known cash dispensing mechanism has the disadvantage that complexities are introduced due to the fact that transfer of bills from the lower unit to the upper unit takes place at one or other of two separate transfer stations, depending on whether the mechanism has a front loading or a rear loading configuration. For example, adjustable divert means are required, such divert means being liable to give rise to the jamming of the bills.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a spray dispensing mechanism which can have either a front loading or a rear loading configuration and which is of simple construction.
According to the present invention there is provided a sheet dispensing mechanism including a housing having a sheet dispensing port via which sheets are dispensed to a user of the mechanism, a first unit mounted inside said housing including removable sheet storage means, picking means for picking sheets one by one from said sheet storage means, and first transport means for transporting sheets from said picking means, and a second unit which is mounted on said first unit within said housing in one of two possible positions depending on whether said dispensing mechanism has a front loading or a rear loading configuration, said second unit being arranged to receive sheets transported upwardly out of said first unit, and including second transport means for transporting sheets received from said first unit to said sheet dispensing port, characterized in that said first unit further includes sheet checking means through which sheets transported from said picking means by said first transport means are passed, divert means for directing sheets rejected by sheet checking means into reject means, and third transport means for transporting sheets accepted by said sheet checking means upwardly out of said first unit to said second unit at a single transfer station, regardless of whether said dispensing mechanism has a front or rear loading configuration, and further characterized in that said second transports means transport sheets individually from said first unit to said sheet dispensing port.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an in-lobby ATM adapted to include a dispensing mechanism in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2
is a block diagram representation of the ATM of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a schematic representation of a cash dispensing mechanism having a rear loading configuration;
FIG. 4
is a schematic representation of a cash dispensing mechanism having a front loading configuration;
FIG. 5
is a schematic representation showing a stage in the assembly of the cash dispensing mechanism of
FIG. 3
or
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 6
is a part sectional side elevational view of a core module of a cash dispensing mechanism of either
FIG. 3
or
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 7
is an enlarged side elevational view of a two position divert gate used in the core module of
FIG. 6
;
FIG. 8
is a further side elevational view of the core module of
FIG. 6
, additionally showing part of the drive mechanism for the core module;
FIG. 9
is a part sectional side elevational view of a spray dispensing upper unit of the cash dispensing mechanism of
FIG. 3
; and
FIG. 10
is a further side elevational view of the upper unit of
FIG. 9
, additionally showing part of the drive mechanism for the upper unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring first to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, an ATM
10
comprises a display
12
for displaying user information, a key pad
14
for inputting data, a card reader
16
for receiving a user identity card via a card slot
18
, a cash dispensing mechanism
20
for dispensing currency bills stored in the mechanism
20
to a user during a transaction via a slot
22
, a receipt printer
24
for printing a receipt acknowledging a transaction made by a user and for issuing the receipt to the user via a slot
26
, and data processing means
28
to which the display
12
, the key pad
14
, the card reader
16
, the cash dispensing mechanism
20
and the receipt printer
24
are connected.
To make a withdrawal, a user inserts his identification card in the card slot
18
of the ATM
10
. Data contained in a magnetic strip on the card is read by the card reader
16
and transmitted by the data processing means
28
to a host computer
30
. The user identifies himself by entering his personal identity number via the key pad
14
. If the host computer
30
authorizes the card then the user can proceed with his withdrawal by first entering details of the transaction, e.g. the amount of the withdrawal by means of the key pad
14
.
Referring now to
FIG. 3
, a cash dispensing mechanism
20
having a rear loading configuration is shown. This cash dispensing mechanism
20
comprises a safe
40
a
inside which are housed a lower unit
42
and an upper unit
44
. The safe
40
a
is mounted in a housing
45
(see
FIG. 1
) of the ATM
10
. The lower unit
42
has lower and upper sections
46
,
48
. Inside the lower section
46
of the lower unit
42
are mounted currency cassettes
50
which are associated with a conventional pick mechanism
52
. It should be understood that the upper unit
44
is mounted on the lower unit
42
with a selected orientation relative to the lower unit
42
determined by the fact that the cash dispensing mechanism
20
has a rear loading configuration.
When a request for a cash withdrawal is made and approved, the data processing means
28
(see
FIG. 2
) causes the pick mechanism
52
to pick bills in a known manner from at least one cassette
50
. Each bill is picked singly and the bills are individually passed along a feed path (indicated by arrow
54
) by conventional bill transport means
55
included in the lower section
46
. The feed path takes the bill from the lower section
46
to a conventional bill validator
58
in the upper section
48
. If the bill validator
58
accepts the bill then the bill is first transported along a horizontal feed path
60
and is then transported vertically out of the lower unit
42
and into the upper unit
44
along a feed path
61
. If the validator
58
does not accept the bill (e.g. if the bill is a multiple bill) then the bill is rejected and directed into a purge bin
62
via a horizontal feed path
63
which is a continuation of the feed path
60
. The bills transported vertically out of the lower unit
42
are transported through the upper unit
44
via a feed path
64
where the bills are delivered to the user via a slot
65
in the safe
40
a
and via the delivery slot
22
(see
FIG. 1
) in the housing of the ATM
10
. As will be explained in more detail later, depending on the configuration of the upper unit
44
, the bills are either stacked and delivered to the user as a bunch, or are delivered to the user one by one.
The safe
40
a
has a door
66
on its rear side (i.e. the side opposite the front of the ATM
10
) for enabling access to the currency cassettes
50
and the purge bin
62
.
Referring to
FIG. 4
, a cash dispensing mechanism
20
having a front loading configuration is shown. The construction of this front loading mechanism
20
is the same as that of the rear loading mechanism
20
shown in
FIG. 3
, except for the following differences. Firstly, the upper unit
44
is mounted on the lower unit
42
with an orientation which is rotated through 180° in relation to the first orientation shown in FIG.
3
. Secondly, the door
66
of the safe
40
b
for enabling access to cassettes
50
and the purge bin
60
is on the front side of the safe
40
b
(i.e. the side corresponding to the front of the ATM
10
), and the exit slot
65
is in the door
66
.
Referring to
FIG. 5
, it is shown how the assembly of the lower and upper units
42
,
44
can racked in or out of the safe
40
a
or
40
b
. A cradle
80
is fixed to the underside of the roof of the safe
40
a
or
40
b
. The assembly of the lower and upper units
42
,
44
is held in a conventional supporting framework
82
. Two slides
84
respectively provided on the sides of the framework
82
respectively slidably engage in two channels respectively provided in the cradle
80
, whereby the assembly
42
,
44
can be slid into or out of the safe
40
a
or
40
b
.
Referring to
FIG. 6
, the upper section
48
of the lower unit
42
is shown in detail. This upper section
48
will hereinafter be referred to as the core module
48
.
The core module
48
includes a pair of cooperating roller units
100
,
102
each comprising a series of individual rollers spaced along a respective shaft
103
. The pair of roller units
100
,
102
receive and feed bills which have been transported upwardly from the lower section
46
by the transport means
55
. Curved end sections
104
of a horizontal skid plate
106
are interspersed with the individual rollers of the roller unit
102
. The leading edge of each bill which is received and fed by the roller units
100
,
102
of the core module
48
is guided by guide means (not shown) into contact with a belt unit
108
which is disposed immediately above, and in cooperative engagement with, the skid plate
106
. The bill is then pressed against the skid plate
106
by the belt unit
108
and is transported by the belt unit
108
past the conventional bill validator
58
to a known two position divert gate
112
. If the bill is accepted by the validator
58
, then the divert gate
112
directs the bill into the entry throat
113
of a further transport means comprising a vertically extending skid plate
114
and a belt unit
116
which is in cooperative engagement with the skid plate
114
. The belt unit
116
presses the bill against the skid plate
114
and transports the bill upwardly out of the unit
42
and into the unit
44
. If the bill is not accepted by the validator
58
then it is directed by the divert gate
112
, under the control of the data processing means
28
, into the purge bin
62
. The belt unit
116
runs slightly faster than the belt unit
108
to aid the bill change its direction of transport. Both belt units
108
,
116
are driven by a reversible DC motor
118
operation of which is controlled by the data processing means
28
. It should be understood that each of the belt units
108
,
116
comprises a plurality of endless belts extending around two sets of support pulleys, the pulleys of each set being spaced apart along a common shaft. One set of pulleys of each belt unit
108
or
116
serve as drive pulleys for that belt unit.
If there is a power failure while a bill is present between the vertical skid plate
114
and the belt unit
116
, then the divert gate
112
can be set to direct the bill into the purge bin
60
when power is restored.
Referring to
FIG. 7
, the two position divert gate
112
comprises two flippers
122
,
124
which are in the positions shown in solid outline when the gate
112
is set to direct bills from the horizontal skid plate
106
and belt unit
108
to the vertical skid plate
114
and belt unit
116
. The flippers
122
,
124
are shown in the positions shown in chain outline when the gate
112
is set to direct a bill into the purge bin
60
, either from the transport means comprising the horizontal skid plate
106
and the belt unit
108
, or from the transport means comprising the vertical skid plate
114
and the belt unit
116
.
Referring to
FIG. 8
, drive for the belt units
108
,
116
is provided by the motor
118
via timing belts
130
which are mounted around, and are supported by, gear wheels
132
. The gear wheels
132
are respectively mounted on the shaft of the motor
118
and on the shafts on which the support pulleys
134
of the belt units
108
,
116
are mounted. Timing belts are known types of belts which have grooves on them which prevent slipping and which engage with the teeth of the associated gear wheels. Thus, one timing belt
130
transmits drive from the motor
118
to drive pulleys
134
at one end of first belt unit
108
. A second timing belt
130
connects together the two gear wheels
132
respectively associated with the two ends of the first belt unit
108
. A third timing belt
130
connects together the two gear wheels
132
respectively associated with the two ends of the second belt unit
116
. Drive from the timing belt and gear system associated with the belt unit
108
is transmitted to the timing belt and gear system associated with the belt unit
116
via further gears (not shown), whereby, as previously mentioned, the belt unit
116
is driven at a somewhat higher speed than the belt unit
108
. A gear system which includes an idler gear
136
and which is operatively coupled to the timing belt and gear system associated with the belt unit
108
enables the motor
118
to drive the pick mechanism
52
in the lower section
46
of the lower unit
42
of the cash dispenser mechanism
20
.
The core module
48
has been described as a separate unit and can be separately manufactured from the rest of the lower unit
42
before being attached to it. Alternatively, the whole lower unit
42
incorporating the features of the core module
48
could be manufactured as one complete unit.
Referring to
FIG. 9
, the upper unit
44
of a rear loading spray dispensing cash dispensing mechanism
20
is shown in detail.
This upper unit
44
includes a horizontal skid plate
160
which is cooperatively associated with a horizontally extending belt unit
162
disposed immediately above the skid plate
160
. In a similar manner to the belt units
108
and
116
, the belt unit
162
comprises a plurality of individual endless belts which extend around, and are supported by, two sets of pulleys. The leading edge of a bill transported upwardly from the core unit
48
makes contact with the belt unit
162
. The belt unit
162
is driven at a slightly faster speed than the second belt unit
116
of the core module
48
in order to change the direction of travel of the bill. A curved guide
166
also helps to direct the bill. The bill is pressed against the skid plate
160
by the belt unit
162
and is transported out of the upper unit
44
through the slot
65
in the safe
40
a
and via the exit slot
22
(
FIG. 1
) of the housing of the ATM
10
and into a tray (not shown) for collection by the user. A conventional shutter means (not shown) controlled by the data processing means
28
blocks the exit slot
22
when bills are not being presented to a user.
If there is a power failure, it is possible that a bill may be present between the belt unit
162
and the horizontal skid plate
160
at the time of the power failure. On restoring power, the data processing means
28
reverses the operation of the DC motor
118
(see FIG.
10
), and hence the direction of movement of the belt unit
162
, for a short period of time, so that any bill present between the belt unit
162
and the skid plate
160
is transported away from the slot
65
and into a purge bin
170
which is located adjacent that end of the upper unit
44
remote from the slot
65
.
Referring to
FIG. 10
, a timing belt
180
and gear wheels
182
, which are respectively operatively associated with the DC motor
118
and the drive pulley set of the belt unit
162
, serve to transmit drive from the DC motor
118
to the belt unit
162
.
For a front loading spray dispensing cash dispensing mechanism
20
, in contrast with a rear loading spray dispensing cash dispensing mechanism
20
, the upper unit
44
is simply rotated through 180° relative to the lower unit
42
prior to attachment to the lower unit
42
.
The upper units
44
is detachably mounted on the lower unit
42
. The lower unit
42
is provided with first and second location means
190
(see
FIGS. 6
,
8
and
10
) which respectively cooperate with third and fourth locating means
191
(see
FIGS. 9 and 10
) for locating the upper unit
44
relative to the core module
48
in the supporting framework
82
(see FIG.
5
). A conventional clamp (not shown) fits between each pair of cooperating locating means
190
,
191
to hold the lower and upper units
42
,
44
together. The locating means
190
and the locating means
191
are symmetrically positioned with respect to the vertical feed path
61
of bills from the lower unit
42
to the upper unit
44
, so as to enable interchangeability between front and rear loading configurations. Note that a longer timing belt
180
is used to transmit drive from the DC motor
118
to the belt unit
162
of the upper unit
44
of a front loading spray dispensing cash dispensing mechanism
20
, and that a gear
182
would be provided at either end of the drive pulley set of the belt unit
162
so that the construction of the upper unit
44
is essentially the same for both front and rear loading spray dispensing cash dispensing mechanisms.
A spray dispensing cash dispensing mechanism in accordance with the invention has the advantage that it incorporates the same lower unit
42
regardless of whether the mechanism has a rear loading or a front loading configuration. Thus a considerable saving in manufacturing costs is achieved. Moreover, by including many standard features such as the validator
58
and the purge bin
60
in the lower unit
42
, the construction of the upper unit
44
is simplified. By virtue of such simplification, essentially the same upper unit is used for both the rear access and front access spray delivery type of unit, enabling further savings in manufacturing costs to be achieved.
Another advantage of a cash dispensing mechanism in accordance with the invention is that if an upper unit requires replacement it is a simple matter to detach the upper unit from the lower unit and replace the original one by a new one.
Claims
- 1. A sheet dispensing mechanism comprising:a housing having a sheet dispensing port via which sheets are dispensed to a user; a first unit mounted inside the housing including a removable sheet storage unit, a picking mechanism for picking sheets one by one from the sheet storage unit, and a first transport mechanism for transporting sheets from the picking mechanism; a second unit which is mounted on the first unit within the housing in one of two possible positions depending on whether the sheet dispensing mechanism has a front loading or a rear loading configuration, the second unit being arranged to receive sheets transported upwardly out of the first unit, and including a second transport mechanism for transporting sheets received from the first unit to the sheet dispensing port; and the first unit including a sheet checking mechanism through which sheets transported from the picking mechanism by the first transport mechanism are passed, a divert mechanism for directing sheets rejected by the sheet checking mechanism into a first reject mechanism, and a third transport mechanism for transporting sheets accepted by the sheet checking mechanism upwardly out of the first unit to the second unit at a single transfer station, regardless of whether the sheet dispensing mechanism has a front or rear loading configuration; the second transport mechanism transporting sheets individually from the first unit to the sheet dispensing port.
- 2. A sheet dispensing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the third transport mechanism is arranged to transport sheets out of the first unit in a vertical direction.
- 3. A sheet dispensing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein (i) the first unit is provided with first and second locating means, and (ii) the second unit is provided with third and fourth locating means which are arranged to cooperate with the first and second locating means for the purpose of locating the second unit relatively to the first unit, the first and second locating means and the third and fourth locating means being symmetrically positioned with respect to the vertical feed path of sheets out of the first unit.
- 4. A sheet dispensing mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the first unit includes a motor arranged to drive the first, second and third transport mechanisms.
- 5. A sheet dispensing mechanism according to claim 4, wherein a continuous belt arrangement is used to transmit drive from the motor to the second transport mechanism, the length of the continuous belt arrangement being dependent on whether the sheet dispensing mechanism has a front or rear loading configuration.
- 6. A sheet dispensing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the second unit is detachably mounted on the first unit.
- 7. A sheet dispensing mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a second reject mechanism for receiving any sheet which is present in the second transport mechanism at the time of a power failure and which is subsequently transported into the second reject mechanism by the second transport mechanism following a resumption of power.
- 8. A sheet dispensing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the second transport mechanism comprises a continuous belt arrangement arranged in cooperative relationship with respect to a flat smooth surface, whereby individual sheets are transported between the continuous belt arrangement and the flat smooth surface.
- 9. An automated teller machine (ATM) comprising:a housing having a currency dispensing port via which currency is dispensed to an ATM user; a first unit mounted inside the housing including a removable currency cassette, a picking mechanism for picking currency one by one from the currency cassette, and a first transport mechanism for transporting currency from the picking mechanism; a second unit which is mounted on the first unit within the housing in one of two possible positions depending on whether the ATM has a front loading or a rear loading configuration, the second unit being arranged to receive currency transported upwardly out of the first unit, and including a second transport mechanism for transporting currency received from the first unit to the currency dispensing port; and the first unit including a currency validator through which currency transported from the picking mechanism by the first transport mechanism are passed, a divert mechanism for directing currency rejected by the currency validator into a first reject mechanism, and a third transport mechanism for transporting currency accepted by the currency validator upwardly out of the first unit to the second unit at a single transfer station, regardless of whether the ATM has a front or rear loading configuration; the second transport mechanism transporting currency individually from the first unit to the currency dispensing port.
- 10. An ATM according to claim 9, wherein the third transport mechanism is arranged to transport currency out of the first unit in a vertical direction.
- 11. An ATM according to claim 10, wherein (i) the first unit is provided with first and second locating means, and (ii) the second unit is provided with third and fourth locating means which are arranged to cooperate with the first and second locating means for the purpose of locating the second unit relatively to the first unit, the first and second locating means and the third and fourth locating means being symmetrically positioned with respect to the vertical feed path of currency out of the first unit.
- 12. An ATM according to claim 11, wherein the first unit includes a motor arranged to drive the first, second and third transport mechanisms.
- 13. An ATM according to claim 12, wherein a continuous belt arrangement is used to transmit drive from the motor to the second transport mechanism, the length of the continuous belt arrangement being dependent on whether the ATM has a front or rear loading configuration.
- 14. An ATM according to claim 9, wherein the second unit is detachably mounted on the first unit.
- 15. An ATM according to claim 9, further comprising a second reject mechanism for receiving any currency which is present in the second transport mechanism at the time of a power failure and which is subsequently transported into the second reject mechanism by the second transport mechanism following a resumption of power.
- 16. An ATM according to claim 9, wherein the second transport mechanism comprises a continuous belt arrangement arranged in cooperative relationship with respect to a flat smooth surface, whereby individual currency notes are transported between the continuous belt arrangement and the flat smooth surface.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
9812839 |
Jun 1998 |
GB |
|
US Referenced Citations (4)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0367519 |
May 1990 |
EP |
2106687 |
Apr 1983 |
GB |