CA1185699A - Auto money handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

AUTOMATIC MONEY HANDLING DEVICE

ABSTRACT
An automatic money handling device for receiving bills and coins and for dispensing bills and coins as change. The device has a storage reel, first and second bill belts extending from a first and supply reels around a first and second entrance rollers at an opening to the housing then to the storage reel. The two belts converge at the entrance rollers and then extend in superpose relation from the entrance rollers to the supply reel.
Reversible drives can cause the belts to travel toward and away from the opening for receiving, dispensing and storing bills. A
first sensor outside the opening senses the presence of a bill and can control the opera-tion of the drive motors. A second sensor inside the housing adjacent the entrance rollers senses if and when the bill has been drawn far enough into the webs and halts opera-tion of the forward drive, thus positioning a tendered bill at a viewing station for inspec-tion. The second sensor is an optical sensor for causing any bill not having a predetermined opacity to be rejected. A time delay is pro-vided for halting forward drive of the belts if a bill tendered does not reach the second sensor within the present time period.

Description

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AUTOMATIC MONEY HANDLING DEVICE

Cross References to RPlated Applications The present invention is related to two other Canadian patent applications filed on the same date as the present application, all of which axe assigned to a common assignee. These applications, Nos. 370,301 and 370,302, are, re-spectively, Point of Sale Terminal Having Prompting Display and Automatic Money Handling invente~ by Norris S. Azcua, George D. Margolin, Audrey Miller and Victor V. Vurpillat and Point of Sale Terminal Having Prompting Display, invented by the same four inventors listed above~

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~UMMARY OF THE INVENTIGN

Tha present invcrltion r~lat~q to a devlce for ~0mi-automQtlc~lly h~ndling money~, coin~
and billsO ooupon~, oortl~c~t~ ~nd ~imll~r $tem~. Th~ devlce ha~ ~ computer device to control one or more mov~bl~ bill beltlj in re~pon~Q to ~ignals received rrom b~ll detec tors pl~ccd alone the bill 1~ p~th ~9 lt movas rrom out~ide the bill belts to a po~ition ~andwich0d between the bill b~rlt~. The bill belks are driven in both forward and re-rer~
dir~ctionæ by motors controlled by the ~en80ra ~nd th~ computer. The device h~c a housin~
~ith ~ ~,riewillg windo~dD ~ keybo~rd and an inlet-outl~t Oh6l~01a Th~ bill b~lt~ transport the tend0red blll to tl~e v~wing window ror iden~
tir~catlon ~nd ~er~ic~t~on by the devic~
operRtor. Tho operator thcn actuate~ an acc~pt koy or r~ t key to indi cat~ lr the tandered bill iB ~ccapted. I~ the bill 12 ro~cted by the oper~tor, k~ylng t~le re~sot key cauae~ the ''~;

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balt~ t,o ~ dri~ en ln ~he r~verae direc~ion to return the bill to the customer.
One embodiment Or the present invention has ~our bill belt~. Each belt mechani~
lndependerltly drivsn by ~sparQte motors but commonly controlled by vne computin~ control devic~. Each belt machanis~ h~ its own 3an-190r9 9 vla~ln~ window9 inlet~outlet channel ~nd acc~pt and ra ject Xey~ . Each belt i9 control-led ao that iLt c~nlt be ~Iteased~ by a customer tendering ~ b~ll and therl withdra~in~ i t . If`
a bill l~ not det~cted with~n Q rixed t~me period by th~ second ~enAor9 ths bel t motor~
aro ctopped- Thia ~nti~tease function 9aV199 belt ~tora~a ~pace and prcp~re~ the device to a~cept ~ valid transactionO
q:h0 bill belt~ in one embodlment Or th0 invention have designated lnput~: a $1 belt9 .
a $~ belt9 a $10/$20 beltO and a coupon, cortif'ic~t~ and relat~d document belt. Each i~
belt tran~parerlt ~nd ha~ ~ ~ir~t bill det9ctor ~ S

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ad jacent the input~output channel to the be1 t ~nd a s~cond d~tec'cor alon~ the viewing path ~n betwserl the lnput-output chann0l and the viewing wlndow. A third bi~l detector m~y be u~ed on t}l~ opposite side of' ths viewln~ window.
Bg~GaU9e the bill belts can be drlven ~n both forward ~nd rever~e dlrectlonsD money c~n be dispen~0d a~ changs by the device. How-evar, ~sl one ~mbodirnent Or the preserlt inven~
tion, o~ly the $1 and ~;5 bill belt~ can be operated a~ bill di~penser~; although all bill belts carl re jeot unacceptable bllls ,.
If more than on~ bill belt i8 ~mployed, 1~ 8~ gn~ll light carl be pl~ced i~ the housine near the viewing window to indic~t0 which belt ~8 in OPer~t:llDn ~0 that th0 ~perator c~n look ~or ~ tendered bill 1 n the proper viewing window- Thn belts c~n be controlled 90 that only onc bill balt at ~ timc e~n be activ~.
~he motor~ c~n be controlled 90 thQt the bill b~ icp0n~e~ bi~ to the inl~t-outl~t ¢h~nnel but requlre~ the cu~tomcr to remove the bill or the l~st bill a~ nge in order ~ G_ to h~ve the controller proceed to the naxt ~t~p ln the tr~nsactit)n. In one embodiment c>f th~ pre~0nt invention th~ sen~or~ are separated by a di~tanc~ le~. th~n one blll length and th~ entire vlewine path along the top Or th~ housing i8 ~bout two bill 1~3ngths~

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Brief Description of the Drawin~s Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of the housing forming a part of one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a keyboard forming a part of the present invention.
Figure 3 shows the bill trays and viewing windows forming part of the present invention~
Figure 4 shows an axial view of the bill belt mechanism forming a part of the present invention.
Figure 5 shows the basic steps performed by the operator and the terminal during a sale.
Figures 6 and 7 show two views of the coin changer used in connection with the present invention.
Figures 8 and 9 are side and top views of a prompting display which can be used in conjunction with the present invention and which are shown and described in co-pending Canadian Patent Application Serial Number 370,302 filed on February 6, 1981~
Figure 10 shows a block diagram of the present invention as part of a larger point of sale terminal system.

Figure 11 shows a block diagram of the multiplexer shown in Figure 10.
Figures 12-23 show details of the electrical circuitry shown in Figure 11 above.
Figures 24 and 25 show a block diagram of the method steps used by the operator in actuating the present invention during a sale~

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DF:TA I LED DESCRI PT I ON

~ntroduction __ The pr89ent invention provi de~ ~ point Or ~ale terminal ror autom~tlcRlly cal cul ating a p7~yment due ror ~ sales transaction ~nd ror recelYing rnoney tend~red ~Ln p~ nt ~nd ror di~pen~i~n6 ¢hang0. The ~y~to~n in~lud~
d~t~ proce.s~in~5 ~ub~y~t~m eornprislne Qt le~t or:e ~omput~Dr" a m~mory whi~h m~y include reQd~onl~r m~mory (ROM) ~nd a r~gldom-Rcc~
n~mory (RAM) ~ a k~ybo~rd3 and ~ cu~tom~r~
f'ed money ~torag~ Qnd p~yout dev~ce" Th~
keybo~rd 1n~1udo~ a group o~ lt0m~repr0s~nt~n~
key~, pr~or~bly f`or thosa item~ h~vin~
'sho highe~t volumo o~ oal es ~ The terminsl 3~

also includes a prompting display for prompt-ing the operator to key in item-identificatlon data. A computer receives such item-identifi-cation data, retrieves from the memory price data for each k~yed item, and calculates the total price of the transaction. The money handling device has a plurality of customer-fed bill belts for receiving, storing and dis-pensing bills of different denominations, as well as for receiving checks, coupons, and the like. The money handling device includes a coin receiver, storer, sorter and dispenser.
The bill and coin devices operate under con-trol of one or more computers to receive money and to dispense change. A digital dis-play subsystem operating under control of a computer displays the amount of sale and the amount tendered. A printer provides a print-out of sales data and data identifying the attendant responsible for each transactlon.

Plgure~ 1 and 3 illu~tr~te hou~inE~ 10 having Eln interior ~or ~ont~in~ ctro-m~chanical ~nd electronic appar~tu~O An upper portion Or the hou~in~3 has ~n exterior race 11 with ~ keyboard 14 on one ~ide 13 o~ the houain~s" 17~e ke~board ~hown ln Figure 2 i~
~eserib~d ~n detail in ~ ~epar~te section.
Tho upper port~ on on ~ cu~tomar ~ide 15 o~ the houol~ag ha~ ~n e~g~rior ~ 17 rOr ~ CO1~8 to a 03rl08 of' ~our ~ld~by~ald~ CUJ-tom0r~d bill belt d~rl¢e~. E~ch bill belt de~ ep~rlato ol~ctro-~ech~nical de~ e ~ub~ct to ~ommon oorltPo ~ In ~ ~par~t~
tion ther~ detalled d~cription Or indi~ldu~l bill belt~ E~ch bill belt ¢onununi~
~at~s with ~ c:~rror~o~d~ng one o~ rour mone~
trays 16 pro~octi~g out~rdly ~rom th~ eustomer .~Y sid~ o~ the housi~g tO. EA~h bill belt devlce h~ ~n inl~t~outlot ~hannel at the ~uncti on b~twe~a~ th~ tray 0nd the }lou~
de~pensod ~ ~h~g~ or re~oat~ glr~ received ~Ja tho ~norle~ tr~y~ 16.

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Four ~ide-by~side window~ 20 are pro~fided on a top portion o~ the hou~ing for vlewing from both the ~ttend~nt ~ide 13 and th0 CU9~
tomer ~id0 1~ Or the hollsingO E~ch bill ~elt 1~ aligned with one o~ t~e uindows 20 ~o th~t ~ bill ~ndwiched betwe0n ~he bill belt~ ean be ~fiewed by Qn oparl~tor~
~ e customer ~ide i~ o~ t~le hou~nE 10 is~clude~ âigit~l d:L~pl~y~ 22 and 4. D~splay 22 ~how~ th~ tot~l amou~ o~ ~aeh ~ tr~-Dlct~on ~d d~plRy 24 ~hows tho ~ount tenderod b~ th~ ~u~tomerl, A oo~n ~lot 26 ~nd B ooin rol)~pt~clo 28 ar~ loc~tod on th~ o~t~m~r 01de o~ 'che hou~lng 1~
er~ ~ro on th~ koybo~rd g ~ grnup ol`
Tot~l key~ by wh~ ch ~ash oper~tor c~n enter d~ta that th3 oomputer r~cogn'l ze~ as both tr~saction dat~ snd employso-lderlti~ic~tion data; ~nd a group o~ A~cept ~nd Rs~ect ~ey~
by which ~n opcrator oan control ths bill beltsO

2a A ~e~ture Or the pre3ent inv0nt~0n i~
that the ~tten~t need not remernber the pri ce Or ~ny i It~m ord0red by a ~u~tomer. Having ro~0i~ed th~ cu~tomar ~ ~ orderg tlle ~tt~sld~nt ~impl~r ~otu~tea the ~ppropri~to key8 eith~r item lcey~ or ~at0go~ ~nd ~u~nber key~ ~
prompted by the promptlng di~pl~y to Icey in ltem-id0ntif'ication d~taO In re~ponse" 1;he - da'c~ proces~or retrlov~ ~rom m~or;~ the correspond~glg prlc0 dat~" ~nd dlEIpl~y~ lt on 220 A~tor ~11 the ordered items hav~ b~sn ~ntered, the opsr~tor ~¢tuate~ the proper Tot~l ~cey lto conclude the order phasa Or the s~la~ 'sr~nsaotiorl~ qrhe r~0;~t phase o~ the sales tr3n~action involve~ th~ c~lcul at$on and display o~ pannent; due dat~0 In E19 much a~ the deta enter0à by the Tot~l key pro~ides employee-identif'lcation the ~omputer can up~
dat~ ~n aoti~ity re~ord ~tor~d in the memory~, Such dn ~cti~ity rooord l~ psrtlou~rly use-~ul to ovaluat~ per~o~nnrl~ o~ employ~

Arter the p~yment due has been c~lcu~ ad,,, the computer ~ the money bslta elther dir~c~c~ y or throu~h ~nother computer or cor~
trollere An ~ttempted depo~i t o~ money by cu~tomer prlor tQ ~uch ~rrning will prove ~ruitlsss. Prior to armis~g, any eoin depo~lted in th~ coin slot 26 drops down ~ chute to coin c~ptacle 2~ ror returTl to tha customerO
D~po~it of' ~ bill ~nto lthe un~rmed b~ll belts will l~av~ the bill ln the tr~g~ 160 Thls re~tur~ minlmlze~ the po8~iblllty o~ di~pute~, ~n~ it ~a ~ ~impl~ matker to demon~tr~t0 th~t money cannot be ~d ~nto th~ unarmed money recepl~acl~3, Once ~rmed the tsrminal enteIS~ a pay-in modo O ~ow~ when th~ cu~tomar drop~ a eoin into coin ~lot 26 ~ t will be ~orted ant1 stored on ths b~ic o~ denomon~tlon. E~ch blll tendered i~ tran~ported to the window 20 ~or viewin~ the cu~tomer tenders an unaccep-t~blo bill, the attendant can c~u3e lt to be returned to the cu~tom3r by actuating the .

~ ~0 appropriate reject key 84, 88, 98~ 104. If the visual test is passed, the attendant actuates an Accept Key.
The computer is responsive to successive actuations of the Accept keys after a bill is sensed to accumulate and display a running total of the amount of money accepted.

The computer determines whether any change is due to the customer. If no change is due to the customer, the data processor disarms the money handling apparatus.
If change is due, the system enters a change-dispensing mode during which either or both coins and bills are dispensed. In either case a printer produces a record of the transaction.

Keyboard The keyboard illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a group of individual item-representing keys 32, or Best Seller keys. In the illustrated embodiment there are twelve Best Seller keys 32 in the group. Each Best Seller key preferably has a corresponding pictorial represen-tation, (illustrated in phantom lines at 34 on each key) of the item associated with the particular key, together with a separate label 36 printed on each key describing the item associated with that particular key. The labels 36 relating to the items identified by the twelve Best Seller keys are indicated in the drawings as Item 1 through Item 12 for simplicity.

The keyboard 1~ also includes a prompting display 38 for displaying product category and correspondiny item-listing information for the less frequently sold items and for the Best Seller items the prompting display provides data for prompting the attendant to actuate certain keys on the keyboard to identify to q,~D
the data processor corresponding less-frequently sold items being sold at the point of sale.

In the illustrated embodiment, a series of eight mutually spaced apart Category keys 40 are posi~ioned alongside a window ~2 which covers the prompting dis-play and through which the prompting display can be viewed. Each category key has a corresponding label 41 for identifyiny a category of information to which the key corresponds. The prompting display includes a movable roll 44. An electro-mechanical drive appar-atus is provided for moving the roll 44. Each cate-gory and its related list of items is printed on the roll. A selected portion of the roll can be moved to the window 42 for display when the attendant actuates a particular Category key 40. For example, in the embodiment shown a category heading 46 entitled "CATEGORY 5" displays a listing of corresponding individual items 48, depicted as "ITEM Q"; and when the attendant manually actuates the category key 40 labeled "CATEGORY 5" the roll 44 is moved until the listing for CATEGORY 5 is displayed in the window 42.

The roll shows a separate item-identifying code 50 unique to each item listed in the prompting display.
In the illustrated embodiment the prompting indicia for each item is a two-digit number displayed on the roll next to the item.

A group of numeric keys 54, hereafter collect-ively called a numeric pad, are positioned on the keyboard next to the promptiny display 38. The numeric pad preferably comprises ten individual keys labeled O through 9, respectively, with an eleventh key 56 labeled "TAX", for identifying taxable items.

The numeric pad can be used to identify to the data processor items selected from the prompting display.
To identify each item selected from the prompting display, first a category key is actuated and thPn two of the numeric keys are actuated in an order which supplies to the data processor a three-digit number for itentifying the selected item. For example, to indicate ITEM J in CAI'EGORY 5 first the CATEGORY 5 key is actuated and then the numeric keys are actu-ated in the sequence 3,2 for supplying a correspond-ing three-digit number (5,3,2) to the data processor for identifying ITEM ~.

The prompting display roll preferably contains - a listing of all available items for sale. Owing to this preferred feature, "redundancy" is provided in that items represented on the Best Seller keys 32 are also represented on the roll.

By way of example, in the course of the order-entry phase of a sales transaction involving the sale of one or more Best Seller items and one or more less frequently sold items, separate item-representing keys 32 are actuated to indicate purchase of each Best Seller item. The prompting display is actuated to display information relating to each item not represented on the Best Seller keys, and in a sequence prompted by the prompting display, the numeric keys 54 are actuated to indicate a separate multi-digit code for each less frequently sold item displayed on the prompting display. Data processor subsystem includes a look-up table for retrieving a pre-loaded price for each item identified in the oxder-entry phase of the sales transaction. The Tax button 56 is actuated after each taxable item is indicated and the data processing sybsystem calculates the tax on each taxable item. An arithmetic unit in the data processor sums the individual prices of each iden-tified item, as well as the tax on each itemt so as to calculate the total price of the sale transaction.

The keyboard includes Total keys 62. In the illustrated embodiment, there are eight Total keys having indicia 64 suitably the letters A through ~.
In response to the actuation of any one of the Total keys during a sales transaction, the computer cal-culates the pa~nent due.

Above the group of numeric keys there is a first Special-Item key 57. This key is used to enter into the data processor concerning the sale of special items not otherwise identifiable by the item-repre-senting keys 32 or the category in~ormation in theprompting display 38. The data processor can be progra~ned so that when the Special-Item key 57 is actuated, followed by entry of the sale amount, in cents, on the numeric keys 54, the sale can be recorded, along with its identification as a special item by selection of the next keyboard entry. If this is the last or only sale entry, then actuation of a corresponding Total key 62 can record the sale.

A second Special-Item key 58 above the group numeric keys can be used to enter the sale of gift coupons. The data processor can be progra~ned so that when the second Special-Item key is actuated, followed by entry of the sale amount on the numeric keys, 54, the sale is recorded and identified in a manner similar to the first Special-Iteln key described above.

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A Clear key 59 is located above the group of numeric keys 54. The Clear key ls used for clearing the last entry made.

A Sign-In key 66 and a Sign-Out key 68 are loc-ated on the keyboard above the Total keys 62. The Sign-In key is manually actuated by each attendant to indicate when he or she is starting a work shift and -to assign a separate attendant identification code to each attendant. An attendant starting awork shift lQ can depress the Sign-In key, enter his or her three digit attendant number on the numeric pad 54, and key 62 for indicating his or her code for that part-icular work shift. Once a particular Total key is assigned to an attendant by the sign-in procedure, that particular Total key is unavaila~le for being assigned to another attendant until the Sign-Out key is actuated to rel~ase use of the key for an attendant working a subsequent work shift.

The Sign-Out ]cey 68 is manually actuated to cause the data processor to record the times when the atten-dants end their respective work shifts, as well as for releasing the Total key code assigned to each attendant ending a work shift. Attendants ending their work shift sign out by actuating the Sign-Out key, entering their employee number on the numeric keys 54, and entering their assigned code on one of the Total keys 62.

A Void key 70 is provided on the keyboard above the Sign-In and Sign-Out keys. The Void key is used to clear from the data processor all data entered from the start of a given sales transaction. The Void key becomes inoperative after arming of the bill caches.

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Above each bill belts opening are respective label 72 indicating the type of paper currency or money equiv-alent to be inserted into the opening of each bill belt lC. ~ne dollar bills for a first bill belt 74;
five dollar bills for a second bill belt 76; either $10 or $20, checks or other bills for a third bill belt 78; and other bills, checks, coupons etc.,for a fourth bill belt 80. The fourth bill belt is adapted for receipt of promotional items.

Each group of Accept/Reject keys as shown in Figure 2 includes one or more keys labeled according to the type of bill, coupon, check, etc., to be received by a corresponding bill belt. A first group of Accept/Reject keys associated with the first bill cache 74 includes a One Dollar Accept key 82 and a One Dollar Reject key 84.

The second group of Accept/Reject keys comprises a Five Dollar Accept key 86 and Reject key 88.

A third group of Accept/Reject keys includes a Ten Dollar Accept key 90, a Twenty Dollar Accept key 92, a Check Accept key 94; an Other Dollar Accept key 96, a Reject key 98 for rejecting any of the bills in the third bill belt.

Above a fourth group of Accept/Reject keys, there is a special function key 100 labeled "SS" for enter-ing acceptance of special transactions not covered elsewhere on the keyboard. The fourth group comprises a set of four keys 102 for indicating acceptance of four different types of coupons or similar store pro-motion certificates. A Reject key 104 enters rejec-tion of any coupon certificate or the like tendered into the fourth bill cache.

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Operation of the Accept/Reject keys is under-stood best by the following example~ After having entered data relating to all items involved in a single order, the attendant depresses his or her assigned Total key 62 to calculate and display the amount of sale, i.e~, the payment due. Payment is made by the customer by inserting coins into the coin slot 26 and/or bills, checks, coupons or the like into appropriate openings 18. Upon tendering of a bill to any opening 18 a light identifying the active bill belt cues the attendant to look to the proper window 20. ~he attendant then visually in-spects the tendered bill. Upon verification, the attendant depresses the appropriate One, Five, Ten, Twenty key. Actuation of any of these keys indicates the amount of payment made against the total sale amount.

When payment of an amount equal to our greater than the amount of sale is detected by the data processor, the required amount of change, if any is automatically calculated and dispensed by the coin, the one dollar and five dollar bill devices as required. No change is given from other than the one or five dollar bill belts and the coin changer.
Recording of receipts and disbursements by denomin-ation, along with the store-opening amounts, enable the system to maintain an accurate account of all bills and coins throughout the business day.

Customer submittal of checks or other bill denominations (two dollars, fifty dollars, etc.) is verified by the attendant examining the dollar or check amount through the corresponding window 20.
If the tendered bill or check is acceptable, the attendant then enters the amount of the bill or check, using the numeric keys 54. Subsequent actuation of either the Check key or the Other Dollar key 96 iden-tifies the type and amount of payment to the data processor.

Actuation of the "SS" keys 100 provides a means to record and identify special transaction, such as discounts, give-aways, no charge sales, etc. Under these conditions the bill belts are not activated.
Actuation of the "SS" keys, preceded by entering the amount on the keys 54 enters an amount to be deducted from the total sale and recorded as expense.

- The coupon keys 102 labeled Coupon 1 thro~gh Coupon 4 can be used to identify different types of promotional sales. Actuation of this key can cause the data processor to accept the value previously entered on the numeric keys 54, to identify the sale as resulting from a store promotion and to enter in memory the cash value of the promotion to be used later on cashreconciliation.

The keyboard includes a first digital display 106 for displaying the amount of each sales transaction, and a second digital display 108 for displaying the cumulative amount tendered in payment of each sales transaction. Display 106 can be used to momentarily display the price of each item sold and the tax on each item sold. The keyboard also includes a first LED 110 for being activated when display 106 relates to the price of a particular item being sold; a second LED 112 for indicating the tax on either the amount previously displayed or the total tax; and a third LED 11~ to be activated; display 106 indicates the total amount of the sales transaction, including tax.

On the customer side 15 of the housing 10, as illustrated in FIG 3, the digital displays 22 and 24 provide the same displays as the amount of Sale display 106 and the Amount Tendered display 108, respectively. Similarly, LED displays 116, and 120 on the customer side 15 of the housing are activated along with corresponding activation of the LED's 110, 112, and 114 for corresponding item, tax and total information, respectively.

In a specific embodiment, in which the keyboard 14 is adapted for use in a point of sale terminal involving the sale of ice cream products, all keys on the keyboard are a flattouch type which can be - wiped clean with a damp cloth and which have no openings through which liquids can reach the switch-ing mechanisms. Switches are mechanical, rather than capacitive, in order to minimize accidental activation.

Bill Handling . .
The construc-~ion of each bill belt device is shown in FIG.4. Each bill belt device includes a housing 122 containing a first and second supply unstoring reels 124, 126 spaced apart from each other, and a take-up or storage reel 128. A lower entrance roller 130 is located immediately inside the housing 25 122 below the opening 18 and an upper entrance roller 132 is located immediately inside the housing 122 above the opening 18 and above the lower entrance roller 132. The two entrance rollers are rotatable about corresponding axes of rotation which are para-llel to one another and perpendicular to the path of travel of a bill inserted into the opening of the bill cache.

A first transparent money belt 134 is secured at one end to the first supply reel 124 and is secured at lts opposite erld to the storage reel 128. The first belt has a portion extending upwardly away from the first supply reel, around the lower entrance roller, and then along a stralght path away from the entrance rollers and around a first yuide roller 136 on a side of the housing opposite the entrance roller. Such portion of the first belt then extends from the first guide roller down to the storage reel 128. A second transparent money belt 138 has a portion extending upwardly from the second supply reel 126 into engage-ment with a second guide roller 139 adjacent the first guide roller 136 and then around a third guide roller 140 above the second guide roller. Such portion of the second belt then extends along a straight path 15 near the top of the housing toward the entrance to the bill cache and is wrapped around the upper entrance roller 132 and is then reversed to travel in a super-posed relation above the portion of the first web which extends in a straight path across the top o~
the housing. The superposed path of the first and second belts is illustrated at 142 in FI~. 4 and is referred to below as the viewing path or viewing position.
The first and second belts both extend around the first guide roller 136 in their superposed relation and both belts then extend down to the storage reel 128, in the superposed relation, for attachment to the storage reel. The first and second belts are wound in unison around the storage reel when the storage reel is rotated in the direction of the arrow at 144 shown in FIG. 4.

Thus, the first and second belts converge at the entrance rollers which, in turn, apply a slight amount of pressure against one another so that the two belts are pressed slightly into contact with one another as they converge inside the opening 18 to the housing 122. The belts then pass in a superposed relation along the straight viewing path 142 across the upper por-tion of the housing from the opening 18. The two belts are held in contact with one another along the straight viewing path 142 as they pass around the first guide roller 136 to the storage reel 128.

First and second gear wheels 152, 154 are rigidly affixed to the first and second supply reels 124, 126.
The two gear wheels are the same diameter, and have gear teeth of identical size and spacing.

A third gear wheel 156 is rigidly affixed to the storage reel. The third gear wheel has approx-imately twice the area of either the first or the second gear wheel, and has gear teeth of the same size and spacing as the first and second gear wheels.

A first supply reel drive motor 158 is mounted in the housing 122 adjacent the first gear wheel 152.
A first driven gear wheel 160 on the output shaft of the first supply reel drive motor engages the first gear wheel. The first driven gear wheel is substan-tially smaller in diameter than the diameter of the first gear wheel. ~imilarly, a second supply reel drive motor 162 is mounted in the housing adjacent the second gear wheel 154, and a second driven gear wheel 164 identical to gear 160 on the output shaft of the second supply reel drive motor engages the second gear whee].

A take-up reel drive motor 166 is mounted in the housing 122 adjacent the third gear wheel 156, and a third driven gear 168 on the output shaft of the take-up reel drive motor engages the third gear wheel.

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A serve mechanism is provided for the bill beltsO

A computer issues a number ~f commands to the controller.

When the bill belt is operated in a pay-in mode, its take-up reel drive motor 166 is energized by the serve to rotate the third gear wheel 156 clock-wise in the storiny direction (with reference to FIG. 4) which, in turn ro~ates the storage reel 128 in the clockwise direction illustrated by the arrow 144 in FIG. 4. At the same time, the first and second belts unwind from their respective supply reels and travel together, in their superposed relation, along the viewing path 142 away from the entrance rollers and toward the first guide roller 136. Preferably, ten-sion is maintained by applying a relatively low levelof energization to the supply reel drive motors 158 and 162 which are electrically connected in series. The bill is drawn into the opening 18 and between the first and second belts by the action of the belts traveling over the entrance rollers and into the housing along the viewing path 142 to a window 20 in the point of sale housing 10. The window 20 is illus-trated in phantom in FIG. 4. The drive motors are de-energized, under control of a computer, to position the bill below the window, for viewing by the operator.

As bills continue to be drawn into the housing they become sandwiched between the belts wrapped around the storage reel 128.

When the bill belt is operated in a pay-out mode, its series-connected supply reel drive motors are energized by the serve to turn their respective gear wheels in a counter-clockwise direction in an unstoring ~5e~

direction (with reference to FIG. 4) which, in turn, rotates the supply reels in a counter-clockwise direction, as illustrated by the arrows at 172 in FIG. 4. Preferably, tensivn is main-tained by applying a relatively low level ofenergization to the take-up reel drive motor 166. This travel of the belts causes each bill sandwiched between them to be payed out through the opening 1~.

In the illustxated embodiment, the bill belt sensors include outer optical detectors out-side the entxance rollers 130, 132 and inner optical detectors inside the housing adjacent the entrance rollers. The outer sensors can be a first infra-red (IR) sensor 174 located in front of the entrance rollers abo-~e the opening 18 and a cooperating IR emitter 175 embedded in the money tray 16 in front of the entrance rollers and below the first IR sensor 174. The emitters 175 and 177 are electrically connected in a gate-controlled series circuit path.

The outer optic~ ensors are located as close to the outside of the entrance rollers as possible. It is desirable that the inner optical sensors also be located fairly close to the in-side of the entrance rollers, although they can be spaced inwardly from the entrance rollers no more than the length of a bill being tendered into the bill cache.

~:~L8~

In the bill belt, each of the two emitter and sensor combinations pxovides for detecting when a bill is present between them. Each sensor senses all the IR radiation transmitted to it from the corresponding emit-ter when no bill is present between them, and the sensor produces an outpu~ signal having a first value proportional to the sensed -trans-mitted IR radiation for indicating that no bill is present. When a tendered bill is pre-sent between the sensor and detector, a certain amount of IR radiation is transmitted through the bill, but most transmitted IR radiation is blocked. The sensor produces an output signal having a second value proportion to the reduced amount of sensed transmitted IR radiation for indicating that a bill is present. This capability of the sensors can be used to detect bills that are too light absortive, e.q. double bills, or bills that are too light transmissive, e.q. certain counterfeit bills.

- 28 ~

IR-type emitters and sensors are used so that the bill cache controls are insensitive to stray ambient light, i.e., light in the vis-ible spectrum.
The outer optical sensors 17~, 175 are used as part of a means to count bills dis-pensed as change. During operation in the pay-out mode, each bill dispensed to the opening 18 i5 detected by the outer optical sensing means. The bill belts can be control-led to dispense each bill entirely past the entrance rollers and past the first sensing means and into the money tray 16; and the outer sensing means can detect when each bill has been dispensed from the opening to provide data to a counter for counting each bill so dispensed.
Alternatively, the bill belts can be controlled in the pay-out mode to feed a bill halfway through the opening so that the bill remains between the entrance rollers blocking the outer sensor until -the bill is taken from the opening by the customer. The outer sensor can detect when a bill present between the entrance rollers is taken by a customer and can produce data fed to a counter for countiny each bill taken by the customer. The bill belts can be controlled in the pay-out mode to feed only the last bill paid as change halfway through the openlng 18. The com-puter disarms the bill belts after the last bill is paid out as change, and remains so until a subsequent arming command from a Total key.

The inner optical sensors 176, 177 can detect whether or not a bill that is tendered into the opening is actually drawn into the housing. The pay-in cycle is activated when the outer optical sen-sors 174~ 175 indicate that a bill is in the opening.
If the tendered bill is not detected by the inner optical sensors 176, 177 within the 0.5 second time per-iod, counted by the computer a command is issued for halting the belts. This restricts the forward travel of the belts when they are "teased", thus valuable storage space is saved.

Either the outer or the inner sensing means also can be used to detect the thickness of a tendered bill in order to validate a pay-in transaction. Each IR sensor can indicate the opacity of a tendered bill between the emitter and the sensor. A valid bill has a predetermined opacity. If more than one bill is between the emitter and sensor, or if the thickness of the tendered bill is not the required thickness, or if the tendered bill is otherwise not genuine, the light transmissivity detected by the optical sensor either can be too high or too low, compared to a required range of opacity for a genuine bill.

Third optical sensors are provided by an lnfra-red sensor 178 and emitter 179 positioned to the rear of the bill viewing path 142 immediately in front of 5~

the first guide roller 136. These sensing means can be optionally used to detect the leading edge of a bill drawn into the bill cache for generating data to be fed to the data processor to issue a command for stopping the pay-in feed operation.

Coin Cache FIGS. 6 and 7 show a coin receiver dispenser and storing device 200 located in the interior of the housing 10. The coin changer includes a coin sorter and a coin dispenser. Coins deposited into the single coin slot 26 on the front of the housing 10 travel through a first coin guide 502 for funneling the coins, one at a time, into the top of a second coin guide 504 having a sloping internal track 506 for guiding each coin to a coin sorter 508.

Separate optical sensors, or mechanical or electrical switches at the coin sorting openings in the coin sorter can detect when a particular coin passes into each opening of the sorter for issuing signals to the computer indicating the denominations of coins received. The computer, in turn, can provide for calculating the payment received. For e~ample, a first optical sensor 550 is located adjacent the dime-sorting opening 532, a second optical sensor 552 is located adjacent the penny-sorting opening 534, a third optical sensor 554 is located adjacent the nickel-sorting opening 536, and a fourth optical sensor 55~ is disposed adjacent the quarter-sorting opening 538. The optical signal emitted and sensed by each sensor is blocked when a coln either passes through the opening or bypasses the opening where each sensor is located.

The change dispenser is conventional in struc-ture and operation, and an example of a coin dispen-ser which can be used for the purpose of the present invention is Model 2941 Change Dispenser manufactured by SCI Systems, Inc. of Huntsville, Alabama. Coins dispensed as change by the coin dispenser generate data for the computer to provide a running total of coins available in each column dispenser.

The data processing system also provides for detecting when a coin overflow condition is imminent.
When a coin overflow condition is imminent in a given column, the solenoid 562 is energized to pivot the coin diverter 558 in the position shown in phantom lines in figure 6 for funneling any further coins that column into a coin reservoir 266. ~fter the coin diverter has diverted the coin to the coin reservoir, the solenoid is de-energized to return the coin diverter to its normal position, under the action of the coil spring 264. Coins of a particular denomin-ation are funneled into the coin reservoir only whenan overflow condition for that particular denomin~
ation is sensed. If coins are removed from a coin column in the coin dispenser, appropriate data related to the amount of coins removed is supplied to the data processor.

Or~anization of Electronic ~lardware With reference.toFIG. 10, there will now be gen-erally described the overall organization of the elec-tronic hardware contained in housing 10.
The computer comprises a data processor 350 and a memory,preferably including a RAM 352 and ROM 354.
It is preferable to split the memory into a random access portion and a read-only portion so that software and systern constants can be stored in the read-only memory portion and thereby prevent temporary loss thereof in the event of a power failure or the like.
Suitable capacity for RAM 352 is 16K bytes (each byte being 8 bits). Suitable cap-acity for ROM 354 is 24~ bytes.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, data pxocessor 350/ RAM
352, and ROM 354 and a battery backed RAM.
These products are commercially manufactured by Motorola and others under the designations MC6800 Microprocessing Unit, MCM 4027 Random Access Memory, and Intel Read-Only Memory, (2708 EPROM) respectively. Motorola has published a series of manuals describing the constructions and operation of, and various uses for, the MC6800 Microprocessing Unit and various companion products including the MCM 4027 Random Access Memory, an MC6820 Peripheral Interface Adapter (PIA), the MCM6830 Read-Only Memory, and an MC6850 Asynchronous Communication Interface Adapter (ACIA). These manuals include an M6800 EXORciser ~ser's Guide, an M6800 Microprocessor Program-ming Manual, an M6800 Microprocessor Applications Manual, and various M6800 Microprocessor Family of Parts date sheets.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above-described specific products are exemplary of various commercially available products suitable for use in the point of sale system. The MC6800 microprocessor in-corporates particular structure for performing certain func-tions such as input/output functions that are performed by different structures in other commercially available systems which are suitable for use with the present invention.

A unibus is depicted in FIG. 10 as bus 356 couplin~
data processor 350 to R~ 352, ~OM 354, a PIA 358, a PlA
360, an ACIA 362, a controller 364, a controller 366, and a multiplexer and control electronics 368. Each PIA is fully described in the above-identified Motorola manuals. Sim-ilarly, the ACIA is fully described therein, PIA 358 pro-vides an inter~ace between data processor 350 and a control-ler 370 for the keyboard and the displays, and PIA 360 pro-vides an interface for the printer 372 and a modern 374. Modem 374 is coupled to DAA 377 so that data stored in R~`~ 352 can be transmitted via a telephone line to a central data processing system. Multi-plexer 368 is a specially designed interfacing device.

Multiplexer With reference to ~'IG. 11, multiplexer 368 isconnected to bus 355 to receive addresses and com-mands from data processor 350 and to feed status data back to data processor 350. The address bus portion of bus 356 comprises 16 wires (not indiv-idually shown). More than 64K separate addresses can be instantaneously defined by the parallel-by-bit signals carried by the address bus, each address is symbolized by a four place hexidecimal number.
For example, in the specifically described embodi-ment, the address of multiplexer 368 has been arbitrarily chosen as the four place hexidecimal n~er 80El. Numbers that expressed in hexidecimal form are indicated by the letter H or "$" preceding the number.

The addresses applied to bus 356 by data pro-cessor 350 are in accordance with positive logic format subject to three-state control (TSC). That is, each of the 16 address bus wires is connected tothe output of one of 16 three-state buffer cir-cuits within data processor 350.

Whenever data processor 350 applies an address to the address bus, it simultaneously controls the value of an R/W signal to designate whether a read or write operation is involved.

Multiplexer 368 has circuitry for strobing data transfers, herein referred to as strobing circuitry 380 with positive logic format.

A suitable arrangement of digital circuits which is used in the illustrated embodiment for producing the above-mentioned strobing signals is shown in detail in FIG. 12. A NOR gate 381 (such as one-half of type 74LS260) receives five input signals and pro-duces an output signal that is high (at or near +V~) only when each of its five input signals is low (at or near ground). A NAND gate 383, (such as type 74LS30) receives eight input signals and produces an output signal that is low only when each of its eight input signals is high. The above-mentioned input signals include signals identi~ied as BAl through BA7, (which are the eight least significant DitS of the address carried by the address bus), and I/O signal produced by decoding circuitry. The I/O signal equals 1 when the eight most significant bits of the address define the number H80. ~lith gates 381 and 383 being connected as shown, the output signal produced by gate 383 is low whenever the address ~80El is carried by the address bus~

NOR gate 385 (1/4 of type 74LS02) received two in-put signals and its output is the CSTB signal-which in when high the computer issues a command to multi-plexer 368.

The R/W signal is inverted by an inverter 386 whose output signal is applied as one of two input signals to a NOR gate 387. The other input signal for a NOR gate 387 is received from NAND gate 383. The out-put signal produced by NOR gate 387 is inverted by an inverter 388 to produce the RDSTS signal. Owing to the foregoing arrangeme~t, the RDSTS sig~al EQUALS O whenever data processor 350 addresses multiplexer 368 for a read operation to read status data.

With reference again to FIG. 11, multi-plexer 368 has command receiving circuitry 390 that is strobed by the CSTB signal. A suit-able arrangement of digital circuitry which used in the illustrated embodiment for receiving commands is shown in detail in FIG. 15. Each co~nand issued by data processor 350 to multi-plexer 368 is carried by a portion of bus 356.
The data bus portion comprises either bi-direct ional lines for carrying signals identified as BDO through BD7 respectively. Of these, the signals BDO through BD4 are involved in defining the commands issued to multiplexer 368.

20Table 1 below give the coding for the com-mands issued to multiplexer 368.

BD4 BD3 BD2 BDl BD0 X X X H H select belt 74 ($1) as scanned one X X X H L select belt 76 ($5) as scanned one X X X L H select belt 78 ($10/20) as scanned one X X X L L select belt 80 (coupon) as scanned one X ~ X stop X H L X X forward X L H X X reverse X L L X X unload L X X X X arm H X X X X disarm Command receiving circuitry 300 includes five inver-ters 391-1 through 391-5 for inverting the five parallel signals defining the commands issued to multiplexer 368.
This signal produced by inverter 391-5 is applied to the D input of a D-type flip flop 392 (one quarter of 74LS34). An inverter 391-6 responsive to the CSTB sig-nal has its output connected to the clock input of flip flop 392. Accordingly, when data processor 350 issues an arming command to multiplexer 368, flip flop 392 is triggered into its set state, and when data processor issues a disarming command to multiplexer 368, flip flop 392 is triggered into its reset state. Flip flop 392 can also be cleared by the B RESET signa.l carried by bus 356.
:~. 39 -An AND gate 393 is responsive -to the out-put signal produced by flip flop 392 and to a PRST signal. Normally high and is low only for a brief interval such as approximately 100 milliseconds following initial application of power to the electronic hardware. The signal produced by AND gate 393 is the ENBA signal which is a mode control signal.
The ENBA signal is applied to the clear input of a register 394 (type 74LS175) com-prising four D-type flip flops (not individually shown). So long as the ENBA signal equals 0, thereby defining the disabled mode, each of the flip flops in register 394 is held in the reset state. With the ENBA signal equaling 1 r register 394 is responsive to triggering by the CSTB signal, with each such trigger causing the register to be loaded with a command issued by data processor 350 for controlling a selected one of the bill caches 74, 76, 78 and 80.

~ ~5~i~

Command receivlng ci.rcuitry 390 further includes a copy/latch register 395 (type 7475) comprising four latch circuits (not individually shown). Copy/latch register 395 receives a. BSY
signal which equals 0 only during intervals of time during which an electrical energization pulse is being applied to cause the scanned one of the bill belts to be driven. With the BSY signal equaling 0, copy/latch register 395 exhibits memory. During the intervals in which the BSY signal equals 1, each of the four latch circuits in copy/latch register 395 copies the output signal of a corresponding one of the four flip flops in register 394.
With reference again to figure 11, multi-plexer 368 i.ncludes a belt seleet deeoder 400 for deeoding the bill belt identifying portion of eaeh eommand issued to multiplexer ~368. A
suitable arrangement of digital circuitry which is used in the illustrated embodiment for effecting such decoding is shown in detail in figure 17. ~n AND gate 401 receives the CLO

and CLI signals and produces an output signal that is applied to an AND gate 402. The ENBA
signal is also applied to AND gate 402. The output signal produced by AND gate 402 is applied to three inverters 403, 404, and 405.
Inverters 403 and 404 produce output signals SLO and STO, respectively. Inverter 405 has its output resistively connected to the base electrodes of power transistors 406 and 407.
When power transistor 406 is switched on, it - connects a source of power +V2, suitably -~12 volts unregulated, to one terminal SMVO of the series-connected supply reel drive motors in bill cache 74. At the same time that tran-sistor 406 is switched on, power transistor 407 is switched on to connect the source of power to one terminal TMVO of the take-up drive motor in bill cache 74.
During intervals in which the disabled mode is being defined by the ENBA signal, copy/latch register 395 (figure 15~ identi~ies bill belt 74. Inasmuch as AND gate 402 is responsive to the ENBA signal, however, neither power transistor 406 nor power transistor 407 is switched on in the disabled mode.

~5~

Decoder 400 further includes three decod-ing arrangements that are structurally identi-cal to each other and are substantially similar to the above-described decoding arrangement concerning bill belt 74. The only difference in structure arises because there is ~o need for the decoding arrangements for bill belts 76, 78, and 80 to respond to the ENBA signal.
Inasmuch as these threè decoding arrangements are structurally identical to each other, only one of them is described. An AND gate 410 receives the CLO and CLI signals and produces an out-put signal that is applied to inverters 411, 412, and 413. Inverters 411 and 412 produce output signals SL3 and ST3 respectively.
Inverter 413 has its output resistively con-nected to the base electrodes of power tran-sistors 414 and 415 that control the switching of power to the supply and take-up drive motors in bill cache 80 in the same manner as power transistors 406 and 407 do so for bill belt 74.

- .~

Six of the gates shown in figure 16 (which shows the decoder 402) are involved in detecting whether the existing command equals the next eommand. These are exclu-sive-OR gates 421, 422, 423, and 424 and AND
gates 425 and 426. In circumstances in which the existing command equals the next command, the output signals produced by AND gates 425 and 426 each equals 0, two of the control signals produeed by decoder 420, namely, UNLD signal produeed by a NAND gate 428, eaeh equals 1.

The UNLD signal is involved in eontrol-ling a high-speed dump operation by whieh a store owner or manager empties a bill belt.
As a seeurity measure, housing 10 has a key-eontrolled loek (not shown) used for eontrolling a KSW signal. An inverter 429 reeeives the KSW signal and produees an out-put signal that is applied to an AND gate 430.
Owing to the eonneetion as shown between AND
gate 430 and NAND gate 427, the UN~.D signal eannot equal 0 unless the KSW equals O.

44 _ ~s~

When the storage reel has reached its maximum diameter or the supply reels have reached their maximum diameter, NAND gate 431 receives an RLSC signal produced by circuitry to be described with reference to figure 19 and that receives the CQENO signal produced by the circuitry described above with refer-ence to figure 15. In circumstances in which the ex.isting command calls for a bill belt to unload at a time when the RLSC signal equals 0. In such circumstances, AND gates 432, 433, and 434, which are connected in tandem as shown between NAND gate 431 and NAND gate 427, cause the UNLD signal to equal 1. Under the same conditions NAND gate 435 receives a FLSC signal also produced by the circuitry shown in figure 19, and receives the output signal produced by an AND gate 436. Consider now circumstances in which the existing command calls for a bill belt to move forward at a time while the FLSC
signal equals 1. In such circumstances, 5~

the CQENl and the CQEN0 signals each equals 1, whereby the output signal produced by AND gate 436 also equals 1. Owing to the connection as shown of the tandem gates be-tween AND gate 436 and NAND gate 428, the RUN signal equals 1 in these circumstances.
A suitable arrangeme.nt of such buffer circuits 4S0 used in the illustrated embodiment is shown in detail in figure 19. As shown, two D-type flip flops 451 and 452 are included in these buffer circuits. When the supply reels of the scanned bill belts have reached maximum diameter, its reverse limit switch causes an RLSW signal to equal 9. This signal is coupled through an RC delay circuit to the clear input of flip flop 451. Accordingly, while the supply reels are at maximum diameter, flip flop 451 is in its reset state causing an RLSC signal to equal 1 and an RLSC signal to equal 0. The flip flop is triggered into its set state when a command issues to multiplexer 368, thereby causing the CSTB signal to define a positive pulse, at a time while the RLSW
signal equals 1 thereby causing the CSTB signal to define a positive pulse, at a time while the RLSW signal equals 1 thereby indicating that the supply reels are not at maximum diameter.
Similarly, when -the take-up reel of the scanned bill belt has reached maximum diameter, its forward limit switch causes an FLSW signal to equal 0. This signal is coupled through an RC delay circuit to the clear input of flip flop 452. Accordingly, while the take-up reel is at maximum diameter, flip flop 452 is in its reset state, causing the FLSC signal to equal 1 and the FLSC signal to equal 0. Flip flop 452 is triggered into its Set state when a command issues to multiplexer 368, thereby causing the CSTB signal to define a positive pulse, at a time while the FLSW signal equals 1 thereby indicating that the supply reels are not at maximum diamete.r. The above-described four output signals of buffer circuits 450 are distributed to control signal decoder 420, to OR function circuitry 455 (figures 11 and 13), and to status byte buffer circuitry 460 (figures 11 and 20).
A suitable arrangement of such sensor buf-fers used is illustrated. The principal function of the circuitry of figure 18 relates to sensor buffering, the circuitry also provides for producing the PRST signal which is used to initialize the s~ates of various bistable cir-cuits incident to the turning on of power. In this connection, the sensor buffer 465 of figure 1~ includes a comparator circuit 466 (type 6M339) whose output signal is the PRST signal. The inverting input of comparator circuit 466 is connected to a node 467 of a resistor divider network comprising resistors 468 and 469 and potentiometer 470. The non-inverting input of comparator circuit 466 is connected to a posi-tive feedback arrangement of resistors 471 and 472. When power is turned on, the voltage level at node 467 of the resistor divider net-work rapidly changes to its steady state value.
On the other hand, a delay circuit comprising a resistor 473 and a capacitor 474 supplies a relatively slowly changing voltage to resistor 472. Eor approximately the first 100 milli-seconds after power is applied, the voltage at node 467 exceeds the voltage applied to resistor 472 with the result that the P~ signal equals O for this brief interval. At the end of this brief interval, which ends as soon as the volt-age to resistor 472 exceeds the voltage at node 467, the PRST signal changes to the 1 value.
The positive feedback arrangement causes -the pulse defined by the PRST signal to have sharp rise and fall times.
Identical comparator circuits 475 and 476 are likewise connected to positive feedback arrangements for causing the output signals they produce, identified as DET A, and DET ~, to have sharp rise and fall times. The non-inverting inputs of comparator circuits 475 and 476 are coupled by resistors of their positive feedback arrangements to the node 467.
The inverting input of comparator circuit 475 is resistively coupled to the terminal identi-fied as DET A-. It will be recalled from the description of the outer IR sensors, set forth in the section directed to the construction of a bill cache, that the emitter electrodes of the four emitter electrodes are commonly con-nected to this terminal.
While any one of the four signals S,LO
through SL3 (figure 17) equals 0, the signal applied to this terminal normally is more posi-tive than the steady state voltage at node 467.
If a bill is present in the scanned bill belt between its IR emitter 175 and its sensor 174, this signal becomes less positive, with the result that the output signal DET A becomes equal to 1. In like manner, the inverting input of comparator circuit 476 is resistively coupled to receive a signal applied to the DET B-terminal. This signal is controlled by the inner IR sensor of ~e scanned bill belt to be normally more positive than the steady state voltage at node 467. If a bill is present in the scanned bill belt, between its IR emitter 177 and its sensor 176, this signal becomes less positive with the result that the output signal DET B becomes equal to 1. Another com-parator circuit 477 has a single posi-tive feed-back resistor and has its non-inverting input connected to the tap of potentiometer 470.
The inverting input of comparator circuit 477 is resistively coupled to the DET B- terminal.
Owing to this axrangement, whenever the inner sensor of the scanned bill cache detects a double bill, the DET D signal becomes equal to 1.
The logic circuitry 455 cooperates with other circuitry described below with reference to figure 14 to generate an interrupt request supplied to data processor 350. The DET A
signal is inverted by an inverter 480 whose output signal is applied to a delay circuit generally identified at 481. The output signal of delay circuit 481 is inverted by inverter 482.
One input of exclusive OR gate 483 is di.rectly connected to the output signal of inverter 482, and the other input is coupled through delay circuit 484 to receive the same signal. Thus, 5~

whenever the DET A signal changes from 0 to 1 or changes from 1 to 0, the output signal pro-duced by gate 483 is positive.
NOR gate 485 responds to each positive pulse to cause its output signal, (SET INT) to a negative pulse. Whenever the leading edge or trailing edge of a bill passes the outer sensor of the scanned bill belts, the SET INT
signal will change from its normal 1 to a tem-porary 0 and then return to its normal 1.
An arrangement structurally identical to the foregoing performs the same function with respect to the inner sensor. Whenever a change from either a 1 to a 0 or from a 0 to a 1 occurs in the DET B signal, a negative going pulse is defined in the SET INT signal. A
BSY signal, produced by circuitry to be de-scribed with reference to figure 22, is applied to an inverter 486 whose output is coupled through a differentiating circuit generally identified at 487 to NOR gate 485.
Whenever the BSY signal changes from 1 to 0, a negative going pulse is deEined in the SET INT
signal.

The remaining circuitry shown in figure 13 provides separate signal flow paths, each of which is structurally identical to the signal flow path described above with reference to the BSY signal, so that the SET INT signal is re-sponsive to the FLSC and the -F~C signals in the same manner that is responsive to the ~SY
signal.
Circuitry 490 receives several input signals, including the SET INT signal produced by OR function circuitry 455, and applies two output signals identified as IRQ and BD5 to two of the wires of the bus 356.
In figure 14 a D-type flip flop 491 has a direct set input that receives the SET INT
signal so that each time a negative going pulse is defined in the SET INT signal, flip Elop 491 is placed into its set state. A NAND
gate 492 receives the output signal of flip flop 491 and an ID signal pxoduced by inverter 493. The input of inverter 493 is connected to one of the wires of bus 356 to receive an IRQ INT a s.ignal. Normally, the latter signal - 53 ~

~s~

equals O; it equals 1 only when data processor 350 acknowledges an interrupt request and seeks to ascertain the identity of the peripheral that generated the interrupt request. A D-type flip flop 494 has a direct set input that re-ceives the signal produced by NAND gate 492.
Thus, flip flop 494 is placed into its set state each time a negative going pulse is defined in the SET INT signal. An inverter 495 produces the IRQ signal which, while it equals 0, indicates that an interrupt request is pend-ing. When data processor 350 acknowledges the interrupt request by causing a positive going pulse to be defined in the IRQ INT A signal, an inverter 496 enables a -three-state gate 497 to drive one of the wires of the data bus por-tion of bus 356. While so enabled, three-state gate 497 causes the BD5 signal to equal O which serves to inform data processor 350 that it is multiplexer 368 that is generating the interrupt request.

6~3~

One of the wires of bus 356 carries ~
RESET signal produced by da-ta processor 350.
Normally, this signal equal.s 1. Flip :Elop 494 has a direct clear input for placing flip flop 494 into its reset state each time the B RESET signal equals 0. Flip ~lop 494 is normally triggered into its reset state by the trailing edge of the positive pulse defined in the ~ signal when data processor 350 seeks to ascertain the identity of the source of the interrupt request.
After data processor 350 has acknowledged an interrupt request and ascertained that it is multiplexer 368 that is the source of the interrupt request, data processor 350 executes a read cycle operation during which status data is entered into data processor 350. In this connection, consider figure 20. It will be recalled from the description of figure 12 that the RDSTS signal equals 0 while data processor 350 causes the R/W signal to equal 1 and simultaneously addresses multiplexer 368.

- 55 ~

,, ?. :-~

~ D~ ~ ~

The RDSTS signal is applied to two inverters 500 and 501 each of which controls a group of Eour three-state gates. The format of each status byte applied to the data bus portion of bus 356 is evident from figure 20.
The remaining circuitry included within multiplexer 368 provides a time-shared servo subsystem for the ~ill caches. This subsystem includes, as generally shown in figure 11, servo rate selec-t circuitry 505, tach select cixcuitry 510, and summing junction select circuitry 515.
A suitable arrangement of tach select circuitry 510 used in the illustrated embodiment is shown in detail in figure 21. It will be recalled from the description of figure 4 that each bill belt includes a tachometer. In figure 21, the signals produced by the four identical tachometers are identified as tach 0 (the one in bill belt 74~, tach 1 (the one in bill belt 76), tach 2 (the one in bill belt 78), and tach 3 (the one in bill belt 80).

When the existing command identifies bill _ belt 74, the STO signal e~uals 0. An fet 516 receives the STO signal at its gate electrode and is switched on while the STO signal equals 0. The source and drain electrodes of Eet 516 are connected in a series circuit path between tach 0 and the inverting input of an analog operational amplifier 517 whose output is iden-tified as AFBl (AFB is an acronym for Analog Feedback). As shown, a conventlonal servo compensation network 518 is provided to control the gain provided by amplifier 517. An invert-ing unity gain circuit comprising operational amplifier 519 responds to the AFBl signal -to produce an AFB2 signal which is 180 degrees out of phase from the AFsl signal.
Three other fet-switched series circuit paths, each identical in structure to the above-described series circu.it path for tach 0, are provided for selectively coupling the tach 1 through tach 3 signals to amplifier 517.

fi~

These three series circuit paths are controlled by the STl signal, the ST2, and the S-~ signal, respectively.
Circuitry 505 shown in figure 22 is con--trolled signals UNLD and RUN, and produces an analog signal AIR (an acronym for Analog Input Rate). The time-shared servo controls the angular velocity of a bill cache drive motor in accordance with a magnitude of the AIR signal.
For the high speed dump operation, it is de-sirable that angular velocity be relatively high; a lower angular velocity is more desirable in connection with either of the pay-in or pay-out modes of the ~ill caches.
The UNLD signal equals O while the se-curity key switch is actuated and the existing command is an unload command. An FET 521 receives the UNLD signal at its gate electrode and is switched on while the UNLD signal equals 0. The source and drain electrodes of FFT
521 are connected in a series circuit path between -~Vl and the inverting input of an ~..

operational amplifier 522. The gain of ampli-fier 522 is controlled by a conventional ~eed-back circuit generally indicated a-t 523. The output signal produced by amplifier 522 is applied to an integrator generally indicated at 524. Suitably, the RC time constant of integrator 524 is between a half a second and one second. The output signal produced by integrator 524 is applled to an inverting, unity gain amplifier generally indicated at 525 whose output signal is the AIR signal. The AIR
signal is applied also to one end of a feedback resistor 526, the other end of which is con-nected to the inverting input of amplifier 522.
The RUN signal equals O while the existing command is either a Forward command or a Reverse (normal speed) command. An FET 527 receives the RUN signal at its gate electrode and has its source and drain electrodes connected in a series circuit path between a potentiometer 528 and the inverting input of amplifier 522.

FET 527 is switched on only while the RUN signal equals 0.
While neither the RUN nor the U~LD signals equals 0, the AIR signal has a steady state value of 0. When a command is decoded to cause the RUN signal to change to 0, FET 527 switches on, the magnitude of the AIR signal increases positively to define a ramp for an interval whose duration is fixed by the time constant of integrator 524. At the end of that interval, the input to integrator 524 will be null. Owing to the memory provided by integrator 524, how-ever, the AIR signal will have a positive value proportional to the setting of potentio-meter 528. In a similar manner, when data processor 350 issues a Stop command that is decoded to cause the RUN signal to change back to 1, the AXR signal will define a descending ramp to its steady state value of 0 volts.
The same kind of leading and trailing ramp is defined in response to a cycle of the UNLD
signal, the only difference from the foregoing residing in the magnitude of the AIR signal.

The output signal produced by inverter 524 is also applied to a circuit generally indicated at 529 that is substantially the same in con-struction and operation as the circuits described above with reference to figure 18. Circuit 529 produces the BSY signal and an inverter 530 responsive thereto produces the BSY signal.
The BSY and BSY signals provide status informa-tion as to whether the time shared servo is energizing a drive motor.
A suitable arrangement of summing junction select circuitry 515 used in the illustrated embodiment is shown in detail in figure 23.
During a pay-in mode of operation, the time shared servo is used to control the analog veloc-ity of the take-up reel drive motor in the scanned one of the bill caches. At the same time, an open-loop, relatively low-level energization of the supply reel drive motor of the selected bill cache occurs (in the opposite direction so as to maintain web tension. A
power transistor 535 cooperates with four of the power transistors shown in figure 23 to energize the take-up reel drive motor in the selected bill cache. A power transistor 536 cooperates with the remaining four of the power transistors shown in figure 23 to ener-gize the supply reel drive motors in the selec-ted bill cache.
While the existing command is a Forward command, power transistor 53S operates as part of the time shared servo whereas power transistor 536 operates on an open~loop basis.
~n the hand, while the existing command is either a Reverse or an ~nload command, power transistor 536 operates as part of the time shared servo whereas power transistor 535 operates on an open loop basis.
While power transistor 535 operates as part of the time shared servo, the summing junction for the time shared servo is 'In' summing junction 537. Between 'In' summing junc-tion 537 and the base electrode of power tran-sistor 535 there is an amplifier generally indicated at 538. While power transistor 536 operates as part of the time shared servo, the summing junction for the time shared servo is 'Out' summing junction 539. Be-tween 'Out' sum-ming junction 539 and the base electrode of power transistor 536 there is an amplifier generally indicated at 540.

~L8~6~

The present invention is shown and de-scribed with two alternate modes of implemen-tation - a software mode and a hardware mode.
Both modes are shown in conjunction with a microprocessor. At the time this application is filed, the inventors do not know what mode of implementation will be employed. It is very possible that the present invention will be manufactured and sold as a stand-alone device to interconnect with existing in-place point-oE-sale terminals.

Claims (4)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A method for operating a cash handling device for receiving and dispensing bills in which the device has a plurality of operator controlled keys, at least one money input channel means for receiving money and associated sensors, and at least one viewing window con-tained in a housing comprising the steps of: ascertaining the total charge of a sales transaction by actuating one of the keys; observing the presence of a bill in an input channel; verifying the genuineness and denomination of the bill previously placed in the channel while observing the bill through the viewing window; accepting or rejecting the bill by actuating the appropriate key; repeating the above steps until the device itself indicates that the total of accepted money equals or exceeds the amount of the transaction.

2. The method claimed in claim 1 including the further steps of recognizing the denomination of the bill tendered and actuating the correct keys.

3. The method claimed in claim 1 including the further step of observing a signal from the device which indicates the money belt receiving a bill and then observing in the associated viewing window the bill so transported.

4. The method claimed in claim 2 including the further steps of entering into the cash handling device through the keyboard the denomination of the bill viewed through the window and an acceptance of the bill viewed.