EP0280881B1 - Dispensing unit for notes of value - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an output unit for banknotes, comprising a box-shaped bill container and a frame-shaped receiving module into which the bill box can be inserted and which has a withdrawal and separating device for withdrawing bill through an opening of the bill box.

From the German patent specification 27 17 345 an output unit of the type mentioned above for cash dispensers is known, in which the bill container has a closed front, in which recesses are provided for the engagement of the take-off rollers of the take-off device and which have a gap at their upper end for the exit of the deductible notes of value. The note container is inserted laterally into the receiving module and then adjusted perpendicularly to the insertion direction in the direction of the withdrawal device into its operating position, in which the withdrawal rollers engage in the openings in the front wall of the note container. Any existing cover for the openings in the front wall of the bill container must be removed before inserting the bill box, which creates the risk of tampering with the bill box.

From European Patent 4,436 an output unit of the type mentioned is also known, in which the bill container has a sliding cover which closes the opening for the engagement of the take-off rollers and which is unlocked after the bill box has been inserted into the receiving module, so that it is off the recording module can be pulled out. The note container is then moved into its operating position perpendicular to the direction of insertion in the direction of the withdrawal device. Manipulations on the note container are largely excluded, but this arrangement makes the insertion of the note container in the receiving module relatively cumbersome.

Finally, a note container is also known in which the opening in the note container intended for the engagement of the take-off rollers can be closed by a blind. Such a closure is very complex if it is to function reliably, since the blind elements must be carefully guided at their ends in sliding guides or with rollers and because a reliable drive is required for the opening movement and the closing movement of the blind.

The invention has for its object to provide an output unit of the type mentioned with a closure completely covering the opening of the bill container, which is simple and robust in construction and reliable in its function and which also during the insertion of the bill container into the receiving module without manipulation possibilities can be conveniently operated from the outside.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the opening of the note container can be closed by a folding flap with at least one first flap part which is pivotably pivoted about a first axis and a second flap part which is pivotably pivoted on the first flap part about a second axis parallel to the first axis is, the two flap parts are each pivotable in opposite directions to each other when opening and closing.

With the folding flap according to the invention, no complex and fault-prone sliding or sliding guides are required. Swivel bearings for the flap parts can be manufactured very sturdy and yet smoothly even if they are robust. The folding movement can be controlled via simple mechanical drives. By folding the two flap parts open, the folding flap according to the invention takes up little space during the opening movement and in the open state, so that the opening movement can also take place at a time when the note container has already been pushed so far into the receiving module that access to the container opening is blocked is. This advantage of the folding flap according to the invention is particularly evident in an output unit in which the extraction and separating device is arranged at the end thereof remote from the insertion opening of the receiving module and the opening which can be closed by the folding flap is formed in the front of the note container pointing in the insertion direction, since Appropriate actuation of the folding flap then the note container can be pushed into its operating position as far as it will go without stopping in the receiving module. Which side of the note container the first flap part is articulated will depend on the arrangement of the extraction and singling device in the receiving module and the space available for the opened folding flap. If space permits, it is advisable to provide the first flap axis on a lower edge of the opening parallel to the container bottom, since then at least the opening movement of the folding flap can be supported by gravity. For the reliable opening of the folding flap, it is also advantageous if the two flap parts are in the closed position of the folding flap on their side facing the container interior form an angle of less than 180 ° with one another. As a result, the flap parts have a swivel torque in the opening direction from the outset, and it is generally sufficient to have an actuating device for the folding flap only engage the second flap part.

Such a flap actuation device is provided according to the invention in the bill container and can be controlled depending on the displacement path of the bill container in the receiving module. This means that the actuating device controls the opening of the folding flap during the insertion movement and closes the folding flap again when the note container is pulled out of the receiving module. The opening and closing of the folding flap is therefore inevitable in connection with the insertion or extraction movement of the note container. Such control of the actuating device can be carried out in a simple manner in that it has at least one actuator which is adjustable by means of a control curve formed in the receiving module along the insertion path.

According to a preferred embodiment, the folding flap is adjustable by means of two two-armed guide levers which are pivotably mounted on the side walls of the container directed parallel to the direction of insertion, are each articulated with their first lever arm on the second flap part and are each articulated with their second lever arm with an actuator . The guide levers thus form a four-bar joint with the folding flap, which can be easily designed so that the flap can be opened and closed from any position. The actuators are expediently one each formed on the container side wall pivotable about a bottom axis swing arm, which carries on its side facing the container side wall a pin which passes through the container wall in a circular arc around the swing arm axis and is intended to rest on the control curve provided in the receiving module. The articulated connection between the respective rocker and the associated second lever arm of the guide lever is preferably via a double link, so that the guide lever, the double link and the respective rocker form a second four-bar linkage. With a corresponding arrangement of the pivot points relative to each other, the relatively large swivel angle of the guide levers, which is required for the complete opening and closing movement of the folding flap, can be reduced to a much smaller swivel angle of the swing arms, so that a correspondingly smaller control path for the pin connected to the rocker is required.

Since the folding flap could be opened by manual actuation of the pins projecting from the container side walls, it is expedient to lock the actuators in their position corresponding to the closed position of the folding flap by means of an electromechanical locking device. Unlocking is only possible, for example, when the bill container is inserted into the receiving module, a contact arrangement on the bill container engaging with corresponding mating contacts on the receiving module, so that the electromechanical locking device can then be actuated.

To fill the note container, it is useful if it has a hinged lid on its top, which releases the entire interior of the container. This hinged lid is expediently lockable by a bolt which is adjustably arranged within the note container and which is connected via an actuating lever to one of the actuators in such a way that when the actuator is adjusted between its positions corresponding to the open position or the closed position of the folding flap, between a release position and a blocking position is adjustable. While the note container in the receiving module is also not accessible from above, so that the hinged lid cannot be opened, a special loading table with sliding guides is provided for filling the note container, on which the control curves required for controlling the actuating device in the note container are formed, so that the note container can be opened at a suitable place where monitoring of the filling process is possible.

The note container can be provided with a storage arrangement for storing an identity code or other data that must be checked before the note container can be pushed into its operating position in the receiving module. With a corresponding design of the note container and the receiving module, this query of the data stored in the note container can take place during the insertion movement. In order to have enough time for this query and, if necessary, to be able to block the insertion path before the note container is opened, it is expedient if the part of the control curve controlling the opening movement is moved as far as possible to the end of the insertion path. If the folding flap after opening is folded down, practically no opening forces can be applied by the actuating device. Rather, the opening movement is supported by gravity. In this case, the branch of the control cam having the opening movement can be directed relatively steeply to the insertion direction, so that only a short part of the insertion path is required for the opening movement of the folding flap. In contrast, a closing force must be applied during the closing movement. It is therefore expedient to make the part of the control cam that controls the closing movement flatter. Since the closing movement of the folding flap can quietly extend over a longer part of the pull-out path of the note container, the flat design of the control curve controlling the closing movement is irrelevant.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Ausgabeeinheit mit Blick auf die an der Innenseite einer Seitenwand des Wertscheinbehälters angeordneten Betätigungsvorrichtung für die Faltklappe, wobei sich der Wertscheinbehälter in dem Aufnahmemodul befindet und die Faltklappe geöffnet ist,

Fig. 2

eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende Darstellung des Wertscheinbehälters allein mit der Faltklappe in geschlossener Stellung und

Fig. 3

einen schematischen Teilschnitt durch einen erfindungsgemäßen Wertscheinbehälter entlang Linie III-III in Fig. 1, wobei jedoch nur ein Teil der an den Seitenwänden des Wertscheinbehälters gelagerten Hebel dargestellt ist.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which in connection with the accompanying drawings explains the invention using an exemplary embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1

2 shows a schematic illustration of the dispensing unit according to the invention with a view of the actuating device for the folding flap arranged on the inside of a side wall of the bill holder, the bill holder being located in the receiving module and the folding flap being open,

Fig. 2

1 corresponding representation of the bill container alone with the folding flap in the closed position and

Fig. 3

a schematic partial section through a note container according to the invention along line III-III in Fig. 1, but only a portion of the levers mounted on the side walls of the note container is shown.

The dispensing unit, generally designated 10 in FIG. 1, is used to set up automated teller machines, with several such dispensing units being arranged one above the other in order to be able to provide different types of bank notes. The output unit comprises a receiving module, generally designated 12, which is indicated only schematically, for a note container, generally designated 14. The receiving module 12 is in the form of a rectangular shaft with side walls 16, a bottom part 18 and a ceiling part 20 (FIG. 3). Instead of a continuous bottom part 18 or a continuous ceiling part 20, connecting rods or the like can also be provided in order to connect the two side walls 16 to one another. In the front area of the receiving module 12, take-off rollers 22 are rotatably mounted between the side walls 16 about an axis perpendicular to the side walls 16, which, in the position of the note container 14 shown in FIG. 1, plunge into the note container 14 through a front opening 24 in order to to promote the bank notes stacked in the container 14 upwards in the direction of a separating device 26, which consists in a known manner of transport rollers 28 and of counter-rotating rollers 30 cooperating therewith, which are driven in the same direction of rotation as the transport rollers 28. In the event that the take-off rollers 22 in several banknotes When conveying towards the separating device 26, only the note directly adjacent to the transport rollers 28 is conveyed by the latter, while the other notes are held back by the counter-rollers 30.

At its end opposite the take-off rollers 22, the insert module 12 is open, so that through this opening the bill container 14 can be inserted in the direction of arrow A on slide rails 32 arranged on the side walls 16 of the insert module.

The container 14 has a cuboid shape and comprises two side walls 34, a bottom 36 and a rear wall 38, all of which walls are rigidly connected to one another. The top of the container 14 can be closed by a lid 40 which can be pivoted to one of the side walls 34 or the rear wall 38 or can be completely removable. The front side of the container 14 opposite the rear wall 38 can be closed by a folding flap, generally designated 42 (FIG. 2). The folding flap 42 comprises a first flap part 44 which is pivotably articulated about a parallel axis 46 on the bottom 36 of the container 14. On the edge opposite the axis 46, a second flap part 48 is articulated on the first flap part 44 so as to be pivotable about an axis 50. The two flap parts 44 and 48 can be formed by solid plates which are connected to one another in an articulated manner by a hinge attached to their inner sides. The second flap part 48 has on its edge adjacent to the first flap part 44 an angled section 52 which, when the folding flap 42 is closed, covers the joint between the two flap parts 44 and 48 (FIG. 2).

The front edges of the side walls 34 of the container 14 have a vertical lower first section 54 and an upper second section 56 inclined towards the rear wall 38. Accordingly, the flap parts 44 and 48 of the folding flap 42 assume a position in the closed position of the flap 42, in which they enclose an angle of less than 180 ° with one another on their side facing the container interior (FIG. 2). The folding flap 42 can be adjusted between its open position and its closed position by means of an actuating device arranged inside the container 14, which will now be explained in more detail below. The actuating device comprises lever mechanisms arranged on both sides of the container 14, which are mirror images, so that only one of the lever mechanisms is described.

The upper flap part 48 is articulated on both sides to a lever arm 58 of a V-shaped two-arm guide lever 60, which is mounted on the side wall 34 in the region of its V apex around an axis 62 perpendicular to the side wall 34. The other lever arm 64 is connected in an articulated manner to one end of a double link 66, a pin 68 arranged on the lever arm 64 engaging in a slot-shaped elongated hole 70 in the double link 66. In this way, the folding flap 42 can assume the two positions indicated by solid or dash-dotted lines in FIG. 1 with all other levers otherwise in the same position. The half-open position represented by solid lines is assumed by the folding flap 42 in the receiving module 12, since the space underneath is already required for the trigger and transport mechanism of the module 12 underneath. The folded flap 42 assumes its fully open position, shown by dashed lines on the other hand, for example, in the loading table, so that the front opening 24 is fully open for the entry of banknotes or maintenance measures.

The double link 66 is hinged at its end remote from the guide lever 60 to a triangular rocker 72 about an axis 74. The rocker 72 is pivotally mounted near a triangular corner about a shaft 76 near the ground in the side walls 34. The shaft 76 extends over the entire width of the container 14, so that the two rockers 72 are arranged on the same shaft 76. On its side facing the side wall 34, the rocker 72 carries a pin 78 which projects out of the container 14 through a slot 80 in the side wall 34 which is curved in the shape of an arc around the shaft 76. When the container 14 is pushed in, this pin 78 engages in a link 82 which is arranged on the inside of the corresponding side wall 16 of the receiving module 10. The link 82 comprises a control curve 84 controlling the opening movement of the folding flap 42 and a control curve 86 controlling the closing movement of the folding flap 42. As can be seen in FIG. 1, these two control curves do not run parallel. If the container 14 is inserted into the receiving module 10, the pivoting movement of the rocker 72 and thus the opening movement of the folding flap 42 begins with the start of the increase in the control curve 84, which then rises steeply from this starting point, so that the opening movement of the folding flap 42 increases a relatively short section of the insertion path is completed. The late start of the opening movement has the purpose of gaining enough time to be able to query the data required for the identification of the container 14 while the container 14 is being inserted into the receiving module 10 and, if necessary, to be able to use a To prevent locking device, not shown, from further insertion when the query shows that the container 14 does not fit into the relevant receiving module 10. The steep rise in the control curve 84 is insignificant during the opening movement of the folding flap 42, since the actuating device for the opening of the folding flap 42 has to exert practically no forces. The folding flap 42 falls into its open position due to gravity, and the levers connected to it allow this.

In contrast, during the closing movement, closing forces must now be applied against gravity. for this reason, the control cam 86 controlling the closing movement is designed to be substantially flatter, so that it also extends to a point closer to the insertion end of the module 10.

As can also be seen in the figures, the guide lever 60 with its first lever arm 58 and the flap parts 44, 48 forms a first four-bar linkage and with its second lever arm 64, the double link 66 and the rocker 72 forms a second four-bar linkage. This second four-bar linkage 72 makes it possible to reduce the relatively large pivoting angle of the guide lever 60 between its two end positions into a smaller pivoting angle of the rocker 72, so that the control path for the pin 78 can also be shorter. This makes it possible to first guide the pin 78 in a straight line before an opening movement of the folding flap 42 is initiated.

In order to prevent manual actuation of the folding flap 42 by displacing the pins 78 protruding from the container side walls 34, the rocker 72 can be locked in the closed position of the folding flap 42 (FIG. 2).

For this purpose, a locking lever 90 is pivotally mounted on the side walls 34 about an axis 88 close to the ground and, in the locking position, engages behind a pin 94 fastened to the rocker 72 with a lug 92. In order to release the rocker 72 and thus enable the folding flap 42 to open, the locking lever 90 can be pivoted via a pull rod 96 articulated thereon, which can be adjusted in the direction of the double arrow B by an electromagnet 98. The electromagnet 98 is arranged in a rear section of the container 14, where it does not significantly impair the use of the container interior. So that when locking the electromagnet 98 only cause a pushing movement of the rod 96, but does not have to exert a closing force, the rocker 72 is slightly overridden in the closing direction by the guide of the pin 78 on the control cam 86, so that the locking lug 92 without hindrance behind the locking pin 94 can occur.

With the opening and closing of the folding flap 42, the cover 40 can also be unlocked or locked at the same time. For this purpose, a locking bar 100 is used, which is slidably mounted on the side wall 34 by means of elongated pin guides 102, 104 parallel to the cover 40 and which has two cutouts 106, 108 into which pins 110 and 112 can engage, which are connected to tabs connected to the cover 40 114, 116 are attached, which are immersed in the container 14 when the lid 40 is closed. The locking bar 100 is displaced by a two-armed angle lever 118, which is pivotably mounted about an axis 120 on a side wall 34 and has a fork opening 124 on its one lever arm, into which a pin 126 connected to the locking bar 100 engages. The other lever arm of the angle lever 118 has an elongated hole 128, into which a pin 130 attached to the rocker 72 engages.

The same pin 130 connects each rocker 72 to a link lever 132, which is directed towards the opening 24 of the container 14 and has a slot-shaped link 134 into which a pin 136 attached to the side wall 34 engages. The two link levers 132 hold a parallel to the axis of the take-off rollers 22, in profile trapezoidal rigid rod 138 which is pushed out of the container 14 in the open position so that it engages in the gap between the take-off rollers 22 and the transport rollers 28. The position of the rod 38 is such that the banknotes conveyed by the take-off rollers 22 are guided between the rod 138 and the upper edge 140 of the opening 24 to the separating device 26.

If the container 14 is to be pulled out of the receiving module 12, any banknotes which are still present at the roller nip of the separating device 26 and thus protrude from the container 14 must be pulled back into the latter. This is done by the rod 138, which is guided during the closing movement of the rocker 72 due to the shape of the link 134 so that it is withdrawn past the upper edge 140 of the opening 24 into the container 14, with the possibly still outstanding banknotes in pulls the container 14 into it. In this way, the folding flap 42 can be closed without any banknotes possibly protruding from the flap.

In Fig. 3 it can be seen that the container 14 is an outer part consisting of the two walls 34, the bottom 36, the rear wall 38, the lid 40 and the folding flap 42 and one Has inner part, which comprises parallel to the side walls 34 and a side wall 142 arranged vertically adjustable on this, the side walls 34 of the outer part and the side walls 142 of the inner part include the lever mechanism for actuating the folding flap 42 between them. The inner part is used to hold a stack of notes.

Claims (16)

1. Dispensing unit for notes of value, comprising a box- shaped notes-of-value container (14) and a frame-shaped receiving module (12), into which the notes-of-value container (14) can be inserted and which exhibits a drawing-off and singling device (22, 26) for drawing off notes of value through an opening (24) in the notes-of-value container (14), characterised in that the opening in the notes-of-value container (14) can be closed off by a folding flap (42) having at least one first flap part (44), attached to the notes-of-value container (14) pivotably about a first axis (46), and a second flap part (48), which is attached to the first flap part (44) pivotably about a second axis (50) parallel to the first axis (46), the two flap parts (44, 48) respectively, upon opening and closing, being pivotable in counter direction to one another.
2. Dispensing unit according to Claim 1, characterised in that the drawing-off and singling device (22, 26) is disposed at the end of the receiving module (12) facing away from the insertion opening in the said module and in that the opening (24), which can be closed off by the folding flap (42), is formed in the front side, pointing in the direction of insertion (A), of the notes-of-value container (14).
3. Dispensing unit according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the first flap axis (46) is situated at a bottom edge, parallel to the container floor (36), of the opening (24).
4. Dispensing unit according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the two flap parts (44, 48) form, in the closed position of the folding flap (42), on their side facing the container interior, an angle to one another of less than 180°.
5. Dispensing unit according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the notes-of-value container (14) exhibits a flap actuating device, which can be controlled in dependence on the path of displacement of the-notes-of-value container (14) in the receiving module (12).
6. Dispensing unit according to Claim 5, characterised in that the actuating device exhibits at least one adjusting member (72), which can be adjusted by a cam (82) configured along the path of insertion in the receiving module (12).
7. Dispensing unit according to Claim 6, characterised in that the folding flap (42) can be adjusted by means of two twin-armed guide levers (60), which are pivotably mounted on those side walls (34) of the notes-of-value container (14) directed parallel to the direction of insertion (A), are attached by their first lever arm (58) respectively to the second flap part (48) and are hinge-connected by their second lever arm (64) respectively to an adjusting member (72).
8. Dispensing unit according to Claim 7, characterised in that the adjusting members are formed in each case by a rocker arm (72) mounted on the container side wall (34) pivotably about an axis (76) close to the floor, which rocker arm bears, on its side facing the container side wall (34), a journal (78) which passes through the container wall (34) in a slot (80) curved in a circular arc shape around the rocker arm axis (76) and is intended to bear against the cam (82) provided in the receiving module (12).
9. Dispensing unit according to Claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the second lever arms (64) of the guide levers (60) are respectively connected via a double-link (66) to the associated adjusting member (72).
10. Dispensing unit according to Claim 9, characterised in that the hinged joint between the guide lever (60) and the double-link (66) comprises a long hole (70), configured in the said double-link, and a journal (68), guided in the said long hole, on the second lever arm (64) of the guide lever (60).
11. Dispensing unit according to one of Claims 6 to 10, characterised in that the adjusting members (72) can be detained in their position corresponding to the closed position of the folding flap (42) by an electromechanical locking device (90, 92, 96, 98).
12. Dispensing unit according to one of Claims 6 to 11, characterised in that the notes-of-value container exhibits on its top side a hinged cover (40), which can be locked by a locking bar (100) adjustably disposed within the notes-of-value container (14), and in that the locking bar (100) is connected via an adjusting lever (118) to one of the adjusting members (72), such that, upon the adjustment of the adjusting member (72) between its positions corresponding to the open position or the closed position of the folding flap (42), it can be adjusted between a release position and a blocking position.
13. Dispensing unit according to one of Claims 6 to 12, characterised in that, on those side walls (16) of the receiving module directed parallel to the direction of insertion (A), there is in each case disposed a connecting link (82), intended to control the actuating device, having a first cam (84) controlling the opening movement of the respective adjusting member and a second cam (86) controlling the closing movement of the adjusting member (72), the first cam (84) following, in its area effecting the movement of the adjusting member (72), a shorter and steeper course than the second cam (86).
14. Dispensing unit according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterised in that a bar (138) extends across the width of the opening (24) in the notes-of-value container (14) parallel to its floor (36), which bar can be adjusted between an extended position, in which it is located outside the notes-of-value container (14) and lies in a gap between the draw-off rollers (22) and the transport rollers (28) of the singling device (26), and a retracted position, in which it is located within the notes-of-value container (14).
15. Dispensing unit according to one of Claims 6 to 13 and Claim 14, characterised in that the bar (138) is fastened at its longitudinal ends to slotted levers (132), which are displaceably guided on the container walls (34) by means of a long hole-journal guide (134, 136) and are pivotably attached by their ends remote from the bar (138) to the respective rocker arm (72).
16. Dispensing unit according to one of Claims 1 to 15, characterised in that the notes-of-value container (14) exhibits an outer part and an inner part, intended to receive the notes of value, having a floor and side walls, which are respectively at a distance from the floor (36) or the side walls (34) of the outer part, the actuating device for the folding flap (42), the adjusting levers and locking bars being disposed in the interspace between the side walls and the floors of the outer part and inner part.

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