EP1004098B1 - Automatic cash deposit/dispensing machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an automated teller machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

In known machines of this type, there are two separate compartments intended for the input and output of banknotes. The disadvantage of this solution is the increased space requirement for the separate compartments in the control panel and the raised one technical effort. So two flaps must with the appropriate adjusting mechanism for opening and closing the flaps may be provided. Furthermore, must for example, a bundle of money forgotten in the edition can be withdrawn again. It means that an additional deduction unit also in the output compartment must be present to the forgotten banknotes individually to be able to move in again.

In US 4,883,183 there is already an automatic cash dispenser been proposed with a housing in which an input / output compartment that can be closed by a flap with a first storage area for banknotes Shelf and a rear wall is formed. Below A separating device is located in the first storage area for separating and subtracting from the first Storage space lying banknotes. Above the shelf and essentially parallel to this is a Intermediate floor arranged by means of an actuator between a first position in which it is in the input / output compartment protrudes and a second storage space for banknotes forms, and a second position is adjustable, in which it is located outside the input / output compartment. There is also a depositing device for depositing banknotes provided on the shelf or the intermediate shelf.

In the banknote dispensing mode, the intermediate floor is attached to the upper boundary wall of the input / output compartment moved, see above that the banknotes to be issued are placed on the shelf become. It is also possible to forget forgotten banknotes move in again individually. In banknote input mode the intermediate floor is in its first, above the position to be drawn in. Banknotes that are not accepted by the machine deposited on the mezzanine by the storage device.

It is not the case with the known cash dispenser possible, on the first shelf and on the mezzanine lying banknotes directly to one Unite stack. If a banknote entry process is canceled rather, all are initially still open banknotes located individually on the first storage surface retracted and placed on the mezzanine floor where they are with possibly not already accepted there Banknotes for the originally entered stack of banknotes be united. Only then will you open one Flap allows access to the stack of banknotes. Long waiting times are essential.

In the well-known cash dispenser it is above not provided for in a first pass retract unaccepted banknotes and to undergo another test.

From EP 0 714 078 A1 there is an automatic cash dispenser known in the closable by a flap Input / output compartment a pressure plate is arranged, which is adjustable in the direction of a trigger device is to input banknotes against the withdrawal device to press. The pressure plate also serves as an intermediate floor, for example during the move-in rejected banknotes are filed. The pressure plate is also between one from the input / output tray withdrawn and a projecting into this position adjustable. The movement of the pressure plate is in with the opening and closing movement of the flap coordinated to open the hatch, if the pressure plate is not in the input / output compartment protrudes. While the fume cupboard is on the shelf, one flows out of two adjacent conveyor belts existing banknote transport facility, the rejects rejected banknotes into the input / output compartment, at the top of the input / output compartment.

As the stack of banknotes to be drawn decreases the distance between the pressure plate increases and the mouth of the banknote transport device in the Input / output compartment. Banknotes are known to have a low one Inherent rigidity. So your leading edge will be already tend towards the pressure plate while their Trailing edge of the banknote transport device is held. This has an impact on an orderly Stacking.

The invention is based on the object of automatic dispensers with a combined cash input / output compartment specify in which entered and issued banknotes kept separate and banknotes kept separate can be merged in an orderly manner.

This task is performed by an automated teller machine solved with the features specified in claim 1.

In the solution according to the invention, the customer sees when the is open Only fold one compartment into which it is to be paid Put money in or take money out of it can. Banknotes to be deposited by the customer the shelves are laid in a conventional manner after closing the flap from the separating device deducted individually and further processing fed into the ATM. Requested by the customer Banknotes to be issued, on the other hand, are closed Flap placed on the mezzanine until the one to be dispensed Banknote bundle is complete. Then the mezzanine withdrawn from the compartment so that on it stacked bundles of banknotes falls on the shelf from from which it was taken after the customer opened the flap can be. Should the customer be within reasonable Time do not remove the bundle of banknotes from the compartment, the flap is closed again. The banknotes can then in again with the separation device withdraw the machine. In contrast to so far known machines that have separate compartments for the Having input and output of banknotes will only be one Separation device needed. Nevertheless there is none Danger that the customer when depositing banknotes on a wrong surface, from which it separates cannot be removed.

Banknotes deposited by the customer will be withdrawn through the separating device various tests subjected. Banknotes will not be accepted Returned to customers. Here it is useful if these notes are not stored temporarily, but immediately after passing through the test facilities again can be spent. So while the inserted Banknotes bundle is gradually reduced on the mezzanine, which is a certain distance from that Shelf has to be collected banknotes to be returned. The advantage here is that the intermediate floor by means of of another actuator perpendicular to the shelf is adjustable. On the one hand, the mezzanine can be adjusted to the banknotes placed on it gradually be lowered so that the counter space for the next banknote to be deposited always at the same distance from the depositing device remains. Second, after graduation of the storage process, the intermediate floor is lowered so far be that the bundle of banknotes when withdrawing the Intermediate floor from the compartment not from too high a height the shelf falls.

In order to reliably separate and pull off the on the To ensure that banknotes to be drawn in is between the intermediate shelf and the shelf a pressure element adjustable perpendicular to this is arranged. This presses the banknotes against the shelf and thus also ensures good contact with the Discharge elements of the separating device. It can the pressure element according to the decreasing height of the Banknote stack to be adjusted.

So that the mezzanine floor the movements described above can perform, it is appropriate if he from parallel and spaced fingers is formed, the openings formed in the rear wall enforce and by means of the first actuator be moved into and out of the compartment can. When pulling your fingers back through the openings in the back wall is a bundle of banknotes placed on the fingers stripped on the back wall and then falls on the shelf.

The pressure element is also formed by pressure fingers, which is directed parallel to the fingers of the mezzanine and together with these through the first actuator are adjustable.

In an expedient embodiment, which is the independent Adjustment of the intermediate floor and the pressure element guaranteed are those that form the intermediate floor Fingers and pressure fingers adjustable on one arranged common carrier, which in turn by the first actuator is adjustable.

The separating device is preferably via a first transport track connected to a banknote switch, with a second, third and fourth transport track the storage device, a buffer or a at least one bank vault of the vault ATMs are connected. This offers the possibility of banknotes, for example from one arranged in the path of the first transport track Banknote testers were found to be unacceptable, convey directly to the deposit device and banknotes, who have passed the test, first of all caching, until the input process is properly completed is. Only then are the banknotes entered Banknote storage is fed into the vault.

Fig. 1

einen schematischen Vertikalteilschnitt durch einen erfindungsgemäßen Bankautomaten,

Fig. 2

eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung eines Trägerrahmens für den Zwischenboden und das Andruckorgan,

Fig. 3

einen Querschnitt durch einen Finger des Zwischenbodens und einen Andruckfinger und

Fig. 4

eine schematische Ansicht der Fachrückwand.

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

Fig. 1

2 shows a schematic vertical partial section through an automated teller machine according to the invention,

Fig. 2

1 shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a support frame for the intermediate floor and the pressure element,

Fig. 3

a cross section through a finger of the intermediate floor and a pressure finger and

Fig. 4

a schematic view of the compartment rear wall.

The cash dispenser shown schematically in Figure 1 has a housing 10 in its lower Section a safe 12 and in its upper section a banknote input / output unit, generally designated 14 encloses. In the vault 12 are not Banknote storage shown in more detail, for example schematically indicated memory cartridges 16 and a winding memory 18 arranged. The banknote stores 16, 18 are connected to a common transport track 20, which the banknotes through an opening 22 in the top surface of the safe 12 transported.

The actual input / output unit for banknotes comprises an input / output tray, generally designated by 24 a shelf 26 and a rear wall 28. The compartment is from the outside through an opening 30 in the front wall of the housing 32 accessible. The opening 30 is through a flap or door 34 closable between the one in the figure 1 closed position represented by solid lines and that shown by dashed lines Open position is adjustable.

Below the shelf 26 is a separation and Trigger device 36 arranged, which is known per se and need not be explained in more detail. she serves the banknotes of one lying on the shelf 26 Banknote bundle 38 individually pull down and one Feed conveyor 40, which the banknotes at least one test device 42 over to a switch 44 transported. This switch 44 optionally the connection between all the transport tracks adjacent to them forth. These are in addition to the connection to Safe 12 manufacturing first transport track and of the separating device 36 coming second Transport track 40, a third transport track 46 leading to one winding storage 48 serving as intermediate storage leads, and a fourth transport path 50, which leads to a Storage device in the form of a stacking wheel 52 leads.

The stacking wheel 52 is arranged at the upper end of the rear wall 28 in such a way that the three shown in Figure 4 Individual wheels of the stacking wheel 52 with their radial fins engage in cutouts 54 in the rear wall 28. The Stacking wheel 52 serves to deposit the banknotes to be issued, which are fed to it via the transport track 50, on an intermediate floor 56, which is now referred to below to be explained on Figures 1 and 2.

The intermediate bottom 56 is comb-shaped with a Cross bar 58 and individual fingers parallel to each other 60. The cross member 58 is on a frame-shaped support 62 led, which - viewed from the compartment opening 30 - is arranged behind the rear wall 28. The fingers 60 of the Intermediate bottom 56 penetrate slots 64, which in the rear wall 28 are formed (Figure 4). The mezzanine 56 can be attached to the support frame 62 with the aid of a Electric motor 66, which has an output pinion 68 with a rack 70 fastened to the cross member 58 combs in the direction of the double arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be adjusted up and down. The support frame 62 as a whole is also stored in a manner not shown that he in the direction of arrow B in Figure 1 and forth can be adjusted, the travel so large is that the fingers 60 of the intermediate floor 56 between one 1 and a first position shown in FIG second position can be adjusted in which withdrawn completely from compartment 24. The adjustment of the support frame 62 and thus the intermediate floor 56 in the direction of arrow B can for example via a belt drive 72 indicated in FIG. 1.

Furthermore, a pressure element 74 is arranged on the support frame 62, similar to the comb 56 is formed with a cross member 76 and fingers 78. The Pressure element 74, like intermediate floor 56, can be used with the help an electric motor 80 which is connected via an output pinion 82 with a rack 84 fastened to the cross member 76 combs can be adjusted in the direction of the double arrow A. The pressure element 74 is used to hold one on the shelf To compress 26 stack of banknotes 38 so that that the bottom banknote of stack 38 is always in good condition Friction with the take-off rollers of the separating device 36 stands.

As FIG. 3 shows, the fingers 60 are the intermediate floor 56 designed in the form of a U-profile which is open at the bottom, a pressure finger 78 can dip into each, as indicated in Figure 3 by dashed lines is.

The device described so far works as follows:

If the compartment 24 is opened by adjusting the flap 34, the customer only sees the shelf 26 and the rear wall 28. The customer can deposit a bundle of banknotes 38 place on shelf 26. Will the transaction through Closing the flap 34 started by the customer the notes of bundle 38 via the singulation device 36 individually removed and to the transport track 40 to hand over. This leads them past the test device 42. For good "real" notes are over the switch 44 fed to the intermediate memory 48. Not accepted, e.g. not "real" notes are over the turnout 44 redirected to the fourth transport track 50, which it the Stacking wheel 52 feeds.

With the closing of the flap 34, the fingers 60 of the Intermediate floor 56 by adjusting the support frame 62 in the tray 24 retracted. Furthermore, the mezzanine 56 moved up near the stacking wheel 52, so that this banknote now rejected during the check can safely deposit on the intermediate floor 56. The ones to be returned Notes are then stacked on fingers 60, the intermediate floor 56 with increasing number of notes is moved down. At the same time, the inserted one Bundle 38 further isolated. Furthermore, the Pressure finger 78 corresponding to the removal of bundle 38 adjusted so that a reliable deduction Pressure is exerted on the bundle of notes.

The entire bundle of notes 38 has been separated and are parallel to all not accepted grades the intermediate floor 56, all accepted grades but stored in the intermediate storage 48, the customer the unaccepted money will be returned. For this purpose, the pressure fingers 78 and the fingers 60 of the Intermediate floor 56 moved into one another (FIG. 3) and together with the bundle of money down towards moved to the shelf 26. There are the fingers 78 and 60 by adjusting the support frame 62 from the Tray 24 withdrawn so that the bundle of banknotes lying on top is stripped on the rear wall 28. Now the Flap 34 opened and the customer can not accept the Withdraw money from the same place where he has deposited money to be deposited. In the same way also the pure issuance of banknotes resulting from the Save 16 or 18 taken and on the transport lanes 20 and 50 were fed to the stacking wheel 52.

If the customer forgets to withdraw unaccepted money, the flap 34 is closed and the money in it Way isolated like the one above for the one inserted above Banknote bundle 38 has already been described. The again banknotes are then drawn in a special Tray filed.

It is conceivable that problems arise when the banknotes are removed occur during the separation or that the customer Transaction aborts, but already rejected Banknotes lie on the intermediate floor 56. In this Fall will be the mezzanine floor along with those lying on it Banknotes towards that still on the shelf 26 lying bundles of banknotes 38 driven. The finger of the intermediate floor 56 are then together with the pressure fingers 78 withdrawn behind the rear wall 28, so that the rejected banknotes are still on the tray located sub-bundles are stored. After opening the The customer can then flap 34 the entire bundle again take on.

Claims (7)

1. Automatic cash depositing/dispensing machine comprising a housing (10); comprising a depositing/ dispensing compartment (24) which is formed in said housing, can be closed off by a flap (34) and has a base (26), which forms a first set-down surface, and a rear wall (28); comprising a separating- device (36) which is arranged beneath the first set-down surface and is intended for separating and drawing off banknotes located on the first set-down surface; comprising an intermediate base (56) which is arranged above the compartment base (26) and essentially parallel to the same and can be adjusted (B), by means of a first actuating drive (72), between a first position, which is assigned to the closed position of the flap (34) and in which it projects into the depositing/dispensing compartment (24) and forms a second set-down surface for banknotes, and a second position, which is assigned to the open position of the flap (34) and in which it is located outside the depositing/dispensing compartment (24); comprising a set-down device (52) for setting down on the intermediate base (56), when the latter is located in the first position, banknotes which are to be dispensed; and comprising transporting paths (40, 20, 46, 50) for transporting banknotes away from the separating device (36) and/or towards the set-down device (52), characterized in that arranged between the intermediate base (56) and the compartment base (26) is a pressure-exerting element (74) which can be adjusted perpendicularly to the latter, and in that the intermediate base (56) can be adjusted (A) perpendicularly to the compartment base (26) by means of a second actuating drive (66, 68, 70) and the pressure-exerting element (74) can be adjusted (A) perpendicularly to the compartment base (26) by means of a further actuating drive (80, 82, 84).
2. Automatic cash depositing/dispensing machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate base (56) is formed by fingers (60) and the pressure-exerting element (74) is formed by pressure-exerting fingers (78), which are each parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another and pass through openings (64) formed in the rear wall (28), and in that the pressure-exerting fingers (78) are directed parallel to the fingers (60) of the intermediate base (56) and can be adjusted into the compartment (24), and out of the same, together with said fingers by the first actuating drive (72).
3. Automatic cash depositing/dispensing machine according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the intermediate base (56) and the pressure-exerting element (74) can be adjusted independently of one another perpendicularly to the compartment base (26).
4. Automatic cash depositing/dispensing machine according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the fingers (60), which form the intermediate base (56), and the pressure-exerting fingers (78) are each arranged adjustably on a common carrier frame (62) which, for its part, can be adjusted by the first actuating drive (72).
5. Automatic cash depositing/dispensing machine according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the set-down device comprises a stacking wheel (52).
6. Automatic cash depositing/dispensing machine. according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a first transporting path (40) connects the separating device (36) to a banknote diverter (44) which is connected, via a second, third and fourth transporting path (50, 46, 20), to the set-down device (52), to an intermediate store (48) and to a safe (12) of the automatic cash depositing/dispensing machine, respectively, said safe comprising at least one banknote store (16, 18).
7. Automatic cash depositing/dispensing machine according to Claim 6, characterized in that at least one banknote-checking means (42) is arranged along the route of the first transporting path (40).

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