EP2411311B1 - Device for inputting banknotes into a container, and paddle wheel - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for entering notes of value in a container. The apparatus comprises a feed unit for feeding the notes of value and a stack unit for stacking the supplied notes of value. Furthermore, the device has at least one impeller for handling the notes of value. In turn, the impeller comprises a rotatably mounted base body and at least one wing fixedly connected to a first end of a connecting region with the main body. The wing has a pressure area for applying a force to at least one banknote.

The invention can be used in particular in connection with ATMs, automatic cash deposits and / or automatic cash register systems, into which banknotes, preferably banknotes, are paid. The deposited banknotes are stored in a receiving area of the container in the form of a stack. The notes of value are fed to the receiving area individually and stacked in the receiving area in such a way that a note of value to be supplied is fed to an already existing stack on its end face. The front or back side of the banknote to be supplied and the front or back side of the banknote immediately before the banknote supplied note of value are arranged opposite one another. The impeller presses the last-added note against the stack. In order to ensure a compact design of the device, the device is constructed such that the blades of the impeller at a rotation of the impeller are strongly curved by the contact with adjacent elements.

From the document EP 0 994 445 B1 There is known a banknote deposit and bill dispenser with a top holding unit for banknotes and a bottom holding unit for banknotes for holding and transporting the banknotes in a banknote stacking direction or in the counterstacking direction. The upper portion of an upright banknote is held by the upper holding unit. The lower portion of the upright banknote is held by the lower holding unit. The holding units are, in particular, impellers with a base body and vanes arranged radially relative to the base body. Due to the radial connection of the wings to the base body, the wings are bent comparatively strongly by the contact with adjacent elements, ie the curvature of the wing has a small radius of curvature. In particular, in the connecting region in which the wings are connected to the main body, the wings are stressed due to the strong curvature and the high stiffness required for holding the notes of value with high voltages. This can lead to material fatigue, in particular to a reduction in rigidity and stress relaxation. This, in turn, the proper function of the impeller is no longer guaranteed.

From the document JP 2003-171068 A is known an impeller, which is made of a flexible rubber material, so that it is easily folded up for transport can. In operation, the wings of this impeller on the centrifugal force. From the documents JP 2007-091437 A and JP 62-150451 U In each case an impeller is known in which each wing comprises a pressure area and a support area. It is an object of the invention to provide a device for entering notes of value in a container with an impeller for handling bank notes, in which the wing of the impeller is claimed with a low uniform voltage.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

By the contact between the support region of the wing and the lateral surface of the base body when exerting a force on a note of value by the wing is achieved that at least a part of the support region bears against the base body and thus the wing is supported by the base body. This causes the force exerted by the wing on the banknote to be transferred over a large area from the wing to the base body. Furthermore, it is achieved by the concern of the support region of the wing on the base body, that the wing with only a slight curvature, ie a curvature with a large radius of curvature, is elastically deformed. This causes the wing, compared with a radial arrangement of the wing to the body, claimed with a much lower mechanical stress and a uniform stress distribution is achieved. In particular, the occurrence of voltage peaks, in particular in the connection region, is avoided or at least reduced. This, in turn, prevents or mitigates material fatigue so that the reduction in stiffness and stress relief of the blade is reduced over the life of the blade, thus ensuring a sufficiently high force exerted by the blade on the banknote. The impeller for handling banknotes comprises a rotatably mounted base body and at least one at a first end of a connecting portion fixedly connected to the main body wings. The wing has a pressure area for applying a force to at least one bank note and a support area. The support area contacts the lateral surface of the base body when the wing exerts a force on a bank note. It is advantageous if the wing essentially only exerts a force on the note of value if at least part of the support area of the wing contacts the base body.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if, between the connection region and the support region, the wing does not contact the base body, at least in one region, when the wing exerts a force on the security note and the support region contacts the lateral surface of the base body. It is particularly advantageous if the support region of the wing, when it exerts no force on a banknote, runs substantially parallel to a tangent to the base body in a first position. The connection point at which the wing is connected to the base body is arranged at a preset angle of <45 ° before the first point. The joint is in particular arranged at an angle in the range between 10 ° and 30 ° before the first point. Such an arrangement of the wing is also referred to as the previous connection of the wing. By the previous connection of the wing to the base body is achieved that the wing is longer compared to a tangential connection of the wing at the first point and thus softer with the same cross-section. Thus, with a curvature of the wing only Relatively low mechanical stresses, so that a material fatigue is prevented. Due to the wing's presence on the base body, when the wing exerts a force on a security note, it is ensured, despite the softer wing, that a sufficiently large force is exerted on the security note.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an angle in the range between 70 ° and 100 ° between the longitudinal axis of the connecting portion of the wing and a tangent to the body in the joint. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection region is placed radially on the lateral surface of the base body. Furthermore, it is advantageous if in an unloaded state of the wing between the connection region and the support region an angle between 70 ° and 110 °, in particular an angle of about 90 °, is. The unloaded state of the wing is that state in which the wing exerts no force on a note and is not deformed by contact with an adjacent element. A transition region between the support region and that is preferably curved, in particular in the form of a radius.

In this way, the past connection of the wing to the body in a simple manner and the impeller is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

Furthermore, it is advantageous to form the main body and the wing in one piece. The impeller is produced in particular by means of an injection molding process. As a result, a cost-effective production of the impeller is achieved.

The main body is preferably a hub rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis. As a result, the impeller can be easily mounted rotatably on a shaft and rotated by a rotation of the shaft. According to the invention, the impeller comprises two wings. The wings are arranged offset by 180 °. This ensures that a value-added stack accommodated in a receiving area of a container is reliably pressed into the receiving area with the aid of the impeller, so that a free supply area is produced for positioning a further banknote to be supplied and stacked. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the impeller may also comprise more than two wings, in particular three or four wings. According to the invention, at least a part of the wing when exerting a force on a value note on a curvature counter to the direction of rotation of the impeller. For this purpose, the wing is sufficiently elastic. In this way, it is achieved that the wing can be bent non-destructively in contact with arranged in the radius of the wing elements. The impeller is for this purpose in particular made of an elastomer, preferably a non-crosslinked elastomer. According to the invention, the center of curvature of the curvature of the wing lies in a through the lateral surface of the basic body limited space. The center of curvature of the curvature is preferably on the axis of rotation of the body. This achieves, on the one hand, that the support region of the wing rests optimally on the lateral surface of the main body, and, on the other hand, that the curvature of the wing has a large radius of curvature. Due to the large radius of curvature in turn, the wing is stressed with a lower voltage.

Moreover, it is advantageous if the wing at the end facing away from the main body has a counter curvature, so that compensated by the contact of the support area with the lateral surface of the body resulting backward inclination of the wing against the direction of rotation of the body or at least reduced. This ensures that the wing can exert a sufficiently large force on the banknote over the contact area. For this purpose, the wing preferably has an S-shaped area.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description which, in conjunction with the accompanying figures, the invention with reference to embodiments explained in more detail.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer bekannten Ausführungsform eines Flügelrades;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer weiterentwickelten Ausführungsform eines Flügelrades;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform eines Flügelrades; und

Fig. 4

eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung des Flügelrades nach Fig. 3.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a known embodiment of an impeller;

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a further developed embodiment of an impeller;

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of an embodiment of an impeller according to the invention; and

Fig. 4

a schematic perspective view of the impeller after Fig. 3 ,

In Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a known embodiment of an impeller 10a shown. The impeller 10a is used in particular in ATMs, automatic cash register systems and / or automatic cash deposits, into which banknotes are deposited and stacked in banknote acceptor areas. The notes of value are fed to the Wertscheinaufnahmebereich individually and stored in this standing on one of its long sides in a stacked form. The notes of value of the value note stack already received in the value acceptance area are pressed by means of the impeller 10a against a pressure wall limiting the value acceptance area, so that a free supply area is formed, in which the value note to be deposited next in the value acceptance area can be supplied to the value acceptance area. This avoids that an added value note canted during feeding with the notes of the value note stack and thus a correct stacking of the notes of value can not be guaranteed.

The impeller 10a comprises a hollow cylindrical main body 12a and two wings 14a, 16a fixedly connected to the main body 12a. The main body 12a is designed in particular as a hub. The wings 14a, 16a are also referred to as paddles.

The main body 12a is rotatable and stationary with an in Fig. 1 connected shaft shown connected 18, that the longitudinal axis of the main body 12a and the longitudinal axis of the shaft 18 coincide. Upon rotation of the shaft 18 in the direction of rotation P1, the impeller 10a rotates in the direction of rotation P1.

The vanes 14a, 16a are connected at a first end of a connecting region 20a, 22a to the main body 12a such that the longitudinal axis of the respective connecting region 20a, 22a is arranged in each case radially to the main body 12a. This radial arrangement of the wings 14a, 16a is also referred to as a radial connection. Further, each wing 14a, 16a at least one pressure area 24a, 26a, with which the wing 14a, 16a presses against the stacked in the Wertscheinaufnahmebereich Wertscheinstapel last fed value note and thus exerts a force on this note and thus on the existing stack to to produce the feed opening for supplying another note of value. In order to exert sufficient force on the last note of the value note stack, the wings 14a, 16a must have a high rigidity. Furthermore, the drive unit with which the shaft 18 and thus also the impeller 10 a are driven, must generate a sufficiently high torque. At the in Fig. 1 Not The drive unit shown is in particular a stepper motor.

Furthermore, in Fig. 1 two adjacent elements 28, 30 are shown. The adjoining elements 28, 30 are, in particular, shafts or rods which are in Fig. 1 are also shown cut. The vanes 14a, 16a of the impeller 10a are strongly bent in rotation of the impeller 10a in the direction of rotation P1 by the contact with the adjacent elements 28, 30. The wing 16a is in Fig. 1 shown in a position in which it is bent by the contact with the first adjacent element 28. In particular, in a curved region 32a, a strong curvature of the wing 16a is generated. A strong curvature is a curvature with a small radius of curvature or with small radii of curvature.

Due to the strong curvature of the wing 16a, large stresses, in particular large edge stresses, occur in the wing 16a, in particular in the connection region 22a. Due to the high rigidity of the wing 16 a, the voltages occurring are particularly large. The high voltages occur during the operation of the impeller 10a to a material fatigue. In particular, the high stresses that occur cause a strong degradation of the stiffness of the wings 14a, 16a and thus a strong stress relief. This in turn can cause that is no longer exerted by the wings 14a, 16a the least necessary force on the last note of the banknote stack and thus a secure retention of the notes of value of the banknote stack is no longer guaranteed. Furthermore, the material fatigue to the failure of the impeller 10a to lead. In order to apply the least necessary force even with decreasing stiffness, the drive unit for driving the shaft 18 must drive it at a higher speed. The uneven curvature of the wing 16a causes a likewise uneven stress distribution over the wing 16a. As a result, voltage peaks can result, which can lead to damage to the wing 16a.

In the embodiment of the impeller 10a after Fig. 1 is the enveloping circle of the curved wings 14, 16 represented by the circles 34, 36. Here, the outer circle 34 indicates the enveloping circle of that surface of the wing 16a, which is seen in the direction of rotation P1, arranged at the front. Similarly, the circle 36 indicates the envelope of the rear surface of the wing 16a.

In Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a further developed embodiment of an impeller 10b shown. Elements with the same structure or the same function have the same reference numerals. The longitudinal axes of the connecting portions 20b, 22b of the wings 14b, 16b are neither orthogonal nor parallel to a tangent to a main body 12b in the respective connection points at which the wings 14b, 16b are connected to the main body 12b. The wings 14b, 16b are thus connected neither radially nor tangentially to the main body 12b. Furthermore, each wing 14b, 16b comprises at least one pressure region 24b, 26b.

Due to the non-radial connection of the wings 14b, 16b to the main body 12b of the impeller 10b, the wings 14b, 16b become in contact with the adjacent elements 28, 30 less bent than the wings 14a, 16a of the impeller 10a after Fig. 1 , The curvature region of the wing 16b is designated by the reference numeral 32b. Due to the lower curvature, ie by a curvature having a larger radius of curvature, the stresses occurring in the vanes 14b, 16b are lower than the stresses which occur in the vanes 14a, 16a in the radial connection of the vanes 14a, 16a. The occurring stresses are still relatively large and lead to a strong degradation of the stiffness of the wings 14b, 16b and a strong voltage reduction. The resulting in Fig. 2 Envelope not shown in the in Fig. 2 shown connection of the wings 14b, 16b is less than the enveloping circle 34, 36 at the radial connection of the wings 14a, 16a. For comparison, the enveloping circles 34, 36 which result in the case of a radial connection of the wings 14a, 16a to the main body 12a, as in FIG Fig. 1 also in Fig. 2 shown. At the in Fig. 2 In particular, the enveloping circle resulting in connection of the wings 14b, 16b has a radius which is approximately 90% of the radius of the enveloping circle, which is determined by the radial connection of the wings 14a, 16a Fig. 1 results.

In Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of an embodiment according to the invention of an impeller 10c shown. In Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the impeller 10c after Fig. 3 shown. The impeller 10c includes two blades 14c, 16c. The force exerted by the last note of value of the note stack on the wing 14c when the note is pressed by means of the wing 14c is in Figure 3 represented by the arrow P2.

The wings 14c, 16c each include a support portion 38, 40, which contacts the lateral surface of a base body 12c, when the respective wing 14c, 16c exerts a force on the last note of the value note stack via a contact area 24c, 26c. The wing 14c, 16c thus bears against the base body 12c and is supported by the base body 12c. As a result, the force P2 exerted by the note of value on the wings 14c, 16 is transferred over a larger area from the wing 14c, 16c to the base body 12c, so that the occurring stresses are lower. The wing 14c, 16c is in particular on an even larger area on the base body 12c, the greater the force P2 exerted on the wing 14c, 16c. In particular, the wing 14c is designed in such a way that the wing 14c does not contact the base body 12c in at least one area 42 when the wing 14c exerts a force on the last value note of the value note stack. The vane 16c is analogous to the vane 14c, so the embodiments described for the vane 14c corresponding to the vane 16c and the vices described for the vane 16c apply mutatis mutandis to the vane 14c. The gap, which is present in the unloaded state between the wing 14c, 16c and the base body 12c, should be as small as possible, so that the wing 14c, 16c rests quickly on contact with a banknote on the base body 12c. The unloaded state is the state in which the wing 14c, 16c exerts no force on a bank note and the wing 14c, 16c is not bent by adjacent elements 28, 30.

The wing 14 c is formed such that the support portion 38 extends parallel to a tangent to the base body 12 c at a first location 44. The connection point 46 between the wing 14c and the main body 12c is seen in the direction of rotation P1 of the main body 12c at an angle in front of the first location 44. In particular, this angle has a value in the range between 0 ° and 45 °, preferably in the range between 10 ° and 30 °. This ensures that the wing 14c is longer and thus softer compared to a wing that is tangentially connected to the base body 12c at the first location 44. Such a soft wing 14c is stressed during the stress with an equal force with lower mechanical stresses than the shorter tangentially connected wing.

Between the longitudinal axis of a connecting region 20c of the wing 14c and a tangent to the base body 12c at the connection point 46 is an angle in the range between 70 ° and 110 °. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the angle is about 90 °, so that the connecting portion 20c of the wing 14c is radially connected to the main body 12c.

Further, the wing 14c is formed such that between the support portion 38 and the connecting portion 20c in the unloaded state of the wing 14c an angle in the range between 70 ° and 110 °, preferably an angle of about 90 °. This ensures that the connecting portion 20c of the wing 14c protrudes radially from the main body 12c and the support portion 38 of the wing 14c nevertheless runs parallel to a tangent to the main body 12c in the first position 44. A transition region between the support region 38 and the connection region 20c is preferably opposed the direction of rotation P1 curved, in particular formed in the form of a radius.

In the Fig. 3 and 4 shown and previously described shape and connection of the wings 14c, 16c is also referred to as the previous connection of the wings 14c, 16c. Due to the previous connection of the wings 14c, 16c it is achieved that the enveloping circle resulting from the contact with the adjacent elements 28, 30 is substantially smaller than the enveloping circle 34, 36 at the radial connection of the wings 14a, 16a. The resulting envelope is in Fig. 3 not shown and in particular has a radius which is only about 70% of the radius, which results in the radial connection of the wings 14a, 16a. For comparison are in Fig. 3 the enveloping circles 34, 36, which result in the radial connection of the wings 14a, 16a, shown. Due to the much smaller enveloping circle, a more compact design of the device in which the impeller 10c is used is possible with the same load on the impeller 10c.

Further, the engagement of the wings 14c, 16c is achieved by the wing 16c being less curved by contact with the adjacent element 28, so that the radius of curvature compared to the radii of curvature in the embodiments of the vanes 10a, 10b after the Fig. 1 and 2 is larger. The center of the radius of curvature is disposed near the longitudinal axis of the main body 12c. Advantageously, the center of curvature lies on the longitudinal axis of the main body 12c. This in turn ensures that the stresses with which the wings 14c, 16c are claimed, lower are, and thus the material fatigue, in particular the degradation of the rigidity of the wings 14c, 16c, are reduced. Likewise, a uniform voltage curve over the wing 14c, 16c is achieved by the uniform curvature and thus the occurrence of local stress peaks and possible damage to the impeller 10c avoided or reduced. In particular, a connecting portion 20c, 22c of the wing 14c, 16c, at the end of which the wing 14c, 16c is connected to the base body 12c, is relieved by supporting the wing 14c, 16c with the support portion 38, 40 on the base body 12c. The wings 14c, 16c are in particular designed in such a way that the wing 14c, 16c only exerts a force on a security note when the support area 38, 40 at least partially rests against the base body 12c.

Furthermore, the wing 14c comprises a counterbending area 48, which is curved in such a way that the end of the wing 14c, which is not connected to the main body 12c, points in the direction of rotation P1. As a result of this counter-curvature of the wing 14c, it is achieved that the bending back of the wing 14c against the direction of rotation P1 is at least partially compensated for by the support of the wing 14c on the base body 12c. In this way, it is ensured that the force necessary for retaining the last bank note of the value note stack is ensured by the contact pressure area 24c, in particular by the end of the contact pressure area 14c facing away from the main body 12c. Overall, the wing 14c is thus S-shaped.

The wings 14c, 16c and the main body 12c are in particular formed in one piece. The impeller 10c is advantageously made of an uncrosslinked elastomer, in particular of polyurethane (PU), of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or of polyester-urethane rubber (Vulkollan®), and is produced, for example, by injection molding. Alternatively, the impeller 10c may also be made of crosslinked elastomers.

The wings 14c, 16c of the impeller 10c are arranged offset by 180 °. In an alternative embodiment not covered by the claims, the wings 14c, 16c may also be offset from each other by an angle other than 180 °. Furthermore, more or in an uncovered by the claims embodiment, less than two wings 14c, 16c may be provided. In particular, in other embodiments, the impeller 10c may have only one blade 14c, 16c, which embodiment is not covered by the claims, or four blades 14c, 16c which are offset by 90 °.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10a, 10b, 10c

impeller

12a, 12b, 12c

body

14a, 14b, 14c

wing

16a, 16b, 16c

wing

18

wave

20a, 20b, 20c

connecting area

22a, 22b, 22c

connecting area

24a, 24b, 24c

pressure region

26a, 26b, 26c

pressure region

28, 30

adjacent element

32a, 32b

curvature region

34, 36

enveloping circle

38, 40

support area

42

Area

44

first place

46

junction

48

Against bending area

P1

direction of rotation

P2

force

Claims (11)

1. Device for inputting banknotes into a container, having a feed unit for feeding the banknotes,
   having a stacking unit for stacking the fed banknotes, and
   having at least one paddle wheel (10c) for handling the banknotes, comprising a rotatably mounted main body (12c) and a paddle (14c, 16c) which, at a first end of a connection region (20c, 22c), is fixedly connected to the main body (12c), wherein the paddle (14c, 16c) comprises a pressure-exerting region (24c, 26c) for exerting a force on at least one banknote and comprises a support region (38, 40),
   wherein the support region (38, 40) makes contact with the shell surface of the main body (12c) when the paddle (14c, 16c) exerts a force on a banknote, and
   wherein at least a part of the paddle (14c, 16c), when exerting a force on a banknote, exhibits a curvature counter to the direction of rotation (P1) of the paddle wheel (10c),
   wherein the paddle wheel (10c) has two paddles (14c, 16c) arranged offset by 180°,
   characterized in that the curvature central point of the curvature of the paddle (14c, 16c) lies within a space delimited by the shell surface of the hollow cylindrical main body (12c).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that, between the connection region (20, 22) and the support region (38, 40), the paddle (14c, 16c) does not make contact with the main body (12c) at least in one region (42) when the paddle (14c, 16c) exerts a force on a banknote and the support region (38, 40) makes contact with the shell surface of the main body (12c).
3. Device according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the support region (38, 40) of the paddle (14c, 16c), when said paddle is not exerting a force on a banknote, runs substantially parallel to a tangent to the main body (12c) at a first point (44), and in that the connection point (46) at which the paddle (14c, 16c) is connected to the main body (12c) is, as viewed in the direction of rotation (P1) of the main body (12c), arranged in front of the first point (44) by an angle of less than 45°, in particular an angle in the range between 10° and 30°.
4. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, between the longitudinal axis of the connection region (20c, 22c) of the paddle (14c, 16c) and a tangent to the main body (12c) at the connection point (46) at which the paddle (14c, 16c) is connected to the main body (12c), there is an angle in the range between 70° and 110°.
5. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the connection region (20c, 22c) of the paddle (14c, 16c) is attached radially onto the shell surface of the main body (12c).
6. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, in an unloaded state of the paddle (14c, 16c), between the connection region (20c, 22c) and the support region (38, 40), there is an angle in the range between 70° and 110°, in particular an angle of approximately 90°.
7. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the main body (12c) and the paddle (14c, 16c) are formed in one piece.
8. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the main body (12c) is a hub which is mounted so as to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis.
9. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the curvature central point of the curvature of the paddle (14c, 16c) lies on the axis of rotation of the main body (12c).
10. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the paddle (14c, 16c) has a region of S-shaped form.
11. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the paddle wheel (10c) is produced from a non-crosslinked elastomer.

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