EP2423888A1 - Device for introducing bank notes into a bank note processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device i.e. mouth piece (5), has a base body (9), a support surface (11) for applying a bank note to be guided, and a lateral positioning flank (12) for lateral positioning and/or connecting the device to a bank note processing device. An adjusting unit variably adjusts a position of the flank transverse to a guiding direction of the bank note. The adjusting unit includes an adapter element (18) adjustably mounted on a mounting surface i.e. wedge surface, of the base body and adjustable by moving on the mounting surface transverse to the guiding direction.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for inserting banknotes into a banknote processing device, which comprises a base body, a support surface for flat application of a banknote to be inserted, and at least one lateral positioning flank for lateral positioning and / or for fitting the mouthpiece to the banknote processing device. In particular, the device is a mouthpiece.

In the case of gambling machines, it is customary to integrate into the gaming device a banknote processing device which checks banknotes, for example, for their authenticity, reads the value of the banknotes, accepts the banknotes and stores them in a memory or, if appropriate, also outputs banknotes for profit or processes them in another way. In order to be able to better insert the banknotes into such a banknote processing machine, mouthpieces are regularly inserted in front of the input slot of the banknote processing devices, which facilitate the threading of the banknotes and serve as an insertion aid. In particular, such mouthpieces facilitate the exact positioning of the introduced banknotes. For this purpose, a support surface for placing the banknote, which is usually bounded on both sides by positioning flanks, in order to align the bank notes transversely to the insertion direction centrally to the insertion slot or at a predetermined lead-in edge.

Depending on which type of banknotes, d. H. For example, dollars or euros, rubles or yen, the bank processing device is designed, different mouthpieces or different bank note processing equipment must be used to bring the respective banknotes exactly in the desired position relative to the slot of the banknote processing machine and edit. This in itself is not a problem as long as the mouthpiece is attached to the respective banknote processing machine so that each banknote processing machine has its own mouthpiece.

In the case of gaming machines, however, it is advantageous to arrange and secure the banknote processing device inside the game device housing, while the mouthpiece for inserting the banknotes is advantageously provided on a housing wall or incorporated into the housing wall in order to protect the banknote processing device located behind the housing wall from manipulation. Advantageously, said mouthpiece can in this case be integrated in the appliance door or a door-like housing part, so that the mouthpiece pivots away when swinging the door of the banknote processing unit and comes to lie in front of the bank note processing device when closing the door.

However, since such game machines may contain different banknote processing machines for different countries, the integration of the mouthpiece in a device housing part means that no unitary device housing can be used, but different variants have to be manufactured and kept available depending on the required mouthpiece. However, the approach to design for each banknote processing equipment each own mouthpieces and to integrate into the corresponding game device housing, however, means a considerable design and manufacturing effort and is associated with corresponding costs.

The present invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved device of the type mentioned above, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and further develops the latter in an advantageous manner. In particular, a universal mouthpiece is to be created, which can be used for a variety of different bank note processing equipment, without purchasing this through inaccuracies in the introduction of banknotes and a concomitant susceptibility.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a device according to claim 1 and a game device according to claim 12. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

It is therefore proposed to make the at least one lateral positioning or connecting flank of the mouthpiece adjustable or to make the contact contour defined by the positioning flank, which predetermines the connecting contour to the banknote processing device, adjustable. By a transverse displacement of the defined by the positioning edge conditioning contour, the mouthpiece can be adapted to different bank note processing equipment. According to the invention, adjusting means are provided for variably setting the position of the positioning flank transversely to the direction of insertion of the banknote. The positioning edge can thereby be set to different widths for different width banknote processing equipment, whereby the mouthpiece is universally usable for various banknote processing equipment.

In a further development of the invention, the mouthpiece advantageously has a pair of lateral positioning flanks, which are arranged following the support surface on opposite sides of the support surface, wherein the clear width between the positioning flanks is adjustable by the aforementioned adjusting means. In principle, it may be sufficient to form only one of the positioning flanks in the manner described adjustable, which may be provided in particular for banknote processing equipment that does not centered import of Banknotes, but have a regardless of the width of the banknotes left or right aligned to a specific intake contour indentation. In this way, the mouthpiece can be adapted in each case to the side indentation required by the respective banknote processing device and / or the relative position of the mouthpiece and banknote processing device.

In a further development of the invention, however, the adjustment means of the type mentioned are preferably assigned to both lateral positioning flanks, so that each of the two lateral positioning flanks is adjustable with respect to the position of its connection or contact contour.

The aforementioned adjustment means can in principle be designed differently. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said adjustment means comprise a preferably plate-shaped adapter element which can be placed on a preferably rigid body or base part of the respective positioning flank. By placing the said adapter element, the positioning edge is so to speak doubled or thickened, so that the inside diameter of the mouthpiece tapers.

In order to be able to achieve different mouthpiece widths or to be able to set different positions of the contours of the contours, it may be provided to use different adapter elements with different geometries in exchange or to use adapter elements of the same or different geometries in different numbers, ie. H. as required, one, two or more adapter elements applied to each other on the base body of the positioning edge.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, it is provided that the adapter element transversely to said insertion direction of the banknotes adjustable and can be mounted in different positions on said body part of the positioning edge, so that different settings of the Positionierflanke can be realized by using one and the same adapter element. In particular, said adapter element is adjustable on said body part mountable that upon adjustment of the adapter element said adapter element undergoes a movement component parallel to the support surface and transversely to the insertion direction of the banknotes, so that the width of the insertion slot or the inside width of the mouthpiece changed or the respective contact contour is adjusted accordingly.

In a further development of the invention, said adapter element has a mounting surface with which the adapter element can be mounted on a base body of the positioning flank mounting surface, wherein advantageously said mounting surface on the base body to the direction of insertion of the banknotes through the mouthpiece and / or to a vertical on the Support surface of the mouthpiece is inclined at an acute angle, so that the adapter element undergoes an offset transversely to the insertion by displacing on said oblique mounting surface. By acting as a wedge surface mounting surface can be an exact, fine adjustment of the position of the adapter element and thus the position of the investment contour for the banknote processing machine or banknote introduced simply by the fact that the adapter element is moved on the mounting surface of the body part of the positioning. Depending on the size of the helix angle in this case a more or less strong implementation of such a displacement movement can be achieved in a transverse movement. A good compromise between sufficient adjustment on the one hand and sufficient fineness of the setting on the other hand can be achieved in a further development of the invention in that a helix angle of about 5 ° to 30 °, preferably 10 ° to 20 ° is provided.

In order to prevent or complicate an unintentional adjustment of the adapter element, the adapter element and / or the base body formed on the mounting surface may advantageously be provided with a surface profiling that keeps the set on the mounting surface adapter element without excessive contact forces in position. The said surface profiling may in principle be different, for example consist of a corrugation or a sandpaper-like grain. Preferably, however, the surface profiling has one in a certain Direction oriented structure. In particular, the surface profiling may be formed rib-shaped or tooth-like, wherein the preferably linearly shaped ribs or teeth advantageously extend in a direction which generates against slipping in the direction of the predetermined displaceability of the adapter element on the mounting surface greater resistance than against slipping transversely to this direction , Thus, for example, if the adapter element on the positioning edge offset from top to bottom to achieve the desired transverse adjustment, the ribs or teeth can be horizontal, to prevent accidental slipping from top to bottom or vice versa and thus unwanted Querverstellen.

For fixing the adapter element in the respective desired position, various fixing elements or means may be provided. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a clamping element, preferably in the form of a screw to be provided for clamping the adapter element on the base body of the positioning edge, said advantageously the said clamping element can be recorded in a slot in the adapter element and / or the base body variously allow displacement of the adapter element without complete release of the clamping element. The said clamping element only needs to be loosened slightly in order to allow a displacement of the adapter element, and be tightened again as soon as the adapter element has reached the desired position.

Alternatively or in addition to such a clamping element can also be provided form-locking holding means for fixing the adapter element. For example, a latching be provided, for example in the form of a clip closure on the spacer element and / or the base body of the positioning flank to lock the adapter element in the desired position can.

If the adapter element is held in the manner mentioned, for example by means of a screw, it is advantageous to prevent the adapter element from rotating against rotation from the desired position ensures. Corresponding anti-rotation means may be designed differently and provided on the adapter element and / or the base body of the mouthpiece. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a guide device may be provided, which guides the adapter element when moving in a predetermined orientation. In a further development of the invention, the adapter element with an end face on a serving as a guide abutment surface on the base body and be moved along this surface, wherein the adapter element is secured by the abutment of the end face on said contact surface against rotation.

In a further development of the invention, the adapter element may be formed symmetrically and have a V-shaped chamfer on an end face, so that in each case one leg of the V-shaped chamfer can be used as a contact surface for preventing rotation. Depending on which side of the mouthpiece or on which of the two positioning flanks the adapter element is mounted, once the one leg and the other time the other leg of said V-shaped chamfer is used.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said mouthpiece is formed separately from the banknote processing apparatus, wherein the mouthpiece in particular mounted on a movable housing part and / or may be integrated into this, so that the mouthpiece can be removed by moving the housing part of the banknote processing apparatus, which advantageously within of the device housing is mounted. In particular, the mouthpiece may be attached to a pivotally mounted door, so that the mouthpiece can be removed by swiveling the door open from the banknote processing machine and placed in front of the banknote processing device by swiveling the door.

Fig. 1:

Eine perspektivische Frontansicht eines Spielgeräts, das ein Gerätegehäuse mit einer aufschwenkbaren Tür umfaßt, wobei in der Tür ein Mundstück vorgesehen ist, um Banknoten in ein innerhalb des Gerätegehäuses angeordnetes Banknotenbearbeitungsgerät,

Fig. 2:

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Mundstücks an der Tür des Gerätegehäuses aus Fig. 1,

Fig. 3:

eine Rückansicht des Mundstücks aus Fig. 1 und 2 in einer Blickrichtung, die der Einführrichtung der Banknoten entgegengesetzt ist,

Fig. 4:

eine Draufsicht auf das Mundstück aus Fig. 3 in einer Blickrichtung senkrecht auf die Auflagefläche zum Auflegen der Banknoten,

Fig. 5:

eine Schnittansicht des Mundstücks aus den vorhergehenden Figuren entlang der Linie A-A in Fig. 3, die die Konturierung der seitlichen Profilflanken und die daran angebrachten plättchenförmigen Adapterelemente zeigt,

Fig. 6:

eine Seitenansicht des Mundstücks aus Fig. 3,

Fig. 7:

eine Schnittansicht des Mundstücks aus den vorhergehenden Figuren entlang der Linie B-B in Fig. 3, die das Anliegen des Adapterelements mit einem Schenkel seiner V-förmigen Anschrägung an einer Anlagefläche des Grundkorpus des Mundstücks zeigt,

Fig. 8:

eine Rückansicht des Mundstücks ähnlich Fig. 3, die im Vergleich zur Fig. 3 ein rechtes Adapterelement in einer verstellten Position zeigt, die eine kleinere lichte Weite zwischen den seitlichen Profilflanken bedeutet,

Fig. 9:

eine Schnittansicht des Mundstücks aus den vorhergehenden Figuren entlang der Linie A-A in Fig. 8, die das rechte Adapterelement in einer weiter nach innen verstellten Position zeigt,

Fig. 10:

eine Draufsicht auf eines der Adapterelemente zur Einstellung der lichten Weite zwischen den seitlichen Profilflanken des Mundstücks, und

Fig. 11:

eine Frontansicht des Adapterelements aus Fig. 10, die eine rippenförmige bzw. verzahnungsartige Oberflächenprofilierung der Montagefläche des Adapterelements zeigt.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment and associated drawings. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1:

A front perspective view of a gaming device comprising a device housing with a swing-open door, wherein a mouthpiece is provided in the door for inserting banknotes into a bill handling device disposed within the device housing;

Fig. 2:

a perspective view of the mouthpiece on the door of the device housing Fig. 1 .

3:

a rear view of the mouthpiece Fig. 1 and 2 in a viewing direction opposite to the insertion direction of the banknotes,

4:

a plan view of the mouthpiece Fig. 3 in a viewing direction perpendicular to the support surface for placing the banknotes,

Fig. 5:

a sectional view of the mouthpiece of the preceding figures along the line AA in Fig. 3 showing the contouring of the lateral profile flanks and the plate-shaped adapter elements attached thereto,

Fig. 6:

a side view of the mouthpiece Fig. 3 .

Fig. 7:

a sectional view of the mouthpiece of the preceding figures along the line BB in Fig. 3 showing the abutment of the adapter element with a leg of its V-shaped bevel on a contact surface of the base body of the mouthpiece,

Fig. 8:

similar to a rear view of the mouthpiece Fig. 3 that compared to Fig. 3 shows a right adapter element in an adjusted position, which means a smaller clear width between the lateral profile flanks,

Fig. 9:

a sectional view of the mouthpiece of the preceding figures along the line AA in Fig. 8 showing the right adapter element in a further inwardly displaced position,

Fig. 10:

a plan view of one of the adapter elements for adjusting the clearance between the lateral profile edges of the mouthpiece, and

Fig. 11:

a front view of the adapter element Fig. 10 , which shows a rib-shaped or tooth-like surface profiling of the mounting surface of the adapter element.

This in Fig. 1 shown game device is formed in the illustrated embodiment as a slant-top device comprising a cabinet-like device housing 2, in which a display unit in the form of two large screens and an intermediate display panel for displaying game information is provided in a conventional manner. On the device housing 2, a projecting control panel section 4 is provided on the front side in a lower half, which may include control buttons for game control. Furthermore, a mouthpiece 5 for inputting banknotes into a banknote processing device 6 is provided on the front side of the device housing 2 approximately in the area of said control panel section 4. While said banknote processing device 6 is accommodated inside the device housing 2, said mouthpiece 5 is integrated on the outside of the device housing 2 or in the mouthpiece 5 into a wall section of the device housing 2. More specifically, the mouthpiece 5 is provided on the cabinet door 7 of the apparatus body 2, so that the mouthpiece 5 can be moved out of the banknote processing apparatus 6 by opening and closing the cabinet door 7, and accurately in front of the banknote processing apparatus 6.

In the embodiment shown according to Fig. 1 the genante housing door 7 is pivoted about an upright axis 30 pivotally mounted on the housing base body 8, so that said mouthpiece 5 swung away during the up and Zuschenkenken the housing door 7 from the banknote processing unit 6 or pivoted to this becomes. Said mouthpiece 5 forms part of the housing wall of the device housing 2 or the mouthpiece 5 is rigidly connected to the housing wall.

As the Fig. 1 and 2 show, the mouthpiece 5 has a trough-shaped, angularly contoured base body 9, which limits an insertion or receiving trough 10 for inserting the banknotes.

The mouthpiece 5 in this case has a lying in the illustrated embodiment support surface 11, which is not flat in the illustrated embodiment, but rib-shaped contoured. It should be noted in this regard that the support surface 11 does not have to define a continuous surface, but for example, may be formed as a bar-shaped or grid-like grating, which forms a support for the flat side of the banknotes with corresponding contour sections.

Furthermore, the support surface 11 may be formed curved, for example, semicircular or circular arc, so that advantageously also circular arc held bills can be easily pushed through or processed.

Furthermore, the mouthpiece 5 comprises on its side facing the banknote processing unit 6 facing the support surface 11 arranged on opposite sides of the support surface 11, the support surface 11 and its extension laterally delimiting Positionierflanken 12 and 13, which are aligned upright in the illustrated embodiment.

Finally, the aforementioned receiving trough 10 is bounded on the back by an end wall 14 which connects the two positioning flanks 12 and 13 with each other and extends transversely to the positioning flanks 12 and 13 and the support surface 11. In the transition region between said end wall 14 and the aforementioned support surface 11, the mouthpiece 5 has an insertion slot 15, through which the banknotes can be inserted into the underlying banknote processing device 6, which banknote processing device 6 has a corresponding insertion slot which comes to lie in register behind the insertion slot 15 of the mouthpiece 5 and is bordered by said positioning flanks 12 and 13.

As the Fig. 3 to 7 The lateral positioning flanks 12 and 13 of the mouthpiece 5 comprise an outlet region 16 in which said positioning flanks 12 and 13 are widened in a V-shaped or funnel-shaped manner. By oriented to the insertion slot 15 tapering of this outlet region 16, the banknote processing device 6 can be easily threaded into the mouthpiece 5.

In the said outlet region 16, respective platelet-shaped adapter elements 17 and 18 are provided on the base body 9 of the respective positioning flanks 12 and 13, which form the contact contour of the positioning flanks 12 and 13 for the bank notes to be positioned or the subsequent banknote processing device 6. The aforementioned adapter elements 17 and 18 form the mutually facing inner contours of the positioning flanks 12 and 13, between which the banknotes can be inserted.

The aforementioned adapter elements 17 and 18 are in the illustrated embodiment plate-shaped, in particular in the form of flat plates formed with substantially constant thickness, but in an alternative embodiment, wedge-shaped adapter elements may be provided.

The aforementioned adapter elements 17 and 18 are each placed with a rear side, which forms a mounting surface of the adapter elements 17 and 18, to a formed on the base body 9 of the positioning edges 12 and 13 mounting surface 19 and 20 flat, so that the adapter elements 17 and 18 fed issue.

As the FIGS. 3 and 5 show, said mounting surface 19 and 20 of the base body 9 is an inclined surface which is inclined at an acute angle to the direction of insertion of the banknotes and widens towards the bank note processing device, as this Fig. 5 shows. This allows the clear width between the two adapter elements 17th and 18 can be varied by displacing said adapter elements 17 and 18 on said inclined mounting surfaces 19 and 20. If the adapter elements 17 and 18 are further displaced toward the support surface 11 of the mouthpiece 5, the distance between the adapter elements 17 and 18 becomes smaller, while conversely, when the adapter elements 17 and 18 are displaced away from the support surface 11 or toward the banknote processing device 6, the clear width is reversed gets bigger. This shows a comparison of Fig. 3 and 8th or a comparison of Fig. 5 and 9 , wherein in each case only the right adapter elements is displaced therein.

In order to fix the adapter elements 17 and 18 in the respective desired position, in the illustrated embodiment, the adapter elements 17 and 18 are each clamped with a clamping element 21 in the form of a screw on the respective mounting surface 19 and 20 of the base body 9. In order to enable a stepless adjustment, said clamping element 21 is slidably guided in a slot 22, which is provided in the illustrated embodiment in the base body 9 of the mouthpiece 5, but may also be provided in the respective adapter element 17 and 18. As Fig. 6 shows, said slot 22 extends in the direction of the desired displaceability of the adapter element 17 and 18 and in particular in the direction of the inclination of the mounting surfaces 19 and 20th

In order to prevent unwanted slippage of the adapter elements 17 and 18 on the base body 9 with only slightly tightened clamping elements 21, advantageously at least one of the engaging surfaces of the adapter elements 17 and 18 and the base body 9, a surface profiling 23 is provided which advantageously in shape may be formed by ribs or a toothing. Advantageously, the surface profiling 23 is oriented such that it counteracts slippage in the direction of said slot 22. Advantageously, the surface profiling 23 for this purpose have transversely to the slot 22 extending longitudinal ribs or rows of teeth. As Fig. 11 shows, in particular, the adapter element 17 and 18 may be provided with a spline.

In order to hold the adapter elements 17 and 18 in a desired rotational alignment during the displacement of the adapter elements 17 and 18 on the inclined mounting surfaces 19 and 20 of the positioning flanks 12 and 13, the adapter elements 17 and 18 are located with an end face on a guide contour on the base body 9 on, which may be formed in the form of a projection transversely of the inclined mounting surfaces 19 and 20, cf. Fig. 3 and Fig. 7 , In particular, the adapter elements 17 and 18 may be provided at one end face with a V-shaped chamfer 24, so that in each case one leg of said V-shaped bevel 24 comes to rest on the corresponding obliquely extending guide contour 25 on the base body 9, cf. Fig. 3 and Fig. 7 , Due to the symmetrical design of the adapter elements 17 and 18 can be worked with only one type of adapter element 17 and 18 on both sides of the mouthpiece 5, ie by turning the adapter element this can be mounted once on the right side and once on the left side of the mouthpiece 5 be, with a respective other leg of said V-shaped chamfer 24 comes to rest on the guide contour 25 of the base body 9.

Claims (12)

Device (5) for inserting banknotes into a bank note processing device (6), which device (5) has a base body (9), a support surface (11) for flat application of a banknote to be inserted and at least one lateral positioning edge (12, 13) for lateral positioning and / or for fitting the device (5) to the banknote processing device (6), characterized by adjusting means (26) for variably setting the position of the positioning edge (12, 13) transversely to the direction of insertion of the banknote through the device (5). Device (5) according to the preceding claim, wherein a pair of lateral positioning flanks (12, 13) are included and by the adjusting means (26) the clearance between the positioning flanks (12, 13) is adjustable, wherein preferably each positioning flank (12, 13) is associated with such adjusting means (26). Device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusting means (26) comprise a preferably plate-shaped adapter element which can be placed on a preferably rigid body part of the at least one positioning flank (12, 13). Device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adapter element (17, 18) transversely to said insertion direction of the banknotes adjustable and in different positions on said body part (9) of the positioning edge (12, 13) can be mounted. Device (5) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the adapter element (17, 18) can be mounted on a mounting part (19, 20) formed on said body part (9), which faces the direction of insertion of the banknotes and / or to a vertical the support surface (11) is inclined at an acute angle and forms an inclined surface, so that the adapter element (17, 18) undergoes an adjustment transversely to the insertion direction by displacement on the said inclined surface. Device (5) according to the preceding claim, wherein the adapter element (17, 18) and / or the said body part (9) formed mounting surface (19, 20) for the adapter element (17, 18) is provided with a surface profiling (23) , wherein the surface profiling (23) is preferably formed rib-shaped or tooth-like and / or against slipping in the direction of the predetermined displaceability of the adapter element (17, 18) on the mounting surface (19, 20) a greater resistance than against slipping transversely to said direction of provides predetermined displaceability. Device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a tensioning element (21), preferably in the form of a screw, for tightening the adapter element (12, 13) on the base body is provided, wherein the Clamping element (21) in a slot (22) in the adapter element (12, 13) and / or the base body (9) is slidably received. Device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adapter element (12, 13) and / or the base body (9) with anti-rotation and / or alignment means for setting a predetermined rotational position of the adapter element (17, 18) is provided, preferably said anti-rotation and / or alignment means an end face of the adapter element (17, 18) and a contact surface on the base body (9) to which said end face of the adapter element (17, 18) can be brought into abutment. Device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adapter element (17, 18) is symmetrical and has a V-shaped chamfer (24) on the front side of the adapter element (17, 18), wherein depending on the mounting side of the adapter element (17 , 18) each have a different leg of the V-shaped chamfer (24) with a contact contour on the respective positioning edge (12, 13) is engageable. Device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (5) is formed separately from the bank note processing device (6). Device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (5) is mounted on a movable housing part of a device housing (2) and the bank note processing device (6) is arranged inside said device housing (2), wherein the device (5) removable from the banknote processing apparatus (6) or vice versa positionable in front of the banknote processing device (6), wherein preferably the device (5) is arranged on a pivotable housing door (7) and by swiveling the housing door (7) from the banknote processing apparatus ( 6) removable and vice versa on the bank note processing device (6) can be placed or positioned directly in front of the bank note processing device (6). Game device, in particular a gaming machine, having a device (5) according to one of the preceding claims.

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