EP2743221B1 - Device for handling banknotes, comprising a one-sided clamping unit - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for handling notes of value, which comprises a transport unit for transporting a bundle of notes, according to claim 1. This transport unit comprises a belt which can be driven with the aid of a drive unit.

The device for handling notes of value is an ATM, an automatic cash register system and / or an automatic safe cash register. In these devices, the notes of value removed from cash boxes are first stacked in a stacking unit to form a bundle of notes. This bundle of banknotes is then transported with the aid of the transport unit to an output compartment for issuing the banknotes to the operator. If the operator does not remove the notes of value, the bundle of notes is transported back from the output compartment into a so-called retract container.

In most of the known devices, the bundles of banknotes are transported via belt arrangements on both sides, so that the bundle of banknotes is arranged between two belts while it is being transported. Alternatively, the bundles of banknotes can also be transported between pairs of rollers and / or a combination of a one-sided roller arrangement and a one-sided belt arrangement, see for example the document U.S. 4,482,057 A . It can also be transported between a one-sided belt arrangement and fixed plastic elements take place, wherein the bundle of notes is pushed in the transport direction in particular with the aid of a pressure plate.

The problem with these transport units is that notes of value in the bundle of notes can easily slip relative to one another, so that there is no longer an orderly bundle of notes and thus bank notes jams or other faults can easily occur. Particularly in the case of a so-called retract, the notes of value of the bundle of notes can be fanned out.

From the document DE 10247473 A1 a transport unit is known which comprises a transport trolley in which the bundle of banknotes is received for transport. This trolley has a housing and a clamping element, the bundle of banknotes being clamped between the housing and the clamping element during transport. Furthermore, the transport trolley has a drive unit with the aid of which it can be moved along different paths within the ATM. The problem with this transport unit is that it has a complex construction.

The document US 8146804 B2 describes an ATM and a transport unit which has a receiving compartment fastened to a belt for receiving the bundle of banknotes. The problem with this device is that here too the notes of value of the bundle of notes can easily slip relative to one another and thus disturbances can occur.

The document JP S5972592 A describes a device for handling a bundle of banknotes, in which, for transporting the bundle of banknotes, it is arranged between a driven belt and a pivotable clamping unit.

Further devices for transporting bundles of banknotes can be found in the documents JP S6020295 A , JP S61136856 A , JP H06180780 A and US 2010/213660 A1 known.

document US 2005/0029338 A1 discloses a device for depositing notes of value, in which at least one circumferential belt has a plurality of fingers arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction, which with the belt form receiving pockets for notes of value. A plurality of banknote stores are provided, each of which is assigned a stripping element which is arranged between the store and the belt. In order to deposit a note of value in the store, the belt and / or the corresponding stripping element can be adjusted relative to one another in such a way that the stripping element protrudes into a path of a note of value moved with the belt.

document JP 2007 326660 A discloses a sheet transport and stacking device having a circumferential belt with gripping members attached to that belt. When moving the belt, the gripping elements can be moved from a closed to an open position with the aid of triggering means.

It is the object of the invention to provide a device for handling notes of value, with the aid of which a bundle of notes can be transported safely and reliably.

This object is achieved by a device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the transport unit comprises a clamping unit which has a clamping element which can be pivoted about an axis of rotation. In a first position, this clamping element is arranged in such a way that a bundle of banknotes can be fed into and / or removed from a receiving area located between the clamping element and the belt. In a second position, however, the clamping element is arranged in such a way that a bundle of banknotes received in this receiving area is clamped between the belt and the clamping element.

Thus, when the clamping element is arranged in the first position, a bundle of banknotes can be safely and easily fed to the receiving area. If, on the other hand, the clamping element is arranged in the second position, secure transport of the bundle of notes is ensured. The bundle of banknotes is clamped on both sides via the clamping element and the belt, so that the bundle of banknotes is not fanned apart by the applied pressure force, ie the banknotes are prevented from slipping relative to one another. In particular, a bundle of banknotes, after it has been offered for removal in the output compartment, can be reliably clamped again in the event of non-removal and thus securely to the retract area be transported back. Alternatively, the bundle of banknotes can also remain clamped while being presented via the output compartment. This has the advantage that it cannot fall out unintentionally.

The clamping unit is in particular attached to the belt so that it is moved together with the belt. Alternatively, the clamping unit can also be moved via a separate drive unit, preferably a driven toothed belt. In this case, the belt and the clamping unit are moved in particular at the same speed, so that the clamping of the bundle of notes between the belt and the clamping unit is ensured.

The clamping element is designed and supported in particular in such a way that in the second position it is pivoted relative to the first position by a preset angle about the axis of rotation. This angle has, for example, a value in the range between 5 ° and 20 °, preferably between 6 ° and 10 °. An adjustment between the first and the second position is thus achieved in a simple manner, so that it is possible to adjust between the simple receptacle and the secure clamping over only a short adjustment path.

It is particularly advantageous if the clamping element is pretensioned in the second position with the aid of at least one elastic element and can be pivoted from the second to the first position against a restoring force of this elastic element. By pretensioning in the position in which the bundle of banknotes is jammed is, it is ensured that during the transport of the bundle of banknotes it is reliably and securely clamped and thus prevents the banknotes of the bundle of banknotes from slipping. In an alternative embodiment, the clamping element can also be pretensioned in the first position via an elastic element. In this case, the clamping element has to be actively moved from the first to the second position in order to clamp the bundle of notes and be held in this second position during the transport of the bundle of notes.

The elastic element is designed in particular in the form of at least one spring, for example a torsion spring. Alternatively, a silicone block or a block made from another elastic element can also be used as the elastic element. A particularly simple structure is thus achieved.

The clamping unit comprises in particular a base element which is fixedly fastened to the belt and on which the clamping element of the clamping unit is in turn arranged such that it can pivot about the axis of rotation. Fixed attachment is understood in particular to mean that this base element cannot be moved relative to the belt. As a result, when the belt is driven, the clamping unit is also moved, so that a bundle of banknotes received in the clamping unit can be transported in a simple manner.

The belt is in particular designed as an endless belt that is guided around at least two deflection elements. At least one of these deflection elements is driven with the aid of the drive unit, so that too the belt can be driven accordingly. The deflecting elements can in particular be rollers, and the drive unit can in particular be a motor.

The endless belt is divided into a first and a second partial area running parallel to the first partial area due to the guidance via the two deflecting elements. The base element is in particular fastened to a first partial area, the clamping element clamping the bundle of notes received in the receiving area between the clamping element and the second partial area when it is arranged in the second position. This achieves, on the one hand, a particularly compact design of the clamping unit and, on the other hand, a particularly secure reception of the bundle of notes between the clamping element and the belt.

Alternatively, the base element can also be attached to a separate toothed belt. The toothed belt can be driven with the aid of a drive unit so that the clamping unit can be moved accordingly. The drive unit can be either the same drive unit with which the belt can be driven or a further, separate drive unit. The toothed belt preferably runs approximately parallel to the belt and is in particular attached to an end area of the base element.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the clamping unit is designed in such a way that a first banknote arranged on a first end face of the bundle of banknotes has the clamping element and one on one opposite the first end face Second face arranged second note of value contacted the second portion of the belt when the clamping element is arranged in the second position.

According to the invention, at least one roller rotatable relative to the clamping element about its longitudinal axis is arranged on the clamping element, over which the bundle of notes is guided when being fed to the receiving area and / or when being removed from the receiving area. In particular, several rollers arranged one behind the other are provided so that the bundle of banknotes can slide on them and thus the frictional force between the banknotes arranged on the side of the bundle of banknotes facing the clamping element and the clamping element is reduced, so that the banknotes of the bundle of banknotes do not slip relative to one another.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the bundle of banknotes can be transported from a first transfer area to a second transfer area with the aid of the transport unit and if an adjustment unit for adjusting the clamping element from the second to the first position is provided in the first transfer area and / or in the second transfer area, if the clamping unit is arranged in the respective transfer area is provided. It is thus achieved that when the clamping unit is moved into one of the transfer areas, the clamping element prestressed in the second position via the elastic element is automatically moved into the first position via the adjustment unit against the restoring force of the elastic element. This ensures that the bundle of notes is in the receiving area can be fed when the clamping unit is arranged in the transfer area.

The adjustment unit can in particular comprise a ramp which, when the clamping unit is moved into the corresponding transfer area, makes contact with the clamping element and, via this contact, rotates around the axis of rotation from the second to the first position. A particularly simple and compact construction is thus achieved and it is nevertheless ensured that the clamping unit is arranged in the transfer area in the first position.

It is particularly advantageous if the clamping element comprises a first contact area for contacting the bundle of notes and a second contact area for contacting the ramp. The two contact areas are arranged on opposite sides of the clamping element in relation to the axis of rotation of the clamping element. In the second contact area, that is to say in the contact area via which the ramp is contacted, a roller for contacting the ramp is provided in particular. This avoids tilting the clamping element with the ramp when moving the clamping unit into the transfer area and ensures that the device can move easily.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, two belts running parallel to one another are provided. In this embodiment, the clamping unit has in particular a further clamping element which also clamps the bundle of notes together with the further belt. The two clamping elements are designed in particular to be identical. The two clamping elements are also preferably attached to the same basic unit of the clamping unit, the basic unit being attached in particular to both straps. Overall, therefore, particularly secure reception of the bundle of notes and particularly reliable transport are achieved.

Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description, which explains the invention in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments in connection with the accompanying figures.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Handhabung von Wertscheinen;

Figur 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer Transporteinheit der Vorrichtung nach Figur 1 gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform mit einem in einer ersten Position angeordneten Klemmelement einer Klemmeinheit;

Figur 3

eine schematische Darstellung der Transporteinheit nach Figur 2 mit einem in einer zweiten Position angeordneten Klemmelement;

Figur 4

eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung der Klemmeinheit nach den Figuren 2 und 3;

Figur 5

eine weitere schematische, perspektivische Darstellung der Klemmeinheit nach Figur 4;

Figur 6

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung der in der ersten Position befindlichen Klemmeinheit;

Figur 7

eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung der Klemmeinheit in der zweiten Position und eines eingeklemmten Wertscheinbündels; und

Figur 8

eine schematische Darstellung einer Transporteinheit gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform.

Show it:

Figure 1

a schematic representation of a device for handling bank notes;

Figure 2

a schematic representation of a transport unit of the device according to Figure 1 according to a first embodiment with a clamping element of a clamping unit arranged in a first position;

Figure 3

a schematic representation of the transport unit according to Figure 2 with a clamping element arranged in a second position;

Figure 4

a schematic, perspective view of the clamping unit according to the Figures 2 and 3 ;

Figure 5

a further schematic, perspective illustration of the clamping unit according to FIG Figure 4 ;

Figure 6

a schematic sectional view of the clamping unit located in the first position;

Figure 7

a schematic perspective illustration of the clamping unit in the second position and a clamped bundle of notes; and

Figure 8

a schematic representation of a transport unit according to a second embodiment.

In Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a device 10 for handling bank notes. The device 10 comprises a safe 12 in which four money cassettes 14 to 20 are accommodated. To issue notes of value to an operator of the device 10, notes of value are removed from the money cassette 14 to 20 and fed along a transport path 22 to a stacking unit 24 in which they are stacked to form a bundle of notes. Here, the notes of value lie against one another, in particular with their front and / or back sides.

The bundle of banknotes is then fed to an input and / or output compartment 28 with the aid of a transport unit 26 and presented to the operator via this. If the operator does not remove the bundle of notes from the input and / or output compartment 28, it is transported back again via the transport unit 26 and fed to a so-called retract cassette 30, for example.

The device 10 is an automated teller machine, an automatic cash register system and / or an automatic safe cash register. In an alternative embodiment, more or fewer than four money cassettes 14 to 20 can also be provided.

In an alternative embodiment, the entire device 10 can also be designed as a safe. In this case, accordingly, no partition is provided between the safe 12 and the head module.

In Figure 2 a schematic representation of the transport unit 26 is shown. The transport unit comprises an endless belt 36 guided over two rollers 32, 34. At least one roller 32, 34 can be driven via a drive unit, for example a motor, so that the belt 36 can also be driven accordingly.

A clamping unit 38 is attached to the belt 36. This has a base element 40 which is fixedly attached to the sub-area of the belt 36 located above the two rollers 32, 34. A clamping element 44 is in turn arranged on the base element 40 so that it can pivot about an axis of rotation 42.

In Figure 2 this clamping element 44 is shown in a first position. In Figure 3 however, the clamping element 44 is shown in a second position in which it is a preset angle is pivoted relative to the first position about the axis of rotation 42.

When the clamping element 44 is arranged in the second position, it clamps a bundle of banknotes (not shown) between the clamping element and the lower part of the belt 36 so that it is securely received in a receiving area formed between the clamping element 44 and the belt 36 and thus can be reliably transported.

On the other hand, if the clamping element 44 is in the first position, as in FIG Figure 2 shown, arranged, so the distance to the belt 36 is so great that the bundle of notes is not jammed. To feed the bundle of banknotes to the receiving area 46, the bundle of banknotes is raised in the direction of the belt 36 via an element (not shown), in particular so far that the bundle of banknotes is pressed against the belt 36, so that the belt 36 is slightly deformed. The clamping unit 38 is then moved in the direction of the bundle of banknotes so that it is received and clamped in the receiving area 46. During the transport of the bundle of notes with the aid of the transport unit 26, the clamping element 44 is arranged in the second position, so that safe transport is achieved. The clamping between the clamping element 44 and the belt 36 ensures in particular that the notes of value of the bundle of notes cannot slip relative to one another and thus reliable transport is possible and jams of notes or other disturbances are avoided.

The clamping element 44 is held in the second position in particular by means of at least one elastic element, so that it is ensured that it is arranged in this second position during transport and thus the wedging of the bundle of banknotes is guaranteed. The elastic element is in particular a torsion spring 48 ( Figure 4 ).

In the transfer areas, i.e. In those areas in which the clamping unit 38 is arranged when a bundle of banknotes is to be fed in and / or removed from it, an adjustment unit 50 is provided, via which the clamping element 44 moves from the second to the first against the restoring force of the elastic element 48 Position is moved when the clamping unit 38 is moved into this transfer area. The adjustment unit 50 has a ramp 52 on which a roller 54 of the clamping element 44 runs when the clamping unit 38 is moved in the direction of the arrow P1 into the transfer area. As a result of the rising course of the ramp 52 as seen in the direction P1, the clamping element 44 is rotated about the axis of rotation 42 in accordance with the arrow P2 and thus moved from the second to the first position. A particularly safe, reliable and yet simple adjustment of the clamping unit 38 from the second to the first position is thus achieved when the clamping unit 38 is moved into the transfer area.

The transfer area is in particular that area in which the bundle of banknotes is fed from the stacking unit 24 to the transport unit 26. Alternatively, the transfer area can also be the area in which the Bundle of notes is transferred between the transport unit 26 and the input and / or output compartment 28. Furthermore, the transfer area can also be a feed area to the retract cassette 30.

In the area of the receiving area 46, several rollers 56 are provided on the clamping element 44, these rollers 56 being mounted in particular so as to be rotatable about their longitudinal axis. The rollers 56 contact the note arranged on the front side of the bundle of notes, so that the bundle of notes can be safely and easily fed and removed with the least possible frictional forces and the notes of notes of the bundle of notes cannot slip relative to one another when they are fed and / or removed.

In the Figures 4 and 5 a schematic, perspective illustration of the clamping unit 38 and the adjustment unit 50 is shown in each case.

Figure 6 shows a sectional illustration of the clamping unit 38 arranged in the first position. Figure 7 shows a schematic, perspective illustration of the clamping unit 38 arranged in the second position and a bundle of banknotes 58 clamped in it.

Two clamping elements 44 are arranged on the base element 40. The two clamping elements 44 and the units attached to them are in particular structurally identical and mirror-symmetrical to a center plane of the clamping unit 38, which is why in the Figures 4 to 7 for both clamping elements 44 and the other corresponding elements have been given the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, the transport unit 26 has, in particular, two belts 36, 60 that run parallel to one another, the base element 40 being fixedly attached to both belts 36, 60. The one clamping element 44 clamps the bundle of banknotes together with one belt 60 and the other clamping element 44 together with the other belt 36 when the two clamping elements 44 are each arranged in the second position. This ensures particularly safe trapping and particularly safe transport, as shown in FIG Figure 7 is shown. The bundle of banknotes 58 is in this case clamped in at two points via the two clamping elements 44 and the two straps 36, 60, so that the banknotes of the bundle of banknotes 58 are reliably prevented from slipping.

The ramp 52 has, as in Figure 6 shown, a region 62 rising in the feed direction P1 and a flat region 64 which is arranged downstream of the region 62 as seen in the feed direction P1. When the clamping unit 38 is moved into the transfer position, ie when moving in the feed direction P1, the clamping element 44 with its roller 54 first contacts the rising area 62 and is thus pivoted from the second to the first position. The roller 54 then runs on the flat area 64 so that the clamping element 44 is held in the first position without any further pivoting. What is achieved hereby in particular is that the clamping element 44 is reliably arranged in the first position in the transfer area without a completely in the feed direction P1 exact positioning must take place. Likewise, in contrast to the rising area 62, no forces directed against the feed direction P1 are exerted on the clamping unit 38 via the flat area 64.

In Figure 8 is a schematic, perspective illustration of a section of a transport unit 26 according to a second embodiment. This second embodiment differs from that in FIGS Figures 2 to 7 shown embodiment in that the clamping unit 38 is not attached to the straps 36, 60. Instead, a toothed belt 70 is provided, which is connected to the clamping unit 38 in an edge area and can be driven via a drive unit (not shown). The clamping unit 38 is thus moved independently of the belts 36, 60 via the toothed belt 70.

In a further alternative embodiment, at least two toothed belts 70 can also be provided for moving the clamping unit 38. The two toothed belts 70 are then fastened to the clamping unit 38 in particular at opposite edge regions of the latter.

List of reference symbols

10

contraption

12

safe

14, 16, 18, 20

Cash box

22nd

Transport path

24

Stacking unit

26th

Transport unit

28

Input and / or output tray

30th

Retract cassette

32, 34

role

36, 60

belt

38

Clamping unit

40

Basic element

42

Axis of rotation

44

Clamping element

46

Recording area

48

Torsion spring

50

Adjustment unit

52

ramp

54, 56

role

58

Bundles of notes

62.64

Area

70

Timing belt

P1, P2

direction

Claims (14)

1. Automatic cash machine, automatic cash register system and/or secure automatic cash register for handling banknotes,
   having a transport unit (25) for transporting a bundle of banknotes,
   wherein the transport unit (26) comprises at least one belt (36, 60) which can be driven with the aid of a drive unit,
   wherein the transport unit (26) comprises a clamping unit (38), and
   wherein the clamping unit (38) comprises a clamping element (44) which can be pivoted about an axis of rotation (42) and which, in a first position, is arranged in such a way that a bundle of banknotes (58) can be fed into and/or removed from a receiving area (46) arranged between the clamping element (44) and the belt (36, 60), and which, in a second position, is arranged in such a way that a bundle of banknotes received in the receiving area (46) is clamped in between the belt (36, 60) and the clamping element (44), characterized in that a roller (56) that can be rotated about its longitudinal axis relative to the clamping element (44) is arranged on the clamping element (44), via which roller the bundle of banknotes (58) is guided as it is fed to the receiving area (46) and/or as it is removed from the receiving area (46).
2. Automatic cash machine, automatic cash register system and/or secure automatic cash register (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in the second position, the clamping element (44) is pivoted relative to the first position by a preset angle, in particular an angle between 5° and 20°, about the axis of rotation (42).
3. Automatic cash machine, automatic cash register system and/or secure automatic cash register (10) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the clamping element (44) is preloaded in the second position with the aid of at least one elastic element (48), preferably with the aid of at least one spring, in particular with the aid of at least one torsion spring, and in that the clamping element (44) can be pivoted from the second position into the first position counter to a restoring force from this elastic element (48).
4. Automatic cash machine, automatic cash register system and/or secure automatic cash register (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the belt (36, 60) is guided as an endless belt (36, 60) in circulation about at least two deflection elements (32, 34).
5. Automatic cash machine, automatic cash register system and/or secure automatic cash register (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping unit (38) is fixed in place on the driveable belt (36, 60).
6. Automatic cash machine, automatic cash register system and/or secure automatic cash register (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the belt (36, 60) is a first belt (36, 60), in that at least one second belt (70) that can be driven with the aid of a drive unit, in particular at least one toothed belt (70), is provided, in that the clamping unit (38) is fixed in place on the second belt (70), and in that, in the second position, the clamping element (44) does not clamp a bundle of banknotes received in the receiving area (46) between the second belt (70) and the clamping element (44).
7. Automatic cash machine, automatic cash register system and/or secure automatic cash register (10) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the clamping unit (38) comprises a base element (40) which is fixed in place on the first belt (36, 60) and/or the second belt (70) and on which the clamping element (44) is fixed such that it can be pivoted around the axis of rotation (42).
8. Automatic cash machine, automatic cash register system and/or secure automatic cash register (10) according to Claim 7, characterized in that because of the guidance over the two deflection elements (32, 34), the endless belt (36, 60) is subdivided into a first partial area and a second partial area extending parallel to the first partial area, in that the base element (40) is fixed to the first partial area, and in that the clamping element (44) clamps the bundle of banknotes (58) received in the receiving area (46) between the clamping element (44) and the second partial area when it is arranged in the second position.
9. Automatic cash machine, automatic cash register system and/or secure automatic cash register (10) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the clamping unit (38) is formed in such a way that a first banknote arranged on a first end face of the bundle of banknotes (58) contacts the clamping element (44), and a second banknote arranged on a second end face, opposite the first end face, contacts the second partial area of the belt (36, 60) when the clamping element (44) is arranged in the second position.
10. Automatic cash machine, automatic cash register system and/or secure automatic cash register (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bundle of banknotes (58) can be transported from a first transfer area to a second transfer area with the aid of the transport unit (26), and in that, in the first transfer area and/or in the second transfer area, a respective adjustment unit (50) is provided to adjust the clamping element (44) from the second to the first position when the clamping unit (38) is arranged in the respective transfer area.
11. Automatic cash machine, automatic cash register system and/or secure automatic cash register (10) according to Claim 10, characterized in that the adjustment unit (50) comprises a ramp (52) which, during the movement of the clamping unit (36) into the appropriate transfer area, contacts the clamping element (44) and rotates from the second into the first position about the axis of rotation (42) via this contact.
12. Automatic cash machine, automatic cash register system and/or secure automatic cash register (10) according to Claim 11, characterized in that the clamping element (44) comprises a first contact area for contacting the bundle of banknotes (58) and a second contact area for contacting the ramp (52), and in that, with respect to the axis of rotation (42), the two contact areas are arranged on opposite sides of the clamping element (44).
13. Automatic cash machine, automatic cash register system and/or secure automatic cash register (10) according to Claim 12, characterized in that a roller (54) for contacting the ramp (52) is provided in the second contact area.
14. Automatic cash machine, automatic cash register system and/or secure automatic cash register (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping unit (38) comprises a further clamping element (44) which, in particular, is structurally identical to the one clamping element (44).

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