FR2492348A1 - Automatic money handling device - has computer controlling bill belts converging at entrance rollers in response to signals from optical bill sensors - Google Patents

Abstract

The automatic money handling device has a storage reel, two bill belts extending from supply reels around two entrance rollers at an opening to the housing then to the storage reel. The two belts converge at the entrance rollers and then extend in superposed relation from the entrance rollers to the supply reel. Reversible drives can cause the belts to travel toward and away from the opening for receiving, dispersing and storing bills. A first sensor outside the opening senses the presence of a bill and can control the operation of the drive motors. A second sensor inside, the housing adjacent the entrance rollers senses if and when the bill has been drawn far enough into the webs and halts operation of the forward drive, thus positioning a tendered bill at a viewing station for inspection. The second sensor is an optical sensor for causing any bill not having a predetermined opacity to be rejected. A time delay is provided for halting forward drive of the belts if a bill tendered does not reach the second sensor within the preset time period.

Description

 The invention relates to a semi-automatic device for handling money, coins and notes, coupons, vouchers and other articles. This device comprises a calculating element intended to control one or more movable belts for driving tickets in response to signals received from ticket detectors placed along the path followed by the tickets from outside the belts to a position in which tickets are tightened between the straps. The latter are driven forward and backward by motors, the start of which is triggered by the detectors and the computer. The device includes a cabinet that has a viewing window, a keyboard and an entry-exit chute. The straps transport the offered ticket to the viewing window so that this ticket can be identified and verified by the device operator. The operator then presses an acceptance key or a rejection key to indicate whether the submitted ticket is accepted. If the ticket is rejected by the operator, pressing the reject button causes the belts to be driven in the opposite direction so that the ticket is returned to the customer.

 One embodiment of the invention comprises four bill driving belts. Each belt mechanism is independently controlled by separate motors which are however subjected to the action of a common calculation control device. Each belt mechanism has its own sensors, its sight window, its entry-exit chute and its acceptance and rejection keys. Each belt is controlled so that it cannot be "requested" by a customer holding a ticket, then removing it. If a banknote is not detected by the second detector after a fixed time interval, the drive motors of the belts are stopped. This "anti-solicitation" function saves the space necessary for the storage of belts and it prepares the device to accept a valid transaction.

 Note drive belts of an embodiment according to the invention have specific entrances: a belt for 10-franc notes, a belt for 50-franc notes, a belt for 100-franc / 500-franc notes and a strap for coupons, vouchers and other documents. Each strap is transparent and a first banknote detector is placed near the inlet / outlet chute towards the belt, and a second detector is placed along the sighting path, between the inlet / outlet chute and the window of sight. A third bill detector can be used on the opposite side of the viewing window.

 Since the money drive belts can be controlled forwards and backwards, the money can be distributed as money by the device. However, in one embodiment of the invention, only the 10-franc and 50-franc bill driving belts can be used as cash dispensers, although all the bill driving belts can reject unacceptable bills .

 If more than one banknote drive belt is used, an indication lamp may be placed in the cabinet, near the sight window, to indicate the belt used for the operator can observe a ticket offered in the appropriate sighting window. The belts can be controlled so that only one of them can be operated at a time. The motors can be controlled so that the belt drives tickets to the entry-exit chute, but the customer is asked to remove the note or the last note returned as currency so that the operator can switch to the following operation of the transaction. In one embodiment of the invention, the detectors are spaced a distance less than the length of a ticket and the entire sighting path extending along the top of the cabinet is approximately twice the length of a ticket.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of non-limiting example and in which
- Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of the cabinet forming part of an embodiment according to the invention
- Figure 2 is a view along line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the keyboard forming part of the device according to the invention
- Figure 3 is a view along line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the money trays and windows forming part of the device according to the invention;
- Figure 4 is an axial view of the mechanism for driving banknotes forming part of the device according to the invention ;; '
- Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the essential steps performed by the operator and the terminal during a sale
FIGS. 6 and 7 are elevations of the mechanism intended to make change and forming part of the device according to the invention,
- Figure 8 is a simplified diagram of the device according to the invention used in a terminal system for large point of sale
FIG. 9 is a simplified diagram of the multiplexer shown in FIG. 8, and
- Figures 10 to 21 are detailed views of the electrical circuit shown in Figure 9.

 The invention therefore relates to a point-of-sale terminal intended for automatically calculating an amount to be paid for a sale transaction, and for receiving the money offered for payment and making change. The system according to the invention comprises a data processing subsystem comprising at least one computer, a memory which can include a read-only memory and a direct access memory, a keyboard, and a device intended for receiving and retaining money of customers and make money. The keyboard includes a group of keys representative of articles, preferably associated with the best-selling articles. The terminal also includes a visual aide-mémoire intended to help the operator so that he can compose using the keys an item identification information. A computer receives this item identification information, extract memory price information for each item identified and calculates the total price of the operation. The money handling device includes several drive belts deposited by customers, these belts being intended to receive, store and distribute tickets of different values, and can also receive checks, coupons and the like. The money handling device includes a coin receiving element, a storage element, a sorting element and a dispensing element. The note and coin devices operate under the control of one or more computers for receiving money and make change. A digital display subsystem operates under the control of a computer to display the amount of the sale and the amount offered. A printer prints sales information and information identifying the person responsible for each transaction.

 Figures 1 and 3 show a cabinet 10 the interior of which contains electromechanical and electronic equipment. An upper part of the cabinet has an outer face II carrying a keyboard 14 located on a first side 13 of the cabinet. The keyboard shown in Figure 2 will be described in more detail separately.

 The upper part of one side 15 of the cabinet, turned towards the customers, has an external face 17 providing access to a series of four devices for holding belts of banknotes, arranged side by side and supplied by the customers. Each banknote belt drive is a separate electromechanical device, and these devices are subject to the action of a common control. A banknote drive belt device will be described below. Each belt device communicates with one, corresponding, of four plates 16 projecting outwards from the side of the cabinet 10 facing the customers and intended to receive money.

Each belt device has an inlet / outlet chute at the junction between the tray and the cabinet.

Banknotes distributed as currency or rejected are received in trays 16.

 Four windows 20 are arranged next to each other in an upper part of the cabinet in order to allow a vision both from the side 13 of the manager and from the side 15 of the customers. Each belt device is aligned with one of the windows 20 so that a ticket clamped between the belts can be seen by an operator.

 The side of the cabinet 10 facing the customers has digital visuals 22 and 24. The visual 22 indicates the total amount of each sales transaction and the visual 24 indicates the amount offered by the customer. A coin slot 26 and a coin receptacle 28 are placed on the side 15 of the cabinet 10 facing the customers.

 The keyboard includes a group of summation keys by means of which each operator can enter information that the computer identifies as transaction information and employee identification information, and a group of acceptance and rejection by which an operator can control the banknote drive belts.

 A feature of the terminal according to the invention is that it is not necessary for the manager to remember the price of each item requested by a customer.

Having received the customer's order, the manager simply actuates the appropriate keys, namely the article keys or the category and number keys, the operator being assisted by the memory aid device for dialing using the keys item identification information. In response to this information, the processor extracts the corresponding price information from the memory and displays it on the display 22. After all the requested items have been composed on the keyboard, the operator presses the appropriate summation key to conclude the order phase of the transaction or sale operation.

The next phase of the transaction includes calculating and displaying information indicating the amount owed. Whereas the information entered using the totalization key identifies the employee, the calculator can update an activity record placed in memory. Such an activity record is particularly useful for evaluating the work of employees.

 After the amount owed has been calculated, the computer arms the money drive belts, either directly or through another computer or controller. If a client tries to deposit money before this arming operation, this attempt is not followed up. Before arming, any part introduced into the slot 26 falls through a chute to the receptacle 28 in order to be returned to the customer. When a note is deposited in unarmed belts, it remains on tray 16. This minimizes the risk of contestation, because it is simple to demonstrate that money cannot be introduced into unarmed accommodation.

 Once armed, the terminal switches to payment mode. At this time, when the customer inserts a coin into the slot 26, this coin is sorted and stored according to its value. Each ticket offered is transported to window 20 for examination. If the customer offers an unacceptable ticket, the person in charge can return this ticket to the customer by pressing the appropriate rejection key 84, 88, 98, 104. If the visual test is successful, the person in charge presses an acceptance key. The computer reacts to successive operations of the acceptance keys, after a ticket has been detected, so as to accumulate and display a total of the amount of money accepted.

 The calculator determines whether money is owed to the customer. When no money is owed to the customer, the processor disarms the money handling device. If a currency is due, the system goes into the money return mode during which coins or notes or both are distributed. In all cases, a printer records the transaction.

The keyboard shown in FIG. 2 comprises a group of keys 32 for representing separate articles, or keys for best-selling articles. In the embodiment shown, the group includes twelve keys 32 of best-selling items. Each of these keys advantageously bears a corresponding illustration (indicated by dotted lines at 34 on each key) of the article associated with this particular key, as well as a separate label 36 printed on each key and designating the article associated with this key . The labels 36 relating to the articles identified by the twelve keys of the best-selling articles are represented in the figures by the indications
ART1 to ART12 for clarity.

 The keyboard 14 also includes a memory aid display 38 intended to display product category information and a corresponding list of items in the case of the least frequently sold items and the memory aid display displays, in the case of the best selling items, information helping the manager to activate certain keys on the keyboard to indicate to the data processor the corresponding items least frequently sold at this point of sale.

 In the embodiment shown, a series of eight spaced keys 40 of categories is placed along a window 42 which covers the memory aid visual and through which this visual can be seen. Each category key carries a corresponding label 41 intended to identify a category of information to which the key corresponds. The memory aid display comprises a movable roller 44. An electromechanical control device is intended to move the roller 44. Each category and the corresponding list of articles are printed on the roller. A selected section of the roller can be moved to window 42 in order to be displayed when the operator actuates a particular category key 40. For example, in the embodiment shown, a category entry 46, entitled "CATEGORY 5", displays a list of separate and corresponding articles 48, indicated from "ARTA" to "ARTS". When the operator manually operates the category key 40 marked "CATEGORY 5", the roller 44 is moved until the list associated with category 5 is displayed in window 42.

 The roller has a separate item identification code 50 specific to each item in the list presented in the visual aid checklist. In the embodiment shown, the identification code of each article is a two-digit number presented by the roller, near the article.

 A group of numeric keys 54, designated below by the collective term "numerical block", is placed on the keyboard, near the syisuel- memory aid 38. The numerical block advantageously comprises ten separate keys numbered from 0 to 9, as well as an eleventh key 56 bearing the indication "TAX" intended to identify articles which can be taxed. The numeric block can be used to indicate to the processor the items chosen from the visual aid checklist. To identify each item chosen from the memory aid display, first press a category button, then press two of the numeric buttons in an order such that a three-digit number identifying the chosen item is transmitted to the processor. For example, to indicate item J of category 5, the button of category 5 is first pressed, then the number buttons are pressed in order 3, 2 to transmit to the processor a number corresponding to three digits ( 5, 3, 2j identifying article J.

 The roller of the memory aid visual preferably carries a list of all the items on sale. Because of this advantageous characteristic, a "repetition" appears, because the articles represented by the keys 32 of best-selling articles are also represented on the roller.

 For example, during the phase of entering an order for a transaction relating to the sale of one or more best-selling items and one or more less frequently sold items, separate keys 32 d 'indication of items are activated to indicate the acquisition of each of the best-selling items. The memory aid display is actuated to display information relating to each of the items not represented by the keys of the best-selling items and, in a sequence indicated by the memory aid display, the numeric keys 54 are actuated to indicate a separate code with several digits, associated with each of the least frequently sold items presented by the visual aide-mémoire. The data processing subsystem includes a table to consult allowing to search for a price previously loaded for each item identified in the phase of introduction of the transaction order. The tax button 56 is actuated after the indication of each article that can be taxed and the data processing subsystem calculates the tax relating to each article to be taxed. An arithmetic unit of the processor adds up the individual prices of the identified articles as well as the tax relating to each article, in order to calculate the total price of the transaction.

 The keyboard has 62 summation keys. In the embodiment shown, the keyboard comprises eight totalization keys carrying indications 64 advantageously constituted by letters A to H. In response to the operation of any of the totalization keys during a transaction, the computer calculates the amount due.

 A first key 57 of special articles, located above the group of numeric keys, is used to enter into the processor data concerning the sale of special articles which are not otherwise identifiable by the keys 32 of indication of articles or by the category information presented by the visual aid memory 38. The processor can be programmed so that, when the key 57 of special articles is pressed and the amount of the sale, in francs, is introduced by means numeric keys 54, the sale can be recorded, as well as its identification as relating to a special item by selecting the next entry in the keyboard.

If this information constitutes the only or the last entry of sales information, the sale can then be recorded by pressing a corresponding key 62 for totalization.

 A second special item key 58, located above the group of number keys, can be used for the entry of sales coupons or coupons. The processor can be programmed so that when the second special item key is pressed and the sale amount is then entered using the number keys 54, the sale is recorded and identified in a manner analogous to that described above for the first touch of special items.

 An erase key 59 is placed above the group of numeric keys 54 and is used for erasing the last entry made.

 A key 66 for taking service and a key 68 for ending service are placed on the keyboard, above the totalization keys 62. The service take-off key is operated by hand by each manager to indicate that they have taken service in a team and also to assign an individual identification code to each manager. A manager or operator starting his work can press the service key, enter his three-digit personnel number using the number block 54, then press the totalization key 62 assigned to him to indicate his code for this Once a particular totalization key is assigned to a manager by the service taking procedure, this particular totalization key cannot be assigned to another manager before the end of service key is pressed. in order to release the summation key for the benefit of a manager working in the next team.

 The end of service key 68 is actuated by hand so that the processor records the hours at which the managers finish their teamwork, and also to release the summation key code assigned to each manager at the end of his service . Managers finishing their work carry out an exit check by pressing the end of service key, entering their employee number using the numeric keys 54 and entering the code assigned to them on one of the keys 62 totalization.

 The keyboard has a cancellation key 70 located above the service take-off and end-of-service keys. The cancel key is used to remove from the processor all data entered since the start of a given sales transaction. The cancel key does not work after arming the bill stoppers.

 Labels 72, placed above the corresponding openings of the belt drive devices, indicate the type of paper money or equivalent money to be introduced into the opening associated with each device, namely banknotes 10 F for a first device 74 with drive belts, 50 F tickets for a second device 76 d drive belts, 100 F or 500 F tickets, checks or other tickets for a third device 78 with drive belts, and other tickets, checks, coupons, etc., for a fourth device 80 with drive belts. The fourth belt device is for receiving promotional items.

Each group of acceptance / rejection keys,
As shown in Figure 2, includes one or more keys labeled according to the type of ticket, coupon, check, etc., to be received by a corresponding belt device. A first group of acceptance / rejection keys, associated with the first cover 74 for banknotes, comprises a key 82 for accepting 10 F banknotes and a key 84 for rejecting 10 F banknotes.

 The second group of acceptance / rejection keys comprises a key 86 for accepting 50 F banknotes and a key 88 for rejecting 50 F banknotes.

 A third group of acceptance / rejection keys comprises a key 90 for accepting 100 F banknotes, a key 92 for accepting 500 F banknotes, a key 94 for accepting checks, a key 96 for accepting - tion of other banknotes, a key 98 for rejecting all the banknotes of the third device with entraining belts.

Above a fourth group of acceptance / rejection keys, there is a special function key 100 presenting the indication XSSn allowing the acceptance of special transactions not otherwise covered on the keyboard. includes a set of four keys 102 indicating acceptance of four different types of coupons or other similar bonus coupons. A rejection key 104 causes the rejection of any voucher or other coupon entered in the fourth bill cover
The operation of the accept / reject keys can be better understood using the following example.

After entering data concerning all the articles contained in a single order, the operator presses the summation key 62 assigned to him in order to calculate and display the amount of the sale, that is to say the amount due. The customer makes the payment by inserting coins into the slot 26 and / or tickets, checks, coupons or the like into the appropriate openings 18.

When a ticket is directed towards an opening 18, a lamp identifying the requested drive belt device draws the operator's attention to the corresponding window 20. The operator then visually checks the ticket offered. After verification, the operator presses the appropriate key of 10 F, 50 B, 100 r or 500 F. The actuation of any of these keys indicates the amount of payment made in relation to the total amount of the sale.

 When the payment of an amount equal to or greater than the amount of the sale is detected by the processor, the amount of the requested currency, if any, is automatically calculated and distributed by the coin and 10-franc note and 50 F, will be what is necessary.

No money is returned by devices other than the 10 F and 50 F note drive belts and the coin exchanger. The recording of receipts and expenses by value, as well as of the cash at the opening of the store, allows the system to maintain an accurate count of all the notes and all the coins throughout the working day. The submission of checks or tickets of other values by the customer is checked by the manager who examines the value in francs or the amount of the check through the corresponding window 20. If the ticket or check offered is acceptable, the operator then enters the amount of the ticket or check using the numeric keys 54. The type and amount of the payment are indicated to the processor by actuation, then, of the key "^ HECUs" 94 or the key " AUTPS "G
Pressing the "SS 100" button allows you to record and identify special transactions such as discounts, gifts, tax refunds, etc. Under these conditions, the ticket drive belts are not activated. operation of the "ÇS" key preceded by the introduction of the amount using the keys 54, causes the introduction of the sum to be deducted from the total sale price and this sum is recorded in the form of an expense.

 The coupon keys 102, bearing the indications "COUPON I" to "COUPON 4" can be used to identify different types of promotional sales.

The actuation of one of these keys can have the effect of making the processor accept the value previously entered at ease of the numeric keys 54, of identifying the sale as resulting from a store promotion and of introducing remember the cash value of the promotion to be used next when adjusting the cash register.

 The keyboard comprises a first digital display 106 intended to display the amount of the sale for each transaction, and a second digital display 108 intended to display the total offered for the payment of each transaction. Visual 106 can be used to momentarily display the price of each item sold and the tax relating to each item sold. The keyboard can also include a first light-emitting diode 110 that lights up when the display 106 indicates the price of a particular item being sold, a second light-emitting diode 112 indicating the tax relating to the amount displayed previously, or else the total tax. , and a third light-emitting diode 114 which lights up when the display 106 indicates the total amount of the transaction, including taxes.

 The digital visuals 22 and 24 located on the side 15 of the cabinet 10 facing the customers produce, as shown in FIG. 3, the same displays as the visual 106 indicating the amount of the sale and the visual 108 indicating the amount offered. , respectively. Similarly, visuals 116 and 120 with light-emitting diodes, located on the side 15 of the cabinet facing the customers, are ordered at the same time as the light-emitting diodes 110, 112 and 114 which correspond to them, in order to display information. corresponding respectively on articles, taxes and totals.

 In a particular embodiment in which the keyboard 14 is intended to be used in a point of sale terminal also dealing with the sale of products based on ice cream, all the keys of the keyboard are of the flattened type, which can be cleaned with using a damp cloth with no openings through which liquids can reach the switching mechanisms. The switches are mechanical rather than capacitive, to minimize accidental trips.

 Figure 4 shows the construction of a banknote belt drive device. Each of these devices comprises a housing 122 containing first and second supply coils 12A and 726 supply, spaced from one another, and a take-up or storage coil 128. A lower input roller 130 is placed imme- diatly inside the housing 122, below the opening 18, and an upper inlet roller 132 is placed immediately inside the housing 122, above the opening 18 and the lower roller 130 Entrance. The two input rollers can rotate on corresponding axes of rotation which are mutually parallel and perpendicular to the path followed by a note introduced into the opening of the housing or of the note cover.

 A first transparent silver drive belt 134 is connected by a first end to the first supply reel 124 and by its end opposite to the take-up reel 128. The first belt has a section which rises and moves away of the first supply reel, which passes over the lower input roller, then which moves away in a straight line from the input roller to pass around a first guide roller 136 located on one side of the case opposite the roller d 'Entrance. This section of the first belt then descends from the first guide roller towards the take-up reel 128 or storage reel. A second transparent silver drive belt 138 has a section which rises from the second supply reel 126 to carry against a second guide roller 139 adjacent to the first guide roller 136, then passing over a third guide roller 140 located above the second guide roller. This section of the second belt then leaves in a straight line near the top of the case, towards the entry of the bill cover, and it is wound on the upper entry roller 132, then returns in order to move above the section of the first belt extending in a straight line across the top of the housing. The superimposed paths followed by the first and second belts are shown at 142 in FIG. 4 and they constitute the aiming or inspection path, or else they determine the aiming or inspection position. The first and second belts pass around the first guide roller 136 while they are superposed, then the two belts descend towards the storage coil 128, while they are still superimposed, in order to be connected to this coil. The first and second belts are wound together on the take-up reel when the latter is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 144 in FIG. 4.

 Thus, the first and second belts converge towards the input rollers which compress them slightly against each other so that the two belts are pressed lightly into contact with each other while converging inside the opening 18 towards the housing 122.

The belts thus superimposed then travel the straight line 142 sighting or inspection path extending across the upper part of the bowtlerf from the opening 18. The two belts are kept in contact with each other the along the rectilinear path 142 of inspection and then which pass around the first guide roller 136 and go towards the take-up reel 128.

 First and second toothed wheels 152 and 154 are rigidly connected to the first and second supply coils 124 and 126. The two toothed wadis have the same diameter and have gear teeth of the same size and the same interval.

A third toothed wheel 156 is rigidly connected to the take-up reel and has an area roughly twice that of each of the first and second toothed wheels. This third toothed wheel has the same number of gear teeth as the first and second toothed wheels, and it has the same spacing as the first and second wheels.
A motor 158 for controlling the first supply coil is mounted in the housing 122 near the first gear 152. A first driven gear 160, mounted on the output shaft of the control motor 158 meshes with the first gear The first driven wheel has a diameter substantially smaller than that of the first toothed wheel. Similarly, a motor 162 for controlling the second supply coil is mounted in the boltlerr near the second toothed wheel 154, and a second driven toothed wheel 164, identical to wheel a60, t mounted on the output shaft of the control motor for the second supply coil, meshes with the second gear.

 A motor 166 for controlling the take-up reel is mounted in the housing 122, near the third toothed wheel 156, and a third driven toothed wheel 168 is mounted on the output shaft of this motor and meshes with the third toothed wheel. .

 A servo-mechanism is used to control the banknote drive belts. A computer produces a certain number of orders transmitted to the controller.

 When the ticket centralization belts are ordered in payment mode, the motor 166 for controlling the take-up reel is started by the servo-control in order to rotate the third toothed wheel 156 clockwise, this is to say in the direction of storage (as shown in Figure 4), which has the effect of rotating the take-up reel 128 clockwise, against indicated by arrow 144 in the figure 4.The first and second belts run simultaneously from their respective supply coils and move together, so that they are superimposed, along the inspection path 142 in order to move away from the input rollers and to approach the first roller 136 guide. A traction is preferably maintained by the application of a relatively low tension to the motors 158 and 162 for controlling the debtor coils Z these motors being electrically connected in series. The bill inserted is entered in the opening 18 between the first and second belts by the movement of the latter above the input rollers, and it enters the housing by moving along the path 142 of insertion 3usqu'å la between 20 formed in the cabinet 10 of the slot. The split 20 is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 4. The control motors are stopped under the control of a computer, in order to place the banknote below the window so that it can be checked by the operator.

 When the banknotes continue to be entrained towards the inside of the case, they are caught between the belts winding on the take-up reel 128.

When the drive belts are ordered in dispensing mode, the drive motors for the supply coils, mounted in series, are energized by the servo control in order to rotate the respective toothed wheels in the opposite direction to that of clock hands, i.e. in the direction of distribution (as shown in Figure 4), which has the effect of rotating the supply coils in the opposite direction to that of the clock hands, as shown by the arrows 172 in FIG. 4. A traction is preferably maintained by the application of a relatively low voltage to the motor 96 for controlling the take-up reel. This movement of the belts has the effect of dB. driving each ticket, tightens between belts, towards opening 18 to allow its distribution
In the embodiment shown, sensors associated with banknotes belts include ed, optical detectors located outside of the input rollers 130 and 132 and lower optical detectors placed inside the housing. , near the input rollers. The external sensors can comprise a first infrared sensor 174 placed opposite the input rollers, above the opening 18, and a complementary infrared emitter 175 embedded in the plate 16, opposite the input rollers and below the first sensor 174. The transmitters 175 and 177 are electrically mounted in a series circuit controlled by tripping.

 The external optical sensors are placed as close as possible to the external side of the input rollers. It is desirable that the interior optical sensors are also placed close to the interior side of the input rollers, although they can be spaced inwardly of the toothed rollers, at a distance from the latter not exceeding the length of a ticket. introduced into the housing.

 Each of the two transmitter and sensor assemblies of the banknote drive belt device allows the detection of the presence of a banknote between these transmitter and sensor. Each sensor detects all of the infrared radiation it receives from the corresponding transmitter in the absence of tickets placed between this sensor and this transmitter, and the sensor produces a signal having a first value proportional to the infrared radiation emitted and detected, this signal indicating the absence of a ticket. When an offered ticket is present between the sensor and the detector, a certain proportion of the infrared radiation is transmitted through the ticket, but most of the radiation is stopped. The sensor produces an output signal having a second value proportional to the reduced amount of infrared radiation transmitted and detected, this value indicating the presence of a ticket. This possibility of the sensors can be used for the detection of banknotes absorbing too much light, for example the presence of two banknotes, or to detect banknotes which are too transparent, for example certain counterfeit banknotes. Infrared-type transmitters and sensors are used so that the controls of the cache or the bill compartment are insensitive to stray ambient light, that is, light from the visible spectrum.

 The external optical sensors 174 and 175 are part of a device intended to count the banknotes distributed as money. During the operation in distribution mode, each banknote distributed towards the opening 18 is detected by the external optical detection device.

The note driving belts can be ordered to distribute each ticket completely beyond the input rollers and the first detection device and to place it on the silver plate 16, and the external detection device can detect the distribution of each ticket 9 from the opening in order to transmit data to a counter allowing the counting of the tickets thus distributed.

As a variant, the ticket drive belts can be ordered in dispensing mode in order to advance a ticket halfway through the opening so that this ticket remains between the entry rollers and hides the external sensor up to that it is withdrawn from the opening by the customer. The external sensor can detect the taking by a customer of a ticket present between the input rollers and it can transmit to a counter data allowing the counting of the tickets taken by the customer. The ticket drive belts can be ordered in dispensing mode so as to advance only halfway through the opening 18 only the last note returned as currency. The computer disarms the ticket drive belts after the return of the last money bill, and the belts thus remain at rest until the arrival of a subsequent arming order from a totalization key
The interior optical sensors 176 and 177 can detect whether a bill, introduced into the opening, is actually entrained inside the case or not. The payment cycle is triggered when the external optical sensors 174 and 175 indicate the presence of a ticket in the opening. If the ticket offered is not detected by the interior optical sensors 176, 177 after 0.5 seconds, this time being counted by the computer, a stop order of the belts is issued. This limits the advance travel of the belts when these are used, which saves useful storage space.

 The external or internal detection device can also be used for detecting the thickness of a ticket submitted in order to validate a payment transaction. Each infrared sensor can indicate the opacity of a ticket submitted between the issuer and the sensor.

A valid ticket has a predetermined opacity. If more than one ticket is placed between the emitter and the sensor or If the thickness of the submitted ticket does not have the requested value, or if the submitted ticket is not otherwise authentic, the light transmission detected by the optical sensors may be too large or too small compared to a requested range of opacity for an authentic ticket.

 A third optical detection device comprises a sensor 178 and an infrared emitter 179 placed at the rear of the ticket sighting path 142, immediately in front of the first guide roller 136. This detection device can optionally be used for detecting the front edge of a ticket driven inside the housing in order to transmit data to the processor so that the latter issues an order ordering the cessation of the payment operation.

 Figures 6 and 7 show a device 200 for receiving, distributing and storing coins, placed inside the cabinet 10. The coin changer comprises a coin sorting device and a coin dispenser. Parts introduced into the single slot 36 located on the front of the cabinet 10 are directed, by a first guide 202, so as to be channeled one by one as far as the upper end of a second guide 204 which has a track inclined interior 206 intended to guide each part to a device 208 for sorting parts.

 Separate optical sensors, or mechanical or electrical switches located at coin sorting openings, in the sorting device, can detect the passage of a particular piece in each opening of the device in order to transmit signals to the computer indicating the values of the coins received. The computer can then calculate the payment received. For example, a first optical sensor 250 is placed near the opening 232 for sorting 10-cent coins; a second optical sensor 252 is placed near the opening 234 for sorting 20-cent coins; a third optical sensor 5 ~ is placed near the opening 236 for sorting the pieces of 50 tentirnes; and a fourth optical sensor 256 is placed at p: c imitation of the aperture 23B for sorting the coins with 1 clear optical signal emitted and detected by each sensor is blocked when a coin passes through the aperture or bypasses the aperture at which each sensor is associated.

The money dispenser is of conventional structure and operation, and an example of a coin dispenser which can be used in the apparatus according to the invention is the model "2941" manufactured by the firm SCI Systems, Inc.,
Huntsville, Alabama, EUA Coins distributed as currency by this distributor cause the computer to send data constituting a total of coins available in each column distributor.

 The data processing system is also designed to detect the impending condition of a parts overflow. When a condition of overflow of parts is imminent in a given column, a coil 262 is excited so as to rotate a part deflection element 258 towards the position in which this element is represented in dashed lines in FIG. 6 , in order to channel all the pieces then arriving from this column towards a reservoir 266 of coins. After the deflection element has directed coins towards the reservoir, the coil is de-energized to return this deflection element to its normal position under the 'action of a spring 264. Parts of a particular value are channeled towards the tank only when an overflow condition associated with this Sarticular value is detected. If coins are removed from a coin column that is part of the dispenser, appropriate data, corresponding to the amount of coins removed, is transmitted to the processor.

 The general arrangement of the electronic equipment contained in the cabinet 10 will now be described generally with reference to FIG. 10.

 The computer comprises a data processor 350 and a memory which advantageously consists of a direct access memory 352 and a read only memory 354.

It is preferable to divide the memory into a direct access part and into a dead part so that the constants of the software and the system can be stored in the ROM memory and that they cannot therefore be temporarily lost in the event of failure. food or whatever. A suitable capacity for direct access memory 352 is 16K bytes (each byte having eight bits and therefore being one byte). A suitable capacity for the 354 read only memory is 24K bytes.

In the embodiment according to the invention shown, the processor 350, the memory 352 with direct access and the read-only memory 354, as well as a memory with direct access with a backup battery, are manufactured and marketed by the firm Motorola as well as by other firms under the designations "MC6800" for the microprocessor, "MCM 4027" for the direct access memory, and "2708 EPROM" for the read-only memory Intel, respectively. The firm Motorola published a series of manuals describing the construction and operation, as well as the various uses, of the microprocessor "MC6800" and the various products accompanying it and including the direct access memory "MCM 4027", a peripheral interface adapter "MC 6820" (PIA), the read-only memory "MCM-6830", and an asynchronous communication interface adapter "MC 6850" (CFIA). These manuals include the book "X6800 EXORciser User's Guide", the book M l8on Microprocessor Programming Manual "the book" M6800
Microprocessor Applications Manual "and various fact sheets labeled" M6800 Microprocessor Family of
Parts "These books describe in more detail the operation of the above components.

 It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the particular products indicated above are examples of various commercially available products that can be used in the point of sale system according to the invention.

The microprocessor "MC68-00" has a special structure allowing the execution of certain functions such as input / output functions which are performed by different structures in other commercially available systems and which can also be used in the terminal according to the invention .

 FIG. 10 represents an omnibus line 356 connecting the processor 350 to the memory 352 with direct access, a'- the read-only memory 354, to a peripheral interface adapter risk 358, to a peripheral interface adapter 360, to an adapter asynchronous communication interface 362, to a controller 364, to a controller 366 and to an electronic circuit 368 for multiplexing and control. Each peripheral interface adapter is described in detail in the above-mentioned manuals from the firm Motorola. Similarly, the asynchronous communication interface adapter is described in detail in these manuals. The peripheral interface adapter 358 provides an interface between the processor 350 and a controller 370 for the keyboard and the visuals, and the adapter 360 provides an interface for the printer 372 and a modulator-demodulator 374. This modulator-demodulator or modem 374 is connected to a data access element 377 so that data contained in the memory 352 with direct access can be transmitted by a telephone line to a central data processing system. The multiplexer 368 is a specially designed interface device.

The multiplexer 368, shown in FIG. 11, is connected to the bus line 356 so as to receive addresses and instructions from the data processor 350 and to send status data to this processor .350. The common addressing section TCA of the bus line 356 comprises sixteen wires (not shown separately). More than 64K separate addresses can be defined instantly by the parallel bit signals transmitted by the common address line, each address being symbolized by a hexadecimal number to four decimal places. For example, in the particular embodiment described, the address of multiplexer 368 is chosen arbitrarily by the hexadecimal number with four decimal places 80E1 The numbers expressed in hexadecimal form are indicated by the letter H or by an "F" preceding the number
The addresses applied to the common line 356 by the processor 350 are in accordance with a positive logical structure subject to three-state control. in other words; each of the sixteen wires of the common address line is connected to the output of one of sixteen three-state buffer circuits forming part of the data processor 350.

 When the processor 350 applies an address to the addressing bus line, it simultaneously determines the value of an R / W signal in order to designate the execution of a read operation or a write operation.

 The multiplexer 368 includes a data transfer sampling circuit, namely a sampling circuit 380 with a positive logical structure.

A suitable digital circuit arrangement used in the embodiment shown to produce the sampling signals indicated above is shown in detail in Figure 12. A NOR gate 381 (for example one half of a circuit of the type 74lis260) receives five input signals and produces a high level output signal (at a voltage of + V1 or close to this value) only when its five input signals are at low level <at ground voltage or near this voltage). A NAND gate 383 (for example of the type 74L530) receives eight input signals and produces an output signal which is low only when its eight input signals are high. The aforementioned input signals include signals identified BAI to
BA7 (which constitute the eight least significant bits of the address transmitted by the common address line) and an I / O signal produced by a decoding circuit. The I / O signal is equal to 1 when the eight most significant bits of the address define the number H80. The doors 381 and 383 being mounted as shown, the output signal produced by the door 383 is low when the address H80E1 is transmitted by the common address line.

 A NOR gate 335 (corresponding to a quarter circuit of the 74LSO2 type) receives two input signals and its output signal constitutes the CSTB signal which, when high, causes the computer to transmit a instruction directed at multiplexer 368.

 The signal RA is inverted by an inverter 386, the output signal of which is applied to one of the two inputs of a NOR gate 387. The other input signal of the NOR gate 387 comes from the gate NAND 383. The output signal from NOR gate 387 is inverted by an inverter 388 which produces an RDSTS signal; Thanks to the above arrangement, the RDSTS signal is equal to 0 when the data processor 350 addresses the multiplexer 368 for an operation of reading state data.

As shown in FIG. 11, the multiplexer 368 includes a circuit 390 for receiving instructions, sampling by the signal CSTB. A suitable arrangement of digital circuits 3 used in the embodiment for receiving instructions is shown in detail in FIG. 15. Each instruction sent by the processor 350 to the multiplexer 368 is transmitted by a section of the common line 356. The section of the common data line
TCD comprises eight bidirectional lines intended for the transmission of signals identified BD0 to BD7 respectively.

Among these signals, the signals EDO to BD4 are used to define the instructions directed to the multiplexer 368.

 The table given below indicates the coding of the instructions directed to the multiplexer 368.

BD4 BD3 BD2 BDî BD0
XXXHH Belt selection 74 (10 F)
for scanning
XXXHL Selection of the belt 76 (50 F)
for scanning
XXXLH Selection of the belt 78
(100 F / 500 F) for scanning
XXXLL Selection of the belt 80
(coupon) for scanning
XHHXX Stop X z LXK Forward
XLHXX Reverse
XLLXX Unloading
LXXXX Arming
HXXKX Disarmament
The registration reception circuit 390 comprises five inverters 391-1 to 391-5 intended to invert the five parallel signals defining the instructions transmitted to the multiplexer 368 The signal produced by the inverter 391-5 is applied to the input D d 'a flip-flop 392 of type D .t1 / 4 of circuit 74LS74). An inverter 391-6, which receives the CSTB signal, is connected by its output to the clock input of the flip-flop 392. Consequently, when the data processor 350 transmits an arming instruction to the multiplexer 368, the flip-flop 392 is triggered and placed in its armed state, and when the processor transmits a disarming instruction to the multiplexer 368, the flip-flop 392 is triggered to be placed in its disarmed state. Flip-flop 392 can also be repositioned by signal B
RESET transmitted by common line 356.

 An AND gate 393 is controlled by the output signal from flip-flop 392 and by a PRST signal. This signal is normally high and will only go low for a brief interval of approximately 100 milliseconds, after the electronic equipment is turned on. The signal produced by the AND gate 393 is the ENBA signal which is a mode control signal.

 The ENBA signal is applied to the erase input of a register 39t (of the 74LS175 type) which comprises four flip-flops of the D type (not shown separately). As long as the signal ENBA is equal to 0, which defines the invalidation mode, each of the flip-flops of register 394 is kept in the disarmed state. When the signal ENBA is equal to 1, the register 394 reacts to the triggering by the signal CSTB, this triggering having the effect of loading the register with an instruction coming from the processor 350 for the control of one, chosen, of the housings 74, 76, 78 and 80 tickets.

 The instruction reception circuit 390 also includes a reproduction / locking register 395 (of the 7475 type) comprising four locking circuits (not shown separately). The play / lock register 395 receives a BSY signal which is only 0 during the time intervals during which an electrical excitation pulse is applied to cause the entrainment of the money belt to be scanned . When the signal BcY is equal to O t the reduction / locking register 395 presents the memory. During the intervals during which the signal BSY is equal to 1, each of the four locking circuits of the reproduction / locking register 395 reproduces the signal output of one, corresponding, of the four flip-flops of register 394.

 As shown in FIG. 11, the multiplexer 368 comprises a belt selection decoder 400 intended to decode the identification part of the banknote driving belt of each instruction transmitted to the multiplexer 368. tTn suitable mounting of the digital circuit used in the embodiment shown for carrying out such a decoding is shown in detail in FIG. 17. An AND gate 401 receives signals CLO and CL1 and produces an output signal which is applied to an AND gate 402. The signal ENBA is also applied to the AND gate 402 which produces an output signal transmitted to three inverters 403, 404 and 405. The inverters 4Q3 and 404 produce output signals sTo and STO, respectively The output of the inverter 405 is connected by a coupling resistive to the bases of power transistors 406 and 407. When the transistor 406 is made conductive; it connects a power source + V2, advantageously having a voltage of +12 volts unregulated, with a terminal SMVO of the drive motors of the supply coils, connected in series, of the cover 74 for banknotes. At the same time as the transistor 406 is made conductive, power transistor 407 is also made conductive to connect the power source to a terminal TMVO of the drive motor of the receiver coil of the cache 74.

During the intervals during which the inhibition mode is defined by the EEBA signal, the reproduction / locking register 395 (FIG. 15) identifies the belt 74. However, since the AND gate 402 reacts to the ENBA signal, neither the transistor 406 or transistor 407 do not drive in muting mode
A decoder 400 also comprises three decoding elements having the same structure and substantially identical to the decoding assembly described above for the belt 74. The only difference in structure results from the fact that there is no need for the decoding circuits associated with the belts 76 , 78 and 80 to react to the ENBA signal. Whereas these three decoding circuits have identical structures, only one of these circuits is described. An AND gate d10 receives the CLO and CLI signals and produces an output signal which is applied to inverters 411, 412 and 413. The inverters 411 and 412 produce output signals SL3 and ST3, respectively. The output of the inverter 413 is connected by resistive coupling to the bases of power transistors 414 and 415 which control the switching of power to the motors for driving the supply and take-up coils of the banknote cover 80, as do the power transistors 406 and 407 associated with the belt 74.

 Six of the gates shown in Figure 16 (which represents the decoder 402) are used to find out whether the present instruction is equal to the next instruction.

These gates are OU-EXC1USIF gates 421, 422, 423 and 424 and AND gates 425 and 426. In the case where the existing instruction is equal to the following instruction, the crimp signals of AND gates 425 and 426 are equal to 4, two of the control signals produced by the decoder 420, namely a UNLD signal produced by a NAND gate 423, each equal to 4.

The UNLD signal is used to control the high-speed emptying operation during which the owner or the manager of a store empties a money belt. As a safety measure, the cabinet 10 includes a lock controlled by key (not shown) and used to generate an ESW signal. An inverter 429 receives the KSW signal and produces an output signal which is applied to a door
ET 430. Thanks to the assembly shown between gate ET 430 and gate NON-ET 497e the signal UNLD cannot be be equal to C unless the signal KSW is equal to Q
When the storage coil has reached its maximum diameter or the supply coils have: reached their maximum diameter, a NAND gate 431 receives an RLSC signal produced by a circuit described next with reference to FIG. 19 and receiving a CQENO signal produced by the circuit described above with regard to FIG. 15. In the case where the instruction presents requests the unloading of a drive belt for banknotes while the signal RLSC is equal to 0, from the gates ET 432, 433 and 434 , which are connected in tandem, as shown, between the NAND gate 431 and the NAND gate 427, set the signal UNLD to a value of 1. Under the same conditions, a NAND gate 435 receives an FLSC signal also produced by the circuit shown in Fig. 19 and it receives the output signal from an AND gate 436. We can now consider the case in which the present instruction requests the advance of a money drive belt while the signal FLSC is equal to 1. In this case, the signals CEN1 and CQENO are each equal to 4, while the output signal has the gate AND 436 is also equal to 1. Thanks to the connection shown of the tandem doors between the AND gate 436 and the NAND gate 428, a RUN signal is equal to 1 under these conditions.

 A suitable mounting of buffer circuits 450, used in the embodiment shown; is shown in detail in Figure 19. As shown, two flip-flops 451 and 452 of type D are part of these buffer circuits.

When the supply coils of the scanned money belts have reached their maximum diameter, a dinyersion limit switch switches the signal RLSW to 0. This signal is transmitted by a timing circuit RC to the repositioning input of the flip-flop 451. Consequently when the supply coils are at their maximum diameter, flip-flop 451 is in its disarmed state so as to make a signal equal to 1 RLSC and to make equal to 0 an RLSC signal. The flip-flop is triggered and placed in its armed state when an instruction arrives at the multiplexer 368, so that the signal CSTB defines a positive pulse while the signal RLSW is equal to 1, so that the signal CSTB defines a positive pulse while the signal ALSW is equal to 1, which indicates that the supply coils are not at their maximum diameter.

Likewise, when the take-up reel of the banknote belt explored has reached its maximum diameter, the advance control limit switch associated with this belt gives a signal FLSW equal to O. This signal is transmitted by a timing circuit RC to the repositioning input of flip-flop 452. Consequently, when the take-up reel is at its maximum diameter, flip-flop 452 is in its disarmed state, which makes the signal FLSC equal to X and the FLSC signal equal to O
The flip-flop 452 is triggered and placed in armed state when an instruction arrives at the multiplexer 368 so that the signal CSTB defines a positive pulse while the signal FLSW is equal to /, which indicates that the supply coils are not at their maximum diameter. The four output signals of the buffer circuits 450, indicated above, are distributed between a decoder 420 of control signals, a circuit 455 with OR function (FIGS. 11 and 13) and a buffer circuit 46Q with state bytes (FIGS. 11 and 20).

A suitable mounting of these detection buffers is shown. The main function of the circuit in Figure 18 is the buffering of the sensor signals. The circuit is also intended to produce the PRST signal which is used to place the various two-bladed circuits in the initial position when power is applied. To this end, the buffer circuit 465 of FIG. 18 comprises a comparator 466 (of the type 6M339) whose output signal is the signal PRST. The inversion input of comparator 466 is connected to a node 467 of a voltage divider with resistors comprising resistors 468 and 469 and a potentiometer 470. The direct input of comparator 466 is connected to a positive feedback circuit constituted of resistors 471 and 472. When powering up, the voltage level presented by the node 467 of the resistor divider rapidly changes to its value in steady state. Furthermore, a timing circuit comprising a resistor 473 and a capacitor 474 applies a voltage which varies relatively slowly to the resistor 472. During substantially the first hundred nilliseconds following power-up, the voltage of node 467 exceeds that applied to the resistor 472, which results in making the signal equal to o
PRST during this brief interval. At the end of this interval.

time, the latter ending as soon as the voltage applied to the resistor 472 exceeds the voltage of the node 467, the signal PRST goes to the value 4. The positive feedback circuit gives the pulse defined by the PRST signal very short rise and fall times.

 Identical comparators 475 and 476 are connected in the same way to positive feedback circuits so that the output signals which they produce, these signals being indicated in DET A and DET B have very high rise and fall times. short. The direct inputs of comparators 475 and 476 are connected by the resistors of their positive feedback circuits to node 467. The inversion input of comparator 475 is connected by a resistive coupling to the terminal identified DET A-. it is recalled, as indicated in the description of the external infrared sensors, given in the part of this memo relating to the production of a cover or of a note compartment, that the electrodes of the four transmitters are connected in common to this terminal .

 When any of the four signals SLO to SL3 (Figure 17) is equal to O; the signal applied to this terminal is normally more positive than the steady-state voltage present at node 467. If a ticket is present on the explored belt, between the infrared transmitter 175 and the corresponding sensor 174, this signal becomes less positive , so that the output signal DET A becomes equal to 1. Similarly, the inverting input of comparator 476 is connected by a resistive coupling to a DET terminal B- in order to receive the signal applied to this thick headed. This signal is controlled by the interior infrared sensor of the banknote belt scanned or scanned so as to be normally more positive than the steady state voltage present at node 467. If a banknote is present on the belt scanned, between the transmitter 177 of infrared and the sensor 176 associated, the signal becomes less positive, so that the output signal DET B becomes equal to 4. Another comparator 477 has a single positive feedback resistor and its direct input terminal is connected to the potentiometer cursor 470. The inversion input of comparator 477 is connected by a resistive coupling to the DET terminal B-. Thanks to this arrangement, when the interior sensor of the explored banknote cover detects a double banknote, the DET signal D becomes equal to 1.

The logic circuit 455 cooperates with another circuit described below with reference to FIG. 14 in order to produce an interrupt request transmitted to the processor 350. The signal DET A is inverted by an inverter 480 whose output signal is applied to a delay circuit generally indicates at 481. The output signal of the delay circuit 481 is inverted by an inverter 482. A first input of an EXCLUSIVE gate 483 is connected directly to the output of the inverter 482 and its other input is connected to a timing circuit 484 in order to receive the same signal. Consequently, when the signal DET A passes from
O to 4 or goes from d to O, the output signal from gate 483 is positive.

A NOR gate 485 reacts to each positive pulse so that its output signal (SET VINT) becomes a negative pulse When the front or rear edge of a banknote crosses the external sensor of the scanned money belts, the signal SET INT changes from its normal value fi to a momentary value 0, then returns to its normal value 4
An assembly with a structure identical to that described above assumes the same function in association with the interior sensor. When the signal DET B changes from 4 to O or from O to 1, a negative evolution pulse is defined in the signal SET ITlT. A BSY signal, produced by a circuit described below with reference to FIG. 22, is applied to an inverter 486 the output of which is connected by a difierentiator circuit, generally indicated 487> to a door
NOR-OR 485. When the BSY signal goes from 1 to 0, a negative evolution pulse is defined in the SET INT signal.

The remaining circuit shown in Figure 13 establishes separate signal flow paths, each path having a structure identical to that of the signal flow path described above for the BSY signal, so that the SET INT signal responds to the signals FLSC and
RLSC in the same way that it reacts to the BSY signal.

 A circuit 490 receives several input signals, including the signal SET INT produced by the circuit 455 with an OR function, and it applies two output signals IRQ and BD5 to two of the wires of the common line 356.

 As shown in FIG. 14, a flip-flop 491 of the type D comprises a direct arming terminal which receives the signal SET INT so that each time a negative evolution pulse is defined in the signal SET INT, the flip-flop 491 be placed in its armed state. A NON gate 492 receives the output signal from the flip-flop 491 and a signal UD produced by an inverter 493. The input of the inverter 493 is connected to one of the wires of the common line 356 in order to receive an IRQ INT signal. Normally, the last signal is equal to 0. It is equal to 4 only when the data processor 350 acknowledges receipt of an interrupt request and seeks to determine the identity of the device that issued this interrupt request. A flip-flop 494 of type D has a direct arming input which receives the signal produced by the NAND gate 492. Thus, flip-flop 494 is placed in its armed state each time that a pulse with negative evolution is defined in the SET INT signal. An inverter 495 produces the IRO signal which, when equal to O g indicates that an interrupt request is pending. When the data processor 350 acknowledges receipt of the interrupt request by setting a pulse to positive evolution in the signal IRQ INT A, an inverter 496 allows a gate 497 with three states to control one of the wires of the common section of dcr.'TCD of common line 356. Thus validated, gate 497 with three states makes the signal BD5 equal to O, which serves to inform the data processor 350 that the interrupt request comes from the multiplexer 368.

One of the wires of the common line 356 transmits a signal B RESET produced by the processor 350. Normally, this signal is equal to d. The flip-flop 494 receives, at its direct repositioning input terminal D, a signal placing this flip-flop 494 in repositioned state each time the signal B
RESET is 0. The flip-flop 494 is normally triggered to assume its repositioned state by the trailing edge of the positive pulse defined in the signal ID when the processor 350 seeks to determine the identity of the source of the interrupt request.

 After the processor 350 has acknowledged receipt of an interrupt request and determined that this interrupt request comes from the multiplexer 368, said processor 350 performs a read cycle operation during which state data is entered into this processor 350. In this regard, reference can be made to FIG. 20. It is recalled, with reference to FIG. 12, that the signal RDSTS is equal to O when the data processor 350 makes equal to i the signal R / W and simultaneously addresses the multiplexer 368. The RDSTS signal is applied to two inverters 500 and 501 each controlling a group of four doors with three states. The structure of each state byte applied to the common section of data TCD of line 356 is evident in FIG. 20.

 The remaining circuit incorporated in the multiplexer 368 constitutes a servo-control subsystem operating on a timeshare basis and associated with the slots or bill stashes. This subsystem comprises, as shown overall in FIG. TI, r a circuit 505 for selecting the servo speed, a circuit 510 for selecting the tachometer and a circuit 515 for selecting the summing junction.

 A suitable embodiment of the tachometer selection circuit 510, used in the embodiment described is shown in detail in FIG. 21.

It is recalled, as described with reference to FIG. 4, that each banknote drive belt comprises a tachometer. In FIG. 21, the signals produced by the four identical tachometers are indicated in TACHO (for belt 74 with notes), in TACH1 (for belt 76), in
TACH2 (for belt 78) and TACH3 (for belt 80).

 When the present instruction identifies the money belt 74, the signal STO is equal to O. A field effect transistor 516 receives the signal STO at its gate and is made conductive when the signal STO is equal to O. The source and the drain of the field effect transistor 516 are mounted in a series circuit between the TACHO terminal and the inversion input of an analog operational amplifier 517 whose output is identified in AFB1 (AFB designating a signal of analog reaction). As shown, a conventional servo compensation circuit 518 is intended to adjust the gain of the amplifier 517. A unity gain inversion circuit, comprising an operational amplifier 519, reacts to the signal APB1 to produce a signal AFB2 which is 1800 phase shifted from the AFB1 signal.

Three other series circuits with field effect transistor switching, each having the same structure as the series circuit described above for the TACHO signal, are used to selectively transmit the signals.
TASK at TACH3 at amplifier 517. These three series circuits are controlled respectively by the signals STI, ST2 and
ST3.

 Circuit 505 shown in Figure 22 is controlled by UNLD and RUN signals and produces an analog AIR signal (i.e. an analog input speed signal). The time-sharing servo regulates the angular speed of a banknote drive motor in accordance with the amplitude of the AIR signal. In the case of a high-speed guiding operation it is desirable that the angular speed be relatively high, and a lower angular speed is more desirable for the modes of operation in payment or in distribution of the bill stoppers.

 The signal UNLD is equal to O when the switch associated with the security key is actuated and the instruction present is an unloading instruction.

A field effect transistor 521 receives the signal UNLD at its gate and is made conductive when the signal UNLD is equal to O. The source and the drain of the transistor 521 are mounted in a series circuit, between a terminal + V1 and the inversion input of an operational amplifier 522. The gain of the amplifier 522 is regulated by a conventional feedback circuit indicated generally at 523. The output signal from the amplifier 522 is applied to an integrator generally represented at 524. The time constant RC of the integrator 524 is advantageously between half a second and a second. The output signal of the integrator 524 is applied to an inversion amplifier with gain equal to one, indicated overall in 525 and producing at its output the AIR signal. This AIR signal is also applied to a first terminal of a distance 526 feedback whose other terminal is connected to the inverting input of amplifier 522.

The RUN signal is equal to O when the existing instruction is a forward instruction or a reverse instruction (at normal speed). The gate of a field effect transistor 527 receives the RUN signal and the source and drain of this electrode are mounted in a series circuit, between a potentiometer 528 and the inversion input of amplifier 522. The transistor 527 camp effect is conductive only while the RUN signal is equal to C
When none of the RUN and UNLD n7 signals is equal to
the AIR signal takes the value C> in steady state. On decoding an instruction passing the RUZ signal to the value O tt 527 field effect transistor becomes conductive and the amplitude of the AIR signal increases positively to define a ramp during a interval whose duration depends on the time constant of the integrator 524. At the end of this interval, the input signal of the integrator 524 is zero. Thanks to the memory constituted by the integrator 524, the AIR signal does however have a positive value proportional to the setting of the potentiometer 528. In an analogous manner, when the processor 350 issues a stop instruction which is decoded in such a way as to return the RUN signal at value 1, the AIR signal defines a downward ramp to its value of O shutter in steady state.

The same type of increasing and decreasing ramp is defined in response to a cycle of the UNLD signal, the only difference from the above residing in the amplitude of the signal TsIRa
The output signal produced by the inverter 524 is also applied to a circuit indicated overall at 529 and which is substantially of the same construction and the same operation as the circuits described above with regard to FIG. 18. The circuit 529 produces the BSY signal and a 530 inverter, which receives this signal, produces the BSY signal
The signals BSY and BSY constitute state information indicating whether the time-sharing servo actuates a control motor.

 A suitable arrangement for the summing junction selection circuit 515, used in the embodiment described, is shown in detail in FIG. 23.

During the payment mode of operation, the time-sharing servo is used to regulate the analog speed of the code motor of the rewind coil - ^, that of the cache or bill slot sweeps'. At the same time, the chosen banknote reel control motor is supplied by an open loop circuit, at a relatively low level (in the opposite direction to maintain the tension of the belt). A power transistor 535 cooperates with four of the power transistors shown in FIG. 23 in order to power the control motor of the take-up coil of the selected bill slot. A power transistor 536 cooperates with the other four power transistors shown in FIG. 23 for supplying the drive motors of the supply coils of the selected banknote housing.

 If the present instruction is an advance instruction, the power transistor 535 behaves as if it were part of the servo-control: timeshare, while the power transistor 536 operates in open loop mode. Furthermore, in the case where the instruction present is a reverse or unload instruction, the power transistor 536 behaves as if it were part of the time-sharing servo, while the transistor 535 operates according to the mode open loop.

 While the power transistor 535 functions as if it is part of the time-shared servo, the summing junction for the time-sharing servo is the input summing junction 537. An amplifier, represented generally at 538, is mounted between this summing junction 537 and the base of the power transistor 535. When the power transistor 536 operates as if it were part of the time-sharing servo, the summing junction for the time-sharing servo is the output summing junction 539.

An amplifier, generally represented at 540, is mounted between this junction 539 and the base of the power transistor 536.

The interventions of the terminal operator can be described as follows 1. Reading the list of categories 2. Pressing an appropriate category key 3. Reading the list of items in the category
displayed 4. Keystrokes for the sale of
the item ordered 5. Repetition of the first or second operation
operation, or hit a key of items, or
well hit a touch of totalization; in case of
keystroke, repeat
first or second operation, or hits
then the totalization key.

After hitting the totalization key, the operator can execute the following operations 1. Reading the total amount of the sale 2. Observation of the tickets placed in the entry chute
appropriate as determined by observation of a
light signal 3. Verification of the value and authenticity of
tickets, as well as introduction, if applicable, of the
actual value, using the keyboard, banknotes and
coupons observed 4. Pressing the accept / reject button
tickets, and observation, if any, of the value
total paid in coins; and 5. Repeat the previous operations until the
total received is equal to or greater than the amount of the
sale.

 It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the terminal described and shown without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (14)

 1. - Device for handling cash, characterized in that it comprises a cabinet (10) which has upper, lower, front, rear and lateral surfaces, the front surface comprising at least one chute (16) d input-output intended to receive and distribute tickets, the upper surface having at least one sight window (20), at least one mechanism with transparent belts, intended to entrain money, comprising two belts (134, 138) arranged inside the cabinet, at least two driven supply coils (124, 126) and at least one driven take-up reel (128) being intended to drive each of the transparent belts, the belts being arranged inside the cabinet so that a ticket is transported by these belts from the entry-exit chute to a position opposite the sight window, before reaching the take-up reel.  2. - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an element (176, 177) for detecting tickets arranged inside the cabinet and intended to detect the presence of a ticket, this element of detection being arranged near the sight window, between the latter and the inlet-outlet chute.  3. - Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the inlet-outlet chute has an inlet end, a second element (174, 175) for detecting banknotes being arranged at the end of entry-exit chute in order to detect the rear edge of a banknote leaving through this chute.  4. - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises several chutes (16) input-output to each of which are associated a window (20) of sight and belts for entrainment of silver, the device which can also include a third element (17S, 179) for detecting banknotes, arranged inside the cabinet, the sight window being able to be located in particular in the upper surface of the cabinet so that it can be seen by people standing near the front and rear surfaces of the cabinet.  5. - Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a device for controlling the operation of the supply coils and of the take-up reel, reversible motors (158, 162, 166) intended to actuate the take-up and supply coils, the banknote detection elements comprising first, second and third detectors arranged in the cabinet, the first detector (174) being disposed near the inlet-outlet chute, the second detector (176) being disposed between the chute input-output and the sight window, and the third detector (178) being arranged downstream of the sight window and the second detector, the detectors transmitting position signals to the control device, the control device comprising a timing element, the first detector transmitting a signal to the control device in the presence of the front edge of a banknote so that the control device turns the take-up reel d In the direction of storage, the second detector transmits a signal to the control device when the presence of said front edge of the bill is detected, if the signal from the second detector reaches the control device before the end of a period of time. predetermined and measured by the timing element, the control device then continuing to rotate the take-up reel in the direction of storage, the control device stopping the rotation of the take-up reel in the direction of storage if none leading edge is not detected before the end of the predetermined period of time, the second detector acting on the control device so that the latter stops the rotation of the take-up reel in the direction of storage when the banknote is opposite of the aiming window.  6. - Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a mechanism controlled by an operator and intended to rotate the take-up reel in the direction of storage or reeling after the ticket has been examined by the operator using the sight window.  7. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the detection elements consist of optical generators (175, 177, 179) and sensors (174, 176, 178), the coil assembly can in particular comprise an electric motor and a speed sensor for adjusting the motor speed and the tension applied to the belts.  8. - Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises at least two sets of belts (134, 138) for driving money, each associated with a sight window and a filler inlet chute the, the belt assemblies being designed to accept banknotes of different values, the control device acting so as to allow the banknotes placed on all the belt assemblies to be stored beyond the sighting station, the control device allowing only certain belt assemblies to be driven in the direction of unwinding, over a sufficient distance to allow a ticket to be moved from the storage position to the entry-exit chute, the device comprising also at least two sets of money drive belts, a sight window and exit gutters, an indication element being associated with each belt set and each sight window, and the detectio n of banknotes producing a signal when the front edge of a banknote is detected by said first detector, the indication element being able in particular to be actuated by the control device in response to a signal coming from the banknote detection element when the first detector detects the presence of the trailing edge of a banknote.  9. - Device for handling cash money intended for receiving and distributing tickets, characterized in that it comprises a cabinet (10) which has upper, front and rear surfaces, an element (20) with sight window formed in the upper surface and having a window whose dimensions are greater than that of the silver to be checked, several entry-exit openings (18) formed in the front surface of the armory, several sets of drive belts money arranged inside the cabinet and designed to transport money from the I / O openings to the sight windows, each aperture, each sight window and each drive belt assembly forming a banknote handling mechanism for advancing banknotes one after the other from the opening towards the sight window, from upstream to downstream, the first, second and third banknote detectors being associated with each assembly e with belts, the first detector (174) being placed near the downstream end of the opening, the second detector (176) being placed downstream of the first detector, but upstream of the sight window, and the third detector (178) being placed downstream of the second detector and the sighting window, an indication element being associated with each belt assembly, the handling device also comprising an automatic input element (14) controlled by an operator , a control device (350r intended to process the various signals received from the detectors and from the automatic input element, the belt assemblies comprising several transparent belts (134, 138), several supply coils (124, 126), a take-up reel (128) and a mechanism for controlling the operation of the supply coils and the take-up reel, the order transmitted to the drive mechanism being determined by the control device according to the signals it receives of the detector and the operator-controlled input element, the drive mechanism for receiving tickets after receipt of an appropriate signal from the operator-controlled input element, this mechanism drive for distributing tickets only after receiving an appropriate signal from the control device, the latter comprising a memory, a sequential control element and a logic element.  10. - Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the detectors comprise optical input and output elements intended to optically detect the presence of tickets, all of the belt assemblies cannot be ordered to distribute tickets.  11. - Device according to claim 9, characterized in that it also comprises an indication element associated with each set of belts in order to inform the operator of the device of the receipt of a ticket by the set of belts .  12. - Method for implementing a device for handling cash money intended for receiving and distributing tickets, this device comprising several keys controlled by an operator, at least one money entry chute intended to receive cash money and equipped with sensors, and at least one aiming window arranged in a cabinet, the method being characterized in that it consists in taking cognizance of the total amount of a sales transaction by actuating one of the keys, observe the presence of a ticket in an entry chute, check the authenticity and the value of the ticket previously placed in the chute by observing this ticket 'through the sight window, accept or reject the ticket in pressing the appropriate key,  to repeat the previous operations until the device indicates itself to me that the total of the money accepted reaches or exceeds the amount of the transaction.  13. - Method according to claim 12, characterized in that it also consists in recognizing the value of the ticket offered and in actuating the appropriate keys, as well as in observing a signal from the device and indicating that the drive belts of the 'money received a ticket, then to observe, in the associated sight window, the ticket thus transported.  14. - Method according to claim 13, characterized in that it further comprises introducing into the money handling device, using the keyboard, the value of the ticket seen through the window and information acceptance of the ticket thus verified.