GB2046491A

GB2046491A - Money exchange apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2046491A
Application number: GB8007708A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Laurel Bank Machine Co Ltd
Current assignee: Laurel Bank Machine Co Ltd
Priority date: 1979-03-07
Filing date: 1980-03-06
Publication date: 1980-11-12
Also published as: GB2046491B; DE3008667A1

Abstract

A money exchange apparatus comprises a processing device 1 and a currency disbursing machine 2. The processing device includes an input section 3, a memory section 2, an operation control section 5, a display section 6 and a printing section 7. The currency disbursing machine may comprise currency disbursing machine 8 for disbursing currencies of one country and another currency disbursing machine 9 for disbursing currencies of another country. The apparatus may be provided with a change disbursing machine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Money exchange apparatus This invention relates to a money exchange apparatus wherein at airports, etc., foreign currencies, traveller's check, etc. are exchanged for desired currencies in accordance with operator's key input operation and exchanged money is automatically disbursed.

In order to deal with exchange business which has been complicated due to the exchange rate varied frequently, there has been developed a money exchange apparatus in which exchange business is automated. The money exchange apparatus chiefly comprises a memory for storing a plurality of exchange rates, an input section for inputting data indicating kinds of currencies for exchange, an amount of money, an operation control section for calculating an amount of exchanged money from data put in and exchange rate read out of the memory, and a currency disbursing section for receiving an amount of exchanged currencies from a container and disbursing the same. In case of the conventional apparatus, it has only a function of exchanging various foreign currencies for specific country currencies (for example, a function of exchanging dollar, pound, franc, etc. for yen).

At airports, etc., kinds of currencies for which customer's desired to exchange are many and are not limited to currencies of one country. For example, when Japanese takes a trip to the United States of America, he usually exchanges yen currencies for dollar currencies, and on the other hand, when he comes back to Japan, he also exchanges remaining dollar currencies for yen currencies in his country. In such a case, if only a money exchange apparatus for exchanging a plurality of currencies of foreign countries for yen currencies is provided at an exchange station, exchange business on going out of country is very inconveneint due to the factthat it must be done manually.In such a case, if another exchange apparatus for exchanging foreign country currencies including yen currencies for dollar currencies is provided at an exchange station, the above-mentioned inconvenience will be eliminated. However, another problem on the high costs for provisions and large occupied spaces arise.

In the meanwhile, when yen currencies are exchanged for dollar currencies, customers often desire to receive exchanged money without odds, for example, 500 dollar currencies. In such a case, an amount of money to be exchanged which the customer must pay for the amount of exchanged money without odds usually includes odds, for example, 93,675 yen currencies in case of exchange rate of one dollar for 187.35 yen. On the other hand, the amount of money to be exchanged which will be handed over to an operator by customers often does not include odds (for example 95,000 Yen in case ofthe above mentioned example). In such a case, the operator must disburse the amount of exchanged money (500 dollars) as well as an amount of change (1,325 yen) to the customer. However, since the above mentioned conventional apparatus has no function of disbursing an amount of change.

Therefore, the operator must calculate the amount of change, and therefore, there is a problem that exchange business becomes complicated.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an improved money exchange apparatus which eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages and can disburse exchanged currencies of a plurality of countries.

It is another obejct of the invention to provide an improved money exchange apparatus of the above type which has a function of disbursing changes.

According to the invention, there is provided a money exchange apparatus which comprises; a processing device including a memory section storing a plurality of exchange rates, an input section for inputting data for kinds of currencies, an amount of money, etc. and an operation section for calculating an amount of exchanged money from the exchange rate read out of the memory section and the data from the input section, a currency disbursing machine electrically connected to said processing device and accommodating currencies of a plurality of countries, said currency disbursing machine for selectively disbursing currencies of the specific country on the basis of the result from processing of the processing device to pay the amount of exchanged money.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a money exchange apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of a money exchange apparatus, Figure 4 is a block diagram showing further another embodiment of a modification of a money exchange apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a block diagram showing further another embodiment of the modification of the money exchange apparatus.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 showing one embodiment of a money exchange apparatus, the money exchange apparatus generally comprises a processing device 1 and a currency disbursing machine 2 which are electrically connected to each other by a cable 17.

The processing device 1 includes an input section 3, a memory section 4, an operation control section 5, a display section 6, and a printing section 7. The input section 3 is constructed so that data for kinds and amounts of exchanged currency discharged from the currency disbursing machine 2, exchange rate, etc. can be put therein, and comprises numeral keys, currency designating keys, a disbursement indicating key, etc. provided on a keyboard 10. The memory section 4 stores a plurality of exchange rates and this is made by putting exchange rates for that particular day through the operation of the key of the input section 3 by an operator before com mencement of exchange business. In the embodi ment, for example, exchange rate of dollar, pound, franc, mark, etc. for yen and exchange rate of yen, pound, franc, mark, etc. for dollar are stored.The operation control section 5 has a function of calculating an amount of money to be disbursed (exchanged amount of money) from exchange rate read out from the memory section 4 in accordance with data indicating kinds of currencies which is put in from the input section 3 and data indicating an amount of money, and a function of controlling each operation of the treating device 1 and the currency disbursing machine 2. The display section 6 displays exchange rates put in from the input section 3 at the input time as well as data indicating kinds and amounts of currencies put in from the input section 3. Further, the display section 6 also can sequentially display a number of exchange rates once stored in the mem ory section 4 for confirmation. In such a case, the read key of the input section 3 is operated.At this time, the exchange rates thus read out can be printed by the printing section 7. The printing section 7 comprises a printer, etc. and prints data (kinds and amounts of currencies) put in from the input section 3, exchanged amount of money calculated by the operation control section 5, etc.

The currency disbursing machine 2 comprises a note disbursing machine 11 accommodating notes of yen and dollar therein, and a coin disbursing machine 12 accommodating coins of yen and dollar therein. The note disbursing machine 11 draws out of its containers 13 the notes in accordance with data for exchanged amount of money, kinds of currencies transmitted from the operation control section 5 when the disbursement key of the input section is operated, and discharges notes (which correspond to an amount of moeny to be paid in notes) into a payment opening 14 after counting the same.

Further, kinds of notes, which are not accommodated in the note disbursing machine 11 may be directly handed to a customer by the operator. The coin disbursing machine 12 has a function similar to the note disbursing machine 11 and discharging coins (which correspond to an amount of money to be paid in coins) into a receiving tray 16 set within a discharge opening 15. Further, kinds of coins which are not accommodated in the coin disbursing machine 12 may be directly handed to a customer by the operator. Since this type of the note disbursing machine and the coin disbursing machine is a conventional one, the details thereof will be omitted.

In operation, an explanation will be made in case of exchanging 100,000 yen for dollar. Assuming that the exchange rate is one dollar to 200 yen. The operator first puts amount of money (100,000 yen) in the input section 3 by operating the yen designating key and the numeral key, and then operates the dollar designating key and thereafter the payment indicating key. At the time, since data for 100,000 yen and "yen" are transmitted to the operation control section 5, the exchange rate indicating one dollar for 200 yen is read out of the memory section 4. The amount of money (100,000 yen) and "dollar" are displayed on the display section 6. At the operation control section 5, operation is made from the amount of money (100,000 yen) and the exchange rate (one dollar for 200 yen) to calculate the exchanged money at 500 dollars.Further, the currency designating data (in this case, the data indicating five sheets of 100 dollar notes) is also calculated to be payed in minimum number of currencies and is displayed on the display section 6. In operation for the payment indicating key, the above data are transmitted to the note disbursing machine 11 of the currency disbursing machine 2 and then five sheets of 100 dollar notes are discharged into the discharge opening 14. If 100 dollar notes are not accommodated in the note disbursing machine 11, the operator hands notes to a customer in accordance with the display on the display section 6. Further, the above-mentioned exchanged amount of money, etc.

are also printed at the printing section 7. At the printing section 7, the printing is made on the journal and the receipt, and the latter is handed to a customer together with five sheets of 100 dollar notes.

Referring now to Figure 3 showing a second embodiment of the present invention, the second embodiment of the money exchange apparatus is similar to the first embodiment except the construction of the currency disbursing machine 2. In the second embodiment, the currency disbursing machine 2 comprises a currency disbursing machine for disbursing currencies of a single country, for example, a yen currency disbursing machine 8 for disbursing yen notes and yen coins, and another currency disbursing machine for disbursing currencies of another single country, for example, a dollar currency disbursing machine 9 for disbursing dollar notes and dollar coins. Further, the yen currency disbursing machine 8 and the dollar currency disbursing machine 9 include a note disbursing machine and a coin disbursing machine for yen and dollar respectively.The designation of the yen currency disbursing machine 8 or the dollar currency disbursing machine 9 may be made automatically from the judgement on the operation result (the exchanged amount of money, etc.) at the operation control section or may be made by two kinds of the payment indicating key provided for the yen currency disbursing machine 8 and the dollar currency disbursing machine 9.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 showing a third embodiment of the money exchange apparatus, the money exchange apparatus has a change disbursement function in addition to the functions which the first embodiment of the money exchange apparatus has. The apparatus comprises the treating device 1, the currency disbursing machine 2 as well as a change disbursing machine 20. The machines 2 and 20 are electrically connected to the treating device 1 by the cable 17.

The processing device 1 comprises substantially the same sections as those of the first embodiment.

The input section 3 is constructed so that data similar to those of the first embodiment as well as an amount of money (in kind of money to be exchanged) which a person in charge receives can put therein and the key board 10 includes the same keys as those of the first embodiment as well as a change calculation indicating key. The memory section 4 has the same functions as those of the first embodiment. The operation control section 5 has the same functions as those of the first embodiment as well as functions of calculating an amount of money to be exchanged from the exchange rate read out from the memory section 4 and an amount of exchanged money, and of calculating an amount of change by reducing an amount of money which a person in charge receives by the above-mentioned amount of money to be exchanged.The operation control section 5 also has a function of controlling the change disbursing machine 20. The display section 6 displays the same contents as those of the first embodiment as well as an amount of money which a person in charge receives from a customer, an amount of change, etc. The printing section 7 prints the same contents as those of the first embodiment as well as an amount of money to be exchanged, an amount of change, etc.

The currency disbursing machine 2 is identical to that of the first embodiment and therefore, the details thereof will be omitted.

The change disbursing machine 3 comprises a coin discharging machine 21 having a plurality of coin cartridges 22 for accommodating therein various kinds of coins in yen and dollar currencies. Within an amount of change, in case of yen currency, coins of smaller than 500 yen and in case of dollar currency, coins of smaller than one dollar can be discharged from the change disbursing machine 20 into a receiving tray 24 disposed in a discharge opening 23.

Other balance of the change (in kind of notes) may be handed from an operator over to a customer.

In operation, for example, an explanation will be made in case that 500 dollars are desired to be disbursed as an exchanged amount of money. Assuming that the exchange rate is one dollar for 187.35 yen. The operator first operates the dollar currency designating key of the input section 3 and then operates the numeral key to put an amount of exchanged money (500 dollars) in the input section 3. In addition, the operator operates the yen currency designating key. At this time, since the data for 500 dollars and "yen" are transmitted to the operation control section 5, the exchange rate of one dollar for 187.35 yen is read out of the memory section 4. Simultaneously, the amount of money (500 dollars) is displayed on the display section 6.At the operation control section, operation is carried out from the amount of money (500 dollars) and the exchange rate (one dollar for 187.35 yen) to calculate amount of money to be exchanged at 93,675 yen and then "93,675 yen" is displayed on the display section 6. When, at this time, the operator receives 95,000 yen from a customer, the operator puts the amount of money thus received (95,000 yen) in the input section 3 and then operates the change calculation indicating key.

Thus, at the operation control section 5, the amount of the received money (95,000 yen) is reduced by the amount of money to be exchanged (93,675 yen) to calculate an amount of change at 1,325 yen. Simultaneously, an operation for disbursing 325 yen within the amount of change (1,325 yen) by three 100-yen coins, two 10-yen coins and one 5-yen coin from the change disbursing machine 3 is carried out.

Further, simultaneously an operation for disbursing the amount of exchanged money (500 dollars) in minimum number of coins (in this case, an operation for putting out data indicating five 100-dollar notes) is carried out. The amount of money (1,000 yen) which must be directly handed over to a customer and the balance of change (325 yen) which is to be disbursed from the change disbursing machine 20 are displayed on the display section 6. Then, when the disbursement indicating key is operated, data indicating five 100-dollar notes are put in the currency disbursing machine 2 from the operation control section 5 and data indicating three 100-yen coins, two 10-yen coins, and one 5-yen coin are also put in the change disbursing machine 20 from the operation control section 5. Further, the amount of money (500 dollars) is displayed on the display section 6 as an amount of exchanged money.Forthis, the amount of exchanged money (500 dollars) and the amount of change (325 yen) are automatically disbursed from the machine 2 and 20, respectively.

Therefore, the operator hands the amount of exchanged money (500 dollars) and the amount of change (325 yen) together with one 1,000-yen note over to the customer. The exchange business has been completed by the above operations.

Of course, operations in case that dollar currency is exchanged for yen currency without odds (for example, 100,000 yen) are similar to the abovementioned operations.

Referring now to Figure 6 showing a forth embodiment of the money exchange apparatus, in the forth embodiment of the money exchange apparatus, the currency disbursing machine 2 comprises a plurality of disbursing machines similar to those of the second embodiment. On the other hand, the change disbursing machine is omitted. Instead, either one of disbursing machines can be used as a change disbursing machine. The operations thereof will be apparent from the above explanation and therefore, the details thereof will be omitted.

Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, the exchange rate is put in the memory section by operator's key operation, it may be automatically put in by one-line system. Further, it may be also put in by reading contents prerecorded in a magnetic tape.

Furthermore, an amount of money described in a check such as a traveler's check may be read by an optically character reading device and, after examining a genuineness by a genuineness discriminating mechanism, be put in the operation control section.

Furthermore, in case that a commission is charged for exchange business, the commission may be previously put in and on calculating the exchanged money an operation may be carried out in view of the commission. Any other modification may be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A money exchange apparatus which comprises; a processing device including a memory section storing a plurality of exchange rates, an input section for inputting data for kinds of currencies, an amount of money, etc. and an operation section for calculating an amount of exchanged money from the exchange rate read out of the memory section and the data from the input section, a currency disbursing machine electrically connected to said processing device and accommodating currencies of a plurality of countries, said currency disbursing machine for selectively disbursing currencies of the specific country on the basis of the resu It from processing of the processing device to pay the amount of exchanged money.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said currency disbursing machine comprises a currency disbursing machine for disbursing currencies of a single country and another currency disbursing machine for disbursing currencies of another single country.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including a change disbursing machine, when data indicating kinds and an amount of money which is desired to be paid with for exchange are put in, an amount of money to be exchanged is calculated from the exchange rate read out of the memory section and said amount of exchanged money, simultaneously, if change is to be paid to a customer for an amount of money to be exchange which is received from a customer, an amount of change is calculated by inputting the amount of the received money, and the change is automatically disbursed from said change disbursing machine together with the amount of exchanged money.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein either one of currency disbursing machines for disbursing currencies of a single country is used as a change disbursing machine.