GB2176331A

GB2176331A - Cash dispensers

Info

Publication number: GB2176331A
Application number: GB08514392A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Francis Edward Doyle; James Biddle
Original assignee: De la Rue Systems Ltd
Current assignee: De la Rue Systems Ltd
Priority date: 1985-06-07
Filing date: 1985-06-07
Publication date: 1986-12-17
Also published as: GB8514392D0

Abstract

In a power-operated cash dispenser, if the power supply fails banknotes may be left in the transport system between a note store and a dispensing outlet. An auxiliary power supply capable of taking over all the functions of the principal power supply will be expensive. A cash dispenser according to the present invention includes means responsive to the failure of the principal power supply to connect a reserve battery to an auxiliary motor coupled to the note transport means to feed notes in the feed path to a diverter which guides them into a secure collector. The principal motor is disconnected from the note transport means when the note transport means is coupled to the auxiliary motor.

Description

SPECIFICATION Cash dispensers In cash dispensers, banknotes are stored and these are dispensed to a customer in the quantity requested by him after he has proved his identity. Before the notes are dispensed, they are interrogated by sensors to establish that the transaction which is taking place is correct; as an example, there is normally a double-note detector to sense the presence of two superimposed notes in the note transport system.

Cash dispensers normally rely on a mains power supply to energize the circuits for processing the data from the sensors, as well as to operate the mechanisms involved in dispensing notes, for example the means for extracting notes from the store or stores and the means for feeding the extracted notes to the dispensing outlet.

If the power supply fails, the cash dispenser stops, possibly leaving banknotes in the transport system between the note store and the dispensing outlet. Of course, it is possible that any interrupted dispensing operation could be completed by an auxiliary power supply carrying out all the functions normally effected by the mains power supply. However, such an auxiliary power supply would be relatively expensive.

According to the present invention, a cash dispensing apparatus arranged for connection to a principal power supply and having a note store and note transport means, including a principal motor energized by the principal power supply, for advancing notes from the store along a feed path, means responsive to the failure of the principal power supply to connect a reserve battery to an auxiliary motor coupled to the note transport means, whereby any notes which were in the feed path when the principal power supply failed are advanced along the feed path by the operation of the auxiliary motor, and a diverter which, in the event of failure of the principal power supply, guides such notes from the feed path into a secure collector, and in which a coupling which allows the principal motor to drive the note transport means is disconnected when the note transport means is driven by the auxiliary motor.

With this arrangement, the auxiliary power supply is a simple battery which merely operates the note transport means to move the trapped notes out of the feed path and into the secure container. The notes from the secure container can be subsequently reloaded into a dispensing cassette for storage and for interrogation when they are used in a later dispensing operation.

In order that the invention may be better understood, one example of apparatus embodying the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically the arrangement of a typical cash dispensing apparatus; Figure 2 illustrates the operation of a diverter mechanism in the apparatus of Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows diagrammatically a note feed system in apparatus embodying the present invention; and Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a note transport control circuit, operative in the event of a power failure, in three different switching states.

As shown in Fig. 1, a typical cash dispenser comprises a number of feed modules 10 for receiving cassettes 12. The cassettes in different feed modules may contain notes of different denominations, for example 5, 10 and 20 notes. A note transport system, shown diagrammatically at 14, transfers notes extracted from the feed modules to a delivery module 15 in which is located a note interrogation unit 16. This unit contains a sensor or sensors, for example for detecting the presence of two superimposed notes in the transport system. The signals from the sensors control the state of a diverter unit 18: if the sensors show that there are no objections to passing the interrogated note to the customer, the diverter unit 18 is in a condition in which the note is guided to the nofe dispenser outlet channel 20.If however the sensors show, for example, that two superimposed notes have been fed, the diverter unit 18 takes up a condition in which the superimposed notes are guided along a channel 22 to a reject container 24 which is securely closed and securely coupled to the cash dispenser.

One form of diverter unit is shown in Fig. 2.

In this figure, the diverter unit 18 comprises a pivoted arm 26 which is normally urged by a tension spring 28 to a position in which notes fed to the diverter unit through rollers 30 in the transport system are guided to the reject container 24 (Fig. 1). When an "accept" signal is received from the note interrogation unit 16, a solenoid 32 is energized and overcomes the tension of the spring 28, causing the arm 26 to move to a position on the other side of the note path, such that the accepted note is guided through rollers 34 to the note-dispensing outlet.

As stated above, when a mains power supply which normally energizes the cash dispenser is interrupted, banknotes may be trapped in the transport system between the feed modules 10 and the delivery module 15.

Fig. 3 shows one embodiment of the invention, by means of which this problem is overcome. Normally, the mains power supply drives a motor which rotates a pulley 36 around which extends a timing belt 38. The belt 38 drives a pulley 40 in an anti-clockwise direction and this transmits motion through a clutch 42 to a gear wheel 44. The gear wheel 44 engages a gear wheel 46 in the note transport system, causing the wheel 46 to rotate in a clockwise direction and to drive in an anti-clockwise direction a gear wheel 48 with which it co-operates in the note transport system. As a consequence, banknotes in the note transport system 14 are fed upwards in Fig. 3.

Gear wheel 46 also meshes with a gear wheel 50 and drives it in an anti-clockwise direction. Gear wheel 50 is coupled through a clutch 52, similar to clutch 42, to the shaft of a d.c. motor 54 and when driven in the anticlockwise direction slips on the shaft.

In the event of a mains power failure, the d.c. motor 54 will be energized, as a consequence of the operation of a circuit to be described in connection with Figs. 4, 5 and 6 The d.c. motor drives its shaft in an anticlockwise direction, as a consequence of which the gear wheel 50 is driven through the clutch 52 in the anti-clockwise direction, thereby driving the gear wheel 46 into clockwise rotation. In this way, notes which have been trapped in the transport system as a consequence of the mains power failure, are advanced to the delivery module, where they are guided by the diverter arm 26 into the reject container 24.

Although gear wheel 46 also drives gear wheel 44 in rotation, the rotation of the gear wheel 44 is in an anti-clockwise direction and consequently the shaft connecting the gear wheel 44 to the pulley 40 slips in the clutch 42 and motion is not transmitted to other parts of the apparatus.

Turning now to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the mains power supply is normally connected across terminals 56 and energizes a relay RL1 and an indicator iamp L1. As a consequence, the contact RLla is in the position shown in Fig.

4 and the circuit to the right of Fig. 4 is inoperative. This circuit comprises a back-up battery 58, the d.c. motor 54, a second relay RL2 and a timing circuit comprising a variable resistor RV1 and a capacitor C1.

Fig. 5 shows the condition of the circuit when the mains power supply has been interrupted. As a consequence of the interruption, relay RL1 is deenergised and contact RL1a takes up the position shown in Fig. 5. The battery 58 therefore energises the motor 54, causing the transport system to move trapped notes towards the diverter unit, as described in connection with Fig. 4.

A charging current for capacitor C1 also flows through the relay RL2 and the variable resistor Rev 1. The setting of the variable resistor RV1 is such that a period of, for example, 30 seconds is required before the voltage across relay RL2 is sufficient for the relay to operate and cause its movable contact RL2a to move to its lower position (Fig. 6). This has the effect of disconnecting the motor 54 from the back-up battery 58. The note transport therefore stops and this condition continues until relay RL1 is again energised by the restoration of the mains power supply.

Claims

1. Cash dispensing apparatus arranged for connection to a principal power supply and having a note store and note transport means, including a principal motor energized by the principal power supply, for advancing notes from the store along a feed path, and incorporating means responsive to the failure of the principal power supply to connect a reserve battery to an auxiliary motor coupled to the note transport means, whereby any notes which were in the feed path when the principal power supply failed are advanced along the feed path by the operation of the auxiliary motor, and a diverter which, in the event of failure of the principal power supply, guides such notes from the feed path into a secure collector, and in which a coupling which allows the principal motor to drive the note transport means is disconnected when the note transport means is driven by the auxiliary motor.

2. A cash dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the coupling between the principal motor and the note transport means includes a clutch which permits the principal motor, when energised, to drive the note transport means but slips when the principal motor is deenergised and the note transport means is driven by the auxiliary motor.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, further including a second slipping clutch coupling the auxiliary motor to the note transport means, the second clutch slipping when the note transport means is driven by the principal motor.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, 2 or 3, further including an interrogation unit for sensing notes advanced from the store by the operation of the principal motor, the diverter being responsive to the output of the interrogation unit for diverting to a dispensing outlet notes which meet criteria defined by the interrogation unit and diverting to the secure container notes which do not meet the criteria defined by the interrogation unit.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, in which the auxiliary motor is connected a circuit which, in addition to the battery, includes a timing circuit which, at the end of a predetermined period, disconnects the auxiliary motor from the battery.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, in which the timing circuit includes a variable resistor and a capacitor, the timing circuit being connected in series with a relay controlling a switch connected between the battery and the auxiliary motor.