ITTO20080891A1 - DEPOSIT, DEPOSIT AND DEPOSIT FOR BANKNOTES, CHECKS AND / OR DOCUMENTS - Google Patents

Description

Description of the industrial invention entitled:

DEPOSIT, OR DEPOSIT AND DISPENSING DEVICE FOR BANKNOTES,

CHECKS AND / OR DOCUMENTS

TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a deposit, or deposit and dispensing device, for banknotes, checks and / or documents having a container with an interface section and a collection section.

More specifically, the invention relates to a deposit, or deposit and dispensing device, for values such as banknotes, checks and / or documents, having a container with an interface section and a collection section in which, in the ™ interface, incoming values are temporarily received, that is, incoming values are temporarily received and values to be dispensed are housed and in which a stack of values is formed in the collection section, in accordance with the introductory part of the main claim.

Devices of this type are generally used in automatic teller machines (ATMs) for the deposit and dispensing of banknotes, in which the banknotes deposited are stacked in housings integrated in the door for subsequent treatments, and in removable drawers for emptying or reloading.

Numerous types of machines, small in size, are known for validating, reading and counting banknotes: these machines represent a considerable help to the cashiers as regards speed and the guarantee against counterfeiting in deposit operations and transactions in general. The collected banknotes, after counting, are then handled manually or, automatically, in other expensive and bulky equipment.

Examples of depositing and dispensing devices designed to facilitate the introduction and orderly stacking of banknotes in containers or drawers of automatic teller machines are also known. For the separation between the inlet and the stacking surface, brushes or wheels with elastically yielding spokes are often used, which operate on the upper part of the stack and keep the banknotes at a distance from the relative insertion space. A movable presser adjusts the stack formation space, while the guiding members accompany the entering banknotes up to the yielding spoked wheels.

These banknote depositing and dispensing devices are generally complex and / or bulky and expensive and unsuitable for use in machines to be installed adjacent to a cash register.

An object of the present invention is to provide a deposit, or deposit and dispensing device, for values such as banknotes, checks and / or documents, which is relatively simple, of small size and low cost and which is able to collect values such as banknotes, checks and / or documents, in an orderly manner, in a corresponding container or drawer.

In accordance with the present invention, the deposit, or deposit and dispensing device, for values such as banknotes, checks and / or documents has a container with an interface section and a collection section in which, in the interface, incoming values are temporarily received, that is, incoming values are temporarily received and values to be dispensed are housed and in which a stack of values is formed in the collection section. The device comprises articulated flaps susceptible of movement with respect to the container in the direction of the stacking between an opening arrangement to receive values such as banknotes, checks and / or documents in the interface section and a coupling and dragging arrangement to engage the values of the interface section and drag the received values into the collection section, in addition to the other values in the stack.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES:

The characteristics of the invention will become clear from the following description, given by way of example but not of limitation, with the aid of the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 represents a partial schematic section of a machine for the automatic processing of values such as banknotes, checks and / or documents which uses the deposit, or deposit and dispensing device, in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic plan view of the depositing device, or depositing and dispensing device, of the invention in a first operating configuration;

Fig. 3 is the view of Fig. 2 in a second operative configuration;

Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of the depositing device, or depositing and dispensing device, of the invention in a first operative configuration;

Fig. 5 is the view of Fig. 4 in a second operative configuration;

Figs. 6a and 6b show respective details of Fig.4 and Fig.5;

Figs. 7a-7f schematically show, in plan, a first embodiment of the device according to the invention in different operating configurations;

Figs. 8a-8f schematically show, in plan, a second embodiment of the invention in different operating configurations;

Figs. 9a-9d schematically show, in plan, a third embodiment of the invention in different operating configurations;

Figs. 10a and 10b are respective details of Fig.9a and Fig.9c;

Fig. 11 represents a schematic view of a machine for the automatic processing of values such as banknotes, checks and / or documents, which uses the device according to the invention;

Fig. 12 represents a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Figs. 13a-13b are respective details of the device of Fig. 12 in different operating configurations;

Fig. 14 is a partial schematic section of the device of Fig.12;

Fig. 15 is another partial schematic section of the device of Fig.12; And

Figs. 16a-16d show details of the device of Fig. 12 in different operating configurations.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

In Fig. 1 21 represents part of a machine for the automatic processing of values such as banknotes, checks and / or documents, which comprises an upper module, not shown in the drawings, and a magazine 22 equipped with a communication passage 23 The upper module comprises an interface unit for the user, a counting and validation unit and an electronic control unit which, for the purposes of the present invention, may be of a known type.

The magazine 22 houses a transport mechanism 24 for the single banknotes or the single checks and / or documents with vertical movement. The transport mechanism 24 has a series of transport sections 26-1, .., 26-i, ... 26n, associated with single denominations of banknotes and with single types of checks and / or documents, and respective deposit devices and dispensing for values such as banknotes, checks and / or documents, indicated with 27 according to a first embodiment. The devices 27 are accessible from the transport sections 26-1, .., 26-i, ..., 26n by means of controlled diverters, not shown in the figures, deposit paths 28 and stacking wheels 29. For dispensing, at each device 27 is associated with a peeling roller 31, or other peeling member suitable for the purpose, and a dispensing path 32 which gives access to the transport sections 26-1, .., 26-i, ..., 26n.

Each depositing and dispensing device 27 (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5) comprises a container 41 with an interface section 42 and a collection section 44. In the interface section 42, values are temporarily received, as values receivers, banknotes, checks and / or documents 43, or the incoming values are temporarily received and banknotes, checks and / or documents 43 are housed as values to be dispensed. , or by checks and / or documents 43. A movable support 47 supports the stack 46 and is moved, for example, by means of transmission belts 50 by a motor not shown in the drawings and driven by the control unit of the machine .

For the deposit of banknotes, checks and / or documents 43, the support 47 is controlled in such a way as to arrange the first component of the stack 46 in a predetermined position for temporary reception in the interface section 42 and for update the position of the stack after adding the entered values. For dispensing, the support 47 is controlled so as to arrange the first component of the stack in contact with the stripping roller 29 or the other stripping member.

The depositing and dispensing devices 27 are arranged superimposed, with horizontal extension of the containers 41 and of the value stacks 46 and the direction of stacking horizontally. Moreover, the device can also operate with machines with horizontal handling of banknotes, checks and / or documents 43, vertical arrangement of containers 41 and value stacks 46 and stacking direction from top to bottom.

The containers 41, substantially parallelepiped in shape, are arranged so as to each receive and dispense a specific denomination of banknotes, or a specific type of checks and / or documents. Thus, the length and section width of a given container are slightly greater than the length and width of the banknote, check and / or documents 43 intended for it. Elasticly yielding stops 51 are interposed between the interface section 42 and the collection section 44. In particular, for the deposit, the support 47 is moved so as to bring the first component of the stack adjacent to the yielding stops 51 in the direction stacking, downstream of these arrests.

In accordance with the invention, each depositing and dispensing device 27 comprises articulated flaps or hooks 52, in detail flaps 52-1, 52-2 and 52-3, capable of movement with respect to the container 41 in the direction of stacking. The fins 52 are movable between an opening position, (Figs. 2, 4, 6a, 7b, 7c and 7f), and a coupling and dragging position (Figs. 3, 5 and 6b, 7a, 7d and 7e).

During the deposit and opening position (Figs. 2, 4, 6a, 7b and 7c), the flaps 52 allow values such as banknotes, checks and / or documents 43 to be received in the interface section 42. In the Position of hooking and dragging, the flaps are designed to engage banknotes, checks and / or documents 43 of the interface section, and to drag the values received from the interface section into the collection section 44, in addition to the others components of the value stack 46.

In the dispensing phase (Fig. 7f) and in the opening position, the flaps 52 allow the support 47 to move the stack 46, or part of the stack 46, to the interface section 42 for dispensing by the dough roller 29 . At the end of the dispensing and in the hooking and dragging position, the fins 52 are designed to hold and drag the components of the stack 46 of the interface section into the collection section 44, together with the return movement of the support 47, up to to bring the first component of the stack downstream of the stops 51.

The fins 52-1, 52-2 and 52-3 are pivoted on respective sliders 53, in detail sliders 53-1, 53-2 and 53-3, susceptible of displacement between a receiving position and one or more stacking positions , and in which the receiving and stacking positions are respectively associated with the collection and stacking or dispensing of banknotes, checks and / or documents 43. In particular, the flaps 52-1 and 52-2 operate on the edges of smaller size of banknotes, checks and / or documents, while flap 52-3 operates on a larger edge. Another flap 52 and another slider 53 can be provided to operate on the other larger edge of the banknotes or checks and / or documents 43.

The container 41 defines corresponding slots 54 to freely house the fins 52-1, 52-2 and 52-3 and in which the slots 54 extend at least for the interface section 42. The sliders 53-1, 53-2 and 53-3 slide in a gap between the container 41 and a shell 56, parallel to the stacking direction. Sliders 53-1, 53-2 and 53-3 are controlled by movement members of known type, for example by a motor, not shown in the drawings, controlled by the electronic control unit of the machine and can be connected by a traverse 57 for their joint movement.

The yielding stops 51 include leaf springs housed in the gap between the container 41 and the shell 56 and have an active part protruding slightly from respective windows 58 of the container 41. In the opening position of the flaps 52, values such as banknotes , incoming checks and / or documents 43 are accumulated against arrests 51, as indicated in Fig. 7c; in the coupling and dragging position, the fins 52 force the accumulated values beyond the stops to add them to the other components of the stack 46, as indicated in Fig.7d and in Fig.7e.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the fins 52 are pivoted on the sliders 53 by means of substantially cylindrical sectors 61 which frictionally engage respective contrast elements 62 on an internal surface of the shell 56. For the movement of the sliders 53 , the sectors 61 are frictionally rotated by the contrast elements 62, for example the internal surface of the shell 56 and transfer the motion to the fins 52. In particular, the fins 52 are rotated between the opening position and the position in response to the displacement of the sliders 53 between the receiving position and the stacking position or positions, as shown in Figs. 7a to 7f. Conveniently, the substantially cylindrical sectors and / or the respective contrasting elements are covered with strips 63 of high-adhesion material.

It is clear that the deposit and dispensing device of the invention can also be used in containers or drawers which only provide for the deposit of values such as banknotes, checks and / or documents 43.

In other embodiments, the fins 52 are controlled by motion conversion members, different from the friction elements.

In a device for depositing, or depositing and dispensing values in accordance with a second embodiment, represented by 69 in Figs 8a-8f, the motion conversion members comprise spring elements 71 arranged between appendages 72 of the fins 52 and parts of the shell 56. The spring elements 71 each comprise a spiral spring. The spring is stretched so as to keep the tabs in the coupling configuration for the stacking positions of the sliders, as shown in Figs. 8a, 8d and 8e. In response to the positioning of the sliders in the receiving position, the spring elements have the spirals in mutual contact and operate positively on the appendages 72, moving the wings into the receiving configuration, as shown in Figs 8b, 8c, and 8f.

In a depositing, or depositing and dispensing device according to a third embodiment, represented with 74 in Figs 9a-9e, the motion conversion members comprise cam elements 76 and 77 fixed inside the shell 56 and adapted to cooperate respectively with appendages 78 and 79 of the flaps 52. In response to the positioning of the sliders 53 in the receiving position, the appendages 78 collaborate with the cam elements 76, positively displacing the flaps in the receiving configuration, while the appendages 79 are disengaged from the cam elements 77, as shown in Figs. 9b, 9c, and Fig.10b. The positioning of the sliders 53 in the stacking positions leads the appendages 79 to collaborate with the cam elements 77, positively moving the tabs 52 in the coupling and transfer configuration, while the appendages 78 leave the cam elements 76, as shown in Figs. 9a, 9d, 9e and Fig. 10a.

In Fig. 11 80 is represented a machine for the automatic processing of values 43, such as banknotes, checks and / or documents, comprising a superior module 81 and a warehouse 82 provided with a communication passage for the module 81 similar to the passage 23 of Fig.1 and with a transport mechanism 83, vertically, similar to the mechanism 24. The module 81 includes an inlet 84 and an outlet 85 for the values 43 and a unit of 86 interface for the user. The module 81 also has a counting and validation unit and an electronic control unit not shown and which, for the purposes of the present invention, may be of a known type. For example, the documents that can be handled can be â € œpayment slipsâ € or similar accounting notes.

The machine 80 employs a series of depositing and dispensing devices for values, in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention, represented with 87. The devices 87 are housed in respective seats in the magazine 82, arranged overlapping with the possibility of removal and are in connection with sections of the transport mechanism 83 similar to the transport sections 26-1, .., 26-i, ... 26n of Fig. 1. The transport sections are associated with specific values of banknotes, or with specific types of checks and / or documents and access the devices 87 through controlled diverters 88.

Each device 87 (Fig. 12) comprises a container 89 for a stack of values 90, also substantially parallelepiped in shape. The container is enclosed in a shell 91 and is designed to accommodate and dispense a specific denomination of banknotes, or a specific type of checks and / or documents. The banknotes or checks and / or documents 43 are moved along a direction perpendicular to the longest edge and are deposited in the container 89 by means of a stacking wheel 92.

For dispensing, the machine 80 comprises a stripping roller 93, an extraction roller 94 and a reject roller 95 actuated by a movement mechanism of a known type and not shown in the drawings. The peeling roller 93 is supported by a bridge 93a and can be activated, on command of the electronic unit of the machine, between a rest position upstream of the stacking wheel 92, indicated in full line, and an operational position downstream. of wheel 92, indicated by dash and dot. the components of the stack 90 are peeled by the peeling roller 93 (Fig. 14) and are transported towards the transport mechanism 83 by the extraction roller 94, with control against double peeling by means of the rejection roller 95, in a manner known in itself ©.

The container 89 (Fig. 12) defines an interface section 96 and a collection section 97 functionally analogous to the interface section 43 and, respectively, to the collection section 44 of the device 27. A mobile support 98 is moved, by means of transmission belts 99 by a motor 100 of the machine, by means of a stack transport coupling, not shown and which can be opened by removing the device 87 from the respective location of the warehouse 82. The banknotes or checks and / or documents 43 have vertical arrangement and the transmission belts 99 also have the function of contrasting the longer edge, supporting banknotes or checks and / or documents. Elasticly yielding stops 101, similar to the stops 51, are interposed between the interface section 96 and the collection section 97.

For the deposit, the support 98 is moved so as to bring the first component of the stack adjacent to the yielding stops 101 in the direction of stacking, downstream of the stops. For dispensing, the support 98 is moved so as to bring the first component of the stack in contact with the stripping roller 93 (See Fig.14) in its operating position.

In accordance with the invention, each depositing and dispensing device 87 comprises articulated flaps or hooks 102, in detail two lateral flaps 102-1, 102-2 and a central flap 102-3, susceptible of movement with respect to the container 89 in the direction of stacking. The fins 102 are also movable between an opening position, (Fig. 12, Fig. 13a and Fig. 16b), and a coupling and dragging position (Figs.13b, 13c and Fig.15).

During the deposit and opening position (Fig.12, Fig.13a and Fig.16b), the flaps 102 allow the values such as banknotes, checks and / or documents 43 to be received in the interface section 96. In the Position of hooking and dragging (Figs. 13b, 13c and Fig. 15), the flaps are designed to engage banknotes, checks and / or documents 43 of the interface section, and to drag the values received from the interface section interface in the collection section 97, in addition to the other components of the stack 90. In the dispensing and opening position, the flaps 102 allow the belts 99 and the support 98 to move the stack 90 for dispensing by the dough roller 93. At the end of the dispensing and in the hooking and dragging position, the fins 102 are designed to hold and drag the components of the stack 90 of the interface section into the collection section 97, until the first component of the stack reaches Valley of the Arrests 101.

The fins 102-1, 102-2 and 102-3 are pivoted on respective sliders 103, in detail sliders 103-1, 103-2 and 103-3, capable of moving between a receiving position and one or more stacking positions . In particular, the flaps 102-1 and 102-2 operate on the shorter edges of banknotes, checks and / or documents, while the flap 102-3 operates on a longer edge. The flaps 102 are rotated between the opening position and the latching and dragging position in response to the displacement of the sliders 103 between the receiving position and the stacking position (s).

The container 89 defines corresponding slots 104 to freely house the fins 102-1, 102-2 and 102-3, at least for the interface section 96. Near the slots and in a gap between the container 89 and the shell 91 are mounted guide blocks 106-1, 106-2 and 106-3 each provided with a sliding seat 107, a guide plate 108 and a guide and control plate 109. The sliders 103-1, 103 -2 and 103-3 include respective terminal blocks 110 sliding, parallel to the direction of stacking, in the guide blocks 106-1, 106-2 and 106-3 between the sliding seat 107 and the laminae 108 and 109.

The sliders 103-1, 103-2 and 103-3 are driven by a motor 111 of the machine 80, by means of a blade displacement clutch, not shown, and which can be opened by removing the device 87. In detail, the sliders 103-1 and 103-2 each have an appendix 112 directed downwards with vertical slots 113, while the cursor 103-3 is shaped like an inverted U and has two sides 114. The blade displacement coupling is operationally connected to sliders 103-1, 103-2 and 103-3 with a crank mechanism (disc) 116 and connecting rod 117 and a shaft 118, connecting common to the sliders. The shaft 118 is engaged between the sides 114 of the slider 103-3 and is housed in the slots 113 of the appendages 112 of the sliders 103-1 and 103-2. A 180 ° rotation of the disc 116, by means of the connecting rod 117 and the shaft 118, determines the stroke of the sliders 103-1, 103-2 and 103-3 between the receiving position (Fig.13a) and the dâ € ™ stacking (Figs. 13b and 13c).

The articulated fins 102 have a â € œLâ € section and are pivoted on the terminal blocks 110 of the sliders 103 between the arms of the â € œLâ € section. Each fin 102 defines, adjacent to the fulcrum, two cylindrical ends 121, one of which is provided with a pin 122. The cylindrical ends 121 are able to slide between the sliding seat 107 of the guide blocks 106 and the plates 108 and 109 and to collaborate with a rounded front edge 123 of the guide blocks, while the small pin 122 is able to collaborate with a shaped end 124 of the guide and control sheet 109.

Depending on the displacement of the sliders 103 between the stacking positions, the cylindrical ends 121 slide between the seat 107 and the flat parts of the guide plate 108 and positively maintain the tabs 102 in the coupling and transfer position. Depending on the displacement of the sliders 103 towards the receiving position, the pin 122 is able to collaborate with the shaped end 124 of the guide and control plate 109 and opens the tabs 102 for the opening position, as indicated in Fig. 15 and in Figs 16a and 16b. In the return of the sliders 103 from the receiving position of Fig. 16b to the stacking positions, the cylindrical ends 121 of the fins 102 engage the edge 123 of the guide blocks 106 and positively move the fins from the opening position to the opening position. coupling and transfer, as indicated in Figs. 16c and 16d.

During the dispensing and opening position, the machine 80 moves the peeling roller 93 (Fig. 14) to the operating position downstream of the stacking wheel 93; it also moves the support 98 to a dispensing position, with part of the stack 90 in the interface section 96 and the first component in contact with the peeling roller 93. The machine 80 actuates the rollers 93, 94 and 95 and to the directing of the values 43 towards the mechanism 83 and to the progressive advancement of the support 98, in a known way. At the end of the dispensing and in the hooking and dragging position, the fins 102 are designed to hold and drag the components of the stack 90 of the interface section into the collection section 97, together with the return movement of the support 48, up to bring the first component of the stack downstream of the stops 101.

As an alternative to the cam motion conversion members, tooth elements can be provided, not shown in the drawings, connected to the fins and which engage rack sections at the receiving position and the stacking positions of the sliders.

Naturally, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the embodiments and construction details of the deposit, or deposit and dispensing device for banknotes, checks and / or documents can be widely varied with respect to what has been described and illustrated in purely by way of non-limiting example, without departing from the scope of the invention. By way of example, in the case of positive action on the articulated fins, the stack support can be controlled by means of a spring extended in the stacking direction. The spring is compressed by the action of the fins in the coupling and dragging position and following the movement of the sliders in the stacking positions.

In simplified devices, designed for the deposit of banknotes, checks and / or documents only, the stack of values 46, 90 can be directly supported by the bottom of the container. In the latter case, additional movable stops can be provided together with the articulated fins to support the values entered until they come into contact with the other values in the stack.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Deposit, or deposit and dispensing device for values such as banknotes, checks and / or documents including a container with an interface section and a collection section, in which, in the interface section, incoming values are temporarily received , that is, incoming values are temporarily received and values to be dispensed are housed and in which a stack of values is formed in the collection section, the aforementioned device being characterized by that which comprises articulated fins susceptible of movement with respect to the container in the direction of stacking between a opening arrangement for receiving banknotes, checks and / or documents in the interface section and a coupling and dragging arrangement for engaging banknotes, checks and / or documents in the interface section and dragging banknotes, checks and / or received documents in the collection section, in addition to the other stack values. 2. Deposit, or deposit and dispensing device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the flaps are pivoted on respective slides susceptible of displacement between a receiving position and one or more stacking positions, associated with receiving or dispensing and, respectively, to the stacking of banknotes, checks and / or documents and in which there are motion conversion organs that respond to the movement of the sliders to rotate the flaps between the opening position and the coupling position and dragging in response to moving the sliders between the receiving position and the stacking position (s). 3. Deposit device in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that said motion conversion members comprise cam or spring components which operate in proximity to the slider receiving position to determine the opening position of the fins and along the stacking positions to determine the position of hooking and dragging of the fins. 4. Depositing, or depositing and dispensing device in accordance with claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that the fins are pivoted on respective terminal blocks slidably guided into guide blocks and in which said fins have control elements adapted to collaborate with first guiding elements associated with the guiding blocks to determine the coupling and dragging position of the fins and with switching elements associated with said guiding blocks to move the fins between the coupling and dragging position and the ™ opening attitude in response to the displacement of the aforementioned terminal blocks. 5. Deposit, or deposit and dispensing device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the articulated flaps are pivoted on respective sliders by means of substantially cylindrical sectors, in which said sliders can be moved between a receiving position and one or more positions stacking, associated with the receipt or dispensing and, respectively, with the stacking of banknotes, checks and / or documents, and in which the aforementioned sectors engage in friction respective contrasting elements to rotate the flaps between the opening position and the engaging and dragging attitude in response to the movement of the sliders between the receiving position and the stacking position (s). 6. Deposit, or deposit and dispensing device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises elastically yielding stops interposed between the interface section and the collection section; in which, during the deposit phase and in the opening position of the articulated flaps, banknotes, checks and / or incoming documents are accumulated against yielding stops, and in which, in the coupling and dragging position, the flaps force banknotes , checks and / or documents accumulated beyond the elastically yielding stops for addition to the other components of the pile. 7. Deposit, or deposit and dispensing device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, in which the stack of values is delimited by a mobile support, moved so as to arrange the first component of the stack in a predetermined position for receiving of banknotes, checks and / or documents temporarily collected in the collection section and in order to update the position of the stack after adding the values entered. 8. Deposit, or deposit and dispensing device in accordance with claims 6 and 7, characterized in that said support is moved so as to bring the first component of the stack adjacent to the yielding stops and downstream of the aforementioned stops in the direction of ™ stacking. 9. Deposit, or deposit and dispensing device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, in which the container has sections associated with the dimensions of the denomination of the banknotes or the dimensions of the checks and / or documents to be received, the aforementioned device being characterized by what said container defines corresponding slots for freely accommodating said flaps and in which said slots extend at least for said interface section in the direction of stacking. 10. Deposit and dispensing device in accordance with one of the claims characterized in that it comprises at least one roller or other stripping element arranged adjacent to the interface section and in which, for the dispensing of banknotes, checks and / or documents, the stack of values can be moved in such a way as to bring the first banknote or the first check or document of the stack into contact with the roller or other stripping element and in which the articulated flaps are susceptible of movement in the opening position to allow displacement of the stack until it engages with the roller or other stripping element.