RU2189345C2 - Device and method for checking thickness of bank note for electronic currency recycling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: bank equipment. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to electronic machine with identifies and keeps documents, such as bank notes, placed by user and issues said documents to users. Machine is provided with sheet thickness detector which senses passage of light through relatively large section of bank note in width. Thickness detector has radiation source from which radiation is directed by radiation directing element to linear elongated outlet hole passing across sheet transfer channel. Receiver has radiation sensor which is also orientated crosswise relative to sheet transfer channel. Sheets passing between radiator and receiver provide changes in quantity of radiation getting into receiver. EFFECT: improved reliability and increased operating rate of machine. 19 cl, 79 dwg

Description

Technical field
The invention relates to electronic banking machines. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electronic banking machine, which makes it possible that transferable bills, securities or other documents placed by one user, identified and stored in the machine, are later selectively issued to another user.

State of the art
Electronic banking machines are known in the art. A well-known type of electronic banking machine is an automatic cash machine (ATM). Other types of electronic banking machines are used for account and cash withdrawals. These machines are often used by cashiers or representatives of customer service departments in banking and other institutions related to the implementation of transactions.

 Widely used ATMs accept deposits from users and process deposits using devices that are separate from devices that issue currency and other items to users. Most often, ATM depositories require users to place their deposits in an envelope. The envelope is accepted into the machine for storage. Although the user indicates the cost of the contents of the envelope, the user’s account is often not credited with the amount of the deposit until the envelope is removed from the ATM by bank employees and its contents are verified.

 Other ATMs have the ability to accept checks and other circulating financial instruments. Such machines may include devices, such as described in US Pat. No. 5,422,467. Devices of this type can be used to cancel and form electronic images of checks that are placed in an ATM. Canceled checks are stored in the machine for subsequent withdrawal by bank staff.

 Banknotes, traveler's checks and other documents and materials in the form of sheets, usually issued by ATMs, are generally placed in automatic machines in removable containers. Sheets are issued from containers and delivered automatically to users. Periodically, these containers must be removed from the machine to replenish the supply of sheets. These actions are labor intensive. To replace the container, you must open the securely protected part of the ATM. The containers must be removed from the machine and installed in the machine new containers containing a new supply of sheets. Alternatively, the containers in the machine can be opened to replenish them with banknotes or other sheets of financial documents and then installed in their place. After reinstalling the containers, it is necessary to lock the reliably protected part of the machine.

 Removing or replenishing containers often requires transporting filled containers to the machine and returning partially emptied containers to a remote location. Although efforts are being made to design containers to minimize theft, the risk remains. Therefore, such operations are usually carried out by armed couriers, and whenever there is access to cash or other valuables, several people participate in the operation. Since a large number of people can participate in container loading operations, transporting containers for replacement to ATMs, replacing containers, returning seized containers, and checking the contents of the returned containers, it is often difficult to identify the causes of the loss.

 The need for periodic replacement of containers with currency causes inconvenience in servicing, as the ATM must be disconnected. Users do not have the ability to use an ATM when replenishing it with money, the reason may be lost opportunities for transactions and, therefore, user dissatisfaction. User dissatisfaction can also be caused by the fact that replenishment of funds is not performed with sufficient frequency so that the machine can provide the issuance of currency and other documents.

 Other types of electronic banking machines, for example, issuing cash to customer service personnel, have the same disadvantages as ATMs. Periodic replenishment of the stock of currency or other valuable documents issued by the machine must be made in order to maintain the functioning of the machine. While such machines increase the speed of services for issuing cash to customers, there are significant losses associated with the separation, preparation and transportation of currency before it is placed in the machine.

 Banking machines for identification and cash accounts have been developed. Such machines can be used in banking institutions and in trade through machines. Vending machines that consider currency generally require that the bills be preliminarily oriented in a specific way to ensure proper identification. This operation is associated with a significant investment of time for maintenance personnel. Many currency account machines also tend to reject valid banknotes due to their natural depreciation, which is the case, for example, for the American currency. The speed of such machines for counting and accepting banknotes also leaves much to be desired in many cases.

 Electronic automated banking machines that accept currency, identify a specific type and denomination of currency, store the currency and then issue it to the user are also used in countries other than the United States. Such recycling machines are used in Japan, where banknotes have special characters to facilitate their identification machines. However, such recycling machines are generally not suitable for use with US banknotes, which in the general case do not have special features to facilitate their identification by the machine. U.S. banknotes are also subject to a range of factors, such as wear, pollution, discoloration, which does not render the banknote unusable, but makes it difficult to identify it automatically.

 Banking machines for currency recycling, which were developed earlier, are generally characterized by low speeds, especially when such machines are used to process a large number of banknotes. Often, such machines require that the banknotes be oriented in a specific way, and a significant investment of time is due to the rejection of banknotes that are not properly oriented. Manipulating sheets of documents to facilitate identification and storage is also a time-consuming process. After the sheet has been initially properly identified and stored in the machine, there is usually no check to ensure that the initial determination of the type and nature of the banknote was correct. As a result, the user may receive an incorrectly identified banknote. It can also lead to lower user satisfaction.

 Issuing devices in electronic banking machines usually process banknotes one at a time. Failures sometimes occur and doubled or even built banknotes are captured. The capture of dual banknotes is especially important in currency recycling machines in which banknotes must be separated from one another to identify them. Various types of dual document detection devices have been proposed. Some of them are based on the use of physical contact with passing documents to determine their thickness. Other sensors determine the thickness of the banknote indirectly, based on the use of optical and other properties of passing banknotes.

 A device for controlling the duplication of sheets of paper, such as cash tickets, which can be used in machines for their automatic sorting and counting, containing a channel for moving sheets in a machine, a sheet thickness detector containing a radiator on the first side of the channel for moving sheets and a receiver on the opposite side of a sheet moving channel, wherein the sheets are moving in a sheet moving channel between the emitter and the receiver, the emitter contains a radiation source, and the receiver contains a radiation sensitive element that generates signals in response to radiation received from a radiation source, the signals being used by a machine to determine the thickness of sheets passing between the emitter and the receiver (SU 1131806 A, class B 65 H 7/12, 1984 )

 This device, like other known banknote detection devices that sense optical properties, detects dual documents based on the perception of the transmission of light through a small portion of the banknote. The disadvantage of this method is its lack of reliability due to the fact that different sections of the banknote have different optical properties. Factors such as labeling, staining, or provisioning also lead to the fact that conventional optical sensing as applied to the detection of dual banknotes is unreliable.

 Thus, there is a need for an electronic banking machine for currency recycling, which has higher reliability, works faster and can be used with the US currency and other currencies, as well as with other documents that have a wide range of properties. There is also a need for a device that more reliably determines the thickness of a document in such an electronic banking machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objective of the invention is the creation of an electronic banking machine for recycling currency.

 Another objective of the invention is the creation of an electronic banking machine for currency recycling, which has higher reliability and operates at a higher speed.

 Another objective of the invention is the creation of an electronic banking machine for currency recycling, which works with banknotes and other documents that are characterized by a wide variety of properties.

 Another objective of the invention is the creation of an electronic banking machine for currency recycling, which is able to parse and separate the documents entered by the stack.

 Another objective of the invention is the creation of an electronic banking machine, which directs documents relative to the sheet transport channel when moving such documents at high speed.

 Another objective of the invention is the creation of an electronic banking machine for currency recycling, which can transport many documents on a sheet transport channel at the same time and at high speed.

 Another objective of the invention is the creation of an electronic banking machine for currency recycling, which identifies documents and which returns unidentified documents to the user.

 Another objective of the invention is the creation of an electronic banking machine for currency recycling, which allows you to place documents in a bank machine and, after identification of documents, make a choice whether to deposit documents or return them.

 Another objective of the invention is the creation of an electronic banking machine for currency recycling, which can identify documents placed regardless of their orientation.

 Another objective of the invention is the creation of an electronic banking machine for currency recycling, which provides selective storage of placed documents in storage areas in the machine.

 Another objective of the invention is the creation of an electronic banking machine for currency recycling, which provides selective storage of placed documents in removable containers.

 Another objective of the invention is the creation of an electronic banking machine for currency recycling, which ensures the extraction of documents stored in storage areas, and the issuance of documents to users.

 Another objective of the invention is the creation of an electronic banking machine in which documents can be simultaneously transported, oriented, stored in storage areas and issued from other storage areas in the machine.

 Another objective of the invention is the creation of an electronic banking machine, which contains a device that provides a more reliable determination of the thickness of documents.

 Other objectives of the present invention are explained in the following description of the best embodiments of the invention and in the claims.

 The above results are achieved in the invention in that the device for determining the thickness of a banknote for an electronic banking machine for recycling currency contains a channel for moving sheets in the machine, designed to move sheets along the direction of their movement, a sheet thickness detector that determines the thickness of the sheets in the channel for moving sheets, and the detector the thickness of the sheet contains an emitter on the first side of the channel for moving sheets and a receiver on the opposite side of the channel for moving sheets, at Ohm, the sheets are moved in a sheet moving channel passing between the emitter and the receiver, the emitter comprising a radiation source, a radiation direction element for receiving light from the radiation source at the first end and for delivering light at the second end, the second end being substantially elongated with a length of the first distance is mainly transverse to the direction of movement of the sheets, the receiver contains an element that is sensitive to radiation, combined with the second end of the element of the radiation direction, and the element covers the first distance in the transverse direction to the sheet moving channel, the radiation sensitive element generates signals in response to the radiation received from the radiation source, the signals being used by the machine to determine the thickness of the sheets passing between the emitter and the receiver.

 In this case, the emitter preferably comprises a housing with a hole, and the radiation source can be positioned in the hole in a removable manner, the radiation source emitting radiation mainly in the first direction, and the radiation direction element, preferably containing a fiber optic bundle, transmits the radiation to the second end in the direction essentially perpendicular to the first direction. While the fiber optic bundle contains many cores, and the cores are essentially linearly aligned in the transverse direction near the second end.

 In addition, the receiver comprises a lens located above the radiation sensitive element and bounded in a cross section parallel to the sheet moving channel, an arched surface near the sheet moving channel having a vertex portion, the radiation sensitive element being biased in the sheet moving direction away from the peak site.

 In addition, the machine further comprises a storage area in which the sheets are held, a movable door of the section covers the storage area, and the receiver is supported by the door of the section, the emitter and receiver being essentially centered in the transverse direction relative to the sheet moving channel. In this case, the first distance is at least about ten percent of the sheet width, determined in the direction transverse to the sheet moving channel.

 The above technical results are also achieved by the fact that the device for determining the thickness of a banknote for an electronic banking machine for recycling currency in accordance with the invention comprises a sheet moving mechanism for moving sheets in a sheet moving channel, sheets moving in a sheet moving channel along the sheet moving direction, the above-mentioned the sheets have a sheet width in the direction transverse to the direction of movement of the sheets, and there are drawings of characters on them, essentially heterogeneous on each sheet, the radiation source and the radiation receiver, placed aligned on opposite sides of the sheet moving channel, so that said sheets pass between the emitter and the receiver, and the receiver generates a signal in accordance with the amount of radiation that it received from the emitter, a device for comparing the signal with a threshold indicating whether there is more than one sheet between the emitter and the receiver, which are made elongated in the transverse direction and have such a length that the signs in Figures dnorodnyh basically not cause exceedance threshold signal if between the transmitter and the receiver is a single sheet.

 While the emitter and the receiver preferably have a length in the transverse direction, approximately equal to five or ten percent of the width of the sheet.

 In addition, the device further comprises a container having a sheet storage area and a sheet dispenser, the container is removably mounted in the sheet dispenser and contains programmable memory for storing data corresponding to the emitter intensity and / or threshold.

 The container preferably comprises a plurality of storage areas and further comprises a plurality of emitters and receivers forming respective pairs positioned in the sheet transfer channel next to the respective storage areas, the memory providing storage of data corresponding to intensity and / or threshold for the respective emitter and receiver in each pair .

 In addition, the emitter contains a radiation source and an element of radiation direction, and the radiation source is mounted movably with the possibility of removal in functional relationship with the element of the radiation direction.

 The above technical results are also achieved by the fact that the method of determining the thickness of a banknote for an electronic banking machine for recycling currency in accordance with the invention includes the steps of moving sheets mainly one at a time in the sheet moving channel along the sheet moving direction, and on each sheet there are heterogeneous patterns of signs that affect the transmission of radiation through the sheet, and the sheets have a width in the direction transverse to the channel of movement of the sheets, and the transmission of radiation through a sufficiently large shuyu part of the width of each moving sheet, so that the marks on the non-uniform figure is not substantially affect the total amount of radiation passing through said portion of each single movable sheet relative to other single moving sheets.

 In addition, these technical results are also achieved by the fact that the method of determining the thickness of a banknote for an electronic banking machine for recycling currency in accordance with the invention includes the steps of moving sheets mainly one at a time in the sheet moving channel along the sheet moving direction, and on each sheet having a width in the direction transverse to the displacement channel, there are patterns of signs that are inhomogeneous on the sheet, affecting the transmission of radiation through the sheet, and the transmission of radiation through most of the width of each moving sheet, so that the signs in the heterogeneous pattern do not significantly affect the total amount of radiation passing through the specified part of each single movable sheet, relative to other such sheets, perceiving the amount of radiation passing through the specified part of each sheet, and comparing the specified number for each sheet with a threshold, the threshold corresponding to overlapping sheets.

 Moreover, the method provides for the generation of radiation transmitted through the transmitting stage using the emitter, the reception of radiation received by the receiver at the sensing stage, and additionally adjusting the intensity of the radiation generated by the emitter to a certain level, taking into account the amount of radiation received by the receiver.

 In the electronic banking machine for currency recycling according to the invention, the user can enter documents into the input / output zone that are to be placed in the machine and receive documents from this zone when they are removed from the machine.

 The user places documents in a stack. Documents move from the I / O zone to the central transport mechanism. In the stack disassembly zone, documents are removed from the stack one by one using the stack disassembly device and are separated into a stream of individual documents. Documents are moved along the document transportation channel in the central transportation mechanism. Documents moving in the central transport mechanism are properly oriented in the angle using the skew elimination mechanism relative to the direction of movement along the document transport channel. Documents are then moved using the alignment mechanism to align them properly in a centered position relative to the document transport channel.

 Each document is then moved past the document type identification device, which provides identification and / or determination of the face value of each document. Identifiable documents are sent to the deposit zone, and unidentifiable documents are sent to the rejection zone of the I / O zone of the machine.

 The user is informed of any unidentifiable documents through input and output devices in the machine. Any unidentifiable documents can then be delivered to the user from the rejection zone. Alternatively, depending on the programming of the machine and / or data input made by the user, such rejected documents can be stored in the machine for subsequent analysis.

 Properly identified documents are initially held in the deposit area. The output devices in the machine indicate to the user the type and / or cost of the identifiable documents.

 The user can choose whether to return the documents or put them in the machine. If the user chooses the option of returning documents to him, then the documents are issued from the input / output zone, and the user’s account is not credited to the value of the documents.

 If the user selects the option of placing documents in the machine, then the documents are again moved by the central transportation mechanism in the form of a stream of individual documents moving at high speed. Documents are again identified by the identification device. However, instead of sending them to the deposit and rejection zones, the identified documents are preferably sent by the control system of the machine to the selected storage area. Storage areas are items in which documents of specific types are stored in the machine. The storage areas of the machine are preferably removable containers. The user account is then credited to the size of the documents to be posted.

 The same user who placed the documents, or the subsequent user who wants to carry out the removal of documents from the machine, can receive documents that were previously stored in storage areas. Document issuance mechanisms associated with storage areas selectively remove documents from storage areas and send documents to the central machine transport mechanism. When documents are moved through a central transport mechanism, they pass through an identification device. The type and face value of each issued document is checked. This ensures that the initial identification of documents carried out when placing the documents in the machine is correct.

 This third identification reduces the risk that invalid documents may be issued to a user seizing documents from the machine. Documents are removed from the storage areas at the same time to ensure the high speed of the machine, and are controlled when moving through segments of the peripheral transportation mechanism and the central transportation mechanism to guarantee their movement in the form of a stream of individual documents as they pass through the identification device.

 Identified documents to be issued to the user are moved by the central transport mechanism to the deposit area. From the deposit zone they are issued to the user. Then it is debited from the user's account or debited to his account, taking into account the documents that were withdrawn by the user.

 Appropriate mechanisms are used to capture and separate documents so that they can be moved in the machine by flow. To ensure that no double or overlapping documents fall into the stream, sheet thickness gauges are used. The device for determining the thickness of the sheets contains a radiator and a receiver on opposite sides of the channel for transporting sheets. Documents pass through the sheet transport channel between the emitter and the receiver.

 The emitter contains a radiation source. The radiation direction element receives light from the radiation source and transfers it to the linearly extended radiation output element. The radiation output element extends mainly transversely to the direction of movement of the document in the sheet transport channel. In a preferred embodiment, the radiation output element has a transverse length greater than 10 percent greater than the width of the documents in the transverse direction.

 The receiver comprises a radiation sensitive element combined with a radiation output element. The radiation sensitive element has a length equal to the width of the radiation output element. The radiation sensitive element generates signals that correspond to the amount of radiation incident on the radiation sensitive element from the radiation output element.

 When documents pass between the emitter and the receiver, radiation passes through the documents. The amount of radiation that enters the radiation sensitive element changes with the thickness of the passing documents. The passage of radiation through different parts of the document also changes in accordance with the characteristics of printing and other markings on the document. The relatively large width of the radiation output element and the radiation sensitive element ensures that, in principle, the output signals are not affected by local conditions specific to a banknote. If the radiation transmitted through the banknote is lower than the threshold value, which indicates the presence of doubled documents, the documents can be returned back and divided. After the documents are separated, they can be processed automatically.

Brief Description of the Drawings
1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electronic banking machine for currency recycling in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

 Figure 2 is a diagram of the functions performed by the machine of figure 1.

 Figure 3 is a sectional view of the components of the central transport mechanism and the input / output zone of the machine.

 FIG. 4 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 1, representing input of a stack of documents by a user.

 FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of an input / output zone showing reception of a stack of documents from a user.

 FIG. 6 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 5, illustrating a stack of documents after being placed inside the machine.

 FIG. 7 is a schematic view similar to that shown in FIG. 1, representing an inserted stack of documents moved from an input / output zone of a machine to a disassembling zone of a machine stack.

 FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a stack being moved from an input / output zone to a stack disassembling zone.

 FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a disassembly area of a stack of an automatic machine before a stack of documents enters into it.

 FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of a stack disassembly zone illustrating a stack of documents transported to a stack disassembly zone.

 FIG. 11 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 10 illustrating a stack of documents moving to a position for disassembling a stack.

 Fig. 12 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 11 illustrating documents in the disassembling position of the stack of the disassembling zone.

 FIG. 13 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 1, illustrating documents passing from the area for disassembling the stack through the central transport mechanism to the areas for rejecting and depositing the machine.

 FIG. 14 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 12, illustrating a document detachable from a stack in a disassembly area of the stack.

 FIG. 15 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 14, illustrating a document removed from the stack and moving near sensors to detect the presence of duplicate documents and to pre-center it.

 Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating the return of dual banknotes to a stack.

 FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a mechanism used to disassemble a stack of banknotes in a disassembly zone.

 FIG. 18 is a schematic view of half a shuttle mechanism that is part of a skew elimination mechanism, wherein the half shuttle mechanism shown is shown in a banknote pass position.

 FIG. 19 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 18, illustrating half of the shuttle mechanism in the banknote stop position.

 FIG. 20 is a plan view of a shuttle mechanism used to eliminate skew and center documents in a central transport mechanism.

 Fig - schematic view of a banknote with a bias.

 FIG. 22 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 21, illustrating the elimination of banknote distortion by the shuttle mechanism.

 Fig.23 is a view similar to that presented in Fig.22, illustrating a banknote aligned in a direction transverse to the direction of movement in the Central transport mechanism, but having an offset relative to the center.

 FIG. 24 is a schematic view of the banknote shown in FIG. 24 moved by the shuttle mechanism to a central position in the central transport mechanism.

 25 is a schematic view illustrating a shuttle mechanism moving a document transversely to a direction of movement in a central transport mechanism.

 FIG. 26 is a schematic view of a pre-centering and final centering scheme used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

 FIG. 27 is a schematic view of an input / output zone of a machine when documents are delivered from a central transportation mechanism.

 Fig. 28 is a schematic view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the delivery of unidentifiable documents from the machine to the user.

 29 is a schematic view of an input / output zone illustrating the output of unidentifiable documents from the machine.

 FIG. 30 is a schematic view similar to that shown in FIG. 29 illustrating the direction of unidentifiable documents to a storage machine.

 Fig is a schematic view. similar to that shown in figure 1, illustrating how documents held in the deposit area are sent to the Central transportation mechanism for storage in the machine.

 32 is a schematic view of an input / output zone moving documents held in a deposit zone.

 FIG. 33 is a schematic view showing part of a drive mechanism for belt conveyors in an input / output zone.

 FIG. 34 is a spatial representation of the drive mechanism of the input / output zone.

 Fig. 35 is a schematic view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, showing how documents previously stored in the deposit area are disassembled from a stack and passed through a central transport mechanism to a storage machine in storage areas of containers for storing documents.

 FIG. 36 is a schematic view of a conveyor belt and carriage rolls used for transporting documents in a central machine transport mechanism.

 FIG. 37 is a side view of a rail used in conjunction with carriage rolls.

 FIG. 38 is a side cross-sectional view of carriage rolls, conveyor belts for moving documents and guides shown in a document holding state.

 Fig. 39 is a side view of the shutter mechanism used to direct documents moving in segments of the peripheral transport mechanism, the shutter mechanism being shown in a position in which the document passes directly through it.

 FIG. 40 is a side view of the shutter mechanism shown in FIG. 39 in a state of transmission of a document from a segment of the peripheral transport mechanism to the container transport mechanism.

 FIG. 41 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 40, wherein the shutter mechanism is shown in a state of transmission of a document from the container transport mechanism to a segment of the peripheral transport mechanism.

 FIG. 42 is a view of the shutter mechanism shown in FIG. 39 in a state that allows a document to pass from the container transport mechanism to a segment of the peripheral transport mechanism, the document moving in the opposite direction to that shown in FIG. 41.

 FIG. 43 is a view of the shutter mechanism shown in FIG. 39 with a document extending from a segment of the peripheral transport mechanism to the container transport mechanism, the document moving in the opposite direction to that shown in FIG. 40.

 FIG. 44 is a schematic view of a configuration of belt conveyors and pulleys next to a flapper mechanism shown in FIG.

 FIG. 45 is a schematic diagram of a sheet transport mechanism illustrating the principles used to move documents in segments of a peripheral transport mechanism and in container transport mechanisms.

 FIG. 46 is a cross-sectional view showing a document moving in a transport mechanism similar to that shown in FIG.

 Fig. 47 is a plan view of a lid covering a storage area in a currency reuse container.

 Fig. 48 is a side cross-sectional view of a storage area in the currency container shown with a sheet moving in the direction of the storage area.

 Fig. 49 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 48, illustrating a sheet partially received in a storage area.

 FIG. 50 is a front plan view of tape conveyors, removal rollers, and impact rollers adjacent to the storage area, the sheet being shown moving to the storage area, as in FIG.

 Fig. 51 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 49, wherein the sheet has moved to the storage area, but is positioned above the stack of documents held therein.

 FIG. 52 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 50, with a received sheet embedded in a stack.

 FIG. 53 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 52, with a newly adopted sheet held as part of the stack by fingers positioned adjacent to the storage area.

 FIG. 54 is a schematic view similar to that shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the flow of sheets from a storage area to a deposit area in accordance with a document issuance request entered by a user.

 FIG. 55 is a cross-sectional view of a storage area including a stack of sheets from which one sheet is to be removed during a dispensing operation.

 FIG. 56 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 55, in which the fingers holding the stack of sheets in the storage area are retracted to allow the sheets to interact with the inner surface of the section door.

 FIG. 57 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 56, in which the section door is raised, the tape rollers and shock rollers starting to move so as to grab the sheet from the stack.

 FIG. 58 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 57, in which the tape rollers and shock rollers are moved to a position in which the top sheet in the stack is removed from it.

 FIG. 59 is a front view of tape drives, shock rollers, top sheet removal rollers, and removal rollers interacting with the sheet during its removal from the stack as shown in FIG. 58.

 FIG. 60 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 58, in which the sheet is removed from the storage area and sensed by the dual sheet detection sensor.

 Fig - top view of the door of the section covering the storage area from which a sheet is removed, moving in the direction of the shutter mechanism next to the peripheral transportation mechanism.

 FIG. 62 is a schematic view similar to that shown in FIG. 1, illustrating a stack of sheets issued from storage cells and delivered to a user of the machine.

 FIG. 63 is a schematic diagram of a control system architecture in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

 FIG. 64-68 is a simplified flowchart showing an exemplary sequence of a deposit transaction executed on an electronic banking machine for currency recycling in accordance with the present invention.

 FIG. 69 and 70 is a simplified flowchart showing an exemplary withdrawal transaction sequence performed on a machine.

 Fig - schematic side view in cross section of the emitter and receiver of the detector of the thickness of the sheet used in the machine.

 FIG. 72 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 71, illustrating a sheet in position between the emitter and the receiver.

 FIG. 73 is a schematic side view, partially in cross section, of an alternative embodiment of the emitter shown in FIG.

 FIG. 74 is an exploded view of the emitter shown in FIG. 73.

 Fig - detailed exploded view of the emitter shown in Fig.

 Fig. 76 is an enlarged view of a radiation output element and an optical fiber bundle used in a radiation direction element according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

 Fig - top view of the receiver of the detector sheet thickness.

 FIG. 78 is a spatial representation of the receiver shown in FIG. 77.

 FIG. 79 is a graph illustrating signals generated in a receiver while passing through single and double sheets.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
1 shows an electronic banking machine 10 for recycling currency, representing a possible embodiment of the invention. The machine includes a housing 12. The housing 12 includes a user interface in the interface zone, indicated generally by the reference numeral 14. The interface zone 14 contains components used for exchanging data with the user of the machine. These components may include a display 16 serving as part of an output device. The interface zone may also include a keyboard 18 and / or a card reader 20, which perform the functions of manual input devices, through which the user can enter information or commands into the machine. It should be borne in mind that these devices are given as an example, and other input and output devices such as touch screen displays, speakers, iris scanning devices, fingerprint readers, infrared transmitters and receivers, and other devices can be used, which have the ability to receive or issue information.

 The machine also contains other devices shown schematically. Such devices may include a printer 22 receipts, which gives users receipts related to operations carried out during transactions. Other such devices shown schematically include a journal printer 24 for making paper records of transactions. The passbook printer 26, shown schematically, may also be located in the machine body. The device 28 forming the image of the checks can also be used to generate electronic images of checks placed in the machine, as well as to cancel such checks. Such a check imaging device may be configured as described in US Pat. No. 5,422,467, or as another mechanism.

 Devices 22, 24, 26 and 28 are for example, and other devices can be included in the machine, for example, video cameras for connecting to a remote system, a mechanism for accepting deposits in envelopes, ticket printing devices, devices for printing account statements and other devices. In addition, it should be borne in mind that although the considered embodiment of the invention characterizes an ATM, however, the present invention can be used in connection with other types of electronic banking machines.

 The machine 10 comprises a control system, indicated generally by the reference numeral 30. The control system is operatively connected to the components of the machine and controls their operation in accordance with program instructions. The control system 30 also provides data exchange with other computers related to the transaction carried out on this machine. Such communication can be provided by any suitable means, for example, via telephone lines, a wireless radio channel, or by connecting through a private network for transactions.

 A preferred embodiment of the invention enables the recycling (reuse) of currency or other materials in the form of sheets or documents representing the amount of value received from the user. For the purposes of the present description, unless otherwise indicated, terms such as documents, sheets, banknotes, currency are used interchangeably with reference to materials in the form of sheets processed as provided by the invention. The recycling process includes the receipt from the user of documents in bulk, in its entirety, identification of the type of documents to be placed, and the storage of documents at appropriate locations in the machine. The stored documents can then be selectively withdrawn and made available to users who wish to withdraw funds from the machine.

 A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises devices that include functional components schematically shown in FIG. 2. These functional components include functional input / output means for receiving documents from the user and delivering documents to the user of the machine. The stack disassembly functional 34 receives documents from the input / output functional 32. The functional means for disassembling the stack ensures the separation of documents from the stack and their delivery to the sheet transport channel separately, with spacing from each other.

 The functional components of the machine, in addition, include a functional means 36 to eliminate skew. As explained below, the skew elimination function ensures that the documents are oriented so that they are properly aligned laterally with the sheet transport channel. Functional alignment tool 38 further orientates moving documents by centering them relative to the sheet transport channel. After all the documents are aligned, they pass to the functional means 40 identification. Functional identification tool provides a determination of the type of document passing in the sheet transport channel. In a preferred embodiment, the functional identification means comprises determining the type and denomination of a banknote or other document. The functional identification means also preferably determines whether the document is suspicious or simply unidentifiable.

 The functional means of identification is associated with the functional means of input / output, so that any suspicious documents or unidentified documents will not be placed on the machine, but will be returned to the user. Functional identification means is also associated with functional means 42, 44, 46 and 48 of storage and retrieval of documents. Functional storage and retrieval tools store documents at selected locations and retrieve these documents for issuing documents to the user.

 In FIG. 1 schematically shows a device that performs the functions described above. The input / output function is performed in the input / output zone, indicated generally by the reference numeral 50. The input / output zone is located next to the hole 52 in the machine body. Access through the opening 52 is controlled by a movable shutter 54, which is shown in FIG. 1 in the closed position.

 The input / output zone 50 comprises four conveyor mechanisms such as a conveyor belt. These belt conveyors are devices suitable for moving stacks of sheets, and each of them includes a plurality of belts, for example as described in US Pat. between conveyor belts. As explained below, the conveyor belts 56 and 58 are moved vertically relative to one another and are moved in a coordinated manner to transport a stack of sheets located between them.

 The I / O zone 50 also includes third belt conveyors 62 and fourth belt conveyors 64. The third belt conveyors 62 and the fourth belt conveyors 64 define a vertical vertical deposition zone, generally designated 66. Belt conveyors 62 and 64 are similar to belt conveyors 56 and 58 and can move a stack of documents between them. The conveyor belts in the I / O zone, as well as the shutter 54, are driven by respective actuators, schematically shown as a block 68, which is controlled by the control system 30. The I / O zone can operate in various modes, examples of which are discussed below. 3, the input / output zone 50 is shown in more detail.

 The input / output zone is in communication with the central transport mechanism, indicated generally by reference numeral 70. The central transportation mechanism 70 comprises a stack disassembly area, indicated generally by reference numeral 72. The stack disassembly zone includes a tray 74 that is designed to move a stack of documents thereon. . The stack disassembly zone 72 also includes belt conveyors 76 and sorting belt machines 78. As will be explained in more detail below, the components in the stack disassembly area function as a stack disassembly device for separating documents and delivering them with spatial diversity relative to each other in the document transport channel of the central transport mechanism.

 The skew elimination operation involves the use of sensors 80 of double documents, providing detection of cases of double documents removed from the stack together in the area of disassembly of the stack. These documents may be separated, as will be explained below. Pre-centering sensors are also provided for use in stack disassembly operations. These sensors ensure proper skew and leveling operations.

From the disassembly area of the stack, the sheets are transported to the combined skew elimination and alignment device 84. The skew and alignment device 84 performs the functions of aligning sheets in the transverse direction to the sheet conveying channel. It also performs the function of moving in the transverse direction of the sheets so that they are centered
relative to the sheet transport channel by the central transport mechanism.

 From the skew and alignment device, the documents change direction by turning the rotation device, including the tension rolls 86, and move around the identification device 88. The identification device 88 is preferably configured as described in US patent application 08/749260 of November 15, 1996, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. In alternative embodiments, other types of identification devices may be used. Identification devices preferably identify the type and nature of the passing banknote. The identification device also preferably distinguishes true documents, such as a banknote, from unidentifiable or suspicious documents.

 From the identification device, documents are sent selectively in accordance with the position of the deflecting flaps 90. The deflecting flaps operate under control from the control system and ensure the documents are sent either to the delivery / rejection zone 60, or to the deposit zone 66, or to the document storage and retrieval areas in the machine.

 The document storage and retrieval areas comprise reusable containers 92, 94, 96 and 98, which will be described in more detail below. Reuse containers are preferably removable, and removal from the machine is performed by authorized personnel. In the embodiment shown, each of the removable containers comprises four storage areas. They are represented by storage areas 100, 102, 104 and 106 in the container 94. Storage areas provide locations for storing documents that have been satisfactorily delivered by the central transport mechanism. Documents are preferably stored in storage areas with documents of the same type. Documents stored in storage areas can then be retrieved or sorted from them one at a time and delivered to other users.

 Documents are transported to the containers by means of a peripheral transport mechanism, which includes segments of the transport mechanism indicated by the reference numbers 108, 110, 112 and 114. The segments of the peripheral transport mechanism are preferably configured with alignment so that documents can transition between segments of the transport mechanism. Each segment of the peripheral transport mechanism has a flap associated with it along the propagation path. These shutters, indicated by reference numerals 116, 118, 120 and 122, provide, as will be explained below, the selective direction of documents from segments of the peripheral transport mechanism to the connection with adjacent transport mechanisms for delivery to containers designated 124, 126, 128 and 130. Container transport mechanisms operate, as will be explained below, for moving documents to and from storage areas in containers.

 It should be borne in mind that the various components that form the shutters, transport mechanisms and storage areas have associated motors and sensors, all of which are operatively connected to the control system 30 for sensing and controlling the movements of documents.

 It should also be noted that in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a discharge zone 132 is provided in the machine body below the segments of the peripheral transport mechanism. Unloading area 132 functions as a receiver for documents that are identified as unsuitable for processing or which but for other reasons are deemed unsuitable for subsequent retrieval and delivery to the client. In a preferred embodiment, the unloading area 132 contains a tray that can be moved outside the machine to provide cleaning and removal of documents upon access to the machine.

 The operation of an electronic banking machine for currency recycling is explained below on the example of operations and functions performed when a user conducts a deposit transaction. It should be borne in mind that this is only one possible example of the operation of the machine. Other methods of performing operations and functions can be implemented by appropriate programming of the machine.

 The sequence of operations when conducting a transaction with a deposit is shown in Fig.64-68. The user activates the components of the machine 10, located in the zone 14 of the user interface, to ensure the operation of the machine. This may include, for example, entering a credit or debit card and a personal identification number (PIN). Of course, other steps may be required to be performed by the user in order to identify themselves in the machine. This may include other modes of operation, such as fingerprint identification, or the use of biometric identification devices. These steps, performed by the user to identify him in the machine, are presented in FIG. 64 by the user identification sequence, which is indicated by reference numeral 134.

 After the user is identified by the machine, the machine is programmed to carry out the main transaction sequence of operations, generally indicated by reference numeral 136. This basic transaction sequence of operations preferably provides the user with a menu of various transaction options that are available for execution using the machine 10. The transaction sequence proceeds according to FIG. 64, to step 138, in which the user selects a transaction option that is related to entering documents, such as banknotes or securities.

 If the user indicates that he intends to contribute, then the machine then performs step 140. At step 140, the internal shutter 142 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is moved to block subsequent access to the machine from the delivery / reject zone 60. After the internal shutter 142 is pulled out, the program then performs step 144, in which the front shutter 54 on the machine moves to open the hole 52. In this position, the user is able to insert a stack of documents 146 (FIG. 5) into the delivery / rejection zone 60 between the tape conveyors 58 and 56. As shown in FIG. 5, the belt conveyors 58 and 56 can be moved inward, facilitating the positioning of the stack 146 relative to the inner shutter 142.

 As shown in FIG. 6, delivery and reception sensors 148 and 150 are located inside the machine body near the opening 52. In the transaction sequence, as shown in FIG. 64, step 152 is performed to determine if stack 146 has passed by sensors. At step 154, it is determined whether the sensors are in the initial state (in the cleaning state). If the sensors 148, 150 are not cleaned, then step 154 is performed. At step 154, actions are taken to clean the sensors. This is done by moving the conveyor belts 56 and 58 inward at step 156 and issuing a prompt to the user at step 158 to enter their deposit. Then again a check is made to see if the sensors are clean. Measures are provided in the transaction sequence so that after a series of attempts to clean the sensors, the conveyor belts 56 and 58 move in the opposite direction to remove any object inserted into the machine, and the shutter 54 closes.

 If, however, the sensors 148 and 150 are cleared, which indicates that the stack of documents has been inserted correctly, the process proceeds to step 160, where the front shutter 54 is closed again, as shown in FIG. 6. The transaction sequence then proceeds to step 162, in which the internal shutter 142 is retracted so that the stack 146 can be processed further, as will be described below.

 The stack then moves, as schematically shown in FIG. 7, from the delivery / reject area 60 to the stack disassembly area 72. This is done, as shown in FIG. 65, by moving the carriage, which supports four belt conveyors 64, up to the input / output zone 50, as shown in FIG. The carriage for belt conveyors 64 is moved upward by a drive containing an engine and transmission mechanism for coupling with a carriage supporting the belt conveyors 62 and 58, and for moving it upward. The carriage moves them forward until the stack 146 is sandwiched between the conveyor belts 56 and 58. This is represented by step 164 in FIG. 65. The conveyor belts 58 and 56 are then driven to move the stack inward in the direction of the stack disassembly zone 72.

 A stack disassembling zone 72, which includes components comprising a stack disassembling apparatus, is shown in more detail in FIG. 9. It comprises belt conveyors 76 and belt sorting mechanisms 78, which are independently driven by motors and / or other suitable drive devices. The backstop 166 is mounted to move in the area between the conveyor belts 76 and the conveyor belts 168 on the tray 74. It should be borne in mind that the conveyor belts 76, 78, 168 are placed so that they are in an intermediate position when the tray 74 moves side by side with them, as described in US patent 5507481.

 The stack disassembly zone 72 comprises a stack disassembly wall 170. The stack disassembling wall 170 comprises a plurality of steps 172, the purpose of which is explained below. The steps have a surface cross section perpendicular to one another. The stack disassembly wall 170 has a plurality of substantially vertically extending slots (not shown). The tray 74 contains many protrusions 174, which extend from the upper surface of the tray and into the slots. Next to the belt sorting mechanism 78 are rollers 176 of the contact separation mechanism and rollers 178 of the non-contact separation mechanism, the function of which is described below.

 During the operation of the machine, the stack 146 is moved to the disassembly area of the stack to disassemble. This is represented by step 180 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, in the step of moving the stack 146 into the disassembling area of the stack, the tray 74 is sufficiently moved away from the conveyor belts 76 by a moving mechanism so that the stack 146 can be moved between them. The backstop 166 is lifted by the movement mechanism to enable stack entry. Belt conveyors 76 and belt sorting mechanisms 78 are moved forward so that the stack 146 moves toward the wall 170 to disassemble the stack. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tray 74 is spring biased upward, and after insertion of the stack 146, it is held between the belt conveyors 168 on the tray 74 and the belt conveyors 76 and the belt sorting mechanisms 78 by the biasing force exerted on the tray.

 As shown in FIG. 11, after the stack 146 passes by the backstop 166, the backstop is lowered and takes a position behind the stack. As explained below, the backstop is particularly effective in separating double banknotes that can be separated together during a stack disassembling operation. As shown in FIG. 11, the tape mechanisms 78 also move forward to move the stack 146 to the wall 170. As shown in FIG. 12, when the stack is completely moved to the wall 170. this inclined wall and the steps 172 on it surfaces tend to stretch sheets in a stack. This stretching of the sheets breaks the surface tension between adjacent sheets and facilitates the separation of each adjacent sheet in the stack. It should be noted that the steps 172 are designed so that the adhesion of the sheets in the stack 146 to the steps 172 does not interfere with the movement of the tray 74 upward as the sheets are removed from the stack. This allows the tray 74 to apply a constant biasing force upward, so that the topmost sheet in the stack is caught by the belt sorting mechanisms 78.

 In accordance with the transaction sequence shown in FIG. 65, as soon as the stack moves to the disassemble position of the stack, at step 182, the presence of banknotes in the disassembly area of the stack is checked. If the banknotes are in the proper position, the procedure proceeds to the stack disassembly routine at step 184. As described in more detail below, the control system 30 according to the present invention is a new type of control system that provides high-speed machine operation. As represented by the dotted line at step 186, the control system enables the simultaneous execution of tasks. As a result, instead of separating a single banknote, as described below, and then waiting for its processing, the preferred embodiment of the control system 30 enables the banknote to be separated and, as soon as it leaves the stacking area, move to the other banknote. This allows you to get a stream of sheets separated from each other, which simultaneously move in the Central transportation mechanism when controlled from the control system. This greatly speeds up the operation of the machine.

 The automatic machine disassembling the stack is shown schematically in FIG. 13. As shown in the drawing, the stack 146 in the stack disassembly area 72 is divided into a stream of individual sheets that are conveyed by the central transport mechanism 70 in the direction of arrow C. Banknotes are then, as explained below, selectively guided using a direction mechanism containing deflecting flaps 90, or to delivery / rejection zone 60, or to deposit zone 66.

 The operation of the stack disassembling mechanism for separating sheets from the stack in the stack disassembling zone 72 is explained with reference to FIGS. 14-17. The stack 146 is shifted upward to the tape sorting mechanisms 78 using the tray 74. The lower branch of the tape mechanisms 78, which interacts with the top sheet in the stack, moves to the left (Fig. 14) to grab the sheet 188. As shown in Fig. 17, the tape mechanisms 78 sortings are based on rolls and extend beyond the outer periphery of the rollers 178 of the adjacent non-contact separation mechanism. The rollers 176 of the contact mechanism of the separation are generally adjoined opposite to the inner two sorting belt mechanisms 78. When the tape sorting mechanisms move to the left, as shown in FIG. 14, the rollers 176 and 178 of the contact and non-contact separation mechanisms do not move. This serves to hold sheets other than the top sheet in the stack.

 According to FIG. 14, if the sheet 188 that moves away from the stack is a single sheet, then this condition is sensed by the dual document detection sensors 80. This means that such a sheet is suitable for movement in a central transport mechanism. The sheet then passes by sensors 80 and approaches the rolls 190, 192. In response to the detection of the sheet as a single tap roll 192, it moves under the influence of the control system from the position shown by the dotted line to the position shown by the solid line at which it interacts with the sheet 188. The rolls 192, 190 of the retraction are driven in the directions shown in the drawing to remove the sheet from the stack. The time-lapse movement of the take-off rolls is controlled by a control system 30 to ensure that the sheet 188 is at the required distance from the previous sheet separated from the stack moving by the central transport mechanism.

 As shown in FIG. 15, the sheet 188 is moved by retraction rollers 190 and 192, which serve as a retraction device, past the pre-centering sensors 82. The pre-centering sensors function, as will be explained in more detail below, to sense the position of a transversely opposing pair of side edges of the sheet. The signals from the pre-centering sensors 82 are used by the control system 30 to move the shuttle mechanism, which is associated with skew removal and sheet centering operations. The control system moves the shuttle mechanism in the transverse direction to the transport channel to a position in which it can capture the moving sheet in such a way as to ensure its alignment. This feature is especially important if the sheets to be removed from the stack are of different sizes.

 It should be borne in mind that although US banknotes are the same size, regardless of face value, other countries use documents of different sizes for different types of currencies. The main advantage of the present invention is that the documents entered by the user do not need to be arranged so that they all have the same size, or that all the documents are oriented in any particular direction, for processing them according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The stack disassembling device in the described embodiment is particularly effective for disassembling sheets that have different sizes and which may not necessarily be oriented with alignment with the wall 170, in particular for sheets in the middle of the stack 146.

 In the event that the double sheet detection sensors 80 detect double banknotes or documents, then such banknotes can be divided. The double notes in FIG. 16 are shown as sheets 194, which for the purposes of the present description are considered as two overlapping sheets. To separate these sheets, the tape sorting mechanisms 78 are stopped and the tray 74 is moved downward by the control system, so that the stack 146 is no longer biased towards the lower sides of the tape sorting mechanisms 78.

 Then, the tape sorting mechanisms 78 are started in the opposite direction, so that their lower side moves to the right, as shown in the drawing. This pulls the sheets 194 back into the stack. The rollers 176 of the contact separation mechanism and the rollers 178 of the non-contact separation mechanism also rotate to facilitate drawing the sheets back into the stack. This is accomplished in a preferred embodiment by exposing the separation mechanisms to the rollers with a one-way clutch. The rollers of the separation mechanisms can rotate freely in the direction shown in FIG. 16, but cannot rotate in the opposite direction. Moving the belt mechanisms 78 pulls the sheets 194 back into the stack. A backstop prevents excessive sheet movement back and falling out of the stack.

 After the sheets 194 are returned to the top of the stack, the tray 74 rises again and an attempt is made to separate. In the General case, one or more repeated attempts to separate the sheets will be successful, so that the sheets are sequentially separated from the stack 146 one after another.

 The transaction sequence associated with the detection of double documents and attempts to separate the top sheet is presented in Fig. 65. At step 196, it is determined whether duplicate documents are detected during the execution of the stack disassembly routine. If so, then step 198 is performed associated with pulling the stack down. The tape sorting mechanisms are reversed in step 200 to pull the doubled documents back into the stack, and then the stack is raised again in step 202. As described above, the stack disassembling procedure is then restarted. Of course, if no duplicate documents were found when sorting the sheet, the sheet moves past the pre-centering sensors 82, and at step 204, the lateral position of the banknote in the transport mechanism is determined.

 After the document has passed the pre-centering sensors, it then moves to the combined skew and alignment device 84. The skew elimination device is designed to capture the moving sheet and align its front edge in the transverse direction with respect to the direction of movement of the sheet in the sheet transport channel. After the front edge of the sheet is aligned in the transverse direction, the device 84 provides movement of the sheet so that its center line coincides with the center line of the conveyance channel. These operations provide faster identification of the document for reasons that will be explained below.

 As shown in FIG. 20, the combined skew and alignment device 84 includes a shuttle mechanism 204 consisting of two halves 206 and 208. Each half of the shuttle mechanism is connected to a drive shaft 210 that moves the pinch rollers 212 and 214 on the shuttle halves. mechanism, as will be described below. The shuttle mechanism 204 can also move laterally on the drive shaft 210. The shuttle mechanism also includes a first sensor 216 located next to the first half 206 of the shuttle mechanism, and a second sensor 218 located next to the second half 208 of the shuttle mechanism. The shuttle mechanism also includes a mid sensor 220. The pinch rollers engage with the segmented countershaft 222.

 On Fig shows the first half 206 of the shuttle mechanism. The first half of the shuttle mechanism includes a solenoid 224 connected to a movable brake rod 226, which is movable on the pins 228. The pinch roller 212 rotates relative to the central pin 230. The central pin 230 is mounted to move in a slit 232 in the housing of the first half 206 of the shuttle mechanism.

 The drive shaft 210 is a spline shaft, as shown in the drawing. The shaft 210 passes through a drive roller 234, which is mounted to rotate on the housing of the first half 206 of the shuttle mechanism.

 As shown in FIG. 18, when no excitation is applied to the solenoid 224, the pinch roller 212 is biased to engage the drive roller 234 by a spring 236. The pinch roller 212 rotates in response to the rotation of the drive shaft 210. The rotation of the pinch roller 212 also engages independently rotating segments of the segmented shaft 222 Documents can pass through the gap between the pinch rollers 212 and the segmented shaft 222 in response to the rotation of the pinch roller 212 by the drive roller 234.

 As shown in FIG. 19, when the solenoid 224 is energized, the brake rod 226 is rotated. The movement of the brake rod leads to the engagement of the brake rod with the pressure roller 212. When the brake rod interacts with the pressure roller, the pressure roller moves relative to the drive roller 234 and cannot move until the solenoid is de-energized again and the brake rod is retracted. As a result, any document positioned in the gap between the pinch roller 212 and the segmented shaft 222 when the solenoid is excited will be stopped in this position. Documents cannot move into the gap area until the solenoid is de-energized.

 The operation of the shuttle mechanism is schematically shown in Fig.21-24. As shown in FIG. 21, the sheet of document 238 moves in the direction of the arrow in the sheet transport channel. The shuttle mechanism moves before the sheet arrives laterally on the drive shaft 210 so that the pinch rollers 212 and 214 grab the sheet. This is provided by a control system 30 based on signals from pre-centering sensors 82 that are located in front of the shuttle mechanism 204. The shuttle mechanism is moved laterally in the sheet conveying channel using a high-speed motor or other suitable device.

 When the sheet 238 moves into the area adjacent to the pinch rollers, sensors 216, 218, 220 detect the sheet. Due to the skew of the sheet 238, the sensor 218 located next to the pinch roller 214 will be the first to detect the leading edge of the sheet. When this happens, the solenoid connected to the shuttle mechanism half 208 is energized, stopping the movement of the pressure roller 214 while the roller 212 continues to rotate in accordance with the rotation of the shaft 210. As a result, the sheet 238 begins to rotate relative to the region of the pressure point 240 created between the stationary roller 214 and the segmented shaft 222. The sheet 238 is moved so that its front edge 242 begins to move until it reaches an aligned position in the direction transverse to the direction of movement of the sheet.

 As shown in FIG. 23, the sheet 238 rotates relative to the pressing point 240 until the leading edge 242 is laterally aligned with the sheet conveying channel. When the aligned position is reached, the solenoid 224 is preferably energized to stop the movement of the pinch roller 212. This forms a second pressure point 244 between the banknote 238 and the countershaft 222.

 In the stop state of the banknote shown in FIG. 23, the leading edge 242 of the sheet protrudes in the sheet conveying channel beyond the centering sensors 246. The centering sensors detect side edges 248, 250 of the sheet (FIG. 23), as described below. After detecting the side edges, the control system 30 determines the position of the center line that passes through the center of the sheet 238. This center line 252 is shown in FIG. Then, the shuttle mechanism moves the sheet laterally, as shown in FIG. The sheet moves in a clamped state between the pinch rollers 212 and 214 and the segmented countershaft 222. As shown in FIG. 24, the sheet 238 moves to the right, so that the center line 252 of the sheet aligns with the center line of the sheet transport channel 254.

 After the skew of the sheet is eliminated, as described above, and the sheet is moved in a centered manner relative to the sheet transport channel, the solenoids driving the pressure rollers 212 and 214 are simultaneously released to release the sheet 238 from the shuttle mechanism. This is to ensure that the sheet 238 is at the required distance from the previous sheet. In the optimal case, the sheet does not linger longer than necessary to ensure proper sheet orientation.

 A schematic representation of the components of a centering circuit, which is part of the control system of the machine and which is used in conjunction with centering sensors 246 and with preliminary centering sensors 82, is shown in FIG. 26. In a preferred embodiment, the sensors 246 include charge-coupled devices (CCDs) that are used to detect edges of a sheet. A sensor is available on each side of the sheet transport channel. On the opposite side there is an emitter for creating a radiation source for detecting the edges of the sheet. The signals from the sensors 246 are transmitted to the amplifier 256. The signals from the amplifier are sent to a comparator 258 that provides digital conversion. Comparator 258 receives a threshold input from interface 260.

 The output point of the signal from the interface 260 is determined using a subroutine that controls the input of the threshold value corresponding to the detection of the banknote, taking into account the radiation received by the sensors in the state when the banknote is absent. This allows you to adjust the sensors taking into account changes in the operation of the device, for example, changes in the radiation intensity of the emitters or changes in the degree of contamination on the emitters or sensors.

 The output signal of the digital comparator is transmitted to the programmable logic device 262. The programmable logic device determines the position of the edge of the banknote and transmits the output signals together with the timer signals to the processor 264. The processor generates signals in accordance with its programming to move the lateral movement device providing lateral movement of the shuttle device in desired position. In the case of pre-centering sensors, the shuttle mechanism moves to a position that guarantees the detection of banknotes. In the case of sensors used for centering and skewing operations, the shuttle mechanism moves so that the banknote is aligned with the center of the transport mechanism. Synchronization signals provide tracking when the front and rear edges of the banknote are detected by sensors, so that the control system can maintain the required distance between the banknotes in the central transport mechanism. The signals from the sensors 246, as well as the signals from the sensors 216, 218 and 220 on the shuttle device are used to ensure that the released banknote moves further properly.

 The logical sequence associated with the misalignment and alignment operations in the described embodiment is presented with reference to the steps shown in FIG. 65. As shown by step 266, the signals from the pre-centering sensors 82 are used by the control system to move the shuttle mechanism so as to allow them to capture the banknote. The skew elimination step 268 is implemented as described above for the case of aligning the front edge of the banknote so that it is oriented transversely to the direction of movement of the sheet by the transport mechanism. At step 270, the center line of the sheet is shifted to align with the center line of the sheet transport mechanism. After eliminating the skew and alignment, the sheet is issued at step 272 with a certain time delay and continues its path in the sheet transport channel.

 As shown in FIG. 13, after the document passes through the skew and alignment device, the document moves through the area of the central transport mechanism, where it is sensed by various sensors associated with the identification device 88. In a preferred embodiment, the identification device includes the device described in US Patent Application 08/749260 of November 15, 1996, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This identification device provides identification of the type and face value of the passing document. It also provides the ability to distinguish valid documents from suspicious documents. An advantage of the device used in the described embodiment is its ability to identify a document even in cases where the document was not properly aligned with the sheet transport channel. It should be borne in mind that due to various conditions, despite attempts to orient each sheet, there may be some deviations from the correct orientation of the sheets at the time of analysis by the identification device. Of course, in other embodiments, other devices for classifying and identifying sheets may be used.

 As a result of analyzing the banknote, signals are generated by the identification device 88. These signals indicate the type and denomination of the banknote. Alternatively, signals may indicate that the banknote cannot be satisfactorily identified or that it is invalid. These signals are transmitted to a control system 30, which utilizes deflecting dampers 90 located adjacent to the central transport mechanism. As shown in FIG. 27, in a preferred embodiment, documents that cannot be identified with a high degree of certainty or that are otherwise classified as unacceptable for the machine are sent by shutters 90 to the delivery and delivery area 60 and placed on second belt conveyors 58. Such rejected banknotes are presented in FIG. 27 in a stack of 274.

 Identified documents suitable for deposit are sent by a deflecting flap 90 to deposit zone 66, where these banknotes are placed on conveyor belts 64. Such identified documents are presented in stack 276 in FIG. 27. It should be noted that the direction of the identified sheets to deposit position 266 is optional, depending on the programming of the control system 30 of the machine or on user data inputs on the interface of the machine. Identifiable banknotes may be sent to the respective storage areas of the machine for subsequent withdrawal.

 The transaction sequence associated with the analysis of documents and their sending to the delivery / rejection and deposit zones is shown in FIG. 66. The analysis of the moving documents is presented by step 278. If the banknote is properly identified at step 280, then at step 282 a check is made to see if the machine is in deposit (deposit) mode. If so, then properly identified banknotes are sent to storage areas in reuse containers. If the machine is not currently in deposit mode, which is the case for the described example, then properly identified banknotes are sent to the deposit zone at step 284.

 If at step 280 the banknote is not identified or identified as unacceptable, then it is sent to the deviation zone at step 286. Of course, it must be borne in mind that the steps of disassembling the stack, pre-centering, eliminating skewing, aligning and identifying banknotes are performed simultaneously when each of documents in the document flow passes through the central transportation mechanism. Banknotes are continuously moved to the deposit or reject position until the stack of banknotes is completely disassembled.

 During operation in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, sheets not accepted by the machine, such as unidentified sheets and sheets perceived as suspicious, are returned to the user from the input / output zone 50. This is schematically shown in FIG. 28, where a rejected stack 274 is shown delivered to the user through the opening 52. This is usually done automatically after the user is presented via the interface 14 with information about the number of unidentified or unaccepted sheets in the deposit stack in which they were entered. The user can be informed via the interface of the cost corresponding to the documents that have been properly identified. In alternative embodiments, the user may be given the option of re-entering the user interface to re-try to identify the rejected sheets. If this happens, then the machine can be programmed to send the rejected stack 274 again through the central transport mechanism, as was done previously with the stack of deposit. This is a matter of choice when programming an automaton and the particular approach chosen depends on the preferences of the automaton operator.

 If it is assumed that the rejected stack 274 is to be returned to the user, then this rejected stack is delivered to the user of the machine as shown in FIG. 29. The inner shutter 142 is pulled out when the conveyor belts 64 supported on the carriage are lifted so that the stack 276 is gripped by the conveyor belts 62 and 58. The conveyors 58 are lifted so that the rejected stack 274 is gripped by the conveyors 56. When the rejected stack 274 is clamped between the belt conveyors 56 and 58, a shutter 54 opens. The rejected stack 274 is moved by the belt conveyors 56 and 58 through the opening 52 in the machine body. Sensors 148 and 150 of the delivery and reception, located next to the hole 52, detect the movement of the stack.

 The transaction sequence associated with the delivery of the rejected stack to the user is shown in FIG. 66. At step 288, it is determined whether there are still banknotes in the rejected stack after all the sheets are taken apart and passed through the central transport mechanism. If so, then the rejected stack moves to the delivery position at step 290. The internal shutter is closed at 292 as shown in FIG. 29. The front shutter opens at step 294, and the conveyor belts are driven to deliver the rejected stack to the user at step 296.

 As shown in FIG. 67, the user may then be prompted at step 298 to pick up the rejected stack. This is done through the user interface. Sensors 148 and 150 are then monitored at step 300, and at step 302 a decision is made as to whether the rejected stack has been taken by the user. If the sheets were removed, the front shutter 54 of the machine closes at step 304 and the inner shutter is retracted at step 306.

 As described above, in the present embodiment, the user is prompted to pick up the rejected sheets. Therefore, if at step 302 the user did not pick up these sheets, the transport mechanism is turned on to push the sheets out of the hole 52 in step 308. After the transport mechanism has sufficiently pushed the sheets out, the front shutter is closed.

 In alternative embodiments of the invention, the user is able to retry to determine for the rejected stack whether the documents contained therein can be identified. In other alternative embodiments, the machine may be programmed so as not to return unidentifiable or rejected sheets to the user. This can be done in order to prevent the possibility of re-introducing false documents into circulation. If the machine is programmed in this way, then the rejected stack 274 can be moved as shown in FIG. 30, back to the disassembly area of the machine stack for further passage through the central transport mechanism. In this second pass, the sheets can either be returned to the rejection zone if they cannot be identified, or placed in the deposit zone, if they can be identified, or they can be transferred to the storage cell in reuse containers or to the unloading area 132 for subsequent analysis. Since in a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is possible to track individual sheets that are passed through the machine, the machine can monitor where the individual sheets come from, taking into account their storage location and location in the storage location.

 Returning to the description of the operation of an embodiment of the invention, note that the stack 276 held in the deposit zone is then moved up into the input / output zone, as shown in FIG. At this point, the user may be given the option of receiving back the identified sheets that he placed in the machine. This may occur, for example, in the case when the user does not agree with the result of the counting of sheets automatically. This can be ensured by programming the machine so that the user can get back his documents in the deposit zone using the appropriate data entry on the interface.

 If the machine is programmed to place a contribution of identified documents held in the deposit zone, then the machine moves the stack of documents 276 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the stack located in the deposit zone should be moved as shown in Fig. 31, if the machine requires the user to enter data to place documents in the deposit zone, and such data is entered using the user interface.

 If the deposited stack 276 is to be placed in a storage unit in the machine, then the conveyor belt 64 rises to the position shown in FIG. 32, and the deposited stack 276 is clamped between the conveyor belts 62 and 64. The conveyor belts are then driven to move the deposited stack 276 to the disassembling area of the machine stack, as described above.

 The operation of the drive rolls and movable carriages of the belt conveyors of the input / output zone 50 is described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 33 and 34. The carriage associated with the belt conveyors 64 is moved up and down by a drive mechanism. The carriage supporting the belt conveyors 62 and 58 is freely floating, but limited in the degree of downward movement. The carriage supporting the belt conveyors 56 may be rotated to align with the position of the adjacent stack, but in principle cannot be moved down. This configuration minimizes the complexity of the I / O mechanism.

 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the carriages supporting the belt conveyors 64, 62 and 68 are controlled to move vertically by the first guide / drive shaft 310 and the second guide / drive shaft 312. The guide / drive shafts are not only vertical, but also splined shafts having the ability to rotate in the direction shown using appropriate drive and transmission mechanisms. The movable axle box units 314 and 316 are vertically movable on the shaft 310. Each axle box unit represented by the guide unit 314 in FIG. 33 includes bevel gears 318. The bevel gears transmit rotational motion from the guide / drive shaft 310 on shafts 320 and 322. Shafts 320, 322 include rolls on which belt conveyors 56 and 58 are supported, respectively.

 The axle box blocks 324 and 326 are movable relative to the shaft 312. As shown in FIG. 33 with the example of the axle block 324, the axle block contains bevel gears 328 that transmit rotational motion of the guide / drive shaft 312 to shafts 330 and 332. Belt conveyors 62 and 64 are supported by rolls, which are driven by shafts 330 and 332, respectively.

 As you can see, this configuration for the drive of conveyor belts in the input / output zone reduces the complexity of the design compared to other options for execution. This embodiment also increases flexibility in the selective positioning of stacks of documents.

 As for an example of a transaction sequence with deposited stack 276 at the position shown in FIG. 31, the transaction sequence continues, as shown in FIG. As shown in step 334, the deposited stack moves up and occupies a position either to be dispensed to the user or to move back to the stack disassembly area. Then, the user is prompted at step 336 to indicate whether he wants to return the deposited stack of documents or to place the amount of funds corresponding to the deposited stack in the machine. As shown in step 338, if the user selects the option to return the stack, then the machine performs operations to return it to the user.

 The procedure for returning a stack of documents is presented in FIG. At this point, in the transaction sequence, the deposited stack 276 is located adjacent to the opening 52 and can be easily delivered to the user. The internal shutter is closed at step 340, and the front shutter is opened at step 342. The conveyor belts 62 and 64 are driven to move the deposited stack outside and present it to the user at step 344. Then, at step 346, it is determined whether the user has picked up the stack. This decision is made based on the signals of sensors 148 and 150. If the sensors determine that the user has taken the stack, then the machine returns to the main transaction sequence of the ATM at step 348.

 If the user does not pick up the stack, then the steps are performed in which the user is prompted to pick up the stack or return it to the machine. If at step 346 the sensors do not perceive the fact that the stack was removed, the user is prompted to pick up the stack at step 350 through the interface. If then it is determined that the stack has been removed, then at step 352 the machine returns to the main transaction sequence. If the stack is still not removed, the transaction procedure goes through steps 354 and 356, in which the stack is returned for storage, and an irregular transaction is recorded. This can be done, for example, by pulling the stack into the machine, closing the shutter and moving the stack through the central transport mechanism to one of the storage areas.

 Alternative forms of carrying out the invention may include crediting a user's account for amounts that are indicated as those that should have been issued to the user, but this did not happen. If the machine is programmed to function in this way, then the documents contained in the stack will be stored in accordance with their type and denomination in various storage areas in reusable containers. Alternatively, documents in a deposited stack can be stored separately in one of the storage areas. The machine can be programmed with the ability to return to the user the documents of the deposited stack later. This can be useful, for example, if the user forgot to pick up the stack or his attention was diverted during the transaction.

 In most cases, when the user has placed documents in the machine, he can choose the option of crediting an account for this amount. As a result, in the transaction sequence at step 338, he must indicate through the user interface that he wishes to make a deposit. The transaction sequence proceeds to step 358, where the machine is set to deposit mode. After that, the deposited stack 276 is moved to the stack disassembly area at step 360. This is done as described above to place the stack of documents in the machine.

 As shown schematically in FIG. 35, the deposited stack will then be disassembled as described above. However, instead of directing banknotes separated from the stack using the deflecting flap 90 to the deposit zone and the delivery / rejection zone, the banknotes are selectively sent down to another zone in the machine, as shown in the drawing, to other storage areas in reuse containers. In the process of performing this operation, each of the banknotes separated from the stack is again classified and identified using the banknote identification device 88. Banknote type identification is used to selectively direct each document to the storage area where documents of this type are stored. It should be borne in mind that the memory associated with the control system of the machine is preferably programmed to register the type of document contained in the deposited stack, and to compare the decision on the type of document made during the initial pass with the decision on the type of document made during the second pass. In case of errors or inconsistencies in these solutions, the deflecting shutter 90 can be used to direct any questionable documents to the delivery / rejection zone 60 instead of moving them to the storage area in the machine or moving them to another selected storage position.

 As can be seen for the transaction sequence starting at step 358 of FIG. 67, the deposited stack undergoes the disassembly procedure described above in connection with steps 184, 196 and 204. Each banknote is therefore aligned and centered with respect to the conveyance channel and then released.

 The banknote is analyzed in the same way as described above for step 278, and if at step 280 the banknote is identified properly, the sequence of the transaction proceeds to step 262, where the machine enters the deposit mode. At step 262, each banknote is sent to a corresponding storage cell. The banknotes are moved by the central transport mechanism in the direction of the arrows "D" shown in Fig. 35. Each banknote is then sent to the corresponding storage cell at step 264. It should be borne in mind that the banknotes are simultaneously moved to different storage cells under control from the control system. Fig. 35 illustrates an example of how banknotes are placed in a storage cell 102. It is clear that banknotes can be sent to various storage cells during the deposit process.

 The banknotes of the stack 276 continue to separate from it until, at step 266, it is determined that the stack is disassembled. If none of the banknotes is rejected during the deposit process, the transaction sequence can then return to the main transaction sequence of the ATM at step 268. The user may be issued a receipt related to his deposit, and then may be offered to continue other transactions.

 During operation of the central transport mechanism 70, there are positions in which moving banknotes need to be turned 180 degrees in the general case. An example of this is shown in FIG. 35 by a transport mechanism section 370, which has a flip device. In section 370 of the transport mechanism, documents that have been aligned in the transport channel reverse their direction, as a result of which they can be moved next to the identification device 88. Transport section 370 requires that the banknotes be transported in an established manner and that a distance is maintained between them. Documents should preferably not be crumpled or deformed in any other way, as this may adversely affect the possibility of their identification in the next section. In more detail, the transport mechanism section 370 is shown in FIGS. 36-38.

 The flip device of the transport mechanism section 370 includes a plurality of belt conveyors 372. These belt conveyors preferably have V-shaped belts engaged with drive and intermediate rolls 274, 376 and 378. In a preferred embodiment, the V-shaped cross section of the belt conveyors 372 is oriented radially inward when the tape passes through rolls 374, 376 and 378.

 When belt conveyors 372 are moved between rollers 374 and 376, they are supported on rolls 380 of carriages. The carriage rollers 380 support the tape so that the V-shaped section is oriented away from the carriage rollers. The flat upper surface of each belt is adjacent to the annular recess 382 on the outer periphery of each carriage roll. Rolls 380 of the carriages are also offset from one another. The guides 384 have a slightly smaller diameter than the carriage rolls placed between them. An example of a guide 384 is shown in detail in FIG.

 When the bill 386 passes through the transport mechanism section 370, it is held between the flat surfaces of the tape 372 and the recesses 382 in the carriage rolls, as shown in FIG. 38. Banknotes move around the carriage rolls without distortion or deformation. When the banknotes approach the area near the roll 376, the protrusions 388 on the guides force them out of engagement with the carriage rolls and push them in the desired direction.

 This configuration is used in a preferred embodiment of the invention since it has been found that banknotes can generally be transported through the transport mechanism section 370 without compromising their alignment and separation state. The possibility of turning the path of the banknote through 180 degrees also significantly reduces the overall dimensions of the ATM.

As shown in FIG. 35, banknotes that pass through the central transport mechanism 70 and which move to storage areas in the machine go down through the central transport mechanism and peripheral segments 108, 110, 112 and 114 of the transport mechanism. These peripheral segments of the transport mechanism in a preferred embodiment are vertically aligned so as to enable selective transport of documents between segments of the transport mechanism. These segments also allow you to selectively send documents either through segments of the transport mechanism, or to adjacent container transport mechanisms, or from these mechanisms, each of which is located next to the corresponding segment of the mechanism
transportation. Selective direction of documents is achieved by using shutters associated with each segment of the transportation mechanism, which operates under control from the control system 30.

 An example of a transport mechanism segment used in a preferred embodiment is shown as segment 110 in FIG. 39. Segment 110 of the transport mechanism includes a plurality of spaced rolls 390, 392 supporting belt conveyors. Each of the rolls supports a belt conveyor 394 (see FIG. 44). An inner branch 396 of each belt conveyor 394 extends in a first plane and is positioned adjacent to a first sheet support surface 398 and a second sheet support surface 400. Each of the sheet support surfaces has a plurality of spaced projections or recesses. These protrusions serve to interrupt surface tension and minimize the risk of documents sticking.

 The principles of operation of segment 110 of the transport mechanism, as well as the container transport mechanism used in the preferred embodiment, are explained using FIGS. 45 and 46. During transport, the transport mechanisms ensure that documents are held in meshing between the outer surface of the conveyor belt branch and the elongated protrusions that extend to the branch of the conveyor belt from the adjacent support surface. In the example shown in FIG. 45, the conveyor branches 402 extend alongside the support surface 404. The protrusions 406 extend laterally between the branches of the conveyor belt from the support surface. Document 408, which is caught between the branches of the conveyor belts and the support surface, is offset by the protrusions 406 to maintain engagement with the branches of the conveyor belt. This ensures that when moving the branches of the belt conveyors, the document 408 is neatly moved due to its engagement with them.

 As shown in FIG. 39, the protrusions 410 extend from the first abutment surface 398. The protrusions 410 are basically segmented protrusions, and have profiled front and rear edges to reduce the risk of document jamming thereon. Intermediate rolls 412 and 416 are also interconnected by a support connection with an element that includes a sheet support surface 398. Intermediate rolls 412 and 416 are positioned to align with the internal branches 396 and perform the function explained below.

 Each peripheral segment of the transport mechanism has a container transport mechanism located nearby. In the case of the transport mechanism segment 110, the container transport mechanism 126 extends next to it, as shown in FIG. The container transport mechanism 126 comprises a pair of spaced rolls 418 supporting a conveyor belt, of which only one is shown in FIG. Rollers 418 support belt conveyors 420, the lower branches of which 422 extend adjacent to a support surface 424 having protrusions, as explained above. The protrusions 426 extend from and parallel to the support surface 424 between the conveyor belts. This design provides the ability to transport documents in engagement between the protrusions 426 and the branches of the conveyor belts, as described above.

 As shown in FIG. 44, the rolls 418 of the container transport mechanisms and the rolls 390 of the segments of the peripheral transport mechanism are arranged in the transverse direction, similar to how the protrusions on the supporting surface are positioned in the transverse direction between the branches of the conveyor belts. This ensures that documents can be moved between segments of the transport mechanism in a controlled manner, as described below.

 Each of the segments of the peripheral transportation mechanism includes a shutter, which operates in a selective manner, directing documents in the required directions. Thus, a segment 118 corresponds to a shutter 118. The shutter 118 includes a plurality of movable levers that cooperate for joint movement by an actuator associated with the control system and are able to selectively move relative to the axis of the rolls 390. Each lever 428 has a roll 430 fixed to it movable way. Each roll 430 serving as a deflecting member is aligned with a corresponding branch 396 of the conveyor belt.

 The operation of the segment of the peripheral transport mechanism and the shutter is explained below with reference to Figs. 39-43. As shown in FIG. 39, when the roll 430 of the deflecting member of the shutter 118 is offset from the branches 396 of the conveyor belts, the document 432 is able to pass in the first direction directly through the segment of the peripheral transport mechanism. Although the document 432 is shown in FIG. 39 as moving up, it is clear that documents can also move down. Similarly, documents can be moved down and then up in a segment of the peripheral transport mechanism.

 In FIG. 40 shows how a document 434 moves downward when the roll 430 of the shutter 118 extends. In this state, the document 434 is sent to the contact zone created by the branches 422 of the conveyor belts and the protrusions 426 of the container transport mechanism 126. As a result, the movement of branches 420 of the conveyor belt, as shown in the drawing, when the shutter is activated, translates the document into the transport line of the container along which it is transported by the container transport mechanism. As can be seen from FIG. 40, when the shutter 118 is actuated, the conveyor branch 396 is deformed. An intermediate roll 416 maintains the branch of the conveyor belt in a deformed position to prevent excessive wear due to friction.

 FIG. 41 shows a document 436 transported from a container transport mechanism to a segment of a peripheral transport mechanism. In the position shown, the shutter 118 directs the document 436 to the peripheral transport mechanism segment 108 located above the peripheral transport mechanism section 110 (see FIG. 35), and to the central transport mechanism.

 42, a shutter 118 is shown in a state in which it directs the document 438 from the container transport mechanism 126 down to the segment 110 of the peripheral transport mechanism. As follows from the preceding description, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides for the movement of documents from one storage area to another. This function is provided by the control system of the machine, moving documents from storage areas in containers where they were stored, to storage areas in containers, either above or below this storage container in the machine.

 FIG. 43 shows a document 440 moving upward in a segment of the peripheral transport mechanism and guided by the shutter 118 to the container transport mechanism 126. The ability to move documents as shown in FIGS. 39-43 greatly facilitates the storage and retrieval of documents in a preferred embodiment of the invention. As is apparent from the preceding drawings, shutter mechanisms can be used to selectively orient documents. This may be desirable, especially if it is necessary to provide the user with documents oriented in the same way in a stack. This can be done by changing the orientation of the documents before saving them using the orientation information of each document received by the identification device 88. However, as indicated above, in the present embodiment, the documents are not required to be oriented in any particular way to ensure satisfactory operation of the device.

 The storage of documents in the storage cells is described below with reference to FIG. 47-53. For purposes of illustration, storage of documents in a storage area 102 will be considered, as shown in FIG. 35. However, it is clear that the following description is applicable to the storage of documents in any of the storage areas available in the machine in the preferred embodiment.

 On Fig storage area 102 is shown from above. Branches 422 of conveyor belts of the container transport mechanism 26 extend along the transport line above the section door 442. The door 442 of the section is movably fixed in connection with the container above the storage area 102. The door 442 of the compartment contains a support surface 444 that supports banknotes or other documents moving on it to or from adjacent storage areas. The support surface 444 includes protrusions serving to reduce surface tension and adherence of documents moving on it.

 Section door 442 has protrusions 446 that mesh with passing documents and hold documents in mesh with belt conveyors 422. A pair of holes 448 are aligned with protrusions 446. Holes 448 provide access for impact rollers, which will be discussed later. As can be seen from FIG. 47, the protrusions 446 are beveled adjacent to the openings 448 to minimize the risk of transmission documents adhering to them. The door 442 of the section also contains a plurality of intermediate rolls 450. The rolls 450 are positioned so that they coincide with the belt conveyors 422. The rolls 450 mesh with the belt conveyors and facilitate the movement of the belt conveyors when the door 442 of the section is open to receive the document as it will explained below.

 The section door 442 also has a central hole 452. The hole 452 is dimensioned so that two adjacent impact rollers 454 can enter. The central impact rollers 454 are similar in design to the external impact rollers 456 that protrude through the hole 448. The central hole 452 also made with dimensions that allow entry of the tape rollers 458 and 460, which are placed in front of the door 442 of the section, covering the area 102 of the storage. Tape rollers 458 and 460 are connected to the impact rollers 454 by means of a conveyor belt 462 serving as a feeder.

 It is clear that the shock rollers 454 and 456, as well as the tape rollers 458 and 460 are supported on a surface located next to the door 442 of the section and vertically above it. Impact rollers and tape rollers are preferably supported on the machine body, while the storage area 102 and the section door 442 are supported on the reuse container 94. The reuse container may be removed from the machine when the shock rollers and tape rollers are installed so that they do not protrude through hole 452.

 The door 442 of the section also includes a sensor 464. The sensor 464 is an optical receiver that receives signals from an optical emitter located in the machine next door and above the sensor 464 when the container 94 is in its working position. Sensor 464 is connected to control circuits of the machine.

 The steps associated with storing a banknote in a storage area 102 are described below with reference to FIGS. 48-53. Storage area 102 comprises a stack 466 including a plurality of sheets, banknotes, or other documents. The stack 466 is preferably a plurality of horizontally oriented documents that are supported on the squeezing plate 468. The squeezing plate 468 is biased upward by a spring 467 or other mechanism. The stack is held at its upper end by a plurality of transversely spaced front fingers 470 and rear fingers 472. The front fingers and rear fingers are movable, as will be explained below.

 Section door 442 has an inner surface 474 that has a plurality of downwardly oriented protrusions with recesses therebetween. At the locations of the fingers 470 and 472 of the inwardly facing protrusions 476, 478, the adjacent upper ends of the fingers 470 and 472 adjacent to the stack extend above and are able to move into the recesses of the inner surface of the section door. These inwardly facing protrusions 476 and 478 of the fingers 470 and 472 hold the top of the stack, locking it in the position shown in FIG. 48.

 In FIG. 48, document 480 is shown as it moves to storage area 402. In this position, before the document arrives, the tape rollers and impact rolls are positioned above the section door support surface 444. Bypass rollers 482, which are mounted to move on a container 94 having a storage area 102, are moved to a position offset from the tape rollers 458 and 460.

 After the document 480 arrives in the storage area 102, the section door 442 rises in the front section near its front surface. Bypass rollers 482 move upward while the tape rollers 458 and 460 pick up the document and move it into the storage area 102. The fingers 470 and 472 move the top surface of the stack down, counteracting the biasing force exerted by the squeeze plate 468. This allows the document 480 to move into the storage area 102 above the inwardly oriented finger protrusions.

 In FIG. 50 shows the configuration of the tape rolls and bypass rolls when the document 480 is moved to the storage area. In this position, the rotating tape rollers 458 and 460 capture the document 480, as well as the bypass rollers 482, so that the document can be moved to the storage area. As shown in FIG. 50, a roll 484 that removes the top sheet, the operation of which is explained below, maintains its position relative to the conveyor belt 462 when the document 480 enters the storage area.

 As shown in FIG. 51, the document 480 enters the storage area 102 above the stack 466. The fingers 470 and 472 then move outward, as shown in FIG. 51.

 As shown in FIG. 52, ultimately, fingers 470 and 472 are moved outward enough to release stack 466, as a result of which it moves upward by biasing force from squeeze plate 468. As a result, document 480 is inserted into the stack, when the door 442 section moves down to its original position. When the section door moves downward, the inwardly projecting fingers 472 and 470 align with recesses on the inside of the section door.

 From the positions shown in FIG. 52, fingers 470 and 472 are moved inward to re-grip the top surface of the stack, which now includes the document 480. The bypass rollers 482 are pulled down again, and the storage area 102 is ready to receive the next document to be stored therein. .

 From the above description, it is obvious that, in addition to the mechanisms shown and described, the corresponding mechanisms are used to move the fingers of the section door and rollers in accordance with the invention. These mechanisms may include conventional engines and other mechanisms and thrusts suitable for driving the components, as described above. Such well-known components are not shown so as not to clutter the description of the invention with irrelevant details.

 It should be borne in mind that if one or more documents are sent to the storage area in the machine, then in the storage area where a specific document is to be stored, the described sequence of steps is performed. Although the sequence of operations for the storage area is described as receiving documents and then inserting them into a stack in the storage area, one document at a time, it should be borne in mind that the mechanisms in the storage area can be optimally implemented so that many documents can be assembled in a storage area above the fingers, and then the fingers and the section door can be moved so as to insert a plurality of documents into the stack. This configuration can be used to optimize the speed of the electronic banking machine. In addition, it should be borne in mind that the mechanism for storing documents in the storage area is given as an example, and other mechanisms for storing documents can be used in alternative uses of the invention.

 The operation of the machine 10 is described below for a transaction in which documents are retrieved from storage areas in the machine and issued to the user. This is schematically shown in FIG. In the issuing operation, documents will be deleted from the plurality of storage areas and transferred simultaneously under the control of the control system 30 to the deposit zone 66. As shown schematically in FIG. 54, each of the documents extracted from the storage areas is moved from a respective container transportation mechanism to a nearby segment of the peripheral transportation mechanism and sent upward by a shutter to the central transportation mechanism. In the central transport mechanism, each of the documents passes through an identification device 88. The type and nature of the documents are checked again before being issued to the user. The flow of documents in the process of such issuance is represented by arrows "E" in Fig. 54. Of course, as can be understood from the previous description, if during processing of documents to be issued to the user an invalid or unidentifiable document is found, it can be sent to the delivery / rejection zone 60 for reprocessing or return to the machine.

 The extraction of documents from the storage area is represented by the sequence of operations shown in FIG. 55-61 in connection with the storage area 102. For purposes of clarity and simplicity, the case is considered when a document 480, which was previously placed on top of stack 466, must be issued in this example sequence of operations.

 As shown in FIG. 55, in the initial position of the storage area 102, the section door 442 is biased downward. The inward projections of the fingers 470 and 472 are located in recesses on the inner surface 474 of the section door. The fingers together with the inner surface of the section door remain at the top of the stack, which is bounded above by the document 480. The stack 466 is biased upward by the action of the spring of the squeeze plate 468.

 In the next step, when issuing the document, fingers 470 and 472 move outward relative to the stack. This allows the document 480 to be gripped on the upper surface of the stack 466 with protrusions that define the inner surface 474 of the section door 442.

 As then shown in FIG. 57, the front of door 442 moves upward. Outflow rollers 482 are moved up to engage the tape rollers 458 and 460 (see FIG. 59). Similarly, the top sheet separating roller 484 is moved up to engage the belt conveyor 462.

 It should be noted in connection with FIG. 59 that the tape roller 460 has an inner part that has a high friction segment 486 that contains a tape of elastic material extending partially around the circumference relative to the inner part of the roller. The tape roller 458 has the same high friction segment 488. The high friction segments capture the top document in the stack when the tape rollers are positioned so that the high friction segments engage with the upper document.

 It should be borne in mind that the roll 484 of the separation of the upper sheet contains a mechanism such as a one-way clutch. The one-way clutch mechanism allows the roll to rotate to separate the top sheet in a way that allows the document to easily move into the storage area 102. The clutch associated with the roll sheet 484 of the upper sheet is oriented so as to counteract the movement of documents from the storage area. Thus, roll 484 basically only moves one document at the very top of the stack and prevents the rest of the documents from moving out of the storage area. This is achieved by the fact that the high friction segments provide a greater force of movement of one document outward than the resistance applied by the roll of separation of the upper document.

As shown in FIGS. 57 and 59, the impact rollers 454 and 456 comprise an outwardly extending portion. These outwardly extending portions are preferably aligned so that all protruding portions pass through corresponding openings in the section door at the same time. As shown in FIG. 59, these protruding parts are in principle aligned in angle with the high friction segments on the tape rollers
As shown in FIG. 58, to capture the document, the tape rollers and the shock rollers rotate so that the protruding parts of the shock rollers and the high friction segments of the tape rollers capture the document 480 at the top of the stack 466. The action of the shock rollers, tape rollers, tap-off rollers and the upper document separation roller causes in that the document 480 is separated from the stack and moved outward from the storage area, as shown in FIG. 58. A preferred embodiment of the device is designed in such a way that one rotation of the tape rollers and percussion rollers is sufficient to remove the document from the storage area. Once the document has been removed from the storage area, the section door 442 is closed again, and the bypass rollers and the upper document compartment roller are moved to move them away from the container. The fingers 470 and 472 are moved up and in to lock the top of the stack again.

 When the document 480 is moved from the storage area 102, the passage of light through the document is recorded. The passage of light through the document is detected by a sensor 490, which is similar to sensor 464 and is located on a section door or other structure covering a storage area, or otherwise in a first direction from storage area 102. The emitter 492 installed in the machine emits a light signal of a sufficient level, so that it can be determined when there was a separation from the stack of double documents.

 The emitter 492 and the sensor 490 are connected to a control system that is programmed to provide recognition of cases of separation from the stack of double documents. The machine can work in various ways to process this procedure. If the document is completely separated from the stack, then the document can be reversed in the direction and sent back to the stack. Then again an attempt is made to separate it from the stack. Alternatively, in a second capture attempt, the tape rollers can oscillate back and forth while gripping a banknote in order to minimize the possibility of separating the two documents together. This can be done automatically under certain conditions when it is known that documents have a particularly high degree of similarity or significant surface tension, which makes it difficult to separate them.

 Finally, in the event that repeated attempts to separate a single banknote from the storage area are unsuccessful, then the machine can ensure that the captured documents are sent to another storage area or to the unloading area 132. The machine may then capture the next banknote from the stack. The programming of the machine 10 preferably minimizes the delay associated with the problem of separating banknotes.

 After the document 480 has been successfully removed from the storage area 102, it is transported to a segment 110 of the peripheral transport mechanism and guided by the shutter 118 to the central transport mechanism. Document 480, along with other documents, passes through an identification device 88 that confirms the identity of each document. Documents are placed in deposit zone 66, where a deposited stack of 494 documents is accumulated. After that, as shown schematically in FIG. 62, the deposited stack 494 moves upward in the machine I / O zone 50. The damper 54 opens and the stack is delivered to the user through the opening 52.

 The transaction sequence executed by the control system for performing machine operations during a withdrawal transaction is shown in FIGS. 69 and 70. As in the case of a deposit transaction, the machine first implements the user identification sequence represented by step 134, in which the user working with the machine is identified . This user identification sequence is usually not performed if the user carried out a previous transaction using the machine. After the user is identified, the machine proceeds to the main sequence 136 of the ATM transaction, as described above.

 Then, at step 496, the user indicates using the user interface whether it is desirable for him to conduct a withdrawal transaction. The amount of withdrawn funds is accepted by the machine based on the data entered by the user at step 498. At step 500, the machine determines whether the withdrawal amount requested by the user is authorized by programming the machine and / or programming a computer that communicates with the machine. If the withdrawal is not authorized, then the machine returns to the main sequence of the transaction and issues instructions to the user.

 If the withdrawal amount is authorized, the control system of the machine checks the storage cells of banknotes of different denominations at step 502 and determines at step 504 the totality of banknotes to be issued to the user. It should be noted that in some embodiments of the invention, which are intended for use mainly by commercial users, it may be possible for the user to select a set of banknotes of different denominations that the user desires to receive. This is done by the control system using programmed prompts that are displayed on the user interface. The user enters data through the user interface, indicating the number of banknotes of each type that he wants to receive. If, however, the ATM does not provide such an opportunity or the user does not select specific denominations, then the machine will determine the number of banknotes of each available type and give them to the user in such a way as to minimize the likelihood that the banknotes of any of the denominations will be used up.

 Then, the machine proceeds to step 506, in which the control system removes banknotes from various storage areas. As shown by dotted line 508, in a preferred embodiment, the withdrawal operations are performed simultaneously. Many banknotes can be withdrawn from various storage cells and transferred as a stream of individual banknotes through segments of the peripheral transport mechanism to the central transport mechanism of the machine.

 For each withdrawal operation, after the removal of the banknote, step 510 is performed to determine whether the double banknotes have been removed from the storage unit. If the presence of dual banknotes is determined at step 512, then at step 514 they are returned, and a new attempt is made to withdraw one banknote. If the presence of one banknote was determined in step 512, then the banknote in step 516 is released. Moreover, at step 516, the banknote is dispensed in a coordinated manner with other banknotes, which is provided by the control system so that each banknote falls into the central mechanism of transportation of the machine with a certain interval relative to other banknotes. However, this gap is such that the banknotes move simultaneously and are delivered to the deposit area at a high speed.

 The analysis of each passing banknote is carried out by the identification device 88, which is indicated at step 518. If the banknote is recognized at valid step 520 as valid, then it is sent to deposit zone 66 at step 522. If the banknote is not recognized at step 522 or determined to be invalid, then it is sent to the delivery / rejection zone 60 at step 524 or to another zone determined during programming of the machine. Failure to identify a banknote removed from a storage location is an extraordinary event. This is because each banknote saved is usually identified twice before. Problems may occur if the banknote has been loaded into the container from the outside. If the banknote is rejected, then the transaction sequence in the described embodiment proceeds to step 526 recovery from the error. Such an error recovery program may include sending a banknote through a central transport mechanism to a designated storage location for subsequent analysis.

 Banknotes are delivered to the deposit area until all banknotes matching the withdrawal request entered by the user are delivered. The completeness of delivery is checked at step 528. A check is then made at step 530 to determine whether all delivered banknotes are correctly identified. If not and there are banknotes directed to the rejection zone, then error recovery step 526 is performed.

 If, however, all the banknotes were properly identified, then the deposited stack corresponding to stack 494 in FIG. 62 is moved to the delivery area at step 532. Then, the inner shutter is closed at step 534. The front shutter is opened at step 536, and the conveyor belts to step 538 is driven to deliver banknotes to a user.

 At step 540, based on data read from sensors 148 and 150, it is determined whether the user has collected the stack of banknotes. If so, then at step 542, the front flap closes. The transaction sequence then returns to the main transaction sequence of the ATM at step 544.

 If, however, the banknotes were not taken by the user, then a subroutine may be executed, prompting the user to pick up the banknotes using prompts on the user interface. However, if the user has not collected the banknotes, then step 546 is performed to return the banknotes back to the machine. The front flap closes at step 548, and the machine then proceeds to the error recovery program. It may include, for example, storing banknotes in a particular storage cell. Alternatively, it may include reversing the withdrawal transaction requested by the user and place the banknotes back in various storage areas by sending them through a central transport mechanism.

 An advantage of a preferred embodiment of the invention is the ability to operate at high speeds. This is achieved through the architecture of the control system 30, which is shown schematically in FIG. A preferred embodiment of the system uses a control system including a terminal processor 548. The terminal processor contains the basic programming tools of the machine, as well as the programs necessary to implement the functions of information exchange with other systems and other functions other than those performed by the machine. As shown in FIG. 63, terminal processor 548 is operatively associated with a data memory that includes programmable instructions and data. The processor 548 of the terminal is connected by communication channels through the respective interfaces with various devices 550 included in the hardware.

 Terminal processor 548 is also operatively coupled to module processor 552. The processor 552 modules controls the operations performed by many controllers 554, 556, 558, 560, 562 and 564 modules. As shown in the drawing, the module processor 552 is also operatively connected to its own data memory, in which its programmed instructions and data are stored. Similarly, each of the module controllers preferably includes memory units for storing various programmed instructions and data. A module processor 552 is operatively connected to each of the module controllers via a data bus 566. The module controllers are connected via the data bus only to the module processor 552, and the module processor is directly connected to each module controller. Each module controller has hardware 567 associated with it. Each module controller has corresponding hardware types associated with it, with respect to which it manages and controls.

 During the operation of the system, each module controller implements programs for the execution of specific tasks associated with each device from the hardware associated with it. This may be, for example, a specific function associated with the movement of a mechanism or document. These tasks are coordinated with other tasks performed using the module controller associated with the corresponding hardware. The simultaneous movement of documents is coordinated by a module processor 552, which sends control signals to various module controllers, so that document manipulation functions are performed in a synchronized and coordinated manner. The processor 548 of the terminal controls the operation of the processor modules to perform specific transactions that are indicated when programming the terminal. As a result of this configuration, documents can be processed simultaneously and independently pass through the machine, which greatly increases the speed of sorting and retrieval of documents.

 The sheet thickness detectors used in the preferred embodiment of the machine 10 provide reliable detection of cases where duplicate or overlapping documents are inserted into the sheet conveying channel. As described above, in the event of double documents coming out of the stack disassembly zone 72, the double document sensors 80 detect double banknotes, as a result of which they can be returned back to the document stack. Similarly, when documents are issued from storage areas, a sheet thickness detector comprising an emitter 492 and a sensing element 490 can determine when a single or double sheet is moved out of the storage area. This allows you to return the double sheets back to the storage area.

 In a preferred embodiment, optical thickness gauges are used. Optical sensors have the advantage that they do not require physical contact between detector components. This is preferred when the detector component should be placed on a reuse container. The use of optical detectors is also preferable in those cases where the detector components should be located on movable components, such as the compartment door 442, on which the sensing element 490 is fixed.

 Optical-type sheet thickness detectors generally determine the thickness of passing sheets by sensing the amount of light that has passed through the sheet. Since double or triple sheets transmit significantly less radiation than a single sheet, this makes it easy to determine the presence of double or overlapping sheets.

 The problem that occurs when using optical sensors for currency or other similar documents is that the patterns printed on the banknotes are heterogeneous. Conventional optical dual banknote detectors generally only transmit light through a small portion of the banknote. If the optical sensor detects a portion with a print or other markings that allows less light to pass through, then the result may be an incorrect indication of the presence of a double banknote. In addition, banknotes may have dirt or ink or pencil marks made by the user. If the area analyzed by the dual banknote detector contains such marks, an erroneous indication of the double banknote may be generated. Different currencies also have different properties that can cause deviations in the degree of transmission of radiation in different areas. Usually, when using optical-type sheet thickness sensors in electronic banking machines, they tried to place the sensors in the area where transmitting radiation through the sheet was unlikely to lead to a false indication of a double sheet.

 The present invention is intended for processing various types of sheets in a wide variety of configurations. According to the invention, sheets having different orientations are processed in the machine. As a result, there is no single location where a known optical sheet thickness detector relative to the sheet transport channel could be placed, so that there is always a “good section” in the sense that it does not have zones with low throughput.

 To overcome this limitation, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a new sheet thickness detector is used, which can be used to detect the thickness of the sheet moving in the sheet conveying channel. A first embodiment of a sheet thickness detector is shown schematically in FIG. 71 and denoted by reference numeral 810. The detector 810 includes an emitter 812 and a receiver 814. The emitter 812 and the receiver 814 are similar to the emitter 492 and the receiver 490 discussed above. The receiver 814 is supported by a section door 816 that closes a document storage area (not shown in the drawing). The section door 816 comprises protrusions 818 that extend on the section door in the direction of movement of the sheet to engage sheets with an adjacent belt conveyor. Protrusions 820 for surface tension violation are also shown on the surface of the section door 816.

 The emitter 812 contains a radiation source 822. In a preferred embodiment, the radiation source comprises an infrared light emitting diode. In other embodiments, other radiation sources may be used. When applying power to the source 822, its radiation passes into the radiation direction element 824 (optical fiber). The radiation direction element 824 conducts radiation from the source to the radiation output element 826 (exit port).

 In a preferred embodiment, the radiation direction element 824 is a fiber optic bundle consisting of a plurality of cores 828 of fiber optic material. The cores 828 extend from the first end of the bundle, where they receive light from a source 822, to the second end at the radiation output element. As shown in FIG. 76, the cores 828 are linearly aligned in a direction transverse to the sheet moving direction of the radiation output member 826. It can be seen that this configuration provides a relatively wide linear band from which radiation emerges in the radiation output element.

 As shown in FIGS. 77 and 78, the receiver 714 has a housing 840 located in a recess in the surface of the section door. Electrical connector 842 is connected to the receiver. Electrical connector 842 transmits signals from the receiver to the container circuits, which are functionally connected to the control circuits of the machine.

 Receiver 814 comprises a radiation sensitive element 830. The radiation sensitive element 830 is aligned with the radiation output element 826 and is comparable in width to it. In a preferred embodiment, the radiation sensitive element 830 is a photodiode. Element 830 generates signals that correspond to the amount of radiation from radiation output element 826 falling into element 830.

 The receiver 814 also comprises a lens 832, which is located above the radiation sensitive element 830. Lens 832 passes radiation to it from the emitter. The lens is bounded by a convex surface 834 having an apex region 836, the height of which corresponds to the height of the protrusions 820. The radiation-sensitive element 830 is placed in the sheet conveying channel offset from the apex 836. This reduces the risk that the lens in the area above the element 830 will be exposed wear or will be scratched due to contact with sheets passing by it.

 A radiation source 822 and a radiation sensitive element 930 are operatively coupled to the machine control system 340. This makes it possible to control the radiation source in such a way as to produce a sufficient amount of radiation necessary for the detection of dual documents that move between the emitter and the receiver. The signals from receiver 830 are used by the control system, as will be explained below, to determine the presence of single or double sheets in the sheet transport channel. If duplicate documents are found, they can be returned back to the storage area from which they were issued, or otherwise processed accordingly. In a preferred embodiment, the sheet thickness detector 810 is also used to detect the leading and trailing edges of the sheets. This allows the control system to determine the position of sheets passing through the system, which is important when transporting sheets simultaneously.

 As shown in FIG. 72, the document sheet 838 extends along the sheet transport channel between the emitter 812 and the receiver 814. The sheet 838 moves along the sheet transport channel in the direction shown by arrow S. The sheets can be moved left or right along this direction, as shown in FIG. 72.

 The radiation from the radiation source 822 is directed by the radiation direction element 824 and passes through the radiation output element 826. This radiation, as shown by the arrow L, passes through the sheet 838 to the element 830 in the receiver 814. As a result of the radiation entering the radiation sensitive element, the receiver 814 produces a signal that varies depending on the amount of radiation transmitted through the sheet.

 An example of a signal generated upon detection of a single banknote and dual banknotes is shown in Fig. 79. The output signal line 844 corresponds to a single banknote passing between the emitter 812 and the receiver 814. It can be seen that when the sheet passes between the emitter and the receiver, the amplitude of the signal from the receiver decreases as the front edge of the sheet passes and again increases when the rear edge of the sheet passes. The signal line 844 has level fluctuations as the sheet passes between the transmitter and the receiver due to fluctuations in the throughput of various sections of the banknote.

 An output signal line 846 represents the passage of dual banknotes. As can be seen, substantially less radiation is transmitted through the doubled banknotes than in the case of a single banknote. As a result, the amplitude of the signal from the receiver in the case of dual banknotes is much lower. The control system associated with the container uses the threshold stored in it, denoted by reference numeral 848, which corresponds to the amplitude of the signal, below which dual banknotes should be detected. The threshold 848 is determined based on experiments with specific types of sheets that should be detected by the sheet thickness detector. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is possible to specify thresholds that will reliably predict detection of doubled documents as opposed to marked or dirty documents.

 A fundamental feature of a preferred embodiment of the invention is that the emitter and receiver detect the passage of radiation through the sheet at a distance that is quite wide compared to conventional optical detectors of sheet thickness. By perceiving throughput on such a wide area, localized low-throughput areas caused by signs on a single banknote, such as markings or printable areas, will be averaged together with other areas, which eliminates the false indication of double banknotes.

 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the radiation output element and the radiation sensitive element are centered in the transverse direction with respect to the sheet conveying channel and span a distance of about 20 mm. In the case of US banknotes, the transmitter and receiver estimate the throughput in the area, which is approximately 13 percent of the total banknote width. It should be borne in mind that although such ratios are used in the preferred embodiment, in other embodiments, more or less of the banknote width may be analyzed. In principle, analysis of approximately five percent of the banknote width for most types of documents provides significant advantages over other optical sheet thickness detectors that analyze less than one percent of the banknote width. An analysis of ten percent of the width of the banknote, therefore, in principle provides very good results. Of course, values exceeding those used in the preferred embodiment can be used, provided that the indicated section of the analyzed banknote is not so large that the mismatch or skew can cause false readings due to the direct passage (bypassing the banknote) of the radiation from the emitter to the receiver.

 In a preferred embodiment, the region in which the emitter and receiver analyze a portion of the banknote is in the center or close to it. This ensures the perception of the banknote section between the conveyor belts that move the banknotes along the container transport mechanism. This configuration provides accurate perception of doubled documents, despite the misalignment of banknotes. Duplicate documents can be accurately detected despite localized marks on banknotes or changes in banknotes due to staining or aging.

 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a light emitting diode serving as a radiation source is disposed in an aperture in an emitter housing from which it can be easily removed. This ensures the replacement of the light emitting diode in case of failure. Similarly, the receiver 814 can be easily removed from the slot in which it is located on the door of the section.

 The control system of the machine in a preferred embodiment of the invention ensures that the radiation source operates at a level sufficient to accurately detect double sheets. This is done by adjusting the intensity of the radiation source in the absence of a sheet to obtain the desired output from the receiver. The achievement of such a desired output signal provides a significant difference in the amplitude of the signals generated during the passage of the sheets in order to accurately recognize single and double sheets.

 In a preferred embodiment, the reuse containers contain internal memory. The internal memory stores data representing the intensity of the radiation source required for the accurate detection of dual documents in some systems. Various types of emitters and detectors can be used. Storing information in the built-in memory of the container allows the control system of the machine to more quickly control the emitter and accurately read and interpret the signals generated by the receiver.

 An alternative embodiment of emitter 850 is shown in FIGS. 73-75. This emitter is used in the machine in connection with the sensors of 80 dual documents of the central transportation mechanism of the electronic banking machine. The receiver used in conjunction with the emitter 850 is similar to the receiver 814.

 The emitter 850 comprises a housing 852. The housing 852 comprises a central cavity 854. In the cavity 854, there is a radiation direction element 856. The radiation direction element 856 in this embodiment comprises a fiber optic bundle, as in the previous embodiment. However, the radiation direction element 856 is fan-shaped outward in the direction of the radiation output (output) element 858. The radiation direction element 856 is held in the cavity 854 by means of the protrusions 860 and secured in place by the sealing compound 862.

 The housing 852 has a rear wall 864. The rear wall 864 has an opening 866. A plurality of protrusions 868 of the rear wall surround the opening 866 on the outside of the wall 864. The protrusions 868 provide detachable installation of the radiation source 870, which in this embodiment is also an infrared LED. The protrusions 868 provide detachable fixing of the LED in the hole 866. The protrusions 868 are deformed to release the LED to replace it.

 Emitter 850 operates in conjunction with a receiver similar to receiver 814 to ensure accurate detection of double sheets. The transverse length of the outlet 858 relative to the width of the sheet allows the separation of single sheets from double sheets, despite the presence of localized sections of low throughput on the sheets. Although fiber optic bundles are used as radiation direction elements in the illustrated embodiments, other devices that provide a relatively wide distributed radiation source may be used in other embodiments. In addition, although infrared radiation sources are used in a preferred embodiment, other sources and other radiation frequencies may be used in other embodiments. This is especially important in situations where specific types of sheets are processed having certain properties that provide more pronounced differences between single and double sheets when using radiation at other frequencies.

 Thus, the preferred embodiment of the invention provides a solution to the problems posed, eliminates the disadvantages inherent in known devices, systems and methods, and allows you to achieve the necessary results, as described above.

 In the foregoing description, certain terms are used for brevity, clarity, and understanding. However, the use of these terms does not impose any restrictions, since they are used only for descriptive purposes and should be interpreted broadly. The description and illustrations are by way of example only, and the invention is not limited to the exact details as shown or described.

 In the claims, any features described through means for performing the specified function should be construed as including any means capable of performing the specified function, and not as simple equivalents of the specific means presented in the description.

 Based on the described features, disclosures and principles of the invention, the method of its creation and functioning, the achieved benefits and useful results, the accompanying claims set forth new useful structures, devices, elements, configurations, nodes, combinations, systems, operations, methods and ratios.

Claims (19)

 1. A device for determining the thickness of a banknote for an electronic banking machine for currency recycling, containing a channel for moving sheets in the machine, designed to move sheets along the direction of their movement, a sheet thickness detector that determines the thickness of the sheets in the channel for moving sheets, and the sheet thickness detector contains an emitter on the first side of the sheet moving channel and the receiver on the opposite side of the sheet moving channel, wherein the sheets move in the sheet moving channel, box between the emitter and the receiver, wherein the emitter contains a radiation source, a radiation direction element for receiving light from the radiation source at the first end and for emitting light at the second end, the second end being substantially elongated with a length of the first distance mainly transverse to the sheet moving direction , the receiver comprises a radiation sensitive element aligned with the second end of the radiation direction element, the element spanning a first distance in the transverse direction to to the sheet moving channel, the radiation sensitive element generates signals in response to the radiation that came to it from the radiation source, the signals being used by the machine to determine the thickness of the sheets passing between the emitter and the receiver.  2. The device according to p. 1, characterized in that the emitter contains a housing with an opening, while the radiation source has the ability to position in the hole in a removable manner.  3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the radiation source emits radiation mainly in the first direction, while the radiation direction element transmits the radiation to the second end in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.  4. The device according to p. 1, characterized in that the radiation direction element contains a fiber optic bundle.  5. The device according to p. 4, characterized in that the fiber optic bundle contains many cores, and the cores are essentially linearly aligned in the transverse direction near the second end.  6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiver comprises a lens located above the radiation sensitive element, the lens in a cross section parallel to the sheet moving channel, being bounded by an arcuate surface near the sheet moving channel.  7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the arcuate surface has a vertex portion, the radiation sensitive element being biased in the direction of movement of the sheets away from the vertex portion.  8. The device according to p. 7, characterized in that the machine further comprises a storage area, the sheets being held in the storage area, the movable section door covers the storage area, while the receiver is supported by the section door.  9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the emitter and the receiver are essentially centered in the transverse direction relative to the sheet moving channel.  10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheets moving in the sheet moving channel have a sheet width in the direction transverse to the sheet moving channel, wherein the first distance is at least about ten percent of the sheet width.  11. A device for determining the thickness of a banknote for an electronic banking machine for recycling currency, comprising a sheet moving mechanism for moving sheets in a sheet moving channel, sheets moving in a sheet moving channel along a sheet moving direction, wherein sheets moving in a sheet moving channel have the width of the sheet in the direction transverse to the direction of movement of the sheets, and on the sheets there are patterns of characters, and these patterns are essentially heterogeneous on each the radiation source and the radiation receiver, the source and the receiver being placed aligned on opposite sides of the sheet moving channel, so that the sheets moving in the sheet moving channel pass between the emitter and the receiver, while the receiver generates a signal in accordance with the amount of radiation, which he received from the emitter, a device functionally connected to the receiver, for comparing the signal with a threshold, and the threshold indicates whether more than one sheet is between the emitter and the receiver, when The emitter and the receiver are elongated in the transverse direction and have such a length that the signs in the heterogeneous patterns generally do not cause the signal to exceed the threshold if there is one sheet between the emitter and the receiver.  12. The device according to p. 11, characterized in that the emitter and receiver have a length in the transverse direction, approximately equal to five percent of the width of the sheet.  13. The device according to p. 11, characterized in that the emitter and receiver have a length in the transverse direction, approximately equal to ten percent of the width of the sheet.  14. The device according to p. 11, characterized in that it further comprises a container having a storage area for storing sheets therein, and an automatic sheet dispenser, the container being removably mounted in a sheet dispensing machine, wherein the container contains programmable memory functionally associated with it, providing storage of data corresponding to at least one of the aforementioned emitter intensity or threshold.  15. The device according to p. 14, characterized in that the container contains many storage areas and additionally contains many emitters and receivers, moreover, one emitter and one receiver form a pair, the pair is positioned in the sheet moving channel next to each storage area, and the memory provides storage data corresponding to at least one of the mentioned intensity and threshold for the respective emitter and receiver in each pair.  16. The device according to p. 11, characterized in that the emitter contains a radiation source and an element of radiation direction, and the radiation source is mounted movably with the possibility of removal in functional relationship with the element of the radiation direction.  17. A method for determining the thickness of a banknote for an electronic banking machine for currency recycling, comprising the steps of moving sheets, generally one at a time in the sheet moving channel, the sheets moving along the direction of movement of the sheets and on each sheet there are patterns of characters that are generally heterogeneous on each sheet moreover, the signs affect the transmission of radiation through the sheet, and the sheets have a width in the direction mainly transverse to the channel of movement of the sheets, and transmission of radiation through a portion of the width of each ayuschegosya sheet, wherein said portion is large enough so that the marks on the non-uniform figure is not substantially affect the total amount of radiation passing through said portion of each single movable sheet relative to other single moving sheets.  18. A method for determining the thickness of a banknote for an electronic banking machine for currency recycling, comprising the steps of moving sheets mainly one at a time in the channel for moving sheets, the sheets moving along the direction of movement of the sheets and on each sheet there are patterns of characters that are generally heterogeneous on each sheet, moreover, the signs affect the transmission of radiation through the sheet, and the sheets have a width in the direction mainly transverse to the channel of movement of the sheets, transmission of radiation through a part of the width of each movement of the sheet, the indicated part being sufficiently large, so that the signs in the inhomogeneous pattern do not significantly affect the total amount of radiation passing through the indicated part of each single movable sheet, relative to other single moving sheets, the perception of the amount of radiation transmitted through the indicated part of each sheet, and comparing the indicated amount for each sheet with a threshold, the threshold corresponding to overlapping sheets.  19. The method according to p. 18, characterized in that it further includes the step of generating using the emitter radiation transmitted at the transmission step, the sensing step including sensing the amount of radiation received by the receiver, and the method further includes adjusting the intensity of the radiation generated by the emitter at the radiation stage, to a certain level, taking into account the amount of radiation received by the receiver.

Images