SE1650289A1 - Apparatus for action cash - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for handling cash, said apparatus (10) comprising: a note storage unit (24) for storing notes in the apparatus (10); the note storage unit (24) comprising: at least one recycling container (26), which is arranged to receive notes deposited into the apparatus (10) and output notes to be dispensed from the apparatus (10); and at least one acceptance container (28), which is arranged to receive and store notes. The at least one acceptance container (28) is configured for mounting of a bag (70) in the acceptance container (28), wherein the acceptance container (28) comprises a bag holding device (50), which is arranged to provide a fixating position of an opening of the bag (70) at an input opening (52) of the acceptance container (28) for receiving notes, wherein notes received into the acceptance container (28) are stored in the bag (70) in the acceptance container (28).Elected for publication: Fig. 3

Description

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CASH Technical FieldThe present invention relates to an apparatus for handling cashallowing deposit of cash, and possibly also dispensing of cash.

BackgroundAutomatic cash handling machines are often placed at various locations for providing a possibility to deposit and/or dispense cash at thelocation. Such machines may be advantageously placed in banks, stores orpublic locations.

The automatic cash handling machines allow users to deposit cash,e.g. for placing cash into a bank account or for making a payment, orwithdraw cash from a bank account. The cash handling machines mayeventually be filled up with cash or may be emptied, such that personnel needto travel to the location of the cash handling machine to either empty themachine on superfluous cash or fill the machine with new cash.

Cash-in-transit (ClT) companies provide services for filling andemptying of cash handling machines. However, ClT personnel are in anexposed position, since they handle large amounts of cash, and there istherefore a risk of robbery.

Hence, it is desirable that a stop cash-in-transit personnel make at acash handling machine is very short, so as to reduce the exposure torobberies. Therefore, the cash handling machine should be easy to emptyand fill so that the ClT personnel can perform their duties quickly.

Also, it is desirable that the cash can be easily handled when the ClTpersonnel move between a vehicle and a cash handling machine. Hence, thecash should be provided in such manner as to be easily carried and notproviding too heavy loads on the ClT personnel.

Summarv of the Invention lt is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for handlingcash which may be quickly emptied. lt is a further object of the invention toprovide an apparatus for handling cash, which may provide cash, when beingemptied by ClT personnel, in a form that is easy to carry.

These and other objects of the invention are at least partly met by theapparatus according to the independent claim. Preferred embodiments areprovided by the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided anapparatus for handling cash, said apparatus comprising: a note storage unitfor storing notes in the apparatus; a note supply unit for allowing deposit ofnotes into the note storage unit; a note validation unit for validating depositednotes and determining a value of deposited notes; a control unit for controllingtransport of notes through the note storage unit; wherein the note storage unitcomprises: at least one acceptance container, which is arranged to receiveand store notes; wherein the at least one acceptance container is configuredfor mounting of a bag in the acceptance container, wherein the acceptancecontainer comprises a bag holding device, which is arranged to provide afixating position of an opening of the bag at an input opening of theacceptance container for receiving notes, wherein notes received into theacceptance container are stored in the bag in the acceptance container.

Thanks to the invention, the acceptance container is configured suchthat a bag may be mounted in the acceptance container. This implies thatnotes may be directly input into a bag in the acceptance container and thatthe ClT personnel may remove the bag from the acceptance container foreasily carrying cash from the apparatus. Thus, the apparatus may be emptiedquickly and the cash is provided in a manner to facilitate carrying by the ClTpersonnel.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus may be arranged for notonly depositing cash, but also for dispensing cash. The note supply unit maythus be a note supply and output unit for allowing deposit of notes into thenote storage unit and dispensing of notes from the note storage unit. Further,the control unit may control transport of notes in and out of the note storage unti. Also, the note storage unit may further comprise at least one recyclingcontainer, which is arranged to receive notes deposited into the apparatusand output notes to be dispensed from the apparatus, wherein the control unitis arranged to control each of the at least one recycling container to receivenotes of a specific value. The apparatus may further be arranged to dispensenotes only from the at least one recycling container.

The apparatus may thus comprise at least one recycling container andat least one acceptance container. Hence, transactions of notes in and out ofthe recycling containers may occur during use of the apparatus. ClTpersonnel may normally not need to empty the recycling containers, sincenotes may be controlled to be transported to the at least one acceptancecontainer, if the recycling containers are full. Thus, it is only necessary toempty the acceptance container, which does not need to be associated withmechanics that enable both input and output of notes to the acceptancecontainer.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a coinstorage unit for storing coins in the apparatus, a coin supply unit and a coinoutput unit for allowing deposit of coins into the coin storage unit anddispensing of coins from the coin storage unit; a coin validation unit forvalidating deposited coins and determining a value of deposited coins;wherein the control unit is arranged to further control transport of coins in andout of the coin storage unit.

This implies that the apparatus may handle both coins and notes. Thecontrol unit may control both the handling of coins and notes in the apparatus.However, the coins and notes may be handled by completely separatemechanics. ln one embodiment, the note handling may be performed in a firstunit arranged in a first housing and the coin handling may be performed in asecond unit arranged in a second housing. The first and second housingsmay be arranged in close relation to each other for providing a usersimultaneous access to both note and coin handling. The control unit may bearranged in one of the housings or partly in both housings, and an electricconnection may be provided between the housings such that the control provided by the control unit may affect the respective transport of notes andcoins.

The control unit may also keep track of transactions of cash, includingnotes and coins, such that the control unit may ensure that a user interactingwith the apparatus may receive a single receipt of a transaction that includeshandling of both notes and coins.

According to an embodiment, the note storage unit is arranged in acabinet, the cabinet comprising shelves for providing surfaces on which the atleast one recycling container and the at least one acceptance container maybe arranged. According to an alternative, the cabinet may comprisesupporting elements along opposite inner walls of the cabinet, wherein the atleast one recycling container and the at least one acceptance containercomprise outer support surfaces at respective sides such that the at least onerecycling container and the at least one acceptance container may bearranged in the cabinet supported by the supporting elements on the oppositeinner walls. Thus, the at least one recycling container and the at least oneacceptance container may be mounted on top of each other in the cabinet,extending between the opposite inner walls of the cabinet. This implies thatthe cabinet provides an organized arrangement of containers in theapparatus, which facilitates transport of notes and also access to containersfor ClT personnel.

According to an embodiment, the cabinet further comprises a door,wherein the at least one acceptance container is arranged in the cabinet, soas to be completely retractable from the cabinet through the door when thedoor is open. The ClT personnel may have authority to open the door, bymeans of a key to a mechanical lock or an electronic identifier that may allowthe control unit to open a lock. When the door is opened by the ClTpersonnel, direct access may be provided to any container inside the door.The at least one acceptance container may be completely retracted from thecabinet, and then a filled bag may be easily removed from the acceptancecontainer, and the acceptance container may be provided with a new bagbefore the acceptance container is put back into the cabinet.

According to an embodiment, the bag holding device comprises anelongate wedge such that a first portion of the opening of the bag is foldableover an edge of the wedge. This implies that an edge of the bag at theopening may be folded over the wedge, such that the edge of the bag is notpresented towards the notes being input into the bag holding device. Thus,the edge of the bag will not interfere with notes being filled into the bag.

According to an embodiment, the bag holding device further compriseslegs attached to respective sides of the elongate wedge, wherein each leg isturnably attached to an inner wall of the acceptance container between a bagfixating position and a bag mounting position. This implies that the bagholding device may be moved between a bag mounting position, whereinmounting of the bag is facilitated and, when the bag is mounted to the bagholding device, the bag holding device may be moved to the bag fixatingposition, wherein the position of the bag is fixed at the input opening of theacceptance container.

According to an embodiment, the wedge in the bag fixating position isarranged against a bottom wall of the acceptance container for fixating thebag between the bottom wall of the acceptance container and the wedge.

According to an embodiment, the bag holding device further comprisesa locking mechanism for locking the wedge in the bag fixating position.

According to an embodiment, the bag holding device further comprisesa bag closing element, which is arranged to hold a second portion of theopening of the bag, and which is movable in relation to the wedge between anopen position, wherein the opening of the bag mounted to the bag closingelement and the wedge is held open, and a closed position, wherein the firstportion and the second portion of the opening of the bag are brought in closerelation to each other for closing the bag. Thus, a first portion of the openingof the bag may be held by the wedge against the bottom wall of theacceptance container and a second portion of the opening of the bag may beheld by the bag closing element. When the bag is mounted in the acceptancecontainer, the bag closing element may be held in the open position forallowing notes to be input into the bag. Further, when the acceptancecontainer is to be emptied, the bag closing element may further be brought to the closed position before the bag holding device can be brought to the bagmounting position, so as to close the bag before the bag can be removedfrom the acceptance container.

Brief Description of Drawinqs The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages ofthe present inventive concept, will be better understood through the followingillustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments ofthe present invention, with reference to the appended drawings. ln thedrawings like reference numerals will be used for like elements unless statedotherwise.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus for handling cash accordingto an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a note storage unit of the apparatus ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a bag holding device of an acceptancecontainer of the note storage unit in a bag mounting position.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the bag mounting position of the bagholding device illustrating mounting of the bag.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a bag fixating position of the bag holdingdevice when a bag closing element is in an open position.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a bag fixating position of the bag holdingdevice when a bag closing element is in a closed position.

Detailed DescriptionDetailed embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

Referring now to Fig. 1, an apparatus 10 for handling cash isdescribed. The apparatus 10 comprises a first part 12 for handling notes anda second part 14 for handling coins. The first part 12 and the second part 14are illustrated as arranged in two separate housings, which may be arrangedside-by-side. However, the first and second parts 12, 14 may alternatively bearranged in a common housing.

The first part 12 comprises a note supply and output unit 20. The notesupply and output unit 20 allows a user to deposit notes into the apparatus 10and to receive notes dispensed by the apparatus 10. The note supply andoutput unit 20 may provide a shape for depositing and dispensing a stack ofnotes. Alternatively, single notes are deposited and dispensed at a time.

According to a further alternative, the note supply and output unit 20may comprise two separate slots, such that notes may be deposited into theapparatus 10 through a first slot and that notes may be dispensed from theapparatus 10 through a second slot.

The note supply and output unit 20 may be connected to a transportdevice for transporting the notes to and from the note supply and output unit20. The transport device may comprise a transport belt for carrying notes.

The transport device may carry the notes through a note validation unit22. The note validation unit 22 may comprise a plurality of sensors formeasuring characteristics of the notes. The measurements performed by thesensors may be analyzed by the note validation unit 22 or sent to another unitwithin the apparatus 10 for analysis. The analysis of the notes may validatethat the note is not a forgery and may also determine a value of the note.

The apparatus 10 may further comprise a control unit 16, which maycontrol transport of coins and notes through the apparatus 10. The controlunit 16 may comprise a processing unit. The control unit 16 may receive inputfrom sensors in the apparatus 10 and may execute processing instructions fordetermining how coins and notes are to be handled in view of the sensedinput The processing unit of the control unit 16 may be implemented as amicroprocessor, which may be programmable for controlling operation of themicroprocessor. For instance, the processing unit may be a centralprocessing unit (CPU). The processing unit may alternatively be a special-purpose circuitry for providing only specific logical operations. Thus, theprocessing unit may be provided in the form of an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), an application-specific instruction-set processor(ASIP) or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA).

The control unit 16 may further comprise a non-volatile memory forstoring information, such as instructions for controlling operation of theprocessing unit, and log data of transactions performed by the apparatus 10.

The control unit 16 may further comprise a communication unit forsending control signals, in order to control functionality of other componentsof the apparatus 10. The control signals may for instance control a transportdevice how to transport coins or notes.

The apparatus 10 may further comprise a user interface, which mayallow a user to input information to the control unit 16 in connection toperforming a transaction at the apparatus 10. The user may for instanceprovide an identifier such that the control unit 16 may associate the user witha bank account.

The control unit 16 may record an amount deposited by a user ordispensed to a user and may associate such a transaction with the user. Thecontrol unit 16 may store the transaction in the memory. The control unit 16may also or alternatively send information about the transaction to an externalunit, such as a bank system, for recording the transaction in relation to a bankaccount of the user.

The control unit 16 may comprise a plurality of parts, which may bedistributed in the apparatus 10. Each part of the control unit 16 may bearranged in connection to a component of the apparatus 10 which it isarranged to control. The parts of the control unit 16 may be connected bycables extending through the apparatus 10. For instance, the control unit 16may in one embodiment comprise a first processing unit arranged in the firstpart 12 of the apparatus 10 for controlling transport of notes and a secondprocessing unit arranged in the second part 14 of the apparatus 10 forcontrolling transport of coins.

The control unit 16 may thus receive input from the note validation unit22 and may analyze the input to determine where a deposited note is to betransported.

The first part 12 may further comprise a note storage unit 24. Thedeposited notes are transported to the note storage unit 24 for storage in theapparatus 10.

The note storage unit 24 may comprise two types of containers forstorage of notes, recycling containers 26 and acceptance containers 28. Thenote storage unit 24 may comprise at least one container of each type.

The recycling container 26 may be arranged to store notes of a specificvalue. Thus, the recycling container 26 may only store notes of the specificvalue. The recycling container 26 may be connected to a transport devicesuch that notes may be input into the recycling container 26 and may also beoutput from the recycling container 26. Thus, when notes are to be dispensedfrom the apparatus 10, notes may be output from the recycling container 26through the transport device to the note supply and output unit 20.

An action of dispensing notes from the apparatus 10 may include thecontrol unit 16 sending control signals to mechanics controlling output fromrespective recycling containers 26 so as to activate output of a desired set ofnotes of different values. Since each recycling container 26 stores notes ofonly one specific value, the control unit 16 may easily know which recyclingcontainer 26 to activate depending on the amount to be dispensed.

When a recycling container 26 is full, notes may instead be depositedto an acceptance container 28. The acceptance container 28 may store notesthat are to be emptied from the apparatus 10 by ClT personnel.

The acceptance container 28 may store notes of a plurality of values orof any specific value. Since no output of notes is necessary from theacceptance container 28 in a dispensing action, advantages of separatingnotes of different values into different acceptance containers 28 may not beas clear. However, it should be realized that notes may be stored in separateacceptance containers 28 depending on their value and that it may facilitatehandling of the notes when the apparatus is emptied by ClT personnel.

The control unit 16 may store information of how many notes arestored in each recycling container 26 so as to be able to determine whether adeposited note is to be transported to the recycling container 26 or to theacceptance container 28.

As mentioned, the deposited note may be transported to theacceptance container 28 when the recycling container 26 is full. However, thecontrol unit 16 may alternatively control transport of notes based on other criteria, such as to keep a number of notes in the recycling container 26 withina desired range.

The control unit 16 may also determine when a number of notes storedin an acceptance container 28 is above a threshold value and may provide analert signal to an external unit based on such determination. The alert signalmay thus be provided to ClT personnel to provide information that there maybe a need for emptying the apparatus 10.

Likewise, the control unit 16 may determine when a number of notes ina recycling container 26 is below a threshold value and may provide an alertsignal to an external unit based on such determination. The alert signal maythus be provided to ClT personnel to provide information that there may be aneed for filling the apparatus 10 with notes of the specific value stored in therecycling container 26.

The second part 14 of the apparatus 10 may comprise a coin supplyunit 30 allowing a user to deposit coins into the apparatus 10. The coin supplyunit 30 may receive coins and transport coins to a coin validation unit 32. Thecoin validation unit 32 may comprise a plurality of sensors for measuringcharacteristics of deposited coins. The coin validation unit 32 and/or thecontrol unit 16 may thus, based on the measured characteristics validate thatthe coin is not a forgery and may also determine a value of the coin.

The coin validation unit 32 may further be arranged to sort coinsaccording to denomination. ln this regard, the coin validation unit 32 maycomprise a transport device for transporting coins over a plurality of openingsfor sorting coins based on size. However, it should be realized that coins mayalso be sorted in other ways, e.g. by controlling transport of coins based on adetermined value of the coin in view of measured characteristics.

The deposited coins may be transported to a coin storage unit 34which may comprise a plurality of storage compartments, each storing aspecific coin denomination.

The storage compartments may further comprise output openings fordispensing of coins to a coin output unit 36. The coin output unit 36 may bearranged below the coin storage unit 34 such that coins may fall from thestorage compartments into the coin output unit 36. A user may open a drawer 11 for arranging a cash till in the coin output unit 36, such that coins are directlyoutput into the cash till.

Deposited coins may alternatively be transported to a coin transportunit 38. The coin transport unit 38 may store coins in a manner suitable foremptying the apparatus 10 by ClT personnel. The coin transport unit 38 mayprovide a box that may be simply replaced by ClT personnel with an emptybox when the coin transport unit 38 is removed by ClT personnel.

The control unit 16 may control transport of coins through the secondpart 14 of the apparatus 10. The control unit 16 may thus control when coinsare to be deposited to the coin storage unit 34 or transported into the cointransport unit 38. Further, when a storage compartment in the coin storageunit 34 becomes full, the control unit 16 may control the storage compartmentto output coins into the coin transport unit 38.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the note storage unit 24 will be furtherdescribed. The first part 12 of the apparatus 10 may comprise a cabinet 40, inwhich the note storage unit 24 is arranged.

The cabinet 40 may be provided with a door 42, for allowing access tothe recycling containers 26 and acceptance containers 28 of the note storageunit 24. The door 42 may be locked and may only be opened by authorizedpersonnel, having a key or an identifier which may be presented to a userinterface for providing input to the control unit 16 for allowing the door 42 tobe opened.

The cabinet 40 may be provided with a number of shelves 44 forproviding support to a respective container. The recycling containers 26 andacceptance containers 28 may thus be easily withdrawn from the cabinet 40by pulling out the container from the shelf 44 through the opened door 42.

As an alternative, the cabinet 40 may be provided with supportingelements along opposite inner walls of the cabinet 40. The recyclingcontainers 26 and the acceptance containers 28 may then be provided withcorresponding outer support surfaces, which may be arranged in contact withthe supporting elements for mounting the containers 26, 28 in the cabinet 40.

The acceptance container 28 may be configured for mounting of a bagtherein. The notes input into the acceptance container 28 may thus be 12 arranged in the bag. When the acceptance container 28 is to be emptied, CITpersonnel may open a lid in the acceptance container 28 to access the bagtherein and may simply remove the bag.

Thus, instead of bringing an empty acceptance container 28, whichmay be quite heavy and cumbersome to carry, to the apparatus 10, the CITpersonnel may simply replace a bag in the acceptance container 28.

Referring now to Figs 3-6, a bag holding device 50 of the acceptancecontainer 28 will be described. ln Fig. 3, the acceptance container 28 is shown with the bag holdingdevice 50 arranged in a bag mounting position. The acceptance container 28may comprise an opening and a lid 29. The lid 29 may cover the opening andmay be opened in the bag mounting position such as to allow the bag holdingdevice 50 to extend through the opening and provide access to the bagholding device 50.

The bag holding device 50 may comprise an elongate wedge 54. Thebag holding device 50 may further comprise legs 56, 58 which are attached torespective sides of the elongate wedge 54. The legs 56, 58 are attached in ajoint 60, 62 to an inner wall of the acceptance container 28. The legs 56, 58may be arranged to turn about the joint 60, 62, such that the bag holdingdevice 50 may be brought between the bag mounting position as illustrated inFigs 3-4, and a bag fixating position, as illustrated in Figs 5-6.

The bag holding device 50 may further comprise a bag closing element64, which is movable in relation to the wedge 54. The bag closing element 64may be rotatably attached to the legs 56, 58.

The bag closing element 64 may further comprise an elongate plate65. The bag closing element 64 may be rotated in relation to the wedge 54between a closed position and an open position, wherein the elongate plate65 in the closed position is close to an edge of the wedge 54 and extendingalong the elongate wedge 54 and wherein the elongate plate 65 in the openposition is distanced from the wedge 54. ln Figs 3-4, the bag holding device 50 is shown in the bag mountingposition with the bag closing element 64 in the open position. The bag 70 ismounted with a first portion 72 of an opening of the bag 70 being folded over 13 an edge of the wedge 54. As shown in Fig. 4, the bag 70 may further beattached to hooks or pins 71 extending from a bottom surface of the wedge54. The bag 70 is further mounted with a second portion 74 of an opening ofthe bag 70 being fo|ded over the elongate plate 65. As shown in Fig. 3, thebag 70 may further be attached to hooks 66 extending from an upper surfaceof the elongate plate 65. The bag 70 may be provided with an adhesive forallowing the bag 70 to be further attached to the wedge 54 on a bottom sideof the wedge 54 and/or to the elongate plate 65 on an upper surface of theelongate plate 65.

The bag holding device 50 with a mounted bag 70 may be moved fromthe bag mounting position to the bag fixating position. As shown in Fig. 5, thewedge 54 may thus be arranged in contact with a bottom wall of theacceptance container 28. The edge of the opening of the bag 70 may thus bepinched between the wedge 54 and a bottom wall of the acceptancecontainer 28. Further, with the lid 29 closed, the opening of the bag 70 maybe pinched between the elongate plate 65 and an inner surface of the lid 29.

The acceptance container 28 comprises an input opening 52 throughwhich notes are transported into the acceptance container 28. The inputopening 52 may be arranged in a short side of the acceptance container 28.The bag holding device 50 may be arranged in the bag fixating position inclose relation to the input opening 52 of the acceptance container 28 suchthat notes transported into the acceptance container 28 are transported intothe bag 70.

Further, the bag 70 is mounted in the bag fixating position such that anedge of the bag is not facing the input opening 52 even though the opening ofthe bag 70 is arranged at the input opening 52. Thus, the edge of the bag 70will not interfere with notes being filled into the bag 70.

The bag holding device 50 may further comprise a locking mechanismfor locking the bag holding device 50 in the bag fixating position. For instance,the locking mechanism may comprise pins, which may be inserted into thejoints 60, 62 for preventing the bag holding device 50 to turn about the joints60, 62. 14 When a bag 70 in the acceptance container 28 is full or when it is forsome reason desired to remove the bag 70 with the stored notes, the bag 70may first be closed before the |id 29 may be opened. The |id 29 may belocked such that access to the bag 70 is not possible before the bag 70 hasbeen closed.

As shown in Fig. 6, the bag closing element 64 may be rotated about aconnection of the bag closing element 64 to the legs 56, 58. The elongateplate 65 may thus be moved towards the elongate wedge 54 for bringing thefirst and the second portions of the opening of the bag 70 close to each other.The bag 70 may also be sealed in this position, e.g. by means of adhesive onan inner surface of the bag 70, such that the bag 70 may not be openedwithout tampering of the bag 70.

When the acceptance container 28 is to be emptied, the bag 70 maythus first be sealed before the |id 29 may be opened and the legs 56, 58 maybe turned to move the bag holding device 50 into the bag mounting position.The bag closing element 64 may then be moved to the open position allowingthe bag 70 to be removed and allowing mounting of a new bag 70.

The bag closing element 64 may be biased towards the closedposition, e.g. by the connection of the bag closing element 64 to the legs 56,58 being spring-loaded. The bag holding device 50 may further comprise atleast one locking element 80, 82, which may engage a portion of the bagclosing element 64 for preventing movement of the bag closing element 64from the open position. For instance, the locking element(s) 80, 82 and thebag closing element 64 may comprise complementary hooks and recessesfor providing a strong engagement between the locking element(s) 80, 82 andthe bag closing element 64 in the open position.

The acceptance container 28 may further be arranged such that the |id29 may not be opened unless the at least one locking element 80, 82 isreleased from engagement with the bag closing element 64 and the bagclosing element 64 thus have been brought to the closed position.

According to an embodiment, the locking elements 80, 82 may behinged to the legs 56, 58. The locking elements 80, 82 may further comprisean engagement portion, which engages the bag closing element 64 on one side of the hinge, and an aotivation portion, whioh extends on an oppositedside of the hinge to the engagement portion. The lid 29 may further oompriseprotrusions 84, whioh are arranged to engage with the aotivation portions ofthe respective looking elements 80, 82. When the lid 29 is to be opened, theprotrusions 84 may first be pushed down, thereby pushing down theaotivation portions of the looking elements 80, 82 oausing the lookingelements to rotate around the hinges. Thus, the engagement portions of thelooking elements 80, 82 are lifted suoh that the engagement of the lookingelements 80, 82 to the bag olosing element 64 is released. Then, the bagolosing element 64 is brought to the olosed position by the bias towards theolosed position.

The aooeptanoe oontainer 28 may alternatively oomprise one or moremotors and oorresponding aotuators for oausing rotations for moving the bagolosing element 64 between the open and olosed positions in the aooeptanoeoontainer 28.

The aooeptanoe oontainer 28 may also or alternatively oomprise one ormore motors and oorresponding aotuators for moving the bag holding devioe50 between the bag fixating position and the bag mounting position. However,it should also be realized that suoh movements may be manually oontrolled. ln the above the invention has mainly been desoribed with referenoe toa limited number of embodiments. However, as is readily appreoiated by aperson skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disolosed aboveare equally possible within the soope of the invention, as defined by theappended olaims.

For instanoe, the bag olosing element 64 may be arranged in the bagfixating position to be arranged at a bottom wall of the aooeptanoe oontainer28, whereas the wedge 54 may be arranged to be arranged olose to a topwall or an inner surfaoe of the lid 29.

Also, it should be realized that, although the apparatus 10 has mainlybeen desoribed herein as a oash deposit and dispensing apparatus, theapparatus 10 may merely be arranged for deposit of oash and the notestorage unit 24 need not neoessarily oomprise any reoyoling oontainer.

Claims (9)

16 CLAIIVIS

1. An apparatus for handling cash, said apparatus (10) comprising: a note storage unit (24) for storing notes in the apparatus (10); a note supply and output unit (20) for allowing deposit of notes into thenote storage unit (24) and dispensing of notes from the note storage unit (24); a note validation unit (22) for validating deposited notes anddetermining a value of deposited notes; a control unit (16) for controlling transport of notes in and out of thenote storage unit (24); wherein the note storage unit (24) comprises: at least one recycling container (26), which is arranged to receive notes deposited into the apparatus (10) and output notes to be dispensed from the apparatus (10), wherein the control unit (16) is arranged to control each of the at least one recycling container (26) to receive notes of a specific value; and at least one acceptance container (28), which is arranged to receive and store notes; wherein the apparatus (10) is arranged to dispense notes only from theat least one recycling container (26), characterized in that the at least one acceptance container (28) is configured for mounting ofa bag (70) in the acceptance container (28), wherein the acceptancecontainer (28) comprises a bag holding device (50), which is arranged toprovide a fixating position of an opening of the bag (70) at an input opening(52) of the acceptance container (28) for receiving notes, wherein notesreceived into the acceptance container (28) are stored in the bag (70) in theacceptance container (28).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a coin storageunit (34) for storing coins in the apparatus (10), a coin supply unit (30) and acoin output unit (36) for allowing deposit of coins into the coin storage unit(34) and dispensing of coins from the coin storage unit (34); a coin validation 17 unit (32) for validating deposited coins and determining a value of depositedcoins; wherein the control unit (16) is arranged to further control transport ofcoins in and out of the coin storage unit (34).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the note storage unit(24) is arranged in a cabinet (40), the cabinet (40) comprising shelves (44) forproviding surfaces on which the at least one recycling container (26) and theat least one acceptance container (28) may be arranged.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cabinet (40) furthercomprises a door (42), wherein the at least one acceptance container (28) isarranged in the cabinet (40), so as to be completely retractable from thecabinet (40) through the door (42) when the door (42) is open.

5. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, whereinthe bag holding device (50) comprises an elongate wedge (54) such that afirst portion (72) of the opening of the bag (70) is foldable over an edge of thewedge (54).

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the bag holding device(50) further comprises legs (56, 58) attached to respective sides of theelongate wedge (54), wherein each leg (56, 58) is turnably attached to aninner wall of the acceptance container (28) between a bag fixating positionand a bag mounting position.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the wedge (54) in the bagfixating position is arranged against a bottom wall of the acceptance container(28) for fixating the bag between the bottom wall of the acceptance container(28) and the wedge (54).

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the bag holding device(50) further comprises a locking mechanism for locking the wedge (54) in thebag fixating position. 18

9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 5-8, wherein the bagholding device (50) further comprises a bag closing element (64), which isarranged to hold a second portion (74) of the opening of the bag (70), andwhich is movable in relation to the wedge (54) between an open position,wherein the opening of the bag (70) mounted to the bag closing element (64)and the wedge (54) is held open, and a closed position, wherein the firstportion (72) and the second portion (74) of the opening of the bag (70) arebrought in close relation to each other for closing the bag (70).