Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
`~ I 63717
This invention relates to a point of sale
system for receiving information relating to sales
transactions and for accepting money and dispensing
change for each sales transaction without re~uiring
an operator to touch any money.
In the past, there have been provided pilfer-
proof automatic cash registers into which either an
attendant or a customer deposits money paid for a
sales transaction and from which money is dispensed
as change. Such cash registers are arranged to
eliminate the need for a cash drawer, and are
automatically cont~olled to accept money into a cache
and dispense change due from the cache.
1. ~ ' '3~
`i ~637~7
Previous automatlc cash registers have
number Or disadvantag~3. Some lack the cap-
ability o~ quickly and ea~ily calculating the
amount due, receiv~ng bills o~ di~erent denom-
ination~ in payment Or the amount due, paying
out bills o~ di~erent denominations a~ ¢hange,
and providing userul audit ln~ormation. Some
cash register3 do not provide rail-sa~e reatures
~or i~olstirg one sale~ transaction ~rom another
or ror preventing tampering with the sy~tem.
Other cash registers conta~n comple~ and expen~
sive subsystems having optical mean~ ror veriry-
ing the genuineness o~ bill~ paid by the cu~tomer,
Many Automatic cash re6isters have controls
which are complicated or cumbersome ~or the
~ustomer to use and there~ore are not suitable
ror use in high volume sales transaction~.
Many business establishments 3ell a number o~
hieh volume items a~ well as a number Or low
volume items. Previous keyboard operated auto-
matic cash registers lack ~impliried keyboard
. ~
~ l 6371 7
- 4 -
controls with which the operator can actuate
key~ ~or qu$ckly and easily calculating the
amount o~ a sales transaction involYing both
high Yolume and low volume items.
me present invention provides an automa-
tic cash reg~ster wh~ch overcomes all o~ the
di~advantages described above.
S~ARY OF THE INVENTION
Accord~ng to one aspect Or the in~ention,
a point o~ sale terminal has one or more com-
puters which ha~e ~nput/output devices. In a
pre~erred embodiment, the inventive device has
at least one programmable microprocessor, a
read-only memory ~toring programs, constants,
~nd the like, and a random access memory~ In
a prererred embodiment, ~ keyboard has item
keys which an attendant can actuate to cau~e
item-identirication data to be entered into
the computer. Prerer~bly a plurality Or total
keys are provided 80 that each attendant work-
~ng on a shi~t can be allocated a personal
1 1 637~7
,'i
total ke~. Actuation Or any totnl key marks
the end Or a sequence Or entrie~ Or item-
ident~ricRtion dnt~ and arms a money handling ~YiC~-
~i Electro-mechanical mone~ handling sppara-,
t tu9 i8 provided including a plurality Or elec-
~ trically controlled and powered device~ ror
; receiving, dispen~ine and storing bill9 and
~, , coin~. The bill handling device ha~ an open-
," ing through which the bill~ enter and exit,
~ ,~
a drive mechanism and ~ensing devices ad~acent
tho opening. A controller device is coupled
to the keyboard and to the drive mechanism.
The computer hQs in~ormation retrieval capa-
bility and arithmetic capability. The control-
ler device controls the receipt and dispen~ing
o~ bills and coins a~ chango and i~ itselr
controlled by the computer.
According to another aspect Or the inven-
tion~ the bill handling mechanism ha~ a window
'a
- S
t
i ~ ~3717
for displaying a bill for visually testing its
genuineness and denomination. A key actuated
by the operator causes a bill to be dispensed
to enable the rejection of any tendered bill
failing such testing.
According to a further aspect of the inven-
tion, a point of sale terminal has a plurality
of money belt devices. Each money belt device
has an associated viewing window and accept and
reject keys on the keyboard. One embodiment of
the invention has four money belt devices; one
for $1 bills, one for $5 bills, one $10 and $20
bills and change and one for special coupons such
as gift certificates, promotional certificates and
the like. Each money belt device can accept or re-
ject bills under the control of a computing device
and the keyboard actuated by an operator. Only
the $1 and $5 money belts can dispense bills as
change. Each belt has associated with it two
or three sensors for detecting the presence
and location of a bill. The control device
i 1 637 1 7
- 7 -
operates 90 that only one money belt device at
a time c~n accept or dispen~e ~1119. A signal-
ling device i8 located near each money belt
device to indicste which money belt has ~ bill
tendered to it.
Another important aspect Or the present
invention relates to the utilization o~ a
prompting device with the point-or ~ale ter-
m~nal. The prompting device ha~ an embodiment
which has grsphic material displayed throu~h a
Yiewing window located on t~e keyboard. The
di~play mechanism include~ electro-mechanical
rolls. Cathode ray tube and rilm displays may
also be u~ed. 'me prompting display shows
items rOr sale arranged by category with all
~ece~sary coding i~ormation to enable an opera-
tor to ~ctuate the ~eyboard and complete the
sale Or a particular item. A number o~ category
key~ are placed on the keyboard adjacent the
keyboard w~ich corre~pond to the categorie3
shown by the display.
i 163717
Another aspect of the invention relates
to the keyboard for use with the point-of-sale
terminal which has item keys, category keys,
function keys and a numeric pad. The function
keys include accept and reject keys placed
near the money belt viewing windows. With
this combination of keys all items for sale
at the terminal can be shown by the prompting
display and the most frequently ordered items
can be shown pictorially by the item keys.
These functions can be accomplished for several
hundred items with a keyboard having less than
20 item and category keys and without the need
to teach the operators a complex routine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one
embodiment of the present invention~
Figures 2 and 3 show elevations of the
embodiment shown in Figure 1 taken along the
lines 2-2 and 3-3 respectively.
~ I 63717
~igure 4 i~ a ~ectionnl view showing a money
handling mechsnism forming a pHrt Or the
present invention.
~ iBure ~ iS A block di~gram show~n~ the
baslc oreanlzation Or one ~mbodiment Or the
present invention.
i 163717
Figures 6 and 7 show two views of a coin
handling mechanism which forms a portion of
the present invention.
Figures 8 and 9 show two views of a prompt-
ing display forming a portion of the present
invention.
Figure 10 shows a block diagram of one
embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 11 is a block diagram showing a
multiplexer which forms part of the control
mechanism used in the present invention.
Figures 12-23 show details of the elec-
trical circuitry shown in the blocks in Figure
11 used in one embodiment of the present
invention~
Figure 24 shows a flow chart showing
various phases of a sales transaction using
one embodiment of the prompting device forming
a part of the present invention.
Figure 25 shows a block diagram showing
the novel steps used in connection with the
; ~ 8b -
`~ ~ 637~7
inventive method of using the automatic money
handling device forming part of the present
invention.
Figure 26 and 27 show two further embodi-
ments of prompting displays.
- 8c -
~`
`~ 1 637 17
.. . .. _ . _ . .. . . . .. .. .. _ . _._ ... . .
,~ . DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Introduct~on
Tho present invention proridos 8 point o~
~ale terminal ror avtomatlc~lly calculating a
payment due ror a asles transAction and ror
receivine money tendered in payment and ~or
dispensing change. Tho system include~ a
data processing sub~ystem comprisine at lHast
ono computer, a momory which may includo a
read-only memory (ROM) and a random-acce~
memory (RAM)S a keybosrd; and a customer-
red money storage and pay-out device. The
i keyboard include~ a group Or item-represonting
keys, prererably rOr thoso items having
the highest volume o~ sales, The terminal
;
.
: i ~6~717
,
:
al80 include~ a promptins di~play ror prompt-
ing the operator to key in ltem-identific~tion
data. A computer receives such item-identi-
rlcation data, retrieves rrom the memory
price data ~or each keyed 1tem, and c~lculate~
the total price o~ the transaction. Ths money
handling device has Q plurality Or su~tomer-
~ed bill belts ror receiving, storing ~nd di~-
pensing bills o~ different denominations, as
well as ror receiving check~, coupons, ~nd
the like. The money handl~ng device includes
a coin receiver, ~torer, sorter snd dispenser.
Tho bill and coin devices operato under ¢ontrol
Or one or more computers to receive money
and to dl~p~nse ¢hange. A digital display
~sub~tem operating under control o~ a computer
dlspl~ys th~ ~mount Or sale ~n~ ~h- ~o~t t ~
dered, ~ ~ prlnter
provldes a printout o~ ~les d~ta ~nd data
identi~y~ng tho attendant re~ponsible for
ea¢h transaction.
1 163717
Figures 1 and 3 illustrate housing 10
having an interior for containing electro-
mechanical and electronic apparatus. An upper
portion of the housing has an exterior face
11 with a keyboard 14 on one side 13 of the
housing. The keyboard shown in Figure 2 is
described in detail in a separate section.
The upper portion on a customer side 15
of the housing has an exterior face 17 for
access to a series of four side-by-side cus-
tomer-fed bill belt devices. Each bill belt
device is a separate electro-mechanical device
subject to common control. In a separate sec-
tion there is a detailed description of an
individual bill belt. Each bill belt communi-
cates with a corresponding one of four money
trays 16 projecting outwardly from the customer
side 15 of the housing 10. Each bill belt device
has an inlet/outlet channel at the junction
between the tray and the housing. Bills
dispensed as change or rejected are received
in the money trays 16.
.~
~ 3 637 1 7
Four side-by-side windows 20 are provided
on a top portion of the housing for viewing
from both the attendant side 13 and the cus-
tomer side 15 of the housing. Each bill belt
is aligned with one of the windows 20 so that
a bill sandwiched between the bill belts can
be viewed by an operator.
The customer side 15 of the housing 10
includes digital displays 22 and 24. Display
22 shows the total amount of each sales trans-
action and display 24 shows the amount tendered
by the customer. A coin slot 26 and a coin
recepta~le 28 are located on the customer side 15
of the housing 10.
There are on the keyboard: a group of
Total keys by which each operator can enter
data that the computer recognizes as both
transaction data and employee-identification
data; and a group of Accept and Reject keys
by which an operator can control the bill belts.
i ~ 63717
A feature of the present invention is
that the attendant need not remember the price
of any item ordered by a customer. Figure 5
shows in block diagram form the steps taken
during the use of the present invention which
steps are themselves believed to be novel and
which are described in detail in the following
paragraphs. Having received the customer's
order, the attendant simply actuates the
appropriate keys, either item keys or category
and number keys as prompted by the prompting
display to key in item-identification data. In
response, the data processor retrieves from memory
the corresponding price data, and displays it on
22. After all the ordered items have been entered,
the operator actuates the proper Total key to con-
clude the order phase of the sales transaction.
The next phase of the sales transaction involves
the calculation and display of payment-due data.
In as much as the data entered by the Total key
provides employee-identification the computer can
update an activity record stored in the memory.
Such an activity record is particularly useful
to evaluate performance of employees.
~ 13 ~
r
~ 3 ~371 7
A~ter the payment-due ha~ been calculQted~,
the computer arm~ the money belts either
directly or throu6h another computer or con-
troller. An attempted deposit o~ money by a
customer pr~or to such ar~in~ will pro~e
~ruitless. Prior to ar~in~, any coin deposited
in the coin ~lot 2c drops down a chute to coin
receptacle 28 ~ol return to the customer.
Deposit Or a b~ll into the l~armed bill belts
will leave tha bill in the tray 16. This
~eature minimizes the possibility o~ disputes~
since it i8 a eimple matter to demonstrate that
money cannot b~ rod ~nto the unarmed money
receptacles.
Once armed the terminal enter~ a pay-in
mode. Now, ~hen the customer drop~ a coin
into co~n slot 26 it ~ill be sortsd and stored
on the basis o~ denomonation. Each blll
tendered i~ transported to the window 20 ~or`
viewinE. I~ the custo~er tenders an unaccep-
table bill, the attendant can cause it to be
returned to the customer by actuating the
`~ ~63717
appropriate reject key 84, 88, 98, 104. I~ the
visual teat is passed, the attendant actuates an
Accept key. The computer is responsive to succes-
sive actuations of the Accept keys after a bill is
sensed to accumulate and display a running total
of the amount of money accepted.
~ ~. .? ~
i 1 fi37:~ 7
The computer determines whether any change is due to the
customer. If no change is due to the customer, the data
processor disarms the money handling apparatus. If change
is due, the system enters a change-dispensing mode during
which either or both coins and bills are dispensed. In
either case a printer produces a record of the transaction.
Figure 25 shows in block diagram form the inventive
method of use of one embodiment of the present terminal.
Block 1 shows that the operator obtains from the terminal
the total of a sale. The customer then inserts a bill into
an input channel which causes a light signal to indicate which
bill channel is in use. The money handler brings the bill to
a viewing window. The operator observes the signal light and
then looks to the proper viewing window to observe the bill
that had been put into the device. After observation, the
operator, as shown in block 4, actuates either an accept or a
reject key. The above steps are repeated until the total cash
received is equal to or greater than the amount of the sale.
Blocks 3 1/2 and 4.5 show the steps used by the operator if
either a special bill or coupon is used or if coins are put into
the device.
Keyboard
The keyboard illustrated in FIG.2 includes a group of
individual item-representing keys 32, or Best Seller keys. In
the illustrated embodiment there are twelve Best Seller keys 32
- 16 -
B
`i 1 B3717
in the group. Each Best Seller key preferably has
a corresponding pictorial representation, (illustrated
in phantom lines at 34 on each key) of the item
associated with that particular key, together with
a separate label 36 printed on each key describing
the item associated with that particular key. The
labels 36 relating to the items identified by the
twelve Best Seller keys are indicated in the
drawings as Item 1 through Item 12 for simplicity.
The keyboard 14 also includes a prompting dis-
play 38 for di`splaying product category and corre-
ponding item-listing information for the less fre-
quently sold items and for the Best Seller items the
prompting dïsplay provi`des data for prompting the
attendant to actuate certain keys on the keyboard to
~ 16a -
,~....
i 1 fi37l7
identify to the data processor corresponding less-
frequently sold items being sold at the point of sale.
In the illustrated embodiment, a series of eight
mutually spaced apart Category keys 40 are positioned
a]Longside a window 42 which covers the prompting display
and through which the prompting display can be viewed.
Each category key has a corresponding label 41 for
identifying a category of information to which the
key corresponds. The prompting display includes a
movable roll 44. An electro-mechanical drive apparatus
is provided for moving the roll 44. Each category and
its related list of items is printed on the roll. A
selected portion of the roll can be moved to the window
42 for display when the attendant actuates a particular
Category key 40. For example, in the embodiment shown
a category heading 46 entitled "CATEGORY 5" displays a listing
of corresponding individual items 48, depicted as"ITEM A" through
"ITEM Q". When the attendant manually actuates the
category key 40 labeled "CATEGORY 5" the roll 44 is moved
until the listing for CATEGORY 5 is displayed in the window 42.
The roll shows a separate item-identifying code 50
unique to each item listed in the prompting display. In
the illustrated embodiment the prompting indicia for each
item is a two-digit number displayed on the roll next to the
item.
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,1~
~ t63717
A group of numeric keys 54, hereafter collec-
tively called a numeric pad, are positioned on the
keyboard next to the prompting display 38. The
numeric pad preferably comprises ten individual keys
labeled 0 through 9, respectively, with an eleventh
key 56 labeled "TAX", for identifying taxable items.
The numeric pad can be used to identify to the data
processor items selected from the prompting display.
To identify each item selected from the prompting
display, first a category key is actuated and then
two of the numeric keys are actuated in an order
which supplies to the data processor a three-digit
number for identifying the selected item. For ex-
ample, to indicate ITEM J in CATEGORY 5 first the
CATEGORY 5 key is actuated and then the numeric keys
are actuated in the sequence 3,2 for supplying a cor-
responding three-digit number (5,3,2) to the data
processor for identifying ITEM J.
The prompting display roll preferably contains a
listing of all available items for sale. Owing to
this preferred feature, "redundancy" is provided in
that items represented on the Best Seller keys 32 are
also represented on the roll.
By way of example, in the course of the order-
entry phase of a sales transaction involving the sale
of one or more best seller items and one or more less
frequently sold items, separate item representing keys
-18-
i 3 637 ~7
32 are actuated to indicate purchase of each bestseller item. The prompting display is actuated to
display information relating to each item not
represented on the Best Seller keys, and in a sequence
prompted by the prompting display, the numeric keys 54
are actuated to indicate a separate multi-digit code
for each less frequently sold item displayed on the
prompting display. Data processor subsystem includes
a look-up table for retrieving a pre-loaded price for
each item identified in the order-entry phase of the
sales transaction. The Tax button 56 is actuated after
each taxable item is indicated and the data processing
subsystem calculates the tax on each taxable item.
An arithmetic unit in the data processor sums the
individual prices of each identified item, as well as
the tax on each item, so as to calculate the total price
of the sale transaction.
The keyboard includes Total keys 62. In the
illustrated embodiment, there are eight Total keys having
indicia 64 suitably the letters A through H. In response
to the actuation of any one of the Total keys during a sales
transaction, the computer calculates the payment due.
Above the group of numeric keys there is a first Special-
Item key 57. This key is used to enter into the data pro-
cessor information
-- 19 --
.~
~ l 63717
concerning the sale of special items not otherwise
identifiable by the item-representing keys 32 or the
category information in the prompting display 38. The
data processor can be programmed so that when the
Special-Item key 57 is actuated, followed by entry of
the sale amount, in cents, on the numeric keys 54, the
sale can be recorded, along with its identification as
a special item by selection of the next keyboard entry.
If this is the last or only sale entry, then actuation
of a corresponding Total key 62 can record the sale.
A second Special-Item key 58 above the group
numeric keys can be used to enter the sale of gift cou-
pons. The data processor can be programmed so that
when the second Special-Item key is actuated, followed
by entry of the sale amount on the numeric keys, 54,
the sale is recorded and identified in a manner similar
to the first Special-Item key described above.
A Clear key 59 is located above the group of
numeric keys 54. The Clear key is used for clearing
the last entry made.
A Sign-In key 66 and a Sign-Out key 68 are located
on the keyboard above the Total keys 62. The Sign-In key
is manually actuated by each attendant to indicate when
he or she is starting a work shift and to assign a separ-
ate attendant identification code to each attendant. An
attendant starting a work shift can depress the Sign-In
key, enter his or her three-digit attendant number on the
numeric pad 54, and depress his or her assigned Total
-20-
~ l 63717
key 62 for indicating his or her code for that particularwork shift. Once a particular Total key is assigned to an
attendant by the sign-in procedure/ that particular Total key
is unavailable for being assigned to another attendant until
the Sign-out key is actuated to release use of the key for an
attendant working a subsequent work shift.
The Sign-Out key 68 is manually actuated to cause the data
processor to record the times when the attendants end their
respective work shifts, as well as for releasin~ the Total key
code assigned to each attendant ending a work shift. Attendants
ending their work shift sign out by actuating the Sign-Out key,
entering their employee number on the numeric keys 54, and en-
tering their assigned code on one of the Total keys 62.
A Void key 70 is provided on the keyboard above the Sign-In
and Sign-Out keys. The Void key is used to clear from the
data processor all data entered from the start of a given sales
transaction. The Void key becomes inoperative after arming of
the bill caches.
Above each bill belt opening is a label 72 indi-
cating the type of paper currency or money equivalent to be in-
serted into the opening of each bill belt: 10. One dollar bills
for a first bill belt 74; five dollar bills for a second bill
belt 76; either $10 or $20, checks or other bills for a third
bill belt 78; and other bills, checks, coupons etc, for a fourth
bill belt 80. The fourth bill belt is adapted for receipt of
promotional item.
- 21
.~
~ l 63717
Each group of Accept/Reject keys as shown in
Figure 2 includes one or more keys labeled according
to the type of bill, coupon, aheck, etc., to be
received by a corresponding bill belt. A first group
of Accept/Reject keys associated with the first bill
cache 74 includes a One Dollar Accept key 82 and a
One Dollar Reject key 84.
The second group of Accept/Reject keys comprises
a Five Dollar Accept key 86 and Reject key 88.
A third group of Accept/Reject keys includes a
Ten Dollar Accept key 90, a Twenty Dollar Accept key
92, a Check Accept key 94,
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`~ 163717
an Other Dollar Accept key 96, and a reject key
98 for rejecting any of the bills in the
third bill belt.
Above a fourth group of Accept~Reject
keys, there is a special function key 100
labeled "SS" for entering acceptance of
special transactions not covered elsewhere
on the keyboard. The fourth group comprises
a set of four keys 102 for indicating ac-
ceptance of four different types of coupons
or similar store promotion certificates. A
Reject key 104 enters rejection of any coupon
certificate or the like tendered into the
fourth bill cache.
Operation of the Accept/Reject keys is
understood best by the following example.
After having entered data relating to all
items involved in a single order, the
attendant depresses his or her assigned
Total key 62 to calculate and display the
amount of sale, i.e., the payment due. Pay-
ment is made by the customer by inserting
coins into the coin slot 26 and/or bills,
- 22a -
~" ,,i
I J 63717
checks, coupons or the like into appropriate open-
ings 18. Upon tendering of a bill to any opening
18 a light identifying the active bill belt cues
the attendant to look to the proper window 20. The
attendant then visually inspects the tendered bill.
Upon verification, the attendant depresses the ap-
propriate One, Five, Ten, Twenty key. Actuation
of any of these keys indicates the amount of pay-
ment made against the total sale amount.
When payment of an amount equal to or greater
than the amount of sale is detected by the data
processor, the required amount of change, if any
is automatically calculated and dispensed by the
coin, the one dollar and five dollar bill devices
as required. No change is given from other than
the one or five dollar bill belts and the coin
changer. Recording of receipts and disbursements
by denomination, along with the store-opening
amounts, enable the system to maintain an accurate
account of all bills and coins throughout the busi-
ness day.
-22b-
i 1 637~7
Customer submittal of checks or other bill
denominations (two dollars, fifty dollars, etc.)
is verified by the attendant examining the
dollar or check amount through the corr-
esponding window 20. If the tendered bill
or check is acceptable, the attendant then
enters the amount of the bill or check,
using the numeric keys 54. Subsequent
actuation of either the Check key or the
Other dollar key 96 identifies the type
and amount of payment to the data processor.
Actuation of the "SS" keys 100 provides
a means to record and identify special trans-
actions, such as discounts, give-aways, no
charge sales, etc. Under these conditions
the bill belts are not activated. Actuation
of the SS key, preceded by entering the
amount on the keys 54 enters an amount
to be deducted from the total sale and re-
corded as expense.
The coupon keys 102 labeled Coupon 1 through
Coupon 4 can be used to identify different types of
promotional sales. Actuation of these keys can cause
the data processor to accept the value previously
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.. . .
~,
i 1 63717
entered on the numeric keys 54, to identify
the sale as resulting from a store promotion
and to enter in memory the cash value of the
promotion to be used later on cash reconciliation.
The keyboard includes a first digital
display 106 for displaying the amount of
sale of each sales transaction, and a second
digital display 108 for displaying the
cumulative amount tendered in payment
of each sales transaction. Display 106
can be used to momentarily display the
price of each item sold and the tax on
such item sold. The keyboard also includes
a first LED 110 for being activated when
display 106 relates to the price of a
particular item being sold; a second LED
112 for indicating the tax on either the
amount previously displayed or the total
tax; and a third LED 114 to be activated when
display 106 indicates the total amount
of the sales transaction, including tax.
On the customer side 15 of the housing
10, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the digital
displays 22 and 24 provide the same displays
as the amount of Sale display 106 and the Amount
- 24
il63717
Tondored display 108~ re~pectively. SimilArly~
LED displar~ 116, and 120 on tlle customer side 15
of the housing are activated along with corres~ond-
ine activatlon of the LED'~ 110, 112, un~ 114 for
corre~on~ine item, tax an~ total information, re-
~pectlvely.
In a ~peclfic embodlment, ln whlch the key-
board 14 io adapted for u~e ln a point of ~ale ter-
mlnal ~n~olving the ~ale Or ~ce cream produces~ all
keys on the ~eyboard are a ~lattouch type ~hlch can
be ~lped clean with A damp cloth and which ~A~O no
openlng~ through whlch liquld~ can reach the swltch-
lng mechanism~. Swltches are mechanical~ rather than
capacitl~e~ ln order to mlnlm~ze accidental ac~i~a-
tion.
~11 Handl~n~
The construction o~ each blll belt de~lce 1~
. ~hown in FI~. 4. Each bill belt de~ice lnclude~ a
..
housine 122 containing a first and ~econd ~upply
ull.storln~ reels 124~ 126 spaced apart ~rom each other~ ~
nnd a take-up or ~torngo reel 128, A lower ontrance
roller 130 i~ located l~medlat01y lnslde the hou~lng
122 beloY tho opunlng 18 nnd nn upy~r on~rnnco rollor
.- .
~ .
. .~S
`i J 63717
132 is located immediately inside the housing 122
above the opening 18 and above the lower entrance
roller 132. The two entrance rollers are rotatable
about corresponding axes of rotation which are paral-
lel to one another and perpendicular to the path of
travel of a bill inserted into the opening of the
bill cache.
A first transparent money belt 134 is secured at
one end to the first supply reel 124 and is secured
at its opposite end to the storage reel 128. The
first belt has a ~portion extending upwardly away
from the first supply reel, around the lower entrance
roller, and then along a straight path away from the
entrance rollers and around a first guide roller 136
on a side of the housing opposite the entrance roller.
Such portion of the first belt then extends from the
first guide roller down to the storage reel 128. A
second transparent money belt 138 has a portion ex-
tending upwardly from the second supply reel 126 into
engagement with a second guide roller 139 adjacent
the first guide roller 136 and then around a third
guide roller 140 above the second guide roller. Such
portion of the second belt then extends along a
straight path near the top of the housing toward the
entrance to the bill cache and is wrapped around
, ~,
, .~, ~,
~ l 637 17
the upper entrance roller 132 and is then reversed
to travel in a superposed relation above the portion
of the first web which extends in a stright path
across the top of the housing. The superposed path
of the first and second belts is illustrated at 142
in FIG. 4 and is referred to below as the viewing
path or viewing position. The first and second belts
both extend around the first guide roller 136 in
their superposed relation and both belts then extend
down to the storage reel 128, in the superposed
relation, for attachment to the storage reel. The
first and second belts are wound in unison around
the storage reel when the storage reel is rotated
in the direction of the arrow at 144 shown in FIG. 4.
Thus,the first and second belts converge at
the entrance rollers which, in turn, apply a slight
amount of pressure against one another so that the
two belts are pressed slightly into contact with one
another as they converge inside the opening 18 to
the housing 122. The belts then pass in a super-
posed relation along the straight viewing path 142
across the upper portion of the housing from the
opening 18. The two belts are held in contact with
one another along the straight viewing path 142 as
`~ l 63717
they pass around the first guide roller 136 to the
storage reel 128.
First and second gear wheels 152, 154 are
rigidly affixed to the first and second supply reels
124, 126. The two gear wheels are the same diameter,
and have gear teeth of identical size and spacing.
A third gear wheel 156 is rigidly affixed to
the storage reel. The third gear wheel has approxi-
mately twice the area of either the first or the
second gear wheel, and has gear teeth of the same
size and spacing as the first and second gear wheels.
A first supply reel drive motor 158 is mounted
in the housing 122 adjacent the first gear wheel 152.
A first driven gear wheel 160 on the output shaft of
the first supply reel drive motor engages the first
gear wheel. The first driven gear wheel is substan-
tially smaller in diameter than the diameter of the
first gear wheel. Similarly, a second supply reel
drive motor 162 is mounted in the housing adjacent
the second gear wheel 154, and a second driven gear
wheel 164 identical to gear 160 on the output shaft
of the second supply reel drive motor engages the
second gear wheel.
-28-
i 3637i7
A take-up reel drive motor 166 is mounted in the
housing 122 adjacent the third gear wheel 156, and
a third driven gear 168 on the output shaft of the
take-up reel drive motor engages the third gear
wheel.
A servo mechanism is provided for the bill
belts which has a controller.
A computer
issues a number of commands to the controller. The
computer commands may be in software, firmware or hardware
or any combination of them.
When the bill belt is operated in a pay-in mode,
its take-up reel drive motor 166 is energized by the
servo to rotate the third gear wheel 156 clockwise
in the storing direction (with reference to FIG.4)
which, in turn rotates the storage reel 128 in the
clockwise direction illustrated by the àrrow 144 in FIG.4.
At the same time, the first and second belts unwind from
their respective supply reels and travel together, in their
superposed relation, along the viewing path 142 away from
the entrance rollers and toward the first guide xoller
136. Preferably, tension is maintained by applying a
relatively low level of energization to the supply
reel drive motors 158 and 162 which are electrically
connected in series. The bill is drawn into the open-
ing 18 and between the first and second belts by the
- 29
, ,,,,,i
i ~ 63717
action of the belts traveling over the entrance
rollers and into the housing along the viewing
path 142 to a window 20 in the point of sale
housing 10. The window 20 is illustrated in
phantom in FIG. 4. The drive motors are de-
energized, under control of a computer, to
position the bill below the window, for viewing
by the operator.
As bills continue to be drawn into
the housing they become sandwiched between the
belts wrapped arcund the storage reel 128.
When the bill belt is operated in a
pay-out mode, its series-connected supply r~el
drive motors are energized by the servo to turn their
respective gear wheels in a counter-clockwise
direction in a unstoring direction (with reference
to Fig.4) which, in turn, rotates the supply
reels in a counterclockwise direction, as
illustrated by the arrows at 172 in Fig. 4. The
unstoring direction is the dispensing direction~ In
the pay-out mode, billsare dispensed.
Preferably, tension is maintained by ~plying a
relatively low level of energization to the take-up
reel drive motor 166. This travel of the belts
causes each bill sandwiched between them to be payed
out through the opening 18.
- 30 -
; l 63717
In the illustrated embodiment, the bill
belt sensors include outer optical detectors 174,175
outside the entrance rollers 130, 132 and
inner optical detectors 176,177 inside the housing
adjacent the entrance rollers. The outer
sensors can be a first infra-red (IR) sensor
174 located in front of the entrance rollers
above the opening 18 and a cooperating IR
emitter 175 embedded in the money tray 16 in
front of the entrance rollers and below the
first IR sensor 174. The emitters 175 and 177
are electrically connected in a gate-controlled
series circuit path.
The outer optical sensors are located as
close to the outside of the entrance rollers
as possible. It is desirable that the inner
optical sensors also be l~acated fairly close
to the inside of the entrance rollers, although
they can be spaced inwardly from the entrance
rollers no more than the length of a bill
being tendered into the bill cache.
.
i ~ 63717
In a bill belt, each of the two
emitter and sensor combinations provides for
detecting when a bill is present between them.
Each sensor senses all the IR radiation transmitted
to it from the corresponding emitter when no bill
is present between them, and the sensor
produces an output signal having a first value
proportional to the sensed transmitted
IR radiation for indicating that no bill
is present. When a tendered bill is present
between the sensor and detector, a certain
amount of IR radiation is transmitted through
the bill, but most transmitted IR radiation is
blocked. The sensor produces an output signal
having a second value proportional to the reduced
amount of sensed transmitted IR radiation for
indicating that a bill is present. This
capability of the sensors can be used to
detect bills that are too light absortive,
e.g. double bills, or bills that are too light
transmissive, e.g. certain counterfeit bills.
- 32 -
.~ ,. ..
,.~i.,'i
; ~ 63~17
IR-type emitters and sensors are used so that
the bill cache controls are insensitive to
stray ambient light, i.e., light in the vis-
ible spectrum.
The outer optical sensors 174, 175 are
used as part of a device to count bills dis-
pensed as change. During operation in the
pay-out mode, each bill dispensed to the
opening 18 is detected by the outer optical
sensing device. The bill belts can be control-
led to dispense each bill entirely past the
entrance rollers and past the first sensing
device and into the money tray 16; and the outer
sensing means can detect when each bill has
been dispensed from the opening to provide data to a
counter for counting each bill so dispensed~
Alternatively, the bill belts can be
controlled in the pay-out mode to feed a bill
halfway through the opening so that the bill
remains between the entrance rollers blocking-
the outer sensor until the bill is taken from
the opening by the customer. The outer sensor
- 33 -
, ~ .
`i l 63717
can detect when ~ bill present between the
entrance rollers ~s taXen by ~ customer and
can produce data red to a counter for countin~
each b~ll taken by the customer. The bill
belts can bo controlled
~ 3~-
i ~ 63717
in the pay-out mode to feed only the last
bill paid as change halfway through the
opening 18. The computer disarms the bill
belts after the last bill is payed out as
change, and remains so until a subsequent
arming command from a Total key.
The inner optical sensors 176, 177 can
detect whether or not a bill that is tendered
into the opening is actually drawn into the
housing. The pay-in cycle is activated when
the outer optical sensors 174, 175 indicate
that a bill is in the opening. If the
tendered bill is not detected by the inner
optical sensors 176, 177 within the 0.5 second
time period, counted by the computer a command
is issued for halting the belts. This res-
tricts the forward travel of the belts when
they are "teased", thus valuable storage
space is saved.
Either the outer or the inner sensing
device also can be used to detect the thickness
of a tendered bill in order to validate a
pay-in transaction. Each IR sensor can
indicate the opacity of a tendered bill between
- 35 -
" ,
.
~ 1 637 1 7
the emitter and the sensor. A valid bill
has a predetermined opacity. If more than
one bill is between the emitter and sensor,
or if the thickness of the tendered bill is
not the required thickness, or if the tendered
bill is otherwise not genuine, the light
transmissivity detected by the optical
sensor either c:an be too high or too low,
compared to a required range of opacity
for a genuine bill.
Third optical sensors are provided by
an infra-red sensor 178 and emitter 179
positioned to the rear of the bill viewing
path 142 immediately in front of the first
guide roller 136, These sensing devices c~n
be optionally used to detect the leading
edge of a bill drawn into the bill cache
for generating data to be fed to the data
processor to issue a command for stopping
the pay-in feed operation.
Coin Cache
FIGS. 6 and 7 show a coin receiver
dispenser and storing device 200 located
in the interior of the housing 10. The coin
changer includes a coin sorter and a coin
- 36 -
B
i 3 63717
dispenser. Coins deposited into the singlecoin slot 26, shown as 126 in Figure 6, on the
front of the housing 10 travel through a first
coin guide 202 for funneling the coins, one at a
time, into the top of a second coin guide 204
having a sloping internal track 206 for guiding
each coin to a coin sorter 208.
- 37 -
,~
i ~ 637 17
Separate optical sensors, or mechanical or
electrical switches at the coin sorting openings in the
coin sorter can detect when a particular coin passes
into each opening of the sorter for issuing
signals to the computer indicating the
denominations of coins received. The computer, in turn,
can provide for calculating the payment received.
For example, a first optical sensor 250 is located
adjacent the dime-sorting opening 232, a second optical
sensor 252 is located adjacent the penny-sorting opening
234, a third optical sensor 254 is located adjacent
the nickel-sorting opening 236, and a fourth optical
sensor 256 is disposed adjacent the quarter-sorting
opening 238. The optical signal emitted and sensed
by each sensor is blocked when a coin either passes
through the opening or bypasses the opening where each
sensor is located.
The change dispenser is conventional in structure
and operation, and an example of a
- 38 -
`~ 1 63717
coin dispenser which can be used for the pur-
pose of the present invention is Model 2941
Change Dispenser manufactured by SCI Systems,
Inc. of Huntsville, Alabama. Coins dispensed
as change by the coin dispenser generate data
for the computer to provide a running total
of coins available in each column dispenser.
The data processing system also provides
for detecting when a coin overflow condition
is imminent. When a coin overflow condition
is imminent in a given column, the solenoid
252 is energized to pivot the coin diverter
258 in the position shown in phantom lines in
figure 6 for funneling any further coins that
column into a coin reservoir 266. After the
coin diverter has diverted the coin to the
coin reservoir, the solenoid is de-energized
to return the coin diverter to its normal
position, under the action of the coil spring
264. Coins of a particular denomination are
- 39 -
,~
~ ~63717
runneled into the coin reservoir only w~len nn
overrlow condition ~or that particular denomin-
ation 18 ~ensed. Ir coins are removed ~rom a
coin column ln the coin dispenser, appropriate
dota related to the ~mount o~ coins removed is
~uppllod to the data processor.
PromPtin~ DiBPl8~
The construction Or one ombodiment o~ the
prompting di~play 38 is understood best by
re~orring to ~lgures ~ and 9. Tho prompting
dlsplay i~ contalned in a housing 570 shaped
generally ~9 an elongated rectangular box
havlng ~ hollow lnterlor. ~he prompting dis-
play housing i~ mounted lnslde the point or
b~lo housing 10 below tho wlndow l~2 in tho koy-
bo~rd 14. The prompting dl~plsy housing has
~n opon top, and tho portion o~ the roll 44
whlch 1~ di~pl~yod bolou tho wlndo~ in tho
ke~board o~tend~ ~rom ono ond o~ the prompt-
ing diJplsy hou~ing to tho othor end acro~
the top of the hou~ing to tho o~her ond o~ tho
hsusl~B-
t~
`3 ~63717
The prompting display housing containsfirst and second rollers 572 and 574 mounted
near opposite ends of the housing 570 on bearing
members. Each roller has a radial slot 576
for releasably securing ends of the roll 44.
A roll tensioner 578, located at one end of
the housing adjacent the first roller, has rollers
580 and 582 and a guide roller 584 is located at
the other end of the housing.
The upper edges of the tensioner upper roller
582 and the guide roller 584 define a generally
horizontal plane of travel, or viewing path,
of the roll across the top of the housing.
Information displayed on the viewing path of the
scroll can be viewed through the window 42
in the keyboard. An elongated generally rectangular-
shaped plate 585 covers the open top of the
prompting display housing below the viewing path
of the roll. The plate has opposite ends closely
spaced upwardly from the upper roller 582
and the guide roller 584. The plate 585,
closely spaced below the viewing path, holds
the roll level and protects the
- 41 -
",,~;
i l 63717
roll rrom contsct with other parts o~ the
prompting display. l`he tensioner 578 ~8
sd~ustable.
The rirst nnd second rollers 572, 574 are
powered by drive motors 586, 58~ with gears
590, 592, 594, 596, 58~, 600 to drive the roll
in eithor direction.
~ ho length Or the entire roll 44 i9
greater than the length Or tho viewing portion.
As previously de~¢ribedJ separato categories Or
ftom~ ~or sale ca~ be d~played along the
Iength o~ the roll. For oach oategorg a list-
ing o~ ~ep~rate items are placed on tho roll,
and a (numeric) code 18 a~sooiated with each
itom ror use,in ldent~ying that item. Each
c~tegory Or ~tem lnrormation can be considered
a separate page Or inrormation, and the pages
Or inrormation are displsyed at separate areas
spaced along the length Or the roll a~ a
graphic di~play. The roll i8 ¢ontained on a
.
`i 163717
magazine which can be loaded into the prompting
display housing in a manner similar to a player
piano scroll.
Separate longitudinally spaced optically
readable indexing marks 602 are placed on the
roll between adjacent pages. Preferably, each
indexing mark is printed on the roll near one
edge of the scroll in a space between adjacent
pages on the side of the roll having the printed
information. The indexing marks are detected
by an optical emmitter 604 and sensor 606 located
in the housing. The optical detectors are used
to control a position servo system for positioning
the roll so that any selected page of information
can be moved to and stopped in the viewing position
for display. Logic and control electronics used in
the servo system are physically contained on a printed
circuit board 608 contained within the lower interior
of the prompting display housing.
~ 43 -
,~.~,,
,;
~ 363717
The roll i8 moved to the s31ected page by
actuating a cor~esponding Category key 40 on
the keyboard. Thi~ supplies dAta to ~ ont~l ~t~
tb- ~roApt-r which provides ~or i~suin~
a comm~nd to either the rorward drivo ~otor 586
or to th- roverso drive motor 588 to movo tho
~croll ln the proper diroction ~or dlspla~inB
tho dos~rod pago~ ~ho optlcal sensor 606
supplies data to a countor in the ?~ t
each timo a separate page passes the ~onsor.
The counter counts the requlred number o~ pages
until the selected page reache~ tho ~iewing
po~itlon~ at whi¢h time a command is is~ued ror
Jtopping the drive motor. The comput-r mem-
ory can ~tore data relating to the page pro-
~ent~in tho viewlng position to issue the ne~t
command to the drive motor ror dri~inB the roll
in the proper direction t ~ u6~ t~ ~w4~-r ~- ~ .
Onco the solectod pago has been reached,
lo o~ the ~eloctsd item or ltom~ on tho pago
, .
~ l ~)3717
can be entered by the numeric keys 54 using the
two-digit number associated with the selected
items as shown in the graphic display. The combination
of page number (category) and item number ~three digits~
is sufficient data to record and process sale information.
Actual prices are determined by means of look-up tables
used by the computer. In the embodiment shown, the page
number is one digit and the item number is two digits.
Figures 26 and 27 show two othex embodiments
of the present invention in which different forms of
prompting display is used. In Figure 26, elements which
are similar to those shown in Figure 10 have like numbers
preceded by a "1" or a "10" to yield a four digit number.
For example keyboards 1014 and 14 in Figures 26 and 10
respectively are similar structurally and functionally.
Figure 26 shows that the display can be a CRT 1038 instead
of the roll 38 shown in Figures 10 and 2. In such an
embodiment the data which must be stored to prompt the
operator could be stored in the central processor or in
a RAM or ROM or any other convenient storage device.
Figure 27 shows still another embodiment of a
prompting display similar to those shown in Figures 10 and 26.
Similar elements to those in Figure 26 have like four
digit numbers preceded by a "2", i.e., elements 1366 and
2366 perform a like function, are structurally similar
- 45 -
i 163717
and both are similar in structure and function to
element 366 in Figure 10. In Figure 27, the prompting
display is a device to display information stored on
microfilm. Thus, in the Figure 27 embodiment of the present
invention, microfilm would perform the function of the
information storage roll 44 shown in Figures 8 and 9.
Figure 24 shows in block diagram form the novel
steps which an operator takes in using the prompting device
which forms a part of the present inVentiGn. When a
customer orders an item, the operator either finds the
item on the best seller keys or as shown in block 1 of
Figure 24, reads the category list or, as shown in block
2, selects and strikes the correct category key. Next,
as shown in block 3, the operator reads the list of
category items displayed. Then, as shown in block 4,
the operator strikes the prompted keys to sell the ordered
item. The Figure 24 drawing shows that the operator
would then go back through the sequence for the next
ordered item or strike an item key or strike a total
key.
- 45a -
`3 1 63717
Organization of Electronic Hardware
With reference to FIG. 10, there will now be gener-
ally described the ove~all organization of the electronic
hardware contained in housing 10.
The Computer comprises a data processor 350 and a
memory, preferably including a RAM 352 and a ROM 354.
It is preferable to split the memory into a random access
portion and a read-only portion so that software and
system constants can be stored in the read-o~ly memory
portion and thereby prevent temporary loss thereof in the
event of a power failure o~ the like. Suitable capacity
for RAM 352 is 16K bytes (each byte being 8 bits). Suit-
able capacity for ROM 354 is 24K bytes.
In the illustrated embodiment of the present inven-
tion, data processor 350, RAM 352, and ROM 354 and a bat-
tery backed RAM. These products are commercially manufac-
tured by Motorola and othersunder the designations MC6800
Microprocessing Unit, MCM 4027 Random Access Memory, and
Intel Read-Only Memory, (2708 EPROM) respectively.
Motorola has published a series of manuals describing the
construction and operation of, and various uses for, the
MC6800 Microprocessing Unit and various companion products
including the MCM 4027 Random Access Memory, an MC 6820
Peripheral Interface Adapter (PIA), the MCM 6830
-46-
i 1 637 1 7
Read-Only Memory, and an MC6850 Asynchronous communica-
tion Interface Adapter (ACIA). These manuals include an
M68C0 EXORciser User's Guide, an M6800 Microprocessor Pro-
gramming Manual, an ~6800 Microprocessor Applications Man-
ual, and various M6800 Microprocessor Family of Parts data
sheets.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that the above-described specific products are exemplary
of various commercially available products suitable for use
in the point of sale system. The MC6800 microprocessor in-
corporates particular structure for performing certain func-
tions such as input/output functions that are performed by
different structures in other commercially available systems
which are suitable for use with the present invention.
A unibus is depicted in FIG. 10 as bus 356 coupling
data processor 350 to RAM 352, ROM 354, a PIA 358, a PIA
360, an ACIA 362, a controller 364, a controller 366, and a
multiplexer and control electronics 368. Each PIA is fully
described in the above-identified Motorola manuals. Sim-
ilarly, the ACIA is fully described therein. PIA 358 pro-
vides an interface between data processor 350 and a control-
ler 370 for the keyboard and the displays, and PIA 360 pro-
- 47 -
,r,' . '
I 3 637 1 7
vides an interface for the print~ ~7~~and a modem 374.
Modem 374 is coupled to ~AA 377 so that data stored in
RAM 352 can be transmitted via a telephone line to a
central data processing system. Multiplexer 368 is a
specially designed interfacing device.
Multiplexer
With reference to FIG. 11, multiplexer 368 is con-
nected to bus 356 to receive addresses and commands from
data processor 350 and to feed status data back to data
processor 350. The address bus portion of bus 356 com-
prises 16 wires (not individually shown). More than 64K
separate addresses can be instantaneously defined by the
parallel-by-bit signals carried by the address bus, each
address is symbolized by a four place hexidecimal number.
For example, in the specifically described embodiment,
the address of multiplexer 368 has been arbitrarily chosen
as the four place hexidecimal number 80El. Numbers ex-
pressed in hexidecimal form are indicated by the letter H
or a "$" preceding the number.
The addresses apply to bus 356 by data processor
350 are in accordance with a positive logic format subject
to three-state control (TSC). That is, each of the 16
address bus wires is connected to the output of one of 16
three-state buffer circuits within data processor 350.
-48-
i 3 63717
Whenever data processor 350 applies an address to the
address bus, it simultaneously controls the value of an
R/W signal to designate whether a read or write operation
is involved.
Multiplexer 368 has circuitry for strobing data trans-
fers, herein referred to as strobing circuitry 380 with
positive logic format.
A suitable arrangement of digital circuits which is
used in the illustrated embodiment for producing the above-
mentioned strobing signals is shown in detail in FIG. 12.
A NOR gate 381 (such as one-half of type 74LS260) receives
five input signals and produces an output signal that is
high (at or near +Vl) only when each of its five input
signals is low (at or near ground). A NAND gate 383,
(such as type 74LS30) receives eight input signals and
produces an output signal that is low only when each of
its eight input signals is high. The above-mentioned in-
put signals includes signals identified as BAI through BA7,
(which are the eight least significant bits of the address
carried by the address bus), and an I/O signal produced by
decoding circuitry. The I/O signal equalsl when the eight
most significant bits of the address define the number H80.
-49-
-~J
3717
With gates 381 and 383 being connected as shown, the
output signal produced by gate 383 is low whenever the
address H80El is carried by the address bus.
NOR gate 385 (1/4 of type 74LS02) received two
input signals and its output is the CSTB signal-which
in when high the computer issues a command to multi-
plexer 368.
The R/W signal is inverted by an inverter 386 whose
output signal is applied as one of two input signals to a
NOR gate 387. The other input signal for NOR gate 387 is
received from NAND gate 383. The output signal produced
by NOR gate 389 is inverted by an inverter 388 to produce
the ~ signal. Owing to the foregoing arrangement, the
RDSTS signal equals O whenever data processor 350 addresses
multiplexer 368 for a read operation to read status data.
With reference again to FIG. 11, multiplexer 368
has command receiving circuitry 390 that is strobed by the
CSTB signal. A suitable arrangement of digital circuitry
which is used in the illustrated embodiment for receiving
commands is shown in detail in FIG. 15. Each command issued
by data processor 350 to multiplexer 368 is carried by a
portion of bus 356. The data bus portion comprises eight bi-
- 50 -
~ ~ 6371 7
directional lines for carrying signals identified as BDO
through ~7 respectively. Of these, the signals BDO
through BD4 are involved in defining the commands issued
to multiplexer 368.
Table 1 below gives the coding for the commands
issued to multiplexer 368.
- 51 -
; l 63717
T ~I~
nD~ sn.? I3n1 ~n.~
.; ~ X Il H ~olect bolt 74 (~1) as sc~nncd one
~ l L 9eloct belt 76 (~5) as sc~ntle-~ one
X ~ ~ L H solect belt 78 (S10/2Q) as ~c~nnccl one
~ X X L L seloct belt 80 (coupon) ~9 sc.~ ned ono
X Il H X X stop
~ 1~ L X X ~orward
X L ~ X ~ reverse
X L L ~ X unload
L :C ,. X ~ arm
H X X X X disarm
Con~land receiving circ~itry 300 includes flve invert~rY
391-1 t1~rou~ 391~5 for ln~ertln~ the ~l~e l~arallel 61~al8
derininG t1~e co~ nnds i~ue~ to nultiplexer 368. The si~al
produced by ~n~orter 391-5 is applied to the D input Or a D-
type rlip flop 392(ono quarter Or 74LS74). An in~erter 391-6
responsive to the CSTB signal has its output connected to the
cloclc input o~ flip flop 392. Accordingly~ when dnta procesaor
350 issue5 an nrming co~nand to multiplexer 368~ fllp flop
392 18 trigeered into ita ~et ~tAte~ and when data procossor
lssues a disnrmlng con~and to multiplexer 368~ ~llp flop 392
is triegere~ lnto it8 rssot atate. ~lip ~lop 392 can a~so
be cleared by t1~e B-~ESET si~al carried by bus 356.
,
_ 5 ~ _
`i 163717
An AND gate 393 is responsive to the out-
put signal produced by flip flop 392 and to a
PRST signal. Gate 393 is normally high and is low
only for a brief interval such as approximately 100
milliseconds following initial application of power
to the electronic hardware. The signal
produced by AND gate 393 is the ENBA signal which
is a mode control signal.
The ENBA signal is applied to the clear
input of a register 394 (type 74LS175) com-
prising four D-type flip flops (not individually
shown). So long as the ENBA signal equals O,
thereby defining the disabled mode, each of the
flip flops in register 394 is held in the reset
state. With the ENBA signal equaling 1,
register 394 is responsive to triggering by the
CSTB signal, with each such trigger causing the
register to be loaded with a command issued
by data processor 350 for controlling a selected
one of the bill caches 74, 76, 78, and 80.
- 53 -
i ~63717
Command receiving circuitry 390 further
includes a copy/latch register 395 (type 7475)
comprising four latch circuits (not individually
shown). Copy/latch register 395 receives a BSY
signal which equals O only during intervals of
time during which an electrical energization
pulse is being applied to cause the scanned
one of the bill belts to be driven. With the
BSY signal equaling O, copy/latch register 395
exhibits memory. During the intervals in which
the BSY signal equals 1, each of the four latch
circuits in copy/latch register 395 copies the
output signal of a corresponding one of the
four flip flops in register 394.
With reference again to figure 11, multi-
plexer 368 includes a belt (cache) select decoder
400 for decoding the bill belt identifying portion
of each command issued to multiplexer 368. A
suitable arrangement of digital circuitry which
is used in the illustrated embodiment for
effecting such decoding is shown in detail in
figure 17. An AND gate 401 receives the CLO.
- 54 -
.~
. . . ~
~ ~ 63717
and ~Ll signals and produces an output signal
that is applied to an AND gate 402. The ENBA
signal is also applied to AND gate 402. The
output signal produced by AND gate 402 is
applied to three inverters 403, 404, and 405.
Inverters 403 and 404 produce output signals
SL~ and ST~, respectively. Inverter 405 has
its output resistively connected to the base
electrodes of power transistors 406 and 407.
When power transistor 406 is switched on, it
connects a source of power +V2, suitably +12
volts unregulated, to one terminal SMV~ of
the series-connected supply reel drive motors
in bill cache 74. At the same time that tran-
sistor 406 is switched on, power transistor 407
is switched on to connect the source of power
to one terminal TMV~ of the take-up drive
motor in bill cache 74.
During intervals in which the disabled
mode is being defined by the ENBA signal,
copy/latch register 395 (figure 15) identifies
bill belt 74. Inasmuch as AND gate 402 is
responsive to the ENBA signal, however, neither
power transistor 406 nor power transistor 407
is switched on in the disabled mode.
:: - 55 -
`~ ~ 63717
Decoder 400 further includes three decod-
ing arrangements that are structurally identi-
cal to each other and are substantially similar
to the above-described decoding arrangement
concerning bill belt 74. The only difference
in structure arises because there is no need
for the decoding arrangements for bill belts
76, 78, and 80 to respond to the ENBA signal.
Inasmuch as these three decoding arrangements
are structurally identical to each other,
only one of them is described. An AND gate 410
receives the CL~ and CLI signals and produces an out-
put signal that is applied to inverters 411,
412, and 413. Inverters 411 and 412 produce
output signals SL3 and ST3 respectively.
Inverter 413 has its output resistively con-
nected to the base electrodes of power tran-
sistors 414 and 415 that control the switching
of power to the supply and take-up drive motors
in bill cache 80 in the same manner as power
transistors 406 and 407 do so for bill belt 74.
- 56 -
i I B3717
ix Or the gates shown in ~i6ure 16 ~which
shows the decoder 402) are involved in detect-
inB whether the existlng command equalR the
nsxt command. The~e are exclu~ive-OR gate~ 4~1
422, 423, and 424 and AND gatos ~25 and 426.
In circumstances in which tho axisting commAnd
equals the ne~t command, the output signals
producod by AND gates 425 and 426 each equals
O, two Or the control sienals produc~d by
deooder 420, namely, ~R~ signal produced by
a NAND gate 428, e ch oqua~
Tho ~ s~,,nal 18 lnvolved in control-
ling a high-3p~ed dump oporation by which a
store owner ~r msna8er emptios a
bill belt. As a securit~ moasuro, housing 10
~a~ a koy-controlled lock (not ~hown) used
ror ¢ontrolling Q R~ signal. An inverter 429
reco~os the ~ ignal ~nd produco~ an out-
put ~lgnal thst l~ ~ppliod to an AND 8ate 430.
OHlng to the connection a~ ~ho~n betwe~n ~ND
gate 430 and NAND gato 427, the ~ ignsl
oannot equa? O unleJs tho R~ oquals O.
.
~ 5 q -
`I 163717
When the storage reel has reached its
maximum diameter or the supply reels have
reached their maximum diameter, NAND gate 431
receives an RLSC signal produced by circuitry
to be described with reference to figure 19.
Lxclusive-OR gate 424 and AND gate 437 receive
the CQENO signal produced by the circuitry described
above with reference to figure 15. In circumstances
in which the existing command calls for a bill belt
to unload at a time while the RLSC signal equals 0.
In such circumstances, AND gates 432, 433, and 434,
which are connected in tandem as shown between NAND
gate 431 and NAND gate 427, cause the UNLD signal to
equal 1. Under the same conditions NAND gate 435
receives a FLSC signal also produced by the circuitry
shown in figure 19, and receives the output signal
produced by an AND yate 436. Consider now circumstances
in which the existing command calls for a bill belt
to move forward at a time while the FLSC signal
equals 1. In such circumstances,
- 58 -
i ~637:l7
the C~EN1 and the C~EN~ ~ignals each equals 1,
whereby the output ~ignsl produced by AND cate
436 also equals 1. Owine to the connectlon 89
shown Or the tPndem gates between AND gate 436
and NAND ~ate 428, the ~ ignal equRl~ 1 in
these circumstance~.
A ~uitable arrangement o~ ~uch bu~er
circuits 450 used in the illu~trated embodiment
is ehown in detail in rigure 19. As shown, two
D-type rlip flops 451 and 452 are included ln
these bu~rer circults. When the supply reels
Or the scanned bill belts hAve reached ma~imum
dismeter, ito reYerse limit switch csus~s an
~W signàl to equsl O. This signsl i8
coupled through sn RC del~y circuit to the
cle~r input Or rlip rlop 45t. Accordingly,
~while the supply reels are st maximum d~Qmeter~
~lip rlop 451 is in it8 reset state causing an
RLSC 3ignal to equal t and an ~F~ signal to
equal 0. The rlip rlOp i8 tri8gered into its
set state when a command issues to multip~e~er
368, thereby causing the CSTB signal to derine
Q positiYe pulse, st a tlme while the RLSW
signal equ818 1 thereb~ cau8ing the CSTB si6nRl
~ S~~
~ 1 6371 7
to d~ine a po~itive pulse~ at a time while
the ~L-SW signal equals 1 thereby indic~ting
that tho supply reel~ nre not at maximum
diamotor.
S~milarly, when tha take-up reel oP the
scanned bill belt has res¢hod maximum diameter,
it~ ~orward limit switch causo~ an ~ signQl
to oqual 0. This si~nal i8 couplod through an
RC dolay circuit to tho clear input Or Plip
rlOp 452. Accordingly, whilo the take-up reel
18 at ma~imum diam~ter, Plip Plop 452 i9 in
its reset ~tQte, causing the FLSC signal to
equal 1 and the ~S~ signal to oqual 0. Flip
rlop 452 i~ triggered into lts Set 3tate when
a command i98U~9 ~0 multlplo~er 368, thereby
b~u31ng tho CS~B signal to doPino a positive
pulso~ at a t~me ~hil~ tho F~ lgnal equals
-~ 1 thereby indi¢ating that tho supply reels sre
not ~t ms~imum diametcr. Tho abovo-do~crlbed
~our output J~gnals oP bu~or circuit~ 450
~ro di~trlbutcd to ¢ontrol ~gn~l dc¢odor 420,
to OR ~unct~on circu~try 455 (riguro~ 11 and
13), and to ststu~ byto bu~ror ¢ircultry 460
C ~ .
`i 1 6371 7
~rlgure3 11 ~nd 20).
A suitable arrangemsnt Or such sensor bur-
rers used it . illustrRted. The principal
~unction Or the circuitry o~ ~igure 18 relate~
to 3ensor bu~ering, the circuitry al90 prOV~de9
~or producing the ~S~ signal uhich i 9 u~ed to
inltialize the states Or varlous bistable cir-
cuit~ incident to the turning on Or power. In
thi~ oonnection, the sensor burrer 465 Or f~gure
~ lnoludes a compar~tor cir¢uit 466 (type 6M339)
w~o~e output signal is the ~R~ signal. ~he
invorting input Or comparator oircuit 466 i~
connocted to a node 467 o~ a resistor divider
no~work comprising re.l~tors 468 snd 469 and
potentiomet~r 470. The non-~nverting input Or
bomparator circuit 466 i9 connected to a posi-
tive ~eedbac~ arranKement o~ resistors 471 and
472. When power is turned on, the voltage
10vel at node 467 o~ the res1stor d~vlder net-
work rapidly ohanges to it~ steady state value.
On the other hand~ a delsy eircuit comprising
a resistor 473 and a capscitor 474 supplies B
i l 63717
relQtiVely 810wly changing voltage to resistor
472. For approximately the ~irst 100 milli-
Jecond~ a~ter power i8 applied, the voltage at
node 467 e~ceeds the voltage applied to re~i~tor .
472 wlth the result thQt the F~~ signal oquals
0 ror this brior lnterYal. At the end o~ this
b~ie~ inter~al, ~hich ends ~8 soon a~ the volt-
aBe to re~istor 472 oxceeds the voltage at node
467, thc Fh~ ~ignal chsnees to the ~ value.
The posltlve feedback arrangemont causes the
pu18c de~ined by the PRST signal to ha~e sharp
rise and rall time~.
Identlcal comparator c~rcults 475 and 476
are likewise conne¢ted to po~itive ~eedback
Arrangements ~or cau~ing the output si6nal~
they produce, identlried a8 DET A, snd DE~ B,
to have sharp rise and ~all time~. The non-
invertlng lnput~ o~ comparator olrcults 475
and 476 sre couplod ~y roslstorJ Or their
posltlve ~eedback arrangements to the node ~67.
m e ln~ortlng lnput o~ oompsrator circuit 475
6 ~ ^
`~ 1 637~7
is resist~vely coupled to the ter~inal iAenti-
~ied as DET A-. It will be rccalled ~rom ~he
I description Or the outer IR ~en~ors, set ~orth
.J ~n the section directed to the construction o~
1. a bill cache, that the smi~ter olectrode~ Q~
i the ~our emitter electrode~ ar~ com~only con-
nècted to this terminal.
i While any one Or the four signals SL0
through ~1~ (rigure 17) equal~ 0, the sienal
applied to this terminal normally is more posi-
tive than the steady state voltase at node 1~67.
Ir a bill is present in the scanned bill belt
between its IR emitter 175 and its sensor 17
this ~ignal becomes less positive, with the
result that the output signal DET A becomes
e~ual to 1. In like manner, the invertin~ .
input Or comparator circuit 476 i~ resistively
coupled to receive a signal applied to the DET a-
terminQl. Thi8 signal i~ controlle~ by the
inner IR sen~or Or the scanned bill belt to
be normally more positivo thar. the steady ~tate
voltage at node 467. Ir a bill 19 present in
the scanned bill belt, between it~ IR emitter
177 and ~t~ sensor 176, this si~nal beco~e~ .
i l 637 1 7
le~ posit1v~ u1th tho re~ult that the output
signal DET B becomes equal to 1. Another co~-
parator circuit 477 has a single posltiv~ ~eed-
back resistor and ha~ it3 non-inverting input
connected to the tap Or potentiometer 470.
The inverting input o~ comparator circuit 477
i8 resistively coupled to the DET B- t~rminal.
Owing to this arrangement, whenever the ~nner
sensor Or the s¢anned bill cache detects a
double bill, the DET D ~ignal becomes equal to 1.
~ he logic ¢ircuitry 455 cooperates with
othor circuitry doscribed bolow ~lth reroronce
to ~lgur~ 14 to genar~to an intorrupt request
~uppliod to data processor 350. The DET A
~ignal 18 1,nverted by an invorter 480 whoso
~output signal i9 appl~ed to a delay circuit
generally identiried at 481. ~he output signal
o~ delay circuit 4.8t i~ lnverted by in~erter 482.
One input o~ exclu~ive OR gate 483 i8 directly
connected to the output signal o~ inverter 42,
and the other input i8 coupled through delay
circuit l~84 ~o recoive the ~sme signal. Thus,
"
, _ GY
,
~163717
whenever the DET A sienal ch~nges ~rom O to 1
- or ch~nges rrom 1 to 0, the output si~nal pro-
~ duced by gate 483 i8 positive.
a NOR 8~te 485 re~ponds to each po~itive
pulne to ¢ause it~ output ~ignal, (SET I~T)
to a nogative pU180~ Whenever the leadin~ odgo
or trailin~ edgo Or ~ bill passos the outer
sensor o~ tho ~canned bill belts, the ~ET INT
sien~l will change ~.om its normal 1 to a tem-
porary O and then return to it3 normal 1.
An arraneem~nt struc'turally ~dentical to
the roregoin~ psr~orms the same runction with
. respect to th~ ~nner sen~or. Whenever a chan~e
rom either a 1 to a O or ~rom a O to a 1
occur~ ln.the DET B signQl, a nsgative goin~
~, ~ pulsc i~ de~ined in the SET IN~ sign~l. A
j BSY si~nQl, produced by ¢lrcuitry to be de-
scr~be~ with re~erenco to rigure 22, i~
applied to an invertor 486 ~hose output i9
¢ouplod through a dir~erentiatin8 circuit
~onerally ldentiriod at 487 to NOR eats ~B5.
Wh~never the BSY signal changos rrom 1 to 0,
.
B nogati~0 going pulse l~ derined ln the
r' 8ignal -
~ ~5~
~.~
i l63717
~he remainin~ circuitry shown in rigure 13
provides separa~e signal ~low paths, each o~
which is ~tructurally identical to the sign~l
rlow path described above with rererence to the
BSY ~lgnal~ 80 that tho SET IN~ ~ienal is re-
sponsivo to the ~F and the ~ signals in
the same manner that 18 responsive to the BSY
signal.
Circuitr~ 49O recoives sever~l input
~ignsls, including tho a~ signal produced
by OR runction circuitry ~55, and applies two
output sien~ls idontiried as T~ and ~ to
two Or the wires o~ tbe bus 356.
,.~
l~l In rigure 14 a D-type ~lip ~lop 491 ha~
a direc~ set in~ut that re¢ei~es the SET INT
signal 80 that ea¢h ti~e a neg~tive going pulse
is derined in the gET TN~ signal, ~lip Mop
.s . 491 is placed into its set state. A NAND
gate 492 receives the output si6nal o~ p
3 ~lop 491 and ~n ~ ~ign81 produced by invertsr
493. The input o~ inv0rtor 493 i8 connected
to one Or tho wiro~ o~ bus 356 to recelve sn
IRQ INT a ~ign81. Nor~lly, tho l~tter ~ignal
~ ~C ~
'
I 1 637 1 7
equals 0 it equals 1 only when data proces~or
350 acknowl~dges an interrupt reque~t and sseks
to ascertain the identity o~ the peripheral
that generated the ~nterrupt reque~t. A D-type
rlip rlOp 494 has Q d~rect ~et input that re-
ceives tho signal produced by NAND gate 492.
Thus, M ip ~}op 494 i9 placed into it~ ~et
state each time 8 neg~tive going pulse i8
de~ined in the ~g~r9r ~gnal. An inverter 495
produ¢es the ~ signal which, while it equals
0, indicates that an interrupt request i8 pend-
ing. When data procossor 350 acknowledges the
lnterrupt request by causing 8 po~itive going
pul~e to bo derined in the IRQ INT A signal,
an inverter 496 enables a three-state gate 497
to ~rive one o~ the wires Or the data bus por-
tion Or bus 356. While 80 enabled, three-
state gate 497 causes the ~5 signal to equal
O which ~erve~ to inrorm data proces~or 350
that ~t i8 multlple%er 368 that i8 generating
the lntorrupt reque~t.
c ~ _
i ~ 63717
One Or the wires o~ bu~ 3~6 c~rrles a
~E~ signal produoed by data proGe~sor 350.
Normally, thi~ signsl equals 1. Flip ~lop
494 has a dlrect clear input ror pl~cing rlip
rlOp 494 into it~ re~et ~tate each time the
~r~E3eF signal equ~ls O. Flip M op 494 i8
normally tri8gered into its reset ~tate by the
trailing edBe Or the positi~e pulse derined in
the T~ signal when data prooes30r 350 ~e~ks to
a~¢ertain the identity Or the ~ourco Or the
interrupt request.
Arter data pro¢essor 350 has acknowledged
an i~torrupt r~uost and ascert~ined thQt it
i~ multiplexer 368 that i8 the ~ource Or the
interrupt request, data proces~or 350 e~ecute~
a~read cyclo operatlon during ~hi¢h ~tatus data
i8 entered ~nto data processor 350. In this
conne¢tion, co~sidor rigure 20. It ~ill be
--.
re¢alled rrom the description Or r~gure 12
that the ~5~ siBnal equals 0 ~hile data
processor ~50 cau3es the R/~ Jignal to equal 1
and slmultaneously addressos multiple~er 36~.
,
- 68
`i ~ 63717
The ~DSTS signal i9 applied to two inverter~
500 and 501 each o~ wh~ch contro~s a group Or
rour three-qtate ~ates. The rormat Or each
statu~ byte applied to the data bu~ portion o~
' bu~ 356 is e~ident rrom ~igure 20.
Th8 remainlng circuitry included within
1- multiplexer 368 provides a time-shared eervo
j subsy~tem ror .the bill caches. Thi8 ~ub~y~tem
i includes, as ~enerally shown in figure 11,
ervo rate select circuitry 505, tach ~elect
circultry 510, and sw~ming junction select
c~-rcuitry 515.
vj A suitable arran~emert Or tach select
circuitry 510 used in the lllustrated embodiment
i~ shown in detail in rigure 21. It will be
~, recalled from the description o~ risure 4 that
each bill belt ~nclude3 a tachometer. In fleure
21~ the si~nals produced by the rour identic.~l
tachometers are identiried ss tach ~ (the one
in bill belt 74)~ tach 1 (the one in bill belt
76), tach 2 (the one in bill belt 78), and tach
3 (the one in bill belt 80).
~ G~-
~j ,,,i.,~, .
.,
~ ~ 6371 7
l~en the ex~st~n~ command ldentiria~ bill
belt 74, the ST~ sl~n~l equ~ls ~. An ~et 5t6
recei~es the ~ slgn~l at its 8Qte electrode
~nd iq 9W~ tched on ~h~le the ~ 8~ En~l equ~l~
O. Tho ~ource and dr~in electrode~ of ~et 516
are connected in a ~9rie9 circuit path between
tach O and the ~nverting input o~ An analog
operational amplifier 517 who~e output 1~ iden-
tir~ed as AF~t ~AFB i3 an acronym ~or Analo~
Faedback). As shownJ ~ conventional servo
compen~ation network 518 i~ provided to control
the gain provided by amplirier 5~7. An invert-
in~ unity eain circuit comprisine oper~tional
amplirier 519 re~pond3 to th~ AFB1 si6n~l to
produce an AFB2 signal which i9 180 degrees out
Or phase ~rom the AFB1 signQl.
Th~ee other rot-s~itched s~rie~ circuit
path~, esch identic~l in structure to the above-
d~scrlbed~serie~ clrcuit path ~or tach ~ aro
pro~ided ~or ~electivoly coup~ing the t~ch 1
throu6h tach 3 ~ignals to ampli~ler 517.
_ 70
, : ,
~ ~37~7
These three series circuit paths are controlled
by the STl signal, the ST2, and the ST3 signal,
respectively.
Servo Rate Select Circuit 505 shown in figure 22
is controlled by signals UNLD and RUN, and produces an
analog signal AIR (an accronym for Analog Input
Rate). The time-shared servo controls the
angular velocity of a bill cache drive motor in
accordance with a magnitude of the AIR signal.
For the high speed dump operation, it is de-
sirable that angular velocity be relatively
high; a lower angular velocity is more desirable
in connection with either of the pay-in or
pay-out modes of the bill caches.
The UNLD signal equals O while the se-
curity key switch is actuated and the existing
command is an unload command. An FET 521
receives the UNLD signal at its gate electrode
and is switched on while the UNLD signal equals
0. The source and drain electrodes of FET
521 are connected in a series circuit path
between +Vl and the inverting input of an
- 71 -
i l 63717
operational ~mplirier 522. me eain Or ampli-
rler 522 i~ controll~d by a conventional reed-
bsck oircuit eenerally indicated at ~23. Thfl
output signAl produced b~ ampli~ier 522 i~ .
~ppliod to ~n lntegrator gonorall~ indlcated
at 524. Sultably~ tho RC elmo oonstant Or
lntogrator 524 1~ betwoen a hal~ a ~e~ond and
one second. Th~ output signal produood b~
into8rator 524 19 applied to ~n i~ert~ng, unlty
galn amplirier generall~ indlcat0d at 525 uho~e
output signal i8 the ~IR si~nal. The AIR
~ignal i8 applied al~o to one end o~ a ~eedback
resistor 526, the other end o~ ~hich i~ con~
nected to the in~orting input o~ ampli~ier 522.
The ~ W,~ignal equsl~ 0 ~hile thc e~isting
c~mmand iB either a Forward command or a Roverse
(normal spaod) oommand. An FE~ 527 reoelres
the ~ signal at its 8sto elootrode and ha~
lt~ souroe ~nd draln oloctroa-s conneot-d ln a
8erle8 clrcuit p~th botwoon a po~ontlometor
~2~ and tho l~r-rtin~ lnput o~ umpllrlor ~22.
, ~
~ - 7,2-
i 1 ~3~1 7
FE~ 527 ~8 switched on only whlle the ~ffN ~ignal
equals O.
While neither the ~R nor the ~5 signals
equals O, the AIR ~ignal has a steady stste
value Or 0. When a com~and i9 decoded to cause
the ~ si~nal to change to 0, FET 527 ~witches
on, the magnltude Or the AIR ~ignal lncroa~s
positi~oly to dorlno 8 r~mp ror an lnterval
~ho~e duratlon 1~ ri~od b~ tho time oonstant
Or int~grator 524. At tho ond Or that interYal,
the lnput to into6rator 524'~111 be null. O~ing
to tho ~e~ory pro~idod by lnt-grator 5Z4, how-
evor, th0 ~IR ~gn~l wlll havo Q po~lt~e
~aluo yroportionRl to th- o-tt~n~ Or pot0ntlo-
motor 52a. In a 8imllar munnor, when d~ta
p~ooe~sor 350 ls~ue~ a ~top command thQt 1~
decoded to cau~- the ~R ~lgnal to chan8e b~ok
to 1, the AIR ~lgnal wlll de~ino a de~o-nding
ramp to it~ ~teady ~tato valuo o~ O volt-.
The 4ame klnd Or loading ~nd tr~lllng ramp
18 de~lned in re-pon~e to ~ cyele Or tho
sign~l, th9 only dlrforonce ~rom the ~oregoir~
rosidine ln the magnltudo o~ tho AIR lgnal.
~ 73~
.... .
3 1 6371 7
The output sign~l produ¢ed by lnverter 524
i8 al30 ~pplied to a circult gonerally lndic~ted
at 529 that i9 subs~antially the 9RmO in con-
struction ~nd oper~tior. as tha cirouit~ de~cribed
above with re~eronce ~ igure 18. Circuit
529 produces the B~ signal and an inverter 530
respon~ive th~retc produces the ~ signal.
The BSY and ~3Y ~ignals provide statu~ inrorma-
tion as to whe~her the time ~hAred ~ervo i8
onergizing a drive motor.
A suitable ~rrangement b~ ~umming Junction
~eloct olrcuitry 515 uoed in tho illustrQted
embodiment i8 ~hown ln detail in flguro 23.
Durlng a pay-in ~odo Or oporst~on~ the tl~o
~hared oorvo,is usod to control tho ~n~log veloc-
i~y Or tho ta~e-up rool drivo ~otsr in the
Jcanned ono o~ th- bill c~ch~a. ~t the 8~m-
time, an opon-loop~ relati~ely low-lov01
energization o~ tho ~uppl~ rool drl~o motor o~
tho ~oloetod bill caohe oocur~ (in the oppo~ito
dirootlon ~o ~ to ~aintsin wob ton~ion.
power trsnslstor 535 oooper~to~ with ~our Or ~'
$he powor trQn~istor~ 8hown ln ~igur- 23
- 7~ -
i ~63717
to energ~ze the take-up reel drive motor in
the selected bill cache. A power transistor
536 cooperates with the remaining four o~ tha
power tran~istors shown ~n ~igure 23 to ener-
gizo the supply rosl drive motors in the
sel~cted b~ll cache.
While the e~sting ¢ommand i~ 8 FOr~Brd
CQmmand~ power translstor 535 operatos a8
part Or the timo shared ser~o wh~re~ power
tr~nsistor 536 operates on sn open-loop basi~.
On the hand~ while the e~lst~ng command i~
either a Rover~e or an Unload command, power
tranol~tor ~36 operatea ~ part Or the time
sharod ser~o wher0as powor tran3i~tor 535
operates o~ sn opon loop b
- ~ Whllo powor tranoletor ~35 oporato~ a~
part o~ ths tim- ~har~d -r~o~ tho oummlng
~unctlon ~or th- tim- ~har-d ~or~o l- ~In~
summing ~un~tion 537. Betw~-n~In~u~ng iuno-
tion ~3~ ~nd tho ba~ otrod- o~ pow-r trun-
s~tor 535 th-r- lo an a~pl~rlor g-norall~
~nd~o~tod at ~3B. Wh~l~ po~or tran~tor 536
operates ~ part o~ tho ~imo ~har0d ~er~o~ tho
7S-
~ 163717
summing ~unction ~or the time shared ser~o i9
~Out~ summing ~unction 539. Between Out sum-
ming ~unction ~39 and the base electode o~
power transistor 536 thsre 18 an ampli~ier
generall~ indicatod ~t 540.
- 7~-
i ~63717
The present invention has been shown and
described in conjunction with a microprocessor
providing software control for the bill belt
mechanism and a part of the prompting display
mechanism. Naturally, the bill belt mechanism can
be controlled by hardware circuits. ~t the time of
filing of this application, the inventors do not know
which of the two modes of practicing the inVentiQn are
to be preferred. It is the inventor's guess that in
volume production of a complete system that "software"
control would be employed, most likely using software
specifically created for the project which is different
from what is shown in this application although function-
ally similar. The hardware implementation shown was one
created for a potential field trial. Most likely a
practical large scale production run would employ functionally
similar but structurally different circuit boards.
~7~
i ~637~7
Accordingly, the inventors recognize that those
skilled in the art to which the present invention
relates understand that there are many variations
possible in the structures shown and described in this
application. These structures are shown as illustrations
only and not in limitations of the inventive concepts
described herein.
Those skilled in the art should recognize that the
present invention has a number of functional advantages
over prior art devices. It is theft proof to an unusual
degree. It is difficult to carry off the premises. The
operator cannot be forced to empty the contents. The
inventive Terminal will only give change to bills over the
amount of the sale. The Terminal will only accept the bill
necessary to equal or exceed the amount of the sale. An
operator must make decisions about the denomination and
genuineness of bills but cannot touch the bills. In food
operations this function may eliminate the need for an
extra employee. In an operations the inability of the
employees to have access to cash is an important anti-theft
feature. Both the management and the employees of the firm
employing a Terminal incorporating in it the inventive features
shown herein gain security, safety and accuracy.
'3:~ ~8
