Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: BANKNOTE VALIDATOR WITH CASHBOX
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to banknote validators
having an associated cashbox and in particular to the
connection between the cashbox and the banknote validator
allowing banknotes to pass from the validator to the
cashbox.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Banknote validators with locking banknote cassettes or
non locking cashboxes are well known and have particular
application for standalone payment systems where there
may or may not be security personnel present.
Banknote validators and associated cashboxes for gaming
machines and other applications where the value of the
accumulated banknotes is relatively high, typically use a
locking banknote cassette. In lower value applications
such as vending machine applications, the value of
accumulated banknotes received as part of the payment
process is significantly less and a more cost effective
arrangement of the banknote validator and cashbox is
often required. For vending machine applications, it is
known to use a plastic cashbox and it is also known to
use a plastic cashbox with an open port. This simplified
plastic cashbox is significantly less secure relative to
a locked banknote cassette however it provides a low cost
system. The open port plastic cashbox is typically used
where the denomination of the currency being accumulated
is relatively low and/or the operator demands a price
point for the combination banknote validator and cashbox
that is particularly aggressive.
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The present invention relates to a banknote validator
having a cashbox of the open port type that has improved
properties reducing the possibility of banknote jamming
when passed from the validator to the cashbox.
In banknote validators and plastic cashboxes, the cashbox
is generally connected to the banknote validator for
feeding of the banknote along one face of the cashbox to
overlap with the open port. The banknote is
appropriately positioned by the banknote validator in
front of the open port and a stacking mechanism forces
the banknote through the port and into the cashbox.
Typically a banknote validator has an initial banknote
evaluating channel of a first generally straight
orientation connected to a curved transition followed by
a second generally straight segment having a direction
generally perpendicular to the first direction. The
curved transition is normally a smooth curve defined
entirely by the banknote validator and guides the
banknote through the change in direction of travel and
connecting with an outlet of the validator. The cashbox
is then positioned adjacent the outlet and the banknote
is moved or passed along a front face of the banknote
receiving port in the cashbox.
With the prior art arrangement described above, a
banknote can become jammed in the banknote validator or
at the junction of the cashbox and the banknote
validator. Banknote validators can include various
arrangements including software arrangements for
controlling the drive of the banknote validator to assist
in clearing of jammed banknotes, however jamming of
banknotes remains a significant problem as the banknote
validator is forced to a service required condition.
This outage in service typically reduces sales and can
frustrate both customers and the service providers.
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It is desired to provide an improved arrangement for
processing of banknotes and stacking of the banknotes in
a cost efficient and reliable arrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A banknote validator according to the present invention
comprises a validating head having a banknote processing
channel for assessing the authenticity of banknotes and a
releasable cashbox connected to the validating head for
stacking authenticated banknotes. The validating head
includes a banknote inlet at one end of the banknote
processing channel and a banknote outlet at an opposite
end of the banknote channel. The banknote outlet
cooperates with an end of the cashbox to collectively
define a curved transition guiding an authenticated
banknote through an angle of at least 900 leading to a
stacking port in a side of the cashbox. The cashbox and
validating head have interfitting surfaces collectively
defining an outside guide structure of the curved
transition when the cashbox is secured to the validating
head. A drive arrangement drives banknotes through the
banknote processing channel, and if authenticated,
through the curved transition to the stacking port. A
stacking mechanism is provided for selectively pushing a
banknote through the stacking port and into the cashbox.
In a preferred aspect of the invention the banknote
validator has a particular drive arrangement that
includes two lead drive rollers located in the validating
head and defining a portion of the curved transition.
The drive arrangement further includes cooperating
responsive rollers on opposite sides of the processing
channel on a front side of the curved transition and a
pair of downstream responsive rollers supported in the
cashbox adjacent a discharge of the curved transition.
Each of these responsive rollers cooperate with the
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associated lead drive rollers to engage and guide a
banknote towards the stacking port of the cashbox.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the
drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a banknote
validating head and the connected cashbox showing the
cooperation of these components and in particular the
cooperation defining the curved transition for the
banknote drive path;
Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view showing the open
port of a cashbox in combination with a top member of the
validating head illustrating the guide surface at the
curved transition;
Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view showing further
details of the particular cooperation of the components
shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view showing the outer
components and their cooperation to form the curved
transition;
Fig. 5 is a front view showing the portion of the
validating head opposite the port in the cashbox;
Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view showing the interior
surface of the curved transition;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the lead drive roller;
and
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the responsive roller.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The sectional view of Fig. 1 shows a banknote validator 2
having a banknote validating head 4, and a cashbox 6
where banknotes enter through the banknote inlet 8, pass
through the processing channel 10 to the curved
transition 12, and if authenticated, are driven to
overlap with the stacking port 40 of the cashbox 6. The
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arrangement of Fig. 1 has a particular drive arrangement
and banknote processing pathway which distinguishes it
from the prior art. It can be seen from a review of
Figures 2 and 3 that the curved transition 12 which forms
part of the banknote processing channel is defined
between a portion of the validating head 4 and an end
portion of the cashbox 6. This curved transition allows
an authenticated banknote to be driven and positioned in
front of a port of a cashbox. The curved transition
essentially joins the two straight segments that have a
generally 900 orientation.
The curved transition is defined by a portion of the
cashbox and a portion of the validating head. This is in
contrast to prior art arrangements where the curved
transition is entirely formed within the validating head
and the cashbox abuts with an offset discharge from the
validating head after the banknote has been processed
through the curved transition.
It has been found that banknotes may become jammed or
lodged at a curved transition in the banknote processing
path and/or at the connection to the cashbox. In
contrast to the prior art arrangement, the curved
transition of the present system is collectively defined
between the cashbox and the validating head and thus the
separate interface between the cashbox and the validating
head is avoided. This reduces the number of locations
where a banknote may become jammed and the arrangement
has been found to be more reliable.
As seen in Fig. 2, the validating head 4 includes an
outside portion 5 that defines part of the exterior of
the curved transition 12. The one end 15 of the cashbox
6 defines a second portion of the curved transition.
Basically the cashbox includes a series of interfitting
or overlapping surfaces 62 as shown in Fig. 3 which
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cooperate with the interfitting surfaces 60 of the
outside portion 5 of the validating head 4. These
interfitting surfaces form stationary parts of the
exterior surface of the curved transition.
It can also be seen in Fig. 3 that the outside portion 5
of the validating head 4 includes two cooperating
responsive rollers 24 that engage the drive roller 22
shown in Fig. 1. Basically there are 2 drive rollers on
either side of the validating head and positioned within
the curved transition as best shown in Fig. 1. A
banknote passing through the banknote channel and the
curved transition is engaged by each of the drive rollers
22 and the cooperating responsive rollers 24 as part of
the validating head and the cooperating responsive
rollers 48 that are supported in the cashbox. As
illustrated in the sectional view of Fig. 1, the drive
roller 22 is engaged by the responsive roller 24 and the
responsive roller 48 of the cashbox. With this
arrangement, a banknote that is approaching the curved
transition is initially engaged in the gap between the
responsive roller 24 and the drive roller 22 and the
associated drive belt. The banknote is driven through the
curved transition and subsequently engaged between the
responsive roller 48 and the drive roller 22. This
arrangement for controlling of.the banknote as it passes
through the curved transition has proven to be very
effective. With this arrangement the cashbox forms the
second portion of the curved transition in combination
with an inner surface of the validating head 4.
The drive roller 22 is oversized relative to the
responsive rollers and preferably is of a diameter at
least twice the diameter of the responsive rollers. With
this arrangement the drive belts and the drive rollers
drive the banknote throughout the curved transition.
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Figures 5 and 6 show a further feature of the present
invention. The drive roller 22 is actually a combination
drive roller having a drive roller segment 34 which
engages roller segment 26 of the cooperating responsive
rollers 24 and 48. The drive roller 22 also includes a
belt drive gear segment 36 shown in Fig. 7 that
cooperates and drives the drive belt 30. With this
structure, both the drive belt 30 (and there are a pair
of drive belts 30 provided either side of the banknote
channel) and the drive roller segment 34 control the
banknote as it passes through the curved transition. At
the discharge side of the curved transition, the drive
belts 30 continue to drive the banknote downwardly as
these drive belts are positioned either side of the
stacking port 40 in the banknote cassette. It can also
be appreciated that the drive roller segments of the
drive rollers also force a banknote downwardly so that it
can assume an overlapped position with the stacking port
40 of the cashbox 6 to allow stacking therein. With
banknotes of different widths, this has been effective in
reducing jamming events. The outside position of the
banknote drive belts is preferred as they extend either
side of the port 40. A return roller for each drive belt
is generally shown as 49.
Fig. 5 shows a pusher plate 70 that includes its own
motor for forcing of the pusher plate through the
stacking port 40 and any banknote in front of the
stacking port to push a banknote into the cashbox.
With the present structure, the curved transition is
formed between the cashbox and the banknote validating
head. The inner portion of the curved transition is
defined in the validating head by the banknote channel
and the drive rollers 22 and the drive belts. The outer
portion of the curved transition is partially defined by
the validating head (i.e. the outside portion 5) and the
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one end of the cashbox such that a banknote is only prone
to jamming in the curved transition and the cashbox and
validating head have a pass off point that is
collectively defined within the curved transition. By
positioning the drive roller 22 in the curved transition
and of a diameter to allow it to engage the banknote as
it enters the curved transition as well as when it leaves
the curved transition, the drive roller maintains control
over the banknote and provides an effective hand off as
the processing channel of the banknote on the exterior
thereof changes from the banknote validating head to the
cashbox.
The particular cooperation of the elements in the
interlapping surfaces or fingers at the curved transition
to collectively form the curved transition reduces
jamming and effectively controls the banknote as it
passes between the validating head and the cashbox. This
arrangement, particularly in combination with the double
drive arrangement (rollers and drive belts), provides
increased reliability.
Figures 7 and 8 show additional details of the drive
roller and the cooperating responsive roller. Fig. 7 is
a perspective view of the drive roller 22 which includes
the gear drive segment 36 for engaging teeth on the back
surface of the drive belts as well as a drive roller
segment 34. This drive roller segment can be of an
appropriate rubber material or other suitable material
for engaging the banknote as it passes through the curved
transition.
The responsive roller 34 and the responsive roller 48 are
preferably of the same design as shown in Fig. 8. A
drive roller segment 34 engages the opposite roller
segment 26 and a spaced belt drive gear segment 36.
These elements cooperate with the outer surface of the
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belt drive to appropriately drive the banknote with
rotation of the roller. It can be seen that the two
segments 34 and 36 are separated by a center recessed
portion 35. This is preferred to allow each of the
segments 34 and 36 to respectively function independently
of one another although tied to the rotation of the
roller.
Although various preferred embodiments of the present
invention have been described herein in detail, it will
be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that
variations may be made thereto without departing from the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
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