Sélection de la langue

Search

Sommaire du brevet 2299747 

Énoncé de désistement de responsabilité concernant l'information provenant de tiers

Une partie des informations de ce site Web a été fournie par des sources externes. Le gouvernement du Canada n'assume aucune responsabilité concernant la précision, l'actualité ou la fiabilité des informations fournies par les sources externes. Les utilisateurs qui désirent employer cette information devraient consulter directement la source des informations. Le contenu fourni par les sources externes n'est pas assujetti aux exigences sur les langues officielles, la protection des renseignements personnels et l'accessibilité.

Disponibilité de l'Abrégé et des Revendications

L'apparition de différences dans le texte et l'image des Revendications et de l'Abrégé dépend du moment auquel le document est publié. Les textes des Revendications et de l'Abrégé sont affichés :

  • lorsque la demande peut être examinée par le public;
  • lorsque le brevet est émis (délivrance).
(12) Demande de brevet: (11) CA 2299747
(54) Titre français: EMPILEUR DISTRIBUTEUR DE BILLETS DE BANQUE
(54) Titre anglais: BANKNOTE STACKER AND DISPENSER
Statut: Morte
Données bibliographiques
(51) Classification internationale des brevets (CIB):
  • B65H 31/28 (2006.01)
  • B65H 29/00 (2006.01)
  • B65H 29/14 (2006.01)
  • B65H 29/22 (2006.01)
  • B65H 29/60 (2006.01)
  • B65H 31/24 (2006.01)
  • B65H 31/30 (2006.01)
  • G07D 7/00 (2016.01)
(72) Inventeurs :
  • SALTSOV, LEON (Canada)
  • BUKHMAN, SERGIY (Canada)
  • GISAR, BORIS (Ukraine)
(73) Titulaires :
  • CASHCODE COMPANY INC. (Canada)
(71) Demandeurs :
  • CASHCODE COMPANY INC. (Canada)
(74) Agent: DENNISON ASSOCIATES
(74) Co-agent:
(45) Délivré:
(22) Date de dépôt: 2000-03-02
(41) Mise à la disponibilité du public: 2001-09-02
Licence disponible: S.O.
(25) Langue des documents déposés: Anglais

Traité de coopération en matière de brevets (PCT): Non

(30) Données de priorité de la demande: S.O.

Abrégés

Abrégé anglais





The validator and dispensing unit advantageously
receives and aligns banknotes which are to be dispensed
from the unit. Received banknotes are stacked on above the
other and dispensed as a stack. The unit in a first mode
receives banknotes individually and forms a stack of
received banknotes and in a second mode dispenses the
stacked banknotes as a group.

Revendications

Note : Les revendications sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.





THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A device for receiving banknotes and dispensing
received banknotes in stacked pack comprising a rotary
accumulator of a size such that the banknotes to be
dispensed can only be partially wrapped about said
accumulator, said device including a first drive belt and
a second drive belt with each drive belt in contact with a
limited portion of said accumulator to define a banknote
entrance in a gap between said drive belts and a banknote
discharge slot in a gap between said drive belts, said
accumulator being driven by said belts and said banknotes
being located between said drive belts and said
accumulator, and a control arrangement controlling the feed
of banknotes about to be individually partially trained
about said accumulator to stack banknotes on said
accumulator one atop the other and in a manner to define a
gap between leading and trailing ends of said stacked
banknotes, said control arrangement including a gate member
associated with said discharge slot and movable into said
gap between said leading and trailing ends and stripping
said stacked banknotes from said accumulator and
discharging said stacked banknotes through said discharge
slot.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least
one of said drive belts drives said stacked banknotes
through said discharge slot.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said
accumulator is driven in one rotational direction by said
drive belts for accumulating stacked banknotes and said
accumulator is driven in a second rotational direction for
discharging stacked banknotes.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said drive
belts are located on opposite sides of said accumulator.

-11-




5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said drive
belts are each driven at the same speed.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said
control arrangement compares a signal from a separate drive
feeding a banknote to be stacked to said device that
includes information with respect to the position of the
banknote with a signal from said device that includes
information with respect to the position of stacked
banknotes on said accumulator and adjusts the speed of
said stacked banknotes relative to said banknote being feed
to stack the feed banknote atop the banknotes already
stacked on said accumulator.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein leading or
trailing edges of banknotes are aligned in the banknotes
stacked on said accumulator.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said
accumulator is freely rotatable and driven by said drive
belts for stacking of banknotes.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said
device includes guide members in said entrance slot for
guiding the leading edge of stacked banknotes between a
discharge of said second drive and an engage point of said
first drive.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein during
stacking of banknotes said accumulator is being driven by
said drive belts as a banknote to be added to said stack is
feed to and received by said device.

11. A method for receiving banknotes and dispensing
received banknotes in stacked pack comprising receiving
individual banknotes and aligning each received banknote
with a known position on a rotary accumulator to form a

-12-




stack of banknotes covering only part of said accumulator,
and discharging said stacked banknotes through a discharge
slot by stripping of said stacked banknotes from said
accumulator and guiding said stacked banknotes as a stack
through the discharge slot.

12. A method for receiving banknotes and dispensing
received banknotes in stacked pack comprising receiving
individual banknotes and accumulating and aligning each
received banknote with other received banknotes to form a
stack of banknotes, and discharging said stack of banknotes
through a discharge slot by engaging said stack of
banknotes driving said stack of banknotes through a
discharge slot.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the step
of accumulating and aligning received banknotes includes
aligning each received banknote with a known position on a
rotary accumulator to form a stack of banknotes covering
only part of said accumulator, and said step of discharging
said banknotes includes stripping of said stacked banknotes
from said accumulator and guiding said stacked banknotes
through the discharge slot.

14. A device for dispensing a stack of banknotes
comprising a rotary accumulator for receiving banknotes and
training of the received banknotes on the accumulator with
a portion of the accumulator exposed between ends of the
banknote, a drive belt arrangement partially trained about
said accumulator for driving the accumulator in sympathy
with the drive belt arrangement in a first direction for
stacking banknotes on said accumulator and in a second
direction for dispensing stacked banknotes, a control
arrangement controlling the speed of said drive belt
arrangement in said first direction relative to a fed speed
and position of a banknote to be stacked to align the fed
banknote atop previously stacked banknotes, and wherein
said belt drive arrangement when rotated in said second

-13-




direction cooperates with a gate member associated with a
discharge port, said gate member when said belt drive is
driven in said second direction engaging said accumulator
and stripping stacked banknotes from said accumulator and
forcing the stacked banknotes through said discharge port.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said belt
drive arrangement drives said stacked banknotes through
said discharge port.

16. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said
drive arrangement is two belt drives.

17. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said
drive arrangement is a single belt drive having a movable
combination inlet and outlet for receiving or discharging a
banknote.

18. A device as claimed in claim 16 wherein said two
belt drives are driven at a common speed and by a single
motor.

-14-

Description

Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.



CA 02299747 2000-03-02
WH-10,776CA
TITLE: BANKNOTE STACKER AND DISPENSER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to devices for
accepting of banknotes and accumulating banknotes in a
particular manner and dispensing a stack of banknotes.
Banknote validators receive banknotes and conduct
an assessment of each banknotes prior to making a decision
whether the banknote should be accepted or rejected. If
the banknote is accepted it is normally fed to a storage
cassette which is removed by the owner from time to time.
Some banknote validators include a storage arrangement for
storing of banknotes for subsequent dispensing as part of
the transaction with a user. The banknotes are typically
wound on a drum with belts positioned to separate each
banknote. With this storage arrangement banknotes are
wound on in one direction and dispensed in an opposite
direction such that the last wound banknote is dispensed
first. Such devices typically forward each banknote to a
hopper type arrangement where the user then removes the
dispensed banknotes.
It would be more desirable to dispense a stack of
banknotes in a single action as opposed to dispensing
banknotes individually for accumulation in a hopper or
other type device.
The present invention provides a device which is
used with a validator and banknote storage arrangement for
receiving banknotes individually and stacking the banknotes
one atop the other and thereafter dispense a stack of
banknotes.
- 1 -


CA 02299747 2000-03-02
WH-10,776CA
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A device according to the present invention
receives and stacks banknotes and dispenses stacked
banknotes together. The device includes a rotary
accumulator of a size such that the banknotes to be
dispensed can only be partially wrapped about the periphery
of the accumulator. The device includes a first drive belt
and a second drive belt with each drive belt in contact
with a limited portion of the accumulator to define a
banknote entrance in a gap between the drive belts and a
bank discharge slot in a gap between the drive belts. The
accumulator is driven by the belts and the banknotes are
located between the drive belts and the accumulator. A
control arrangement controls the feed of banknotes about to
be individually partially trained about the accumulator to
stack banknotes on the accumulator one atop the other and
in a manner to define a gap between the leading and
trailing ends of the stack of banknotes. The control
arrangement includes a gate member associated with the
discharge slot and movable into the gap between the leading
and trailing ends of the banknotes for stripping thereof
from the accumulator and discharging the stacked banknotes
through the discharge slot.
According to an aspect of the invention at least
one of the drive belts drives the stacked banknotes through
the discharge slot.
According to a further aspect of the invention
the accumulator is driven in one rotational direction by
the drive belts for accumulating stacked banknotes and the
accumulator is driven in a second rotational direction for
discharging the stacked banknotes.
According to yet a further aspect of the
invention drive belts are located on opposite sides of the
accumulator.
- 2 -


CA 02299747 2000-03-02
WH-10,776CA
According to yet a further aspect of the
invention the drive belts are each driven at the same speed
and the control arrangement coordinates the speed with a
feed speed of a banknote about to be stacked on the
accumulator.
According to yet a further aspect of the
invention the control arrangement compares a signal from a
separate drive feeding a banknote about to be stacked on
said accumulator with a stack signal from the device. The
feed signal includes information to the position of the
feed banknote held up to the device and the stacked signal
includes information with respect to he position of any
banknotes stacked on the accumulator. The control
arrangement then adjusts the speed of the stacked banknotes
relative to the speed of the feed banknote such that the
feed banknote merges in an aligned manner with the stacked
banknotes already located on the accumulator.
According to yet a further aspect of the
invention the accumulator is freely rotatable and is driven
in response to the first and second drive belts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown
in the drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combine
validator and dispenser unit;
Figure 2 and 3 are a vertical and a side view of
the combined validator and dispenser unit including the
device for stacking of the banknotes to be dispensed;
Figures 4, 5, and 6 are top views of the stacking
and dispensing device illustrating the stacking of
banknotes on the accumulator and the subsequent dispensing
of stacked banknotes;
- 3 -


CA 02299747 2000-03-02
WH-10,776CA
Figure 7 and figure 8 show an alternate dispenser
unit having only one drive belt cooperating with the
accumulator.
,
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 illustrates a combined validator and
dispenser unit 2 which processes banknotes 4 and interacts
with a smart card 6. As with traditional validators the
banknotes are fed through the banknote slot 8 for
evaluation and processing. The smart card 6 is fed into
the smart card slot 10 if the transaction is to be
associated with the smart card. The combined unit 2
accumulates accepted banknotes in the banknote cassette 11
and also temporarily stores banknotes for later dispensing
in accumulators 28 and 30 (fig. 2 and 3). If a received
banknote is evaluated by the validator 22 and determined to
be of questionably authenticity it is returned through the
banknote slot 8.
The combined validator and dispenser unit 20 of
figures 2 and 3 evaluates banknotes in a conventional
manner, however, received banknotes can optionally be
temporarily accumulated in first and second bill
accumulators 28 and 30. In some cases received banknotes
are fed directly to the storage cassette 32. A transport
feed drive 24 receives a banknote which has been processed
by the evaluation head 22 and transports the banknote to
the accumulators or to the storage cassette. This drive is
reversible for transporting banknotes from the accumulators
to the stacking and dispensing unit 26. In the design
shown in figures 2 and 3, each of the bill accumulators 28
and 30 include their own drive arrangements and electronic
controls. Furthermore the accumulators can be separately
removable from the validator should service be required.
The accumulators 28 and 30 are designed to store
received banknotes in a series manner such that the
- 4 -


CA 02299747 2000-03-02
WH-10,776CA
trailing edge of one banknote is closely adjacent the
leading edge of the next received banknote. Thin belts are
wound with banknotes to separate each banknote and allow
the accumulator to output one banknote at a time. With
these devices the last banknote received is the first
banknote outputted.
With the validator and dispensing unit of figures
2 and 3 it may be desirable to dispense a certain number of
banknotes which have been previously stored on one of the
accumulators 28 and 30. Normally one of these accumulators
stores one denomination of a particular currency and a
second accumulator stores a different denomination. For
example, accumulator 28 may store $5 notes and accumulator
store $10 notes. In some activities of the validator it
may be desirable merely to store on a temporary basis a
series of banknotes which have been inputted to the device
for a possible transaction. If the transaction is voided
for any particular reason the same banknotes can be
returned by outputting the banknotes from the particular
accumulator and providing these banknotes to the stacking
and dispensing device 26. In this way the same banknotes
that are received by the combined unit are returned to the
user.
A further consideration of the banknote validator
and dispensing device of figures 2 and 3 is efficient
processing time such that the validator is convenient to
use. It is important to have an efficient transaction time
with respect to processing of received banknotes.
It has been found that the user is more willing
to use the device if the transaction time is relatively
fast. With the combined validator and dispenser unit of
35. figures 2 and 3 banknotes can be quickly processed and
stored on one of the accumulators with knowledge of the
particular denominations which have been stored. After the
transaction is complete the device can appropriately
- 5 -


CA 02299747 2000-03-02
WH-10,776CA
redirect any of the banknotes as necessary. For this type
of operation it is often desirable to have yet a further
accumulator which can be used for the temporary storage of
banknotes to be appropriately processed during any idle
time of the validator.
The stacking and dispensing device 26 receives
banknotes through the feed slot 40 and stacks the received
banknotes on the accumulator 56. The accumulator 56 is
preferably cylindrical and has a series of slots along in
the surface thereof. This defines an outer peripheral
surface 58 and an inner peripheral surface 60. The
banknotes are stacked against the outer peripheral surface
58 as shown in figure 5. The accumulator 56 is driven by a
first drive belt 48 which engages only a portion of the
accumulator and a second drive belt 50. The first and
second drive belts contact the outer most banknote and the
stacked banknotes effectively drive the accumulator 56.
The accumulator 56 is responsive to the speed of
the drive belts. With this arrangement the rotational
speed of the accumulator varies relative to the speed of
the drive belt and the tangential speed of the last
banknote is equal to the linear speed of the drive belts.
The banknotes are stacked one atop the other with the
leading edges 73 of the stack of banknotes 72 aligned and
in this case the trailing edges 75 of the banknotes are
also aligned as the banknotes are of a common length. This
length is less than the periphery of the accumulator 56
such that there is a substantial gap 80 between the leading
edges 73 and the trailing edges 75 of the stacked
banknotes.
The feed banknote 74 of figure 5 is about to
enter the stacking and dispensing device 26 as the toggle
member 44 has been moved outwardly to guide the leading
edge of the feed banknote 74 into the feed channel 46 of
the device. The transport feed drive 24 which is typically
- 6 -


CA 02299747 2000-03-02
WH-10,776CA
a belt drive or rollers causes the banknote 74 to move.
The speed of this transport is coordinated with the
variable speed of the drive belts such that the leading
edge of the feed banknote aligns with the leading edges 73
of the stacked banknotes 72. Various arrangements
including sensors and processing electronics can be used to
achieve the necessary synchronization between the drive
speeds. Banknotes stored on the accumulators 28 and 30 are
individually fed to the stacking and dispensing device 26
for initial stacking one atop the other as shown in figure
5. In this way a stack of banknotes is accumulated on the
accumulator 56. The accumulator 56 is continuously driven
by the belts and the belt speed is synchronized with the
speed of the transport 24 to achieve the necessary
alignment of banknotes. This continuous type of motion of
the accumulator, although not constant motion allows fast
processing relative to a stop/start motion for accumulation
of banknotes used in prior art devices.
Once the desired number of banknotes are
partially trained about accumulator 58, a discharge toggle
64 is moved to the position of figure 6. It can be seen
that the fingers 66 of the discharge toggle are received in
the slots of the accumulator and as such provide a
transition from the accumulator to the discharge port 68.
Once the desired number of banknotes have been
stacked on the accumulator the direction of the accumulator
is reversed and the toggle 64 is moved to the position of
figure 6. The fingers 66 are located in the gap 80 and the
rotational direction of the accumulator is reversed. The
second drive belt 50 continues to partially engage the
stacked banknotes 62 and the stacked banknotes are stripped
from the accumulator and dispensed as a group through the
discharge port 68. The second drive belt extends beyond
the accumulator 56 to drive the stacked banknotes through
the port 68. With this arrangement the trailing edges of
the banknotes are dispensed first.
_ 7 _


WH-10,776CA
CA 02299747 2000-03-02
The stacking and dispensing device 26 is rotated
in one direction for accumulation of banknotes and in a
second direction for dispensing of banknotes. As can be
appreciated from a review of figures 5 and 6 any attempt to
force the discharge toggle 64 to a dispensing position in
an attempt to withdraw bills fraudulently will have little
effect as the accumulator is rotating in a counterclockwise
direction and the stacked banknotes easily move past the
toggle. If desired the fingers 66 can be of a resilient
material and are easily caromed outwardly such that the
stacked banknotes to continue their movement. Therefore
the position of the toggle 68 does not determine whether
the banknotes will be dispensed. It is the position of the
toggle in combination with the direction of rotation of the
accumulator that determines whether stacked banknotes will
be discharged.
In the arrangement shown in figures 4 through 6 a
mechanical cam 81 is controlled and determines the position
of the discharge toggle 64. Other arrangements are
possible however a strong mechanical position control is
preferred such that movement of the discharge toggle by
engaging the blocking member 83 is strongly opposed.
The stacking and dispensing device of figures 4
through 6 coordinates with the drive transport 24 of the
overall device to achieve stacking of the banknotes one
atop the other. The partial training of the banknotes
about the periphery of the accumulator provides a gap where
the surface of the accumulator is exposed and this gap is
advantageously used to engage the accumulator at a point
beneath the stacked banknotes to assure full dispensing of
any stacked notes through the discharge port when the
device is operated in a discharge mode.
The operation of the device has been described with
respect to banknotes of a certain length all of which are
g _


CA 02299747 2000-03-02
WH-10,776CA
equal, however this need not be the case. The accumulator
is sized to receive the longest banknote with the banknote
only partially wrapped about the accumulator. However,
this can be used in combination with shorter length
banknotes. The banknotes can be aligned by leading or
trailing edges or any other form of alignment such that the
stack of banknotes on the accumulator defines the necessary
gap. The actual length of a received banknote can be known
from the validator which has conducted an evaluation of the
banknote.
The validator and dispensing unit of figures 2
and 3 has been shown with two accumulators 28 and 30.
However, additional accumulators can also be provided.
Similarly the drive transport arrangement 24 is shown as a
belt drive but other drive arrangements including
rotational rollers are also possible. The validator has
been described with respect to electronic circuitry for
maintaining in memory different information as well as
coordinating the speeds of the transport 24 and the
stacking and dispensing unit 26. Such electronic controls
and memory are shown as 21 in Figure 3.
The embodiment of figures 7 and 8 illustrate a
pivoting one belt arrangement for stacking of banknotes on
the accumulator and the dispensing of the stacked banknotes
through the discharge port. The modified banknote stacker
100 of figure 8 is positioned for receiving a banknote and
winding the banknote about the accumulator 102. The
accumulator is driven by belt 104 which also serves to trap
stacked banknotes between the belt and the accumulator.
The belt 104 is trained around end rollers 106 and 108
which are held in a fixed relative orientation by the V
shaped arm member 110. This arrangement is pivotable about
shaft 112. Banknotes are stacked on the accumulator in
manner similar to the stacker of Figures 4 and 5.
- 9 -


wH-10,776CA
CA 02299747 2000-03-02
The motor 120 controls the position of the V arm
arrangement and moves the rollers 106 and 108 to the
discharge position shown in Figure 7. This motor has also
caused movement of the discharge guide 122 to rotate
counter clockwise to align with the discharge port 124.
This action also brings fingers 126 of the discharge guide
into the slots provided on the accumulator. Motor 130 is
reversed in direction and drives the belt 104 to cause a
clockwise rotation of the accumulator. The stacked
banknotes 140 are dispensed as a stack after stripping from
the accumulator.
The rotary stacker is easily controlled to form a
stack of banknotes on the rotary accumulator which can be
stripped and dispensed as a stack through a discharge port.
The stacker is fast and reliable and is easily coordinated
with other devices such as temporary banknote accumulators.
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
spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended
claims.
- 10 -

Dessin représentatif
Une figure unique qui représente un dessin illustrant l'invention.
États administratifs

Pour une meilleure compréhension de l'état de la demande ou brevet qui figure sur cette page, la rubrique Mise en garde , et les descriptions de Brevet , États administratifs , Taxes périodiques et Historique des paiements devraient être consultées.

États administratifs

Titre Date
Date de délivrance prévu Non disponible
(22) Dépôt 2000-03-02
(41) Mise à la disponibilité du public 2001-09-02
Demande morte 2006-03-02

Historique d'abandonnement

Date d'abandonnement Raison Reinstatement Date
2005-03-02 Taxe périodique sur la demande impayée
2005-03-02 Absence de requête d'examen

Historique des paiements

Type de taxes Anniversaire Échéance Montant payé Date payée
Le dépôt d'une demande de brevet 300,00 $ 2000-03-02
Enregistrement de documents 100,00 $ 2000-04-20
Taxe de maintien en état - Demande - nouvelle loi 2 2002-03-04 100,00 $ 2002-01-24
Taxe de maintien en état - Demande - nouvelle loi 3 2003-03-03 100,00 $ 2003-02-27
Taxe de maintien en état - Demande - nouvelle loi 4 2004-03-02 100,00 $ 2004-03-01
Titulaires au dossier

Les titulaires actuels et antérieures au dossier sont affichés en ordre alphabétique.

Titulaires actuels au dossier
CASHCODE COMPANY INC.
Titulaires antérieures au dossier
BUKHMAN, SERGIY
GISAR, BORIS
SALTSOV, LEON
Les propriétaires antérieurs qui ne figurent pas dans la liste des « Propriétaires au dossier » apparaîtront dans d'autres documents au dossier.
Documents

Pour visionner les fichiers sélectionnés, entrer le code reCAPTCHA :



Pour visualiser une image, cliquer sur un lien dans la colonne description du document. Pour télécharger l'image (les images), cliquer l'une ou plusieurs cases à cocher dans la première colonne et ensuite cliquer sur le bouton "Télécharger sélection en format PDF (archive Zip)" ou le bouton "Télécharger sélection (en un fichier PDF fusionné)".

Liste des documents de brevet publiés et non publiés sur la BDBC .

Si vous avez des difficultés à accéder au contenu, veuillez communiquer avec le Centre de services à la clientèle au 1-866-997-1936, ou envoyer un courriel au Centre de service à la clientèle de l'OPIC.


Description du
Document 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Nombre de pages   Taille de l'image (Ko) 
Dessins 2000-03-02 5 221
Description 2000-03-02 10 458
Revendications 2000-03-02 4 163
Dessins représentatifs 2001-08-16 1 17
Abrégé 2000-03-02 1 12
Dessins 2001-05-30 5 199
Page couverture 2001-08-28 1 41
Correspondance 2000-03-23 1 2
Cession 2000-03-02 3 94
Cession 2000-04-20 4 165
Correspondance 2001-05-30 6 227