CN105814613B

CN105814613B - Currency detector with cashbox

Info

Publication number: CN105814613B
Application number: CN201480066766.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: D·拜丁; S·安德罗修克
Original assignee: Crane Canada Co
Current assignee: Crane Payment Innovations Inc
Priority date: 2013-11-04
Filing date: 2014-10-31
Publication date: 2020-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 2034-10-31
Also published as: ES2906557T3; EP3066649A4; WO2015061887A1; EP3066649A1; EP3985625A1; CN105814613A; CN111754676B; EP3066649B1; CN111754676A; CA2832600A1

Abstract

A banknote drive arrangement for a banknote validator includes a combination roller drive and belt drive for improving the passage of banknotes from a validation head to a banknote stacking position where banknotes are pushed into and stacked in a cashbox. The invention also relates to a cashbox and a banknote validation head which cooperate to define a curved transition in a banknote processing channel which couples an outlet of the validation head with a banknote stacking position associated with the connected cashbox.

Description

Currency detector with cashbox

Technical Field

The present invention relates to banknote validators having an associated cashbox, and in particular to a connection between the cashbox and the validator that allows banknotes to pass through the validator to the cashbox.

Background

Banknote validators with locked banknote cassettes or non-locked cashboxes are well known and have this particular application for stand-alone payment systems where security personnel may or may not be present.

Banknote validators and associated cashboxes for gaming machines or other products where the value of accumulated banknotes is high typically use locked banknote cassettes. In lower value products, such as vending machine products, the accumulated banknotes received as part of the payment process are significantly less valuable, often requiring a more cost effective arrangement of a validator and cashbox. For vending machine products, it is known to use plastic cashboxes, and it is also known to use plastic cashboxes with open ports. The simplified plastic cashbox is significantly less secure than locking a banknote cassette, however it provides a low cost system. Open port plastic cashboxes are typically used where the denomination of currency to be accumulated is relatively small and/or where the price point required by the operator for the validator and cashbox combination is very competitive.

The present invention relates to a banknote validator with an open port type cashbox which improves performance and reduces the possibility of a banknote getting stuck when the banknote passes through the validator to the cashbox.

In banknote validators and plastic cashboxes, the cashbox is typically connected to the validator for feeding banknotes along one end face of the cashbox to overlap the open port. The banknote is properly positioned by the validator in front of the open port and the stacking mechanism forces the banknote through the port into the cashbox.

Typically, the banknote validator has an initial banknote evaluation channel having a first substantially straight orientation, the initial banknote evaluation channel being connected to a curved transition followed by the curved transition being connected to a second substantially straight segment oriented substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The curved transition is typically a smooth curve defined entirely by the validator, which guides the banknote through a transition in the direction of travel and connected to an outlet of the validator. The cashbox is then positioned adjacent the exit port and the banknotes are moved or passed along the front face of the banknote receiving port in the cashbox.

With the prior art arrangement described above, a banknote may become jammed in the validator or at the junction of the cashbox and the validator. The validator may include various arrangements including software arrangements for controlling the actuation of the validator to assist in clearing a jammed banknote, however, banknote jamming remains a significant problem when the validator is put to use in a desired service situation. This downtime while servicing typically reduces sales and can frustrate customers and service providers.

There is a need to provide an improved apparatus for processing and stacking banknotes in an inexpensive, efficient and reliable apparatus.

Disclosure of Invention

The banknote validator according to the present invention includes a validation head having a banknote processing pathway for determining the authenticity of banknotes and a releasable cashbox connected to the validation head for stacking validated banknotes. The validation 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 one end of the cashbox to collectively define a curved transition that directs authenticated banknotes through an angle of at least 90 ° and to a stacking port on one side of the cashbox. The cashbox and the validation head have mating surfaces that collectively define an outer guide structure of the curved transition when the cashbox is secured to the validation head. A drive arrangement drives the banknote through the banknote processing channel and, upon successful validation, drives the banknote through the curved transition to the stacking port. A stacking mechanism is provided for selectively pushing the banknotes through the stacking port and into the cashbox.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, the validator has a specific drive arrangement including two lead drive rollers located in the validation head and defining a portion of the curved transition. The drive arrangement further includes a cooperating response roller on the opposite side of the processing path on the front side of the curved transition and a pair of downstream response rollers supported in the cashbox adjacent the discharge portion of the curved transition. Each of these response rollers cooperates with an associated guide drive roller to engage and guide the banknote toward the stacking port of the cashbox.

Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a vertical section through a banknote validation head and attached cashbox showing the cooperation of these elements and in particular the cooperation of the curved transitions defining the drive path for the banknote;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing an open port of the cashbox in combination with a top member of the validation head, the partial perspective view showing a guide surface at a curved transition;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing further details of the particular cooperation of the elements shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the outer elements forming the curved transition and their cooperation;

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a portion of the validation head opposite a port in the cashbox;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing the inner surface of the curved transition;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the indexing drive roller; and

fig. 8 is a perspective view of the response roller.

Detailed Description

The cross-sectional view of fig. 1 shows a banknote validator 2 with a banknote validation head 4 and a cashbox 6 in which banknotes enter through a banknote inlet 8, pass through a processing channel 10 to a curved transition 12, and are driven to overlap a stacking port 40 of the cashbox 6 when validation is successful. The arrangement of figure 1 has a particular drive arrangement and banknote processing path which distinguishes it from the prior art. As can be seen by viewing figures 2 and 3, a curved transition 12 formed as part of the banknote processing pathway is defined between a portion of the validation head 4 and an end portion of the cashbox 6. The curved transition allows the authenticated banknote to be driven and positioned in front of the port of the cashbox. The curved transition substantially joins two straight sections having a substantially 90 orientation.

The curved transition is defined by a portion of the cashbox and a portion of the validation head. This is in contrast to prior art arrangements in which the curved transition is formed entirely within the interior of the validation head and the cashbox is abutted by the offset discharge portion of the validation head through the curved transition after the banknote has been processed.

It has been found that banknotes can jam or jam at curved transitions in the banknote processing path and/or at the connection to the cashbox. In contrast to prior art devices, the curved transition of the inventive system is entirely defined between the cashbox and the validation head, and thus avoids a separate interface between the cashbox and the validation head. This reduces the number of locations where the banknote can become jammed and the arrangement has been found to be more reliable.

As shown in fig. 2, the authentication head 4 comprises an outer portion 5 defining a portion of the exterior of the curved transition 12. One end 15 of the cashbox 6 defines a second portion of the curved transition. The cashbox basically includes a series of engaging or overlapping surfaces 62 as shown in figure 3 which cooperate with the engaging surfaces 60 of the outer portion 5 of the authentication head 4. These engagement surfaces form a fixed part of the outer surface of the curved transition.

As can also be seen in fig. 3, the outer portion 5 of the authentication head 4 comprises two cooperating response rollers 24 which engage the drive roller 22 shown in fig. 1. As best shown in fig. 1, essentially 2 drive rollers are provided on both sides of the authentication head and positioned inside the curved transition. The banknote passing through the banknote path and the curved transition engages a cooperating response roller 48 supported in the cashbox and each of the drive roller 22 and the cooperating response roller 24 as part of the validation head. As shown in the cross-sectional view of fig. 1, drive roller 22 engages response roller 24 and cashbox response roller 48. With this arrangement, a banknote approaching the curved transition is initially engaged in the gap between the response roller 24 and the drive roller 22 and associated drive belt. The banknote is driven through the curved transition and then engaged between the response roller 48 and the drive roller 22. This arrangement for controlling the banknote as it passes through the curved transition has proven to be very effective. With this arrangement the cashbox and the inner surface of the verification head 4 combine to form the second part of the curved transition.

The size of the drive roller 22 is larger than the size of the response roller, and preferably the diameter of the drive roller is at least twice the diameter of the response roller. With this arrangement, the drive belt and drive roller drive the banknote through the curved transition. Fig. 5 and 6 illustrate further features of the present invention. The drive roller 22 is actually a combination drive roller having a drive roller segment 34, the drive roller segment 34 engaging the roller segment 26 of the cooperating

response rollers

24 and 48. The drive roller 22 also includes a belt drive gear section 36, shown in fig. 7, which belt drive gear section 36 cooperates and drives the drive belt 30. With this arrangement, both the drive belts 30 (a pair of drive belts 30 are provided on either side of the banknote path) and the drive roller segments 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 banknotes downwardly as these drive belts are positioned in the banknote cassette on both sides of the stacking port 40. It will also be appreciated that the drive roller segments of the drive rollers also force the banknotes downwardly so that the banknotes can be in an overlapping position with the stacking port 40 of the cashbox 6 to allow the banknotes to be stacked there. This has effectively reduced the jam situation for banknotes of different widths. The outer position of the banknote drive belts is preferred when they extend on both sides of the port 40. The return roller for each drive belt is generally indicated by reference numeral 49.

Fig. 5 shows the advancer plate 70 including its own motor for advancing the advancer plate through the stacking port 40 and any banknotes in front of the stacking port to advance the banknotes into the cashbox.

With the structure of the present invention, a curved transition is formed between the cashbox and the banknote validation head. The inner part of the curved transition is defined in the validation head by the banknote path and drive roller 22 and drive belt. The outer portion of the curved transition is defined in part by the validation head (i.e. outer portion 5) and one end of the cashbox such that the banknote is only easily jammed in the curved transition, and the cashbox and validation head have a stop point defined entirely within the curved transition. By positioning the drive roller 22 in the curved transition and by positioning the diameter of the drive roller to allow the drive roller to engage with the banknote as it enters and exits the curved transition, the drive roller maintains control of the banknote and provides an effective switch in the passage of the banknote processing outside of the drive roller from the banknote validation head to the cashbox.

The particular cooperation of the components forming the curved transition entirely within the overlapping surfaces or fingers at the curved transition reduces banknote jamming and effectively controls banknotes as they pass between the validation head and the cashbox. This arrangement, in particular in combination with a dual drive (roller and drive belt), leads to increased reliability.

Fig. 7 and 8 show additional details of the drive roller and cooperating response roller. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the drive roller 22 including the gear drive section 36 and the drive roller section 34, the gear drive section 36 for engaging teeth on the back surface of the drive belt. The drive roller section may be of a suitable rubber material or other suitable material for engaging the banknote as it passes through the curved transition.

The design of the response roller 24 and the response roller 48 is preferably the same as the design shown in fig. 8. The drive roller segment 34 engages the opposed roller segment 26 and the spaced belt drive gear segment 36. These components cooperate with the outer surface of the belt drive to properly drive the banknote as the rollers rotate. It can be seen that the two

sections

34 and 36 are separated by a central recessed portion 35. Preferably, this is so arranged as to allow each of the

segments

34 and 36 to function independently of each other, although limited to rotation of the rollers.

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 without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A banknote validator, the banknote validator comprising:

a validation head having a banknote processing channel for determining the authenticity of banknotes and a releasable cashbox connected to the validation head for stacking validated banknotes;

the validation head includes a banknote inlet at one end of the banknote processing channel and a banknote outlet at an opposite end of the banknote processing channel, the banknote outlet cooperating with one end of the cashbox to collectively define a curved transition through the banknote outlet and the one end of the cashbox, wherein the curved transition is defined by a portion of the cashbox and a portion of the validation head, and the curved transition directs validated banknotes through an angle of at least 60 ° and to a stacking port in one side of the cashbox;

the cashbox and the validation head have mating surfaces that together define an outer guiding structure of the curved transition when the cashbox is secured to the validation head;

a drive arrangement that drives the banknote through the banknote processing channel and, upon successful validation, drives the banknote through the curved transition to the stacking port; and

a stacking mechanism for selectively pushing banknotes through the stacking port and into the cashbox.

2. In a banknote validator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive arrangement comprises:

two lead drive rollers in the validation head, wherein the lead drive rollers define a portion of the curved transition;

cooperating responsive rollers, wherein each of the cooperating responsive rollers is disposed on an opposite side of the banknote processing channel on a front side of the curved transition; and

a pair of downstream responsive rollers supported in the cashbox adjacent the discharge of the curved transition.

3. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 2 wherein each said downstream responsive roller supported in said cashbox is positioned to form a portion of said curved transition.

4. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 3 wherein said angle of said curved transition is substantially 90 °.

5. In a banknote validator as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said indexing drive rollers further comprises a drive belt positioned to engage and drive a validated banknote.

6. In a banknote validator as claimed in claim 5 wherein said drive belt is operative to drive said validated banknote through said curved transition to a position in front of said stacking port.

7. In a banknote validator as claimed in claim 6 wherein each drive belt includes a drive gear connected to an associated one of said guide drive rollers and rotating with rotation of the associated guide drive roller.

8. In a banknote validator as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of the responsive rollers in said cashbox is a dual roller having a first roller segment cooperating with said drive belt and a second roller segment cooperating with one of said guide drive rollers to engage and drive the validated banknote.

9. In a banknote validator as claimed in claim 8 wherein each twin roller includes an inwardly recessed portion separating said first and second roller segments.

10. In a banknote validator as claimed in claim 9 wherein said first and second roller segments and said inwardly recessed portion of each twin roller are an integral element.