GB2154548A - Dispensing apparatus for sheets such as banknotes - Google Patents

Abstract

A cassette for a stack of documents of value (e.g. banknotes) has an opening at a front end through which the documents are to be dispensed one by one, a pressure plate (14) substantially parallel to the front opening and movable towards and 10 away from the opening, and a spring (30) for urging the pressure plate, and therewith a stack of documents inserted in front of the pressure plate, toward 26 the front of the cassette. Two flexible strips (22) are each connected at one end to the pressure plate (14), extend forward to the front of the cassette, pass over pulleys (26) and extend under the cassette floor, where they are connected to the spring (30). The strips (22) constitute a support on which the stack rests and which moves with the stack and pressure plate to reduce drag and damage to the lower edges of the documents. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sheet dispensing apparatus This invention relates to containers for documents of value; an example of such a container is shown in our prior British Patent Specification No.2039264A. Such containers are loaded with a stack of banknotes or other documents of value and have a feed aperture through which, when the container is placed in a suitable dispensing apparatus, the documents can be fed one by one.

Containers of this kind include a slidable pressure plate at the rear of the inserted stack of documents, the pressure plate being spring-biased to urge the stack of documents towards the feed aperture at the front of the container, so that as each note is dispensed, a new note is presented at the feed aperture. The stack is thus advanced over a horizontal support plate by the rear pressure plate until there are no more documents lefts to feed.

The present invention has for its object to facilitate the movement of the stack towards the feed aperture.

The present invention consists in a container for a stack of documents of value, the container having an opening at a front end through which the documents are to be dispensed one by one, a pressure plate substantially parallel to the front opening and movable towards and away from the opening, and resilient means urging the pressure plate, and therewith a stack of documents inserted in front of the pressure plate, towards the front of the container; and further comprising a flexible strip which extends forward from the pressure plate, the resilient means being connected to the flexible strip so as to maintain it under tension between the pressure plate and the front of the container and to move the strip forward as the pressure plate moves forward, the flexible strip thus constituting a support on which the stack rests and which moves with the stack.

Preferably, the resilient means is an elongate tension spring which is connected to and acts through two or more parallel tapes, constituting flexible strips, to pull the pressure plate towards the front of the container. The tapes may pass over pulleys at the front of the container to form a run extending under the run which supports the stack of documents.

In order that the invention may be better understood, an example will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows in side elevation a part of a cassette for holding banknotes, including the pressure plate and the floor supporting the banknotes; Figure 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a cross section of the floor in the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1 shows the front wall 10 of the cassette and the floor 12 on which a pressure plate 14 is supported. The plate 14 as a web 16 and flanges 18 (only one of which is shown in Figure 1) extending into slots 20 (Figure 2). The height of the floor can be adjusted, as indicated diagrammatically by the rack shown in the front plate 10.

Two tapes 22 are attached to the pressure plate 14 and pass through holes 24 and over pulleys 26 at the front end of the container. They then extend back under the floor 12, parallel to the upper run of the tapes, as far as a "Y" member 28 by means of which they are connected to a spring 30, which winds on to a core 32 at the rear of the cassette.

The spring applies a constant force through the two tapes to the pressure plate. The tapes thus provide a floor which moves with the documents and pressure plate as the documents are dispensed from the front of the cassette. This reduces drag and consequently reduces damage to the lower edges of the stacked notes.

1. A container for a stack of documents of value, the container having an opening at a front end through which the documents are to be dispensed one by one, a pressure plate substantially parallel to the front opening and movable towards and away from the opening, and resilient means urging the pressure plate, and therewith a stack of documents inserted in front of the pressure plate, towards the front of the container; and further comprising a flexible strip which extends forward from the pressure plate, the resilient means being connected to the flexible strip so as to maintain it under tension between the pressure plate and the front of the container and to move the strip forward as the pressure plate moves forward, the flexible strip thus constituting a support on which the stack rests and which moves with the stack.

2. A container in accordance with claim 1, in which the resilient means is a tension spring which is connected to and acts through the flexible strip to pull the pressure plate towards the front of the container.

3. A container in accordance with claim 1 or 2, comprising two flexible strips in the form of parallel tapes passing over pulleys at the front of the container to form a run extending under the run which supports the stack of documents.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Sheet dispensing apparatus This invention relates to containers for documents of value; an example of such a container is shown in our prior British Patent Specification No.2039264A. Such containers are loaded with a stack of banknotes or other documents of value and have a feed aperture through which, when the container is placed in a suitable dispensing apparatus, the documents can be fed one by one. Containers of this kind include a slidable pressure plate at the rear of the inserted stack of documents, the pressure plate being spring-biased to urge the stack of documents towards the feed aperture at the front of the container, so that as each note is dispensed, a new note is presented at the feed aperture. The stack is thus advanced over a horizontal support plate by the rear pressure plate until there are no more documents lefts to feed. The present invention has for its object to facilitate the movement of the stack towards the feed aperture. The present invention consists in a container for a stack of documents of value, the container having an opening at a front end through which the documents are to be dispensed one by one, a pressure plate substantially parallel to the front opening and movable towards and away from the opening, and resilient means urging the pressure plate, and therewith a stack of documents inserted in front of the pressure plate, towards the front of the container; and further comprising a flexible strip which extends forward from the pressure plate, the resilient means being connected to the flexible strip so as to maintain it under tension between the pressure plate and the front of the container and to move the strip forward as the pressure plate moves forward, the flexible strip thus constituting a support on which the stack rests and which moves with the stack. Preferably, the resilient means is an elongate tension spring which is connected to and acts through two or more parallel tapes, constituting flexible strips, to pull the pressure plate towards the front of the container. The tapes may pass over pulleys at the front of the container to form a run extending under the run which supports the stack of documents. In order that the invention may be better understood, an example will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows in side elevation a part of a cassette for holding banknotes, including the pressure plate and the floor supporting the banknotes; Figure 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a cross section of the floor in the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 shows the front wall 10 of the cassette and the floor 12 on which a pressure plate 14 is supported. The plate 14 as a web 16 and flanges 18 (only one of which is shown in Figure 1) extending into slots 20 (Figure 2). The height of the floor can be adjusted, as indicated diagrammatically by the rack shown in the front plate 10. Two tapes 22 are attached to the pressure plate 14 and pass through holes 24 and over pulleys 26 at the front end of the container. They then extend back under the floor 12, parallel to the upper run of the tapes, as far as a "Y" member 28 by means of which they are connected to a spring 30, which winds on to a core 32 at the rear of the cassette. The spring applies a constant force through the two tapes to the pressure plate. The tapes thus provide a floor which moves with the documents and pressure plate as the documents are dispensed from the front of the cassette. This reduces drag and consequently reduces damage to the lower edges of the stacked notes. CLAIMS

1. A container for a stack of documents of value, the container having an opening at a front end through which the documents are to be dispensed one by one, a pressure plate substantially parallel to the front opening and movable towards and away from the opening, and resilient means urging the pressure plate, and therewith a stack of documents inserted in front of the pressure plate, towards the front of the container; and further comprising a flexible strip which extends forward from the pressure plate, the resilient means being connected to the flexible strip so as to maintain it under tension between the pressure plate and the front of the container and to move the strip forward as the pressure plate moves forward, the flexible strip thus constituting a support on which the stack rests and which moves with the stack.

2. A container in accordance with claim 1, in which the resilient means is a tension spring which is connected to and acts through the flexible strip to pull the pressure plate towards the front of the container.

3. A container in accordance with claim 1 or 2, comprising two flexible strips in the form of parallel tapes passing over pulleys at the front of the container to form a run extending under the run which supports the stack of documents.