Media cassette with internal lock

• US 20050140084A1
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATEC AP Co., Ltd. (ATEC T& Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LG N-Systems Company Limited (LBHunet Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lee, Byung-Mok
• Granted Patent: US 7,464,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 271/145
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 1/00 Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated carriers used for associating, collating, or gathering articles B65H39/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 1/025 with controlled positively-acting mechanical devices for advancing the pile to present the articles to the separating device
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/42254 Boxes; Cassettes; Containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2405/121 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2405/31 Supports for sheets fully removable from the handling machine, e.g. cassette
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1912 Banknotes, bills and cheques or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/125 Secure containers

Abstract

The media cassette for a media dispenser includes a cassette body including a storage space in which media are filled. A media discharging opening is provided at a side thereof. A discharging door is movable along one surface of the cassette body and driven by means of a driving source provided at a main body of the media dispenser for opening and closing the media discharging opening. Supporting rods are connected to the door. A locking mechanism for selectively blocking ends of the supporting rods is provide in the cassette body and selectively locks/unlocks the door in accordance with an electrical signal transmitted from the main body of the media dispenser. The door cannot be manually unlocked from outside of the media cassette.

Claims

1. A media cassette for a media dispenser, comprising:

a cassette body including a space in which media are filled and a media discharge opening through which the media are discharged;

a door being driven by a driving source for opening and closing said media discharge opening;

a supporting rod connected to said door to move therewith; and

a locking mechanism for selectively engaging a portion of said supporting rod in said cassette body and selectively locking/unlocking said door in accordance with an electrical signal transmitted from the main body of the media dispenser.

2. The media cassette of claim 1, wherein said door is movable along one surface of the cassette body to open and close said media discharge opening.

3. The media cassette of claim 1, wherein said discharge opening is provided in a side of said cassette body.

4. The media cassette of claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism selectively engages an end of said support rod.

5. The media cassette of claim 1, wherein said supporting rod moves in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to a direction of movement of said door.

6. The media cassette of claim 5, wherein said supporting rod is connected to said door by a connection chain.

7. The media cassette of claim 5, wherein said supporting rod is a first supporting rod having a first length, and further comprising:

a second supporting rod having a second length different than said first length, wherein said second supporting rod is connected to said door to move therewith.

8. The media cassette of claim 7, wherein said second supporting rod and said first supporting rod move in directions, which are substantially parallel to one another.

9. The media cassette of claim 8, wherein said locking mechanism includes:

a solenoid installed within said cassette body and including a plunger which can be moved toward and away from said solenoid; and

a locking plate connected to said plunger to be driven by said solenoid, said locking plate including first and second stopper portions for selectively blocking movement of said first and second supporting rods, respectively.

10. The media cassette of claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism includes:

a solenoid installed within said cassette body and including a plunger which can be moved toward and away from said solenoid; and

a locking plate connected to said plunger to be driven by said solenoid, said locking plate including a stopper portion for selectively blocking movement of said supporting rod.

11. The media cassette of claim 10, wherein said plunger is withdrawn toward said solenoid when said solenoid is powered, and wherein said plunger protrudes away from said solenoid under the biasing force an elastic member when said solenoid is un-powered.

12. The media cassette of claim 10, further comprising:

a rod guide channel formed in said cassette body along which said supporting rod moves; and

a stopper guide channel formed in said cassette body along which said stopper portion of said locking plate moves.

13. The media cassette of claim 12, wherein said rod guide channel is substantially perpendicular to said stopper guide channel.

14. The media cassette of claim 1, further comprising:

a door closing assistance mechanism attached to said cassette body for assisting in closing of said discharging door.

15. The media cassette of claim 14, wherein said door closing assistance mechanism includes:

a closing rod disposed within said cassette body and being connected to an end of said door; and

an elastic member having a first end connected to an end of said closing rod, and having a second end connected to said cassette body, wherein said elastic member imparts a force to said closing rod in a direction which tends to cause said closing rod to close said door.

16. A media cassette for a media dispenser, comprising:

a cassette body including a space in which media are filled and a media discharge opening through which the media are discharged; and

a door being driven by a driving source for opening and closing said media discharge opening, wherein said door includes;

a guide located on a wall of said cassette body; and

a chain-linked portion sliding along said guide, wherein said chain-linked portion can bend around an edge of said cassette body to open said media discharge opening.

17. The media cassette of claim 16, wherein said chain-linked portion is formed by a plurality of rectangular plates that are pivotally hinged to one another.

18. The media cassette of claim 16, wherein said guide is a first guide located on a first wall of said cassette body, and further comprising:

a second guide located on a second wall of said cassette body, opposite said first wall, and wherein said second guide faces toward said first guide, and wherein said chain-linked portion slides between said first and second guides.

19. A media dispenser for dispensing media comprising:

belts or rollers for moving sheets of media from a media cassette to an opening for dispensing to a customer; and

an opening unit for opening the media cassette, when the media cassette is coupled to said dispenser, wherein said opening unit includes;

a moveable unit having a receiver for engaging a portion of a door of the media cassette to move the door to an open position.

20. The media dispenser of claim 19, further comprising:

a first electrical connector attached to said dispenser and adapted to mate with a second electrical connector of the media cassette.

21. The media dispenser of claim 20, wherein said first electrical connector supplies a signal to unlock the door of the media cassette.

22. The media dispenser of claim 19, wherein said opening unit also includes:

a fastener for cooperating with a portion of the door of the media cassette to ensure that the media cassette remains connected to said dispenser, so long as the door of the media cassette is open.

23. A media dispenser for dispensing media comprising:

a media cassette including;

a cassette body including a space in which media are filled and a media discharge opening through which the media are discharged; and

a door being driven by an opening unit for opening and closing said media discharge opening, wherein said door includes;

a guide located on a wall of said cassette body;

a chain-linked portion sliding along said guide, wherein said chain-linked portion can bend around an edge of said cassette body to open said media discharge opening;

a supporting rod connected to said door to move therewith; and

a locking mechanism for selectively engaging a portion of said supporting rod in said cassette body and selectively locking/unlocking said door in accordance with an electrical signal transmitted from said media dispenser, and;

belts or rollers for moving sheets of media from said media cassette to an opening for dispensing to a customer, wherein said opening unit opens said door when said media cassette is coupled to said dispenser, wherein said opening unit includes;

a moveable unit having a receiver for engaging a portion of said door to move said door to an open position.