Cash dispenser

• US 6,824,046 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2002
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf GmbH & Company KG (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf GmbH & Company KG (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Voss, Hans-Gunther, Carozzi, Andrea, Brexel, Dirk, Holland-Letz, Gunter
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Diane I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa M.
• Application Number:
  US10/181,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20030000957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 705/35, 705/42, 109/45
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/41912 between two belt like members
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1912 Banknotes, bills and cheques or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/006 Winding articles into rolls
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/005 Portable strong boxes, e.g. which may be fixed to a wall or the like E05G1/08, E05G1/14 take precedence; devices to prevent theft or loss of bags, trunks, baskets, or the like A45C13/18; coin boxes for coin freed apparatus G07F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/14 with means for masking or destroying the valuables, e.g. in case of theft
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/12 Containers for valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/125 Secure containers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/14 Inlet or outlet ports
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/26 Servicing, repairing or coping with irregularities, e.g. power failure or vandalism
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/40 Device architecture, e.g. modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/202 Depositing operations within ATMs depositing in general G07D11/00

Abstract

A cash dispenser for dispensing bank notes includes a container for the secure storage, transport, and dispensing of bank notes. The cash dispenser includes a housing having a control panel and an output compartment for dispensing bank notes. The housing defines an opening for receiving a container removably positionable in the opening. The container defines a pass-through slot in a wall thereof for transferring bank notes between the container and the housing. Functional units disposed in the container include a bank note storage unit having a withdrawal device, a first bank note conveyor arranged between the bank note storage unit and the pass-through slot and a drive unit for driving the withdrawal device and the first bank note conveyor. A control unit disposed inside the container controls the functional units therein. A security mechanism invalidates banks notes stored in the container upon unauthorized manipulation of the container.

Claims

1. A cash dispenser for storing and dispensing bank notes comprising a housing defining a receiving space, at least one bank note storage unit, a withdrawal device associated with the storage unit for withdrawing individual bank notes from the storage unit, a bank note transport device for transport of the bank notes between the storage unit and a control panel of the cash dispenser, a power supply unit, a control device for controlling the functions of the cash dispenser, a closable and lockable box-shaped container within which are arranged the at least one bank note storage unit, the withdrawal device, a first bank note conveyor which connects the withdrawal device with a pass-through slot in a wall of the container, a drive for the withdrawal device and for the first bank note conveyor, a first control unit for controlling the functional units enclosed in the container, and a security mechanism, which upon unauthorized manipulation of the container makes invalid the bank notes disposed in the container, wherein the receiving space defined by the housing is formed to removably receive the container, the housing having a second bank note conveyor for connecting the pass-through slot of the container with the control panel as well as a second control unit for controlling the functions of the units connected to the housing, the container having an interface connected with the first control unit in the container for coupling the first control unit to the second control unit when the container is disposed in the receiving space, and wherein the container provides for the secure storage, and dispensing of bank notes.

2. A cash dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the interface connects the functional units disposed in the container to the power supply located in the housing of the cash dispenser.

3. A cash dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the container is arranged on an undercarriage and is guidable on the undercarriage between a lower transport position and a raised position, such that in the raised position it is insertable into the opening defined by the housing.

4. A cash dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the undercarriage further comprises a lift mechanism for lifting the container.

5. A cash dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the lift mechanism includes a gas spring.

6. A cash dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the housing further comprises at least one guide element disposed in the opening which cooperates with a complementary element on the container or the undercarriage.

7. A cash dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the container is provided with wheels.

8. A cash dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the container further comprises a container body and a flap movable relative to the container body, the flap including a lock for securing the flap in a closed position relative to the container.

9. A cash dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the security mechanism is triggerable by remote control.

10. A cash dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the security mechanism is contact freely activatable and deactivatable.

11. A cash dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the security mechanism is activatable after the filling of a bank note storage unit in a bank note loading station, remains uninterruptedly activated and is not deactivatable during the transport of the container to, and during its movement into and out of operation with, the housing as well as during return transport to the bank note loading station, and can only be deactivated in the bank note loading station.

12. A cash dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the security mechanism is activatable and deactivatable by the first control unit.

13. A cash dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the security mechanism further comprises a location transmitter.

14. A cash dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the drive units for the first and second bank note conveyors are reversible and the bank note storage unit is designed to both dispense and receive individual bank notes.

15. A cash dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the bank note storage unit has associated with it a device for the ordered input of bank notes into the storage unit.

16. A cash dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the bank note storage unit is adapted for the receipt of stacks of bank notes, and the withdrawal device includes an individualizing device for the bank notes.

17. A cash dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit includes a winding store having at least one storage band, which is windable between a supply roll and a winding core, the winding core and the supply roll being drivable by a winding drive, wherein the winding store dispenses and receives bank notes.

18. A cash dispenser according to claim 17, wherein the winding core has two spools which are axis parallel and spaced from one another with at least one of the spools being coupable with the winding drive, and with the storage band passing around both spools in common over circumferential areas of the spools which face away from one another.

19. A cash dispenser according to claim 18, wherein the two spools are surrounded by an endless band forming a circumferential shell of the winding core, onto which endless band the storage band is windable.

20. A cash dispenser according to claim 18, wherein the storage band includes two individual bands arranged to form as a double layer wound onto the supply roll and guided along separate paths to an output opening of the winding store where the two individual bands cooperate to form a bank note input/output gap, adjacent the input/output gap the two individual bands guided towards one another by deflecting rolls and wound as a double layer onto the winding core.

21. A cash dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a collection compartment located inside the container for receiving bank notes therein.

22. A cash dispenser according to claim 21, wherein at least one of the bank note storage units and the collection compartment is a drawer insertable into the container.

23. A cash dispenser according to claim 22, wherein the drawer is guided on rails of a frame, the frame being disposed within the container.

24. A cash dispenser according to claim 22, wherein the bank note storage unit is adjustable for accommodating bank notes of various sizes.

25. A cash dispenser according to claim 22, wherein a bank note coloring or destroying unit is arranged above each drawer in the container.

26. A cash dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a collection station is disposed in the path of the second bank note conveyor for forming a bank note bundle from a plurality of bank notes withdrawn from the at least one bank note storage unit.

27. A cash dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the second bank note conveyor includes a first transport stretch having first and second belt drives, each belt drive including two endless belts arranged parallel to one another, the first and second belt drives arranged to cooperatively grip and transport a bank note bundle therebetween, the first transport stretch including a drive mechanism for driving each of the first and second belt drives in the same direction.

28. A cash dispenser according to claim 27, wherein both of the first and second belt drives are driven by a common motor, and one of the first and second belt drives in one transport direction is driven by a first drive train and in the other transport direction is driven by a second drive train which is coupable to the motor with a different drive ratio than the first drive train.

29. A cash dispenser according to claim 27, wherein the drive mechanism for the first and second belt drives includes an individually associated motor wherein the speed of at least one of the first and second belt drives is controllable.

30. A cash dispenser according to claim 29, wherein the first transport stretch is coupled with a second transport stretch having third and fourth belt drives, wherein an endless belt of one of the third and fourth belt drives is guided over the first drive roll of the first belt drive and the endless belt of the fourth belt drive is guided over a third drive roll which is located on the intermediate shaft.

31. A cash dispenser according to claim 30, wherein the second transport stretch connects the first transport stretch by way of a deflector with a collecting compartment located inside the container.

32. A cash dispenser according to claim 29, wherein the first transport stretch further comprises a first drive roll of the first belt drive and an intermediate shaft parallel to it are rotatably fixedly coupled with a motor and a second drive roll of the second belt drive stands in rotational moment transmitting connection with the first drive roll through a first one one-way coupling and with the intermediate shaft through a second one-way coupling wherein the effective direction of the second one-way coupling is opposite to that of the first one-way coupling.

33. A cash dispenser according to claim 32, wherein both of the first and second one-way couplings are loop spring couplings which are controlled by friction couplings with low rotational moment.

34. A cash dispenser according to claim 32, wherein one of the first and second one-way couplings is a latch-free running coupler.

35. A cash dispenser according to claim 34, wherein the second one-way coupling is a slip coupling.

36. A cash dispenser according to claim 32, wherein one of the first and second one-way couplings is a clamp body-free running coupler.