Stacker mechanisms and cassettes for banknotes and the like

• US 7,789,214 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2004
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crane Payment Innovations, Inc. (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Mei Incorporated (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Thawley, Jeffrey T., Bergeron, Alfred F., Clauser, Robert, Watrous, Stephen R., Crawford, Christopher L., Wood, Kenneth B., Nunn, Michael D., Deaville, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; John Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEAUCHAINE, MARK J
• Application Number:
  US10/775,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20040155102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,401 Days
• Field of Search: 271/3.01, 271/24, 271/101, 271/105, 271/30.1, 271/126, 271/128, 271/147, 271/157, 271/213, 271/214, 271/215, 271/217, 271/3.08, 194/350, 108/36, 108/144.11, 108/147.2, 108/147.22, 74/22.A, 74/22.R, 74/31, 74/891.8, 746/50, 743/20, 745/701, 745/702
• US Class Current: 194/350
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2035/003 Gearings comprising pulleys or toothed members of non-circular shape, e.g. elliptical gears harmonic drives with elliptical wave generators F16H49/001
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/125 Secure containers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/13 with internal means for handling valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/235 for monitoring or indicating operating conditions; for detecting malfunctions
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/40 Device architecture, e.g. modular construction

Abstract

A lockable, removable cassette is described. In an implementation, the cassette includes a plastic shell and a currency access door. The cassette may also include a flexible handle and/or an integrated grip. In addition, the cassette may include at least one of an aperture and a transparent window positioned to reveal the contents of the cassette. In an implementation, the cassette includes a stacking mechanism which may include a drive means having non-circular drive gears.

Claims

1. A stacker mechanism for a cassette to store banknotes and the like, the stacker mechanism comprising:

a stacker plate; and

a drive means to drive the stacker plate, wherein the drive means includes non-circular drive gears, and wherein each non-circular drive gear has an operating radius that varies with angle as the gear rotates.

2. The stacker mechanism of claim 1 wherein the non-circular drive gears include a pair of gears whose combined operating radii add up to a constant value for any given input angle.

4. The stacker mechanism of claim 2 wherein the stacker plate comprises a banknote stacker plate.

3. A stacker mechanism for a cassette to store banknotes and the like, the stacker mechanism comprising:

a stacker plate;

a first scissor arm pivotally connected at a first end about a point on the stacker plate;

a second scissor arm slidably connected at a first end to the stacker plate, and pivotally connected to the first scissor arm about a scissor pivot point located approximately at the center of the length of the first scissor arm, wherein the second scissor arm is pivotally connected at a second end about a fixed point on a frame;

a link arm for driving the stacker plate, the link arm connected to the first scissor arm at a pivot point located between the scissor pivot point and a second end of the first scissor arm that is slidably connected to the frame; and

a drive means to drive the link arm and having non-circular drive gears, wherein each non-circular drive gear has a profile such that its operating radius varies with angle as the gear rotates.

5. The stacker mechanism of claim 3 wherein the link arm is substantially in a same plane as the first scissor arm and is connected directly to the first scissor arm.

6. The stacker mechanism of claim 3 wherein the link arm is connected via a driven gear to a crankshaft operable to rotate about a fixed center.

7. The stacker mechanism of claim 3 wherein the non-circular drive gears include a pair of gears whose combined operating radii add up to a constant value for any given input angle.

8. A stacker mechanism for a cassette to store banknotes and the like, the stacker mechanism comprising:

a stacker plate;

a first scissor arm connected at a first end the stacker plate;

a second scissor arm connected at a first end to the stacker plate and pivotally connected to the first scissor arm about a scissor pivot point located approximately at the center of the length of the first scissor arm;

a link arm for driving the stacker plate, the link arm connected to the first scissor arm at a pivot point located between the scissor pivot point and a second end of the first scissor arm; and

a drive means to drive the link arm and having non-circular drive gears, wherein each non-circular drive gear has a profile such that its operating radius varies with angle as the gear rotates.

9. The stacker mechanism of claim 8 wherein the link arm is substantially in a same plane as the first scissor arm and is connected directly to the first scissor arm.

10. A cassette for storing banknotes and the like comprising:

a banknote stacker plate;

a first scissor arm pivotally connected at a first end about a fixed point on the stacker plate;

a second scissor arm slidably connected at a first end to the stacker plate and pivotally connected to the first scissor arm about a scissor pivot point located approximately at the center of the length of the first scissor arm, wherein the second scissor arm is pivotally connected at a second end about a fixed point on a frame;

a link arm for driving the stacker plate, the link arm connected to the first scissor arm at a pivot point located between the scissor pivot point and a second end of the first scissor arm that is slidably connected to the frame; and

a drive means to drive the link arm and having non-circular drive gears, wherein each non-circular drive gear has a profile such that its operating radius varies with angle as the gear rotates.

11. The cassette of claim 10 wherein the link arm is substantially in a same plane as the first scissor arm and is connected directly to the first scissor arm.

12. The stacker mechanism of claim 10 wherein the link arm is connected via a driven gear to a crankshaft operable to rotate about a fixed center

13. The cassette of claim 10 wherein the non-circular drive gears include a pair of gears whose combined operating radii add up to a constant value for any given input angle.

14. The cassette of claim 13 wherein the non-circular gears are arranged such that a maximum reduction ratio is achieved at highest torque demand.