A BANKNOTE STACK TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENT AND A CASH HANDLING MACHINE.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- MX · MX
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SCAN COIN
- Filing Date
- 2023-05-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-19
Smart Images
Figure MX433818B0
Abstract
Description
A BANKNOTE STACK TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENT AND A CASH HANDLING MACHINE FIELD OF DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a transport arrangement for stacks of banknotes and a cash handling machine comprising the same. The disclosure further relates to a method for transporting one or more banknotes within a cash handling machine. PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE Banknote transport arrangements are known in the art. One common type of banknote transport arrangement is used to transport banknotes individually into cash handling machines, such as ATMs or similar devices. Another type of banknote transport arrangement can transport entire stacks of banknotes. This type of banknote transport arrangement is referred to herein as a banknote stack transport arrangement. One of the problems with banknote stack transport arrangements is that, occasionally, one or more banknotes are not transported along with the rest of the banknotes in the stack.The problem may be due, for example, to the banknote stack being misaligned in the banknote transport arrangement and / or to one or more banknotes in the stack being damaged, for example, by creases, tears, holes, or foil wear. Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved banknote transport arrangement. SUMMARY One object is to mitigate, alleviate, or eliminate one or more of the deficiencies and disadvantages identified above in the art, individually or in any combination. These and other objects are achieved, at least in part, by the object defined in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims. According to a first aspect, a transport arrangement for stacks of banknotes is provided for a cash handling machine, comprising: a first structure having first and second ends and featuring a first paper money hook part that can be moved in relation to the first structure; a second structure having first and second ends and featuring a second paper money hook part that can be moved in relation to the second structure; wherein the first and second structures are arranged such that the first and second banknote gripping parts are spaced apart from each other at their associated first ends to allow one or more banknotes to enter between the banknote gripping parts, wherein at least one of the first and second structures is pivotally arranged at its first end so that it can oscillate between: a closed configuration in which the first and second banknote gripping parts are in contact with each other at their associated second ends, so that together they form at least a bottom portion of a temporary banknote receptacle configured to receive one or more banknotes and support the formation of a banknote stack therein, such that the first banknote gripping part comes into contact with a front side of the banknote stack and the second banknote gripping part comes into contact with an edge side of the banknote stack; and an open configuration in which the first and second banknote gripping parts are separated from each other at their associated second ends to define an outlet gap;and a movable banknote gripping element between an inactive position and an active position, the active position in which the banknote gripping element is configured to press the banknote stack towards the first and / or second banknote gripping portion; wherein the banknote stack transport arrangement is configured to transport said banknote stack out of the temporary banknote receptacle through the exit hole by displacing said first and second banknote hooking parts in relation to said first and second structures and moving the banknote hooking element to the active position. The banknote stack transport arrangement can be advantageous because it allows banknotes to be stacked before being transported to a secondary location, such as a safe, within a cash handling machine. Stacking reduces the overall volume of banknotes in the secondary location, which can then be smaller and / or emptied less frequently. Furthermore, the banknote stack transport arrangement simplifies configuring a cash handling machine to allow a user to cancel a deposit transaction. The banknote transport arrangement can be configured to hold the deposited banknotes in the temporary banknote receptacle and await final confirmation from the user before transporting them to the secondary location, such as the safe. The banknote stack transport system can be advantageous because it reduces the number of times one or more banknotes, for various reasons, cannot be transported. There are several reasons why this system is advantageous. First, the banknote stack is supported on two sides by the first and second banknote gripping parts, respectively. When the first and second gripping parts begin to move relative to their associated structures, the banknote stack will encounter few or no stationary obstacles that could block or impede the transport process. Second, the banknote gripping element can facilitate the transport of the banknote stack by pressing it against one or both of the gripping parts.This can be especially beneficial when there are few banknotes or even just one in the stack, and when one or more banknotes are damaged or twisted. The gripping element will firmly press the banknotes against one or both of the gripping parts, thereby reducing the risk of jams or blockages. The banknote stack transport arrangement can have another advantage, as it provides a simplified design compared to existing solutions in the art. Specifically, the first and second gripping parts are able to form a receptacle, referred to herein as the temporary banknote receptacle, simply by their arrangement with each other. No additional parts are required in this respect. As a person skilled in the art can readily appreciate, the displacement of the first and second banknote gripping parts relative to the first and second structures may be sufficient to transport the banknote stack out of the temporary banknote receptacle. This displacement will force the banknote stack toward the bottom of the temporary banknote receptacle (i.e., toward the associated ends of the first and second structures). The force of the banknotes will then force the first and second structures apart at their associated second ends, thereby forming the exit gap to allow the banknote stack to leave the temporary banknote receptacle.However, there may be situations where the displacement of the first and second banknote gripping parts is insufficient to transport the banknote stack out of the temporary banknote receptacle. These situations typically occur when the banknote stack contains few banknotes and / or the banknotes in the stack are not properly aligned in the temporary banknote receptacle, and / or one or more of the banknotes in the stack are damaged, for example, by creases, tears, holes, or foil wear. In such situations, the banknote gripping element can assist in the transport process by pressing the banknote stack toward the first and / or second gripping part, thereby reducing the risk that one or more banknotes in the stack will not be able to be transported out of the temporary banknote receptacle. The term “banknote stack transport arrangement” should be interpreted as one or more elements within a cash handling machine that, together, are capable of transporting a stack of banknotes. The term should not be interpreted as limited solely to a standalone module or device that, for example, can be easily inserted into the cash handling machine. In some cash handling machines, the banknote stack transport arrangement may instead form one of several parts of larger modules. In other cash handling machines, the banknote transport arrangement may be an integral part of the machine. As the term indicates, the banknote stack transport arrangement is an arrangement for transporting stacks of banknotes, that is, two or more banknotes stacked face to face on top of each other.However, as an expert in the art can easily appreciate, the banknote stack transport arrangement can also transport banknotes one by one in situations where only one banknote is supplied to the banknote stack transport arrangement. The first and second structures act as support structures for their associated banknote gripping parts. At least one of the first and second structures can be configured to transition from a closed to an open configuration in response to the displacement of said first and second surfaces relative to said first and second structures. The term “banknote gripping part” should be interpreted as a part of its associated structure that can be moved relative to that structure. As will be described in detail below, the banknote gripping part can be implemented in various ways, for example, by means of conveyor belts, rollers, or wheels. This implies that the term “banknote gripping part” should be interpreted broadly. The banknote gripping part may be defined by more than one element (such as, for example, a plurality of conveyor belts or a plurality of rollers) and / or may have more than one contact and support surface for the banknote stack. The first and second banknote gripping parts may have first and second surfaces, respectively. The surfaces may serve as both support and transport surfaces. The first and second surfaces may be flat or substantially flat. The first and second banknote gripping parts may be displaced relative to their associated structure along a defined displacement direction from the first end to the second end. The first and second banknote gripping parts may extend, at least partially, between the first and second ends of their associated structure. The first and second banknote gripping parts may form an oblique angle with each other when the banknote stack transport arrangement is in the closed configuration. In some embodiments, the oblique angle is an acute angle. This implies that the bottom of the temporary banknote receptacle may be V-shaped or substantially V-shaped.The first and second structures can be arranged in the cash handling machine such that their associated first ends are located above their associated second ends. This implies that the stack of banknotes can be conveyed out of the banknote stack conveying arrangement along a downward or substantially downward direction. It should be understood that banknotes are of different sizes and can be aligned in different ways in the banknote stack transport arrangement. Furthermore, banknote stacks have different thicknesses depending on the number of banknotes in the stack. Therefore, the text of claim “the first banknote gripping portion comes into contact with a front side of the banknote stack” and “the second banknote gripping portion comes into contact with an edge side of the banknote stack” should not be interpreted as excluding the presence of other contact and support surfaces and / or elements of the banknote stack transport arrangement that, together with the first and second banknote gripping portions, provide support to the banknote stack.Specifically, the temporary banknote receptacle may comprise such contact surfaces and / or additional support elements for the banknote stack. The expression “configured to press the stack of banknotes” should not be interpreted as limited to embodiments in which the banknote gripping element is structured and arranged so that, in the absence of banknotes in the temporary banknote receptacle, it comes into contact with one or both of the first and second banknote gripping portions. As anyone skilled in the art can readily appreciate, a stack of banknotes can be pressed against a banknote gripping portion even in embodiments in which the banknote gripping element cannot come into contact with a banknote gripping portion if the dimensions of the banknote stack are sufficiently large.However, in preferred embodiments, the banknote gripping element is structured and arranged so that, in the absence of banknotes in the temporary banknote receptacle, it comes into contact with at least one of the first and second banknote gripping parts. Furthermore, the expression “is configured to press the banknote stack” implies that the distance between the banknote gripping element and the first and / or second banknote gripping parts decreases as the banknote gripping element moves from the inactive to the active position. In other words, the banknote gripping element moves in a direction toward the first and / or second banknote gripping parts during this movement from the inactive to the active position. It should be understood that the banknote gripping element can be configured to press the banknote stack toward the first gripping part, the second gripping part, or both. This means that the active position can be defined relative to the first gripping part and / or the second gripping part, depending on the situation. A common situation in which the banknote gripping element can press the banknote stack toward the second gripping part is when one or more banknotes have been arranged haphazardly in the temporary banknote receptacle so that they rest predominantly on the second gripping part rather than the first.By allowing the banknote gripping element to press the stack of banknotes toward the second banknote gripping portion, it can be made easier to transport one or more banknotes out of the temporary banknote receptacle. In some embodiments, the banknote gripping element is configured to press the stack of banknotes only toward the first banknote gripping portion. In some embodiments, the banknote gripping element is configured to press the stack of banknotes only toward the second banknote gripping portion. According to some embodiments, the banknote stack transport arrangement is configured to transport the banknote stack out of the temporary banknote receptacle through the outlet gap in a single displacement operation. This can be advantageous, as it provides an efficient banknote stack transport operation. In most situations, one operation is sufficient to transport the banknote stack out of the temporary banknote receptacle. This implies that performing a single displacement operation of the first and second banknote engagement parts may be sufficient to completely empty the temporary banknote receptacle. However, there may be situations where one operation is not sufficient.In such situations, the banknote stack transport arrangement may be configured to perform other actions, such as, but not limited to, stopping the first and second banknote hooking parts moving, moving the banknote hooking element to the active position, and moving the first and second banknote hooking parts in the opposite direction. According to some embodiments, the second structure is fixed in the banknote transport arrangement. This can be advantageous for several reasons. First, the arrangement can be made less complex. Second, by allowing the first structure to be movable, the banknote gripping element will exert pressure in substantially the same direction as the oscillating movement of the first structure when initiating a transport operation of a stack of banknotes from the temporary banknote receptacle. According to some embodiments, each of the first and second banknote gripping parts is defined by one or more conveyor belts. This can be advantageous, as it provides a relatively large surface area available for contact with the banknote stack. Having a relatively large surface area allows for more reliable transport of the banknote stack, as it reduces the risk of the banknote gripping parts losing firm contact with the stack, i.e., slipping. Another advantage of using conveyor belts is that they are typically made of materials with high frictional properties, further reducing the risk of slippage. There are other ways to design the banknote gripping parts. For example, each of the first and second banknote gripping parts can be defined by one or more rollers. Alternatively, these parts can be defined by one or more wheels or one or more chains. According to some embodiments, the first and second structures are tilted towards each other in the closed configuration. This can be advantageous because it allows at least one of the first and second structures to passively move from the closed to the open configuration as a result of the displacement of the banknote stack, which forces the opening of the outlet through its own movement. Therefore, for these embodiments, no active drive mechanism is required to move at least one of the first and second structures from the closed to the open configuration. According to some embodiments, the banknote gripping element extends from a fixed end, where the gripping element is pivotally arranged, to a free end that has a gripping surface configured to contact the banknote stack and press the stack against the first and / or second banknote gripping portion when the banknote gripping element is in the active position. This can be advantageous, as it allows the banknote gripping element to operate by a rotational motion, which may permit a simplified drive mechanism. Furthermore, the pivotally arranged banknote gripping element may be easier to position in the banknote stack transport arrangement, since the fixed end will be located some distance from the first and second structures.The banknote gripping element can oscillate between inactive and active positions. The banknote gripping element can be pivotally arranged at its fixed end along a pivot axis. According to some embodiments, the banknote gripping element comprises one or more gripping elements arranged at the free end, wherein said one or more gripping elements collectively define the gripping surface. The one or more gripping elements may comprise one or more rollers. Alternatively or additionally, the one or more gripping elements may include one or more wheels. According to some implementations, the transport arrangement for stacks of banknotes is configured to: initiate said displacement of said first and second paper money attachment parts in a first temporary position, and initiate said movement of the paper money attachment element in a second temporary position, wherein said first and second temporary positions are related to each other in such a way that said displacement of said first and second paper money attachment parts has occurred during a period of time when the paper money attachment element reaches the active position. This can be advantageous, as it allows the banknote stack to be transported without using the banknote gripping element in situations where this works perfectly and efficiently. An example of such a situation is an orderly stack of banknotes that includes undamaged and / or flat banknotes. In such situations, the banknote gripping element can complicate the transport process rather than facilitate it, so it may be more efficient not to use it. By allowing the banknote gripping element to reach the active position after a predetermined period of time, the moving operation initiated by the first and second banknote gripping parts will first have the opportunity to attempt to transport the banknote stack on its own.If the transport process is unsuccessful within the time period, the banknote hooking element will reach the active position and assist with the transport. According to some embodiments, the banknote transport arrangement further comprises a drive unit configured to, through a drive mechanism, provide kinetic energy to the first and second structures to move said first and second banknote gripping parts. According to some embodiments, the drive unit is further configured to, via the drive mechanism, move the banknote gripping element between the inactive and active positions. Providing a drive mechanism that controls both the movement of the first and second banknote gripping parts and the movement of the banknote gripping element can simplify the arrangement for transporting banknote stacks. Furthermore, it allows a single drive unit to be used for both the movement of the parts and the movement of the gripping element. According to some embodiments, the drive unit is an electric motor. According to some embodiments, the drive mechanism is configured so that kinetic energy is provided to the first and second banknote gripping parts only for one direction of rotation of the drive unit, so that said first and second banknote gripping parts can only move in one direction towards the exit gap. This can be advantageous, as it eliminates the risk of accidentally displacing the first and second banknote gripping parts in a direction opposite to the intended direction. If the first and second banknote gripping parts were to suddenly shift in the opposite direction, the banknote stack could break into individual banknotes within the temporary banknote receptacle, increasing the risk of jamming. Furthermore, in these embodiments, the drive unit can operate in both directions of rotation without the risk of causing displacement in the opposite direction. One way to configure the drive mechanism so that kinetic energy is provided to the first and second banknote gripping parts only for one direction of rotation of the drive unit is by using one or more one-way clutch bearings in the drive mechanism.These clutch bearings will transfer the kinetic energy supplied to the clutch bearing along a predefined direction of rotation, while they will not transfer any kinetic energy supplied to the clutch bearing along a direction of rotation opposite to the predefined direction of rotation. According to some embodiments, the drive unit is configured to operate in a forward rotational direction to move the banknote gripping element from the inactive to the active position, and in a reverse rotational direction to move the banknote gripping element from the active to the inactive position. The drive mechanism may be configured so that the drive unit operates in the forward direction when the banknote gripping element is in the active position. This can be achieved using one or more slip clutches or torque limiters in the drive mechanism. Such components allow mechanical engagement between the drive unit and the banknote gripping element as long as the torque supplied by the drive unit does not exceed a maximum threshold value.If the torque exceeds the maximum threshold value, the component either mechanically disengages the banknote gripper drive mechanism or limits the torque by sliding. In the embodiments of the example, the latter alternative is preferred. In other words, the drive mechanism can be configured to exert a torque on the banknote gripper when the banknote gripper is in the active position and the drive unit is operated in the forward direction. This allows the banknote gripper to press the banknote stack against the first and / or second gripper section. According to some embodiments, the banknote transport arrangement further comprises a banknote stacking wheel configured to receive one or more banknotes, move the one or more banknotes to the temporary banknote receptacle, and form a banknote stack therein. According to a second aspect, a cash handling machine is provided comprising: a paper money input unit that allows a user to insert one or more paper bills; a safe for storing said one or more banknotes; and a transport arrangement for stacks of banknotes according to the first aspect; in which the banknote transport arrangement is configured to receive said one or more banknotes and transport them to the safe. According to a third aspect, a method is provided for transporting one or more banknotes within a cash handling machine, wherein said cash handling machine comprises: a first structure having first and second ends and featuring a first paper money hook part that can be moved in relation to the first structure; a second structure having first and second ends and featuring a second paper money hook part that can be moved in relation to the second structure; wherein the first and second structures are arranged such that the first and second banknote gripping parts are spaced apart from each other at their associated first ends to allow one or more banknotes to be inserted between the parts, wherein at least one of the first and second structures is pivotally arranged at its first end to allow it to oscillate, said method comprising: to receive, when said at least one of the first and second structures is in a closed configuration in which the first and second paper money clasping parts are in contact with each other at the associated second ends to form at least a bottom portion of a temporary paper money receptacle, one or more paper money in the temporary paper money receptacle and to support the formation of a stack of paper money therein, such that the first paper money clasping part comes into contact with a front side of the stack of paper money and the second paper money clasping part comes into contact with an edge side of the stack of paper money; moving a banknote gripping element of the cash handling machine to an active position in which the banknote gripping element is configured to press the banknote stack towards the first and / or second banknote gripping part, and moving said first and second banknote gripping parts relative to said first and second structures to transport, when said at least one of the first and second structures is in an open configuration in which the first and second banknote gripping parts are separated from each other at the associated second ends to define an exit gap, said banknote stack out of the temporary banknote receptacle through the exit gap. According to some embodiments, the step of displacing said first and second paper money attachment parts begins in a first time position, and wherein the step of moving the paper money attachment element begins in a second time position, wherein said first and second time positions are related to each other such that said displacement of said first and second paper money attachment parts has been in progress for a period of time when the paper money attachment element reaches the active position. The effects and characteristics of the second and third aspects are largely analogous to those described above in relation to the first aspect. The embodiments mentioned in relation to the first aspect are largely compatible with the second and third aspects. Furthermore, it is noted that inventive concepts relate to all possible combinations of features, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Further scope of application of this disclosure will be derived from the detailed description provided below. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the disclosure, are provided for illustrative purposes only, as those skilled in the art may appreciate various changes and modifications within the scope of the disclosure based on this detailed description. Therefore, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular component parts of the described device or the steps of the described methods, as such device and method may vary. Likewise, it should be understood that the terminology used herein is intended to describe only specific embodiments and is not intended to be exhaustive. It should be noted that, as used in the specification and in the appended claim, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there is one or more of the elements unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Therefore, for example, a reference to “a unit” or “the unit” may include several devices, and so on. Furthermore, the words “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and similar expressions do not exclude other elements or steps. BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS Disclosure, by way of example, will be described in more detail by reference to the accompanying drawings, which show currently preferred realizations of disclosure. Figure 1A shows a perspective top view of a transport arrangement for stacks of banknotes according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1B shows a perspective view from below of the banknote stack transport arrangement of Figure 1A. Figure 1C shows a top view of a drive mechanism for the banknote stack transport arrangement of Figure 1A. Figure 1D shows a side view of the drive mechanism of Figure 1C. zopn / cznz / zi / YiAi Figure 2 shows a top perspective view of the banknote stack transport arrangement of Figure 1A during the banknote stacking process. Figure 3 shows a top perspective view of the transport arrangement of banknote stacks in Figure 1A once the stacking process has begun. Figure 4A shows a perspective top view of the banknote stack transport arrangement of Figure 1A during a first phase of the banknote stack transport process out of the banknote stack transport arrangement. Figure 4B shows a side view of the banknote stack transport arrangement of Figure 4A during the first transport phase. Figure 5A shows a perspective view from below of the banknote stack transport arrangement of Figure 1A during a second phase of the banknote stack transport process out of the banknote stack transport arrangement. Figure 5B shows a side view of the banknote stack transport arrangement of Figure 5A during the second transport phase. Figure 6 shows a timing diagram illustrating the start of the displacement of the first and second paper money gripping parts in relation to the start of the movement of the paper money gripping element for the example embodiment of Figure 1A to Figure 1D. Figure 7 shows a flowchart of a method according to an example embodiment of the disclosure. Figure 8A shows a perspective view of a cash handling machine according to an example embodiment of the disclosure. Figure 8B shows a schematic side view of a cash handling machine from Figure 8A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show preferred embodiments of the disclosure. This disclosure can, however, be made in many different ways and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for the sake of rigor and completeness, and to fully convey the scope of the disclosure to the expert. Figure 1 shows a transport arrangement for stacks of 100 banknotes according to one embodiment. This transport arrangement is typically used inside a cash handling machine that handles large quantities of banknotes. It can be particularly advantageous for use within a cash handling machine used for depositing cash. Such a machine will be described later. The transport arrangement for stacks of 100 banknotes will be described first by referring to Figure 1A to Figure 1D in terms of its structural characteristics, while its function will be described in more detail later by referring to Figure 2 to Figure 5B. As illustrated in Figure 1A and Figure 1B, the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 comprises a first structure 110 having a first end 112 and a second end 114. The first structure 110 comprises a first shaft 113 disposed at the first end 112 and a second shaft 115 disposed at the second end 114. The first shaft 113 is rotationally arranged in the first structure 110. One or more conveyor belts 118a-c extend between the first shaft 113 and the second shaft 115. In the example embodiment, three conveyor belts are used. Conveyor belt 118b is located in the central part of the first structure 110, while conveyor belts 118a and 118c are located in the vicinity of the side walls 134a, 134b that interconnect the first structure 110 and the second structure 120.In several of the figures, side wall 134a has been partially or completely removed to allow a view of the interior of the arrangement. The one or more conveyor belts 118a-c together comprise a first banknote gripping portion 116 that can be displaced relative to the first structure 110. The purpose of the first banknote gripping portion 116 is to provide support for a stack of banknotes 30, as will be described in more detail later. The first structure 110 is pivotally arranged at its first end 112 so that it can oscillate about the pivot axis A1 (see Figure 1B and, more clearly, Figure 3). The first structure 110 is movable between a closed configuration C1 and an open configuration C2. In the closed configuration C1, illustrated in Figure 1A and Figure 1B, the first 116 and second 126 paper money attachment parts are in contact with each other at the associated second ends 114, 124 so that together they form a lower part of a temporary paper money receptacle 130.As will be described later, the temporary paper money receptacle 130 is configured to receive one or more paper money 20s and support the formation of a stack of paper money 30s in it. The banknote stack transport arrangement 100 further comprises a second structure 120 having first ends 122 and second ends 124. The second structure 120 comprises a first shaft 123 disposed at the first end 122 and a second shaft 125 disposed at the second end 124. The first shaft 123 is rotationally arranged in the second structure 120. One or more conveyor belts 128a-c extend between the first shaft 123 and the second shaft 125. In the example embodiment, three conveyor belts are used. The conveyor belt 128b is located in the central part of the second structure 120, while the conveyor belts 128a and 128c are located near the side walls 134a, 134b. The one or more conveyor belts 128a-c together feature a second paper money hook part 126 that can be moved in relation to the second structure 120.The purpose of the second banknote clamping part 126 is to provide support for a stack of banknotes 30, as will be described in more detail later. In the exemplary embodiment, the second structure 120 is fixedly arranged in the banknote transport arrangement 100. The first structures 110 and second structures 120 are arranged such that the first banknote clamping parts 116 and second structures 126 are spaced apart from each other at their associated first ends 112, 122 to allow one or more banknotes 20 to be inserted between the banknote clamping parts 116, 126. The first structures 110 and second structures 120 are tilted toward each other in the closed configuration C1. In the exemplary embodiment, the tilt is achieved by means of a helical spring (not shown) arranged on the pivot axis A1. As can be seen in Figure 1A and Figure 1B, the temporary banknote receptacle 130 of the exemplary embodiment extends beyond the first structures 110 and second structures 120 and is therefore defined by additional features. These include the aforementioned side walls 134a, 134b, the first upper support structure 136, and the second upper support structure 138. When the first structure 110 is in the closed configuration C1, the first upper support structure 136 is slightly angled with respect to the first banknote gripping portion 116 of the first structure 110 and has two protrusions 137a, 137b which, together with the first banknote gripping portion 116, provide a contact surface for supporting a stack of banknotes 30.The second upper support structure 138 has two elongated openings 139a, 139b through which a banknote stacking wheel 190 protrudes from below. The banknote stacking wheel 190 is configured to receive one or more banknotes 20, move the one or more banknotes 20 into the temporary banknote receptacle, and form a banknote stack 30 therein. The banknote stack transport arrangement 100 further comprises a banknote gripping element 150. The banknote gripping element 150 is movable between the inactive position P1 and the active position P2. As will be described in detail later, in the active position P2 the banknote gripping element 150 is configured to press the banknote stack 30 towards the first banknote gripping part 116. In Figure 1A and Figure 1B, the banknote gripping element 150 is in the inactive position P1. The banknote attachment element 150 extends from a fixed end 152, in which the banknote attachment element 150 is pivotally arranged, to a free end 154. The banknote attachment element 150 is pivotally arranged in the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 along the pivot axis A2 (see Figure 1A).On one side, the paper money attachment element 150 is pivotally arranged by means of a paper money attachment shaft 155 (see Figure 1C and Figure 1D) that protrudes through the side wall 134a to couple to a drive mechanism that will be described later. In the exemplary embodiment, the banknote gripping element 150 comprises side arms 151a, 151b extending between the fixed end 152 and the free end 154. The gripping component 156 extends between the side arms 151a, 151b at the free end 154. The gripping component 156 has a gripping surface 158 configured to contact a banknote stack 30 to press said banknote stack 30 towards the first and / or second banknote gripping portion 116 when the banknote gripping element is in the active position P2. The banknote stack transport arrangement 100 further comprises a drive unit 160 configured to, via a drive mechanism 170, provide kinetic energy to the first 110 and second 120 structures to move the first 116 and second 126 banknote gripping parts. Although illustrated in Figure 1A and Figure 1B, the drive unit 160 and the drive mechanism 170 are illustrated more clearly in Figure 1C and Figure 1D. The drive mechanism 170 comprises two separate transmission lines: a first transmission line 171 configured to supply kinetic energy from the drive unit 160 to the first 116 and second 126 banknote gripping parts (i.e., to one or more conveyor belts 118a-c and 128a-c), and a second transmission line 180 configured to supply kinetic energy from the drive unit 160 to the banknote gripping element 150. The drive unit 160 of the exemplary embodiment is an electric motor. The drive unit 160 comprises a drive shaft 162 that carries both the drive pulley 172, which is part of the first transmission line 171, and the drive gear 181, which is part of the second transmission line 180. II 7QCn / ^7(17 / 3 / YILI The first transmission line 171 is illustrated more clearly in Figure 1D and operates as follows: as the drive unit 160 rotates the drive shaft 162 counterclockwise, as illustrated in Figure 1D, the drive pulley 172 forces the drive belt 177 to move along with it. The drive belt 177 connects with three other pulleys: a first banknote hook pulley 173, which is attached to the first shaft 113 of the first frame 110; a second banknote hook pulley 174, which is attached to the first shaft 123 of the second frame 120; and a diverter pulley 175, which is located between the first banknote hook pulley 173 and the second banknote hook pulley 174.As clearly illustrated in Figure 1D, counterclockwise rotation of the drive unit 160 will cause the first paper money hook pulley 173 to rotate clockwise and the second paper money hook pulley 174 to rotate counterclockwise. As the person skilled in the art can readily appreciate, this will allow the two banknote gripping parts 116, 126 to move in one direction from the first associated ends 112, 122 to the second associated ends 114, 124. The diverter pulley 175 is arranged at a movable end of a lever 176 which is oscillatingly attached to the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 at a pivot point 178. The lever 176 is fixed to the side wall 134a by means of a screw 188 to prevent its rotation.This allows the tension of the drive belt 177 to be maintained to prevent slippage. The second transmission line 180 is illustrated more clearly in Figure 1C and Figure 1D and operates as follows: when the drive unit 160 rotates the drive shaft 162 counterclockwise, as illustrated in Figure 1D, the drive gear 181 meshes with the large-diameter drive gear 183 and forces it to rotate clockwise. The drive gear 183 is rotationally mounted on a first drive shaft 182, which is fixed in the banknote stack transport arrangement 100. Also rotationally mounted on the first drive shaft 182 and coupled to the drive gear 183 (see further details of this coupling below) is a small-diameter drive gear 184.The transmission gear 184 meshes with the transmission gear 187, which is rotationally mounted on the second transmission shaft 186, which in turn is fixed to the banknote stack transport arrangement 100. Finally, the transmission gear 187 meshes with the banknote gripping gear 189, which is attached to the banknote gripping shaft 155. As anyone skilled in the art can readily appreciate, a counterclockwise rotation of the drive unit 160 will result in a clockwise rotation of the banknote gripping gear 189. As can be seen from Figures 1A and 1B, this clockwise rotation will move the banknote gripping element 150 from the inactive position R1 to the active position P2. In order for the drive unit 160 and the drive mechanism 170 to control both the first banknote gripping part 116 and the second banknote gripping part 126 and the banknote gripping element 150 to a satisfactory degree, two other types of mechanical components are used. The first type of such components are the one-way clutch bearings 173a and 174a, which form part of the first transmission line 171 of the drive mechanism 170. As illustrated in Figure 1D, the one-way clutch bearing 173a is arranged between the first shaft 113 of the first frame 110 and the first paper money coupling pulley 173, while the one-way clutch bearing 174a is arranged between the first shaft 123 of the second frame 120 and the second paper money coupling pulley 174. The one-way clutch bearings 173a and 174a allow control of the direction of rotation of the first 173 and second 174 paper money coupling pulleys and, therefore, the displacement of the first 116 and second 126 paper money coupling parts.The one-way clutch bearing 173a is arranged with respect to the first shaft 113 of the first structure 110 and / or the first pulley of the paper money coupling part 173 such that only clockwise rotation allows the transfer of kinetic energy to the first shaft 113 of the first structure 110. The one-way clutch bearing 174a is arranged with respect to the first shaft 123 of the second structure 120 and / or the second pulley of the paper money coupling part 174 such that only counterclockwise rotation allows the transfer of kinetic energy to the first shaft 123 of the second structure 120.In other words, if the drive unit 160 were rotated in the opposite direction, i.e., clockwise, the first 173 and second 174 paper money coupling pulleys would be unable to rotate the first associated shafts 113, 123 of the structures 110, 120. This ensures that the first 116 and second 126 paper money coupling parts never shift in a direction extending from the second associated ends 114, 124 to the first associated ends 112, 122. Such a shift is generally undesirable, as a stack of paper money 30 residing in the temporary paper money receptacle 130 would shift upwards within the temporary paper money receptacle 130, increasing the risk of the stack of paper money 30 breaking and the II 7QCn / C7n7 / 3 / YIAI 20 individual banknotes from the banknote stack 30 get stuck in the banknote stack transport arrangement 100. The second of these additional components is a slip clutch 185, which is arranged between the transmission gear 183 and the transmission gear 184, as illustrated schematically in Figure 1C. The slip clutch 185 allows mechanical engagement between the transmission gear 183 and the transmission gear 184, provided that the torque supplied by the transmission gear 183 does not exceed a maximum threshold value. If the torque exceeds the maximum threshold value, the slip clutch 185 will limit the torque by slipping. As the person skilled in the art can readily appreciate, this results in the remainder of the second transmission line 180 and the banknote clamping element 150, which is connected to the end of the transmission line 180, remaining stationary even if the drive unit 160 rotates the transmission gear 183.By using the slip clutch 185, it is possible to continue operating the drive unit 160 in a counterclockwise direction, as illustrated in Figure 1D, and thus continue moving the first 116 and second 126 banknote gripping parts even if the banknote gripping element 150 has reached the active position P2. In the active position P2, the slip clutch 185 will allow the banknote gripping element 150 to supply a force in the direction of the first banknote gripping part 116 while the drive unit 160 is operating. Having described in detail the structural characteristics of the transport arrangement for stacks of banknotes 100 with reference to Figure 1A to Figure 1D, it is now time to describe how the transport arrangement for stacks of banknotes 100 manages the transport of a stack of banknotes 30. This will be done with reference to Figure 2 to Figure 5B, which illustrate the transport arrangement for stacks of banknotes 100 in different phases of the transport process. Figure 2 illustrates a banknote stacking process 20 in the temporary banknote receptacle 130 of the banknote transport arrangement 100. The stacking process begins with a counterclockwise rotation of the banknote stacking wheel 190, while individual banknotes 20 are supplied to the banknote stacking wheel 190. The supply of individual banknotes to banknote stacking wheels is well known in the art, a common approach being based on a pair of opposingly arranged conveyor belts that press the individual banknotes between them and transport them between two positions within a cash handling machine. Returning to Figure 2, a stack of banknotes 30 is formed within the II 7QCn / C7n7 / 3 / YIAI temporary paper money receptacle 130. The stack of paper money 30 is formed such that the first paper money hook part 116 comes into contact with a front side 32 of the stack of paper money 30 and the second paper money hook part 126 comes into contact with an edge side 34 of the stack of paper money 30. In Figure 3, the stack of paper money 30 has been formed and the paper money stack transport arrangement 100 is prepared to transport the stack of paper money 30 out of the temporary paper money receptacle 130. Figure 3 also schematically illustrates the two configurations of the first structure 110.In Figure 3, the first structure 110 is in the closed configuration C1, in which the temporary banknote receptacle 130 is closed at its lower end by the first banknote hook part 116, which is in contact with the second banknote hook part 126 at the associated second ends 114, 124 of the first structure 110 and second structure 120. The dotted lines illustrate the position of structure 110 when it has been moved to the open configuration C2 along the indicated arrow. The first phase of the banknote stack transport process will now be described with reference to Figure 4A and Figure 4B. Once banknote stack 30 has formed in the temporary banknote receptacle 130, the banknote stack transport unit 100 is ready to transport banknote stack 30. Typically, banknote stack 30 is transported from banknote stack transport unit 100 to a cash storage compartment located beneath banknote stack transport unit 100. As will be discussed later, such a compartment can be a safe, i.e., a closed and secure storage compartment.The banknote transport process is normally initiated in response to a signal received by the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 from a control unit of the cash handling machine of which arrangement 100 is a part. The signal activates the drive unit 160 to begin rotating counterclockwise. This initiates a displacement of the first banknote gripping parts 116 and second banknote gripping parts 126 toward their associated ends 114 and 124. The banknote stack 30, which resides in the temporary banknote receptacle 130, is then forced downward. This, in turn, forces the first structure 110 to transition from the closed configuration C1 to the open configuration C2.In the open configuration C2, the first structure 110 has been oscillated around the pivot axis A1 so that the first 116 and second 126 paper money hooking parts are separated from each other at the associated second ends 112,122 to define an exit gap 132. The stack of paper money 30 is now located between the paper money hooking parts. II 7QCn / C7n7 / 3 / YIAI first 116 and second 126 and is pressed between them at the associated second ends 114, 124. As the first 116 and second 126 paper catch parts continue to move, the stack of paper money 30 will continue its outward transport process through the outlet opening 132. As illustrated more clearly in Figure 4B, the paper catch element 150, which by means of the second transmission line 180 began to move from the idle position P1 in the direction of the stack of paper money 30 in response to the start of the drive unit 160, has now reached an intermediate position between the idle position and the stack of paper money 30. Therefore, at this stage of the transport process, the paper catch element 150 has not yet played any role in the transport process. Figure 5A and Figure 5B illustrate the next stage of the banknote stack transport process. In this case, the banknote stack 30 has been transported approximately 1 / 3 through the exit opening 132. At this point, the banknote gripping element 150 has finally reached the active position P2, in which it is configured to press the banknote stack 30 against the first and / or second banknote gripping part 116 (in the example illustrated in Figure 5A and Figure 5B, the banknote gripping element 150 only presses the banknote stack 30 against the first banknote gripping part 116). This facilitates the banknote stack transport process, as it allows the banknote stack 30 to remain together in a stack formation and also increases the frictional forces between the banknote stack 30 and the first banknote gripping part 116.Although not shown in the drawings, the banknote gripping element 150 can be configured to press the banknote stack 30 toward the second banknote gripping part 126. This means that the active position can be defined relative to the second banknote gripping part 126 rather than the first banknote gripping part 116. This can occur, for example, when one or more banknotes 20 have been placed haphazardly in the temporary banknote receptacle 130 so that they rest predominantly on the second banknote gripping part 126 rather than the first banknote gripping part 116. By allowing the banknote gripping element 150 to press the banknote stack 30 toward the second banknote gripping part 126, it can be easier to transport the one or more banknotes 20 out of the temporary banknote receptacle 130. As the technically skilled may understand, the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 of the disclosure is thus configured to transport the banknote stack 30 out of the temporary banknote receptacle 130 through the opening II 7QCn / C7n7 / 3 / YIAI of output 132 by displacing said first 116 and second 126 paper money attachment parts in relation to said first 110 and second 120 structures and moving the paper money attachment element 150 to the active position P2. As the person skilled in the art can readily appreciate, the displacement of the first 116 and second 126 paper money attachment parts in relation to the first 110 and second 120 structures may be sufficient to transport the stack of paper money 30 out of the temporary paper money receptacle 130. The displacement will force the stack of paper money 30 towards a lower part of the temporary paper money receptacle 130 (i.e., towards the associated second ends 114, 124 of the first 110 and second 120 structures).The force exerted by the stack of banknotes 30 will force the first structure 110 to move away from the second structure 120 from their associated second ends 114, 124, thereby forming the exit gap 132 to allow the stack of banknotes 30 to leave the temporary banknote receptacle 130. However, there may be situations where the displacement of the first 110 and second 120 banknote engagement parts is insufficient to transport the stack of banknotes 30 out of the temporary banknote receptacle 130. Typically, these situations occur when the stack of banknotes 30 includes few banknotes 20 and / or the banknotes 20 in the stack 30 are not properly aligned in the temporary banknote receptacle 130, and / or one or more banknotes 20 in the stack of banknotes 30 are damaged, for example, by creases, tears, holes, and foil wear.In such situations, the paper money attachment element 150 can assist in the transport process by pressing the stack of paper money 30 towards the first paper money attachment part 116, thereby reducing the risk that one or more paper money pieces from the stack of paper money 30 may not be able to be transported out of the temporary paper money receptacle 130. Normally, the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 is configured to transport the stacked banknotes 30 out of the temporary banknote receptacle 130 through the exit opening 132 in a single transport operation. However, this is sometimes not possible. For example, there may be situations where one or more banknotes 20 from the stack 30 do not transport through the exit opening 132 with the rest of the banknote stack 30. Alternatively, the banknote stack 30 may be incorrectly aligned in the temporary banknote receptacle 130. Alternatively, one or more banknotes 20 from the banknote stack 30 may be damaged, for example, by creases, tears, holes, and foil wear. In such situations, it may not be possible to transport the banknote stack 30 out of the temporary banknote receptacle 130 in a single transport operation.Instead, the 160 drive unit can be driven in reverse, i.e., in the opposite direction. II 7QCn / C7n7 / 3 / YIAI clockwise, forcing the banknote gripping element 150 to retract in the direction of the inactive position P1 and thus loosen its grip on the banknote stack 30. At the same time, the displacement of the first banknote gripping parts 116 and second banknote gripping parts 126 ceases, as a result of the one-way clutch bearings 173a, 174a preventing the drive unit 160 from reversing the direction of displacement of the first banknote gripping parts 116 and second banknote gripping parts 126. If the drive unit 160 is driven again counterclockwise, the displacement of the first banknote gripping parts 116 and second banknote gripping parts 126 is restarted and the banknote gripping element 150 moves to the active position P2.As has been observed, in most cases this iterative process will have the final result that all the paper money 20 from the stack of paper money 30 are transported out of the temporary paper money receptacle 130. An intrinsic feature of the present embodiment, as an example of the arrangement, is that the paper money gripping element 150 reaches the active position P2 after the first paper money gripping parts 116 and second paper money gripping parts 126 have displaced the stack of paper money 30 at least partially out of the exit recess 132. This is illustrated in the timing diagram of Figure 6.The transport arrangement for banknote stacks 100 is configured to initiate the movement of the first banknote coupling parts 116 and 126 at a first time position T1, and to initiate the movement of the banknote coupling element 150 at a second time position T2, wherein these first and second time positions T1 and T2 are related to each other such that the movement of the first and second banknote coupling parts 116 and 126 has been in progress for a time period TP when the banknote coupling element 150 reaches the active position P2. As can be seen in Figure 6, the first and second banknote coupling parts 116 and 126 move from the first time position T1 to a fourth time position T4. This is illustrated in Figure 6 by the time block C.The banknote gripper 150 will begin its movement from the inactive position P1 to the active position P2 at the second time position T2, but will not reach the active position P2 until a third time position T3. This movement time of the banknote gripper is illustrated in Figure 6 by time block B1. The banknote gripper 150 will then remain in the active position P2 while the drive unit 160 operates the banknote stack transport arrangement 100. This lasts until the fourth time position T4. Time block B2 marks the period of time during which the banknote gripper 150 is in the active position P2.In the exemplary embodiment, zopn / cznz / zi / YiAi, the time period TP is reached even if the first time position T1 and the second time position T2 occur simultaneously or substantially simultaneously, as shown in Figure 6. This is because the exemplary embodiment uses a built-in mechanical delay, as already described with reference to Figures 1A to 1D. It should be understood that the banknote stack transport arrangement of the disclosure is not limited to this particular embodiment, and that other means of achieving such a time period are equally applicable within the scope of the claims. An alternative such exemplary embodiment could have independent drive mechanisms and drive units that could be operated by the control unit to initiate displacement and movement at different respective time positions. A method for transporting one or more banknotes into a cash handling machine 10 will be described below with reference to Figure 7. Much of the detail has already been described above, so the method will only be briefly described.The cash handling machine 10 comprises a first structure 110 having first ends 112 and second ends 114 and having a first banknote gripping part 116 that can be moved relative to the first structure 110; having a second structure 120 having first ends 122 and second ends 124 and having a second banknote gripping part 126 that can be moved relative to the second structure 120; said first structures 110 and second structures 120 being arranged such that said first banknote gripping parts 116 and second structures 126 are spaced apart from each other at the associated first ends 112, 122 to allow one or more banknotes 20 to enter between the parts, wherein at least one of the first structures 110 and second structures 120 is pivotally arranged at its first end 112 to be able to oscillate. The method comprises the receiving step S102, where said at least one of the first 110 and second 120 structures is in a closed configuration C1 in which the first 116 and second 126 paper money hooking parts are in contact with each other at the associated second ends 114, 124 to form at least a bottom portion of a temporary paper money receptacle 130: one or more paper money 20 in the temporary paper money receptacle 130 and support a formation of a paper money stack 30 therein such that the first paper money hooking part 116 comes into contact with a front side 32 of the paper money stack 30 and the second paper money hooking part 126 comes into contact with an edge side 34 of the paper money stack 30. II 7QCn / C7n7 / 3 / YIAI The method further comprises the step of moving S104 a paper money gripping element 150 of the cash handling machine 10 to an active position P2 in which the paper money gripping element 150 is configured to press the stack of paper money 30 towards the first paper money gripping part 116. The method further comprises the step of displacing S106 said first 116 and second 126 paper money attachment parts in relation to said first 110 and second 120 structures for transport, when said at least one of the first 110 and second 120 structures is in an open configuration C2 in which the first 116 and second 126 paper money attachment parts are separated from each other at the associated second ends 114, 124 to define an exit hole 132: the stack of paper money 30 out of the temporary paper money receptacle 130 through the exit hole 132. The step of moving said first 116 and second 126 paper money attachment parts can be initiated in a first temporary position T1, and the step of moving the paper money attachment element 150 can be initiated in a second temporary position T2, wherein said first and second temporary positions are related to each other in such a way that said displacement of said first and second paper money attachment parts has been in progress for a time period TP when the paper money attachment element 150 reaches the active position P2. Figure 8A and Figure 8B illustrate a cash handling machine 10 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The cash handling machine 10 is of the type commonly used by staff to deposit large amounts of cash, for example, in shops and financial establishments. The user can insert cash and deposit it electronically into their account. The cash is physically transported by the cash handling machine 10 to a storage compartment within the machine. The cash handling machine 10 of the example embodiment comprises a banknote input unit 12 to allow a user to insert one or more banknotes 20. The user operates the cash handling machine 10 by entering commands and instructions through the operating interface 16. In response to the user's specific instructions, one or more banknotes 20 are conveyed internally within the machine 10 to a counterfeit banknote counting and detection unit 15, within which the banknotes 20 are counted and examined to determine whether they are genuine or counterfeit. Following this process, the one or more banknotes 20 are conveyed to a banknote stack transport arrangement 100 configured to receive said one or more banknotes 20 and transport them to a safe 18. The safe 18 is located below the elements already II 7QCn / C7n7 / 3 / YIAI described, and the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 can transport one or more banknotes 20 by dropping them into the safe 18 by gravity. The safe 18 may comprise a specific storage compartment, such as a heat-sealable cash bag, a canvas bag, or a banknote box (not shown). Cash handling machines of this type usually have different levels or access rights. Normally, the safe 18 is not accessible to users depositing their banknotes 20, who only have limited access to the upper parts of the machine 10. Instead, the maintenance of the safe 18 is usually the responsibility of cash transport personnel (CIT), who have full access to the machine 10, including the safe 18. An embodiment of the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 has been described herein.However, the cash handling machine may also comprise other embodiments of the banknote stack transport arrangement within the scope of the appended claims. The person skilled in the art is aware that this disclosure is in no way limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and implemented by a person skilled in the practice of the claimed disclosure, based on a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.
Claims
1. A transport arrangement for stacks of banknotes (100) for a cash handling machine (10), comprising: a first structure (110) having first (112) and second (114) ends and having a first banknote gripping portion (116) movable relative to the first structure; a second structure (120) having first (122) and second (124) ends and having a second banknote gripping portion (126) movable relative to the second structure; said first and second structures being arranged such that said first and second banknote gripping portions are spaced apart from each other at their associated first ends (112, 122) to allow one or more banknotes (20) to enter between the banknote gripping portions,wherein at least one of the first and second structures is pivotally arranged at its first end (112) to be able to oscillate between them: a closed configuration wherein the first and second paper money gripping parts (116, 126) are in contact with each other at their associated second ends (114, 124) so that together they form at least a lower part of a temporary paper money receptacle (130) configured to receive one or more paper money (20) and support the formation of a stack of paper money (30) therein,such that the first banknote gripping part (116) comes into contact with a front side (32) of the banknote stack (30) and the second banknote gripping part (126) comes into contact with an edge side (34) of the banknote stack (30); and an open configuration in which the first and second banknote gripping parts are separated from each other at their associated second ends (112, 122) to define an exit gap (132); and a banknote gripping element (150) movable between an inactive position (P1) and an active position (P2),active position in which the banknote gripping element is configured to press the banknote stack towards the first (116) and / or second (126) banknote gripping portion; in which the banknote stack transport arrangement is configured to transport said banknote stack (30) out of the temporary banknote receptacle (130) through the outlet opening (132) by displacing said first (116) and second (126) banknote gripping portions relative to said first (110) and second (120) structures and moving the banknote gripping element (150) to the active position (P2).
2. Banknote stack transport arrangement (100) according to II 7QOn / C7n7 / 3 / YIAI 28 claim 1, wherein the banknote stack transport arrangement is configured to transport said banknote stack (30) out of the temporary banknote receptacle (130) through the outlet hole (132) in a displacement operation.
3. Transport arrangement for stacks of banknotes (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second structure (120) is fixedly arranged in the banknote transport arrangement (100).
4. Transport arrangement for stacks of banknotes (100) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the first and second banknote attachment parts (116, 126) are defined by one or more conveyor belts (118a-c, 128a-c).
5. Transport arrangement for stacks of banknotes (100) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first and second structures (110, 120) are inclined towards each other in the closed configuration.
6. Transport arrangement for stacks of banknotes (100) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the banknote gripping element (150) extends from a fixed end (152) in which the banknote gripping element is pivotally arranged, to a free end (154) having a gripping surface (158) configured to be in contact with the banknote stack to press the banknote stack (30) towards the first (116) and / or second (126) banknote gripping portion when the banknote gripping element (150) is in the active position.
7. Transport arrangement for stacks of banknotes (100) according to claim 6, wherein the banknote attachment element (150) comprises one or more attachment components (156) arranged at the free end (154), wherein said one or more attachment components together define said attachment surface (158).
8. Banknote stack transport arrangement (100) according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the banknote stack transport arrangement is configured to: initiate said displacement of said first and second banknote gripping parts (116, 126) in a first temporary position (T1), and initiate said movement of the banknote gripping element in a second temporary position (T2), wherein the first (T1) and second temporary positions are related to each other such that said displacement of said first and second banknote gripping parts II 7QCn / C7n7 / 3 / YIAI has occurred during a time period (TP) when the banknote gripping element reaches the active position (P2).
9. Banknote stack transport arrangement (100) according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the banknote transport arrangement further comprises a drive unit (160) configured to, by means of a drive mechanism (170), provide kinetic energy to the first and second structures (110, 120) to move said first and second banknote attachment parts (116, 126).
10. Transport arrangement for banknote stacks (100) according to claim 9, wherein the drive unit (160) is further configured to, via the drive mechanism (170), move the banknote gripping element (150) between the inactive (P1) and active (P2) positions.
11. Transport arrangement for banknote stacks (100) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the drive unit (160) is an electric motor and wherein the drive mechanism (170) is configured so that kinetic energy is supplied to the first and second banknote gripping parts only for one direction of rotation of the drive unit, so that said first and second banknote gripping parts (116, 126) can only be moved in one direction towards the outlet opening (132).
12. A banknote stack transport arrangement (100) according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the banknote transport arrangement further comprises a banknote stacking wheel (190) configured to receive one or more banknotes (20), move the one or more banknotes (20) into the temporary banknote receptacle (130), and form a banknote stack (30) therein.
13. Cash handling machine (10) comprising: a banknote input unit (12) enabling a user to insert one or more banknotes (20); a safe (18) for storing said one or more banknotes (20); and a banknote stack transport arrangement (100) according to any of claims 1 to 12; wherein the banknote transport arrangement is configured to receive said one or more banknotes (20) and transport them to the safe.
14. A method for transporting one or more banknotes into a cash handling machine, wherein said cash handling machine comprises: a first structure (110) having first (112) and second (114) ends and having a first banknote gripping part (116) movable relative to the first structure (110); a second structure (120) having first (122) and second (124) ends and having a second banknote gripping part (126) movable relative to the second structure (120); said first and second structures being arranged such that the first and second banknote gripping parts are spaced apart from each other at their associated first ends (112, 122) to allow one or more banknotes (20) to enter between the parts,wherein at least one of the first and second structures is pivotally arranged at its first end (112) to be able to oscillate, said method comprising: receiving, when said at least one of the first and second structures (110, 120) is in a closed configuration in which the first and second paper money attachment parts (116, 126) are in contact with each other at their associated second ends (114, 124) to form at least a lower part of a temporary paper money receptacle (130), one or more paper money (20) in the temporary paper money receptacle and supporting the formation of a stack of paper money (30) therein,so that the first banknote gripping part (116) comes into contact with a front side (32) of the banknote stack (30) and the second banknote gripping part (126) comes into contact with an edge side (34) of the banknote stack (30); moving a banknote gripping element (150) of the cash handling machine to an active position (P2) in which the banknote gripping element is configured to press the banknote stack towards the first (116) and / or second (126) banknote gripping part, and displacing said first (116) and second (126) banknote gripping parts relative to said first and second structures for transport, when said at least one of the first and second structures is in an open configuration in which the first and second banknote gripping parts are separated from each other at the associated second ends (114,124) to define an exit hole (132), said stack of paper money (30) out of the temporary paper money receptacle (130) through the exit hole (132)., 15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the step of displacing said first (116) and second (126) banknote attachment parts is initiated in a first temporary position (T1), and wherein the step of moving the banknote attachment element (150) is initiated in a second temporary position (T2), wherein said first and second temporary positions are related to each other such that said displacement of said first and second banknote attachment parts has been in progress for a period of time (TP) when the banknote attachment element (150) reaches the active position (P2).