Device for handling banknotes

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for handling banknotes comprising a feeding unit (1) that defines a feeding direction for feeding in one or more banknotes (11); an alignment wall (6); and a peeling unit (4) oriented obliquely to the feeding direction, the peeling unit (4) moving a single banknote towards the alignment wall (6). The device allows the banknotes to be aligned and also inserts the banknotes one by one into a payment machine or an automated teller machine when the user presents a wad of banknotes.

Description

[0001] BANKNOTE HANDLING DEVICE

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] Object of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates to a banknote handling device, which allows receiving and aligning several banknotes when they are introduced one by one or in bundles, for feeding, for example, into a collection machine or ATM.

[0005] Background of the invention

[0006] Ticket machines and ATMs handle both input and output bills. Input bills are inserted by users, for example, to pay for a purchased item or to make a deposit into their account, and output bills are dispensed to the user to provide change at a ticket machine or to provide the money requested at an ATM.

[0007] Therefore, banknotes must be directed to different areas of the machine depending on their authentication, status, etc., and depending on the function the machine is performing at any given time: collection, payment, refund, storage in recyclers, storage in stackers, etc.

[0008] For a user, it's a challenge to have to insert bills one by one, so they often insert several bills together, forming a bundle. This poses the problem that the bills may be misaligned or of different sizes.

[0009] Currently, there are already devices capable of collecting one bill and collecting multiple bills at the same time.

[0010] For example, it's common to align bills by pushing the bills together at the ends on the long side and centering the entire stack. The problem with this system is that if bills of different sizes are inserted, the centering is adjusted to the largest bill, potentially leaving the smaller bills misaligned. This causes many bills to enter crooked and unprocessable.

[0011] There is also a known exfoliation system consisting of two sets of wheels: lower plastic wheels and upper foam wheels. The lower wheels always rotate in the same direction, pulling the bills into the machine.

[0012] However, the upper wheels incorporate a clutch that allows both wheels to rotate inwards when there are no bills inside the mechanism, and when there is a bill inside the mechanism, the lower wheel continues to rotate inwards and the upper wheel stops.

[0013] In this way, the bill is forced inward and the bills on top are retained by the stationary wheel.

[0014] This system exfoliates the banknotes but does not align them. For this reason, a high percentage of banknotes are entered crooked. This generally causes many banknote jams and rejections, as they cannot be identified.

[0015] Description of the invention

[0016] Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide a banknote handling device, which allows banknotes to be aligned and also manages to insert the banknotes one by one when the user places the banknotes in a bundle.

[0017] The banknote handling device of the invention resolves the aforementioned drawbacks, presenting other advantages that will be described below.

[0018] The banknote handling device according to the present invention is described in claim 1, and the dependent claims include additional features that are optional.

[0019] In particular, the banknote handling device comprises:

[0020] - a feed unit that defines a feed direction of one or more banknotes;

[0021] - an alignment wall;

[0022] - an exfoliation unit oriented obliquely with respect to the feed direction, the exfoliation unit moving a single banknote towards the alignment wall.

[0023] Thanks to this feature, the device according to the present invention is able to align the banknotes and also to insert the banknotes into a cash machine or an ATM one by one when the user places the banknotes in a bundle.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the exfoliation unit comprises an upper wheel and a lower wheel, the lower wheel being rotatable in a single rotation direction, for example, towards the interior of the machine, and the upper wheel being rotatable in two rotation directions, a first rotation direction equal to the rotation direction of the lower wheel towards the interior and a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction, for example, in the opposite direction to the interior, such that by rotating in the first rotation direction, the lower wheel moves a lower note towards the alignment wall.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the feed unit comprises a drive wheel and a free-rotating wheel, said free-rotating wheel being movable, for example in height, between a position spaced from the drive wheel and a position in contact with the drive wheel.

[0026] Preferably, the movement of the freewheel is actuated by a coil.

[0027] Furthermore, the banknote handling device according to the present invention may also comprise: - a first sensor for detecting the position of a banknote or banknotes on the feed unit; and

[0028] - a second sensor for detecting the position of the banknote or banknotes on the exfoliating unit, such that the feed unit and the exfoliating unit are actuated when the position of the banknote or banknotes is detected by the first sensor and the feed unit is stopped from being actuated when the position of the banknote is detected by the second sensor.

[0029] Preferably, the banknote handling device according to the present invention also comprises stops, which are movable between a blocking position and a withdrawn position, the stops being placed in the withdrawn position when the feed unit is actuated, which prevent the introduction of banknotes when they are at rest and when the device is started they are raised allowing the passage of the banknotes.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, the stops are located aligned with each other and defining a line perpendicular to the feed direction, and the first sensor is located between the feed unit and the stops.

[0031] In addition, the alignment wall is preferably parallel to the feed direction, and the drive wheel of the feed unit and the lower wheel of the exfoliation unit are of equal diameter and rotate at the same speed.

[0032] Brief description of the drawings

[0033] For a better understanding of what has been explained, some drawings are attached which, schematically and solely as a non-limiting example, represent a practical case of implementation.

[0034] Figures 1 to 3 are schematic plan views illustrating the handling of banknotes with the banknote handling device according to the present invention; Figures 4 and 5 are schematic elevation views of the feed unit with the free-wheel in its separated position and in contact with the drive wheel, respectively; and

[0035] Figures 6 and 7 are schematic elevation views of the exfoliation unit, with the upper wheel rotating in either direction.

[0036] Description of a preferred embodiment

[0037] A description of a preferred embodiment of the banknote handling device according to the present invention is presented below.

[0038] The banknote handling device comprises a feed unit (1) defining a feed direction for one or more banknotes (11). It further includes an alignment wall (6) for ensuring that the banknotes (11) supplied to a cash machine or ATM are perfectly aligned.

[0039] This alignment wall (6) is preferably located parallel to the feed direction to ensure the alignment of the banknotes (11) parallel to said feed direction.

[0040] The device also comprises an exfoliation unit (4) oriented obliquely with respect to the feed direction, which allows a single banknote or the bottom banknote of the bundle to be moved towards the alignment wall (6).

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment, shown in Figures 6 and 7, the exfoliation unit (4) comprises an upper wheel (9) and a lower wheel (10). The lower wheel (10) rotates in a single rotational direction, towards the interior of the device, while the upper wheel (9) can rotate in two rotational directions: a first rotational direction equal to that of the lower wheel towards the interior of the device (10) and a second rotational direction opposite.

[0042] In this way, by rotating in the second direction of rotation, the upper wheel (9) prevents the banknotes at the top of the bundle (11) from entering the device. According to a preferred embodiment, shown in Figures 4 and 5, the feed unit (1) comprises a drive wheel (7) and a free-rotating wheel (8), which can move between a position spaced from the drive wheel (7) and a position in contact therewith.

[0043] The movement of the freewheel (8) is achieved, in the embodiment shown, by means of a coil (12).

[0044] Furthermore, the device preferably comprises sensors (3, 5) to detect the position of the banknotes (11. When the sensor (3) detects the presence of banknotes, the feed unit (1) and the exfoliation unit (4) begin to rotate, then the coil (12) is activated, sending the banknotes (11) to an exfoliation area. Once the exfoliated banknote reaches the sensor (5), the coil (12) stops being activated. At this time, the banknote (11) that is between the wheels of the exfoliation unit (4) can be aligned against the alignment wall (6) and sent into the device.

[0045] The device according to the present invention also preferably comprises stops (2), which can be placed in a blocking or withdrawal position, which prevent the introduction of banknotes when they are at rest and when the device is started they are raised allowing the passage of banknotes.

[0046] These stops (2) are preferably aligned with each other and define a line perpendicular to the feed direction.

[0047] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the first sensor (3) is preferably located before the power supply unit (1) and the stops (2).

[0048] Furthermore, the drive wheel (7) of the feed unit (1) and the lower wheel (10) of the exfoliation unit (4) preferably have the same diameter and rotate at the same speed for coordinated operation.

[0049] The operating sequence of the banknote handling device according to the following invention is as follows:

[0050] First, a user inserts the banknotes (11) one at a time or in a bundle. In this situation, the feed unit (1) is inactive, so the user can insert the banknotes (11) until they contact the stops 2, as shown in Figure 1.

[0051] In this position the first sensor (3) detects the presence of the bills (11) and the stops (2) move to the withdrawn position to free the advance of the bills (10).

[0052] To advance the banknotes, the feed unit (1) is actuated, for example, by means of the coil (12), which causes the freewheel (8) to contact the drive wheel (7), as shown in Figure 5.

[0053] The feed unit (1) causes the banknotes (11) to move forward until they cover the second sensor (5) in the exfoliation area. At this point, the exfoliation system (4) splits the lower banknote (11) into the device, and the banknotes remaining at the top cannot advance until the first banknote has completely passed through.

[0054] At this point, the banknote (11) which is in the exfoliation unit (4), has a single pivot point, which allows the exfoliation unit (4) to move and rotate the banknote against the alignment wall (6).

[0055] Furthermore, since in the exfoliation unit the upper wheel (9) rotates in the opposite direction to the lower wheel (10), only one note (11) will be moved at a time.

[0056] This bill (11) moves until it contacts the alignment wall (6) and then advances into a machine, for example, a ticket machine or an ATM.

[0057] This sequence will then be repeated as many times as the number of bills (11) the user has deposited, and once the first and second sensors (3, 5) do not detect any more bills, the standby situation will be returned to.

[0058] Although reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is evident to a person skilled in the art that the banknote handling device described is susceptible to numerous variations and modifications, and that all the details mentioned can be replaced by other technically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Banknote handling device, comprising: - a feed unit (1) defining a feed direction of one or more banknotes (11); and - an alignment wall (6), characterized in that it also comprises: - an exfoliation unit (4) oriented obliquely with respect to the feed direction, the exfoliation unit (4) moving a single banknote towards the alignment wall (6).

2. Banknote handling device according to claim 1, wherein the exfoliation unit (4) comprises an upper wheel (9) and a lower wheel (10), the lower wheel (10) being rotatable in a single rotation direction, and the upper wheel (9) being rotatable in two rotation directions, a first rotation direction equal to the rotation direction of the lower wheel (10) and a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction, such that by rotating in the second rotation direction, the upper wheel (9) moves a single banknote (11) towards the alignment wall (6).

3. Banknote handling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the feed unit (1) comprises a drive wheel (7) and a free-rotating wheel (8), said free-rotating wheel (8) being movable between a position spaced apart from the drive wheel (7) and a position in contact with the drive wheel (7).

4. Banknote handling device according to claim 3, wherein the movement of the free-spinning wheel (8) is actuated by a coil (12).

5. Banknote handling device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - a first sensor (3) for detecting the position of the banknote or banknotes (10) on the feed unit (1); and - a second sensor (5) to detect the position of the banknote or banknotes (10) on the exfoliation unit (4), such that the feed unit (1) is actuated when the position of the banknote or banknotes (11) is detected by the first sensor (3) and the exfoliation unit (4) is actuated when the position of the banknote or banknotes (11) is detected by the second sensor (5).

6. Banknote handling device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising stops (2), which are movable between a locking position and a retracted position, the stops (2) being placed in the retracted position when the feed unit (1) is actuated.

7. Banknote handling device according to claim 6, wherein the stops (2) are located aligned with each other and defining a line perpendicular to the feed direction.

8. Banknote handling device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first sensor (3) is located between the feed unit (1) and the stops (2).

9. Banknote handling device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the alignment wall (6) is parallel to the feed direction.

10. Banknote handling device according to the preceding claims 2 and 3, wherein the drive wheel (7) of the feed unit (1) and the lower wheel (10) of the exfoliation unit (4) are of equal diameter and rotate at the same speed.

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