Storage cassette for automatic bank teller machines with...

Sheet feeding or delivering – Feeding – Pack holders

Reexamination Certificate

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Reexamination Certificate

active

06299158

ABSTRACT:

The present invention relates to a storage cassette which can be inserted into a receiving module, intended for receiving a bill cassette, of an automatic bank teller.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such a storage cassette is known, for example, from DE-44 08 981 C1. Furthermore, there is known from DE-35 14 062 A1 an automatic bank teller in which a plurality of storage units for bills are arranged one above another, each have a drawing-off and separating device, and are connected to a common vertical collective transporter. Provided instead of the lowermost storage unit is a dedicated slide-in unit which contains a printing device for printing sheet-shaped printing carriers such as check forms, vouchers and the like, a device for storing a supply of printing carriers, and a transport device, which transports the printing carriers from the storage device through the printing device to a dispensing opening of the slide-in unit, with the result that the printed printing carriers can be transferred to the collective transporter of the automatic bank teller. As a result, it is possible for the automatic bank teller not only to dispense bills but also to print check forms and provide vouchers. However, in the case of the solution described there, the slide-in unit containing the printing device can only be installed in the automatic bank teller at the factory, instead of a bill storage unit. In exchange, the operator of the automatic bank teller does not have the option of sliding into the automatic bank teller a bill storage unit or a printer slide-in unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to enable the operator of an automatic bank teller optionally himself to replace a bill storage cassette by a device by means of which it is possible to print sheet-shaped objects, such as check forms, receipts, credit notes, vouchers or the like, which are to be dispensed via the automatic bank teller.
This object is achieved in the case of a storage cassette of the type mentioned at the beginning by virtue of the fact that there are arranged in the storage cassette a printing device for printing sheet-shaped printing carriers, a device for storing a supply of printing carriers and a transport device for transporting a printing carrier through the printing device up to a withdrawal position in which the printing carrier is located parallel to the front wall in the region of the withdrawal opening.
By contrast with the solution known from DE-35 14 062 A1, the solution according to the invention has the advantage that the storage cassette containing the printing device is externally completely identical to a bill cassette, and can thus be pushed into the same receiving module as it. The storage cassette according to the invention can therefore be exchanged straightaway, should the need exist, for a bill cassette by the operator of the automatic bank teller. The printed printing carrier is provided in the storage cassette according to the invention in the same way as a bill in a known bill cassette, and can therefore be drawn off by the drawing-off device arranged in the receiving module, and transferred to the transport track of the automatic bank teller. If the automatic bank teller contains a plurality of receiving modules, it is also possible, if necessary, for a plurality of storage cassettes according to the invention to be inserted, or replaced again by bill cassettes. The result of this is a high degree of flexibility in the use of the automatic bank teller.
The device for storing a supply of printing carriers preferably has a holder for rotatably mounting a printing-carrier supply roll, and a separating device for severing from the printing-carrier supply roll individual sheets which are to be dispensed. This solution offers a substantial simplification by comparison with storing individual sheets, since relatively complicated devices are required for drawing off and transporting individual sheets.
In the solution according to the invention, the transport device has at least one transport roller which is arranged downstream of the printing device or in the latter and is intended for engaging with the printing carrier, the separating device being arranged downstream of the transport roller. In this way, the printing carrier can be drawn from the supply roll by the printing device and be transported further via the separating device before it is then severed from the endless printing-carrier track by means of the separating device.
In order to keep the printing carrier in the withdrawal position, the invention provides a holding frame for receiving a printing carrier which is to be dispensed, the holding frame preferably having two mutually parallel support elements which form between them a receiving gap for the printing carrier, and of which the support element facing the front wall of the storage cassette has an opening for the engagement of the drawing-off elements. This ensures that the printing carrier to be dispensed is reliably held until it can be gripped by the drawing-off elements.
In order not to have to deflect the printing carrier too severely in the cassette, and to keep the printing-carrier transport as simple as possible, it is expedient if the holding frame can be adjusted, for example pivoted, between a receiving position, in which the receiving gap is aligned with the printing carrier emerging from the separating device, and the withdrawal position In order to ensure that the printing carrier, which is, as the case may be, slightly curved through being drawn off from a supply roll, can be reliably introduced into the holding frame, preferably on both sides of the inlet opening of the receiving gap the support elements have outwardly diverging instruction surfaces.
A controllable clamping device is expediently arranged on the holding frame for the purpose of clamping a printing carrier introduced into the holding frame, so that after being inserted into the receiving gap the printing carrier does not slip when being severed from the printing-carrier track, nor during adjustment of the holding frame. This clamping device can have at least one clamping element which reaches into the receiving gap of the holding frame, is pretensioned in the direction of one of the support elements, and can be deflected against its pretension in the receiving position of the holding frame. This can be performed, for example, by a stationary element which strikes against the clamping element in the receiving position of the holding frame, and deflects said element.
The separating device expediently comprises a blade which can be adjusted transverse to the transport plane of the printing carrier. A thermal printing head is preferably used for the printing device.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a storage cassette for insertion into a receiving module of an automatic teller machine. The receiving module is normally intended to receive a bill cassette. However, the storage cassette of the present invention will be received into the receiving module. The receiving module includes at least one drawing-off element for withdrawing sheet-shaped objects from the storage cassette. The storage cassette comprises a housing which comprises a front wall comprising a withdrawal opening. The withdrawal opening accommodates the drawing-off element of the receiving module. The housing is connected to a printing device for printing sheet-shaped objects, a storage device for storing a supply of sheet-shaped objects and a transport device for transporting the sheet-shaped objects from the storage device through the printing device to a withdrawal position wherein the sheet-shaped object is disposed parallel to the front wall and in registry with the withdrawal opening.
In an embodiment, the housing is connected to a holder for rotatably mounting a sheet supply roll to the housing and a separating device for severing individual sheet-shaped objects from the roll after the printing thereof. The separating device is disposed between the printing device and the withdrawal posi

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