Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Banking systems
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-02
2001-06-05
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Banking systems
C902S012000, C902S013000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241150
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sheet dispensing mechanism.
The invention has application, for example, to a cash dispensing mechanism of an automated teller machine (ATM). An ATM has a user console to allow a customer to operate the machine. The cash dispensing mechanism typically includes at least one bill picking mechanism for extracting bills one by one from an associated currency cassette, and a presenting mechanism for presenting bills to an exit slot in the ATM.
A cash dispensing mechanism of an ATM may be of the rear loading type in which currency cassettes are removed from, and replaced in, the dispensing mechanism from the rear of the ATM, that is on the side opposite the user console, or it may be of the front loading type in which currency cassettes are removed from, and replaced in, the dispensing mechanism from the front of the ATM. Normally, a through-the-wall ATM, in which the user console is mounted in a wall of a bank or other building, includes a cash dispensing mechanism of the rear loading type, while an in-lobby ATM located inside a bank or other building may include a cash dispensing mechanism of either the rear loading or front loading type.
The present invention has particular application to a dispensing mechanism of an ATM which is of the type that delivers bills one by one in a non-bundled manner (known as a spray dispenser).
From U.K. Patent Application 2106687A there is known a cash dispensing mechanism which can be modified so as to have either a front loading or a rear loading configuration. This known mechanism comprises upper and lower units, the upper unit housing stacking means and transport means for feeding a stack of currency bills to an exit port and for feeding rejected bills to a rejected bill container positioned at the rear of the mechanism, and the lower unit housing currency bill dispensing compartments and transport means for feeding bills to the upper unit. The whole of the lower unit is rotatable through 180° with respect to the upperunit during installation, whereby the installed cash dispenser unit can be either front loading or rear loading. This arrangement has the potential advantage of increasing the manufacturer's productivity, since it is not necessary to manufacture two different types of cash dispensing mechanisms for front loading and rear loading operations. However, this known cash dispensing mechanism has the disadvantage that complexities are introduced due to the fact that transfer of bills from the lower unit to the upper unit takes place at one or other of two separate transfer stations, depending on whether the mechanism has a front loading or a rear loading configuration. For example, adjustable divert means are required, such divert means being liable to give rise to the jamming of the bills.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a spray dispensing mechanism which can have either a front loading or a rear loading configuration and which is of simple construction.
According to the present invention there is provided a sheet dispensing mechanism including a housing having a sheet dispensing port via which sheets are dispensed to a user of the mechanism, a first unit mounted inside said housing including removable sheet storage means, picking means for picking sheets one by one from said sheet storage means, and first transport means for transporting sheets from said picking means, and a second unit which is mounted on said first unit within said housing in one of two possible positions depending on whether said dispensing mechanism has a front loading or a rear loading configuration, said second unit being arranged to receive sheets transported upwardly out of said first unit, and including second transport means for transporting sheets received from said first unit to said sheet dispensing port, characterized in that said first unit further includes sheet checking means through which sheets transported from said picking means by said first transport means are passed, divert means for directing sheets rejected by sheet checking means into reject means, and third transport means for transporting sheets accepted by said sheet checking means upwardly out of said first unit to said second unit at a single transfer station, regardless of whether said dispensing mechanism has a front or rear loading configuration, and further characterized in that said second transports means transport sheets individually from said first unit to said sheet dispensing port.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4465925 (1984-08-01), Goi
patent: 4936564 (1990-06-01), Hain
patent: 5240368 (1993-08-01), Graef et al.
patent: 5342165 (1994-08-01), Graef et al.
patent: 0367519 (1990-05-01), None
patent: 2106687 (1983-04-01), None
Frech Karl D.
NCR Corporation
LandOfFree
Sheet dispensing mechanism does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Sheet dispensing mechanism, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sheet dispensing mechanism will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2458028