Value note box

Abstract

A value note box (10) has a first storage compartment (44) for storing notes of value as well as at least a second storage compartment (46) for storing notes of value. Further, the value note box comprises a switch unit (48) for selectively feeding notes of value into the first storage compartment (44) or into the second storage compartment (46). A switch unit (48) comprises a switch element (50), a portion (52) of which delimits one side of the first storage compartment (44).

Claims

1. A value note box, with a first storage compartment for storing notes of value, with at least a second storage compartment for storing notes of value, and with a switch unit for selectively feeding notes of value into the first storage compartment or into the second storage compartment, the switch unit comprising a switch element, and a portion of the switch element delimiting at least one side of the first storage compartment, wherein the section of the switch element serves as a separating element between the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment, the switch element is pivotable about an axis of rotation, and the axis of rotation runs in the middle third of the separating element, wherein the switch unit has a switch lever which comprises at least one engagement element protruding through a housing of the value note box and operable from outside.

2. The value note box according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the switch element serving as a separating element between the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment forms a delimiting wall of the first storage compartment and a delimiting wall of the second storage compartment.

3. The value note box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in a first switch position for feeding notes of value fed to the value note box into the first storage compartment, the switch element is arranged in a first position, and wherein in a second switch position for feeding notes of value fed to the value note box into the second storage compartment, the switch element is arranged in a second position.

4. The value note box according to claim 3, wherein in the second position of the switch element, the first storage compartment is smaller than in the first position of the switch element.

5. The value note box according to claim 3, wherein notes of value are stored in a lying manner at least in the first storage compartment in case the value note box is positioned in a device for handling notes of value as intended, a first note of value fed to the first storage compartment resting on the switch element with its front or back.

6. The value note box according to claim 5, wherein the switch unit is configured and arranged such that a value note stack arranged in the first storage compartment is compressible at least in a feeding area for feeding a further note of value to the value note stack when moving the switch element from the second into the first position.

7. The value note box according to claim 6, characterized in that the first storage compartment is arranged above the second storage compartment.

8. The value note box according to claim 7, wherein the notes of value fed to the second storage compartment by the switch unit fall into the second storage compartment in a disordered manner.

9. The value note box claim 1, wherein the switch unit comprises an elastically deformable element which exerts a force on the switch element such that it is moved into the second position or remains in the second position.

10. The value note box claim 1, wherein the value note box comprises at least one vane wheel which is rotatable about an axis of rotation and with at least one elastically deformable vane for the transport of notes of value fed to the value note box into the first or second storage compartment.

11. The value note box claim 1, wherein the value note box has at least one drive roller rotatable about an axis of rotation and drivable from outside, and one press-on roller opposite to the drive roller.

12. The value note box according to claim 11, wherein the value note box comprises at least one vane wheel which is rotatable about an axis of rotation and with at least one elastically deformable vane for the transport of notes of value fed to the value note box into the first or second storage compartment, wherein the drive roller and the vane wheel are arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on a shaft drivable from outside.

13. An arrangement with a device for handling notes of value comprising, a value note box, with a first storage compartment for storing notes of value, with at least a second storage compartment for storing notes of value, and with a switch unit for selectively feeding notes of value into the first storage compartment or into the second storage compartment, the switch unit comprising a switch element, and a portion of the switch element delimiting at least one side of the first storage compartment, wherein the section of the switch element serves as a separating element between the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment, the switch element is pivotable about an axis of rotation, and the axis of rotation runs in the middle third of the separating element, wherein the switch unit has a switch lever which comprises at least one engagement element protruding through a housing of the value note box and operable from outside, wherein the device further comprises a drive unit for driving the switch unit and a sensor unit for detecting the position of the switch lever.

Description

(1) Further features and advantages result from the following description of embodiments as well as in connection with the enclosed figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective front view of a lying value note box.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective rear view of the lying value note box of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the value note box according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in an upright position.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a longitudinal section of the value note box of FIGS. 1 to 3, a switch element being arranged in a first position.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of the longitudinal section of the value note box of FIGS. 1 to 4, the switch element being arranged in a second position; and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a further longitudinal section of the value note box.

(8) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective front view of a lying value note box 10. In this lying position, the value note box 10 may in particular be transported. The value note box 10 is inserted in an upright position into a device for handling notes of value, such as an automated teller machine, as this will be explained in more detail hereinafter in connection with FIG. 3.

(9) The value note box 10 has altogether six side walls 12 to 22, the side wall 20 being formed as a pivotable lid which is closable with the aid of a mechanical lock 24 in the illustrated closed position so that unauthorized people have no access to storage compartments present inside the box 10. For carrying the value note box 10 by a person, a handle 26 is provided that can be folded out from a recess in the side 12 and with the aid of which the value note box 10 may easily be carried and easily inserted in a device for handling notes of value or removed therefrom. The device for handling notes of value may in particular be an automated teller machine which may be designed as a withdrawal only automated teller machine or as a recycling automated teller machine in which banknotes may be deposited and again dispensed therefrom. In addition, the device for handling notes of value may also be an automated teller safe or an automatic POS system.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective rear view of the lying value note box of FIG. 1. In the side wall 18 of the value note box 10, a recess 32 is provided, in which two openings 34, 36 are present through which engagement elements 28, 30 of a non-illustrated switch lever project through the wall of the side wall 18 so that the engagement elements 28, 30 may be varied in their position when inserting the value note box 10 into the device for handling notes of value to effect a change of the switch position of a switch arranged inside the value note box 10, as this will still be explained in detail hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 4 to 6.

(11) FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the value note box of FIGS. 1 and 2 in an upright position. In this upright position, the value note box 10 is inserted into the device for handling notes of value. In the upper third of the side wall 22, a feed slot 38 for feeding notes of value into the value note box 10 is provided. Inside the box 10, drive elements for the transport of notes of value transported into the value note box 10 through the slot 38 into the storage compartment provided for the specific note of value are provided. The drive elements in particular comprise drive rollers and press-on rollers as well as vane wheels with elastically deformable vanes. The drive rollers and the vane wheels are arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on a shaft not illustrated in FIG. 3, which shaft is drivable via a gearwheel 42 that is contactable via an opening 40 in the side wall 22. Thus, it is possible to drive the shaft via the gearwheel 42 with the aid of a drive unit arranged outside the value note box 10. In the same manner, a drive unit for pivoting the switch lever via the engagement elements 30, 28 may be arranged outside the value note box 10 in the device for handling notes of value.

(12) FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a longitudinal section of a portion of the value note box 10. The value note box 10 comprises a first storage compartment 44 and a second storage compartment 46. The value note box 10 comprises a switch unit 48 with a switch element 50 that comprises a portion serving as a separating element 52 and switch fingers 54 for selectively feeding notes of value fed through the feed slot 38 of the value note box 10 into the first storage compartment 44 or into the second storage compartment 46. Between the switch fingers 54, the vanes 56, 58, 60 of vane wheels 62 are guided through, when the vane wheel 62 arranged on a shaft 66 in a rotationally fixed manner is rotated. The value note box 10 comprises several vane wheels 62 arranged next to each other in a spaced apart manner as well as several drive rollers 64 which are each arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the shaft 66 next to the vane wheels 62. Opposite to the drive rollers 64, spring-mounted freely rotatable press-on rollers 65 are provided, between which a note of value fed through the feed slot 38 is transported into the first storage compartment 44 or the second storage compartment 46 depending on the position of the switch element 50. In FIG. 4, the switch element 50 is illustrated in a second switch position, in which fed notes of value are transported into the second storage compartment 46.

(13) The vanes 56 to 60 of the vane wheel 62 are elastically deformable and contact, in addition to the drive roller 64 and the press-on roller 65, the note of value in order to transport it reliably into the respective storage compartment 44, 46. In the storage compartment 44, the notes of value are stacked on the portion 52 lying on their front or back. A guide and press-on element 68 is provided, which is pivotably mounted about an axis of rotation 70 and, due to its own weight, exerts a press-on force on the value note stack arranged in the first storage compartment 44. By means of the curved shape of the press-on element 68, a feed gap is formed in the feed area directly after passing the switch fingers 54, into which gap further notes of value to be fed may be transported and pushed under the press-on element 68. With the aid of the vanes 56 to 60 of the vane wheel 62, the notes of value are then pushed into the first storage compartment 44 up to a delimiting wall 72.

(14) In the second switch position of the switch unit 48, which is illustrated in FIG. 4, the notes of value fed through the feed slot 38 are guided into the second storage compartment 46, the notes of value falling into the storage compartment 46 in a disordered manner.

(15) FIG. 5 shows a further schematic illustration of the longitudinal section of the value note box 10 of FIG. 4, the switch element 50 of the switch unit 48 being illustrated in a second switch position, in which the switch fingers 54 are arranged such that the notes of value fed to the value note box 10 via the feed slot 38 reach the first storage compartment 44. The entire switch element 50 is pivoted via a non-illustrated switch lever about an axis of rotation 74 from the first position of FIG. 4 into the second position of FIG. 5.

(16) An elastically deformable element, in particular a spring, is provided that leaves the engagement elements 28, 30 in the first position of the switch element 50 illustrated in FIG. 4 or moves them into the first switch position without a drive unit arranged outside the box 10 in a device for handling notes of value exerting a force on the engagement elements 28, 30. The drive rollers 64 and/or the press-on rollers 68 are made of electrically conductive plastic material and are preferably contacted by electrically conductive brushes for discharging electrical charge. As a result, an electrostatic charging of the rollers 64, 68 is prevented so that a safe transport of the notes of value fed through the feed slot 38 into the first storage compartment 44 or into the second storage compartment 46 is possible.

(17) FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a further longitudinal section of the value note box 10. This longitudinal section extends in the area of the recess so that both the lateral delimiting walls of the recess 32 and the engagement elements 30, 28 are illustrated sectionally. In FIG. 6, a switch lever 84 connected to the switch element 50 via screws 80, 82 is visible, the switch lever being pivotable about the pivot axis 74. In the present embodiment, the switch lever is connected to the housing of the value note box 10 via a tension spring 86 so that the switch lever 84 is moved from the first position of the switch lever 84 illustrated in FIG. 6 and in which the switch element 50 is in the first position into a second position in which the switch element 50 is in the second switch position.

(18) The value note box 10 is accommodated in a receptacle or in a rack of a device for handling notes of value in the position illustrated in FIG. 3. For this, the value note box 10 is inserted into a receptacle from above so that an eccentric drivable with the aid of a stepper motor is inserted between the engagement elements 28, 30 of the switch lever 84. The position of the eccentric is exactly determined via two light barrier arrangements so that a control unit of the device for handling notes of value may detect the exact position of the eccentric and thus the exact position of the switch element 50. The engagement elements 28, 30 are formed as skids, between which the eccentric is inserted when placing the value note box 10 in the device for handling notes of value.

(19) As shown in particular in FIGS. 4 and 5, the portion 52 of the switch element 50 serves as a deposit surface for notes of value fed to the first storage compartment 44. The fed notes of value are thus deposited and stacked on the portion 52 of the switch element 50. By depositing the notes of value on the switch element 50 and the use of the switch element 50 as a separating wall between the first storage compartment 44 and the second storage compartment 46, a very compact structure of the value note box 10 is achieved.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(20) 10 value note box 12 to 22 side walls of the housing of the value note box 24 lock 26 handle 28, 30 engagement elements 32 recess 34, 36 opening 38 feed slot 40 opening 42 gearwheel 44 first storage compartment 46 second storage compartment 48 switch unit 50 switch element 52 portion of the switch element 54 finger of the switch element 56, 58, 60 deformable vane 62 vane wheel 64 drive roller 65 press-on roller 66 shaft 68 press-on lever 70 pivot axis 72 side wall 72 axis of rotation 80, 82 screws 84 switch lever 86 tension spring