Banknote stack transport arrangement and a cash handling machine

Abstract

A banknote stack transport arrangement for a cash handling machine may include a first structure presenting a first banknote engagement portion that is displaceable in relation to the first structure, and a second structure presenting a second banknote engagement portion that is displaceable in relation to the second structure. At least one of the first and the second structures may be pivotally arranged at its first end so as to be swingably movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. A movable banknote engager may be configured to press the banknote stack towards the first and/or the second banknote engagement portion. The banknote stack transport arrangement may be configured to transport the banknote stack out from a temporary banknote receptacle by displacing the first and the second banknote engagement portions and by moving the banknote engager to an active position.

Claims

1. A banknote stack transport arrangement for a cash handling machine, comprising: a first structure having first and second ends and presenting a first banknote engagement portion being displaceable in relation to the first structure; a second structure having first and second ends and presenting a second banknote engagement portion being displaceable in relation to the second structure; the first and the second structures being arranged such that the first and the second banknote engagement portions are distanced from each other at the first associated ends for allowing one or more banknotes to enter in between the banknote engagement portions, wherein at least one of the first and the second structures is pivotally arranged at its first end so as to be swingably movable between: a closed configuration at which the first and the second banknote engagement portions are in contact with each other at the second associated ends such that they together form at least a bottom part of a temporary banknote receptacle configured to receive the one or more banknotes and support a formation of a banknote stack therein, such that the first banknote engagement portion contacts a face side of the banknote stack and the second banknote engagement portion contacts an edge side of the banknote stack; and an open configuration at which the first and the second banknote engagement portions are separated from each other at the second associated ends so as to define an exit gap; and a banknote engager movable between an inactive position and an active position, at which active position the banknote engager is configured to press the banknote stack towards the first and/or the second banknote engagement portion; wherein the banknote stack transport arrangement is configured to transport the banknote stack out from the temporary banknote receptacle via the exit gap by displacing the first and the second banknote engagement portions in relation to the first and the second structures and by moving the banknote engager to the active position.

2. The banknote stack transport arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the banknote stack transport arrangement is configured to transport the banknote stack out from the temporary banknote receptacle via the exit gap in one displacement operation.

3. The banknote stack transport arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second structure is fixedly arranged in the banknote transport arrangement.

4. The banknote stack transport arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and the second banknote engagement portions is defined by one or more conveyor belts.

5. The banknote stack transport arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second structures are biased towards each other to the closed configuration.

6. The banknote stack transport arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the banknote engager extends from a fixed end at which the banknote engager is pivotally arranged, to a free end which presents an engaging surface configured to be in contact with the banknote stack for pressing the banknote stack towards the first and/or the second banknote engagement portion when the banknote engager is in the active position.

7. The banknote stack transport arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the banknote engager comprises one or more engaging elements arranged at the free end, wherein the one or more engaging elements together define the engaging surface.

8. The banknote stack transport arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the banknote stack transport arrangement is configured to: initiate the displacing of the first and the second banknote engagement portions at a first time position, and initiate the moving of the banknote engager at a second time position, wherein the first and the second time positions relate to each other such that the displacing of the first and the second banknote engagement portions has been ongoing for a time period when the banknote engager reaches the active position.

9. The banknote stack transport arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the banknote transport arrangement further comprises a drive unit configured to, via a drive mechanism, provide kinetic energy to the first and the second structures for displacing the first and the second banknote engagement portions.

10. The banknote stack transport arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the drive unit is further configured to, via the drive mechanism, move the banknote engager between the inactive and the active positions.

11. The banknote stack transport arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the drive unit is an electric motor; and wherein the drive mechanism is configured such that kinetic energy is provided to the first and the second banknote engagement portions only for one rotational direction of the drive unit, such that the first and the second banknote engagement portions are only displaceable in a direction towards the exit gap.

12. The banknote stack transport arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the banknote transport arrangement further comprises a banknote stacking wheel configured to receive the one or more banknotes, move the one or more banknotes into the temporary banknote receptacle, and form the banknote stack therein.

13. A cash handling machine comprising: a banknote input unit for allowing a user to input one or more banknotes; a safe for storing the one or more banknotes; and a banknote stack transport arrangement according to claim 1; wherein the banknote transport arrangement is configured to receive the one or more banknotes and transport the same into the safe.

14. A method for transporting one or more banknotes inside a cash handling machine, wherein the cash handling machine comprises: a first structure having first and second ends and presenting a first banknote engagement portion being displaceable in relation to the first structure; a second structure having first and second ends and presenting a second banknote engagement portion being displaceable in relation to the second structure; the first and the second structures being arranged such that the first and the second banknote engagement portions are distanced from each other at the first associated ends for allowing one or more banknotes to enter in between the banknote engagement portions, wherein at least one of the first and the second structures is pivotally arranged at its first end so as to be swingably movable, the method comprising: receiving, when the at least one of the first and the second structures is in a closed configuration at which the first and the second banknote engagement portions are in contact with each other at the second associated ends so as to form at least a bottom part of a temporary banknote receptacle, one or more banknotes in the temporary banknote receptacle and supporting a formation of a banknote stack therein such that the first banknote engagement portion contacts a face side of the banknote stack and the second banknote engagement portion contacts an edge side of the banknote stack; moving a banknote engager of the cash handling machine to an active position at which the banknote engager is configured to press the banknote stack towards the first and/or the second banknote engagement portion; and displacing the first and the second banknote engagement portions in relation to the first and the second structures so as to transport, when the at least one of the first and the second structures is in an open configuration at which the first and the second banknote engagement portions are separated from each other at the second associated ends so as to define an exit gap, the banknote stack out from the temporary banknote receptacle via the exit gap.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of displacing the first and the second banknote engagement portions is initiated at a first time position, and wherein the step of moving the banknote engager is initiated at a second time position; and wherein the first and the second time positions relate to each other such that the displacing of the first and the second banknote engagement portions has been ongoing for a time period when the banknote engager reaches the active position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The disclosure will by way of example be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, which shows presently preferred embodiments of the disclosure.

(2) FIG. 1A shows a perspective top view of a banknote stack transport arrangement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(3) FIG. 1B shows a perspective bottom view of the banknote stack transport arrangement of FIG. 1A.

(4) FIG. 1C shows a top view of a drive mechanism of the banknote stack transport arrangement of FIG. 1A.

(5) FIG. 1D shows a side view of the drive mechanism of FIG. 1C.

(6) FIG. 2 shows a perspective top view of the banknote stack transport arrangement of FIG. 1A during the process of stacking banknotes therein.

(7) FIG. 3 shows a perspective top view of the banknote stack transport arrangement of FIG. 1A after the stacking process has commenced.

(8) FIG. 4A shows a perspective top view of the banknote stack transport arrangement of FIG. 1A during a first phase of the process of transporting the banknote stack out from the banknote stack transport arrangement.

(9) FIG. 4B shows a side view of the banknote stack transport arrangement of FIG. 4A during the first phase of transport.

(10) FIG. 5A shows a perspective bottom view of the banknote stack transport arrangement of FIG. 1A during a second phase of the process of transporting the banknote stack out from the banknote stack transport arrangement.

(11) FIG. 5B shows a side view of the banknote stack transport arrangement of FIG. 5A during the second phase of transport.

(12) FIG. 6 shows a timing diagram illustrating the initiation of the displacing of the first and second banknote engagement portions in relation to the initiation of the moving of the banknote engager for the example embodiment of FIGS. 1A-D.

(13) FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of a method according to an example embodiment of the disclosure.

(14) FIG. 8A shows a perspective view of a cash handling machine according to an example embodiment of the disclosure.

(15) FIG. 8B shows a schematic side view of a cash handling machine of FIG. 8A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the disclosure are shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the disclosure to the skilled person.

(17) FIG. 1 shows a banknote stack transport arrangement 100 according to an example embodiment. The banknote stack transport arrangement 100 is typically used inside a cash handling machine of the kind handling large amounts of banknotes. The banknote stack transport arrangement 100 may be specifically advantageous to use within a cash handling machine used for depositing cash. Such a machine will be further described later.

(18) The banknote stack transport arrangement 100 will here first be described with reference to FIGS. 1A-D in terms of its structural features, whereas its function will be described more in detail later with references to FIGS. 2-5.

(19) As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and B, the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 comprises a first structure 110 having first 112 and second 114 ends. The first structure 110 comprises a first shaft 113 arranged at the first end 112 and a second shaft 115 arranged 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 113 and second 115 shafts. In the example embodiment, three conveyor belts are used. Conveyor belt 118b is located in the central part of the first structure 110, whereas conveyor belts 118a and 118c are located in vicinity of side walls 134a, 134b which interconnects the first 110 and second 120 structure. In several of the Figures, side wall 134a has been partly or entirely removed to make it possible to see the interior of the arrangement.

(20) The one or more conveyor belts 118a-c together presents a first banknote engagement portion 116 which is displaceable in relation to the first structure 110. The purpose of the first banknote engagement portion 116 is to provide support for a banknote stack 30 as will be described more in detail later. The first structure 110 is pivotally arranged at its first end 112 so as to be swingably movable around pivot axis A1 (see FIG. 1B and most clearly in FIG. 3). The first structure 110 is movable between a closed configuration C1 and an open configuration C2. In the closed configuration C1, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1A and B, the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions are in contact with each other at the second associated ends 114, 124 such that they together form a bottom part of a temporary banknote receptacle 130. As will be further described later, the temporary banknote receptacle 130 is configured to receive one or more banknotes 20 and support a formation of a banknote stack 30 therein.

(21) The banknote stack transport arrangement 100 further comprises a second structure 120 having first 122 and second 124 ends. The second structure 120 comprises a first shaft 123 arranged at the first end 122 and a second shaft 125 arranged 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 123 and second 125 shafts. In the example embodiment, three conveyor belts are used. Conveyor belt 128b is located in the central part of the second structure 120, whereas conveyor belts 128a and 128c are located in vicinity of side walls 134a, 134b. The one or more conveyor belts 128a-c together presents a second banknote engagement portion 126 which is displaceable in relation to the second structure 120. The purpose of the second banknote engagement portion 126 is to provide support for a banknote stack 30 as will be described in more detail later. For the example embodiment, the second structure 120 is fixedly arranged in the banknote transport arrangement 100. The first 110 and second 120 structures are arranged such that said first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions are distanced from each other at the first associated ends 112, 122 for allowing one or more banknotes 20 to enter in between the banknote engagement portions 116, 126. The first 110 and second 120 structures are biased towards each other to the closed configuration C1. In the example embodiment the biasing is achieved by means of a coil spring (not shown) arranged at the pivot axis A1.

(22) As can be seen in FIGS. 1A and B, the temporary banknote receptacle 130 of the example embodiment extends beyond the first 110 and second 120 structures and is consequently defined by further features. These include already mentioned side walls 134a,134b, first upper support structure 136 and 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 engagement portion 116 of the first structure 110 and presents two protrusions 137a, 137b which, together with the first banknote engagement portion 116, presents an interface for supporting a banknote stack 30. The second upper support structure 138 presents two elongate openings 139a, 139b trough 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.

(23) The banknote stack transport arrangement 100 further comprises a banknote engager 150. The banknote engager 150 is movable between an inactive position P1 and an active position P2. As will be described in detail later, in the active position P2 the banknote engager 150 is configured to press the banknote stack 30 towards the first banknote engagement portion 116. In FIGS. 1A and B, the banknote engager 150 is located in the inactive position P1. The banknote engager 150 extends from a fixed end 152 at which the banknote engager 150 is pivotally arranged, to a free end 154. The banknote engager 150 is pivotally arranged in the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 along pivot axis A2 (see FIG. 1A). At one of its sides, the banknote engager 150 is pivotally arranged by means of a banknote engager shaft 155 (see FIGS. 1C and D) which protrudes out through side wall 134a to couple to a drive mechanism as will be further described later. In the example embodiment, the banknote engager 150 comprises side arms 151a, 151b which extend between the fixed end 152 and the free end 154. Engaging element 156 extends between the side arms 151a, 151b at the free end 154. The engaging element 156 presents an engaging surface 158 which is configured to be in contact with a banknote stack 30 for pressing said banknote stack 30 towards the first and/or the second banknote engagement portion 116 when the banknote engager is in the active position P2.

(24) 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 for displacing the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions. Although illustrated in FIGS. 1A and B, the drive unit 160 and the drive mechanism 170 is most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1C and D.

(25) 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 engagement portions (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 engager 150. The drive unit 160 of the example embodiment is an electric motor. The drive unit 160 comprises a drive shaft 162 which carries both drive pulley 172, which forms a part of the first transmission line 171, and drive gear 181, which forms a part of the second transmission line 180.

(26) The first transmission line 171 is most clearly illustrated in FIG. 1D and operates as follows: As the drive unit 160 rotates the drive shaft 162 in the counter clockwise direction, as illustrated in FIG. 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 engagement portion pulley 173 which is attached to the first shaft 113 of the first structure 110, a second banknote engagement portion pulley 174 which is attached to the first shaft 123 of the second structure 120, and a biasing pulley 175, which is disposed in between the first 173 and 174 second banknote engagement portion pulleys. As clearly illustrated in FIG. 1D, the counter clockwise rotation of the drive unit 160 will make the first banknote engagement portion pulley 173 rotate in the clockwise direction and the second banknote engagement portion pulley 174 to rotate in the counter clockwise direction. As readily appreciated by the person skilled in the art, this will allow both of the two banknote engagement portions 116, 126 to be displaced in a direction from the first associated ends 112, 122 to the second associated ends 114, 124. The biasing pulley 175 is arranged at a movable end of a lever 176 which is swingably attached to the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 at a pivot point 178. The lever 176 is secured to side wall 134a to prevent rotation thereof by means of screw 188. This allows for keeping the tension of the drive belt 177 to avoid slipping.

(27) The second transmission line 180 is most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1C and D and operates as follows: As the drive unit 160 rotates the drive shaft 162 in the counter clockwise direction, as illustrated in FIG. 1D, the drive gear 181 engages large-diameter transmission gear 183 and forces the same to rotate in the clockwise direction. The transmission gear 183 is rotationally arranged on a first transmission shaft 182 which is fixedly arranged in the banknote stack transport arrangement 100. Also rotationally arranged on the first transmission shaft 182, and coupled to the transmission gear 183 (see more details on said coupling later), is small-diameter transmission gear 184. The transmission gear 184 engages transmission gear 187 which is rotationally arranged on second transmission shaft 186, which in turn is fixedly arranged in the banknote stack transport arrangement 100. Finally, the transmission gear 187 engages banknote engager gear 189 which is attached to the banknote engager shaft 155. As readily appreciated by the person skilled in the art, a rotation in the counter clockwise direction of drive unit 160 will result in a rotation in the clockwise direction of the banknote engager gear 189. As evident from FIGS. 1A and B, such a clockwise rotation will move the banknote engager 150 from the inactive position P1 to the active position P2.

(28) In order for the drive unit 160 and drive mechanism 170 to control both the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions and the banknote engager 150 to satisfaction, two further kind of mechanical components are used.

(29) The first kind of such components are one-way clutch bearings 173a and 174a which form parts of the first transmission line 171 of the drive mechanism 170. As illustrated in FIG. 1D, the one-way clutch bearing 173a is arranged between the first shaft 113 of the first structure 110 and the first banknote engagement portion pulley 173, whereas the one-way clutch bearing 174a is arranged between the first shaft 123 of the second structure 120 and the second banknote engagement portion pulley 174. The one-way clutch bearings 173a, 174a allows for controlling the rotational direction of the first 173 and second 174 banknote engagement portion pulleys and hence the displacement of the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions. The one-way clutch bearing 173a is arranged with respect to the first shaft 113 of the first structure 110 and/or first banknote engagement portion pulley 173 such that only the rotation in the clockwise direction enables 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 second banknote engagement portion pulley 174 such that only the rotation in the counter clockwise direction enables transfer of kinetic energy to the first shaft 123 of the second structure 120. In other words, if the drive unit 160 were to be rotated in reverse, i.e. in the clockwise direction, the first 173 and second 174 banknote engagement portion pulleys would not be able to rotate the first associated shafts 113, 123 of the structures 110, 120. This way, it is ensured that the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions are never displaced in a direction extending from the second associated ends 114, 124 towards the first associated ends 112, 122. Such a displacement is generally unwanted, because a banknote stack 30 residing in the temporary banknote receptacle 130 will be displaced upwardly in the temporary banknote receptacle 130, which increases the risk of the banknote stack 30 breaking apart and individual banknotes 20 of the banknote stack 30 getting jammed in the banknote stack transport arrangement 100.

(30) The second of these further components is a slip clutch 185 which is arranged between the transmission gear 183 and transmission gear 184 as is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1C. The slip clutch 185 allow mechanical coupling between the transmission gear 183 and the transmission gear 184 as long as the torque supplied by 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 readily appreciated by the person skilled in the art, this has the consequence that the rest of the second transmission line 180 and the banknote engager 150 which is connected to the end of the transmission line 180, will not move 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 the counter clockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 1D and thereby continuing displacing the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions even if the banknote engager 150 has reached the active position P2. At the active position P2, the slip clutch 185 will allow for the banknote engager 150 to supply a force in the direction of the first banknote engagement portion 116 as long as the drive unit 160 is in operation.

(31) Having described the structural features of the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 in detail with reference to FIGS. 1A-D, it is now time to describe how the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 handles a transport of a banknote stack 30. This will be done with reference to FIGS. 2-5 which illustrates the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 in different phases of the transport process.

(32) FIG. 2 illustrates a stacking process of banknotes 20 in the temporary banknote receptacle 130 of the banknote stack transport arrangement 100. The stacking process starts with a step of rotating the banknote stacking wheel 190 in the counter clockwise direction while individual banknotes 20 are supplied to the banknote stacking wheel 190. Supplying individual banknotes to banknote stacking wheels are well known in the art, one common approach being based on a pair of oppositely arranged conveyor belts which presses individual banknotes in between them and transport the individual notes between two positions within a cash handling machine. Going back to FIG. 2, we see how a banknote stack 30 is formed within the temporary banknote receptacle 130. The banknote stack 30 is formed such that the first banknote engagement portion 116 contacts a face side 32 of the banknote stack 30 and the second banknote engagement 126 portion contacts an edge side 34 of the banknote stack 30. In FIG. 3 the banknote stack 30 has been formed and the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 is ready to transport the banknote stack 30 out from the temporary banknote receptacle 130. Also schematically illustrated in FIG. 3 are the two configurations of the first structure 110. In FIG. 3, the first structure 110 is in the closed configuration C1, at which the temporary banknote receptacle 130 is closed at its lower end by the first banknote engagement portion 116 being in contact with the second banknote engagement portion 126 at the second associated ends 114, 124 of the first 110 and second 120 structures. The dotted lines illustrate the position of the structure 110 when it has been moved to the open configuration C2 along the indicated arrow.

(33) The first phase of the banknote stack transport process will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4A and B. When the banknote stack 30 has been formed in the temporary banknote receptacle 130, the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 is ready to transport the banknote stack 30. Typically, the banknote stack 30 is to be transported from the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 to a cash storage compartment located under the banknote stack transport arrangement 100. As will be discussed later, such a compartment may be a safe, i.e. a locked and secured storage compartment. The banknote transport process is typically initiated in response to a signal reaching the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 from a control unit of the cash handling machine of which the arrangement 100 is part. The signal triggers the drive unit 160 to start rotating in the counter clockwise direction. This will initiate a displacement of the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions in a direction towards the second associated ends 114, 124. The banknote stack 30, which resides in the temporary banknote receptacle 130, will then be forced downwards. This will in turn force the first structure 110 to move from the closed configuration C1 to the open configuration C2. In the open configuration C2, the first structure 110 has been swingably moved about the pivot axis A1 such that the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions are separated from each other at the second associated ends 114, 124 so as to define an exit gap 132. The banknote stack 30 now resides in between the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions and are pressed in between them at the second associated ends 114, 124. As the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions continue to be displaced, the banknote stack 30 will continue its transport process out through the exit gap 132. As most clearly illustrated in FIG. 4B, the banknote engager 150, which by means of the second transmission line 180 started to move from the inactive position P1 in the direction towards the banknote stack 30 in response to the start of the drive unit 160, has now reached a position somewhere in between the inactive position and the banknote stack 30. Thus, at this stage of the transport process, the banknote engager 150 has not yet played a role in the transport process.

(34) FIGS. 5A and B illustrates the next step of the banknote stack transport process. Here, the banknote stack 30 has been transported about through the exit gap 132. At this point in time, the banknote engager 150 has finally reached the active position P2 at which it is configured to press the banknote stack 30 towards the first and/or the second banknote engagement portion 116 (In the example illustrated in FIGS. 5A and B, the banknote engager 150 only presses the banknote stack 30 towards the first banknote engagement portion 116). This facilitates the banknote stack transport process, as it enables the banknote stack 30 to keep together in a stack formation, and, further, to increase the frictional forces between the banknote stack 30 and the first banknote engagement portion 116. Although not shown in the drawings, the banknote engager 150 may be configured to press the banknote stack 30 towards the second banknote engagement portion 126. This implies that the active position may be defined in relation to the second banknote engagement portion 126 instead of the first banknote engagement portion 116. This may for example occur when one or more banknotes 20 have been disorderly arranged in the temporary banknote receptacle 130 such that they predominately rest on the second banknote engagement portion 126 instead of the first banknote engagement portion 116. By allowing the banknote engager 150 to press the banknote stack 30 towards the second banknote engagement portion 126, it may be easier to transport the one or more banknotes 20 out from the temporary banknote receptacle 130.

(35) As can be understood by the person skilled in the art, the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 of the disclosure hence is configured to transport the banknote stack 30 out from the temporary banknote receptacle 130 via the exit gap 132 by displacing said first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions in relation to said first 110 and second 120 structures and by moving the banknote engager 150 to the active position P2. As readily appreciated by the person skilled in the art, displacing the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions in relation to the first 110 and second 120 structures may be sufficient to transport the banknote stack 30 out from the temporary banknote receptacle 130. The displacement will force the banknote stack 30 towards a bottom of the temporary banknote receptacle 130 (i.e. at the second associated ends 114, 124 of the first 110 and second 120 structures). The force from the banknote stack 30 will force the first 110 structure to distance itself from the second structure 120 from at their second associated ends 114, 124, thereby forming the exit gap 132 for allowing the banknote stack 30 to leave the temporary banknote receptacle 130. There may however be situations where the displacement of the first 110 and second 120 banknote engagement portions is not enough for transporting the banknote stack 30 out from the temporary banknote receptacle 130. Typically, such situations occur when the banknote stack 30 includes few banknotes 20 and/or the banknotes 20 of the stack 30 are not correctly aligned in the temporary banknote receptacle 130, and/or one or more banknotes 20 of the banknote stack 30 are damaged e.g. by folds, tears, holes and foil wear. For such situations, the banknote engager 150 may aid in the transport process by pressing the banknote stack 30 towards the first banknote engagement portion 116, thereby reducing the risk that one or more banknotes of the banknote stack 30 are prevented from being transported out from the temporary banknote receptacle 130.

(36) Typically, the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 is configured to transport said banknote stack 30 out from the temporary banknote receptacle 130 via the exit gap 132 in one displacement operation. However, sometimes, this is not possible. There may for example be situations where one or more banknotes 20 of the stack 30 is not transported out through the exit gap 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 of the banknote stack 30 may be damaged e.g. by folds, tears, holes and foil wear. In such situations it may not be possible to transport the banknote stack 30 out from the temporary banknote receptacle 130 in one transport operation. Instead, the drive unit 160 may be operated in reverse, i.e. in the clockwise direction, forcing the banknote engager 150 to move backwards in the direction of the inactive position P1 and hence loosen its grip of the banknote stack 30. At the same time, displacement of the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions ceases, as a result from the one-way clutch bearings 173a, 174a preventing the drive unit 160 to reverse the displacement direction of the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions. If the drive unit 160 is then yet again operated in the counter clockwise direction, displacement of the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions is yet again initiated and the banknote engager 150 is moved to the active position P2. It has been seen that this iterative process will for most cases ultimately result in all banknotes 20 of the banknote stack 30 being transported out from the temporary banknote receptacle 130.

(37) One intrinsic feature of the present example embodiment of the arrangement is that the banknote engager 150 reaches the active position P2 after the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions has already displaced the banknote stack 30 at least partly out from the exit gap 132. This is illustrated in the timing diagram of FIG. 6. The banknote stack transport arrangement 100 is configured to initiate the displacing of said first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions at a first time position T1, and initiate the moving of the banknote engager 150 at a second time position T2, wherein said first T1 and second T2 time positions relates to each other such that said displacing of said first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions has been ongoing for a time period TP when the banknote engager 150 reaches the active position P2. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions are displacing from the first time position T1 until a fourth time position T4. This is illustrated in FIG. 6 by time block C. The banknote engager 150 will start its movement from the inactive position P1 towards 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 time of banknote engager movement is illustrated in FIG. 6 by time block B1. The banknote engager 150 will then remain in the active position P2 as long as the drive unit 160 operates the banknote stack transport arrangement 100. This lasts until the fourth time position T4. The time block B2 marks the time period during which the banknote engager 150 is in the active position P2. For the example embodiment, the time period TP is achieved even if the first time position T1 and the second time position T2 occurs simultaneously or substantially simultaneously, as indicated in FIG. 6. The reason for this is that the example embodiment utilizes a built-in mechanical delay, as has been described already with reference to FIGS. 1A-D. 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 said time period is equally applicable within the scope of the claims. One such alternative example embodiment could have separate drive mechanisms and drive units which could be operated by the control unit to initiate displacement and movement at different respective time positions.

(38) A method for transporting one or more banknotes inside a cash handling machine 10 will now be described with reference to FIG. 7. Much of the details has already been described in detail hereinabove and the method will thus be described only in brief. The cash handling machine 10 comprises a first structure 110 having first 112 and second 114 ends and presenting a first banknote engagement portion 116 being displaceable in relation to the first structure 110; a second structure 120 having first 122 and second 124 ends and presenting a second banknote engagement portion 126 being displaceable in relation to the second structure 120; said first 110 and second 120 structures being arranged such that said first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions are distanced from each other at the first associated ends 112, 122 for allowing one or more banknotes 20 to enter in between the portions, wherein at least one of the first 110 and second 120 structures is pivotally arranged at its first end 112 so as to be swingably movable.

(39) The method comprises the step of receiving S102, when said at least one of the first 110 and second 120 structures is in a closed configuration C1 at which the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions are in contact with each other at the second associated ends 114, 124 so as to form at least a bottom part of a temporary banknote receptacle 130: one or more banknotes 20 in the temporary banknote receptacle 130 and supporting a formation of a banknote stack 30 therein such that the first banknote engagement portion 116 contacts a face side 32 of the banknote stack 30 and the second banknote engagement portion 126 contacts an edge side 34 of the banknote stack 30.

(40) The method further comprises the step of moving S104 a banknote engager 150 of the cash handling machine 10 to an active position P2 at which the banknote engager 150 is configured to press the banknote stack 30 towards the first banknote engagement portion 116.

(41) The method further comprises the step of displacing S106 said first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions in relation to said first 110 and second 120 structures so as to transport, when said at least one of the first 110 and second 120 structures is in an open configuration C2 at which the first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions are separated from each other at the second associated ends 114, 124 so as to define an exit gap 132, the banknote stack 30 out from the temporary banknote receptacle 130 via the exit gap 132.

(42) The step of displacing said first 116 and second 126 banknote engagement portions may be initiated at a first time position T1, and the step of moving of the banknote engager 150 may be initiated at a second time position T2, wherein said first and second time positions relates to each other such that said displacing of said first and second banknote engagement portions has been ongoing for a time period TP when the banknote engager 150 reaches the active position P2.

(43) FIGS. 8A and B illustrates a cash handling machine 10 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The cash handling machine 10 is of a kind usually used for depositing large amounts of cash by personnel for example in stores and financial establishments. The user may enter cash and deposit the cash value electronically to his or her account. The cash is physically transported by the cash handling machine 10 to a storage compartment of the machine.

(44) The cash handling machine 10 of the example embodiment comprises a banknote input unit 12 for allowing a user to input one or more banknotes 20. The user operates the cash handling machine 10 by inputting commands and instructions via an operating interface 16. In response to specific user instructions, the one or more banknotes 20 are transported internally within the machine 10 to a banknote counting and counterfeit determination unit 15 within which the banknotes 20 are counted and investigated to assess if they are genuine or counterfeit. After this process, the one or more banknotes 20 are transported to a banknote stack transport arrangement 100 configured to receive said one or more banknotes 20 and transport the same into a safe 18. The safe 18 is located below the features described already, and the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 may thus transport the one or more banknotes 20 by allowing them to fall into the safe 18 by gravity. The safe 18 may comprise a dedicated storage compartment, such as a heat-sealable cash bag, a canvas bag or a banknote cassette (not shown). Cash handling machines of this kind typically have different access levels or rights. Typically, the safe 18 is not accessible by the users depositing their banknotes 20, which users merely have a limited access to the upper parts of the machine 10. The safe 18 is instead typically maintained by cash-in-transit (CIT) personnel who have full access to the machine 10, including the safe 18. One embodiment of the banknote stack transport arrangement 100 has been described hereinabove. However, the cash handling machine may comprise also other embodiments of the banknote stack transport arrangement within the scope of the appended claims.

(45) The person skilled in the art realizes that the present disclosure by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.