Abstract
A cover device for retaining a plurality of value documents in a compartment space. The cover device comprises a base unit extending in a main longitudinal direction, as well as a retaining element. A coupling element defines a hinge axis that allows the retaining element to pivot relative to the base unit between a closed position and an opened position. The hinge axis is inclined with respect to the main longitudinal direction. The invention further relates to a system and a banknote stacking module.
Claims
1. A cover device for retaining a plurality of value documents in a compartment space, comprising: a base unit extending in a main longitudinal direction between a first end of the base unit and a second end of the base unit; at least a first retaining element; wherein the first retaining element is coupled to the base unit; a first coupling element for pivotably coupling the first retaining element to the base unit such that the first retaining element is pivotable relative to the base unit between a closed position and an opened position; wherein the first coupling element defines a first hinge axis about which the first retaining element is pivotable relative to the base unit; wherein the first hinge axis is inclined with respect to the main longitudinal direction.
2. The cover device according to claim 1, further comprising: a second coupling element for pivotably coupling a second retaining element to the base unit such that the second retaining element is pivotable relative to the base unit between a closed position and an opened position; wherein the second coupling element defines a second hinge axis about which the second retaining element is pivotable relative to the base unit; wherein the second hinge axis is inclined with respect to the main longitudinal direction.
3. The cover device according to claim 2, wherein the first retaining element and the second retaining element define a first distance between each other in the main longitudinal direction when both the first retaining element and the second retaining element are in the closed position; wherein the first retaining element and the second retaining element define a second distance between each other in the main longitudinal direction when both the first retaining element and the second retaining element are in the opened position; wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
4. The cover device according to claim 1, wherein the first retaining element has a coupling end which couples the first retaining element via the first coupling element to the base unit; wherein the first retaining element has a first free end defining a first edge, which first edge extends along a first edge extension direction; wherein the first hinge axis is inclined with respect to the main longitudinal direction such that an angle between the main longitudinal direction and the first edge extension direction is changed upon movement of the first retaining element from the closed position to the opened position.
5. The cover device according to claim 4, wherein the first hinge axis is inclined with respect to the main longitudinal direction such that the angle between the main longitudinal direction and the first edge extension direction is increased upon movement of the first retaining element from the closed position to the opened position.
6. The cover device according to claim 1, wherein the main longitudinal direction and the first hinge axis define a horizontal plane.
7. The cover device according to claim 2, wherein the first retaining element and the second retaining element are symmetrically arranged with respect to a symmetry plane that is perpendicular to the main longitudinal direction.
8. The cover device according to claim 1, wherein the first retaining element is a flap-like element having two side walls being angularly arranged with respect to each other, wherein the side walls of the first retaining element define at least a part of the compartment space for retaining the plurality of value documents when the first retaining element is arranged in the closed position.
9. The cover device according to claim 1, wherein the base unit has a mounting mechanism for releasably mounting the base unit to a platform system via the first end of the base unit and via the second end of the base unit.
10. Use of the cover device according to claim 1 for retaining banknotes in a banknote stacker compartment.
11. A system for retaining a plurality of value documents in a compartment space, comprising: the cover device according to claim 1; a lower retaining unit; wherein the lower retaining unit has a free end defining a lower edge; wherein the first retaining element has a free end defining a first upper edge; wherein the lower edge is arranged opposite to the first upper edge; wherein the first upper edge is inclined with respect to the lower edge when the first retaining element is in the opened position.
12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the lower edge is arranged substantially parallel with respect to the first upper edge when the first retaining element is in the closed position.
13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the second retaining element has a free end defining a second upper edge; wherein the lower edge is arranged opposite to the second upper edge; wherein the second upper edge is inclined with respect to the lower edge when the second retaining element is in the opened position.
14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the lower edge is arranged substantially parallel with respect to the second upper edge when the second retaining element is in the closed position.
15. A banknote stacking module comprising the system according to claim 11.
Description
[0047] The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:
[0048] FIG. 1 shows a cover device.
[0049] FIG. 2 shows a front view of a system comprising the cover device of FIG. 1.
[0050] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a system comprising the cover device of FIG. 1.
[0051] FIG. 4 shows a perspective sectional view of a system illustrating the cover device of FIG. 1 demounted from the system and illustrating the cover device in an opened position as well as in a closed position.
[0052] FIG. 5 shows a perspective sectional view of a system comprising the cover device of FIG. 1 in a closed position.
[0053] FIG. 6 shows a perspective sectional view of a system comprising the cover device of FIG. 1 in an opened position.
[0054] FIG. 7 shows another perspective sectional view of a system comprising the cover device of FIG. 1 in a closed position.
[0055] FIG. 8 shows a top sectional view of a system comprising the cover device of FIG. 1 in a closed position.
[0056] FIG. 9 shows another perspective sectional view of a system comprising the cover device of FIG. 1 in an opened position.
[0057] The representations and illustrations in the drawings may be schematic and not to scale. A better understanding of the method and system described above may be obtained through a review of the shown illustrations together with a review of the detailed description that follows.
[0058] FIG. 1 shows a cover device 1 for retaining a plurality of value documents, in particular banknotes, (not shown) in a compartment space 110. The cover device 1 comprises a base unit 10 which extends in a main longitudinal direction 2 between a first end 11 of the base unit 10 and a second end 12 of the base unit 10. The base unit 10 has a mounting mechanism 14, wherein the mounting mechanism 14 includes a first locator pin 15 arranged at the first end 11 of the base unit 10 as well as a second locator pin 16 arranged at the second end 12 of the base unit 10. The mounting mechanism 14 is adapted to releasably mount the entire cover device 1 in a system as will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 9 below. The base unit 10 also has a first lateral side wall 17 extending at the first end 11 and extending laterally with respect to an upper side 13 of the base unit 10. Furthermore, the base unit 10 has a second lateral side wall 18 extending at the second end 12 and extending laterally with respect to the upper side 13 of the base unit 10. The side walls 17, 18 of the base unit 10 may include further fixation elements, such as pins or the like, to releasably mount the base unit 10 to a system.
[0059] The cover device 1 further comprises a first retaining element 21 and a second retaining element 22, each of the first retaining element 21 and the second retaining element 22 being separately coupled to the base unit 10 such that the first retaining element 21 and the second retaining element 22 are spaced apart from one another in the main longitudinal direction 2. A first coupling element 31 pivotably couples the first retaining element 21 to the base unit 10 such that the first retaining element 21 can be pivoted relative to the base unit 10 between a closed position 5 and an opened position. It is noted that FIG. 1 shows the first and second retaining elements 21, 22 in the closed position 5.
[0060] The first coupling element 31 includes a first hinge axis 33 about which the first retaining element 21 can be pivoted relative to base unit 10. In particular, the pivot coupling between the base unit 10 and the first retaining element 21 allows for a rotational movement of the first retaining element 21 relative to the base unit 10 in order to move the first retaining element 21 from the closed position 5 into the opened position. In this regard, it is noted that the first hinge axis 33 is inclined, i.e., angled, with respect to the main longitudinal direction 2. For example, the main longitudinal direction 2 and the first hinge axis 33 may enclose an acute angle . Said angle may be between 1 degree and 45 degrees, between 2 degrees and 35 degrees, between 5 degrees and 25 degrees, or between 10 degrees and 20 degrees.
[0061] The cover device 1 also comprises a second coupling element 32 including a second hinge axis 34 which pivotably couples the second retaining element 22 to the base unit 10, for example in the same manner as the first coupling element 31 couples the first retaining element 21 to the base unit 10. In particular, the pivot coupling between the base unit 10 and the second retaining element 22 allows for a rotational movement of the second retaining element 22 relative to the base unit 10 in order to move the second retaining element 22 from the closed position 5 into the opened position. It is possible that also the second hinge axis 34 is inclined, i.e., angled, with respect to the main longitudinal direction 2 as shown in FIG. 1. For example, the main longitudinal direction 2 and the second hinge axis 34 may enclose an acute angle . Said angle may be between 1 degree and 45 degrees, between 2 degrees and 35 degrees, between 5 degrees and 25 degrees, or between 10 degrees and 20 degrees.
[0062] The main longitudinal direction 2, the first hinge axis 33 and the second hinge axis 34 may all lie within a single plane and therefore define a horizontal plane as will be further described with respect to FIG. 7 below. Accordingly, the above indicated angles and are measured in the horizontal plane. The upper side 13 of the base unit 10 may extend parallel to this horizontal plane.
[0063] The first retaining element 21 may include a flap-like element, such as shown in FIG. 1. The first retaining element 21 therefore has a first side wall 21a and a second side wall 21b being angularly arranged with respect to each other. Both side walls 21a, 21b together define at least a part of the compartment space 110 when the first retaining element 21 is in the closed position 5. As can be derived from FIG. 1, the first retaining element 21 is coupled to the base unit 10 via a coupling end 23 which is a part of the first side wall 21a. The first retaining element 21 further includes a first free end 24 defining a first edge 25, herein also referred to as first upper edge 25, wherein the first edge 25 extends along a first edge extension direction 26.
[0064] The inclination of the first hinge axis 33 with respect to the main longitudinal direction 2 causes an angle between the main longitudinal direction 2 and the first edge extension direction 26 to change, e.g., increase, upon movement of the first retaining element 21 from the closed position 5 to the opened position 6 as shown in FIG. 9.
[0065] In addition, the second retaining element 22 also has a first side wall 22a and a second side wall 22b being angularly arranged with respect to each other. Both side walls 22a, 22b together define at least a further part of the compartment space 110 when the second retaining element 22 is in the closed position 5. The second retaining element 22 is coupled to the base unit 10 via a coupling end 27 which is a part of the first side wall 22a. The second retaining element 22 further includes a second free end 28 defining a second edge 29, herein also referred to as second upper edge 29, wherein the second edge 29 extends along a second edge extension direction (not shown).
[0066] The inclination of the second hinge axis 34 with respect to the main longitudinal direction 2 also causes an angle between the main longitudinal direction 2 and the second edge extension direction to change, e.g., increase, upon movement of the second retaining element 22 from the closed position 5 to the opened position.
[0067] FIG. 2 shows a front view of a system 100 comprising the cover device 1 as described above with reference to FIG. 1. The system 100 may for instance be a banknote output system or a banknote stacker system. The front view of system 100 as illustrated in FIG. 2 may represent a front side of the banknote stacker system from where a user might access the compartment space 110 during removal of the banknotes (not shown) from the compartment space 110. The longitudinal direction 2 thus points out of the drawing plane in FIG. 2. The cover device 1 with its retaining elements 21, 22 prevents the banknotes from falling out of the compartment space 110. The retaining elements 21, 22 of the cover device 1 are in the closed position 5. It is noted, that in the illustrated front view, the second retaining element 22 is covered by the first retaining element 21 such that only the first retaining element 21 is visible in FIG. 2.
[0068] The system 100 further comprises a lower retaining unit 120 that, together with the retaining elements 21, 22, encloses at least a part of the compartment space 110 when the retaining elements 21, 22 are in the closed position 5. In FIG. 1, the angled arrangement of the side walls 21a, 21b of the first retaining element 21 can be recognized. This angled arrangement of the side walls 21a, 21b is such that the first retaining element 21 at least partly extends around the compartments space 110. In this case, a lower edge comprised by the lower retaining unit 120 may interact, for example gets in contact, with the upper edge of the first retaining element 21. The lower retaining unit 120 may be fixedly mounted within the system 100. The base unit 10 of the cover device 1 may be fixedly but releasably mounted within the system 100. The retaining elements 21, 22, however, may be the moveable components in the system 100 that provide the access to the compartment space 110 when opened.
[0069] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the system 100 comprising the cover device 1 of FIG. 1 in the closed position 5, i.e., as seen from the right in FIG. 2. The side view of system 100 as illustrated in FIG. 3 may represent the right side of the banknote stacker system from where a user might also access the compartment space 110 during removal of the banknotes (not shown) from the compartment space 110. As can be seen, the first retaining element 21 and the second retaining element 22, both being pivotably coupled to the base unit 10, are spaced apart from each other with respect to the main longitudinal direction 2. From this perspective, the second side walls 21b and 22b of the retaining elements 21, 22 can be seen. The first retaining element 21 and the second retaining element 22 are symmetrically arranged with respect to a symmetry plane that is perpendicular to the main longitudinal direction 2 and is arranged half-way between the first retaining element 21 and the second retaining element 22.
[0070] FIG. 4 shows a perspective sectional view of a system 100, e.g., the system as described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 4 illustrates the cover device 1 of FIG. 1 in a demounted configuration, in which the cover device 1 is demounted, i.e., released from the system 100. The lower retaining unit 120 is fixedly mounted within the system 100. The illustration on the right top shows the cover device 1 in an opened position 6 and the illustration on the right bottom shows the cover device 1 in the closed position 5. The illustrations show the retaining elements 21, 22, i.e., the cover flaps, and the orientation of the main longitudinal direction 2. In addition, two distances D.sub.1 and D.sub.2 are indicated. In particular, the above-described inclinations of the first and second hinge axes 33, 34 (cf. FIG. 1) cause the retaining elements 21, 22 to pivot towards each other, e.g., to tilt towards a center of the cover device 1, when moving them from the closed position 5 to the opened position 6. Therefore, the first retaining element 21 and the second retaining element 22 define the first distance D.sub.1 between each other in the main longitudinal direction 2 when both the first retaining element 21 and the second retaining element 22 are in the closed position 5, whereas the first retaining element 21 and the second retaining element 22 define the second distance D.sub.2 between each other in the main longitudinal direction 2 when both the first retaining element 21 and the second retaining element 22 are in the opened position 6. The inclinations of the hinge axes 33, 34 (cf. FIG. 1) cause the first distance D.sub.1 to be greater than the second distance D.sub.2, since the retaining elements 21, 22 have pivoted towards each other to a certain amount when opening the same.
[0071] FIG. 5 shows a perspective sectional view of the system 100 comprising the cover device 1 of FIG. 1 in the closed position 5, and FIG. 6 shows the same perspective sectional view of the system 100 comprising the cover device 1 of FIG. 1 in the opened position 6. FIG. 5 may represent a scenario when the banknotes 50 are stacked into the compartment space 110 and the cover device 1 is in the closed position 5. FIG. 6 may represent how the user can access the banknotes 50 for removal from the compartment space 110 by accessing the banknotes 50 from either of the right side or the front side of the system 100. With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the movement of the retaining elements 21, 22 during the opening process from the closed position 5 to the opened position 6 will now be described in more detail.
[0072] As indicated above, the system comprises the lower retaining unit 120. This lower retaining unit 120 has a free end 124 defining a lower edge 125. The lower retaining unit 120 may be curved and may include two protrusions extending upwardly with respect to the system 100, such that two lower edges 125 are provided at the lower retaining unit 120. As also indicated above, first retaining element 21 has the free end 24 defining the first upper edge 25 which extends along the first edge extension direction 26 (cf. FIGS. 1 and 9). The lower edge 125 comprised by one of the protrusions of the lower retaining unit 120 is arranged opposite to the first upper edge 25.
[0073] As can be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower edge 125 is arranged substantially or exactly parallel with respect to the first upper edge 25 when the first retaining element 21 is in the closed position 5 (FIG. 5). In contrast, the first upper edge 25 is inclined with an angle different from zero with respect to the lower edge 125 when the first retaining element 21 is in the opened position 6 (FIG. 6). This is due to the fact that the angle between the first edge extension direction 26, which represents the extension direction of the first upper edge 25 (cf. FIG. 1), and the main longitudinal direction 2 increases during movement of the first retaining element 21 from the closed position 5 to the opened position 6.
[0074] The same applies for the second retaining element 22. As indicated above and illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second retaining element 22 has the free end 28 defining the second upper edge 29 which extends along a second edge extension direction. The lower edge 125 comprised by another one of the protrusions of the lower retaining unit 120 is arranged opposite to the second upper edge 29.
[0075] As can be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower edge 125 is arranged substantially or exactly parallel with respect to the second upper edge 29 when the second retaining element 22 is in the closed position 5 (FIG. 5). In contrast, the second upper edge 29 is inclined with an angle different from zero with respect to the lower edge 125 when the second retaining element 22 is in the opened position 6 (FIG. 6). This is again due to the fact that the angle between the second edge extension direction, which represents the extension direction of the second upper edge 29, and the main longitudinal direction 2 increases during movement of the second retaining element 22 from the closed position 5 to the opened position 6.
[0076] When in the opened position 6, the retaining elements 21, 22 generally provide access to the compartment space 110. In particular, due to the increasing angles of the edges 25, 29 of the respective retaining elements 21, 22, the retaining elements 21, 22 are tilted in such a way that the access to the compartment space 110 is further enlarged and therefore improved, as can be derived from FIG. 6 showing the opened position 6. A user can thus withdraw the plurality of value documents 50, e.g., the banknotes 50, more easily from the compartment space 110.
[0077] FIG. 7 shows another perspective sectional view of the system 100 comprising the cover device 1 of FIG. 1 in the closed position 5 as well as the lower retaining unit 120. As can be seen from this Figure, the main longitudinal direction 2 and the first hinge axis 33 about which the first retaining element 21 rotates with respect to the base unit 10 lie within the horizontal plane 7. Accordingly, the main longitudinal direction 2 and the second hinge axis 34 about which the second retaining element 22 rotates with respect to the base unit 10 lie within the further horizontal plane 8. The planes 7, 8 are each indicated by a rectangle in FIG. 7 and may be congruent with one another. The upper side 13 of the base unit 10 may be parallel with respect to one or both of the horizontal planes 7, 8. Furthermore, at least a part of the first retaining element 21, i.e., the first wall 21a, may extend substantially parallel with respect to the horizontal plane 7 when the first retaining element 21 is in the closed position 5. Accordingly, at least a part of the second retaining element 22, e.g., the first wall 22a, may extend substantially parallel with respect to the horizontal plane 8 when the second retaining element 22 is in the closed position 5. In this case, said first walls 21a, 22a of the respective retaining elements 21, 22 may be aligned or flush with the upper side 13 of the base unit 10.
[0078] FIG. 8 shows a top sectional view of the system 100 comprising the cover device 1 of FIG. 1 in the closed position 5. This Figure shows a top view of the inclination angles and with which the hinge axes 33, 34 of the associated retaining elements 21, 22 are oriented with respect to the main longitudinal direction 2 (cf. FIG. 1). FIG. 8 also shows a part of the base unit 10, in particular the upper side 13 of the base unit 10 which faces in an upward direction with respect to the system 100 when the cover device 1 is mounted within the system 100.
[0079] FIG. 9 shows another perspective sectional view of the system 100 comprising the cover device 1 of FIG. 1 in the opened position 6. The stacker cover opening 111 providing the access to the compartment space 110 is designed to be at an angle. In particular, the inclined hinge axis 33 as shown in FIG. 8 above will allow the retaining element's 21, 22, e.g., the stacker cover flap's, outermost lateral edges to open up more than the inner lateral edges and will provide better usability to remove the stack of banknotes 50 from the compartment space 110. In the opened position 6 and possibly already during the opening of the retaining elements 21, 22, the distance Y is greater than the distance X. Distance Y indicates a distance from the lower edge 125 of the lower retaining unit 120 to a corner between the first upper edge 25 and an outer lateral edge of the first retaining element 21. Distance X indicates a distance from the lower edge 125 of the lower retaining unit 120 to a corner between the first upper edge 25 and an inner lateral edge of the first retaining element 21. This is due to the increasing angle between the first edge extension direction 26 with respect to the main longitudinal direction 2 when opening the first retaining element 21. The same may apply to the second retaining element 22.
[0080] The resulting inclined stacker cover opening 111 assists the user when removing the banknotes 50 due to a change in contact of the retaining elements 21, 22 with a top edge of stacked banknotes 50, in particular when the user starts pulling out a stack of banknotes 50 from a full or partially filled stacker compartment space 110. This design therefore improves the usability of the stacker compartment space 110, for example if the user accesses the banknotes 50 from somewhere between front and right side of the system 100.
[0081] The cover device 1 and the system 100 as described herein may thus facilitate withdrawal of a plurality of value documents 50, for example banknotes 50, from a stacker compartment space 110. The cover device 1 particularly prevents the banknotes 50 output into the compartment space 110 from flying out of the compartment space 110 due to any reason. The cover device 1 is a detachable or modular accessory to the system 100. A user has flexibility to mount the cover device 1 into the system 100 or to remove it when not required.
