Flap mechanism with a light element

Abstract

A flap mechanism (2) has a housing (10), a flap aperture (21) formed on the housing (10), and a flap element (20) that at least partially closes the flap aperture (21) in a closed position and can be transferred from the closed position to an open position for at least partially freeing the flap aperture. The flap element (20), in the open position, protrudes at least with an end portion (200) from the housing (10). At least one light element (22) is arranged on the flap element (20) and generates a gleam of light on the end portion (200) of the flap element (20) at least in the open position of the flap element (20).

Claims

1. A self-service terminal, comprising: a housing (10) with a front face; an aperture (21) formed in the front face of the housing (10) for dispensing money, a ticket or a statement to a user of the self-service terminal; a flap (20) mounted to the housing (10) for movement between a closed position where the flap (20) closes the aperture (21) and an open position where the flap (20) opens the aperture (21), the flap (20) having an inner surface facing into the aperture (21) when the flap (20) is in the closed position, an outer surface facing out from the front face of the housing (10) when the flap (20) is in the closed position and a free end that protrudes from the front face of the housing (10) when the flap (20) is in the open position; at least one light element (22) in proximity to the free end of the flap (20) and being configured to emit light from the outer face of the flap (20) when the flap (20) is in the open position and when the self-service terminal is dispensing money, a ticket or a statement to the user of the self-service terminal.

2. The self-service terminal of claim 1, wherein the flap (20), in the closed position, separates an interior (I) of the housing (10) from an exterior (A) of the housing (10) and points with a rear face (201) toward the interior (I), wherein the at least one light element (22) is arranged on the rear face (201) of the flap (20).

3. The self-service terminal of claim 1, wherein the flap (20), at least in the area of the free end portion (200), is made from a light-transmitting material so that light from the light element (20) is transmitted through the free end portion (200) of the flap (20) protruding from the front face of the housing (10) when the flap (20) is in the open position.

4. The self-service terminal of claim 1, wherein the at least one light element (22) is a light-emitting diode.

5. The self-service terminal of claim 1, wherein the flap (20), in the closed position, is arranged flush with a front face (100) of the housing (10).

6. The self-service terminal of claim 1, wherein the flap (20), in the open position, is driven at least partially into an interior (I) of the housing (10) and protrudes with the free end portion (200) outward through the aperture (21).

7. The self-service terminal of claim 1, wherein the flap (20) translates and pivots during the movement from the closed position to the open position.

8. The self-service terminal of claim 1, wherein the at least one light element (22) is a light-emitting diode mounted to the inner surface of the flap (20) and emitting light through a region of the flap (20) in proximity to the free end thereof and from the outer surface of the flap when the flap is in the open position.

9. The self-service terminal of claim 1, further comprising a control system (3) connected for control purposes to the at least one light element (22), the control system (3) including at least one sensor (30) disposed to sense movement of the flap (20) into the open position and the control system (3) is designed to control the at least one light element (22) so that the at least one light element (22) is not energized in the closed position, but the control system (3) is configured to energize the at least one light element (22) when the at least one sensor (30) senses the movement of the flap (20) into the open position to emit a gleam of light (L) through the flap element (20) in proximity to the free end portion (200).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a terminal with a flap mechanism.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a separate view of the flap mechanism.

(3) FIG. 3A shows a view of the flap mechanism in a closed position of a flap element.

(4) FIG. 3B shows a view of the flap mechanism with the flap element in an open position.

(5) FIG. 4A shows a schematic side view of the flap mechanism, with the flap element in the closed position.

(6) FIG. 4B shows a schematic view of the flap mechanism, with the flap element in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows a schematic overview of a device 1 which is designed, for example, as a self-service terminal, for example as an automated teller machine, and has an input mechanism 11, for example for entering a security identifier (so-called PIN), and a reader 12 for reading in data of a charge card or of a credit card.

(8) A flap mechanism 2 is provided and has a flap element 20. In a closed position, the flap element 20 closes a flap aperture 21, such that a compartment located behind the flap element 20 and bound by a housing 10 of the device 1 is not accessible from outside. If the device 1 is designed as an automated teller machine, it is possible, for example, for cash to be dispensed via the flap mechanism 2, in which case the flap element 20 opens to dispense cash so that a user can withdraw the cash, and then closes again.

(9) Separate views of an illustrative embodiment of a flap mechanism 2 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A and 3B. In its closed position, the flap element 20 is arranged flush with a front face 100 of the housing 10 of the device 1 and closes the flap aperture 21 formed in the housing 10. If the outside of the flap element 20 is made of the same material as the front face 100 of the housing 10 or has the same color, then the flap element 20, in its closed position, is barely discernible to a user from the outside, which may be desirable from esthetic points of view.

(10) For example, the flap element 20 and the front face 100 of the housing 10 can be made of a glass or a Plexiglas, in which case the front face 100 and the flap element 20 can additionally be painted black.

(11) The flap element 20 can be transferred from its closed position (FIGS. 2 and 3A) to an open position (FIG. 3B) and, for this purpose, can be moved in an opening direction O. The flap element 20 can be opened by being pivoted and at the same time at least partially driven into the flap aperture 21, such that, in the open position, an end portion 200 of the flap element 20 protrudes outward from the front face 100 of the housing 10.

(12) Several light elements 22 in the form of light-emitting diodes are mounted on the end portion 200 and light up when the flap element 20 is located in its open position. Thus, even if the flap element 20 is not directly in view, the fact that the flap element 20 is open is made immediately and clearly apparent to a user.

(13) As can be seen from FIGS. 4A and 4B, the light elements 22 in the form of the light-emitting diodes are arranged on a rear face 201 of the flap element 20, facing in toward an interior I of the housing 10 and lying opposite a front face 202 of the flap element 20, and are therefore not immediately visible from the outside, i.e. from an exterior A located outside the housing 10, in the closed position of the flap element 20 (FIG. 4A). The light elements 22 are not energized in the closed position of the flap element 20 and cannot be seen easily from the outside through the flap element 20 (for example if the flap element 20 is made from glass that is painted black). By contrast, when the flap element 20 is transferred to its open position (FIG. 4B), the light elements 22 are energized and emit a gleam of light L that passes through the flap element 20 and gleams upward, such that a user positioned with his or her head above the flap mechanism 2 can easily discern the gleam of light L. As a result of the light elements 22 lighting up, the user is thus made aware of the opening of the flap element and immediately sees where the flap aperture 21 is situated. Thus, when the device 1 is designed as an automated teller machine, the user can access the flap aperture 21 and, for example, can withdraw cash that has been dispensed.

(14) As is shown schematically in FIG. 4B, the device 1 has a control system 3, that controls the energizing of the light elements 22. The control system 3 can, for example, with a sensor 30 that detects a transfer of the flap element 20 to its open position and emits a suitable sensor signal to the control system 3. Depending on such a sensor signal, the control system 3 can cause the light elements 22 to be energized, so that the light elements 22 light up to generate a gleam of light L in the open position of the flap element 20. When the flap element 20 is closed again, the control system 3 can cause the light elements 22 to switch off so that, in the closed position of the flap element 20, no gleam of light L is generated, and the light elements 22 are accordingly not visible from the outside (FIG. 4A).

(15) The underlying concept of the invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments set out above and instead can in principle also be realized in entirely different kinds of embodiments.

(16) In particular, a flap mechanism of the type described here can be used not just in an automated teller machine but also in any desired device, for example a self-service terminal such as a ticket machine, a statement printer, a general device for carrying out money transactions, or another terminal.

(17) Moreover, the flap mechanism is not limited to the specifically described design. In particular, a flap element can also be designed in such a way that it has to be slid or pivoted in order to open it.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(18) 1 terminal 10 housing 11 input mechanism 12 reader 2 flap mechanism 20 flap element 200 end portion 201 rear face 202 front face 21 flap aperture 22 light elements 3 control system 30 sensor A exterior I interior L gleam of light O opening direction