DRUM STORAGE MODULE FOR RECEIVING NOTES OF VALUE

Abstract

A drum storage module (50, 60) for receiving notes of value (16) has a winding drum (14) onto which the notes of value (16) are windable so as to be received between at least two foil belts (18 to 24). Further, a sensor for determining the maximum filling level of notes of value in the drum storage module (50, 60) is provided and has a light source (32) and a light receiver (34) arranged such that the beam path (36) from the light source (32) to the light receiver (34) extends parallel to the longitudinal axis (38) of the winding drum (14).

Claims

1. A drum storage module for receiving notes of value, comprising a winding drum (14) on which the notes of value (16) are windable so as to be received between at least two foil belts (18 to 24), and a sensor for determining the reaching and/or leaving of the maximum admissible filling level of notes of value (16) in the drum storage module (50, 60), the sensor comprising a light source (32) and a light receiver (34), wherein the light source (32) and the light receiver (34) are arranged so that a beam path (36) from the light source (32) to the light receiver (34) extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the winding drum (14).

2. The drum storage module (50, 60) of claim 1, wherein the light source (32) and the light receiver (34) are arranged so that a distance between the beam path (36) and the longitudinal axis of the winding drum (14) corresponds to a maximum permissible thickness of the winding drum (14) and the notes of value (16) wound thereon.

3. The drum storage module (50, 60) of claim 1, characterized in that the distance between the light source (32) and the light receiver (34) is longer than the length of the winding drum (14).

4. The drum storage module (50, 60) of claim 1, wherein the light source (32) and the light receiver (34) are arranged such that the beam path (36) extends in a straight line.

5. The drum storage module (50, 60) of claim 1, wherein the light source (32) comprises an LED.

6. The drum storage module (50, 60) of claim 1, wherein the drum storage module (50, 60) comprises a housing (26).

7. The drum storage module (50, 60) of claim 6, wherein the light source (32) and/or the light receiver (34) are mounted directly on the housing (26).

8. The drum storage module (50, 60) of claim 7, wherein a first recess (56) for receiving the light source (32) and/or a second recess (58) for receiving the light receiver (34) are provided in the housing (26).

9. The drum storage module (50, 60) of claim 8, wherein the recesses (56, 58) are punched into the housing (26).

10. The drum storage module (50, 60) of claim 6, wherein the light source (32) and/or the light receiver (34) are each mounted on a board (62, 64).

11. The drum storage module (50, 60) of claim 1, wherein the drum storage module (50, 60) comprises a control unit (66) that generates data with information that the drum storage module (50, 60) has reached its maximum permissible filling level when the light beam extending from the light source (32) to the light receiver (34) along the beam path (36) has been interrupted.

12. The drum storage module (50, 60) of claim 11, wherein the control unit (66) generates the data whenever the light beam has been interrupted for at least a predetermined fraction of a winding drum rotation.

13. The drum storage module (50, 60) of claim 12, wherein the control unit (66) generates the data whenever the light beam has been interrupted for at least an eighth of a winding drum rotation.

14. The drum storage module (50, 60) of claim 1, wherein the drum storage module (50, 60) comprises a control unit (66) that generates data with information indicating that the drum storage module (50, 60) has again left its maximum permissible filling level when the light beam extending from the light source (32) to the light receiver (34) along the beam path (36) is no longer interrupted.

15. The drum storage module (50, 60) of claim 14, wherein the control unit (66) generates the data whenever the light beam has continuously not been interrupted for at least a predetermined fraction of a winding drum rotation, exactly one winding drum rotation or at least a predetermined multiple of a winding drum rotation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a schematic, highly simplified illustration of a drum storage module according to the prior art.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the drum storage module according to FIG. 1.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a highly simplified drum storage module and a first embodiment of the invention.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the drum storage module according to FIG. 3.

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a schematic, highly simplified illustration of a drum storage module according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] In FIGS. 3 and 4, a schematic, highly simplified illustration of a drum storage module 50 according to a first embodiment is shown, wherein FIG. 3 shows a side view and Figure shows a front view. Elements having the same function or the same structure as in the embodiment of the prior art according to FIGS. 1 and 2 are identified with the same reference signs.

[0039] The drum storage module 50 comprises a housing 26 within which a winding drum 14 is arranged, which can be rotated about its longitudinal axis 38 via a motor 12. By means of the rotation of the winding drum 14 notes of value 16 are received between foil belts 18 to 24 and wound onto the winding drum 14.

[0040] Recesses 56, 58 are provided on the side walls 52, 54 of the housing 26. A light source 32 and a light receiver 34 of a sensor unit are provided in the recesses 56 and 58 respectively for determining the reaching of the maximum admissible filling level of notes of value in the drum storage module 50. The light source 32 preferably is an LED that emits a light beam along a beam path 36 to the light receiver 34, which detects this light beam as long as no note of value is present in the beam path 36, i.e. the light beam is not interrupted. Based on the interruption of the light beam a control unit can infer the reaching of the maximum filling level of the drum storage module 10 under previously determined criteria. In particular, a message is output that the drum storage module is filled completely whenever the light beam is interrupted during the rotation of the winding drum for at least a predetermined fraction of a winding drum rotation, in particular an eighth of a winding drum rotation.

[0041] The light source 32 and the light receiver 34 are arranged such that the beam path 36 and thus also the light beam emitted by the light source 32 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis 38 of the winding drum 14. In this way, as shown by the comparison with the situation illustrated in FIG. 1, it is achieved that also in the case of wavy notes of value 16 the beam path 36 is nevertheless always reliably interrupted provided that the maximum filling level of the drum storage module 10 is reached. Thus, independent of the shape of the notes of value 16, the reaching of the maximum permissible filling level can be detected reliably.

[0042] The recesses 56, 58 in which the light source 32 and the light receiver 34 are arranged, respectively, are punched into the side walls 52, 54 together with the bearings for the winding drum 14 so that the distance between the central axis 14 and the light receiver 34 and the light source 32 and thus the beam path 36 is defined very accurately. This distance in particular corresponds to the maximum permissible thickness that the winding drum 14 may reach by winding up the notes of value and that represents the maximum admissible filling level. In addition, a minimum possible tolerance is achieved as a result of the direct mounting on the walls 32, 34 of the housing 26. In particular, longer tolerance chains caused by interposing additional mounting elements are avoided.

[0043] In FIG. 5, a schematic, highly simplified illustration of a drum storage module 60 according to a second embodiment is provided. Here, the light source 32 and the light receiver 34 are not mounted directly on the walls 52, 54 of the housing, but rather are on a board 62, 64 that then in turn is mounted on the walls 32, 34. As a result, a particularly easy production is achieved, and a separate cabling can be dispensed with.

[0044] The board 62 is in particular a board on which also the control unit 66 for controlling the drum storage module 60 is arranged. Thus, additional component parts can be dispensed with.

[0045] By arranging the beam path 36 parallel to the longitudinal axis 38 along the entire winding drum 14 it is achieved that only one single sensor unit composed of a light source 32 and a light receiver 34 is necessary. The sensor unit can be arranged at many possible positions within the drum storage module. Thus, the naturally only limited available space within the drum storage module 60 is used effectively.

[0046] Further, in this way, other optical sensor units that are oriented vertically with respect to the central axis 38 of the drum storage module 14 are not impaired or affected.

[0047] In addition, by means of the smallest possible tolerance chain different extensions of the drum storage module can reliably be reproduced and repeatably identified.

[0048] A further advantage of arranging the light source on the side walls 52, 54 is that in this way, the light source 32 and the light receiver 34 are contaminated substantially less by dust and contaminants falling down from the notes of value and thus a maintenance is required only rarely and the reliability is increased.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0049] 10, 50, 60 drum storage module

[0050] 12 motor

[0051] 14 winding drum

[0052] 16 note of value

[0053] 18 to 26 housing

[0054] 28, 30 rail

[0055] 32 light source

[0056] 34 light receiver

[0057] 36 beam path

[0058] 38 longitudinal axis

[0059] 52, 54 side wall

[0060] 56, 58 recess

[0061] 62, 64 board

[0062] 66 control unit