Mars, Incorporated

Mei, Inc.

Sodeco-saia Ag

Roberto Polidoro

Andre Gerlier

Guillermo Garcia

Christian Voser

André Gerlier

Michael David Nunn

Juan-José Moreno

David Charles Deaville

Jerome Daout

Andre Delessert

An apparatus for use with a store for storing value sheets in a stack having at least one variable dimension. In one aspect, the apparatus can include a plate that is adapted to engage the stack for movement therewith in the direction of the variable dimension. The apparatus can also include an indicator that is disposable between a first, operational position and a second, rest position. The plate engages the indicator such that the indicator alternates between the rest position and the operational position in response to crossing of a predetermined position by the plate.

Dispensing value sheet store

A value sheet store from which value sheets may be dispensed. The value sheet store includes a housing having an aperture from which value sheets are dispensed, and a shutter operable to block the aperture. The aperture may be at least partially defined by at least one roller. The shutter may be formed to interleave with the aperture to block the aperture. The shutter may also be formed to interleave with the roller. The value sheet store may be adapted to be removably engageable with a value sheet transporter for transporting sheets to or away from the store. The value sheet store may be configured so that the shutter blocks the aperture when the value sheet store blocks the aperture when the value sheet store and the transporter are not engaged and unblock the shutter when the value sheet store and the transporter are engaged.

Front panel of a banknote handler

A store for storing value sheets such as banknotes in a stack and for dispensing the value notes from the stack. When more than a single value sheet is dispensed from the stack, the store returns all but one of the value sheets to the stack while moving the stack to reduce friction between the returning value sheet and the topmost value sheet of the stack. Means for securing the stack are also provided: a support for the stack is anchored and/or extra pressure is applied to the stack. The store includes means for indicating when the stack contains more than a predetermined number of value sheets and means for preventing securing of the store when the predetermined number of value sheets is exceeded. A value sheet store with part of a sidewall integrally formed with the lid. A value sheet store which includes a lid attached to a housing by a hinge located on an edge of the housing. Apparatus and a method for determining the height of a stack of value sheets. A shutter arrangement in a value sheet store which acts to block an aperture through which value sheets are dispensed.

A banknote conveyor which includes moveable means for transporting a banknote, the means engaging frictionally with the banknote at at least three points so that the force driving the banknote is dependent on the rigidity of the note. The banknote can further swivel about one of the points to align the note with a desired path. Also provided is a means for limiting the movement of the banknote if the force required to convey the banknote exceeds a predetermined limit and means for preventing the insertion of banknotes or other foreign objects into the conveyor when not in use.

Banknote conveyor

Front panel of a money store

A value sheet handling apparatus comprises an actuating mechanism for exerting pressure onto a value sheet so as to move the value sheet, and further comprises detecting means to detect movement of the value sheet with respect to the actuating mechanism, wherein if the detecting means ascertains that the value sheet has not been moved by the actuating mechanism the pressure exerted Onto die flexible media is increased until motion of the value sheet is detected. Additionally or alternatively, the pressure is varied in dependence on the type of the value sheet. The value sheet is dispensed from a stack by buckling the sheet, the rest of the stack being gripped in the area exposed by the buckling of the sheet.

Value sheet handling apparatus

A banknote store () comprises first and second drums () mounted for rotation about respective axes on, respectively, first and second shafts (), an elongate support strip () which can be unwound from one of the drums onto the other of the drum, and vice versa, such that banknotes () can be supported in succession by the support strip while that is wound around at least one of the drums, coupling means () for coupling the shafts together, first biasing means () between the coupling means and the first drum and second biasing means () between the coupling means and the second drum for allowing biased relative motion between each said drum and said coupling means, and for maintaining tension in the support strip.

Banknote store

A banknote store can remove banknotes individually from a stack by light air pressure extending over a substantial area of the banknote, the banknote then being transportable without needing to move the source of the reduced pressure. Banknotes are added individually by using reduced pressure to hold them against a transport belt before they are deposited on the stack.

Manually-insert banknotes are aligned by using a fan to reduce the air pressure above a banknote so that it is pulled into engagement with a drive means which drives the edge of the banknote to a guide, causing the banknote to rotate until the edge is aligned with the guide.

Method and apparatus for aligning a banknote

A banknote store comprises a rotatable structure such as a drum which has a number of banknote storage regions arranged around its periphery. Each stores a stack of banknotes, the stacks growing inwardly as banknotes are added. The drum can be rotated to bring each storage region into proximity to means for delivering banknotes to and/or retrieving banknotes from the store.

Banknote store with a rotatable structure having banknote-storing regions

A dispenser for dispensing flexible media such as cut sheets ( ) from a stack has a rotatable separating member ( ) which engages and reverse buckles one end of the top sheet ( ) so that that end is lifted away from the stack and positioned between transport rollers ( ). The transport rollers ( ) are driven independently from the separating member ( ) so that multiple sheets may be separated from the stack before being transported. The frictional engagement between the separating member ( ) and the stack varies as the separating member rotates, so that only one sheet is separated with each rotation. The center of the top sheet ( ) is held against the stack by a holding member ( ) so that the top sheet buckles only over part of its length.

Flexible media dispenser

A cashbox ( ) has a handle ( ) which is movable from a storage position to a use position. The handle ( ) is attached to the cashbox ( ) by means allowing both pivotal and translational movement so as to allow a substantial space between the gripping portion ( ) of the handle ( ) and the cashbox ( ) with the handle ( ) in its use position. A support stay ( ) is pivoted to both the cashbox ( ) and the handle ( ). The stay ( ) defines the path of movement of the handle ( ), and tends to resist collapsing of the handle ( ) when the handle ( ) is used for trusting the cashbox ( ) into a cash handling apparatus.

Growing community of inventors

Cologny, Switzerland

Roberto Polidoro