CASSETTE REPLENISHMENT
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cassette replenishment. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a currency cassette replenisher and its method of automated use.

Media cassettes are used to store media in sheet form for automated picking and dispensing in many types of self-service terminal (SST). For example, one particular type of media cassette is a currency cassette which may be used in Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). An ATM may include multiple media cassettes in the form of currency cassettes with each cassette storing currency notes having a respective value.

A typical currency cassette stores thousands of currency notes (also referred to as banknotes) in a neat array. This neat array of banknotes is urged towards a picking area of the currency cassette by a sprung plate (referred to as a pusher plate) which ensures that the neat array in the currency cassette is maintained in contact with the picking area as currency notes are removed from the cassette one-by-one.

Conventionally, to replenish the currency cassette with currency notes, a lid of the currency cassette is removed, and then the sprung plate is retracted and an array of new banknotes is then placed between the retracted sprung plate and the picking area. It is quite difficult for one person to retract the sprung plate and insert the array of new banknotes whilst holding the sprung plate in its retracted position. This can cause the inserted banknotes to be incorrectly loaded, which may lead to problems in picking these banknotes from the currency cassette. It is also time consuming to remove the lid of the currency cassette.

The recent currency industry trend associated with ATMs, which is for closed cycle cash management, is resulting in customers looking for ways to load and move cassettes between equipment without an operator touching the currency notes. This would reduce the chance of operator error and additionally, would obviate the need for extra security personnel to monitor cash transfers into the currency cassette. Until now, a suitable solution to this long felt need has been lacking.

Currency cassettes are designed to operate in a horizontal orientation, and the sprung plate is urged by a spring having a spring force selected to urge a horizontal stack of notes to a pick window (also referred to as a pick orifice).

It is an aim of the present invention to at least partly mitigate the above-mentioned problems.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to support a closed cash cycle environment.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for loading currency notes into a currency cassette which prevents the need for an authorised operator to touch the cassette, sprung plate and currency notes during a loading process.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method of loading legacy currency cassettes whereby a re-design of currently in use currency cassettes is not required to facilitate the automation of a loading process.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide in situ replenishment of a legacy currency cassette without having to remove a lid from the currency cassette or to remove the currency cassette from a location (such as a bank branch or retail location) at which the replenished currency cassette is to be used.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a currency cassette replenishment terminal for loading at least one currency note into a currency cassette without removing a lid of the currency cassette, the terminal comprising:

a currency cassette support for locating a currency cassette in a loading position and opening a pick orifice of the currency cassette; and

a currency insertion device operable to engage at least one currency note and to insert the engaged currency note through the pick orifice and into the currency cassette.

Optionally, the currency insertion device comprises a plunger. The plunger may be extendable from a first position, completely outside the currency cassette, through the pick orifice, to a second position, at least partly within the currency cassette.

Optionally, the currency cassette support comprises guide rails for engaging with opposing sides of the currency cassette. Alternatively, the currency cassette support defines a base surface on which the currency cassette rests.

Optionally, the currency cassette support may be configured to retain the currency cassette at an incline, for example, so that the pick orifice end of the cassette is lower than a handle end of the cassette opposite the pick orifice end.

Optionally, the currency cassette replenishment terminal further comprises a currency note insertion aperture to allow an individual currency note or a bunch of currency notes to be inserted into the terminal.

Optionally, the currency cassette replenishment terminal further comprises a transport for transporting a received bunch of currency notes from the currency note insertion aperture to a pre-stage holder adjacent the pick orifice, where the pre-stage holder maintains the received bunch in an orientation matching the orientation of any currency notes within the currency cassette.

Optionally, the pre-stage holder defines a pair of drive-through apertures in registration with the pick orifice. The drive-through apertures (or at least a plunger side drive through aperture) may be dimensionally smaller than the pick orifice.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of loading at least one currency note in a currency cassette, comprising the steps of:

supporting at least one currency note at a pre-stage holder located adjacent a pick orifice of a currency cassette; and

extending a plunger through the pre-stage holder and the pick orifice and at least partly into the currency cassette to urge at least one currency note supported at the pre-stage holder into a stacked configuration inside the currency cassette.

Aptly, the method further comprises the steps of: retracting the plunger to a retracted position;

transporting a currency note or a bunch of currency notes to the pre-stage holder; and

repeating the extending step to urge the transported currency note or bunch of currency notes into a stacked configuration inside the currency cassette.

Aptly, the method further comprises the steps of providing the currency notes from a secure zone of control and locating the currency notes at the pre-stage holder and subsequently in the cassette automatically.

Optionally, the method further comprises the steps of: receiving currency notes from a note interface, validating the received currency notes, and transporting the received currency notes to the pre-stage holder.

Aptly, the CCRT further comprises a ballistic stacker between the transport pathway and said currency note support that locates a stack of currency notes in the currency note support.

Aptly, the plunger comprises a plunger body defining an abutment surface having a smaller surface area than either the driver-through aperture or the loading orifice, and that is located spaced apart from the loading orifice to allow a currency note or bunch of notes to be located at the loading orifice when the plunger is retracted.

Aptly, the CCRT further comprises a drive module that selectively moves the plunger between the retracted position and the extended position to locate the plunger in a respective out or in position with respect to an internal space in the currency cassette.

Aptly, the drive module comprises a motor or a solenoid, or the like.

Aptly, when the plunger is moving to the extended position, the plunger urges a currency note or bunch of notes from a position at the loading orifice of the currency note support into the cassette against a pusher plate of the cassette or at least one currency note supported in the cassette by the pusher plate.

Aptly, the currency cassette support comprises a cassette support surface and a plurality of elongate tines that locate in respective channels of a currency cassette located in the loading position to thereby open a pick orifice of the cassette.

Aptly, the elongate tines are arranged to open a sliding shutter in the currency cassette when located in said channels.

Optionally, the currency cassette support includes an inclined support surface for locating a currency cassette at an angle to horizontal. The inclined support surface may support a cassette at an angle within the range of ten to seventy degrees. The pusher plate may be urged by a spring that is not capable of operating at too large an angle to the horizontal, so the angle of the inclined support surface may be within the range of ten to forty degrees, or fifteen to thirty degrees.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of securely locating currency notes in a currency cassette, comprising the steps of:

automatically locating and subsequently plunging currency notes through a pick orifice of a currency cassette.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of securely locating media items in a media cassette, comprising the steps of:

automatically locating and subsequently plunging media items through a pick orifice of a media cassette.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a media cassette replenishment terminal for loading at least one media item in a media cassette, comprising:

a media cassette support for locating a media cassette in a loading position;

a media item support comprising at least one loading orifice located at a position corresponding to a pick orifice of a media cassette located in said loading position; and

a plunger located on a first side of the loading orifice and movable from a retracted position, through the loading orifice, to an extended position within the media cassette.

Certain embodiments of the present invention make use of the spring loaded nature of currency cassettes and allow legacy cassette designs to be loaded without substantive design changes to the cassettes themselves.

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide the advantage that currency cassettes may be loaded/replenished with items of media in an automated way.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective diagram of a media cassette in the form of a currency cassette;

Figure 2 illustrates a schematic view of a body portion of the currency cassette shown in Figure 1 with the lid removed;

Figure 3 is a simplified sectional side view of the body portion of the cassette shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2;

Figure 4 illustrates a currency cassette replenishment terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention, which can be used to replenish currency i notes in a currency cassette of the type shown in Figures 1 to 3; and

Figure 5 illustrates a part (a currency note support) of the terminal of Figure 4 in more detail.

In the drawings like reference numerals refer to like parts.

Figure 1 illustrates a media cassette 100 in the form of a polycarbonate currency cassette for storing currency notes (sometimes referred to as banknotes). The cassette 100 shown in Figure 1 has a lid 110 secured to a body 120 by a latch 130. The cassette body 120 has a handle 140 at a first end 145 (referred to as the "handle end") which is spaced apart from a further end 150 (referred to as a "picking end") of the cassette 100. The handle end 145 is also referred to as a "non-picking end". A closed pick window (shown more clearly in Figure 2) is located at the picking end 150.

As illustrated in Figure 2, which illustrates the cassette 100 shown in Figure 1 with the lid 110 removed, the picking end 150 includes a roller shutter 200 which covers a pick window 210 (also referred to as a pick orifice) when the currency cassette 100 is being transported. When the currency cassette 100 is inserted into a currency dispenser (not shown), for example, in an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), tines (not shown) in the currency dispenser (not shown) engage with blocks (not shown) mounted in channels (not shown in Figure 2) defined in the body 120 to raise the roller shutter 200 and open the pick window 210. Figure 2 also illustrates how a pusher plate 240 is located inside the currency cassette 100 to help urge a stack of currency notes towards the picking end 150 of the currency cassette 100.

Figure 3 helps illustrate how the cassette 100 includes a floor 300 beneath which a central rail 310 is provided that extends longitudinally along the length of the cassette 100 from the non-picking end 145 towards the picking end 150. The biased pusher plate 240 is slidably mounted on the central rail 310 and is coupled thereto by a ratchet mechanism (not shown). The pusher plate 240 is biased towards the picking end 150 by a coil spring (not shown) located beneath the floor 300. The pusher plate 240 pushes a stack (also referred to as an array) of currency notes thereby urging them towards the pick window 210 so that when the pick window 210 is open, currency notes can be picked through the pick window 210 by a currency dispenser (not shown).

Figure 4 illustrates a currency cassette replenishment terminal (CCRT) 400 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The CCRT 400 provides a secure system for loading currency notes in containers, such as the currency cassette 100 illustrated. The CCRT 400 is a terminal having a rigid housing 410 to which access is only available to authorised personnel via an access door 415. The door 415 is illustrated in a closed position in Figure 4 but it will be understood that the door 415 can be opened and securely locked whenever currency notes are loaded into an empty or partially empty currency cassette 100. The door 415 is opened to put empty (or nearly empty) cassettes 100 in the terminal 400 to be replenished or to remove replenished cassettes 100.

When the door 415 is opened, an authorised person can slide a currency cassette 100 into a loading position on a currency cassette support 420. Other mechanisms for locating currency cassettes can of course be utilised according to certain other embodiments of the present invention. As a person slides the cassette 100 onto the currency cassette support 420, a pair of tines 425 secured to the support 420 extend into the cassette 100 and open the shutter 200 (not shown in Figure 4) to reveal the pick window 210 aperture. The support 420 locates and supports a currency cassette 100 in a non-vertical orientation, with the picking end 150 lower than the handle end 145. This ensures that the pusher plate 240 is assisted by gravity in urging loaded currency notes towards the pick window 210. In this embodiment, the support 420 locates and supports a storage currency cassette 100 at an angle of approximately twenty five degrees to the horizontal. In certain other embodiments, the support 420 may support and locate a currency cassette at an angle between approximately fifteen to sixty degrees to the horizontal. The support 420 may comprise guide rails that engage with complementary formations on opposing sides of the currency cassette 100, a support surface on which the currency cassette 100 rests, or the like.

The CCRT 400 also includes a currency note insertion aperture 430 which allows bunches of currency notes to be introduced to the terminal 400 by authorised personnel. The currency note insertion aperture 430 can be a slot-type or pocket-type of input mechanism. A bunch of notes is inserted into the insertion aperture 430 by a replenisher (which may be a human being, or a dispensing terminal that is coupled to the CCRT 400). The bunch of currency notes is then clamped between opposing belts 432,434 of a bunch note transport 436, and the bunch of currency notes is then transported along a transport pathway 440 and driven downwards into a currency note support 442 in the form of a pre-stage holder.

The pre-stage holder 442 is illustrated in more detail in Figure 5 and includes a pair of drive-through apertures 540,550 in registration with a mechanical ram (or plunger) 448, driven by a drive system 450, and the pick window 210. The drive-through aperture 540 closest to the mechanical ram 448 is referred to as the ram side drive-through aperture. The drive-through aperture 550 closest to the pick window 210 is referred to as the pick side drive-through aperture (or the loading orifice).

As illustrated in Figure 5, the pre-stage holder 442 includes tapered, spaced apart side walls 505, 510, and is dimensioned to accommodate a bunch of notes and maintain the bunch of notes as a neat array in preparation for loading into the currency cassette 100. The side walls 505, 510 are spaced apart by tapered edge walls 515, 520 and are closed by a base 525 at one end 530. The pre-stage holder 442 defines an open end 535 opposite the base 525. The open end 535 is referred to as an open mouth region. Currency notes can be introduced from the bunch note transport 436, through this open mouth region 535, and into the pre-stage holder 442. The side wall 505 that faces the plunger 448 defines the ram side drive-through aperture 540. The side wall 510 that faces the cassette 100 (when the cassette 100 is mounted in the CCRT 400) defines the pick side drive-through aperture 550 (the loading orifice 550). The pre-stage holder 442 is an example of a currency note support that supports one or more notes at a desired location ready to be automatically plunged into the cassette 100.

The drive-through apertures 540, 550 are smaller than the area of the smallest note to be loaded into the currency cassette 100, but large enough for a currency note to be pushed through the pick side drive-through aperture 550 during a replenishment operation. In certain embodiments, the ram side drive- through aperture 540 may be smaller than the pick side drive-through aperture 550.
In operation, the mechanical ram 448 is activated and extends linearly through the ram side drive-through aperture 540, an abutment surface 560 (see Figure 4) thereof engages with the bunch of notes located within the pre-stage holder 442, and then drives the bunch of notes through the pick side drive-through aperture 550 and into the currency cassette 100.

When the mechanical ram 448 is retracted, the bunch of currency notes remains in the cassette 100 because the pick window 210 is smaller than each currency note, so the picking end 150 prevents the currency notes from exiting the currency cassette 100.

This embodiment thus provides a sequence of "stuffing" currency notes into a currency cassette 100 to replenish the cassette on a bunch by bunch basis. The sequence includes locating the currency cassette 100 in a loading position, at a loading node, with the shutter 200 being opened in the cassette 100 to reveal a pick area 210 via a standard key plate (comprising tines 425). A currency note or bunch of notes is transported to the ho Ider 442. In this position, a currency note is "parked" so that it is aligned with the note stack in the cassette 100. A plunger 448 (or ram) which may also be referred to as a stuffer "shoe" is driven downwards, pushing the centre of the note/s through the opening 550 in the holder 442 and against the face of the notes already present in the cassette 100 (or, if the cassette 100 is empty, against the pusher plate 240). The plunger 448 continues inwards, accommodated by the reactive movement of the spring loaded pusher plate 240 until the edges of the note flip around the edges of the aperture 550 in the holder 442 and the front face of the cassette 100. The note is thus secured in the stack in the cassette 100. The plunger 448 may thereafter be retracted to clear the transport for the next note or bunch.

Certain embodiments of the present invention may releasably secure a currency note to a stuffer shoe/plunger/ram using one or more negative pressure sucker elements. This may help align the incoming currency note and reduce the risk of loading failure or skewing incoming currency notes.

In other embodiments, the pre-stage holder 442 may include one or more releasable clamps to clamp a bunch of notes in place prior to the plunger 448 engaging with the bunch of notes. When the plunger 448 engages with the bunch of notes, the clamps are released to allow the bunch to be transferred to the cassette 100.

In other embodiments, the transport from the currency note insertion aperture 430 to the currency note support 442 may not terminate in a vertical (or near vertical) drop. In such embodiments, a ballistic stacker may be used to ensure that the currency notes are correctly delivered into the currency note support 442.

In other embodiments, the pre-stage holder may be located in a non-vertical orientation (for example, generally horizontally) to facilitate transfer of a bunch of notes to the pre-stage holder. The pre-stage holder may then pivot from the non-vertical orientation into a vertical orientation. Loading the bunch of notes from the pre-stage holder into the currency cassette would then occur by extending and then retracting the plunger 148 as described in the above embodiment.

In other embodiments, a media cassette other than a currency cassette may be replenished. For example, a media cassette containing tickets or coupons may be replenished.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of them mean "including but not limited to" and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of the features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to any details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification.

CLAIMS:

1. A currency cassette replenishment terminal (400) for loading at least one currency note into a currency cassette (100) without removing a lid (110) of the currency cassette (100), the terminal (400) comprising:

a currency cassette support (420) for locating a currency cassette (100) in a" loading position and opening a pick orifice (210) of the currency cassette (100); and

a currency insertion device (448) operable to engage at least one currency note and to insert the engaged currency note through the pick orifice (210) and into the currency cassette (100).

2. A currency cassette replenishment terminal (400) according to claim 1, wherein the currency insertion device (448) comprises a plunger.

3. A currency cassette replenishment terminal (400) according to claim 2, wherein the plunger (448) is extendable from a first position, completely outside the currency cassette (100), through the pick orifice of the currency cassette (100), to a second position, at least partly within the currency cassette (100).

4. A currency cassette replenishment terminal (400) according to any preceding claim, wherein the currency cassette support (420) comprises guide rails for engaging with opposing sides of the currency cassette (100).

5. A currency cassette replenishment terminal (400) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the currency cassette support (420) defines a base surface on which the currency cassette (100) rests.

6. A currency cassette replenishment terminal (400) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the currency cassette support (420) is configured to retain the currency cassette (100) at an incline.

7. A currency cassette replenishment terminal (400) according to claim 6, wherein the currency cassette support (420) is configured to retain the currency cassette (100) at an incline where the pick orifice end (150) of the cassette (100) is lower than a handle end (145) of the cassette (100).

8. A currency cassette replenishment terminal (400) according to any preceding claim, wherein the currency cassette replenishment terminal (400) further comprises a currency note insertion aperture (430) to allow an individual currency note or a bunch of currency notes to be inserted into the terminal (400) for loading into the currency cassette (100).

9. A currency cassette replenishment terminal (400) according to claim 8, wherein the currency cassette replenishment terminal (400) further comprises a transport (436) for transporting a received bunch of currency notes from the currency note insertion aperture (430) to a pre-stage holder (442) adjacent the pick orifice (210), where the pre-stage holder (442) maintains the received bunch in an orientation matching the orientation of any currency notes within the currency cassette (100).

10. A currency cassette replenishment terminal (400) according to claim 9, wherein the pre-stage holder (442) defines a pair of drive-through apertures (540,550) in registration with the pick orifice (210).

11. A method of loading at least one currency note in a currency cassette (100), the method comprising the steps of:

supporting at least one currency note at a pre-stage holder (442) located adjacent a pick orifice (210) of a currency cassette (100); and

extending a plunger (448) through the pre-stage holder (442) and the pick orifice (210) and at least partly into the currency cassette (100) to urge at least one currency note supported at the pre-stage holder (442) into a stacked configuration inside the currency cassette (100).

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

retracting the plunger (448) to a retracted position;

transporting a currency note or a bunch of currency notes to the pre-stage holder (442); and

repeating the extending step to urge the transported currency note or bunch of currency notes into a stacked configuration inside the currency cassette (100).

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises the steps of. automatically transporting the currency notes from a secure zone of control via the pre-stage holder (442) and subsequently into the cassette (100).

14. A method according to any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: receiving currency notes from a note interface (430), validating the received currency notes, and transporting the received currency notes to the pre-stage holder (442).

15. A method according to any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the pre-stage holder (442) defines a loading orifice.