MEDIUM STACKING METHOD OF MEDIUM STORAGE PART

Abstract

 Provided is a method of stacking media in a media storage unit, which includes: receiving position information of a motion strip of a preceding medium accumulated in a media accumulation space; determining whether the motion strip of the preceding medium is located on a side facing a succeeding medium entering the media accumulation space; and when the motion strip of the preceding medium is located on the side facing the succeeding medium, changing an entry angle of the succeeding medium to prevent the succeeding medium from being caught on the motion strip of the preceding medium.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of stacking media in a media storage unit, and more specifically, to a method of stacking media in a media storage unit for preventing jamming of the media caused by a motion strip attached to the media.

2. Discussion of Related Art

[0002] Generally, automated teller machines (ATMs) are equipped with a media storage unit in which media, such as checks and banknotes, are stored for processing. Media of multiple denominations may be stored in the media storage unit.

[0003] The media stored in the media storage unit may include a medium on which a motion strip, such as a three-dimensional partially exposed silver line, is printed and attached to prevent counterfeiting.

[0004] A medium with a motion strip attached as described above may be thicker in a part to which the motion strip is attached, compared to the thickness of the remaining part, and when used for a long time, a part of the motion strip may be separated and lifted off from the surface of the medium.

[0005] With a motion strip attached to a preceding medium that is loaded first into the media storage unit, a leading edge of a succeeding medium that subsequently enters the media storage unit may be caught on the motion strip of the preceding medium, causing a jam, resulting in a stack failure.

[0006] The conventional media storage unit is provided at a media entry side with a front plate that guides accumulation of media, and the front plate is provided with a stopper to press an entering medium toward a media accumulation space, and on the upper side of the media accumulation space, a bill stopper that blocks the movement of a leading edge of the medium having passed through the stopper may be additionally provided.

[0007] In addition, a free space (e.g., 10 mm) is formed between the stopper and the bill stopper in the total height (e.g., 87 mm) of the media storage space of the conventional media storage unit, and thus even with a motion strip attached to a preceding medium, a succeeding medium that is caught on the motion strip of the preceding medium may be released from the motion strip while moving together with the preceding medium by a height corresponding to the free space, which allows the media to be stacked to some extent in an aligned state.

[0008] However, when the length of the succeeding medium is long (e.g., UK 50 pounds at 85 mm), the height of a free space in which the succeeding medium is movable up to the bill stopper (e.g., 2 mm) is significantly reduced, and thus the succeeding medium caught on the motion strip of the leading medium may no longer be moved upward, resulting in jamming of the medium.

[0009] Therefore, there is a need for a method of stacking media in a media storage unit that may more stably accumulate media of multiple denominations to which motion strips are attached without causing jams.

[0010] The related art of a media storage unit of an automated teller machine is disclosed in Korean Registered Patent No. 10-1628481.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention is directed to providing a method of stacking media in a media storage unit that may prevent jamming of a succeeding bill entering the media storage unit caused by a motion strip attached to a preceding medium accumulated in the media storage unit.

[0012] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of stacking media in a media storage unit, the method comprising: receiving position information of a motion strip of a preceding medium accumulated in a media accumulation space; determining whether the motion strip of the preceding medium is located on a side facing a succeeding medium entering the media accumulation space; and when the motion strip of the preceding medium is located on the side facing the succeeding medium, changing an entry angle of the succeeding medium to prevent the succeeding medium from being caught on the motion strip of the preceding medium.

[0013] When the motion strip of the preceding medium is located on the side facing the succeeding medium, rotating a front plate, which guides accumulation of the succeeding medium, and a stopper, which presses the succeeding medium toward the preceding medium, to a position deviating from an entry path of the succeeding medium.

[0014] When the motion strip of the preceding medium is located on the side facing the succeeding medium, rotating the stopper in a direction in which the stopper deviates from the entry path of the succeeding medium, in which the front plate is rotated in a direction in which the stopper deviates from the entry path of the succeeding medium in conjunction with the rotation of the stopper.

[0015] Wherein, upon the front plate and the stopper being rotated in the direction in which the front plate and the stopper deviate from the entry path of the succeeding medium, the succeeding medium entering the media accumulation space makes contact, at a leading edge thereof, with a bill stopper provided at an upper side of the media accumulation space and then is accumulated on one side of the preceding medium loaded in the media accumulation space.

[0016] Wherein the position information of the motion strip of the preceding medium is provided using image information of media acquired from a discrimination unit provided in an automated teller machine.

[0017] When the preceding medium has no motion strip or the motion strip of the preceding medium is located on a side opposite to the side facing the succeeding medium, allowing, in a state in which the front plate is tilted toward the media accumulation space, the stopper to rotate toward the media accumulation space to press the succeeding medium toward the preceding medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing exemplary embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a stopper of a media storage unit according to the present invention which is arranged in a home position;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the stopper of the media storage unit according to the present invention which operates in the first mode;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the stopper of the media storage unit according to the present invention which operates in the second mode;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a front plate, a stopper, and a stopper driving unit provided in the media storage unit according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a control block diagram illustrating a media storage unit according to the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a method of stacking media in a media storage unit according to the present invention.

[Description of Reference Numerals]

[0019] 

100: media storage unit

110: media accumulation unit

111: feed roller

112: guide roller

113: stack sheet

120: front plate

121: front plate rotation shaft

121a: front plate rotation shaft coupling unit

122: damper

123: locking unit

130: push plate

140: guide unit

150: stopper

151: stopper rotation shaft

151a: stopper rotation shaft coupling unit

152: stopper body

153: stopper rib

154: detected piece

155: stopper rotation detection unit

160: stopper driving unit

161: motor

162: first pulley

163: first belt

164: second pulley

165: third pulley

166: second belt

167: fourth pulley

170: bill stopper

180: medium detection sensor

190: control unit

200: discrimination unit

P: medium

P1: preceding medium

P2: succeeding medium

M, M1: motion strip

S: media accumulation space

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, the configuration and operations of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, the configuration of a media storage unit 100 to which the present invention is applied will be described.

[0022] The media storage unit 100 includes a media accumulation unit 110 including a feed roller 111 and a guide roller 112 that are connected to a conveyance path and sandwich and transport media, and a stack sheet 113 striking a rear end of a medium that has entered a media accumulation space S toward the media accumulation space S, a front plate 120 provided on an upper side of the media accumulation space S to guide the medium that has passed through the media accumulation unit 110 into the media accumulation space S, a push plate 130 that supports the medium introduced into the media accumulation space S and moves back and forth, a guide unit 140 that supports a lower end of the medium introduced into the media accumulation space S, a stopper 150 rotatably provided on an upper side of the front plate 120 to press an entering medium toward the media accumulation space S, a stopper driving unit 160 for rotating the stopper 150, a bill stopper 170 provided at an upper side of the media accommodation space S to block the movement of the leading edge of the medium entering upward, and a medium detection sensor 180 provided on an entry side of the media storage unit 100 to detect a rear end of the medium passing through the entry side. Media P accumulated in the media accumulation space S may include a medium to which a motion strip M is attached.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the stopper 150 in a home position, FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the stopper 150 which operates in the first mode in which the stopper 150 is rotated forward toward the media accumulation space S. FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the stopper 150 which operates in the second mode in which the stopper 150 is rotated rearward away from the media accumulation space S.

[0024] The home position shown in FIG. 1 is a state in which, while the front plate 120 is rotated counterclockwise by a predetermined angle about a front plate rotation shaft 121 at a lower side thereof and thus tilted toward the media accumulation space S, the stopper 150 is rotated rearward, and media P loaded in the media accumulation space S are supported by a damper 122 provided on an upper side of the front plate 120. The damper 122 is provided on an upper side of the front plate 120 to apply an elastic force forward with an elastic member (not shown), and thus a leading edge of a medium entering the media accumulation space S makes contact with the damper 122, and absorbs shock upon contact, thereby reducing the entry speed of the medium and serving as a buffer.

[0025] The first mode shown in FIG. 2 represents a state in which, while the front plate 120 is rotated counterclockwise by a predetermined angle about the front plate rotation shaft 121 at the lower side thereof and thus tilted toward the media accumulation space S, the stopper 150 is rotated forward to press a succeeding medium P2, which has entered the media accumulation space S, toward a preceding medium P1, which is previously loaded, to temporarily hold the succeeding medium P2. In this state, the stack sheet 113 is rotated to strike the rear end of the succeeding medium P2 toward the media accumulation space S, allowing the succeeding medium P2 to be accumulated on one side of the preceding medium P1.

[0026] Such a first mode is an operation mode in which the stopper 150 is driven when a motion strip M1 is not present in the preceding medium P1 or a motion strip M1 of the preceding medium P1 is located on a side opposite to a side facing the succeeding medium P2.

[0027] In the second mode shown in FIG. 3, while the front plate 120 is rotated clockwise by a predetermined angle about the front plate rotation shaft 121 at the lower side thereof and thus is in a position erected away from the media accumulation space S, the stopper 150 is in a position rotated away from the media accumulation space S, and thus an entering succeeding medium P2 moves upward without interfering with the front plate 120 and the stopper 150 until a leading edge of the preceding medium P1 contacts the bill stopper 170, after which the preceding medium P1 is accumulated to a side of the media accumulation space S by rotation of the stack sheet 113.

[0028] Such a second mode is an operation mode in which the stopper 150 is driven when the motion strip M1 of the preceding medium P1 is located on the side facing the succeeding medium P2 to change an entry angle of the succeeding medium P2 different from that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to prevent the succeeding medium P2 from being caught on the motion strip M1 of the preceding medium P1. In this case, the succeeding medium P2 enters in such a direction that it avoids being caught on the motion strip M1, thereby preventing interference with the motion strip M1 of the preceding medium P1, and thus the succeeding medium P1 may be stably stacked without jamming.

[0029] The second mode is implemented as the front plate 120 is rotated together with the stopper 150 in the same rearward direction as the rotation of the stopper 150, in conjunction with the rotation of the stopper 150 driven by the stopper driving unit 160.

[0030] Hereinafter, the configuration of the front plate 120, the stopper 150, and the stopper driving unit 160 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

[0031] The front plate 120, in the states shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, serves to guide change of the entry path of the medium passing through the media accumulation unit 110 to a side of the media accumulation space S. The front plate 120 is provided at a lower end with a front plate rotation shaft coupling unit 121a into which the front plate rotation shaft 121 is inserted and coupled, and at an upper side with a stopper rotation shaft coupling unit 151a into which a stopper rotation shaft 151 is inserted and coupled. On an upper side of the front plate 120, a damper 122 formed by a portion of the front plate 120 protruding forward is provided, and on both sides of the damper 122, locking units 123 that are locked with a stopper rib 153 of the stopper 150, which will be described below, when the stopper rib 153 is rotated rearwards are formed.

[0032] The stopper 150 includes a stopper rotation shaft 151, a stopper body 152 coupled to the stopper rotation shaft 151, and a plurality of stopper ribs 153 extending from the stopper body 152 to press a medium. The stopper 150 is provided at one rear end of the stopper body 152 with a detected piece 154 protruding rearward, and also a stopper rotation detection unit 155 for detecting the position of the detected piece 154 and providing a detection signal for controlling rotation of the stopper 150.

[0033] The stopper driving unit 160 includes a motor 161, a first pulley 162 coupled to the shaft of the motor 161, a first belt 163 with one side connected to the first pulley 162, a second pulley 164 connected to the other side of the first belt 163 and coupled to the front plate rotation shaft 121, a third pulley 165 coupled to the front plate rotation shaft 121 on one side of the second pulley 164, a second belt 166 with one side connected to the third pulley 165, and a fourth pulley 167 connected to the other side of the second belt 166 and coupled to the stopper rotation shaft 151. The second pulley 164 and the third pulley 165 are each coupled to the front plate rotation shaft 121 via bearings, and the fourth pulley 167 is directly coupled to the stopper rotation shaft 151.

[0034] In the operation of the second mode shown in FIG. 3, when the motor 161 is driven, the stopper 150 rotates rearward with respect the stopper rotation shaft 151, and then, while the stopper rib 153 is locked with the locking unit 123 formed on the front plate 120, rotates further rearward, and the stopper rib 153 pushes the locking unit 123 rearward, allowing the front plate 120 to also be rotated rearward with respect to the front plate rotation shaft 121.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 7, position information of the motion strip M1 of the preceding medium P1 may be provided using image information of the media acquired from a discrimination unit 200 provided in an automated teller machine.

[0036] The position information of the motion strip M1 of the preceding medium P1 received from the discrimination unit 200 and a rear-end passage detection signal of the succeeding medium P2 detected by the medium detection sensor 180 are transmitted to a control unit 190, and the control unit 190 controls the stopper driving unit 160 to operate the stopper 150 in the above-described first mode or second mode based on the received information.

[0037] Hereinafter, a method of stacking media in a media storage unit according to the present invention is described with reference to FIG. 8. First, position information of a motion strip M1 of a preceding medium P1 accumulated in the media accumulation space S is received from the discrimination unit 200 (S11).

[0038] Based on the received position information of the motion strip M1 of the preceding medium P1, it is determined whether the motion strip M1 of the preceding medium P1 is located on a side facing a succeeding medium P2 entering the medium accumulation space S (S12).

[0039] When it is found as a result of the determination in operation S12 that there is no motion strip M1 in the preceding medium P1 or the motion strip M1 of the preceding medium P1 is located on a side opposite to the side facing the succeeding medium P2, the first mode is implemented as shown in FIG. 2 in which, while the front plate 120 is tilted toward the media accumulation space S, the stopper 150 is rotated toward the media accumulation space S to press the succeeding medium P2 toward the preceding medium P1 (S13). Then, the stack sheet 113 is rotated to stack the medium in the media accumulation space S (S14).

[0040] When it is found as a result of the determination in operation S12 that the motion strip M1 of the preceding medium P1 is located on the side facing the succeeding medium P2, the second mode is implemented as shown in FIG. 3 to change an entry angle of the succeeding medium P2 to prevent the succeeding medium P2 from being caught on the motion strip M1 of the preceding medium P1 (S15). That is, the front plate 120 and the stopper 150 are rotated to a position deviating from the entry path of the succeeding medium P2. In this case, rotating the stopper 150 in a direction in which the stopper deviates from the entry path of the succeeding medium P2 may cause the front plate 120 to be rotated in a direction in which the stopper deviates from the entry path of the succeeding medium P2 in conjunction with the rotation of the stopper 150.

[0041] Then, the stack sheet 113 is rotated to stack the medium in the media accumulation space S (S14). In this case, the succeeding medium P2 entering the media accumulation space S may, upon the leading edge thereof making contact with the bill stopper 170 provided on the upper side of the media accumulation space S, be accumulated on one side of the preceding medium P1 loaded in the media accumulation space S.

[0042] As described above, with the method of stacking media in a media storage unit of the present invention, jamming of the succeeding medium P2 caused by the motion strip M1 of the preceding medium P1 may be prevented, thereby improving the stacking performance of the media.

[0043] In addition, according to the present invention, even when a free space is not formed high in an upper portion of the media accumulation space S as it is in the conventional technology, jamming of media may be prevented by operating in the second mode, and thus the height of the free space provided in the upper portion of the media accumulation space S may be reduced, which allows for reduction in the size of the media storage unit 100.

[0044] With the method of stacking media in a media storage unit according to the present invention, jamming of a succeeding medium due to a motion strip of a preceding medium is prevented, thereby improving the stacking performance of the media. Additionally, the height of the free space provided at an upper side of a media storage space may be reduced, thereby reducing the size of the media storage unit.

[0045] Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, variations, and additions are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention, and thus these various modifications, variations, and additions fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of stacking media in a media storage unit, the method comprising:

receiving position information of a motion strip of a preceding medium accumulated in a media accumulation space;

determining whether the motion strip of the preceding medium is located on a side facing a succeeding medium entering the media accumulation space;
and

when the motion strip of the preceding medium is located on the side facing the succeeding medium, changing an entry angle of the succeeding medium to prevent the succeeding medium from being caught on the motion strip of the preceding medium.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when the motion strip of the preceding medium is located on the side facing the succeeding medium,
rotating a front plate, which guides accumulation of the succeeding medium, and a stopper, which presses the succeeding medium toward the preceding medium, to a position deviating from an entry path of the succeeding medium.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, when the motion strip of the preceding medium is located on the side facing the succeeding medium,
rotating the stopper in a direction in which the stopper deviates from the entry path of the succeeding medium, in which the front plate is rotated in a direction in which the stopper deviates from the entry path of the succeeding medium in conjunction with the rotation of the stopper.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, upon the front plate and the stopper being rotated in the direction in which the front plate and the stopper deviate from the entry path of the succeeding medium, the succeeding medium entering the media accumulation space makes contact, at a leading edge thereof, with a bill stopper provided at an upper side of the media accumulation space and then is accumulated on one side of the preceding medium loaded in the media accumulation space.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the position information of the motion strip of the preceding medium is provided using image information of media acquired from a discrimination unit provided in an automated teller machine.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when the preceding medium has no motion strip or the motion strip of the preceding medium is located on a side opposite to the side facing the succeeding medium, allowing, in a state in which the front plate is tilted toward the media accumulation space, the stopper to rotate toward the media accumulation space to press the succeeding medium toward the preceding medium.

Drawing