ATM currency dispenser with belt tensioning arrangement
View Patent ↗An ATM includes a currency note dispenser having a currency cassette, a note picker, a note transporter, and a note presenter. A cassette tambour door automatically opens during insertion of the cassette into the dispenser. The picker can pick notes through the opening. A spring loaded housing wall tab retains the picker shaft in mating connection with a drive pin. The transporter can move notes vertically and horizontally. The transporter includes belts between an idle shaft and a drive shaft. The idle shaft is vertically movable relative to a drive shaft to maintain belt tension. The transporter also includes convexly tapered rollers that automatically recenter a loose belt. A presenter gate is at a note dispensing outlet of the ATM. The gate is opened by actuating a lever linked with an arm connected to the gate. The gate opens by moving a pin upward in an angled slot.
1. Apparatus including:
a media dispenser,
wherein the dispenser is adapted for use in an automated banking machine,
wherein the dispenser includes a sheet transport arrangement,
wherein the transport arrangement includes a drive shaft having at least one drive roller in supporting connection therewith,
wherein the transport arrangement includes an idle shaft having at least one idle roller in supporting connection therewith,
wherein the idle shaft is spring loaded,
wherein the transport arrangement includes at least one belt respectively supported on a drive roller and an idle roller,
wherein the drive shaft is operative to drive the idle shaft via the at least one belt,
wherein the idle shaft is movable relative to the drive shaft to maintain the at least one belt in a state of tension.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the idle shaft is supported at each end in a respective slidable flange.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the dispenser includes a housing having slots, wherein each flange is slidable in a respective slot.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each flange is attached to a respective spring.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each spring is attached to a flange at one spring end, and wherein each spring is attached to a slidable block at an opposite spring end.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the idle shaft is associated with at least one ratchet device, wherein the at least one ratchet device prevents movement of the idle shaft toward the drive shaft.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the drive rollers and idle rollers have a concave outer circumferential surface configuration.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the drive rollers have a grooved outer circumferential surface.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the idle rollers have a generally smooth outer circumferential surface relative to the grooved surface of the drive rollers.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the dispenser includes a housing having a slotted opening, wherein an end of the drive shaft is removably mounted in the slotted opening.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the dispenser includes a housing cover, wherein the cover in a closed position is operative to retain the end of the drive shaft in the slotted opening.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the dispenser includes at least one guide roller adjacent the drive roller, wherein a guide roller extends at least partially between the drive roller and the idle roller, wherein the guide roller is operative to provide curvature to a belt supported on the drive roller and the idle roller.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transport arrangement is operative to transport currency notes intermediate the at least one belt and a transport wall, wherein the transport wall comprises aligned walls of stacked dispenser modules.
14. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one belt comprises at least three belts.
15. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the media dispenser comprises a currency dispenser in an automated teller machine (ATM), wherein the currency dispenser contains currency notes therein.
16. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transport arrangement comprises a currency note transport arrangement, wherein the currency note transport arrangement is operative to dispense currency notes from an automated teller machine (ATM).
17. A method carried out in connection with a media dispenser of an automated banking machine, wherein the media dispenser includes a sheet transport, wherein the sheet transport includes a drive shaft and at least one drive roller in supporting connection with the drive shaft, wherein the sheet transport includes an idle shaft and at least one idle roller in supporting connection with the idle shaft, wherein the sheet transport includes at least one belt, wherein in an operative condition of the sheet transport the at least one belt is in supporting connection with the at least one drive roller and the at least one idle roller, wherein the idle shaft is in operative connection with at least one spring, and wherein the idle shaft is movable relative to the drive shaft, the method comprising:
(a) placing the at least one belt in supporting connection with at least one drive roller and at least one idle roller;
(b) placing the at least one belt in a state of tension via the at least one spring;
(c) rotating the drive shaft to drive the at least one belt;
(d) responsive to (c), moving a sheet in engagement with the at least one belt;
(e) moving the idle shaft away from the drive shaft via the at least one spring to maintain the at least one belt in a state of tension.
18. An apparatus including:
an ATM including a currency dispenser,
wherein the dispenser includes a dispenser housing,
wherein the dispenser includes a sheet transport arrangement,
wherein the transport arrangement includes a drive shaft having at least three drive rollers thereon,
wherein the drive rollers have a concave grooved outer circumferential surface configuration,
wherein an end of the drive shaft is removably mounted in a slotted opening in the dispenser housing,
wherein a housing cover in a closed position is operative to retain the end of the drive shaft in the slotted opening,
wherein the transport arrangement includes a spring loaded driven shaft having at least three driven rollers thereon,
wherein the driven rollers have a concave non-grooved outer circumferential surface configuration,
wherein the driven shaft is supported at a first end in a first flange,
wherein the first flange is attached to at least one first spring,
wherein the first flange is slidable in a first slot in the dispenser housing,
wherein the driven shaft is supported at a second end in a second flange,
wherein the second flange is attached to at least one second spring,
wherein the second flange is slidable in a second slot in the dispenser housing,
wherein the transport arrangement includes at least three belts,
wherein each belt is supported on both a drive roller and a driven roller,
wherein the drive shaft is operative to drive the driven shaft via the belts,
wherein the springs are operative to cause the driven shaft to move away from the drive shaft to maintain the belts in tension.
19. Method comprising:
(a) placing at least one belt on a drive shaft and a spring loaded idle shaft of a media dispenser adapted for use in an automated banking machine, in a state of tension via the spring loading, wherein the drive shaft is operative to drive at least one idle roller in supporting connection with the idle shaft via the at least one belt, and wherein the drive shaft is in supporting connection with at least one drive roller;
(b) rotating the drive shaft and moving the at least one belt; and
(c) moving the idle shaft relative to the drive shaft via the spring loading to maintain the at least one belt in a state of tension.
20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the media dispenser includes a currency note transport arrangement, wherein the currency note transport arrangement is operative to dispense currency notes from an automated teller machine (ATM), wherein step (a) includes placing at least one belt of the currency note transport arrangement in a state of tension.