Media cassette
View Patent ↗A media cassette is described. The media cassette comprising: a media removal window at one end of the media cassette; a handle end at an opposite end of the cassette to the media removal window; and a pusher plate assembly. The pusher plate assembly includes: (i) a finger recess component, (ii) a pawl biased downwards to a low position, and (iii) an actuator coupled to both the pawl and the finger recess component and including a pivot. The actuator is moveable on insertion of a finger into the finger recess component to raise the pawl from the low position to a high position.
1. A media cassette comprising:
a media removal window at one end of the media cassette;
a handle end at an opposite end of the cassette to the media removal window; and
a pusher plate assembly including
(i) a finger recess component,
(ii) a pawl biased downwards to a low position,
(iii) an actuator coupled to both the pawl and the finger recess component and including a pivot, the actuator being moveable on insertion of a finger into the finger recess component to raise the pawl from the low position to a high position; and
(iv) an engagement projection defining one or more formations complementary to formations defined by a loading position detent located near the handle end of the media cassette.
2. A media cassette according to claim 1 , wherein the media cassette further comprises:
an urging member coupled to the pusher plate and operable to bias the pusher plate assembly towards the media removal window; and
a ratchet rack operable to prevent movement of the pawl towards the handle end when the pawl is in the low position and to allow movement of the pawl towards the media removal window.
3. A media cassette according to claim 2 , wherein the ratchet rack includes an unprofiled portion near the handle end to allow the pusher plate assembly to move towards the handle end when the pawl is located over the unprofiled portion.
4. A media cassette according to claim 1 , wherein the finger recess component is dimensioned to receive a plurality of fingers.
5. A media cassette according to claim 1 , wherein the pawl is slidably mounted in the pusher plate assembly to facilitate vertical sliding.
6. A media cassette according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement projection is integral with the finger recess component and extends therefrom towards the handle end of the media cassette.
7. A media cassette according to claim 6 , wherein the engagement projection aligns with, but is vertically offset from, the loading position detent when the finger recess component is depressed, and aligns and engages with the loading position detent when the finger recess component is released.
8. A media cassette according to claim 1 , wherein the finger recess component is slidably mounted in the pusher plate assembly and depresses one end of the actuator when the finger recess component is pushed downwards.
9. A media cassette according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a bevelled cross-section and includes a rear end extending at an angle from the front end, and defines pivot shafts at edges where the front end and rear end meet.
10. A media cassette according to claim 1 , wherein the media cassette further comprises a loading position detent held at a loading position by a retaining block, wherein the retaining block is displaced automatically on insertion of the media cassette into a media dispenser.
11. A media cassette according to claim 10 , wherein the loading position detent includes a barbed stub extending towards the pusher plate assembly.
12. A media cassette according to claim 1 , wherein the media cassette comprises a currency cassette for storing banknotes.
13. A media cassette according to claim 1 , wherein the media cassette comprises an automatic pusher plate release mechanism.
14. A media cassette according to claim 13 , wherein the media cassette comprises a cassette body and a removable lid, the removable lid defining a raised boss on an underside thereof, and at a location corresponding to a loading position when the lid is coupled to the cassette body.
15. A media cassette according to claim 14 , wherein the finger recess component defines a pad area on an upper surface thereof and aligning with the raised boss, so that closure of the removable lid exerts downwards pressure on the finger recess component via the pad area when the pusher plate assembly is located at the loading position, thereby releasing the pusher plate assembly from the loading position.
16. A media dispenser comprising:
a pick unit including a pair of tines for engaging with a media cassette; and
a media cassette according to claim 1 mounted in the pick unit.
17. A self-service terminal including the media dispenser of claim 16 .
18. A media cassette comprising:
a media removal window at one end of the media cassette;
a handle end at an opposite end of the cassette to the media removal window;
a pusher plate assembly including
(i) a finger recess component,
(ii) a pawl biased downwards to a low position, and
(iii) an actuator coupled to both the pawl and the finger recess component and including a pivot, the actuator being moveable on insertion of a finger into the finger recess component to raise the pawl from the low position to a high position; and
an urging member coupled to the pusher plate and operable to bias the pusher plate assembly towards the media removal window; and
a ratchet rack operable to prevent movement of the pawl towards the handle end when the pawl is in the low position and to allow movement of the pawl towards the media removal window.
19. A media cassette comprising:
a media removal window at one end of the media cassette;
a handle end at an opposite end of the cassette to the media removal window; and
a pusher plate assembly including
(i) a finger recess component,
(ii) a pawl biased downwards to a low position, and
(iii) an actuator coupled to both the pawl and the finger recess component and including a pivot, the actuator being moveable on insertion of a finger into the finger recess component to raise the pawl from the low position to a high position, wherein the actuator comprises a bevelled cross-section and includes a rear end extending at an angle from the front end, and defines pivot shafts at edges where the front end and rear end meet.
20. A media cassette comprising:
a media removal window at one end of the media cassette;
a handle end at an opposite end of the cassette to the media removal window;
a pusher plate assembly including
(i) a finger recess component,
(ii) a pawl biased downwards to a low position, and
(iii) an actuator coupled to both the pawl and the finger recess component and including a pivot, the actuator being moveable on insertion of a finger into the finger recess component to raise the pawl from the low position to a high position; and
a loading position detent held at a loading position by a retaining block, wherein the retaining block is displaced automatically on insertion of the media cassette into a media dispenser.