Large storage capacity storing and issuing module
A storing and issuing module ( 10 ) including a storage roller ( 50 ), a motor ( 60 ) associated with the storage roller ( 50 ), at least one transport tape ( 52 ) configured to wrap onto the storage roller ( 50 ) together with flexible documents, such as banknotes, conveyed in a conveying section provided with holding means ( 53, 54 ) actuatable for engaging flexible documents to be stored or issued with the transport tape ( 52 ), wherein the storing and issuing module ( 50 ) is capable of handling large storage capacity thanks to a mechanical layout that minimizes variations in the conveying section despite the great variations of the outer diameter of the storage roller due to the large capacity thereof.
1 . A storing and issuing module ( 10 ) comprising:
a storage roller ( 50 ) having an axis ( 55 ) and configured to store a group of flexible documents,
at least one bottom lever arm ( 75 ) that is configured to pivot about a front axis ( 32 ), wherein said at least one bottom lever arm ( 75 ) is provided with an end roller ( 74 ) rotatably connected to an end of said at least one bottom lever arm ( 75 ), and
at least one top rear lever arm ( 70 ) that is configured to pivot about a top rear axis ( 71 ), wherein said at least one top rear lever arm ( 70 ) includes: (1) a front portion ( 70 a ) that extends from the top rear axis ( 71 ) to an intermediate area of said at least one top rear lever arm ( 70 ), (2) a rear portion ( 70 b ), that extends from said intermediate area to a free end of said at least one top rear lever arm ( 70 ); and (3) a separating blade ( 77 ) provided at the free end,
wherein said at least one bottom lever arm ( 75 ) and said at least one top rear lever arm ( 70 ) are configured for independent pivoting so that both the end roller ( 74 ) and the separating blade ( 77 ) are configured to independently follow said an outer diameter of the storage roller ( 50 ), and
wherein a bottom surface of the rear portion ( 70 b ) defines a portion of a rear flexible document conveying channel through which the flexible documents are configured to move along, wherein said rear flexible document conveying channel is aligned with a front flexible document conveying channel through which the flexible documents are configured to move along an entry-exit path.
2 . A storing and issuing module ( 10 ) provided at its front side with an input port and comprising:
a storage roller ( 50 ) having an axis ( 55 ) and configured to store a group of flexible documents,
at least one bottom lever arm ( 75 ) and at least one top front lever arm ( 78 ) which are coupled to each other and are configured to pivot about a front axis ( 32 ), wherein said at least one bottom lever arm ( 75 ) and said at least one top front lever arm ( 78 ) are spaced from each other by a front gap defining a front flexible document conveying channel therebetween through which the flexible documents are configured to move along an entry-exit path, wherein said at least one bottom lever arm ( 75 ) is provided with an end roller ( 74 ) rotatably connected to an end of said at least one bottom lever arm ( 75 ), and
at least one top rear lever arm ( 70 ) that is configured to pivot about a top rear axis ( 71 ), wherein said at least one top rear lever arm ( 70 ) includes:
a front portion ( 70 a ), that extends from the top rear axis ( 71 ) to an intermediate area of said at least one top rear lever arm ( 70 ),
a rear portion ( 70 b ), that extends from said intermediate area to a free end of said at least one top rear lever arm ( 70 ); and
a separating blade ( 77 ) provided at the free end,
wherein said at least one bottom lever arm ( 75 ), said at least one top front lever arm ( 78 ) and said at least one top rear lever arm ( 70 ) are elastically pushed towards the storage roller ( 50 ) so that both the end roller ( 74 ) and the separating blade ( 77 ) are configured to follow an outer diameter of the storage roller ( 50 ),
wherein in any storage condition of the storage roller ( 50 ), the separating blade ( 77 ) is configured to touch an external surface of the storage roller ( 50 ), and
wherein a bottom surface of the rear portion ( 70 b ) is spaced apart from a top surface of said at least one bottom lever arm ( 75 ) by a rear gap defining a rear flexible document conveying channel therebetween through which the flexible documents are configured to move along said entry-exit path, wherein said rear flexible document conveying channel is aligned with said front flexible document conveying channel.
3 . The storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the front axis is an axis ( 32 ) of an input transport roller ( 31 ).
4 . The storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein said front flexible document conveying channel has a height ranging from 1.5 millimeters to 3.5 millimeters.
5 . The storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein said rear flexible document conveying channel has a height ranging from 1.5 millimeters to 3.5 millimeters.
6 . The storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein said rear flexible document conveying channel is at least partially overlapped with the front flexible document conveying channel.
7 . The storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein said at least one top rear lever arm ( 70 ) at least partially interpenetrates said at least one top front lever arm ( 78 ).
8 . The storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the front portion ( 70 a ) is curved.
9 . The storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein said rear flexible document conveying channel extends from said intermediate area of said at least one top rear lever arm ( 70 ) to the separating blade ( 77 ).
10 . The storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein said at least one bottom lever arm ( 75 ) has a substantially planar top surface, said at least one top front lever arm ( 78 ) has a substantially planar bottom surface, and the rear portion ( 70 b ) of said at least one top rear lever arm ( 70 ) has a substantially planar bottom surface.
11 . The storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the separating blade ( 77 ) is pivoted on a blade axis coupled to the rear portion ( 70 b ) and elastically pushed upwards.
12 . The storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , further including
at least one transport-tape ( 52 ) configured to wrap alternatively around the storage roller ( 50 ) and a feeding-roller ( 51 ), and
at least one pair of pinch-rollers ( 53 ; 54 ), including a bottom pinch-roller ( 53 ) and a top pinch-roller ( 54 ), which are configured to mutually shift between an engagement configuration at which they are configured to drag the flexible documents and a disengagement configuration at which they are spaced apart from each other, wherein said at least one transport-tape ( 52 ) is configured to be supported by the bottom pinch-roller ( 53 ) of said at least one pair of pinch-rollers ( 53 ; 54 ), that is configured to act as return roller, and wherein said at least one transport-tape ( 52 ) is placed between the bottom pinch-roller ( 53 ) and the top pinch-roller ( 54 ) of said at least one pair of pinch-rollers ( 53 ; 54 ).
13 . The storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 12 , wherein the bottom pinch-roller ( 53 ) and the top pinch-roller ( 54 ) are rotatably connected to said at least one bottom lever arm ( 75 ) and said at least one top front lever arm ( 78 ), respectively.
14 . The storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 12 , wherein the top pinch-roller ( 54 ) is elastically pushed against the bottom pinch-roller ( 53 ) and is configured to be moved upwards away from the bottom pinch-roller ( 53 ) under control of an electromagnet ( 79 ).
15 . The storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , further comprising at least one diverter ( 42 ) at the input port configured to allow the flexible documents to enter or exit from the storing and issuing module ( 10 ), whereby said entry-exit path is interposed between said at least one diverter ( 42 ) and said outer diameter of the storage roller ( 50 ).
16 . A flexible document receiving and dispensing device comprising:
a top body assembly for receiving and dispensing flexible documents, and
a bottom body assembly for storing flexible documents, the bottom body assembly comprising a safe having one or more housings and a transport mechanism for storing and issuing flexible documents,
wherein at least one of said one or more housings includes a storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 1 .
17 . The storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 16 , further including at least one pair of pinch-rollers ( 53 ; 54 ), including a bottom pinch-roller ( 53 ) and a top pinch-roller ( 54 ), which are configured to mutually shift between an engagement configuration at which they are configured to drag the flexible documents and a disengagement configuration at which they are spaced apart from each other, wherein said at least one transport-tape ( 52 ) is configured to be supported by the bottom pinch-roller ( 53 ) of said at least one pair of pinch-rollers ( 53 ; 54 ), that is configured to act as return roller, and wherein said at least one transport-tape ( 52 ) is placed between the bottom pinch-roller ( 53 ) and the top pinch-roller ( 54 ) of said at least one pair of pinch-rollers ( 53 ; 54 ).
18 . The storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 17 , wherein the bottom pinch-roller ( 53 ) and the top pinch-roller ( 54 ) are rotatably connected to said at least one bottom lever arm ( 75 ) and said at least one top front lever arm ( 78 ), respectively.
19 . The storing and issuing module ( 10 ) according to claim 16 , wherein the top pinch-roller ( 54 ) is elastically pushed against the bottom pinch-roller ( 53 ) and is configured to be moved upwards away from the bottom pinch-roller ( 53 ) under control of an electromagnet ( 79 ).