Money item dispensing apparatus
The application relates to money item dispensing apparatus ( 1, 123 ) having a money item acceptor ( 10, 124 ) and a hopper arrangement ( 23, 126 ). The application further relates to money item dispensing apparatus ( 1 ) having sorting means ( 15, 16, 17 ) operable to selectively direct a money item ( 12 ) to one of a first money item store ( 27 ) and a second money item store ( 142 ), to money item dispensing apparatus ( 139 ) having two hopper arrangements ( 23, 150 ), to a money item acceptor ( 10 ) having a self-clearing mechanism ( 37, 38 ), to a money item conveyor ( 160 ), to a method of purging the money items in a money item dispensing apparatus, to money item dispensing apparatus ( 1, 123, 139 ) having means for ejecting a money item from a receptacle through an outlet via a first path to a return tray and via a second path into a cashbox, to a method of filling a money item dispensing apparatus ( 180 ) and filling apparatus ( 170 ) for filling a money item dispensing apparatus ( 180 ).
1. Money item dispensing apparatus comprising a housing within which is included:
an accept path to receive money items that have passed through a money item acceptor operable to determine acceptability and denomination of money items presented thereto;
a first selectably drivable loop conveyor whose path includes a first money item receiving portion; and
a first money item store for receiving money items from the money item acceptor and for sequentially feeding a supply of money items to be dispensed into said money item receiving portion, the conveyor having a plurality of receptacles thereon, each of which is adapted to entrain, in use, a money item to be dispensed as the first conveyor passes through the supply thereof in the money item receiving portion and transport it to an exit point;
a second selectably drivable endless loop conveyor whose path includes a second money item receiving portion;
a second money item store for sequentially feeding a second supply of money items to be dispensed into said second money item receiving portion, the second conveyor having a plurality of receptacles thereon, each of which is adapted to entrain, in use, a money item to be dispensed as the second conveyor passes through the second supply thereof in the second money item receiving portion and transport it to an exit point; and
a sorter to receive inputs corresponding to the acceptability and denomination of the money items from the money item acceptor and in response thereto to selectively route the money items from the accept path to the first and second money item stores, wherein,
the first and second selectably drivable endless loop conveyors are arranged side-by-side.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , including a money item acceptor that comprises:
a signal source to produce a money item parameter signal as a function of a sensed characteristic of a money item; and
a first processor configured to determine when an occurrence of the parameter signal adopts a first predetermined value relationship and in response thereto to provide a first output signal corresponding to the acceptability of a money item.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a money item return path and an accept gate operable to direct a money item from the acceptor to one of said money item return path and money item accept path depending on the acceptability of the money item.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the accept gate is operable in response to the first output signal.
5. Apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the money item return path leads to a money item return tray.
6. Apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a second processor configured to provide a second output signal and wherein the sorter is configured to direct the money item in response to the second output signal.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the sorter is further configured to direct a money item to the first and second money item store selectively in dependence on the second output signal.
8. Apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the second output signal is dependent on the number of items in the first money item store.
9. Apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the second output signal is dependent on the number of items in the second money item store.
10. Apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the second output signal is dependent on the denomination of the money item.
11. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sorter is further operable to direct the money item to a cashbox.
12. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second money item stores each further comprise an ejector to eject money items from their respective receptacles through their respective exit points.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising an outlet sensor associated with said ejector, said outlet sensor being operable to detect a money item moving from one of the receptacles through the exit point.
14. Apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising means operable to direct money items leaving the receptacles via a first outlet path to a money item return tray and purging means operable to direct money items leaving the receptacles via a second outlet path to a cashbox.