US3701523A - Money-handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

A paper money dispensing device stores bills in stacked relation, successively separates the lowermost bill from the stack of bills, and moves the separated bills to an area where they can be dispensed to a patron. That paper money dispensing device automatically senses when two bills stick together and are simultaneously separated from the stack of bills; and it moves those bills to a storage area for safe-keeping, and then separates further bills from the stack of bills and moves those further bills to the area where they can be dispensed to a patron. Where that paper money dispensing device is used to dispense a fixed number of bills, that paper money dispensing device separates the said number of bills from the stack of bills during each cycle of operation and then dispenses the separated bills at the start of the next-succeeding cycle of operation; thereby providing prompt dispensing of the bills to be dispensed during the next-succeeding cycle of operation. Where that paper money dispensing device is used to dispense variable numbers of bills, that paper money dispensing device separates the desired number of bills from the stack of bills and promptly dispenses the separated bills. That paper money dispensing device dispenses all of the bills of the desired number of bills at the same instant, and it folds those bills as they are dispensed; thereby minimizing the likelihood that a patron would inadvertently fail to take all of the bills due him.

Description

United States Patent Erickson Oct. 31, 1972 [72] Inventor: Gustav F. Erickson, Hot Springs,

Ark.

[73] Assignee: U.M.C. Industries, Inc., St. Louis,

[22] Filed: July 16, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 55,501

[52] US. Cl. ..270/67, 221/36, 221/40, 270/80, 270/83 [51] lnt.Cl. ..Bh 45/18 [58] Field oiSearch ..270/-85,61, 270/67; 221/36, 38,40

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,295,005 9/1942 Peacock et al. ..221/38 2,932,426 4/1960 Hope et al. ..221/36 1,090,509 3/1914 Wild ..270/80 UX 2,089,342 8/1937 Conover ..270/80 2,072,937 3/1937 Beattie ..270/80 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner--L. R. Oremland Attorney-Rogers, Ezell, Eilers & Robbins [5 7 ABSTRACT A paper money dispensing device stores bills in stacked relation, successively separates the lowermost bill from the stack of bills, and moves the separated bills to an area where they can be dispensed to a patron. That paper money dispensing device automatically senses when two bills stick together and are simultaneously separated from the stack of bills; and it moves those bills to a storage area for safe-keeping, and then separates further bills from the stack of bills and moves those further bills to the area where they can be dispensed to a patron. Where that paper money dispensing device is used to dispense a fixed number of bills, that paper money dispensing device separates the said number of bills from the stack of bills during each cycle of operation and then dispenses the separated bills at the start of the next-succeeding cycle of operation; thereby providing prompt dispensing of the bills to be dispensed during the nextsucceeding cycle of operation. Where that paper money dispensing device is used to dispense variable numbers of bills, that paper money dispensing device separates the desired number of bills from the stack of bills and promptly dispenses the separated bills. That paper money dispensing device dispenses all of the bills of the desired number of bills at the same instant, and it folds those bills as they are dispensed; thereby minimizing the likelihood that a patron would inadvertently fail to take all of the bills due him.

21 Claims, 29 Drawing Figures 3,70 SHEET new 13 Q QT NS g\ wa sh Q PAIENIEDHcI a 1 I972 SHEET U7UF 13 PATENTED nor a 1 I972 sum 09 0F 13 PATENTEDBBTSI I972 SHEET IOUF 13 NNR PATENTEB W 31 I972 SHEET llUF 13 Q PAIENIEUncm m2 SHEET lEUF 13 MONEY-HANDLING DEVICE This invention relates to improvements in Money- Handling Devices. More particularly, this invention relates to improvement in a paper money dispensing device.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved paper money dispensing device.

It would be desirable to provide a paper money dispensing device which stores bills in stacked relation, because bills occupy a minimum of space when they are in stacked relation. While it is desirable to hold bills in stacked relation with a paper money dispensing device, it is necessary to withdraw bills from the stack of bills one at a time. The paper money dispensing device provided by the present invention stores bills in stacked relation; but it withdraws those bills from the stack of bills one at a time and then moves those bills to an area where they can be dispensed to a patron. That paper money dispensing device automatically senses when two bills stick together and are simultaneously separated from the stack of bills; and it moves those bills to a storage area for safe-keeping, and then separates further bills from the stack of bills and moves those further bills to the area where they can be dispensed to a patron. In moving any bills, which stick together, to a storage area for safe keeping, the paper money dispensing device keeps those bills from being dispensed/as a single bill -and thus protects the operator of a vending machine, incorporating the paper money dispensing device, from loss due to the dispensing of two bills as one. In separating further bills from the stack of bills, the paper money dispensing device makes it possible to dispense the desired number of bills, even though some bills in the stack of bills stick together. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a paper money dispensing device which stores bills in stacked relation, which withdraws bills from the stack of bills one at a time, which automatically senses when two bills stick together and are simultaneously separated from the stack of bills, which moves those bills to a storage area for safe keeping, and which then separates further bills from he stack of bills and moves those further bills to the area where they can be dispensed to a patron.

It would be desirable to provide a paper money dispensing device which could dispense bills promptly during each cycle of operation thereof; and the present invention provides such a paper money dispensing device. Where the paper money dispensing device is used to dispense a fixed number of bills, thatpaper money dispensing device separates the saidnumber of bills from the stack of bills during each cycle of operation and then dispenses the separated bills at the start of the next-succeeding cycle of operation. Where that paper money dispensing device is used to dispense variable numbers of bills, that paper money dispensing device separates the desired number of bills from the stack of bills and then dispenses the separated bills. In both events, the paper money dispensing device promptly dispenses bills during each cycle of operation thereof. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a paper money dispensing device which promptly dispenses bills during each cycle of operation thereof.

It would be desirable to provide a paper money dispensing device which could dispense all of the bills of a desired number of bills at the same instant, and which could fold those bills as they were dispensed. The paper money dispensing device provided by the present invention separates each of the bills of a desired number of bills from the stack of bills and moves each of those bills to an area where they can be dispensed to a patron; and then it simultaneously dispenses all of those bills to the patron folding those bills as it does so. In simultaneously dispensing all of the bills of a desired number of bills, and in folding those bills as it does so, the paper money dispensing device provided by the present invention minimizes the likelihood that a patron would inadvertently fail to take all of the bills due him. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a paper money dispensing device which separates each of the bills of a desired number of bills from the stack of bills and moves each of those bills to an area where they can be dispensed to a patron, and then simultaneously dispenses all of those bills to the patron folding those bills as it does so.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description two preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one preferred embodiment of paper money dispensing device that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, as that paper money dispensing device appears when the cover thereof has been removed.

FIG. 2 is a partially broken-away, elevational view of the right-hand side of the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a partially broken-away, rear elevational view of the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the left-hand side of the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is a partially broken-away, sectional view through the paper money dispensing device of FIG. I, and it is taken along the broken plane indicated by the broken line 6-6 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 7 is a partially broken-away, sectional view through the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 7--7 in FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a partially broken-away, sectional view through the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the planeindicated by the line 8-8 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 9 is a sectional view through the front portion of the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1,

and it is taken along the broken plane indicated by the broken line 9-9 in FIG. 8,

FIG. is a sectional view which is generally similar to the sectional view shown in FIG. 9, but it shows the ejection plate of the paper money dispensing device in bill-dispensing position,

FIG. 11 is a sectional view through the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 11-11 in FIG. 10,

FIG. 12 is a sectional view through the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 12-12 in FIG. 10,

FIG. 13 is a sectional view which is generally similar to the sectional view shown in FIG. 12, but it shows the ejection plate of the paper money dispensing device in its normal position,

FIG. 14 is a sectional view through the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 6-6 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 15 is a sectional view through the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 6-6 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 16 is a sectional view through the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1 and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 16-16 in FIG. 7,

FIG. 17 is a sectional view which is generally similar to the sectional view shown in FIG. 16, but it shows a bill holding the actuator of the switch of FIG. 17 in its lower position,

' FIG. 18 is a sectional view through the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 18-18 in FIG. 6,

FIG. 19 is a sectional view through the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 19-19 in FIG. 18,

FIG. 20 is a sectional view through the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG; 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 20-20 in FIG. 18,

FIG. 21 is a sectional view through the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 21-21 in FIG. 20,

FIG. 22 is a sectional view through the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 22-22 in FIG. 20,

FIG. 23 is a broken away, sectional view of part of the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 22-22 in FIG. 20,

'FIG. 24 is a sectional view of the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1 with some parts removed, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 22-22 in FIG. 20,

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of one preferred electrical circuit for the embodiment of paper money dispensing device shown in FIGS. 1-24,

FIG. 26 is a diagrammatic showing of a second preferred embodiment of the paper money dispensing device provided by the present invention,

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of one preferred electrical circuit for the embodiment of paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 26,

FIG. 28 is a rear elevational view of part of the second preferred embodiment of paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 26, and

FIG. 29 is a sectional view through the second preferred embodiment of paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 26, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 29-29 in FIG. 28.

COMPONENTS OF PAPER MONEY DISPENSING DEVICE OF FIGS. l-24 Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 50 denotes the front wall of one preferred embodiment of paper money dispensing device that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention. As shown particularly by FIG. 4, that front wall has a large rectangular notch 52 in the upper right-hand corner thereof, has a small rectangular opening 54 in the lower left-hand corner thereof, and has a narrow, elongated, vertically-directed slot 56 adjacent the center of the lower portion thereof. An L- shaped stop 55 is fixedly secured to the inner surface of the lower portion of the front wall 50 to the right of the narrow, elongated, vertically-directed slot 56, as shown by FIG. 8, and a similar stop 57 is fixedly secured to the inner surface of the lower portion of that front wall to the left of the narrow, elongated, vertically-directed slot 56.

As shown by FIG. 1, a side wall 58 has a verticallydirected flange 60 at the front edge thereof which abuts the rear face of the left-hand edge of the front wall 50; and that flange has a notch 61 therein adjacent the lower end thereof, as shown by FIGS. 5, l2 and 13. The side wall 58 has a horizontally-directed flange 62 at the bottom thereof, as shown by FIG. 5; and it has a vertically-directed flange 64 extending inwardly from the rear edge thereof, as shown by FIG. 1. The bottom of the flange 64 is spaced a considerable distance above the level of the bottom of the wall 58; and the bottom edge of that flange is curved forwardly, as shown particularly by FIG. 6.

A circular opening 65 is formed in the wall 58, about midway between the top and bottom edges of that wall and to the right of the midpoint of that wall, as that wall is viewed in FIG. 6. An L-shaped bracket 66, with an opening in the horizontally-directed portion thereof, is secured to the outer face of wall 58 adjacent the upper right-hand corner of that wall, as that wall is viewed in FIG. 5. A similar bracket 68, with an opening in the horizontally-directed portion thereof, is secured to the outer face of wall 58 adjacent the lower right-hand corner thereof, as thatwall is viewed in FIG. 5. The axes of the openings in the horizontally-directed portions of the L-shaped brackets 66 and 68 are aligned so they can telescope over a fixed pivot, not shown, in a vending machine or the like. A pin 70 is secured to and projects outwardly from the wall 58, and that pin is located in the upper left-hand portion of that wall, as that wall is viewed in FIG. 5. A pivot 72 is secured to the wall 58 below, and just a short distance to the right of, the pin 70; and a pivot 74 is secured to the wall 58 below the level of, and to the left of, the pivot 72. A pin 76 is disposed below the level of, and an appreciable distance to the right of, the pivot 72; and a pin 78 is disposed above the level of, and to the right of, the pin 76. A bushing 79 is mounted in an opening in the wall 58; and that bushing is disposed below the level of, and to the left of, the pin 76. An elongated roller 80 has one end thereof rotatably mounted in an opening in the wall 58 adjacent the lower right-hand portion of that wall, as that wall is viewed in FIG. 5. A circular opening 81 is provided in the wall 58 below the level of, and to the right of the pivot 72, as that wall is viewed in FIG. 5; and that opening is immediately above the opening 65, as shown by FIG. 6. A slot 82 is provided in the wall 58 below the level of, and to the right of, the pin 76; and a horizontally-directed flange 90 extends along the bot- 7 tom edge of the wall 84, as shown by FIG. 2; and a vertically-directed flange 92 is bent forwardly, as indicated by FIG. 2; and the bends in the bottom edges of the flanges 64 and 92 are essentially identical.

An elongated roller 94 has one end thereof rotatably mounted in an opening in the wall 84 adjacent the lower left-hand portion of that wall, as that wall is viewed in FIG. 2. A pin 96 is secured to the wall 84 above the level of, and an appreciable distance to the right of, the pivot 94; and a pin 98 is secured to that wall below the level of, and to the right of, the pin 96. A

pin 100 is secured to the wall 84 adjacent the upper right-hand corner of that wall, as that wall is viewed in FIG. 2; and a pivot 102 is secured to that wall below the level of, and slightly to the left of, the pin 100. A pivot 104 is secured to the wall 84 below the level of, and to the right of, the pivot 102. A bushing 106 is mounted in an opening in the wall 84 below the level of, and to the right of, the pin'98. A slot 110 is located in the wall 84 below the level of, and to the left of, the bushing 106; and a slot 112 is formed in that wall above the level of the slot 110. A circular opening 114 is located in the wall 84 above the level of, and an appreciable distance to the right of, the slot 112; and a larger circular opening 116 is formed in that wall below the level of the opening 114.

The numeral 118 denotes the bottom of the paper money dispensing device shown in FIG. 1; and that bottom is a flat plate which abuts the bottom faces of the flanges 62 and 90, respectively, of the walls 58 and 84. Machine screws suitably secure the side walls 58 and 84 to the front wall 50 and to the bottom 118. A partition 120, which is shown particularly by FIGS. 3 and 6, extend between the upper portions of the side walls 58 and 84; and it is secured to those side walls by machine screws. The partition 120 coacts with the side walls 58 and 84, the front wall 50, and the bottom 118 to constitute a strong and rugged frame for the paper money dispensing device shown in FIGS. 1-24.

The partition 120 has a flange 122 at the top thereof; and a cover 124 extends forwardly from that flange to overlie the front of the paper money dispensing device. The cover 124 has a flange 126 extending downwardly over the topedge of the front wall 50, as shown by FIGS. 4 and 6 it has a flange 128 extending downwardly over part of the top edge of the side wall 58, as shown by FIG. 5, and it has a flange 130extending downwardly over part of the top edge of the wall 84, as shown by FIG. 2. A short slot 132 is formed in the cover 124, as shown by FIG. 6; and a large rectangular notch 134 is provided in that cover adjacent the large rectangular notches 52 and 86, respectively, in front wall 52 and in side wall 86.

The numeral 136 denotes a vertically-directed guide which has a horizontally-directed foot 138 secured to the bottom 118 of the paper money dispensing device adjacent the front wall 50. The upper edge 140 of the guide 136 is arcuate, and it curves upwardly and to the left in FIG. 8. A brace 142 is secured to the rear face of the front wall 50 and to the left-hand face of the guide 136, as that guide is viewed in FIG. 8. A bracket 144 has a vertically-directed portion secured to the lefthand face of the guide 136 in FIG. 8, has a horizontallydirected portion which extends to the left from that guide, and has a second vertically-directed portion which extends upwardly from the horizontally-directed portion and has an opening therein to accommodate the inner end of the elongated roller 94, as shown particularly by FIG. 8. The numeral 146 denotes a vertically-directed guide which has a horizontally-directed foot 148 secured to the bottom 118 adjacent the front wall 50. The guide 146 is in register with, but spaced at short distance away from, the guide 136; and the arcuate upper edge 150 of the guide 146 curves upwardly and away from the arcuate upper edge 140 of the guide 136, as shown by FIGS. 2, 12 and 13. A slot 151 is provided in the lower portion of the arcuate upper edge, and in the upper portion of the vertically-directed section, of the guide 146; and that slot is shown particularly by FIG. 7. A bracket 152 has a vertically-directed portion secured to the right-hand face of the guide 146 in FIG. 8, has a horizontally-directed portion which extends to the right from that guide, and has a second vertically-directed portion which extends upwardly from the horizontally-directed portion and has an opening therein to accommodate the inner end of the elongated roller 80, as shown by FIG. 8. The confronting faces of the guides 136 and 146 define a narrow, verticallydirected space which is squarely in register with the narrow, elongated, vertically-directed slot 56 in the front wall 50.

The numeral 154 denotes a pivot which is secured to the outer face of the guide 136, as shown by FIGS. 6 and 8. That pivot rotatably supports an L-shaped lever 156 which has an ear with an opening therein at the bottom of the vertically-directed arm thereof, and which has a roller 157 rotatably secured to the end of the horizontally-directed arm thereof by a pivot 155. A solenoid 158, which is referred to as the bill reject solenoid, is bolted to the bottom 118 at a point disposed to the right of the guide 136, as that solenoid and guide are viewed in FIG. 6. The armature 160 of that solenoid is connected to the ear at the bottom of the verticallydirected arm of the L-shaped lever 156 by a helical extension spring 162.

The numeral 166 denotes a horizontally-directed wall that is located in the lower right-hand portion of FIG. 6; and that wall extends between and is secured to the rear portions of the side walls 58 and 84. That horizontally-directed wall has a flange 168 which abuts the wall 84 and it has a flange 170 which abuts the wall 58, as shown by FIG. 3. An ear 172 extends upwardly from the rear edge of the horizontally-directed wall 166, adjacent the center of that edge; and an opening in that car accommodates a resilient stop 174, as shown by FIGS. 3 and 6. The front edge 176 of the horizontally-directed wall 166 inclines upwardly and to the left in FIG. 6; and it extends over the solenoid 158. A solenoid 178 is bolted to the upper surface of the horizontally-directedwall 166-, and that solenoid is referred to as the bill feed solenoid. The armature 180 of the solenoid 178 can move between a position where it abuts the core of that solenoid and the position shown by FIG. 6 where it abuts the resilient stop 174. A pin 181 connects the armature 180- with a link 182 which has the right-hand end thereof extending through a slot 192 in a connecting plate 188 that has the opposite ends thereof secured to crank arms 184 and 186, as shown by FIG. 3. The lower edge of the connecting plate 188 has a flange 190 thereon to stiffen that connecting plate. A pin 194 which is longer than the slot 192 is wide, is held within an opening in that portion of the link 182 which extends rearwardly through the slot 192. Thatpin will prevent accidental separation of the link 182 from the connecting plate 188, and it will respond to energization of the bill feed solenoid 178 to pull the lower end of the connecting plate-188 to the left in FIG. 6.

The crank arm 184 is rotatably mounted on the pivot 74, as shown by FIG. and the crank arm 186-is rotatably mounted on the pivot 104, as shown by FIG. 2. The pivots 74 and 104 are coaxial; and hence the crank arms 184 and 186 will rotate about the same axis. The connecting plate 188 and the crank arms 184 and 186 constitute a rigid structure which is generally U- shaped in plan and which extends around the rear portions of the side walls 58 and 84. A bushing 196 is secured to the crank arm 184, as shown by FIG. 3; and a similar bushing 198 is secured to the crank arm 186, as shown by FIG. 3. Those bushings are coaxial; and they rotatably support an elongated roller 200 which has a sleeve 202 thereon made from a material which has a high coefficient of frinction. The roller 200 extends through the circular openings 65 and 116, respectively, in the walls 58 and 84; and those circular openings permit the crank arms. 184 and 186 to move that roller, and the sleeve 202 thereon, in an arcuate path relative to the axis defined by the pivots 74 and 104. A sprocket wheel 204 is fixedly secured to that end of the roller 200 which projects outwardly from the bushing 196, and hence that sprocket wheel is adjacent the outer face of the wall 58, as shown by FIGS. 1 and 3. The weight of the roller 200 and the weight of the sprocket wheel 204 act to bias the crank arm 184 and the connecting plate 188 for rotation in the clockwise direction in FIG. 5 and act to bias the crank arm 186 and the connecting plate 188 for rotation in the counter-clockwise direction in FIG. 2. Normally, the crank arm 186 and the connecting plate 188 will be in the solid-line position shown in FIG. 2; but they will respond to the pull, which the link 182 and the pin 194 apply to that connecting plate as the bill feed solenoid 178 is energized, to rotate to the dotted-line position shown by FIG. 2.

The numeral 206 denotes a horizontally-directed wall which serves as the floor of a currency receptacle 207 for stacked bills; and that wall is shown at the right of FIG. 6. The upper rear portions of the walls 58 and 84 define the sides of that currency receptacle, the partition 120 defines the front of that currency receptacle, and the flanges 64 and 92, respectively, 'on the rear edges of the walls 58 and 84 define the rear of that currency receptacle. The wall 206 has flanges 208 and 210 which abut the walls 84 and 58, respectively, as shown by FIG. 3. A slot, not shown, is provided in the wall 206; and that slot is parallel to the walls 58 and 84. The numeral 222 denotes an L-shaped bracket which has the horizontally-directed portion thereof secured to the I under surface of the wall 206, as shown by FIG. 3; and a switch 224,.that isreferred to as the empty switch, is secured to the vertically-extending portion of that bracket. The actuator 226 of that switch extends upwardly through the slot in the horizontally-directed wall 206. Whenever a stack 228 of bills is disposed within the currency receptacle 207, the lowermost bill of that stack will hold the actuator 226 in its lower position; and, whenever that actuator is held in that position, the movable contact of the switch 224 will be in engagement with the left-hand fixed contact of that switch, as shown by FIG. 25.'I-Iowever, whenever all of the bills have been dispensed from the currency receptacle 207, the actuator 226 will move to the upper position indicated by FIGS. 3 and 6; and, at such time, the movable contact of the switch 224 will be in engagement with the right-hand fixed contact of that switch.

The numeral 230 denotes a flat plate which is shown in the right-hand portion of FIG. 6; and that plate is dimensioned to fit within the currency receptacle 207. That plate has a tab 231 at the rear edge thereof; and a notch 232 in one side of that tab accommodates the inner edge of the flange 64 while a notch 234 in the opposite side of that tab accommodates the inner edge of the flange 92. The notches 232 and 234 coact with the confronting edges of the flanges 64 and 92, respectively, to prevent accidental separation of the plate 230 from the currency receptacle 207 while permitting that plate to move vertically relative to that currency receptacle. The plate, 230 serves as a weight to urge the lowermost bill of the stack 228 of bills against the wall 206. A slot 236 is provided in the plate 230; and that slot is in register with the slot, not shown, in the horizontally-directed wall 206. Whenever the currency receptacle 207 is devoid of all currency, the actuator 226 of the switch 224 will extend upwardly through the slot 236 as well as through the corresponding slot in the wall 206.

The numeral 246 denotes a lever which is rotatably mounted on the pivot 72 in the upper left-hand portion of FIG. 5; and the lower end of that lever has an opening therein which receives one end of an elongated rod 250. A C-washer 252 seats in an annular groove in the end of the rod 250 to prevent accidental separation of I that rod from the lever 246. The numeral 248 denotes a lever which is rotatably mounted on the pivot 102 in the upper right-hand portion of FIG. 2; and the lower end of that lever has an opening therein which receives the other end of the elongated rod 250. A nut 254 is threaded onto that other end of the rod 250 to prevent accidental separation of that rod from the lever 248. The rod 250 has an enlarged-diameter portion 256 adjacent the center thereof; and a sleeve 258 of a material which has a high coefficient of friction is telescoped over that enlarged-diameter portion. The sleeve 258 is in register with the sleeve 202 on the rotatably mounted, elongated roller 200; and, whenever the crank arm 186 is rotated from the solid-line position to the dotted-line position in FIG. 2, the sleeve 202 on the roller 200 will engage the sleeve 258. A helical extension spring 260 has the upper end thereof hooked around the pin 70, and has the lower end thereof hooked in an opening in the upper end of the lever 246, as shown particularly by FIG. 5. A helical extension spring 262 has the upper end thereof hooked around the pin 100, and has the lower end thereof hooked in an opening in the upper end of the lever 248, as shown by FIG. 2. Those helical extension springs urge the ends of the elongated rod 250 downwardly toward the lower edges of the circular openings 81 and 114, in the walls 58 and 84, respectively. However, those springs can yield and permit that rod to be moved upwardly when the sleeve 202 on the roller 200 presses against the sleeve 258 on the enlarged central portion 256 of that rod.

The numeral 264 denotes an inclined guide which is suitably secured to the forward face of the partition 120, as shown particularly by FIG. 6. The central portion of the upper edge of that inclined guide is cutaway, as indicated by the numeral 265 in FIG. 6, to permit unimpeded upward movement of the sleeve 258 whenever that sleeve is engaged and moved upwardly by the sleeve 202 on the roller 200.

The numeral 266 denotes an elongated roller which is shown to the left of the roller 200 in FIG. 6; and the roller 266 is rotatably held by the bushing 79 in the wall 58 and by the bushing 106 in the wall 84. An elongated roller 268 is shown to the left of the roller 266 in FIG. 6; and the roller 268 has one end thereof rotatably mounted in an opening in the wall 58 and has the other end thereof rotatably mounted in an opening in the wall 84. The roller 268 is parallel to the rollers 250 and 266, as indicated by FIG. 7; and that roller has V-shaped annular grooves 270, 272, 274 and 276 therein. The V- shaped groove 270 is spaced a short distance inwardly from the wall 58, and the groove 276 is spaced a short distance inwardly from the wall 84, as shown'by FIG. 7. The V-shaped grooves 272 and 274 are spaced inwardly, respectively, from the grooves 270 and 276; and an annular groove 278 of rectangular cross section is provided in the roller 268 intermediate the grooves 270 and 272. The portion of the roller 268 which is intermediate the grooves 272 and 274 has two spaced annular areas 280 and 282 which have knurling thereon. That knurling is intended to give those annular areas a high coefficient of friction.

A sprocket wheel 284 is fixedly secured to that portion of the roller 268 which extends through and projects beyond the wall 58, as shown by FIG. 7. A second sprocket wheel 286 also is fixedly secured to that portion of that roller; and that second sprocket wheel is disposed outwardly of the sprocket wheel 284, as shown by FIG. 7. A sprocket wheel 288 is fixedly secured to that portion of the roller 268 which extends through and projects beyond the wall 84, as shown by FIG. 7. The teeth of the sprocket wheel 286 are in register with the teeth of the sprocket wheel 204, as shown by FIG. 7.

The numeral 290 denotes an Lshaped bracket which is shown in the upper left-hand portion of FIG. 7; and that bracket has the horizontally-directed portion secured to the bottom 118, as shown by FIGS. 16 and 17. A switch 292, that is referred to as the bill reject holding switch, is secured to the vertically-directed portion of the L-shaped bracket 290; and the actuator of that switch normally extends into the annular groove 278 in the roller 268, as shown by FIG. 16. However, that actuator can be moved into the moved position shown in FIG. 17. Whenever the actuator 294 is lodged within the groove 278 in the roller 268, the switch 292 will be open; but that switch will close whenever that actuator 294 is moved out of the groove 278.

The numerals 296, 298, 300 and 302 denote endless belts, of circular cross section, which are resilient in nature; and those belts are shown in FIG. 7. The endless belt 296 passes around the elongated roller 266 and through the groove 270 in the roller 268; and the endless belt 298 extends around the roller 266 and through the groove 272 in the roller 268. The endless belt 300 extends around the roller 266 and through the groove 274 in the roller 268; and the endless belt 302 extends around the roller 266 and through the groove 276 in the roller 268. Notches are formed in the inclined front edge 176 of the horizontal wall 166, as shown by FIG. 7; and those notches accommodate the lower runs of the endless belts 296, 298, 300 and 302.

The numeral 304 denotes an elongated roller which has four V-shaped grooves, not shown, that are in register with the four V-shaped grooves 270, 272, 274 and 276 in the elongated roller 268. The roller 306 is parallel to and disposed below the level of the roller 268; and, as indicated by FIGS. 6 and 16, the roller 304 is normally spaced an appreciable distance below the roller 268. However, as indicated by FIGS. 15 and 17, the roller 304 can be moved upwardly until it is very close to the roller 268. As indicated particularly by FIGS. 16 and 17, the roller 304 has an annular groove 306 therein which is rectangular in cross section and which is in register with the annular groove 278 in the roller 268; and the annular groove 306 will accommodate the end of the actuator 294 of switch 292 whenever that end is moved out of the annular groove 278 in the roller 268, as shown by FIG. 16. A resilient, endless belt 308, of circular cross section, extends around the roller and through the groove, not shown, in the roller 304 which is in register with the groove 270 in the roller 268; and a resilient, endless belt 310, of circular cross section, extends around the roller 80 and through the groove, not shown, in the roller 304 which is in register with the groove 272 in the roller 268. A resilient, endless belt 312, of circular cross section, extends around the roller 94 and through the groove, not shown, in the roller 304 which is in register with the groove 274 in the roller 268; and a resilient, endless belt 314 extends around the roller 94 and through the groove, not shown, in the roller 304 which is in register with the groove 276 in the roller 268. One end of the roller 304 is held in an opening in the lower end of a lever 316 which has the upper end thereof rotatably held by the outer end of the roller 80, as shown by FIG. 5. Suitable fasteners, such as C- washers, prevent accidental separation of the lever 316 from the ends of the rollers 80 and 304. The other end of the roller 304 is held in an opening in the lower end of a lever 318 which has the upper end thereof rotatably suppored by the outer end of the roller 94, as shown by FIG. 2. Suitable fasteners, such as C-washers, prevent accidental separation of the lever 318 from the rollers 94 and 304.

The numeral 320 denotes an elongated rod which has one end thereof extending through the slot 82 in the wall 58, as shown by FIG. 5, and which has the other end thereof extending through the slot 1 12 in the wall 84, as shown by FIG. 2. A narrow roller 322, which is shown in FIG. 7 and which has a surface with a high coefficient of friction, is rotatably mounted on the rod 320 in register with the knurled area 280 on the roller 268. A narrow roller 324, which is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7- andwhich has a surface with a high coefficient of friction, is rotatably mounted on the rod 320 in register with the knurled area 282 on the roller 268. A ball bearing 326,.which is shown in FIG. 7, has the inner slot limits rotation of the lever 336 about the pivot 334;

the wall 58, as shown by FIG. 5; and one end of that I spring bears against the under surface of the pin 78,

' while the other end of that spring extends into an annular groove adjacent that end of the rod 320 which projects through the slot 82 in the wall 58. A torsion spring 330 is wound around the pin 98 on the wall 84, as shown by FIG. 2; and one end of that spring bears against the under face of the pin-96, while the other'end of that spring extends into an annular groove adjacent that end of the rod 320 which extends through the opening 112 in the wall 84. The torsion springs 328 and 330 urge the rollers 322 and 324 into engagement, respectively, with the knurled areas 280 and'282 on the roller 268. However, those springs can yield to permit the rollers 322 and 324 to be raised upwardly by bills passing between the confronting surfaces of those rollers and the knurled areas 280and 282 on the roller 268. The inner diameter of the inner race of the ball bearing 326 is large enough to permit the rod 320 to move short distances relative to the slots 82 and 112, respectively, in the walls 58 and 84 without moving that ball bearing. Also, that ball bearing can move short distances, and thus can cause rotation of the lever 336, without engaging the rod 320. I

The upwardly-extending arm 340 of the lever 336 has an car 342 thereon, as shown by FIG. 1; and that ear has threaded openings therein which receive the shanks of set screws 344 and 346. Lock nuts 345 are disposed at the forward face of the ear 342, and those lock nuts coact with the threaded openings in that ear 7 in the partition and which is shown by FIG. 3, to

adjust the set screws 344 and 346; and then the lock nuts 345 are suitably tightened to hold those set screws fixed relative to the ear 342. A pin 349 is secured to the partition 332, as indicated by FIG. 6; and a pin 351 is mounted on the upper arm 340 of the lever 336. A helical extension spring 353 has one end thereof hooked around the pin 349 and has the other end thereof hooked around the pin 351; and that helical extension spring biases thelever 336 for rotation in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 6. However, that spring can yield to permit that lever to rotate in the clockwise direction vwhen a bill is passed between the outer race of the ball bearing 326 and the adjacent surface of the roller 268.

The numeral 348 denotes a vertically-directed plate which is secured to the upper edge of the forward end of the partition 332 by screws, as shown by FIG. 6. The upper end of that plate supports a switch 350 and a switch 352; and the-switch 350 is referred to as the double bill detection switch, while the switch 352 is referred to as the bill counting switch. A plate 355 of insulation is interposed between the plate 348 and one side of the switch 352; and the switch 350 abuts the other side of that switch, as shown by FIG. I. A ferrule 357 of relatively-stiff plastic material is pressed or threaded onto the end of the shank of the set screw 346, and a similar ferrule 359 is pressed or threaded onto the end of the shank of the set screw 344. Those ferrules have plane faces which are larger than the end faces of the shanks of the set screws 346 and 344, and the plane faces of those ferrules are in register with the actuatorsof the switches 350 and 352. The switch 350 is normally held open by the set screw 346 and the ferrule 357; and the switch 352 is normally held open by the set screw 344 and the ferrule 359. As shown particularly by FIG. 1, the actuator of the switch 350 is further in its retracted position than is the actuator of the switch 352; and hence the switch 352 will close" before the switch 350 closes when the upper arm 340 of the lever 336 moves the set screws 344 and 346 away from the actuators of those switches. The set screws 344 will be set so the switch 352 will close whenever a single bill passes between the roller 268 and the outer race of the ball bearing 326; and the set screw 346 will be set so the switch 350 will remain open when a single bill passes between the roller 268 and the outer race of the ball bearing 326 but will close when two or more bills simultaneously pass between that roller; and that outer race.

The numeral 354 denotes an electric motor which is equipped with a gear housing 356; and that gear housing is secured to the wall 84, as shown by FIG. 1. That the teeth on the sprocket wheel 288, as shown by FIG S.

1 and 2. A sprocket chain 364 meshes with the teeth on the sprocket wheel 286 and also meshes with the teeth on the sprocket wheel 204, as shown by FIG. 5. The

sprocket chain 362 enables the motor 354 to rotate the roller 268, and the sprocket chain 364 enables the roller 268 to rotate the roller 200.

Claims (21)

1. A paper money dispensing device which comprises: a housing with a slot therein through which folded bills are dispensed, a currency receptacle wherein bills are held in stacked relation in unfolded condition, a bill-withdrawing element adjacent said currency receptacle that withdraws bills from said currency receptacle while said bills are in unfolded condition, supporting means to hold said bills in unfolded condition after said bills have been withdrawn from said currency receptacle by said bill-withdrawing element, an ejector blade adjacent said supporting means that is selectively movable through a path of movement relative to said supporting means to fold said bills held by said supporting means and to move the folds in said folded bills outwardly through said slot in said housing, and an electromagnetic element that is energizable to cause said ejector blade to move through said path of movement relative to said supporting means and fold said bills held by said supporting means and move the folds in said bills outwardly through said slot in said housing, whereby bills can be stored in unfolded condition but can be dispensed in folded conditions, said path of movement of said ejector blade being too short to permit said ejector blade to move said folded bills wholly through said slot in said housing, whereby said folded bills will remain in said slot until removed by a patron.

2. A paper money dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pivot rotatably supports said ejector blade, whereby said ejector blade rotates as it moves through said path of movement.

3. A paper money dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pivot rotatably supports said ejector blade and wherein a sliding element supports said pivot, whereby said ejector blade translates and rotates as it moves through said path of movement, said sliding element and said pivot initially holding said ejector blade above the level of said supporting means and above at least a portion of a bill held in unfolded condition by said supporting means, said sliding element and said pivot subsequently permitting said ejector blade to translate into engagement with said bill held in unfolded condition by said supporting means to start the folding of said bill and then to rotate to complete the folding of said bill and to move the fold in said bill outwardly through said slot in said housing.

4. A paper money dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises belts that are spaced apart to permit said ejector blade to move downwardly between them.

5. A paper money dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein spaced guides are disposed inwardly of said slot in said wall of said housing, said spaced guides being disposed at opposite sides of said path of movement of said ejector blade and being spaced far enough apart to permit bills to pass therebetween in folded condition but being disposed close enough to each other to coact with said ejector blade to fold said bills as said ejector blade moves between said spaced guides, said spaced guides having the upper edges thereof spaced farther apart than the lower edges thereof, said upper edges of the said spaced guides permitting the initial bends in the folded bills to be made gradually.

6. A paper money dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein spaced guides are disposed inwardly of said slot in said wall of said housing, said spaced guides being disposed at opposite sides of Said path of movement of said ejector blade and being spaced far enough apart to permit bills to pass therebetween in folded condition but being disposed close enough to each other to coact with said ejector blade to fold said bills as said ejector blade moves between said spaced guides, and wherein a resilient element engages bills that are folded and are moved into position between said spaced guides, said resilient element helping to hold said bills in position between said spaced guides as said ejector blades move back through said path of movement and away from said spaced guides.

7. A paper money dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein spaced guides are disposed inwardly of said slot in said wall of said housing, said spaced guides being disposed at opposite sides of said path of movement of said ejector blade and being spaced far enough apart to permit bills to pass therebetween in folded condition but being disposed close enough to each other to coact with said ejector blade to fold said bills as said ejector blade moves between said spaced guides, and wherein a resilient element engages bills that are folded and are moved into position between said spaced guides, said resilient element helping to hold said bills in position between said spaced guides as said ejector blade moves back through said path of movement and away from said spaced guides, said resilient element being an elongated spring which extends through a slot in one of said spaced guides to engage bills that are folded and are moved into position between said spaced guides, said elongated spring normally having a portion thereof in the path of bills that are folded and are moved into position between said spaced guides but responding to said bills, as said bills are folded by said ejector plate, to move out of the path of said bills, the restoring forces within said elongated spring enabling said elongated spring to help hold said bills in position between said spaced guides as said ejector blade moves back through said path of movement and away from said spaced guides.

8. A paper money dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ejector blade has a point on that edge thereof which engages and folds said bills held by said supporting means.

9. A paper money dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pivot rotatably supports said ejector blade and wherein a sliding element supports said pivot, whereby said ejector blade translates and rotates as it moves through said path of movement, and wherein a resilient element holds said ejector blade against rotation about said pivot until said sliding element has reached the end of its path of travel, whereby said ejector blade translates during the initial movement of said ejector blade through said path of movement toward said bills held by said supporting means.

10. A paper money dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pivot rotatably supports said ejector blade and wherein a sliding element supports said pivot, whereby said ejector blade translates and rotates as it moves through said path of movement, and wherein a resilient element holds said ejector blade against rotation about said pivot until said sliding element has reached the end of its path of travel, whereby said ejector blade translates during the initial movement of said ejector blade through said path of movement toward said bills held by said supporting means, said resilient element rapidly moving said ejector blade away from said folded bills as said ejector blade moves back through said path of movement.

11. A paper money dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a barrier normally blocks said slot in said housing, and wherein a linkage between said ejector blade and said barrier moves said barrier out of slot-blocking position before said ejector blade moves said folds in said bills into said slot in said housing, said linkage having a lost motion connection therein whereby said ejector blade can move a predetermined distance toward biLls held by said supporting means before said linkage moves said barrier.

12. A paper money dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a barrier normally blocks said slot in said housing, and wherein a linkage moves said barrier out of slot-blocking position before said ejector blade moves said folds in said bills into said slot in said housing, and wherein a resilient element biases said barrier into slot-blocking position, said resilient element being dimensioned to permit folded bills that are disposed within said slot in said housing to prevent the return of said barrier to slot-blocking position.

13. A paper money dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a switch will open if a patron does not promptly grasp said folded bills and, instead, leaves said folded bills in said slot, the opening of said switch de-energizing at least one component of said paper money dispensing device until said patron grasps said folded bills in said slot and removes said folded bills from said slot, and wherein a slide is movable relative to the actuator for said switch, said slide opening said switch whenever folded bills are within said slot in said housing as said slide moves toward said actuator for said switch but said slide leaving said switch closed whenever no folded bills are within said slot in said housing as said slide moves toward said actuator for said switch.

14. A paper money dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a barrier normally blocks said slot in said housing, and wherein a linkage moves said barrier out of slot-blocking position before said ejector blade moves said folds in said bills into said slot in said housing, and wherein abutting surfaces normally block movement of said barrier out of slot-blocking position, one of said abutting surfaces moving as said ejector blade moves and thereby permitting said barrier to be moved out of slot-blocking position.

15. A paper money dispensing device which comprises: a housing with a slot therein through which folded bills are dispensed, a currency receptacle wherein bills are held in stacked relation in unfolded condition, a bill-withdrawing element adjacent said currency receptacle that withdraws bills from said currency receptacle while said bills are in unfolded condition, supporting means to hold said bills in unfolded condition after said bills have been withdrawn from said currency receptacle by said bill-withdrawing element, an ejector blade adjacent said supporting means that is selectively movable through a path of movement relative to said supporting means to fold said bills held by said supporting means and to move the folds in said folded bills outwardly through said slot in said housing, an electromagnetic element that is energizable to cause said ejector blade to move through said path of movement relative to said supporting means and fold said bills held by said supporting means and move the folds in said bills outwardly through said slot in said housing, whereby bills can be stored in unfolded condition but can be dispensed in folded conditions, said path of movement of said ejector blade being too short to permit said ejector blade to move said folded bills wholly through said slot in said housing, whereby said folded bills will remain in said slot until removed by a patron, a pivot that rotatably supports said ejector blade, and a sliding element that supports said pivot, whereby said ejector blade translates and rotates as it moves through said path of movement.

16. A paper money dispensing device which comprises: a housing with a slot therein through which folded bills are dispensed, a currency receptacle wherein bills are held in stacked relation in unfolded condition, a bill-withdrawing element adjacent said currency receptacle that withdraws bills from said currency receptacle while said bills are in unfolded condition, supporting means to hold said bills in unfolded condition afTer said bills have been withdrawn from said currency receptacle by said bill-withdrawing element, an ejector blade adjacent said supporting means that is selectively movable through a path of movement relative to said supporting means to fold said bills held by said supporting means and to move the folds in said folded bills outwardly through said slot in said housing, and an electromagnetic element that is energizable to cause said ejector blade to move through said path of movement relative to said supporting means and fold said bills held by said supporting means and move the folds in said bills outwardly through said slot in said housing, whereby bills can be stored in unfolded condition but can be dispensed in folded conditions, said path of movement of said ejector blade being too short to permit said ejector blade to move said folded bills wholly through said slot in said housing, whereby said folded bills will remain in said slot until removed by a patron, said ejector blade initially being spaced away from said supporting means to permit a plurality of bills in unfolded condition to be stacked on top of each other atop said supporting means, said ejector blade thereafter moving through said path of movement to simultaneously fold and dispense said plurality of bills stacked atop said supporting means.

17. A paper money dispensing device which comprises: a housing with a slot therein through which folded bills are dispensed, a currency receptacle wherein bills are held in stacked relation in unfolded condition, a bill-withdrawing element adjacent said currency receptacle that withdraws bills from said currency receptacle while said bills are in unfolded condition, supporting means to hold said bills in unfolded condition after said bills have been withdrawn from said currency receptacle by said bill-withdrawing element, an ejector blade adjacent said supporting means that is selectively movable through a path of movement relative to said supporting means to fold said bills held by said supporting means and to move the folds in said folded bills outwardly through said slot in said housing, an electromagnetic element that is energizable to cause said ejector blade to move through said path of movement relative to said supporting means and fold said bills held by said supporting means and move the folds in said bills outwardly through said slot in said housing, whereby bills can be stored in unfolded condition but can be dispensed in folded conditions, said path of movement of said ejector blade being too short to permit said ejector blade to move said folded bills wholly through said slot in said housing, whereby said folded bills will remain in said slot until removed by a patron, and spaced guides that are disposed inwardly of said slot in said wall of said housing, said spaced guides being disposed at opposite sides of said path of movement of said ejector blade and being spaced far enough apart to permit bills to pass therebetween in folded condition but being disposed close enough to each other to coact with said ejector blade to fold said bills as said ejector blade moves between said spaced guides.

18. A paper money dispensing device which comprises: a housing with a slot therein through which folded bills are dispensed, a currency receptacle wherein bills are held in stacked relation in unfolded condition, a bill-withdrawing element adjacent said currency receptacle that withdraws bills from said currency receptacle while said bills are in unfolded condition, supporting means to hold said bills in unfolded condition after said bills have been withdrawn from said currency receptacle by said bill-withdrawing element, an ejector blade adjacent said supporting means that is selectively movable through a path of movement relative to said supporting means to fold said bills held by said supporting means and to move the folds in said folded billS outwardly through said slot in said housing, an electromagnetic element that is energizable to cause said ejector blade to move through said path of movement relative to said supporting means and fold said bills held by said supporting means and move the folds in said bills outwardly through said slot in said housing, whereby bills can be stored in unfolded condition but can be dispensed in folded conditions, said path of movement of said ejector blade being too short to permit said ejector blade to move said folded bills wholly through said slot in said housing, whereby said folded bills will remain in said slot until removed by a patron, and a stop that is disposed adjacent said slot and adjacent said supporting means to keep bills moved toward said supporting means from moving too close to said slot, whereby said bills held by said supporting means will be in register with said ejector blade.

19. A paper money dispensing device which comprises: a housing with a slot therein through which folded bills are dispensed, a currency receptacle wherein bills are held in stacked relation in unfolded condition, a bill-withdrawing element adjacent said currency receptacle that withdraws bills from said currency receptacle while said bills are in unfolded condition, supporting means to hold said bills in unfolded condition after said bills have been withdrawn from said currency receptacle by said bill-withdrawing element, an ejector blade adjacent said supporting means that is selectively movable through a path of movement relative to said supporting means to fold said bills held by said supporting means and to move the folds in said folded bills outwardly through said slot in said housing, an electromagnetic element that is energizable to cause said ejector blade to move through said path of movement relative to said supporting means and fold said bills held by said supporting means and move the folds in said bills outwardly through said slot in said housing, whereby bills can be stored in unfolded condition but can be dispensed in folded conditions, said path of movement of said ejector blade being too short to permit said ejector blade to move said folded bills wholly through said slot in said housing, whereby said folded bills will remain in said slot until removed by a patron, a barrier that normally blocks said slot in said housing, and a linkage that moves said barrier out of slot-blocking position before said ejector blade moves said folds in said bills into said slot in said housing.

20. A paper money dispensing device which comprises: a housing with a slot therein through which folded bills are dispensed, a currency receptacle wherein bills are held in stacked relation in unfolded condition, a bill-withdrawing element adjacent said currency receptacle that withdraws bills from said currency receptacle while said bills are in unfolded condition, supporting means to hold said bills in unfolded condition after said bills have been withdrawn from said currency receptacle by said bill-withdrawing element, an ejector blade adjacent said supporting means that is selectively movable through a path of movement relative to said supporting means to fold said bills held by said supporting means and to move the folds in said folded bills outwardly through said slot in said housing, an electromagnetic element that is energizable to cause said ejector blade to move through said path of movement relative to said supporting means and fold said bills held by said supporting means and move the folds in said bills outwardly through said slot in said housing, whereby bills can be stored in unfolded condition but can be dispensed in folded conditions, said path of movement of said ejector blade being too short to permit said ejector blade to move said folded bills wholly through said slot in said housing, whereby said folded bills will remain in saiD slot until removed by a patron, and a switch that is adapted to open and de-energize at least one component of said paper money dispensing device, said switch opening if a patron does not promptly grasp said folded bills and, instead, leaves said folded bills in said slot, the opening of said switch de-energizing said one component of said paper money dispensing device until said patron grasps said folded bills in said slot and removes said folded bills from said slot.

21. A paper money dispensing device which comprises: a housing with a slot therein through which folded bills are dispensed, a currency receptacle wherein bills are held in stacked relation in unfolded condition, a bill-withdrawing element adjacent said currency receptacle that withdraws bills from said currency receptacle while said bills are in unfolded condition, supporting means to hold said bills in unfolded condition after said bills have been withdrawn from said currency receptacle by said bill-withdrawing element, an ejector blade adjacent said supporting means that is selectively movable through a path of movement relative to said supporting means to fold said bills held by said supporting means and to move the folds in said folded bills outwardly through said slot in said housing, an electromagnetic element that is energizable to cause said ejector blade to move through said path of movement relative to said supporting means and fold said bills held by said supporting means and move the folds in said bills outwardly through said slot in said housing, a pivot that rotatably supports said ejector blade, a sliding element that supports said pivot, said supporting means comprising belts that are spaced apart to permit said ejector blade to move between them, spaced guides disposed inwardly of said slot in said wall of said housing and disposed at the opposite sides of said path of movement of said ejector blade and spaced far enough apart to permit bills to pass therebetween in folded condition but located close enough to each other to coact with said ejector blade to fold said bills as said ejector blade moves between said spaced guides, a resilient element engaging bills, that are folded and that are moved into position between said spaced guides, to help hold said bills in position between said spaced guides as said ejector blade moves back through said path of movement and away from said spaced guides, a resilient element biasing said ejector blade for movement back through said path of movement and away from said spaced guides, said ejector blade having a point on that edge thereof which engages and folds said bills held by said supporting means, said sliding element and said pivot permitting said ejector blade to translate and then rotate as it moves through said path of movement, a stop disposed adjacent said slot and adjacent said supporting means to keep bills moved toward said supporting means from moving too close to said slot, a barrier that normally blocks said slot in said housing, a linkage that moves said barrier out of slot-blocking position before said ejector blade moves said folds in said bills into said slot in said housing, said linkage having a lost motion connection therein so said ejector blade can move a predetermined distance toward bills held by said supporting means before said linkage moves said barrier, a resilient element biasing said barrier into said slot-blocking position but dimensioned to permit folded bills disposed within said slot in said housing to prevent the return of said barrier to slot-blocking position, a switch that opens when a patron does not promptly grasp said folded bills and, instead, leaves said folded bills in said slot, the opening of said switch de-energizing at least one component of said paper money dispensing device until said patron grasps said folded bills in said slot and removes said folded bills from said slot, a slide that is movable relative to the actuator for said switch, said slide opening said switch, whenever folded bills are within said slot in said housing, as said slide moves toward said actuator for said switch but said slide leaving said switch closed whenever no folded bills are within said slot in said housing as said slide moves toward said actuator for said switch, abutting surfaces normally blocking movement of said barrier out of slot-blocking position, one of said abutting surfaces moving as said ejector blade moves and thereby permitting said barrier to be moved out of slot-blocking position, cycle control means causing said paper money dispensing device to dispense a predetermined number of bills and to withdraw an equal number of bills from said currency receptacle during each cycle of operation of said paper money dispensing device, said cycle control means including a bill-counting switch that is actuated by each bill as said bill is moved from said currency receptacle into position where it is held by said supporting means, said cycle control means causing said paper money dispensing device to consecutively withdraw a number of bills from said currency receptacle and to move said bills into position to be held by said supporting means and then to simultaneously dispense said withdrawn bills, a double bill detection switch that senses when two bills are stuck together, bill-rejecting means moving said stuck bills, and any other bills previously moved into position where they are held by said supporting means, to a storage area, said cycle control means thereafter initiating the withdrawing of further bills from said currency receptacle, a relay that is actuated as said double bill switch senses when two bills are stuck together and prevents dispensing of any bills while said bill-rejecting means is operating, and an empty switch adjacent said currency receptacle.

Images