Currency discriminator having a jam detection and clearing mechanism and method of clearing a jam

A sensing mechanism for a currency counting and discrimination machine, said machine for receiving currency bills in an input receptacle, rapidly counting and discriminating said currency bills, and then discharging said currency bills to an output receptacle, said machine including a transport mechanism for transporting said currency bills from said input receptacle to said output receptacle along a transport path, said sensing mechanism being adjacent said transport path, said sensing mechanism comprising:

• a sensing device for counting and discriminating said currency bills;
• a first member on which a portion of said sensing device is mounted and forming a portion of said transport mechanism;
• and
• means for adjusting said first member from an operational position to a retracted position to relieve pressure exerted on a jammed currency bill without substantially affecting said portion of said transport mechanism such that said transport mechanism can still act on said jammed currency bill.

A method for clearing a jammed currency bill from a transport path in a currency machine, said machine receiving currency bills in an input receptacle, rapidly counting said currency bills, and then discharging said currency bills to an output receptacle, said machine including a transport mechanism for transporting said currency bills from said input receptacle to said output receptacle along said transport path, said machine further including a sensing device adjacent said transport path, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting said jammed currency bill in said transport path;
• interrupting the operation of said transport mechanism;
• adjusting a portion of said transport mechanism from an operational position to a retracted position to relieve pressure on said jammed currency bill;
• activating said transport mechanism while said transport mechanism is in said retracted position to dislodge and move said jammed currency bill toward one of said input and output receptacles;
• and
• returning said portion of said transport mechanism to said operational position.

A currency counting machine for receiving currency bills in an input receptacle, rapidly counting said currency bills, and then discharging said currency bills to an output receptacle, comprising:

• a sensing device for counting said currency bills;
• a controller coupled to said sensing device;
• a transport mechanism engaging and transporting said currency bills, one at a time, along a transport path from said input receptacle to said output receptacle, a segment of said transport path being adjacent said sensing device;
• means for detecting when a currency bill is jammed along said transport path, said detecting means being coupled to said controller and producing a jam signal upon detection of a jammed currency bill;
• means coupled to said controller for interrupting the operation of said transport mechanism in response to said jam signal from said detecting means;
• means for adjusting a portion of said transport mechanism to relieve pressure exerted on said jammed currency bill by said transport menchanism;
• and
• means for jogging said transport mechanism to move said jammed bill toward one of said input and output receptacles after relieving said pressure via said adjusting means.

A currency machine for receiving currency bills in an input receptacle, rapidly counting said currency bills, and then discharging said currency bills to an output receptacle, comprising:

• a sensing device for counting said currency bills;
• a controller coupled to said sensing device;
• a transport mechanism engaging and transporting said currency bills, one at a time, along a transport path from said input receptacle to said output receptacle, a segment of said transport path being adjacent to said sensing device;
• means for detecting when a currency bill is jammed along said transport path, said detecting means being coupled to said controller and producing a jam signal upon detection of a jammed currency bill;
• means coupled to said controller for interrupting the operation of said transport mechanism in response to said jam signal from said detecting means;
• and
• means for adjusting a portion of said transport mechanism to release said jammed currency bill in said transport mechanism, said adjusting means including at least one handle attached to said portion of said transport mechanism, said handle including an attachment portion for engaging a fixed component within said machine after said portion of said transport mechanism is placed in a retracted position.

A sensing mechanism for a currency machine that receives currency bills in an input receptacle, rapidly counts said currency bills, and then discharges said currency bills to an output receptacle, said machine including a transport mechanism for transporting said currency bills from said input receptacle to said output receptacle along a transport path, said sensing mechanism being adjacent to said transport path, said sensing mechanism comprising:

• a sensing device for counting said currency bills;
• first member on which a portion of said sensing device is mounted and forming a portion of said transport mechanism;
• and
• means for adjusting said first member from an operational position to a retracted position to relieve pressure exerted on a jammed currency bill, said adjusting means including a handle attached to said first member for adjusting said first member, said handle including an attachment portion for engaging a fixed component within said machine after said first member is placed in said retracted position.