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US 6,607,189 B2Granted
Document recycle and payout device
AssigneeMars, Incorporated
InventorsEvan J. Cost, Peter Bullard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A document recycler combines the function of a last-in/first-out (LIFO) recycler, a payout device, and a cashbox in one unit and facilitates manual replenishing of banknotes. Storage and extraction of the documents are controlled by coordinated motions between a drive roller, a diverter, and flaps. LIFO recycling allows the device to return the same documents as inserted in case of a transaction cancellation which eliminates the need for an intermediate escrow area.
Claims27
A document recycler comprising:
- a chassis;
- a diverter rotatably coupled to the chassis;
- a drive roller rotatably coupled to the chassis;
- a pressure plate;
- a first pivotable flap coupled to a first side of the chassis;
- and
- a second pivotable flap coupled to a second side of the chassis, wherein the first and second flaps, the diverter, and the drive roller are operable in a predefined sequence to stack documents on the pressure plate and to recycle documents off the stack.
4 more elements
A document recycler comprising:
- a chassis;
- a diverter, coupled to the chassis and rotatable about a first pivot and having a diverting end and a roller end;
- a diverter roller axially coupled to the roller end and operable to roll about a diverter roller axis;
- a drive roller, coupled to the chassis, rotatable about a drive roller axis;
- a pressure plate to support a document stack;
- a biasing means associated with the pressure plate for urging the pressure plate towards the diverter roller and the drive roller and for allowing tilting of the plate;
- a pivotable first flap, coupled to the chassis, having a first position for applying pressure to a first end of the document stack and a second position for guiding the documents through the document recycler;
- and
- a pivotable second flap, coupled to the chassis, having a first position for applying pressure to a second end of the document stack and a second position for guiding the documents through the document recycler.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- rotating a first flap to separate a document stack first edge from a drive roller;
- inserting a document leading edge between the document stack first edge and the drive roller;
- rotating the drive roller to transport the document over the document stack;
- and
- rotating the first flap and a second flap away from the document stack to allow the additional document to repose on the document stack.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- rotating a flap to restrain movement of a leading edge of documents in a document stack;
- rotating a drive roller to lift a trailing edge of a topmost document from the document stack;
- moving the document stack from contact with the drive roller;
- rotating the drive roller to cause the topmost document trailing edge to move between the drive roller and a diverter;
- pivoting the diverter to capture the trailing edge of the topmost document between the drive roller and the diverter;
- rotating the drive roller to transport the topmost document along the diverter;
- and
- guiding the topmost document along the diverter away from the document stack.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- pivoting a first flap downward from an initial position to tilt a document stack to create a gap between the document stack and a drive roller;
- inserting a document into the gap;
- rotating the first flap upward to capture the document between the drive roller and the document stack;
- rotating a second flap downward to tilt the document stack to create a gap between the document stack and a diverter roller;
- rotating the drive roller to transport the document so that a leading edge of the document rests on the second flap and a trailing edge of the document rests on the first flap;
- and
- rotating both the first and second flaps upward away from the document stack so that the leading and trailing edges of the document move past the flaps and rest on the document stack.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- rotating a first flap from an initial position to rotationally deflect a document stack thereby creating a gap between the document stack;
- rotating a drive roller to lift a trailing edge of a topmost document from the document stack;
- removing contact between the drive roller and the document stack while maintaining contact with the edge of the topmost document;
- rotating the drive roller to move the topmost document trailing edge between the diverter and the drive roller;
- pivoting the diverter to capture the topmost document edge between the diverter and the drive roller;
- rotating the drive roller to move the topmost document along the diverter;
- and
- guiding the topmost document along the diverter away from the document stack.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.