Data sensing system for currency cassettes

Claim 2

A data sensing system for a currency cassette comprising, in combination: a currency having machine-readable data storage means carried thereon; and cassette receiving means into which said currency cassette is adapted to be inserted, including data reading means movable with said cassette during insertion of said cassette, and actuating means operable at the completion of insertion of said cassette for causing movement of said data reading means past said data storage means in a controlled manner following insertion of said cassette into said cassette receiving means, for reading data from said data storage means.

Claim 3

The data sensin9 means of claim 1, in which said actuating means includes spring means for causing movement of said data reading means in one direction, and damping means for controlling the speed of said data reading means during its spring-driven movement.

Claim 4

The data sensing system of claim 2, also including a carrier for said data reading means; fixed support means forming part of said cassette receiving means on which said carrier is slidably mounted so as to be movable relative to said support means in a direction parallel to the direction of insertion of said cassette into said cassette receiving means; pawl means mounted on said carrier; first pawl engaging means carried by said cassette and arranged to engage said pawl means during an insertion of said cassette into said cassette receiving means so as to move said carrier together with said cassette; and second pawl engaging means mounted on said support means and arranged to engage said pawl means as said insertion completed so as to release said carrier for movement in said controlled manner by said spring means in a direction opposite to the direction in which said carrier was moved by said first pawl engaging means, thereby bringing about said relative movement between said data reading means and said data storage means.

Claim 5

The data sensing system of claim 3, in which said data reading means is attached to said carrier by resilient mounting means, whereby said data reading means is arranged to bear resiliently against said data storage means during said relative movement therebetween.

Claim 6

The data sensing system of claim 3, in which said spring means comprises compression spring means arranged to be compressed during movement of said carrier brought about by said first pawl engaging means.

Claim 7

The data sensing system of claim 1 in which said data storage means is in the form of a data carrying card removably attached to the outside of said cassette.

Claim 8

The data sensing system of claim 1 in which said data storage means comprises a magnetic coating provided on the outside of said cassette.

Claim 9

The data sensing system according to claim 7, in which said magnetic coating is in the form of a magnetic stripe extending parallel to the direction of insertion of said cassette into said cassette receiving means.

Claim 10

A data sensing system for sensing data from a currency cassette having machine-readable data storage means carried thereon, comprising, in combination: currency cassette receiving means; data reading means for reading data from said machine-readable data storage means; a carrier for said data reading means; support means fixed to said currency cassette receiving means for slidably mounting said carrier for linear reciprocating movement in a direction parallel to the direction of insertion of said cassette into said cassette receiving means; spring means coupled to said carrier to cause movement of said carrier in one direction; damping means to contorl the extent and speed of said carrier in said one direction; pawl means mounted on said carrier; first pawl engaging means carried by said cassette and arranged to engage said pawl means during an insertion of said cassette into said cassette receiving means so as move said carrier together with said cassette in a direction opposite to said one direction; and second pawl engaging means mounted on said support means and arranged to engage and pivot said pawl means ss said insertion is completed so as to move said pawl means out of engagement with said first pawl engaging means and release said carrier for movement in a controlled manner by said spring means in said one direction, thereby bringing about relative movement between said data reading means and said data storage means for the sensing of data therefrom.

Claim 11

A data sensing system for sensing data from a currency cassette having machine-readable data storage means carried thereon, comprising, in combination: currency cassette receiving means; data reading means for reading data from said machine-readable data storage means; a carrier for said data reading means; support means fixed to said currency cassette receiving means for slidably mounting said carrier for linear reciprocating movement in a direction parallel to the direction of insertion of said cassette into said cassette receiving means; spring means coupled to said carrier to cause movement of said carrier in one direction; damping means to contorl the extent and speed of said carrier in said one direction; pawl means mounted on said carrier; first pawl engaging means carried by said cassette and arranged to engage said pawl means during an insertion of said cassette into said cassette receiving means so as move said carrier together with said cassette in a direction opposite to said one direction; and second pawl engaging means mounted on said support means and arranged to engage and pivot said pawl means ss said insertion is completed so as to move said pawl means out of engagement with said first pawl engaging means and release said carrier for movement in a controlled manner by said spring means in said one direction, thereby bringing about relative movement between said data reading means and said data storage means for the sensing of data therefrom.

Claim 12

The data sensing system of claim 9 in which the damping means is a dash pot.

Claim 13

The data sensing system of claim 9, in which said spring means comprises compression spring means arranged to be compressed during movement of carrier brought about by said first pawl engaging means.