US4765607A — Stacker apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 224 words

An improved banknote stacker for use with a separate banknote validator having a drive means and a banknote output, said banknote stacker comprising a banknote magazine for storage of facially stacked banknotes; a prestorage compartment; a pusher means for pushing a banknote in a direction perpendicular to a face of said banknote from said prestorage compartment into said banknote magazine; banknote receiving means defining an initial banknote passageway within said banknote stacker, for receiving banknotes edgewise and one at a time from said banknote validator; and banknote transporting means for transporting banknotes edgewise from the banknote receiving means to said prestorage compartment; wherein the improvement comprises: said banknote receiving means comprising passageway walls defining said initial banknote passageway; interconnection means for aligning said banknote receiving means with the banknote output of said banknote validator to form a smooth and uninterrupted passageway wall surface from the banknote output of the banknote validator to the initial banknote passageway of the banknote stacker; said banknote transporting means engaging the drive means of said banknote validator and providing substantially continuous positive contact control over banknotes from the output of the banknote validator to the prestorage compartment of the banknote stacker whereby the leading edge of said banknote is substantially prevented from jamming; and said interconnection means and said banknote transporting means are readily disconnectable from said banknote validator.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 224 words

An improved banknote stacker for use with a separate banknote validator having a drive means and a banknote output, said banknote stacker comprising a banknote magazine for storage of facially stacked banknotes; a prestorage compartment; a pusher means for pushing a banknote in a direction perpendicular to a face of said banknote from said prestorage compartment into said banknote magazine; banknote receiving means defining an initial banknote passageway within said banknote stacker, for receiving banknotes edgewise and one at a time from said banknote validator; and banknote transporting means for transporting banknotes edgewise from the banknote receiving means to said prestorage compartment; wherein the improvement comprises: said banknote receiving means comprising passageway walls defining said initial banknote passageway; interconnection means for aligning said banknote receiving means with the banknote output of said banknote validator to form a smooth and uninterrupted passageway wall surface from the banknote output of the banknote validator to the initial banknote passageway of the banknote stacker; said banknote transporting means engaging the drive means of said banknote validator and providing substantially continuous positive contact control over banknotes from the output of the banknote validator to the prestorage compartment of the banknote stacker whereby the leading edge of said banknote is substantially prevented from jamming; and said interconnection means and said banknote transporting means are readily disconnectable from said banknote validator.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The stacker of claim 1 wherein the stacker further comprises an outer casing having at least one slot for alignment with the separate banknote validator.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 75 words

The stacker of claim 1 wherein the drive means of the separate banknote validator comprises at least one drive roller mounted on a shaft, said shaft having at least one end extending outside the casing of the banknote validator whereby at least one slot in the outer casing of the banknote stacker receives at least one end of the shaft when the banknote stacker is attached to the banknote validator to insure their proper alignment.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 172 words

An improved banknote stacker for use with a separate banknote validator having a drive means and a banknote output, said banknote stacker comprising a banknote magazine for storage of facially stacked banknotes; a prestorage compartment; a pusher means for pushing a banknote in a direction perpendicular to a face of said banknote from said prestorage compartment into said banknote magazine; banknote receiving means defining a banknote passageway within said banknote stacker, for receiving banknotes edgewise and one at a time from said banknote validator and conveying banknotes edgewise to said prestorage compartment; wherein the improvement comprises: interconnection means having at least one finger and at least one slot which mesh with a corresponding finger and slot at the validator banknote output along the path traversed by the leading edge of the banknote for aligning said banknote receiving means with the banknote output of said banknote validator to form a smooth and uninterrupted passageway wall surface from the banknote output of the banknote validator to the initial banknote passageway of the banknote stacker.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 172 words

An improved banknote stacker for use with a separate banknote validator having a drive means and a banknote output, said banknote stacker comprising a banknote magazine for storage of facially stacked banknotes; a prestorage compartment; a pusher means for pushing a banknote in a direction perpendicular to a face of said banknote from said prestorage compartment into said banknote magazine; banknote receiving means defining a banknote passageway within said banknote stacker, for receiving banknotes edgewise and one at a time from said banknote validator and conveying banknotes edgewise to said prestorage compartment; wherein the improvement comprises: interconnection means having at least one finger and at least one slot which mesh with a corresponding finger and slot at the validator banknote output along the path traversed by the leading edge of the banknote for aligning said banknote receiving means with the banknote output of said banknote validator to form a smooth and uninterrupted passageway wall surface from the banknote output of the banknote validator to the initial banknote passageway of the banknote stacker.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the banknote receiving means further comprises banknote transporting means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 104 words

The stacker of claim 1 or 5 wherein said banknote transporting means comprises a belt-pulley arrangement comprising at least one belt for transporting banknotes edgewise and a plurality of pulleys, said belt-pulley arrangement comprises a floating pulley which is mounted on and free to rotate about a first shaft located in a first slot in a housing of the stacker, said first shaft being mounted in the first slot whereby when the stacker is connected to the banknote validator, and the floating pulley is movably self adjusting as a result of the first shaft moving in the first slot to maintain suitable belt tension.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 85 words

The stacker of claim 6 wherein the belt-pulley arrangment further comprises a belt tension pulley which is mounted on and free to rotate about a second shaft located in a first opening in the housing of the stacker, said second shaft being spring mounted in the first opening in the housing whereby when the stacker is connected to the banknote validator, the belt tension pulley is movably self adjusting as a result of the second shaft moving in the first opening against its spring mounting.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

The stacker of claim 7 wherein the first opening is defined by an angled wall of the stacker housing, said angled wall being at an angle to the first slot.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 89 words

The stacker of claim 1 or 5 wherein the banknote transporting means comprises a self-adjusting belt pulley arrangement including a belt tension pulley which is mounted on and free to rotate about a first shaft located in a first opening in a housing of the stacker, said first shaft being spring mounted in the opening in the housing whereby when the stacker is connected to the banknote validator, the belt tension pulley being movably self adjusting as the first shaft moves in the first opening against its spring mounting.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

The stacker of claim 9 wherein the first opening comprises an angled wall of the stacker housing.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The stacker of claim 1 or 4 wherein the prestorage compartment is defined by an upper and a lower housing of molded plastic.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 65 words

The stacker of claim 1 or 4 wherein said banknote magazine comprises a pressure plate, a pressure spring, and banknote retention tabs whereby said pressure plate is biased to hold banknotes in a stack against said banknote retention tabs and said pressure spring is a double torsion spring mounted on a clevis pin, said clevis pin mounted so as to maximize space for banknote stacking.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 58 words

The stacker of claim 1 or 4 wherein said pusher means comprises a scissors arrangement having a home position; a cam having a first cam surface for driving said scissors arrangement and a second cam surface operating a position sensing means for sensing the position of said scissors arrangement; and a pusher plate connected to said scissors arrangement.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 26 words

The stacker of claim 13 wherein the home position sensing arrangment includes a sensing fork and a sensor switch which is activated by the sensing fork.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 42 words

The stacker of claim 14 wherein the scissors arrangement and the pusher plate are in the home position during a substantial portion of the rotation of the cam due to the shape of said cam, thereby allowing a simple motor control arrangement.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 28 words

The stacker of claim 15 wherein the scissors arrangement and the pusher plate are in the home position during approximately 25 percent of the rotation of the cam.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 51 words

The stacker of claim 15 wherein the home position sensing arrangement detects a sensed home condition during a smaller portion of the rotation of the cam than the substantial portion of the rotation of the cam in which the scissors arrangement and the pusher plate are actually in the home position.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 44 words

The stacker of claim 17 wherein the sensed home condition occurs during a range of from one-half to seven-eighths of the substantial portion of the rotation of the cam in which the scissors arrangement and the pusher plate are actually in the home position.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 128 words

An improved banknote stacker for use with a separate banknote validator having a banknote output, said banknote stacker comprising a banknote storage compartment for storage of banknotes; a pusher means for pushing a banknote in a direction perpendicular to a face of said banknote into said banknote storage compartment; banknote positioning means for receiving banknotes from said banknote validator and positioning banknotes in a position relative to the pusher means; wherein the improvement comprises: said pusher means comprising a cam for driving a scissors arrangement; and a position sensing means for sensing the position of the scissors arrangement; said cam having a first cam surface and a second cam surface, the first cam surface driving the scissors arrangement, and the second cam surface operating the position sensing means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 128 words

An improved banknote stacker for use with a separate banknote validator having a banknote output, said banknote stacker comprising a banknote storage compartment for storage of banknotes; a pusher means for pushing a banknote in a direction perpendicular to a face of said banknote into said banknote storage compartment; banknote positioning means for receiving banknotes from said banknote validator and positioning banknotes in a position relative to the pusher means; wherein the improvement comprises: said pusher means comprising a cam for driving a scissors arrangement; and a position sensing means for sensing the position of the scissors arrangement; said cam having a first cam surface and a second cam surface, the first cam surface driving the scissors arrangement, and the second cam surface operating the position sensing means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 33 words

The stacker of claim 19 wherein the first cam surface is shaped so that the scissors arrangement is in a home position during a first substantial portion of the rotation of the cam.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 47 words

The stacker of claim 20 wherein the second cam surface is shaped so that the position sensing means detects that the scissors arrangement is in its home position during a second substantial portion of the rotation of the cam which is less than said first substantial portion.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 157 words

An improved banknote stacker for use with a separate banknote validator having a drive means and a banknote output, said banknote stacker comprising a banknote storage compartment; a pusher means for pushing a banknote in a direction perpendicular to a face of said banknote into said banknote storage compartment; banknote receiving means defining the initial banknote passageway within said banknote stacker, for receiving banknotes edgewise and one at a time from said banknote validator; and banknote transporting means for transporting banknotes edgewise from the banknote receiving means to said banknote storage compartment; said banknote transporting means comprising a self-adjusting belt-pulley banknote transporting means which engages the drive means of said banknote validator and provides substantially continuous positive contact control over banknotes from the output of the banknote validator to the banknote storage compartment whereby the leading edge of said banknote is substantially prevented from jamming; and said banknote transporting means being readily disconnectable from said banknote validator.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 157 words

An improved banknote stacker for use with a separate banknote validator having a drive means and a banknote output, said banknote stacker comprising a banknote storage compartment; a pusher means for pushing a banknote in a direction perpendicular to a face of said banknote into said banknote storage compartment; banknote receiving means defining the initial banknote passageway within said banknote stacker, for receiving banknotes edgewise and one at a time from said banknote validator; and banknote transporting means for transporting banknotes edgewise from the banknote receiving means to said banknote storage compartment; said banknote transporting means comprising a self-adjusting belt-pulley banknote transporting means which engages the drive means of said banknote validator and provides substantially continuous positive contact control over banknotes from the output of the banknote validator to the banknote storage compartment whereby the leading edge of said banknote is substantially prevented from jamming; and said banknote transporting means being readily disconnectable from said banknote validator.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 75 words

The stacker of claim 22 wherein the self-adjusting belt-pulley banknote transporting means further comprises a floating pulley which is mounted on and free to rotate about a first shaft located in a first slot in a housing of the stacker, said shaft being mounted in the first slot whereby when the stacker is connected to a banknote validator, the floating pulley is movably self adjusting as a result of the shaft moving in the slot.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 85 words

The stacker of claim 23 wherein the self-adjusting belt-pulley banknote transporting means further comprises a belt tension pulley which is mounted on and free to rotate about a second shaft located in a first opening in a housing of the stacker, said second shaft having a spring mounting in the first opening in the housing whereby when the stacker is connected to the banknote validator, the belt tension pulley is self adjusting as the second shaft moves in the first opening against the spring mounting.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 89 words

The stacker of claim 22 wherein the self-adjusting belt-pulley banknote transporting means further comprises a belt tension pulley which is mounted on and free to rotate about a first shaft located in a first opening in the housing of the stacker, said first shaft having a spring mounting in the first opening in the housing whereby when the stacker is connected to the banknote validator, the belt tension pulley is movably self adjusting as a result of the first shaft moving in the first opening against the spring mounting.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 59 words

The stacker of claim 24 or claim 25 wherein the first opening comprises an angled wall of the stacker housing, said angled wall being at an angle for aiding in maintaining a relatively constant tension on the belt of the belt-pulley arrangement and for maintaining a relatively constant normal force on a banknote being transported by the transporting means.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 41 words

The stacker of claim 24 wherein the floating pulley and the belt tension pulley are arranged in connection with a belt so that said belt provides a diverting surface and helps to direct the banknote from the validator into the stacker.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 25 words

The stacker of claim 24 wherein the belt-pulley arrangement further comprises a locating pulley and a roller mounted on opposite sides of the banknote passageway.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 14 words

The stacker of claim 28 wherein the roller is mounted on a leaf spring.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 54 words

The stacker of claim 29 wherein the leaf spring is selected so that a sufficient force to drive a banknote into the banknote storage compartment is produced by the locating pulley and the roller, but an insufficient force is provided to crumple the banknote once the banknote is fully into the banknote storage compartment.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-08-23	1992-02-22	1992-08-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-08-23	1996-02-22	1996-08-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-08-23	2000-02-22	2000-08-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Stacker apparatus

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