The invention relates to a banknote storage cassette for storing banknotes within a bag held within the cassette and to a bag that can be used with the banknote storage cassette for storing banknotes. It also relates to a method of modifying a banknote storage cassette to be used with the bag and to a method of preparing a bag.

Banknote storage cassettes are often used for collecting and storing banknotes in banknote processing equipment. They are used, for example, in banknote sorters and counters and also in automated teller machines (ATMs). Typically, the cassettes have a banknote infeed which interfaces with a banknote transport in the equipment with which they are used. When the equipment wishes to store a banknote, it passes it down the transport so that it is fed into the infeed of the cassette. The cassette then builds up a stack of banknotes in a space within it.

The cassettes just described are very useful for securely storing banknotes and they can, when used with appropriate equipment, quickly stack a large quantity of banknotes. One purpose of the equipment with which they are used is to sort and count banknotes prior to secure transportation to another location. For example, a large retail store may wish to count banknotes and sort them into different denominations before they are transported to a bank for deposit.

The use just described comes with some significant problems, however. The cassettes are bulky, making them more difficult to transport. They are also expensive and, when used for transportation of banknotes, more cassettes have to be provided than would otherwise be the case because it is necessary to replace a cassette removed from banknote processing equipment during the transportation operation so that the equipment can continue to be used in that time. It is possible to remove banknotes from the cassettes after processing by the banknote storage equipment and transfer them to other containers. However, this is a cumbersome process, and it is difficult to retain the compactness and neatness of a stack of banknotes when it is manually transferred to another container. Furthermore, it provides more opportunities for pilfering as it allows more human contact with the banknotes than when they remain sealed in the cassettes.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a banknote storage cassette for storing banknotes within a bag held within the cassette, the bag having a base and an open mouth joined by flexible bag material, wherein the banknote storage cassette comprises: a bag registration feature for holding, in use, an open mouth of a bag at a fixed location; a biasing element biased towards the fixed location, thereby capable of urging, in use, a base of the bag that is in contact with the biasing element towards an initial position; a pushing surface moveable between a retracted position in which it defines, at least in part, a first side of a banknote stacking space within which a stack of banknotes can be formed and an advanced position in which it reaches at least as far as a position that is a predefined distance from the initial position in a direction towards the retracted position, thereby pushing a stack of banknotes formed in the banknote stacking space onto the base of the bag; at least one stacking surface moveable between a stacking position in which it defines, at least in part, a second side of the banknote stacking space that is opposite to the first side, and a loading position in which it allows passage of the pushing surface as it moves from the retracted to the advanced position; and at least one banknote retaining element for holding, in use, a stack of banknotes against a base of the bag when the pushing surface is in the retracted position.

The invention thus provides a banknote storage cassette that allows a stack of banknotes to be formed and then pushed into a bag within the cassette. When a desired quantity of banknotes has been stored in the bag, it can be removed from the cassette to allow the banknotes to be transported. This is far cheaper and less cumbersome than transporting a bulky cassette. Furthermore, the neatness and compactness of the stack of banknotes is not disrupted, and the opportunities for pilfering are diminished because the bag can be provided with security features (as will be explained below) so that the bag is sealed, whereby removal of banknotes is prevented without the bag being damaged.

When in the advanced position, the pushing surface may reach the initial position. In some variants, the pushing surface may reach beyond the initial position when in the advanced position.

The base of the bag may be a rigid base. Alternatively, it may be flexible, possibly being made from the same material as the side walls of the bag. In this case, the base and side walls may be integral. In one variant, the bag registration feature comprises one or more clamps for holding the open mouth of the bag. Thus, this variant may be used with a bag which has no special features at the open mouth.

However, the bag registration feature usually comprises a pair of parallel recesses for receiving opposite sides of a frame defining the open mouth of the bag. The use of the frame makes a well-defined entry shape into a bag and allows the interface between the open mouth of the bag and the cassette to be simplified (the use of clamps is no longer required).

The biasing element may be a baseplate. The baseplate may be a metal or plastic plate that can travel along the cassette to accommodate movement of a base of a bag as the stacks of banknotes are pushed into the bag, forcing the base away from the initial position.

The biasing element may be biased towards the fixed location by one or more springs.

The banknote storage cassette may further comprise a banknote transport for conveying banknotes from a banknote input to the banknote stacking space.

The or each banknote retaining element may be integral with a corresponding stacking surface. Alternatively, the or each banknote retaining element may be separate to the stacking surface or surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, the or each banknote retaining element is a finger projecting towards the initial position. Where the or each banknote retaining element is integral with a corresponding stacking surface, the or each banknote retaining element will move with the corresponding stacking surface as it moves between the stacking and loading positions. In this case, the advanced position of the pushing surface may be further from the retracted position than the furthest position reached by the or each banknote retaining element from the retracted position as the corresponding stacking surface moves between the stacking and loading positions.

The or each stacking surface may comprise a projection which is moveable in a direction to allow passage of the pushing surface from the advanced to the retracted position but is fixed in the opposite direction. Typically, the or each projection is mounted to a

corresponding one of the stacking surfaces by way of a pivot. In this way, the or each projection may extend beyond the corresponding one of the stacking surfaces, thereby in effect enlarging the stacking surface so that smaller banknotes can be properly stacked. Since the rotation about the pivot is fixed in the opposite direction, the pressure imposed by a stack of banknotes will not move the projection(s) out of the way. However, since the projection(s) may rotate about the pivot in the opposite direction, they do not hinder the passage of the pushing surface from the advanced to the retracted position.

The banknote storage cassette may further comprise a ramp which provides a surface for raising a stack of banknotes to a desired height for stacking on the base of the bag as the pushing surface moves from the retracted to the advanced position. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for modifying a banknote storage cassette to enable it to store banknotes within a bag having a base and an open mouth joined by flexible bag material, the method comprising: providing a bag registration feature for holding, in use, an open mouth of a bag at a fixed location; providing a pushing surface moveable between a retracted position in which it defines, at least in part, a first side of a banknote stacking space within which a stack of banknotes can be formed and an advanced position in which it reaches at least as far as a position that is a predefined distance from the initial position in a direction towards the retracted position, thereby pushing a stack of banknotes formed in the banknote stacking space onto the base of the bag; providing at least one stacking surface moveable between a stacking position in which it defines, at least in part, a second side of the banknote stacking space that is opposite to the first side, and a loading position in which it allows passage of the pushing surface as it moves from the retracted to the advanced position; and providing at least one banknote retaining element for holding, in use, a stack of banknotes against a base of the bag when the pushing surface is in the retracted position. The invention, therefore, also provides a way for modifying existing cassettes so that they can be used to store banknotes within a bag. Thus, there is no need to replace existing cassettes to take advantage of the effects of the invention discussed above.

Existing cassettes often already have a biasing element (such as a baseplate) which is biased towards a fixed location. When already present, this is used for providing a base upon which a stack of banknotes can be formed. However, where such a biasing element is not provided, the method may further comprise providing a biasing element biased towards the fixed location, thereby capable of contacting, in use, the base of the bag and urging it towards the initial position. The biasing element may be a baseplate, for example a metal or plastic baseplate. When in the advanced position, the pushing surface may reach the initial position. In some variants, the pushing surface may reach beyond the initial position when in the advanced position. The advanced position of the pushing surface may be further from the retracted position than the furthest position reached by the or each banknote retaining element from the retracted position as a stacking surface corresponding to the banknote retaining element moves between the stacking and loading positions.

The base of the bag may be a rigid base. Alternatively, it may be flexible, possibly being made from the same material as the side walls of the bag. In this case, the base and side walls may be integral. The bag registration feature may hold the open mouth of the bag by clamping the open mouth of the bag.

Alternatively, the step of providing the bag registration feature may include providing a pair of parallel recesses for receiving opposite sides of a frame defining the open mouth of the bag.

The step of providing at least one stacking surface may comprise providing, for the or each stacking surface, a projection which is moveable in a direction to allow passage of the pushing surface from the advanced to the retracted position but is fixed in the opposite direction. The method may further comprise providing a ramp which provides a surface for raising a stack of banknotes to a desired height for stacking on the base as the pushing surface moves from the retracted to the advanced position.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a bag for storing banknotes, the bag comprising an open mouth joined to a rigid base by flexible bag material, the rigid base comprising a banknote stacking surface which has a perimeter that fits entirely within that of the open mouth such that, when in a collapsed configuration, the flexible bag material can occupy a space around the banknote stacking surface so that banknotes can be stacked on the banknote stacking surface through the open mouth.

The space around the banknote stacking surface allows the bag to be collapsed with the flexible material gathered around the banknote stacking surface so that this surface is kept clear for stacking banknotes on it. The collapsed bag can therefore be put into a cassette as described above with reference to the first aspect of the invention, and as banknotes are pushed into the bag and onto the banknote stacking surface, this surface is pushed away from the open mouth. The bag expands as this occurs, enveloping the banknotes pushed into the bag.

The open mouth may be formed by a free end of the flexible bag material. Alternatively, the open mouth may be formed by a rigid frame in which the flexible bag material is trapped. In this case, the rigid frame may comprise a slot for insertion of a closure and a locking element to prevent withdrawal of the closure after insertion.

The space around the banknote stacking surface may be defined by a recess within the rigid base.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of preparing a bag having a rigid base and an open mouth joined by flexible bag material for storing banknotes, the method comprising: inserting a former into the bag to hold it open; inserting the opened bag into a frame through a first open end; clamping the open mouth at the first open end; pushing the rigid base towards the open mouth so that the flexible bag material occupies a space around a banknote stacking surface on the rigid base.

The invention therefore provides a way in which the bag of the third aspect may be prepared for use. During this preparation, the bag is collapsed with the flexible bag material gathered around the space around the banknote stacking surface so that this surface is kept clear for banknotes to be stacked on it.

The rigid base may be pushed towards the open mouth through a second open end of the frame opposite to the first open end. The method may further comprise withdrawing the bag from the frame after pushing the rigid base towards the open mouth.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an external view of a cassette according to the invention. Figure 2 shows a cross-section through part of the cassette of Figure 1. Figure 3 shows various components of the mechanism used for loading notes into a bag within the cassette in isolation of other components of the cassette of Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a side view of one component that forms a stacking surface and banknote retaining element.

Figure 5 shows a top view of a bag registration feature with a top frame of a bag located in it.

Figures 6a to 6c show a bag for use with the invention and illustrates the process of preparing the bag for storing banknotes.

Figure 7 shows a detailed view of a top frame for the bag.

Figure 8 shows a top view of the rigid base of the bag.

In Figure 1, a banknote storage cassette is shown. The cassette comprises a housing 1 within which a banknote infeed, transport mechanism and stacking mechanism are housed. The banknote infeed receives banknotes from a transport in banknote processing equipment with which the cassette may be used for storing banknotes. The transport mechanism takes the banknotes from the banknote infeed and transports them to a stacking mechanism which forms a stack of banknotes. The banknote infeed, transport mechanism and stacking mechanism are not illustrated in the figures as they are not directly relevant to an understanding of the invention.

The cassette is provided with a lid 2 that is hinged to the housing. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, an aperture in the lid provides access to a cavity 3 within the housing 1. The cavity 3 provides a space to accommodate a growing bag as banknotes are loaded into it. The aperture in the lid allows the bag to be inserted into and withdrawn from the cassette without needing to open the lid. In other embodiments, the lid may not have the aperture shown in Figure 1. In this case, the lid must be opened in order to load a bag for storing banknotes or to unload the filled bag. The lid may have a lock so that it can only be opened with a key. Figure 2 shows a cross-section through a part of the cassette housing 1 in which the mechanism for storing banknotes within a bag held within the cassette can be seen. Figure 3 shows these elements in isolation for improved clarity. A pusher 10 is disposed above a base surface 14 of the cassette. The pusher 10 is formed so that it has a surface parallel to the base surface 14 which extends into a pushing surface 10a that is perpendicular to the base surface 14. The pusher 10 and pushing surface 10a are shown in a retracted position but are moveable in a direction towards the bag registration feature 13 to an advanced position.

The pusher 10 and pushing surface 10a are moved between the retracted and advanced positions by a drive mechanism, for example a belt drive mechanism housed in a side wall of housing 1, forming part of the cassette. The drive mechanism is typically actuated by a motor drive in the equipment to which the cassette is fitted in use.

The retracted position of the pushing surface 10a shown in Figure 2 is such that a banknote stacking space, within which a stack of banknotes can be formed, exists between the pushing surface 10a and stacking surfaces lla-lle. The pushing surface 10a thus forms a first side of the banknote stacking space, and the stacking surfaces lla-lle form a second side of the banknote stacking space that is opposite to the first side.

As mentioned above, the banknote infeed, transport mechanism and stacking mechanism are not shown in the drawings. Flowever, the banknote infeed receives banknotes, typically between opposed pinch rollers, at the right-hand side (as seen in Figure 2) of cassette housing 1 and passes them to the transport mechanism which feeds them along a path running parallel to the base surface 14 and between the base surface 14 and the surface of pusher 10 parallel to the base surface 14. The transport mechanism will usually comprise opposed belts entrained around rollers so that the banknotes can be trapped between the opposed belts and moved along the path. The stacking mechanism turns the banknotes through a right angle using a tine wheel so that they stand vertically (as seen in Figure 2) and form a stack of banknotes in the banknote stacking space resting against the stacking surfaces lla-lle.

The stacking surfaces are joined together by a bar 18 which is coupled to the side walls of the housing 1 at each of its ends by a respective pivot. These pivots allow the bar and the stacking surfaces lla-lle to rotate from the stacking position shown in Figure 2 in a clockwise direction (as seen in Figure 2) but prevent rotation in an anti-clockwise direction beyond the position in which the stacking surfaces lla-lle are shown in Figure 2. Flowever, there is sufficient inertia and friction in the pivot to prevent the bar 18 and stacking surfaces lla-lle rotating under the weight of a stack of banknotes. Once a stack of banknotes has been formed in the banknote stacking space, the pusher 10 and pushing surface 10a can be moved to the advanced position to push the stack of banknotes into a bag within the cavity 3. This process will be described in more detail below. Flowever, as the pusher 10 and pushing surface 10a move from the retracted to the advanced position, the stacking surfaces lla-lle rotate in a clockwise direction (as seen in Figure 2) into a loading position to allow the passage of the stack of banknotes and the pusher 10. Once the stack of banknotes has passed the stacking surfaces lla-lle, they can begin to rotate in an anti clockwise direction (as seen in Figure 2) back towards the stacking position shown in Figure 2.

Projecting from the stacking surfaces lla-lle are a set of banknote retaining elements in the form of fingers 12a-12e. These are integral with the stacking surfaces lla-lle. When the stacking surfaces lla-lle are in the stacking position, the fingers 12a-12b engage with the outermost surface of an outermost banknote in a stack formed within the bag to prevent the stack falling apart.

A detailed side view of one of the stacking surfaces 11a and the corresponding finger 12a is shown in Figure 4. As can be seen, the stacking surface 11a comprises a projection 19a coupled to the main part of the stacking surface 11a by a pivot 20a. This allows the projection 19a to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction (as seen in Figure 4) but not in the clockwise direction. Thus, the projection 19a (and corresponding projections fitted to the other stacking surfaces llb-lle) provides support for shorter banknotes being stacked which might not reach the bottom of the main part of the stacking surfaces lla-lle when resting on the base surface 14. Flowever, the projection 19a can swing out of the way to allow passage of a part of pusher 10 (not seen in the figures but which couples the visible parts of pusher 10 to the drive mechanism) as the pusher 10 moves from the advanced to the retracted position. The bag registration feature 13 is fitted to the base surface 14 and side walls of housing 1. It comprises a pair of parallel flanges 15a and 15b running along the side walls and the base of the registration feature 13. The flanges 15a and 15b create a recess 16 between them. The structure of the bag will be described in detail later, but in summary it has a rigid base and a rigid frame around the open end, the rigid base and frame being joined by the flexible bag material. The recess 16 provides a locating feature for the rigid frame 21 which can slot into the recess 16 as shown in Figure 5. Thus, the rigid frame 21 and open mouth of the bag cannot move longitudinally along the cassette and are held at a fixed location by the bag registration feature 13. Figure 5 shows the rigid frame in isolation of the other parts of the bag for clarity.

Initially, the rigid base of the bag is located in close proximity to the rigid frame 21. A banknote stacking surface of the rigid base occupies an initial location. The rigid base is urged towards the initial location by a spring-loaded baseplate that is part of the cassette and contacts the rigid base. As a stack of banknotes is formed on the banknote stacking surface, the rigid base, and hence the spring-loaded baseplate, are forced away from the initial position to accommodate the stack. As mentioned above, the fingers 12a-12d bear against the outermost banknote on the stack to hold the stack together against the banknote stacking surface.

When a stack of banknotes has been formed in the banknote stacking space, the pusher 10 and pushing surface 10a are moved from the retracted position to the advanced position to push the stack into the bag. As already described, during the movement of the pusher 10 and pushing surface 10a, the stack forces the stacking surfaces lla-lle and fingers 12a-12e to rotate from the stacking position to the loading position so that the stack can pass beneath them. A ramp 17 lifts the stack so that it clears the flanges 15a and 15b and the edge of the rigid frame 21 and can be advanced into the bag. The stack will either be pushed into contact with the banknote stacking surface of the rigid base of the bag (if the stack represents the first notes to be pushed into the bag) or into contact with notes already stacked onto the banknote stacking surface.

The advanced position must be such that the pushing surface 10a reaches at least as far as a position that is the thickness of the stack away from the initial position in the direction towards the retracted position. This ensures that the stack being pushed into the bag will come into contact with the banknote stacking surface or outermost banknote in the stack on the banknote stacking surface. The thickness of the stack will be known as it is a predefined value depending on the number of banknotes stacked in the banknote stacking space. In practice, the advanced position will normally be such that the pushing surface 10a reaches the initial position, or even slightly beyond it, to the stack is advanced satisfactorily into the bag. The baseplate can move against its springs to accommodate the movement of the pushing surface 10a towards the advanced position as required.

In the kind of arrangement shown in Figures 2 to 4, it is important that the advanced position is such that the outermost banknote in the stack is pushed beyond the furthest point to which the fingers 12a-12e reach as the stacking surfaces lla-lle rotate between the stacking and loading positions. This enable the stacking surfaces lla-lle to fall back into the stacking position when the stack of banknotes has been pushed into the bag without the fingers 12a-12e colliding with the banknotes. They are therefore in the correct position to retain the banknotes in the stack on the banknote stacking surface.

When the pushing surface 10a has reached the advanced position, it can then reverse its motion back to the retracted position. As it does so, the spring-loaded baseplate will push the rigid base of the bag, and hence the stack of banknotes on the banknote stacking surface, back towards the initial position. The fingers 12a-12e will engage with the outermost banknote in the stack and keep the stack in good formation. Once the pusher 10 and pushing surface 10a have returned to the retracted position, the cycle can start again and more banknotes can be stacked in the banknote stacking space for subsequent storage in the bag.

The design of cassette presented above is such that the features may be retrofitted to existing cassettes. Thus, to modify an existing cassette, it is simply necessary to provide the bag registration feature 13, the pusher 10 and pushing surface 10a, ramp 17, the stacking surfaces lla-lle joined together by bar 18 and the integral fingers 12a-12e.

In more detail, it may be necessary to remove an existing pusher and replace it with the pusher 10 where the length of the existing pusher is not appropriate, for example, if it will not reach as far as is required. As will be appreciated from the above description, it is important that the pushing surface 10a reaches at least as far as a position that is the thickness of the stack away from the initial position in the direction towards the retracted position (in practice, it will usually be arranged to reach as far as the initial position). It must also reach beyond the furthest point to which the fingers 12a-12e reach as the stacking surfaces lla-lle rotate between the stacking and loading positions. The length of the pusher 10 can be adjusted to achieve this depending on how far the existing drive mechanism moves as it is actuated towards the advanced position. The pusher 10 is coupled to the existing drive mechanism. The assembly of stacking surfaces lla-lle, fingers 12a-12e, projections 19a-19e and bar 18 can be made up outside of the cassette being modified and fitted to the cassette by pivoting bar 18 in the side walls such that it can rotate in a clockwise direction only. The fingers 12a- 12e project towards the initial location (and can be appropriately sized to do so) to ensure that they retain banknotes on the stack formed in the bag. The bag retaining element 13 and ramp 17 can be fixed to the base surface and/or side walls of the housing 1 by screws or rivets. Its location will fix the initial location of the rigid base.

In some circumstance, it may be necessary to provide a spring-loaded baseplate to urge the rigid base of the bag towards the initial location. However, this is usually not necessary as most cassettes already have such a baseplate against which banknote stacks can be formed when the cassette is used in its unmodified form without a bag.

Figure 6a-6c, 7 and 8 show the structure of the bag and illustrate a method for preparing it for use with the cassette. The rigid base of the bag is shown in Figures 6a-6c in cross-section from the side, and in Figure 8 it is shown from above in isolation of other parts of the bag. The rigid base comprises a outer rim 32 and a banknote stacking platform 33, the top of which represents the banknote stacking surface referred to above. The outer rim 32 extends beyond the platform 33 to leave a recess 34 between them. The flexible bag material 31 which forms the side walls of the bag couples the rigid base to the rigid frame 30. The flexible bag material 31 is trapped between the outer rim 32 and a banknote stacking platform 33 to couple it to the rigid base. Similarly, the frame 30 has inner and outer parts which irreversibly clip together to trap the free end of the flexible bag material 31 between them, thereby forming an open mouth for access to the bag. The recess 34 can receive the flexible bag material 31 so that the bag can be collapsed without the flexible bag material 31 covering the banknote stacking platform 33. This ensures that the flexible bag material 31 does not hinder the formation of a stack of banknotes in the bag.

To achieve this, the bag is first opened fully by separating the rigid frame 30 as far as possible from the rigid base as shown in Figure 6a. A former 40 is then pushed through the frame 30 into the bag until it contacts the banknote stacking platform 33. The former 40 has a cross-sectional size that is the same as the size of the platform 33. It is therefore not possible for the flexible bag material 31 to contact the platform 33 when the former 40 is in place on top of it.

The bag and former 40 are then placed into a forming chamber 41 which is open at both ends. The chamber 41 is sized to support the rigid frame 30 of the bag so that this rests on a flange at the top of the chamber. A mandrel 42 is then pressed into the chamber 41 from the opposite end. This forces rigid base towards the frame 30 so that the flexible bag material 31 collapses. As it collapses, it can only occupy the space within the recess 34. The end result is as shown in Figure 6c with the rigid base and the rigid frame 30 of the bag in close proximity with the flexible bag material 31 contained within the recess 34 so that the whole of the banknote stacking platform is available for receiving a stack of banknotes pushed through the frame 30 into the bag.

When a bag has been loaded, a closure 51 can be slid through a slot 50 in the frame 30 to close the open end of the bag. Tabs 52 engage with slots 53 in the frame to ensure good registration of the free end of closure 51 and prevent it from being pushed or pulled to enable access to a bag loaded with banknotes. The closure 51 and frame 30 may be provided with features to ensure that the closure 51 cannot be removed once it has been inserted into slot 50, and the frame 30 may be provided with features that prevent it from being removed from the recess 16 until the closure 51 has been inserted into slot 50. These additional features enhance the security of the arrangement because opportunities for pilfering are reduced without leaving evidence of the pilfering by destruction of the bag or part of it. Once the closure 51 has been put in the slot 50, the bag may be withdrawn from the cassette.