AU2004237892B2 - Lockable Removable Cassette - Google Patents

Description

P001 Section 29 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: Lockable Removable Cassette The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 0 LOCKABLE REMOVABLE CASSETTE STECHNICAL FIELD The invention pertains to improvements to apparatus for processing

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documents, for example, for lockable removable cassettes or cash boxes used for S 5 the protection of banknotes in automated handling equipment such as gaming machines, vending machines, automated teller machines and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 0 Current cash box products suffer from several deficiencies, including not being sufficiently rugged for general handling, and being of high cost. Further, it is not possible to distinguish a full cash box from an empty one without opening a Scurrency access door with a key, conventional cash boxes require operation of a latch before removal is possible and such cash boxes do not give a positive or easily recognizable indication that the cash box has not been properly seated in the host machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the aforementioned in mind, the present invention provides in one aspect an apparatus including a lockable, removable cassette for a banknote processor, the cassette having a single wall construction including: a plastic shell and a currency access door connected to the shell.

Preferably the apparatus may include a stacker located at a front end of the cassette.

Preferably the apparatus may include at least one of an aperture and transparent window to allow visual inspection of a most recent document stored in the cassette.

Another aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for processing documents including a front-removable storage cassette wherein the documents are stacked in the cassette from front to rear, with a most recent document stored at the front of the stack.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a document processing system including: a lockable, removable cassette for storing documents; a document stacker; and a sensor to detect installation of the lockable, removable cassette and a home position of the document stacker, wherein the sensor includes a light source, a light path and a light receiver.

Preferably the light path may include a light pipe having at least one input cport, an interrupt portion and an output port.

O Preferably the light path may include a pusher plate and the interrupt

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C0 portion may be connected to the pusher plate.

N 5 Preferably the light path may include a prism mounted on the pusher plate.

A still further aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus Nincluding a lockable removable cassette including: 0 a guide means to guide the cassette during installation; and c a latch means for engagement during installation; wherein if the cassette is not securely latched during installation, then a Cbiasing means moves the cassette.

Preferably the apparatus may include at least one of a flexible handle and an integrated grip.

Preferably an unsecured cassette of the apparatus may interfere with an access door of a host machine.

Preferably the apparatus may include at least one of an aperture and transparent window to allow visual inspection of a document stored in the cassette.

Preferably the apparatus may include a stacker mechanism. More preferably the stacker mechanism may include a stacker plate and a drive means coupled to the stacker plate, the drive means may include non-circular drive gears.

A yet further aspect of the present invention provides a lockable removable cassette including: at least one guide; at least one lug; and at least one ramp; wherein when the cassette is loaded into a chassis the guide mates with a chassis guide, the lug mates with a bias means and the ramp mates with a latch means such that if the cassette is improperly loaded then the bias means moves the cassette away from the chassis.

Preferably the apparatus may include at least one of a flexible handle and integrated grip.

Preferably the apparatus may include at least one of an aperture and a

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transparent window to allow visual inspection of a document stored in the Scassette.

Preferably the apparatus may include a stacker mechanism. More preferably the stacker mechanism may include a stacker plate and a drive means coupled to the stacker plate and the drive means may include non-circular drive gears.

00 c Another aspect of the present invention provides a method including the Ssteps of: C 10 aligning guide means of a lockable removable cassette with a chassis

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guide means; and pushing the lockable removable cassette with force sufficient to overcome the resistance of a biasing means to secure the cassette.

Preferably, where insufficient force is applied, the biasing means may move the lockable removable cassette away from the chassis.

Preferably an unsecured cassette may interfere with the closing of an access door of a host machine.

Preferably the method may include a further step of observing a document stored in the cassette through at least one of an aperture or transparent window.

Preferably the method may include the further step of removing the lockable removable cassette by exerting a pull force sufficient to overcome a retention force.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a document processing system including: a chassis; a lockable removable cassette; a latching means to secure the cassette; and a biasing means; ic wherein if the cassette is not securely latched to the chassis then the N biasing means moves the cassette.

OPreferably the system may include a banknote validator.

Preferably the system may include a stacker mechanism.

More preferably the stacker mechanism may include a stacker plate and drive means coupled to the stacker plate, wherein the drive means may include 00 0 non-circular drive gears.

Preferably the system may include a single sensor to detect the installation Sof the lockable, removable cassette and at least a home position of the stacker.

(Ni Preferably the sensor light may include a light source, a light path means and a receiver.

More preferably the light path means may include a light pipe having at least an input port, an interrupt portion and an output port.

Preferably at least one interrupt portion may be connected to a pusher plate of the stacker.

Preferably the system may include a prism.

Preferably, if the cassette is not securely latched during installation, a biasing means may more the cassette in a direction away from an installation direction.

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Brief Description of the I)Drawings tigure I is an isometric view of a bank note pirocessor with an installed cassette according to the invention.

ligure 2 is an isometric viewv of the lockable cassette removed floni the acceptor showing thile cash access door in the open position.

00 Figure 3 is an exploded view of the cassette assembly showing how an Cl enclosure according to the invention is formed of two hail' shells and a secure lockable door.

Figure 4 is a detailed cross section ofa welded joint belfore welding occurs.

Figure 5 is a detailed cross section of the welded joint of Fig. 4 just prior to bonding.

Figure 6 is a detailed cross section of welded joint after bonding.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the banknote acceptor showvin the general arrangement of the bill path.

Figure 8 is a detailed view of cassette showing an installation guide g'oove and latching ramp.

Figure 9 is a detailed view of chassis showing the cassette installation euide rails and springs.

Figure 10 is a simplified view showing springs For the cassette in the latched position.

Figure 1 is a simplified viewV of the cassette and reltention springs in the unlatched position.

FitLure 12 is a side elevation review of the banknote acceptor showi ing the cassette in its latched and unlutched locations.

Ficure 13 is a ciross section of the banknote path in the stacker mechanism.

Fiure 14 is a kinematic diagram of the stacker mechanism in the retracted position.

Fi('Ure 15 is a kinematic (liagranll of, the samle stac ker mlec hanm or *sille 1 in thie extended position.

FiltUres I 6A and 1613 are an iSometr-C iC\ iew d it dctili View. respuctiev f thle slacker mechanism in the fuLlly retr-acted position.

F"igUre 1 7 is anl alternative view of the stacker illi stratilni, how thle nion-clircular11 00 "~.eiarS are connected to the scissor miechianism via a crank pin, C1Figlures 1 SA and I 8B are Isometric and detail1 views oF the stacker mech anIim in the fully extended position.

CIFigure 19 is a partial cross section oF the stacking" Unit inl isomeltric View.

wherein transport rollers and associated drive gears are v'isible.

Figure 20 is a formn of a drive whleel that combines -car teeth w\ithl in lintew-al molded tire.

Figure 21 illustrates the form of the constituient components 0l: the driv:e \vhleet assembly of Figure 20, wherein thle tire is Formed over thle gear hub and is not 1 5 assembled. to it.

Figure 22 is a detail view of at hinge design for the calssette.

rigure 23 shows a cut-away' section of the cassette hinge illus trating hlow thle door interlocks% with the cassette sel Fig~ure 24 illustrates anl alternative method ofsecuring, the hinge tisinge orbit-al riveting.

Fig-ure 25 illustrates an implementation of aI combined cassette and stacker homne sensor configuration.

Like ref-erence numrbers in thlt varioLus draWinus indicate like elements thlroughout thle diff1erent view\s.

Dectailed Desciription F-igure I shows aI bank.nolC pr1ocessor I )that inludeILIs ',haIs 2) remov'able secure banknote cassette and a remlovable banknote val iditor 1 o).th 0 chassis is typically securely affixed to a host machine h1 mounting screws and Qt IherecFore is usually not removed diuring normal operation ur typical rUepair. The C "cassette and validator may be removed from the chassis indcpendently oul each other.

C',l 5 During normal operation the removable secure banknote cassette is removed when it is desired by the operator to extract the stored payment media such as banknotes. It should be noted that the terms banknote. hill, paper currency.

security document, coupons and the like denote items which may be inserted into the 0 validator. transported and then stored in the cassette.

Figure 1 shows the front of the removable secure hanknote cassette (3) approximately as it is presented to an operator or service personnel. As shown. a flexible cassette handle is presented in a convenient ergonomic location that allows the operators wrist to remain in a vertical plane while removing the cassette.

The main part of this handle may be molded from an elastomeric material. "This has two important benefits. It provides operator comfort. which is important in an environment where cassettes are handled frequently. It also provides an ability For the handle to deflect or lie flat against the cassette to avoid collision with cashbox door and any lock assemblies that may be part of the host machine. Previous cash box products have used folding mechanisms to achieve a compact cassette handle. hut such mechanisms have been fairly complex and difficult to manufacture resulting in higher costs and reduced ergonomic benefit. Notwithstanding the above accommodations. there may still exist host automatic transaction machines which cannot even accept a cassette with a flexible handle. For such automatic transaction machines having no clearance or little clearance the cassette handle mva hb removed. The cassette can still be gripped using an integral molded cussetl.e grip aIbricated on either side o the body oF the cassette. The integral cassette grip includes depressions that are conveniently implemented in the injeclion-molded parts at no cost, and can be conveniently gripped by an operator's fingers and hand.

Further. the integral grip is extremely durable and remains operational even il the primary cassette handle is damaged or removed.

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Removal of thelC secure banknote cassetc is achieved by Cx eitini. a pull IbForce on the cassette handle or the cassette grip sul'ificieni to overcome a M_ retention force. Referring to Figures 8 and 9. the retcntion Iorce is provided by a cassette latching spring (23) on a latching ramp (19) (see Ihe latch ramp delail in CK 5 FigLIure 8. and the location of cassette ejector springs shown in Fiigure 9. Rerrin Figures 8. 10 and 12. once sufficient force to overcome the retention fb-rce has been applied by an operator. the action of an ejector spring (20) on an ejection lug (2'1) causes the removable secure banknote cassette to move approximately two inches in this implementation. toward the operator. Thus. Figure 12 shows the positions of C 10 an installed cassette (27) and an ejected cassette Once ejected. the removable secure banknote cassette can then be slid out of the chassis without Further resistance. Figure 10 is a partial cutaway \view of an installed cassette with the cassette springs in their latched position. while Fiigure II illustrates the cassette springs in their unlatched position.

During typical operations. an empty cassette replaces a removed one. Insertine another cassette is also achieved in a simple manner. ReFerrl-in to Figures 9. I 0 and I f. thile removable secure banknote cassette is first approximately aligned with chassis guide rails (26) and then pushed home with sufficient IForce and stroke to overcome the resistance of the ejector spring (20) and the spring member (16) on the latching ramp (19).

In the present implementation. if the insertion effort is unsuccessfull the ejector will push the removable secure banknote cassette back towards the operator by approximately two inches as shown by the ejected cassette (28) in Figure 12. This gives a clear visual indication and tactile Feedback to the operator that the operation did or did not succeed. Furthermore. in many applications involvine various automatic transaction machines it will not be physically possible to close the outside panel access doors oF the automatic transaction machine with the removable secure banknote cassette in the ejected position. Figure 12 illustrates the dilTerence in positioins between a latched or installed cassette (27) and an unlatched or %iected 31 cassette (28) in relation to the chassis and bill validator

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The construction of the removable secure banknote cassette is now described in more detail. T'he cassette may be made rom nioled lastic and have a single vall construction. Figiure 3 is alln exploded view o an implementation of a cassette shell assembly. Referring to Figure 3. llthe outer shell includes a cassette lft hal f a cassette right half I I) and a currenc access dloor The halves of the cassette may be provided with a tongue and groove Feature to fIacilitate assembly 00 alignment and welding. A suitable joining process may utilize a plastic Nvelding C process commercially available from EmaBond. a division of the Ashland Chemical Company. A novel aspect lies in the application of this known process to the field of C 10 payment systems. A brief summary of the welding process is shown in Fiuures 4 to 6 and is provided here for inf'ormational purposes.

In an implementation. the plastic shell halves of the lockable removable cassette may be molded with inserts of reinforcing material. It is also contemplated that the outer shell may be overmolded with a resilient material or a soft material. For example, cassette left half (10) and cassette right half (I may be fabricated by first inserting steel parts (for strength) into an injection mold tool and then molding plastic against the parts to form the cassette outer shell pieces. In addition. or alternately. a soft resilient material. such as a pliable rubber or the like.

could be overmolded around a portion or all of the outer shell to enable the cassette to better absorb impacts. One skilled in the art would recognize that various materials could be used to either impart strength or improve shock absorption. and that such materials may be applied to a portion or to the entire structure :OF the cassette.

Figure 4 is an exploded view ofa portion of the twvo halves or the cussettce to be joined shown positioned prior to assembly. Prior to welding. a weld head or weld material (12) is inserted and is sandwiched in the joint as shown in Ficure 5. T'he weld material (12) contains a Flusible carrier typically made oF the same thermoplastic material as the left hal f cassette (10) and the right half o cassette (I In addition it contains a ferritic heating material in a distributed form. The pre- assembled joint as 0 shown in Figure 5 is next subjected to anll intense radio freluenc lield. The absorption of this field by the heatling agent causes the \welI material to Fuse and flirm

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a thermal weld betwveen the halves. Slight pressure is then applied to IlulIv close the joint until it has cooled into a rigid state as shown in Figure 6. In this manner a durable single-wall construction ol the cassetc as shown in I;ure 3 is achieved lFigiure 2 illustrates the various components ol an assembled cassctte \villth C 5 access door in an open position. In particular. a portion of a stackin 00 mechanism(29) can be seen seated in the cassette adjacent to the banknote compartment The access door includes locking means which conventionally require the use of keys (not shown) to unlock.. A pair ol vie\vine windows (38) has been provided in the outer shell of the removable secure hanknote C~ 10 cassette in the bottom portion that face an operator when installed. These apertures (38) together with the use of transparent materials for the aperture plate (31) and the banknote channel housing (49) of the stacker mechanism (29)(See Fiure I.

which is a cross-section illustration of the stacker) make it possible to see a portion ofl the last bill or banknote (46) inserted when the cassette is installed. This provides the operator with two useful advantages: Firstly. the operator can easily determine whether the removable secure banknote cassette contains any documents or i i it is empty. Secondly. it is possible to resolve disputes with a customer over the denomination of the last bill (46) inserted without having to remove the cassette (3) from the chassis Both the above functions are useful in situations where access to the keys for opening the locks 18) of the currency access door oF the removable secure banknote cassette is tightly controlled.

In general. stacking mechanisms that include a banknote pusher plate and scissors arrangement for storing bills in a cash box are well known. l-lowever. as shown in Figures 16. 17 and 18. the present stacking mechanism (29) activates scissor arms (35) by mecans ofa central link arm (36) attllached to a crank pin Tfhe essential kinematic elements of this linkage are shown in Figure 14 and FigureI RIegarding Figures 14 und 15. the crankshaft rolatcs about a 1Ixed center A).

One end of the scissor mechanism is pivotallly mounted about the fixed point The other end of the scissors mechanism is connected to the frame at by a pivot point that has freedom to slide in one direction only. A link arm connects the crankshaft to the scissors at a pivot point In prior art systems it is conVcnt ional to 7

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make points and coincident. The present implementation. however. obtains a maximum scissor stroke within a small height wherein the height is primarily constrained by the radius of tilhe crank mechanism. In parifcular. use o an olset hetween points and permits some amplihIcation of the scissor stroke. such that a reduced thickness or compact slacking mechanism (29) is obtained. Rclerring to Filaure 15. when the crankshaft rotates to pull link arm to thIle left in the 1drawineg.

the scissor arms are extended such that the angle between scissors is reduced and Cl, the crossover point moves toward a banknote compartment to move a pusher plate to store a banknote. The technique of stacking bills using a pusher plate and an aperture plate is well known and will not be discussed in detail herein.

The simplicity of the compact stacker (29) arrangement (see Fiurie 16A), results in a compromise in the mechanical effectiveness of the system. When the mechanism is close to the retracted position as shown in Figures 16A and 1613. a very large force must be applied to the central link arm (36) to initiate movemlent. This forcc is required. as shown in the cross-sectional view o01: :igure 13. to exert pressure via the scissor arms (35) on the banknote pusher plate (32) to strip a banknote (46) fi-om the banknote channel (30) and past the aperture plate (31) into the hanknote compartment as shown in Figure 7. Conversely. it may be seen that a much more advantageous force ratio exists when the stacking mechanism (29) is close to the fully extended position shown in Figures I 8A and 18B.

If a prime mover is specified of sufficient torque to be adequate at the beginning of the stroke. excessively large Forces may be generated at the lillk extended position. especially when the removable secure hanknote cassette 13) is illeied with currency. In order to improve this situation the final gear pair (show'n in detail I-I of Figure 18) is made from custom parts and includes non-circular drive year (33) and non-circular driven gear These gears have a prolile such that the operating radius varies with angle as the gears rotate. The u.ears are desiened as a complementary pair so the combined operating radii add up to a constant vlue liFr any given input angle. The gear prohles are chosen so that the maximum reduction 3( ratio is achieved at the point of highest torque demand. CorrespondinlyV. the maximum increase of ratio occurs close to the lilly extended position as shown in lFieurCs I SA and ISB where excessive thhrust could be problem. In this instance the (1) proiles are chosen so the "cars are capable ol continuous roation. ()thcr Ucar proliles may be employed il'the inpt drive to the mechanism Is reversed as part o I.

t.he complete cycle.

CK Current banknote acceptors use belts to transport the banknotes Wi thin a 00 stacking mechanism. An alternative arrangement uses a sy.stem odcliv\;e \vhCCls h[htl may be conveniently connected by simple spur gears.

Figure 19 illustrates a partial section ofa stacker mechanism, Drive wheel assemblies (39) alternate with intermediate drive pears (40) to V. orm a beltless drive syste. Rl'eferring to Figures 7 and 19. banknotes are transported from the banknote valiclator in a generally downwards direction to the stacker 129) w~herein the banknote is gripped by the drive wheel assemblies Because less material deflection is required in this beltless drive system compared wvith a belt transport, the mechanical efficiency and durability are also improved. The problem of" hell tracking Is where small shaft miss-aligniments cause a belt to wander ol:[ its guilde pulleys is eliminated as well.

Figures 20 and 21 illustrate a gear and tire assembly and an exploded \ieN\\r M' the gear and tire assembly. respectively. In order to minimize manufacturi 1n cost. the flexible tire material is molded around the gear and liub which is in turn ain injiection molding using a relatively rigid plastic resin such as Acetal or Nylon. The advantaLes of this arrangement are that the assembly of the tire to the wvheel is eliminated and the teomelry of: the components may easily include l:eatUres to prevent slippinig or detachment of the tire.

F-iuue I(9 is aIpartial section of the stacker and is a cut-awany vi shoine hIOW a spur Igear train links a series ofdrive rollers. Pieure 20 shows the finished Irni f the driving wheels. Figure 2 1 shows the 1orm of the h,e injection moled U car and hub and the shape of the 'secondl shot' tire component Formed r1ouIndL it. The transport tire and gear are therefiore combined in a "tWo-shot" mold'ing purc(Is. 'l'he tw\vo-shoI- molding process is knowin, and is dscribCed. for1 example. in VlumeI M1 Number I OA of"N/Moderin Plastics IlncvclopedkC. paes 1-Th6 and ,41)-,40 ()ctober 1986).

The currency access door shovn in Figure 3 is assembled to the cassette by aligning it with the welded assembly and inserting a cpress Iit hinge pin nol showni). M CNTlevel of security is provided by ensuring that the press lit hinge pin is prcsscd into a closed ended pocket and the outer surface is sub-flush making covert lampcrin1 dillficult.

00 Referring to Figure 22 the design of the currency access door also incorporates a novel feature that prevents opening of the door even Vwhen the hine pin is completely removed. It can be seen in Figure 22 that the 1orm of the door contains a locking rib This feature is duplicated on the opposite (hidden in Figure 22) side of the door as well. The shape of this locking rib (43) enuages wvith a hinue boss (44) in such a manner that the door cannot be removed from the body of the cassette unless it is First rotated thrl-ough approximately 90 degrees. Figure 23 is a cut-away section showing how items (43) and (44) interlock. In normal operation ofl' the cassette the access locks shown in Figure 2 prevent door rotation when they I 5 are in the locked position.

In an alternative embodiment a pair of hinge pins are used. One pin is inserted From each side of the cassette. In another alternative implementation shown in Figure 24. the hinge pin may have one or both ends formed by orbital riveting. For example.

a pin (48) with one end preformed is inserted into the hinge assembly and then a head is formed by permanent deformation of the material by. for example. orbital riveting.

The result in each case is that thile door remains secure even when the hinge pin(s) is (are) removed.

Fig. 25 illustrates on implementation of a combined cassette and stacker home sensor configuration This implementation combines the linctions 0ofa slacker home sensor and a cassette present sensor in one system. allnd such a conlguration saves costs. An optical sensing arrangement is shown wvhich improves reliability by eliminating electrical connections.

ReFerring to Fig. 25. a light source (48) is mountcd on a printed circuit board (PCB) (52) which is part of a removable banknote validator (see Figure 'Ihe light beam is directed along a series ol: light pipe moldin s (49 and T*he uppcr pair (491) o 1 hese moldings are mounted in the removable banknote validator T'he lower pair (49b) are mounted in the removable secure hanknotc cassette (sec "Figure Thfle light path From light source (48) to light receiv\er 'I is completed h a- prism (50) which may he mounted on the movable banknote pusher plate 32). In such a configurationt.1he light receiver (51 only receives a signal when the removabhle secure banknote cassette is present and the banknote pusher plate (32) is at the rest or "home" position which is shown in Figure 25 and in Fiures I 6a and I 6b.

oo During normal operation a control system sends a signal to drive the stacking C mechanism as discussed above with regard to Figures 16. I7 and I8. As tile scissor arms (35) of the stacking mechanism extend from the home position. the signal output from the light receiver (5 I1) rapidly Falls to zero. When the stacker mechanism has completed one full cycle the movable banknote pusher plate (32) returns to its original or home position (shown in Figures I6a and I6b) and a positive signal is again seen at the light receiver Upon sensing this signal the control system stops the stacker motor and the unit awaits the next document. Should the light receiver (51) not see a signal within a specified time window after starting the stacking operation. the control system will stop the stacker motor and send a "Cassette Ful1 message to the host machine.

If the signal level from light receiver (51) falls to a low level \Without a command to drive the stacking mechanism the control system will assume that the removable secure banknote cassette has been removed and a message to this efiect is sent to the host machine. When the same (or another) removable secure banknotce cassette is re-installed in the chassis the signal is restored to the liuht receiver (51) and the banknote processor returns to normal service.

'The control system may perform anll additional check to verif' that a Ieitimate removable secure banknote cassette has been installed by perflormine a test run oF the stacker mechanism. IF the siunal from the light receiver (511 shows the characteristic sequential signal transitions representative ol a liill stacking sequence or cycle. then a genuine removable secure banknote cassette is deemed In he present.

A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described.

Nevertheless. it should be understood that various modifications might he made \V~~ilIout departig hvm tWe spirt ad scope oF te invention cmoding. otHer embhodimients mie Aihi Ah sa~j) ol th IbWown. lMu.

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Claims (38)

1. An apparatus for processing documents including a front-removable 0 storage cassette wherein the documents are stacked in the cassette from front to c rear, with a most recent document stored at the front of the stack.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, including a stacker located at a front end of the 00 0 cassette.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, including at least one of an aperture and Stransparent window located to allow visual inspection of a most recent document stored in the cassette.

4. A document processing system including: a lockable, removable cassette for storing documents; a document stacker; and a sensor to detect installation of the lockable, removable cassette and a home position of the document stacker, wherein the sensor includes a light source, a light path and a light receiver.

The system of claim 4, wherein the light path includes a series of light pipes.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the light path includes a prism.

7. The system of claim 6, including a banknote validator and a document stacker, wherein a first pair of the light pipes is mounted in the banknote validator and a second pair of the light pipes is mounted in the removable cassette.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor is arranged such that the light receiver receives a signal from the light source only if the removable cassette is installed and the document stacker is in its home position.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the light path includes a light pipe having at c least an input port, an interrupt portion and an output port. c, O

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the document stacker includes a pusher c plate and wherein the interrupt portion is connected to the pusher plate.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the light path includes a prism mounted 00- on the pusher plate. c

12. An apparatus including a lockable removable cassette including: 0 a guide means to guide the cassette during installation in a chassis; and a latch means for engagement during installation in the chassis; wherein the latch means includes a respective protrusion on each of first and second opposite outer surfaces of the cassette, the protrusion on the first outer surface protruding outwardly from the cassette in an opposite direction from the protrusion on the second outer surface, and wherein if the cassette is not securely latched during installation, then a biasing means moves the cassette in a direction away from the chassis, and wherein the cassette is automatically releasable from being securely latched to the chassis by pulling the cassette in a direction away from the chassis with a force sufficient to overcome a retention force.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further including at least one of a flexible handle and an integrated grip.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein an unsecured cassette interferes with an access door of a host machine.

The apparatus of claim 12, further including at least one of an aperture and a transparent window located to allow visual inspection of a document stored in the cassette.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, further including a stacker mechanism.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the stacker mechanism includes: a stacker plate; and a drive means coupled to the stacker plate, wherein the drive means includes non-circular drive gears. 00oo Mc

18. A lockable removable cassette including: at least one guide; 0 at least one lug; and at least one ramp; wherein when the cassette is loaded into a chassis the guide mates with a chassis guide, the lug mates with a bias means and the ramp mates with a latch means such that if the cassette is improperly loaded then the bias means moves the cassette away from the chassis.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further including at least one of a flexible handle and an integrated grip.

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a failure to securely latch the cassette to the chassis generates a mechanical interference with a door of a host machine.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, further including at least one of an aperture and a transparent window located to allow visual inspection of a document stored in the cassette.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, further including a stacker mechanism.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the stacker mechanism includes: a stacker plate; and a drive means coupled to the stacker plate, wherein the drive means includes non-circular drive gears.

24. A method including the steps of: c aligning guide means of a lockable removable cassette with a chassis c guide means; and pushing the lockable removable cassette with force sufficient to overcome the resistance of a biasing means to secure the cassette in the chassis, wherein a N respective protrusion on each of first and second opposite outer surfaces of the oO cassette engages the chassis, the protrusion on the first outer surface protruding Soutwardly from the cassette in an opposite direction from the protrusion on the second outer surface; and subsequently removing the cassette from the chassis, wherein removing the cassette comprises exerting a pull force on the cassette sufficient to overcome a retention force and sliding the cassette out of the chassis.

The method of claim 24, wherein if insufficient force is applied then the biasing means moves the lockable removable cassette away from the chassis.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein an unsecured cassette interferes with the closing of an access door of a host machine.

27. The method of claim 24, further including observing a document stored in the cassette through at least one of an aperture and a transparent window.

28. The method of claim 24, further including removing the lockable removable cassette by exerting a pull force sufficient to overcome a retention force.

29. A document processing system including: a chassis; a lockable removable cassette; a latching means to secure the cassette to the chassis, wherein the latching means includes a respective protrusion on each of first and second opposite outer surfaces of the cassette and wherein the protrusion on the first surface protrudes outwardly from the cassette in an opposite direction from the c protrusion on the second outer surface; and o a biasing means; wherein if the cassette is not securely latched to the chassis then the biasing means moves the cassette in a direction away from the chassis, and wherein the cassette is automatically releasable from being securely oO 00 latched to the chassis by pulling the cassette in a direction away from the chassis t'q C with a force sufficient to overcome a retention force.

The system of claim 29, further including a banknote validator.

31. The system of claim 29, further including a stacker mechanism.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the stacker mechanism includes: a stacker plate; and a drive means coupled to the stacker plate, wherein the drive means includes non-circular drive gears.

33. The system of claim 31, further including a single sensor that detects the installation of the lockable removable cassette and at least a home position of the stacker mechanism.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the sensor includes a light source, a light path means and a receiver.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the light path means includes a light pipe having at least an input port, an interrupt portion and an output port.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein at least one interrupt portion is connected to a pusher plate of the stacker.

37. The system of claim 35, further including a prism. 18

38. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein if the cassette is not securely latched during installation, then a biasing means moves the cassette in a direction away from an installation direction. MEI, INCORPORATED WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS P21450AU02