U.S. patent application number 10/087176 was filed with the patent office on 2003-09-04 for modular currency bin assembly.
Invention is credited to Allexon, Robert A., Magee, Douglas R. JR..
Application Number | 20030164664 10/087176 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27803858 |
Filed Date | 2003-09-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030164664 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Allexon, Robert A. ; et
al. |
September 4, 2003 |
Modular currency bin assembly
Abstract
A modular currency bin has a pair of spaced end walls, a rear
wall extending therebetween, and at least one support wall
extending between the end walls and abutting the rear wall. At
least one divider wall extends vertically parallel to and
intermediate the end walls to define a multiplicity of
compartments. One of the end walls has a pair of outwardly angled
flanges extending along its side margins and the other of the end
walls has inwardly angled flanges extending along its side margins
and defining a channel therebetween configured and dimensioned to
receive the outwardly extending flanges of another currency bin.
Bins may be assembled in side-by-side relationship by interengaging
the end wall flanges, and in vertically stacked relationship by
interengaging end covers with the end wall flanges of the stacked
bins.
Inventors: |
Allexon, Robert A.;
(Killingworth, CT) ; Magee, Douglas R. JR.;
(Wolfeboro, NH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PEPE & HAZARD, LLP
GOODWIN SQUARE
225 ASYLUM ST.
HARTFORD
CT
06103
US
|
Family ID: |
27803858 |
Appl. No.: |
10/087176 |
Filed: |
March 1, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/257.1 ;
209/534; 312/198; 312/263; 312/265.4; 312/265.5; 312/265.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07D 11/12 20190101;
G07D 11/40 20190101; B65H 2402/10 20130101; B65H 2405/33 20130101;
B65H 31/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/257.1 ;
209/534; 312/265.4; 312/265.5; 312/265.6; 312/263; 312/198 |
International
Class: |
A47B 043/00 |
Claims
1. A modular currency bin comprising: (a) a pair of spaced end
walls; (b) a rear wall extending therebetween; (c) at least one
support wall extending between said end walls and abutting said
rear wall; and (d) at least one divider wall extending parallel to
and intermediate said end walls to define a multiplicity of
compartments, one of said end walls having a pair of outwardly
angled flanges extending along its side margins and the other of
said end walls having inwardly angled flanges extending along its
side margins and defining a channel therebetween configured and
dimensioned to receive the outwardly extending flanges of another
currency bin.
2. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim 1 wherein each
of said end walls is comprised of a generally planar panel and a
flanged panel providing said flanges.
3. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim 2 wherein said
flanged and planar panels of said end walls are secured in assembly
by securing means.
4. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim 1 wherein said
rear wall has slots therein in which are seated tabs on said
divider wall.
5. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim 5 wherein said
support wall has a slot therein seating said divider wall.
6. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim 1 wherein said
support wall has flanges at its ends which are secured to said end
walls by securing means.
7. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim 5 wherein
there is included a second support wall, one of said support walls
being adjacent to the lower ends of said end walls and the other of
said support walls being spaced upwardly from said one wall and
having said slots therein seating said divider wall.
8. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim 1 including an
end cover member having outwardly extending flanges seated in said
channel of said inwardly extending flanges of said other end
wall.
9. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim 1 including an
end cover member having inwardly extending flanges thereon
providing a channel therebetween seating said outwardly extending
flanges on said one end wall.
10. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim 1 wherein
said support wall is inclined downwardly towards said rear
wall.
11. A modular currency bin assembly comprising at least two
currency bins each having: (a) a pair of spaced end walls; (b) a
rear wall extending therebetween; (c) at least one support wall
extending between said end walls and abutting said rear wall; and
(d) at least one divider wall extending parallel to and
intermediate said end walls to define a multiplicity of
compartments, one of said end walls having a pair of outwardly
angled flanges extending along its side margins and the other of
said end walls having inwardly angled flanges extending along its
side margins defining a channel therebetween said bins being
assembled in side-to-side relationship with the flanges on said end
walls being interfitted.
12. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim 11 wherein
each of said end walls is comprised of a generally planar panel and
a flanged panel providing said flanges.
13. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim 11 wherein
said support wall has a slot thereon seating said divider wall.
14. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim 11 wherein
said support wall has flanges at its ends which are secured to said
end walls by securing means.
15. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim 11 wherein
there is included a second support wall, one of said support walls
being adjacent to the lower ends of said end walls and the other of
said support walls being spaced upwardly from said one wall and
having said slots therein seating said divider wall.
16. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim 11 wherein
said support wall is inclined downwardly towards said rear
wall.
17. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim 11 including
end cover members having flanges thereon interfitting with said
flanges of the outer end walls of said side-by-side bins.
18. A modular currency bin assembly comprising two currency bins
each having: (a) a pair of spaced end walls; (b) a rear wall
extending therebetween; (c) at least one support wall extending
between said end walls and abutting said rear wall; (d) at least
one divider wall extending parallel to and intermediate said end
walls to define a multiplicity of compartments, one of said end
walls having a pair of outwardly angled flanges extending along its
side margins and the other of said end walls having inwardly angled
flanges extending along its side margins, said bins being assembled
in vertically stacked relationship; and (e) end cover members
having flanges thereon interfitting with said flanges of said end
walls of both bins.
19. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim wherein each
of said end walls is comprised of a generally planar panel and a
flanged panel providing said flanges.
20. The modular currency bin in accordance with claim wherein there
is included a second support wall, one of said port walls being
adjacent to the lower ends of said end walls the other of said
support walls being spaced upwardly from said one wall and having
said slots therein seating said divider wall.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to sorting and storage bins
for currency and like documents.
[0002] Retail establishments, banks and other facilities engaging
in business transactions must sort and store currency of various
denominations and sometimes currency of several different
countries. Retail institutions, banks, and other businesses, with
currency processing activities must sort bills into individual
denominations by various means. As a result, in many facilities
there is a sorting and counting area where one or more persons are
involved in the sorting, counting and storage of the currency until
the processing involving a batch or batches of currency is
completed. Generally, this process utilizes bins of sufficient
number to accommodate the various types of currency and
denominations as well as other media and supplies which may be
involved. Generally, a processing station will have a fixed array
of bins or storage compartments into which the operator places the
bills after sorting and/or counting and bundling. As a result of
the need to process various denominations and possibly the
currencies of different countries, such installations tend to be
large or insufficiently compartmented depending upon the volumes of
currency being processed.
[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel
modular currency bin which can be assembled into a group of such
bins providing storage capacity for the number of different types
and denominations of currency which are required to be processed at
any given time.
[0004] It is also an object to provide such a novel modular
currency bin which is simply and readily fabricated and easily
assembled and configured to provide the desired number of storage
compartments.
[0005] Another object is to provide such a modular currency bin
which can be stacked vertically and/or horizontally utilizing the
same components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects
may be readily attained in a modular currency bin which has a pair
of spaced end walls, a rear wall extending therebetween, and at
least one support wall extending between the end walls and abutting
the rear wall. At least one divider wall extends vertically
parallel to and intermediate the end walls to define a multiplicity
of compartments. One of the end walls has a pair of outwardly
angled flanges extending along its side margins and the other of
the end walls has inwardly angled flanges extending along its side
margins and defining a channel therebetween configured and
dimensioned to receive the outwardly extending flanges of another
currency bin.
[0007] Preferably, each of the end walls is comprised of a
generally planar panel and a flanged panel providing the angled
flanges, and the panels are secured in assembly by securing means.
The rear wall has slots therein in which are seated tabs on the
divider wall(s).
[0008] The support wall has a slot(s) therein seating the divider
wall(s), and it has flanges at its ends which are secured to the
end walls by securing means.
[0009] Desirably, there is a second support wall, one of the
support walls being adjacent the lower end of the end walls and the
other of the support walls being spaced upwardly from the first
wall and having slots therein seating the divider walls.
Preferably, the support wall(s) is inclined downwardly towards the
rear wall.
[0010] The preferred assembly includes an end cover member having
outwardly extending flanges thereon seated in the channels of the
inwardly extending flanges of one end wall and an end cover member
having inwardly extending flanges thereon providing a channel
therebetween seating the outwardly extending flanges on the other
end wall. Two or more bins may be assembled in side-by-side
relationship by interfitting the flanges on the end walls, and end
covers are interfitted with the flanges on the outer end walls of
the outer bins. Two bins may be assembled in vertically stacked
relationship, and the end cover members are assembled with the
flanges thereon interfitting with the flanges of the end walls of
both bins.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single modular currency
bin embodying the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view thereof;
[0014] FIG. 4 is an exploded view thereof;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a sectional view thereof along the line 5-5 of
FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof along the
line 6-6 of FIG. 3;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof along the
line 7-7 of FIG. 6;
[0018] FIG. 8 is an illustration of two bins being assembled in
side-by-side relationship;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a front elevational view thereof with end covers
being inserted;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a perspective illustration of two bins being
assembled in a vertical relationship; and
[0021] FIG. 11 is a view of the bin assembly of FIG. 10 with the
end covers seated in the flanges of the end walls to secure the
bins in assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
[0022] Turning first to FIGS. 1-7, therein illustrated is a single
modular bin embodying the present invention and generally
designated by the numeral 10. A generally U-shaped body member
provides a rear wall 12 and end walls 14, 16 extending
perpendicularly thereto. Extending between the end walls 14, 16
adjacent the lower end thereof is a transverse support wall 18 and
spaced upwardly therefrom is a second support wall 20; both of the
walls 18, 20 are inclined downwardly towards the rear wall 12.
Divider walls 22 extend vertically in parallel relationship between
the end walls to define three currency receiving compartments.
[0023] Each of the end walls 14, 16 is comprised of a generally
planar end wall member 24, 25 which is integrally formed with the
rear wall 16 and a generally planar flanged end wall member 26, 27.
The flanged end wall member 26 has outwardly angled flanges 28
extending along its front and rear side margins. The flanged end
wall member 27 has inwardly angled flanges 30 along its front and
rear side margins. Both flanged end wall members 26, 27 have
laterally outwardly excluding flange 70 as their lower ends. The
upper ends of the planar end wall members 26, 27 have inturned
flanges 32, 34, and the rear wall 16 also has an inward flange 36
along its upper end, and two pairs of aligned, vertically extending
slots 38 spaced over the upper two-thirds thereof. Also provided in
the rear wall 12 adjacent its upper end are a pair of keyhole
openings 40 for securing the bin 10 to a wall or post (not
shown).
[0024] The inner ends of the support walls 18, 20 have downturned
flanges 42, 44, respectively, and downturned flanges 46, 48 extend
along their outer ends. Downturned flanges 50, 52 are also provided
along their sides. At the bottom end of the end walls 24, 25 and of
the rear wall 12 are 66, 68 which seat the flanges 42, 50 of the
support wall 18. The support wall 20 also has slots 54 extending
inwardly from its rear edge.
[0025] The lower ends of the divider walls 22 seat in the slots 54
of the support walls 18, 20, and a pair of vertically spaced tabs
56 on the rear edges of the divider walls 22 seat in the slots 54
of the rear wall 16 and are bent over to secure the divider walls
22 thereto.
[0026] When a solitary bin 10 is to be used, end covers 58, 60 are
utilized to close the channels between the flanges 28, 30. As seen
in FIGS. 1 and 2, the end cover 58 has outwardly angled flanges 62
which interfit with the inwardly angled flanges 28 on the end wall
12, and the end cover 60 has inwardly angled flanges 64 which
interfit with the outwardly angled flanges 30 on the end wall 14.
As a result, the bin 10 has a finished appearance and there is a
reduced likelihood of injury from a rough edge on the flanged end
walls.
[0027] The end covers 58, 60 also have an inwardly oriented
L-shaped flange 66 at the lower and thereof and a similarly
oriented L-shaped flange 68 adjacent the center thereof. The flange
66 abuts the flange.
[0028] Turning next to FIGS. 8 and 9, therein illustrated is an
assembly of two bins 10a, 10b. The outwardly angled flanges 30 on
the end wall 16 are slid inwardly into the channel between the
inwardly angled flanges 28 on the end wall 14 until the lower end
thereof abuts the flange at the bottom of the end wall 14. This
provides an array of six compartments. A third and even more bin
units can be assembled side by side as desired. End covers 58, 60
are then slid over the flanges outer units.
[0029] Bin units may also be stacked as seen in FIGS. 10 and 11
wherein the bin unit 10d is mounted on top of bin unit 10c with the
top flanges 32, 34, 36 on the end walls 14 and 16 and rear wall 12
of the lower unit 10c seating the bottom flanges 66, 68 of the
upper unit 10d. To secure the bins 10c, 10d in assembly, end covers
58, 60 are inverted from the position seen in the preceding
figures, and there are slid into place on the end walls 12, 14
until the flanges 68 seat on the bottom flanges 70 on the end walls
12, 14 as seen in FIG. 11.
[0030] Also illustrated are positioning apertures 72 to facilitate
the assembly of the components for welding or otherwise
fastening.
[0031] It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing detailed
description and the accompanying illustrations that the modular
currency bins of the present invention enable facile assembly of
two or more units horizontally or vertically or both. If the need
for further storage compartments is recognized during the
processing of a particularly large array of currency or other
media, an additional unit(s) can be readily assembled to those
already in place. Conversely, if the need for a large number of
compartments should be obviated, units may be removed from the
assembly. Moreover, because of the versatility of the arrangement,
an assembly may be tailored to substantially fit the configuration
of the room or an alcove in which the operator or operators are
working.
[0032] The modular currency bins are easily fabricated from sheet
metal by stamping and bending the individual components into the
desired configurations, and the elements of a modular unit can
easily be assembled by tack welding, riveting, adhesives, fasteners
or any other suitable means. In some instances, tabs extend through
slots in cooperating elements and are bent over to secure the
components in assembly.
[0033] Although sheet metal is preferred for the modular currency
bins of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the
components can be readily fabricated from synthetic resin if so
desired, and secured in assembly by sonic welding, adhesives or
fasteners.
[0034] The end covers not only enhance the appearance of the
installation and minimize the potential for possibly injury if the
sheet metal flanges are nicked to provide a rough edge, but also
provide means for securing vertically disposed units.
[0035] To enable the multiple function for the end covers, it can
be seen that they have a laterally extending flange at one end
thereof, and laterally extending flange intermediate the length
thereof. For the function in which they finish the side of an
assembly, the end flange is disposed downwardly and the end cover
is slid fully into the channel until the end flange abuts the
lateral flange at the lower end of the end wall member. When two
units are assembled vertically, the end cover is inverted so that
the flange at what had been the lower end is now disposed at the
upper end. The end cover is then slid downwardly into the upper bin
until the intermediate flange abuts the base flange on the upper
unit, thus, placing the end cover in the position bridging the
joint between the two bins and rigidifying the assembly. In such a
vertical stack, it will be appreciated that the upper bin is also
seating on the horizontally inwardly projecting flanges at the
upper end of the end walls.
[0036] Although the modular unit in the illustrated assembly is
shown as having three compartments for the storage of three
different denominations or types of currency in a single bin,
obviously increasing the transverse dimension would allow the
division of an individual unit into more storage compartments if so
desired. However, the ease of assembling multiple storage bins
obviates the need for larger bin units which would limit the
versatility and ability to position the units in various locations.
To secure a vertically stacked assembly in a firm position,
fasteners can be inserted through the apertures in the rear wall
and into a support structure such as the wall of a building, post,
or the like.
[0037] The transverse storage area at the bottom of the individual
units can be used for storing an additional denomination or type of
currency, or for any other purpose, and the provision of the two
transverse elements rigidifies the bins.
[0038] Thus, it can be seen from the foregoing detailed description
and attached illustrations that the modular currency bins of the
present invention are readily and easily fabricated and easily
assembled in various configurations to meet the needs of a
particular processor. Moreover, the units are relatively low cost
and durable.
* * * * *